Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, I survived another year! Between my last birthday and today, I found myself spending a lot of time traveling, which I had always hoped to do. I spent most of '08 and '09 traveling up and down California to go see my favorite music group, NKOTB. Thanks to them, I've gotten to meet a lot of new friends and have become addicted to Twitter! Coincidentally, I have been the happy recipient of two tweets by none other than the leader or 'charismatic one' himself, Donnie Wahlberg! He's just as much a sweetheart with a big heart, as is Jonathan Knight, who you all {yes, all three of you!} know I've been crushing on since I was 16 years old!

Earlier this year, I got promoted at my job. I was getting the run-around at work and waited three months until the paperwork finally went through...only for the promotion to be taken away at the beginning of July when the California budget crisis led me to take a major pay cut. :( At that moment in time, I told my supervisors that I was going to have to look for another job, which I am still looking for. Yes, it's THAT bad in California!

Around May, I got reacquainted with an 'old' crush. I got the nerve to stop by his place of business a few times, but never had a real conversation with him. Eventually, my heart got broken yet again a few months later when I saw him with his ex-girlfriend. I quickly moved on.

About two weeks ago, I took my parents to visit my mother's siblings and their families in Southern California and Baja CA. The last time we saw the family was three years ago when we attended my cousin's memorial service. I love visiting my extended family (and yes, I have many, many cousins), who I don't get to see very much. On the last day we were in Baja, my cousin Ben gave and said something to my parents that ultimately made me become an emotional wreck. So up until the time we left, he made fun of me because I was still crying! My Baja cousins ALWAYS make us feel welcomed when we go to visit them. I will blog more about my Baja trip in another blog.

A few months ago, I started experiencing more feelings of regret. I've felt that I haven't accomplished much in my life nor do I get the respect I deserve. I went back to college a few years ago, but am only taking a few classes here and there since I really need to work. I intend to continue with school and complete all the necessary classes so that I can eventually transfer one day, but it may take me a while longer.

I'm not sure what lies ahead for me, but I can only hope it's something good and for which I've worked hard for. My current motto is that I'm going to focus more time in making myself happy. I have yet to see what is out there for me. It may be a new job in another city or traveling. Whatever it is, there may be some challenges along the way, but I have faith that I'll overcome them.

Here is to another year of living with good health and happiness, and exploring all the possibilities that are yet to come!

Saying Good-Bye to Mr. Cutie

This morning, my cousin invited me to go see her best friend compete in her first 1/2 marathon, which took place in the town we all grew up in. My cousin picked me up around 9:45 am and we drove over to city hall, where we were expecting to meet up with her best friend.

As we arrived to the marathon site, we noticed my cousin's friend chatting with other competitors, so we walked up to her and started asking her how she did. About 30 to 45 minutes of being there, we walked across the street to meet up with the best friend's older brother and some of her friends. As we stayed to watch the second marathon, I then noticed this guy riding this old-style bicycle and riding along side him was this woman, who I can confirm was his ex or former girlfriend. :( My heart literally came out of my chest. As they rode their bikes past me, they set them down and gathered with a few of their friends, who were all there to cheer on their friends participating in the marathon.

It's probably safe to say that they're now back together, which means I am giving up--again--and this time it's for good. I think deep down I knew it was too good to be true. I'm now realizing that I would have never had a chance with him. A guy like Mr. Cutie doesn't come around often, especially where I'm from. In an odd way, I felt like the Molly Ringwald character, "Andie", in Pretty in Pink. Obviously he has found his equal in his ex-girlfriend, so I guess all I can say now is that I hope they're happy.

Love is definitely a funny thing. After you get your heart broken several more times, you start to question if there is something wrong with you. I'm putting faith in the fact that I'm a good person, who has the qualities that a man will like or love about me. I do hope I will find love...or that it will find me...someday. I think I deserve some happiness in my life and I will just have to practice more patience until I find it.

Dancing With The Stars is back!

Ok, I'm gradually getting back to blogging again. I thought my first blog back would be to fill you in on what I did this past summer, but network TV has interrupted that blog for now!

Season 9 of ABC's Dancing With The Stars premiered tonight. I've been watching this show since it first aired, with the exception of possibly one season {and no, it wasn't the first season in which NKOTB member, Joey McIntyre, appeared in}. I really try to make an effort to vote for who I think puts their heart and soul into the competition, and who I believe deserves to win. This season is a no-brainer! My vote is for Donny Osmond (yes, the Donny Osmond), former 70's teen idol and one of my first crushes when I was just a mere three or four-years-old (ok, so my crushing started a little bit early)!


Having followed Donny's career now for the past 30+ years (YIKES!), I can truly say that he's a fierce competitor! He's going to perfect every dance move each week because 1) he wants that trophy and 2) that's just the way he works.

Right from the beginning, I sensed that Mark Dacascos of the Food Network's Iron Chef America would be Donny's best competition. I think it's just too early to say who's going to win it. If I were a betting woman, you know my money would be on Donny!

Despite having to practice every week for DWTS, he is also currently doing weekly shows at the Flamingo Hotel in Vegas with his sister Marie. Note to self: I must catch their Vegas show soon because it's been 24 years since I last saw them in concert, which also happened to be the first concert I ever attended!

Here's the link to vote for your favorite competitor, which also includes Kelly Osbourne, model Kathy Ireland, actresses Debi Mazar and Melissa Joan Heart, and singers Macy Gray and Aaron Carter. Obviously you know who I'll be voting for!

Here's a little blast from the past. Hey, maybe Donny will incorporate some of these dance moves, which his brother (Jay) taught him and Marie for the original Donny & Marie show!

APB on LSP

As you've (this is intended for my 2 or 3 "fans", who follow this blog) probably noticed, I've been a little MIA or absent from the blogging world. My summer off from school went by way too quickly! A few exciting (well, at least for me) things happened to me during the summer, which are worthy of a blog or two; however, I just haven't had a chance to sit down and post. And now I'm a little preoccupied with trying to keep on track with school because I've got so much to do in so little time.

Anyway, I intend to update my blog soon. Until then, enjoy this little treat!

Hanging Out with Mr. Cutie

I can't believe the great night I had last Saturday! My friend S and I, and her friend M, went to Mr. Cutie's POB (place of business). Before we headed over there, we had dinner at this restaurant I've been to many times before. The initial plan was that we would have dinner and then walk over to you-know-whose place because there was going to be live music. As soon as we finished dinner, we were nearing the stoplight to cross the street when who do I see but Mr. Cutie! I told my friend, S, "OMG, there he is!" Well, as we were about to cross the street, some guy on his bicycle crossed Mr. Cutie's path & they started talking...right in the middle of the street! I obviously couldn't say anything right then and there, so we continued walking. After we arrived at his POB, S and I ordered some wine. Mr. Cutie was no where in sight. I wonder where he had wandered off to. Well, about an hour later, he arrived. By that time, I had already finished my wine & unfortunately, I didn't get a refill because I had to drive home. Heck, I could have even walked home!

The entire time M and S were teasing me, but also encouraging me to go talk to Mr. Cutie. Well, about this time, more people came into his place and he was mingling with the regulars. Obviously, I am NOT a regular! I know for sure he noticed me, but the entire time I just kept talking to my friends. If I stared at him the entire night, I didn't want to give him the impression that I was totally into him! At one point, he started talking to the woman who was sitting at the large table in front of us (who was accompanied by several others) and had his back towards us. Shortly thereafter, he turned around & asked if he could take the chair that was at our (small) table, which wasn't being occupied. I think my friend, S, answered at the same time, but I answered, "Sure, go right ahead!" Ok, so I was really thinking of saying, "Hey, it's your place and you can do anything you please!" Maybe he thought we were expecting more people. Grrr! I let the opportunity to talk to him pass me up.

Since the music started late, we didn't leave until about 1 hour and 45 minutes later. I had to call it an early night because I had to try studying for finals and my two friends needed to drive back home. I didn't let S persuade me to leave through the door closest to where Mr. Cutie was. We ended up leaving from another side door, which was closer to me. I'm sure he noticed us leaving, but we had to go.

Of course I regret not initiating a conversation with Mr. Cutie beyond him asking me if he could use the chair at our table. I mean, HELLO, this is his place after all! You know what I really wanted to say was, "Instead, you should pull up a chair and join us!" Note to self: Work on my flirting techniques because it needs a LOT of improvement!

After we finally left, we walked around town and then resumed in the parking lot where our cars were parked. Of course, I wanted to kick myself for keeping quiet the entire night (ok, so I didn't want to interrupt him talking), but I have faith there will be a next time and that I WILL talk to him!

The Return of Mr. Cutie

Yes, I never thought I'd be saying this again, but I think my feelings for Mr. Cutie have returned!

I went to the grocery store today and ran into my friend, E, who has been working there for years. I felt bad that I haven't been able to talk/call her, so we chatted a bit and I asked her if she was going to attend the celebration that the city was throwing for the town we grew up in. She said she was thinking about it and I told her to give me a call if she decided to go. I was hoping she'd call because I really needed a distraction away from my studies.

By now it's about 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. and I walk over to E's house and then she, myself and her two kids head into town to check out the festivities. Before we arrived, we stopped by the store to buy some drinks and ran into our cousin (E is related to this cousin on her mother's side and I'm related on my father's side). We finally made it downtown and we were probably there about 30 minutes when I spotted Mr. Cutie! He was chatting with some friends, who were BBQing for the festivities. I told E that he was there, as I had suspected he would be.

I don't know her reasons for doing this, but E brought her camera with her and she said that she was going to take a photo of Mr. Cutie. Well, at one point, she said something to his friend (I can't remember if she knew him or not) and within a few minutes, she snapped the shot while I was several feet away. When we met up, E told me that he noticed she was taking the picture and was trying to get out of the way or just out of the shot. I hope he didn't suspect what she was doing!

I felt like E and I were going around in circles at this party, until we found ourselves in the wine tasting area. We probably stood in one spot for like 30-45 minutes when E recognized a regular from her store. I jokingly kept asking E, "Do you see my boyfriend around?!" She would then reply, "Yeah, he's standing right in back of you!" Literally, he was within a few feet away or within proximity of me and a few times, our backs were to each other. I noticed Mr. Cutie chatting with some friends, as well as some new ones, but I saw NO girlfriend in sight! Someone had asked him a question about where he lived and as I was trying to listen, there was some other commotion going on. Then I heard that he was going back in to the city tonight. Does he have another place that he resides in away from our town? I was trying not to make it obvious that I was checking him out and I think I pulled it off really well. Incidentally, when I first noticed him today, those butterflies found their way back into my stomach!

So after being at this celebration party for about four hours, it was time to go home. Our feet were killing us (we both wore sandals because it was such a gorgeous day today)! I thought by that time Mr. Cutie had left back to his place of business, which was around the corner, but I noticed him as we were trying to find a public restroom. Eeek!! I'm sure he noticed me, but again, I played it off like I didn't see him. You know, the least I could've done was make eye contact and smile at him like I did when I first saw him almost two years ago. I can't continue to keep letting good opportunities pass me by because I'm definitely not getting any younger! :(

Before we left the party, I ran into a high school classmate of mine, who I hadn't talked to in two years. We were talking about how we really should get together because we weren't able to the last time we spoke. I told her that as soon as I'm finished with finals, I would call her and see if she wanted to meet up for lunch. Hmmm...I think I know of a place to go grab some lunch at! Let's just hope he's there when I go!

The saga with Mr. Cutie continues...

More Reasons to Love This Man!

My fellow "Blockhead" (H) e-mailed this to me and a few other BH friends last night and I wish I would've sent it to Jonathan via Twitter. Oh well, because he ended up posting this link early this morning. This interview speaks for itself. More celebrities need to take a lesson from Jon. He's the most down-to-earth, sweetest person you're ever going to meet! :) Did I mention that he was gorgeous too?! I can't wait to see him again this summer!

The interview was taped on April 28th at the Debbie Gibson "Electric Youth" benefit in West Hollywood, CA. Click on Debbie's website and you'll see many more photos from this event, including some of Jonathan! http://www.deborahgibson.wordpress.com

It's times like these that I wish I were living in Southern California right now! By the way, I don't think I could've done a better job at interviewing him, but I'm still hoping for a chance someday! :)