Slow Transition

So it has happened. I am falling for Tumblr. It is easily accessible, there is an Android application for my phone and I can follow all my friends who have them. This blogspot has been good to me so I will keep it for my movie listing purposes and maybe the occasional long rant but I am officially going to start using my new blog address...

www.justsimplytanya.tumblr.com

I'll see you on the other side :)

Phoenix

The Hollywood Bowl is an amazing venue to say the least. I unfortunately got caught with my "professional use" camera and had to check it into operations before the concert. (Big sad face). Thankfully, my friend Linda took some good pictures of the actual bowl. The lighting is eccentric and fun which matched Phoenix's vibe completely. The concert had me up and dancing with my man and I couldn't have asked for a better set list. This concert made me appreciate music for what it can do to the soul.

The lovely rainbow background for the song "Girlfriend" had Mike and I going crazy.

Beautiful Thomas Mars' silhouette

An up close and personal shot of Mike and I. Thank you Linda for all the great shots that I stole from you :)

Candidate for Graduation

After three schools, what will be five years and lots of money spent on tuition, books, paper, pens and gas... I am finally a "candidate for graduation!" I met with my advisor yesterday morning and after this semester I am four classes (11 units) away from walking! In a short eight months I will have two degrees and be off to some school for graduate work! I was so excited to hear the news, even though I knew I was graduating next year, but hearing it from my advisor made my whole day. I can't believe this long journey of undergraduate college work will be coming to an end soon.

I am so thrilled and ecstatic about the next chapter though! I am visiting Berkeley with my mom next Friday to check out the Social Welfare program they have to offer and get some insight on how to fund my two years of graduate work. I hope I like the city as much as everyone else does. I have heard it is a different universe up there but I am ready to take it on!

Have a wonderful Thursday and weekend! I know I will, especially since I am seeing Phoenix this Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl with two of my favorite people, oh and Chris. :)

We Will Never Forget

{image via here}

I was in eighth grade, getting ready for school. My uncle, who was in Chicago at the time, called us and told us to turn on the news. I didn't exactly know what was going on at the time but it looked bad. When the first tower fell I yelled to my mom and she was blow drying her hair and she came running into the living room.

Everyone knows exactly where they were when they either saw the images or heard about what had happened.

I remember not being able to sleep in my own room that night. I was alone and scared. I slept with my sister in her bed praying that no one would hurt my family that night. That terrorist attack did exactly what the name says. It put terror into the hearts and lives of families and individuals all over the country.

Nine years later, we still have photographic memories of that morning. My heart goes out to all those who lost their lives or had a family member, best friend or even acquaintance who died that day. Let's hope something that catastrophic will never happen on US soil again.

#87 Frankenstein (1931)

{image via here}

Up until last night, I thought "Frankenstein" was the monster. Why are costumes depicted around Halloween to be named Frankenstein when Frankenstein was the actual scientist who made the monster? I don't know but this movie is just a classic. Very short and basic but rich with a good story. I can see how this movie could have been drastic for it's time. A dead child, questioning God and suspense coming from the screen. I liked it a lot. Boris Karloff did an amazing job as the monster and now I know his correct character name :)

You've been warned...

Religion

{image via Linda}

#88 Easy Rider (1969)

{image via here}

I didn't get it. This movie was super boring to me. The only good aspect to this movie was the cinematography for its time and the wide angle shots of the landscapes and such. Still, how in the world is this above Pulp Fiction and Unforgiven?! The first disappointment on the AFI list. I am not discouraged though, Fargo is coming up and other great movies!

Overwhelmed with Excitement

Hi all! Things have been a little crazy this past week and a half but that comes naturally with the start of a new semester. First weeks are for testing the waters and getting used to making the drive to school and dealing with twenty thousand others trying to fit into four parking areas/structures (and that is no exaggeration). Other than the much anticipated first lectures and zoo on campus as early as 7:50am, school is great! My brother and boyfriend now attend CSUF so we are all kind of taking advantage of our breaks together and making good use of our time here. On campus, we have a "rec center" that is crazy cool. Tons of working out equipment from free weights, yoga studios, bench presses, treadmills to an indoor track! It has something to offer everyone. Josh, Mike and I have been a few times already and classes just started eight days ago. It's nice to be able to access something that is FREE (well it is included in our tuition).

Other than classes and the gym, I am a research assistant this semester. So far, I have helped one graduate student in getting her data all organized and systematic. I am assisting a professor who taught social psychology which is one of my favorite areas of psychology so all the research being done in the department right now is extremely interesting to me and to just be a small part of getting studies completed makes my day. I am so happy to help any one and I know I will truly learn a lot from this experience and what it is like to be a grad student since I will soon be one.

I forgot how much school and work simultaneously take up your life. It is only week two and my time spent with friends, family or free time has shrunk significantly. This next month will be heartbreaking because one of my friends, a marine, deploys to Afghanistan in a couple weeks and another is moving to Korea for a year! I guess with the more people gone, the more time there is to focus on school? Yes but I am going to miss them dearly.

All this change is happening quickly but I know in the blink of an eye it will be finals week and Christmas so I am going to try to make the best of this semester and soak up all the time I have left at CSUF because I really love that school. I can't believe I will be gone in less than a year. Regardless, I am overwhelmed with excitement of what is to come for the rest of this year.

I hope you all have a good rest of the week. Can you believe it is September tomorrow!?

#89 Patton (1970)

{True General George Patton}

{George Scott as Patton}

This film about "Old Blood and Guts" himself was quite the character builder. A long movie (three hours) filled with dialogue was bearable because Scott's acting was astonishing. No wonder he won the Oscar that year. I usually hate history but whenever the topic of World War II comes up I am immediately drawn to this fascinating time in the world. I had a good time watching this film and seeing the war in a different light. There was no Holocaust mentions, Hitler actors, or bombs over Berlin. This movie shed a light on what also went on during the war. Great film, one of my favorite war movies of all time.

New Hair

I love it! My hair stylist took a good five-six inches off and I got layers and bangs :) I am officially ready to start school! Goodbye Summer, hello books and part-time paychecks. I am so excited to spend this semester with "my boys" (Mike, Josh and Matt). CSUF will be even better than it already was.

Haters

{image here}

This is awesome. Don't let people who don't matter get you down! In the words of the Jersey Shore cast, "Do you and I'll do me." Hope you have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!

p.s. I start school Monday ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Taylor Swift

"We're taking on the world together, and there's a drawer of my stuff at your place. You know my secrets and figure out why I'm guarded, you say we'll never make my parents mistakes.

But we got bills to pay, we have nothing figured out. When it was hard to take, that's when I thought about...

You made a rebel out of a careless man's careful daughter, you are the best thing that's ever been mine."

-Mine

OC Fair

Pictures from the fair...

{via Linda}

{via me}

I had not been to the fair since I was twelve so this was kind of a new experience. Chris, Linda, Mike and I basically went to the fair to eat. And that is exactly what we did. $80 later for Mike and I we were out of money and decided to leave before it got dark. The crowd was getting thick by the time we left on a Friday early evening, besides we were all tired and had food comas. It was a successful trip!

Inception

Now that I have seen the movie three times I would consider myself a fanatic. Lame, I know. The movie is brilliant and each time I watch it I have gotten something more out of it. I think I am done though. Maybe one more time when it comes out on DVD. I could practically read off the dialogue with the characters and yet I can not explain the actual movie to people who have not seen it. It is too complex and that is what makes it so endearing. This diagram from Joseph Gorden-Levitt's Tumblr is a great outline to the movie. Simply amazing.

The Wedding

The wedding went absolutely perfect. Lizz looked so gorgeous and I am so happy I got to be a part of it. I was there for pretty much all of Lizz's relationships and when her and Eddie started dating she became a more cheerful and better person. He has a loving affect on her that no man has ever given her. I am so glad she met some one who she can spend the rest of her life with.

Lizz

Today, my best friend from high school is getting married. I still remember the day we met back in 2002 and I can't believe how much we both have changed and matured over the years. Lizz finally met a man who respects her and possibly loves her more than I do. I am so thrilled for her to turn the page onto the next chapter in life with a husband and moving away from home. It will be a challenge but if anyone I know who can adapt well it is her. Congrats to Lizz and Eddie, may you have love and happiness forever!

(Pictures of the wedding will be posted as soon as I have them.)

Iris

"I don't want the world to see me cause I don't think they'd understand. When everything is made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am."

-Goo Goo Dolls

Fall 2010

This entry is pretty much for Linda's reference considering she is probably the only CSUF student that reads this blog and cares haha.

My schedule is as follows:

Psychology 304: Comparative Animal Behavior - MW 10-11:15am

Philosophy 329: American Philosophy - MW 11:30-12:45pm

Sociology 357: Race and Ethnic Relations - W 4-6:45pm

Psychology 371: Evolutionary Psychology - TH 4-6:45pm

Psychology 498: Research Assistant - Days and Times TBD

I hope I get to see a lot of my other Asian lover :)

Exquisite Grace

This is all just lovely. I want a classic white decorated bathroom or dining set now, with a chandelier of course.

[images via here]

GRE

After six long hard months of contemplating I have finally chosen the four schools I will be applying to for graduate school. I wish I could apply to more but the cost of applying to one school plus the cost of transcripts from every college attended... let's do the math!

3 colleges attended x $15 a transcript x 4 schools grad schools I am applying to = $180 + $45 (UCLA requires two sets of transcripts) = $225 just for transcripts = BLAH.

This is why I have narrowed my application process down to four lucky schools. They are:

California State University, Fullerton

Applying for: Masters of Arts in Counseling

California State University, Long Beach

Applying for: Masters of Social Work (MSW)

University of California, Berkeley

Applying for: Masters of Social Welfare (MSW)

University of California, Los Angeles

Applying for: Masters of Social Welfare (MSW)

So as you can see I have decided to stay public. Even though tuition fees rise every year the state schools are still cheaper than any of the private universities I was looking at. I need to sign up to take the GRE but I am waiting until I have $160 to spare. There are still seats for the graduate record exam this weekend so I am figuring it's not as much of a rush to sign up like the SATs were in high school. I need to start studying for this record exam though. I do not have the highest vocabulary and always somehow score the average when it comes to standardized testing so I am hoping to score high enough for the UC system to want me as their student. I will be attending information sessions this coming Fall in Berkeley and Los Angeles to see which school I could see myself going to. I would probably go to LA if I got into both schools just because I know enough people who live in the city which would make it easier for housing but Berkeley intrigues me and this would be a great time to move away and be independent for two years. Everything is up in the air right now and I am kind of excited for it. I have the same feeling I had my senior year of high school. The feeling of unknown is fun. I am ready for a change and challenge and I hope these four schools will see that in my applications.

I love my cousin.

That is all.

Booked!

image via Alvin, a friend from high school :)

Seattle, WA is officially booked. Mike and I will be heading north this Fall. In November we will be staying at a bed and breakfast for the first time and flying Alaskan Airlines. We both have been wanting to travel to Seattle for a good two years now and we are finally doing it! Beyond excited for this trip and it is always nice to have something to look forward to.

Despised Conversations

This is just a taste of the questions I get on a regular basis from friends, co-workers, family and peers. I dislike these five questions the most. I would just like to answer a few and get it out there for my blog viewers.

"When are you and Mike getting married?"

A: Mike and I will be getting married sometime after he asks me to marry him and that is IF he ever asks me. I can't predict the future. What I do know is we have an understanding that we both should have bachelor degrees before we even think about making a trip to the alter. We have been together over seven years, that is enough commitment for me. I don't need a ring on my left finger to feel like Mike is mine. We are soul mates and that is all that matters.

"Why are you going to wait until you are 30 to have children?"

A: First off, who are you to judge when or what I do with my life. There was a quick point in my life where I thought "hmmm, maybe I won't have children" but that time passed quickly and I will have children when the time is right. I don't care about being an "old mom" as if 45 is old to have a teenager in the house? I want to live MY life first and become financially independent with my husband so my children can have the best opportunities. I would think that is more important than being a 45 year old grandma. Children will come after marriage and by the looks of the first question I answered, that is not in the near future.

"What are you going to do with a psychology/sociology major in the real world?"

A: The point of higher education is to learn how to critically think and manage time while thinking outside of the box. Yes, I learn concepts, theories and specific information but how much of that will I remember in five years? College is about taking the time out of your life and making the sacrifice to dedicate time to learning. Psychology and sociology are interesting to me because I am fascinated by human behavior. I will be attending graduate school after my bachelor's degree is attained and that will lead me to a career either in counseling or community work. Spare me with the "social workers don't make any money." I don't care. I am following what I love and when you are happy the money and fulfillment follows.

"Is it true what they say about Asians?"

A: You mean that they are good at math? No, it isn't true. Mike has a real hard time grasping algebra and geometry concepts. He is an English major, sue him. If we are talking about the other thing... it's a no as well. Who asks this question really? I already have to live with the stereotypical jokes and laugh at them myself because it is funny to joke every once and awhile but it gets old. Whatever, I am happy :)

"You have an amazing job, how do you not have enough money to go out?"

A: This question usually comes from people my age who work in retail or have minimum wage jobs. Pretty much the only bills I don't pay for is my rent, which is a shared room with my sister, and food at home. I pay for everything car related, cell phone bill, school tuition and all medical bills. That adds up and sorry if I can't go out and party every weekend. I am very happy with how I manage my spending though... I am pretty much ready for the real world. I just need a big girl job so I can move out.

I hope this answers your questions :)

#90 The Jazz Singer (1927)

image via here

I entered the idea of The Jazz Singer thinking okay, it is only eighty-eight minutes and how bad could it be if it is on the AFI list. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this mostly silent film. This movie is one of the biggest breakthrough movies in film, being the first to portray somewhat of a musical. The movie technology for entering music and lyrics started with this film. As I watched this heartfelt story unravel before me in silence, I got a random upbeat jazz song to let my eyes rest from reading. Al Jolson was interesting to watch because he made the oddest facial expressions. I guess with silent movies you need a highly enthusiastic face. The oldest film on this list yet and I am a fan. I finally made it into the 80's! Next up is Patton (basically three long hours of war). I am up for the task!

#91 My Fair Lady (1964)

picture of Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Dolittle

My Fair Lady is a musical targeting life's natural occurrences. The economic divide, family issues, spunky women and sexism at its finest. It is witty and charming along with a few good songs you can't help but repeat a few hours later. The story line reminded me of She's All That because they take this poor girl and bet that she can not become a lady, when in fact she does but still shows her roots from time to time. It's amazing how all of these older films clearly paved the road for the story line formulas that are used time after time after time today. Same story but with different characters. This film was a little too long for my liking but I could see how it got on the list. It's conventional and would appeal to a large audience at that time. Good but not amazing.

Quote Love

"The personal life deeply lived always expands into truths beyond itself."

-Anaïs Nin

Think about it :)

I'm off to go see The Kids Are All Right.

I love Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore. I'll let you know how it was.

**Update: The movie was excellent!! I cried twice and laughed a good fifteen times. The characters were easy to relate to and seeing Mark Ruffalo's butt shot was pretty nice too ;)

In Love

{both pictures via here}

Long kisses on a street, yummy warm lattes. These are a few things that I wish I had right now. Too bad my boyfriend is gone for the weekend in Sequoia on a camping trip and the weather is way too hot to enjoy a hot beverage. I guess I will have to "settle" on loving Lizz tomorrow night as we go see The Kids Are All Right (one that I could only see with Lizz) and spend the weekend with my family. This weekend should be a great one even though long kisses and hot lattes are not on the agenda. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend as well!

#92 A Place In The Sun (1951)

Montgomery Clift, oh my. He was one fine man back in the day, why are all the cute ones presumably gay? His poor character mixed with sexiness (kind of reminded me of Jack Dawson from Titanic) caught my eye immediately in the first scene. Oh and then there is Elizabeth Taylor. A gorgeous girl and played great opposite to Clift. This movie was the first on the list to actual portray true drama. Every love scene was dramatic in what was said, how it was said and the music behind it all. I found it incredibly cute and somewhat cheesy but hey, it was made in 1951. The best thing about this movie was that it wasn't your typical Hollywood "happily ever after" ending. The realism made this story all the more interesting. I am glad I finally got to see it after a two month hiatus from the AFI movies. I need to definitely make up some ground. Until the next movie...

Incredible

My HTC Droid Incredible finally came in the mail this past Tuesday. It took 24 long days for it to get here and a back order that seemed to have no end in sight but this phone has a home. This phone has exceeded my expectations and I have only owned it for five days. I do not know what I did without it, which sounds very materialist to say but it is the truth. Applications and the amazing speed from the processor makes this phone, well, "incredible." I am also happy to be back with Verizon. T-Mobile was a good service to have on my own because it was cheaper but now that I am just an add-on, my bill has decreased by $30. That is $360 a year! Needless to say, I am a happy camper. Other than the fact that my dad says in a monotone voice "DROID" every time I pull my phone out.

It's Been Awhile...

Here is a look at what my family and I were up to about a week ago in Missouri...

{Mike and I above the Marina State Park}

{grandma lovin'}

{cliff jumping}

{tubing}

{multiple tubing!}

{grandma on our pontoon boat}

{view of the lake we were on in Missouri/Arkansas}

{we all picked names out of a hat and made dinners on designated nights, this was Aubrey and Josh's night}

{beautiful sunset}

Words can not describe the amazing time I had in Branson, I figured these pictures would give you an idea. Spending quality time with family and sharing memories with loved ones is what every vacation should be about. We experienced new things (like jumping off cliffs into 29 feet deep lakes) and spent time relaxing as well (saw Toy Story 3 in 3D). We did much more than the pictures do it justice like hiking, swimming, shopping, downtown sight seeing, bar hopping, playing board games, tanning, a grandma tribute session and ate delicious home cooked meals. I couldn't be more grateful for my grandma and Uncle Brad for funding a huge chunk of this trip. Thank you so much! We have decided this needs to be an annual tradition. Next stop, Wisconsin lake house? Next Summer we will see :)