What’s up people? Just thought I’d ramble on a little bit…..

Well the past two weeks have been ok. I got to go to Canada and meet up friends and family which is always good. I got to eat mad food too that I haven’t gotten to eat in awhile which “helped” me gain an additional 7 pounds of flubber.  After Canada I got a chance to go visit up with Purdue peeps- PFA and 2XS.  I got to watch 2XS practice and it sure brought back memories of back in the day. The team looked good and it seems they just seem to be getting better each time I go see them. I really do miss those days of dancing on a regular. Oh well… something’s you just have to let go of

I only stayed at Purdue for one night but it was fun as always. I certainly forgot how it felt to drink alcohol for hours at a time. (Note to self: I suck at beer pong. Need practice.) If I had any thoughts of being an alcoholic while in the PI - those thoughts quickly vanished as I was at times struggling to keep with the masses.  The party was hype. I got to dance so you know I was enjoying myself, however, I kinda had to bow out early since my level intoxication was keeping me in my always famous 'party pose'…you know the one where I’m sitting down, hunched over, holding my head up with both my hands…yes it was a classic moment. Thanks Christine for getting me home and thanks Justine for the accommodations (and for ironing my shirt by the way )

The past week and a half all I’ve been doing is studying for my USMLE exam- talk about needing mad motivation to do this cuz I’m definitely struggling to keep focused on the goal… especially when I’ll be taking this exam in November. I just can’t seem to put together a day in which I study for more than 4 hours.  My brain just shuts off.

Besides the studying, I’ve been getting use to my role as the “house bitch.” You know…Dishes, Garbage, Babysitting, Vacuuming, Laundry, Mowing the lawn…etc. has become “my thang” as of late.  At least it gives me something to do between those dry spells of not wanting to study.

SHORTS:

-         Have you ever been so focused on taking a shower that in your haste to get in the shower you forget one very important item- a towel? Yeah I did this the other day. Good thing I was the only one in the house ‘cuz running down hallways naked ain’t a good thang. Sorry for the mental picture.

-         What’s up with Fox News? I don’t want to hear 24/7 news coverage of the Duke lacrosse rape story, illegal immigrants and all this political talk about gas prices. Sometimes I think Fox News runs out of shit to report- for real.

-         My video game playing ability has gone out the window. Not playing for 10 months has severely hurt my skills. Case in point… I dusted off my X-Box and started playing some MVP Baseball. I’ve played 10 total games thus far for a combined record of ZERO WINS and 10 LOSSES. Boo.

-         The moms a week and a half ago told me that she thinks I have a gut and has since been urging me to cut back on my fatty lifestyle. Me have a gut? WTF? Give up fatty foods? Oh hell no…

-         I have, however, started working out again everyday. I’m doing okay keeping up with it, but 500 sit-ups a day is starting to get old really fast, as in it just makes Taco Bell, and McDonalds taste so much better.

-         Why is it that everyone seems to have a Motorola Razor cellphone now a days? I feel so left out. I want to join the club

-         The Texans passed on Reggie Bush…freakin ridiculous. GO PACERS!!

-    Of the 2 RnB/Hip-Hop radio stations that I get here in good old Indiana, why is it or how in the world do both these stations play the exact same songs at the exact same time? Moreover, what are the chances of hearing 2 seperate radio stations play 3 songs in the exact same order, at the EXACT same time? I am at a loss for words.

A FEW PICS:

The little ones jumping on uncle Tristan

The 2XS Gang

Roland & Nassar at Breakfast Club

A break in between games of BEER PONG

A Pic with me and some of my cousins in Canada

Ok I’m out. Laterz.

Guess who's back??

"LIKE SWEET MORNING DEW I TOOK ONE LOOK AT YOU AND IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE YOU WERE MY DESTINY YOUR ALL I NEED TO GET BY...."

Alright so yeah i refuse to apologize for not updating this mug, and start this entry with the typical "damn its been long time....blah blah blah." Therefore I shall just start writing and hope that some literate person may stumble on to my endless rhetoric that i have always been known to produce.

It has been a day since I got back and like always home is good. Hot Showers are Good. High speed cable internet is good. Driving my 21 year old car around at 100+ mph is GOOD. Sleeping in my very own queen size bed is good. Seeing the fam is good. Even being told to wash the dishes, to drive my mom around, and to cut the grass is good (but I'm sure this last bit will get real bad real fast in the coming weeks).

Even the 24 hours worth of travel from the Philippines to Indiana was good too- probably the least troubled travel i'd had since leaving for the PI. One - the security check points were fast. Two - customs didn't grill my ass like they usually do. And Three... I love sitting next to OLD THAI LADIES!!! Did I stutter?? You heard me... I hope I sit next to nice, old thai ladies every single time I fly. Why you ask? because after helping these two ladies put their bags up in the storage compartments they proceeded to give me what every guy wants on a long flight home - FOOD!!! I don't know about you but airplane portions of food are mad small. These to ladies gave me practically ALL OF THEIR AIRPLANE FOOD!!!!! They couldn't eat the food since it didn't agree with there low fat, low cholesterol, low salt, low everything diet that their doctors had placed them on. Who am I to argue with a medical opinion, so I basically had 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts meals all within the same flight- It was wonderful.  God bless these two people. So yeah I like airplane food okay- deal with it (See previous entry for validation).

Well another year of medical school over and done with- two more to go. This past school year was good overall. Sure there were a few ups and downs, but the ups definitely outweighed the downs. I learned a lot so that's always good. At the same time while I got my learn on I got to have somewhat of a good time in the process. Sure didn't get to go out as much as last year, but I got to go out every so often... it just meant I had to make it worth while each and everytime i had the chance. I enjoyed hanging out with not just the Fil-Am crew but all my other friends that have come to accept this overly loud kid from Canada. I miss those kats already  

I have no idea how this summer vacation is going to pan out. I have to start studying for the USMLE (the US Medical License Exam) that I'll probably be taking in November (but my mom and dad want me to take it earlier like in June...which is never going to happen).  I think I'm going to Canada tomorrow for easter... as in the 'Rents want me to drive the WHOLE WAY THERE. BOO. "Hi son. Glad your home. We've missed our chauffer dearly." - no they didn't say that but they were sure thinking it  I also plan to go visit my friends at Purdue for the annual grand prix weekend. This should be fun. I'll be taking a lot of pics in order to capture the appropriate madness that will ensue.

Before I leave... I have one last thing to say or ask... Am I really that nice to the point that girls can't tell that I like them because they think I act and do nice things for everyone???? BOOOOO.... that's it next year I'm just gonna become a big asshole to everyone else so there will be a greater area of clarity for those who need it. WHATEVER like thats going to happen...ok ok..so yeah I'm nice to everyone. Is it really my fault? I really got to re-think my game plan.

Okay I'm out... until my next post in some X amount of months. Here are few memory pics from this past year

The 2008B Bball Team - We made it to the playoffs this year which was good. But next we're taking the trophy home

Remember the Orbe Final I was talking about? See wasn't lying....LAST MAN STANDING

2008B Christmas Party

Heat Stroke 2008 Fashion show with Janet, Franz, Aila, Janice, & Keiko

Me, Jeff and the "Dancing Chicks"... who ever thought I'd be in dance competitions in Med school

One of the many time my books ran away from me and I had nothing to do

Me and Ina trying to break eggs at the Christmas party...I broke mine- thats all i got to say.

Outside of TGIFs at the Twins Birthday Dinner

I gave Aubrey her "Birthday Lap Dance Present" that she requested at my very own birthday party. Next years party is going to be the last but i'm sure it'll be even more wild than the past two years.

"The Rubber Gloves" Bowling Team- a salute to the Gastrointestinal Module.

Thank God I survived another year of med school.

Yes home is good. I got back to good ol' Indiana on Monday after a long 24 hours of traveling... actually it wasn't that bad. I pretty much slept the whole entire way. I only woke up to only eat basically, which I take a moment to say that I LOVE PLANE FOOD!!!! It was just so good... or it could've been just that I was really hungry. I'll be around only 'til the 29th of December (instead of after New Years like everyone else) since my parents think its best that I go back early so that I won't suffer from jet lag while in school- BOOOOOOOOOOO.... yeah my parents love me.

When I landed in Detroit food once again was the first thing on my mind as I instantly spotted a Fudruckers Burger stand. Talk about indulging...I got a 1/2 pound burger with cheese and bacon, a drink, an order of some really greasy fries, and of course one Heineken  I love food...especially Fudrucker Burgers...I just don't like the price. All I got to say it's been a while since I paid $16 dollars for a complete meal- absolutely ridiculous.

Besides my hunger fix, things are pretty much good around here in Indiana. There isn't much snow (well at least no enough to cause driving troubles), but damn it sure is cold as F@!#. Today it was in the negative farenheit range (around the -16 degrees C), which is cold in itself and feels even colder when you've spent the last 7 months in the always freakin hot Philippines. I'm still waiting for the first major snow storm that will give me the always wonderful job of shoveling our driveway  I so hate snow. I haven't seen snow in one and a half years and i certainly wasn't happy to see it when I stepped off the plane.

Tomorrow I'm off to Canada to spend Christmas in London and Toronto. It'll be good since I really have been missing my family as of late, so I'm glad for the opportunity to come home this Christmas. I just don't know how I'm gonna handle the winter driving. I haven't driven a car in 7 months, and now I have to drive 8 hours in icy, wintery conditions.... this is going to be fun. Anyways I'll be sure to update this thing at least one more time before I go home. So I just wanted to say that if I don't get to see you as I travel around- Merry Christmas and Happy new year.

(Dec 22, 2005 Edit... Finally got a good enough connection to put up some pics)

"I'm so sick, it happened to quick lookin at old flicks tryin to figure out where we went wrong the radio turns on that's our song..." - Jin on Ne-Yo's track "So Sick." Definitely feeling this track right now

Okay I know I should really be studying right now... but hey a man got a right to procrastinate if he wants to right? Hehe. Well shoot just thought I'd ramble a little, since I'm pretty sure everyone who used to read this doesn't anymore and because i'm sure there are some people out there who think i'm dead. Just so you know... I'm alive and well   This basically is an entry for me, so if you happen to read....cool

The Philippines has been treating me well as usual...Althougth I have to say that a lot has been on my mind lately and it hasn't been exactly school related. All I got to say is this world is full of ups, downs, and a multitude of surprises that you got to be ready for. Things are looking up tho for real, as in I'm "content" with everything at the moment. I'm just still a little disappointed about how things ended... as in I'm cool with endings but not with this particular one. Who knows...maybe i'll never be cool with it, but hey that's how the cookie crumbles doesn't it. Life is an ongoing learning process...so I guess I learned a lot about people, how things should be handled when things don't workout, and how essentially SHIT HAPPENS when you least expect it. Boo... but don't sweat- i'm never out of the game....I'm just taking a little break for awhile. Hehe

In other news...

• I went to go see the Exorcist of Emily (or "Donnie") Rose last Thursday. I have to say I was very disappointed
  • I did enjoy however, trying to find the supposedly 80 foot Christmas tree around Araneta Colisium with Resty, Aubrey, Oliver, Jojo, Albert, and Jafer
  • I also enjoyed the nearly two hours of HOOKAH at Cafe Havana - remember people "What happens at Cafe Havana stays at Cafe Havana" Hahahahaha.....goodtimes for real

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1. The "Emily Rose Gang", 2- Disappointment in not finding the supposed 80 ft Christmas tree, 3- Cafe Havana and the "Hookah Clan, 4 - Me and Oliver hanging out in the food court of Gateway (after I ate way to much at Wemdy's)

• Friday, I managed to get through my Orbe final (an entrance "exam" of sorts  of this medical organization that I recently joined)...All I can say "LAST MAN STANDING"  I definitely drank a lot this past Friday and I have no idea how it happened that I was the only one not on the floor passed out. Lastly, on this subject....Resty your my boy and everything but damn kid you were an ASSHOLE that night- 3 full cups of gin, rum, and beer mix you made me drink????? Haha...its all good tho it was fun. My liver shall remember you forever!!! Congrats to the others for "surviving" -Carlo, Lei, Mark, Jasser, and Mike
• Saturday the Fil-Am crew got together and had thanksgiving dinner at Keiko's place. Maddddd foood!!!!! Turkey, mashed potatos, pasta....madd good...too bad my stomach was a little upset from my previous nights drinking binge  The food still was good regardless of the gurgling feeling that followed me around the whole night

5- 6- 7-

5- The Food, 6-  Me being extremely full and bloated with the rest of the Fil-AM crew, 7- Don't ask....

• Sunday was another good day. Me, Mark, Matt, Anna, and Arthur went with Imee to spend a day at Cavite Country club to do a little pre-game birthday celebration. I got to workout, play a little basketball, hungout by the pool (I didn't really swim very much since I'm pretty much a rock in water when it comes to swimming), and even played a few games of bowling (If you didn't know...bowling has definitely become a favorite of fil-ams here in the PI... I think we are on the verge of becoming professionals since we play all the time - well not really  we just seem to play a lot). Later that night we ate Josephine's a very nice seafood place in which I hope to visit again sometime soon
  • Question of the day posed by the females in the group to the guys in the group: "If you had the choice of being ugly and well-endowed or Goodlooking with a small member what would you choose?" Hehehehehehehe......

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8- Arriving at the Country Club, 9- Matt & Anna Bowling, 10- Twin #2 Mark excited for da country club

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11- Arthur, Imee, and Me hanging out by the pool, 12- Margaritas as usual

• Monday (yesterday) was a holiday so yes... there was NO SCHOOL. Didn't do much except sleep, worked out at ABS-CBN, went to Imee's birthday lunch at Don Henricos and finally found some time to study something

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12 & 13 - Pics from Imee's Birthday Lunch at Don Henricho's

• Misc....
  • I've been working out like mad for the past 8 weeks...I think I'm addicted and have resorted back to my high school days of working out almost everyday (ok maybe like 4-5 times a week. It's been going good... I put 200 pounds up on the bench a week ago for the first time in my life... sure it took 9 years in the making but hey- at least I got there. (I must say that workingout is definitely a better hobby then me being a pseudo alcoholic.)
  • I really hate people at the gym who look at themselves for minutes at a time in the mirror when you happen to need the weights/machine they are using- YES this is one of my pet peeves
  • Kris Kringle...I love it. Cheese cake... I love it. Eating at UCC....Hate it- why do i always feel sick after eating at this place

This concludes my rambling. Sorry I can't put up pics...I would but my connection is waaaay to slow. I hope you all are doing well. I'll be going home for Christmas on Dec. 19th til Dec. 30th - so get at me if you can catch me  Later people

So yeah I'll admit this little entry is waaaay over due. I've been road tripping everywhere I just can't help but ignore my "xanga responsibilites."  As it turns out,  I've finally have found some free time to rant, rave, bitch, blog...whatever.  SO LET THE UPDATE BEGIN....... 3,2,1....

Well I've been back on North American soil for about four weeks now... I must say they've gone by very fast.  The plane ride back was "interesting" in that a 2 year old kid and a newborn sitting directly behind me made my 14 hour plus flight from Japan to Detroit....."memorable" to say the least.... nothing like constant crying and the ever so soothing banging/kicking of my seat to get me in the mood to come back home. Note to self: Do I really want to be a pediatrician? hmmm.....

Before I go on, I just wanted to give a shout out to my UERM people in the Philippines. Miss you guys for real. It's funny. I've spent the last 2 months thinking of home and now that I'm here I'm already thinking about going back to the Philippines 'cause it just seems a lil weird being a away from you crazy fun people.  Thanks for making my first year a memorable one-  Especially my groupmates. See you guys and gals in June. Told you Aubrey I'd update my blog- Tristan keeps his promises. Hehe.

All I can say, IT FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME. Don't get me wrong, the PI for the past 11 months has been great- I've met amazing people, got to learn a whole bunch and experience new things, but man......I was home sick for real. I never thought I'd ever be so happy to go back to all places- BLUFFTON, Indiana.... small town USA, cornfields, basketball courts in barns, 10,000 people who just seem to know each other, a place in which the filipino/ethnic community totals about 4 persons....i.e. MY FAMILY. Okay maybe it wasn't the good ol' town of Bluffton I missed so much, but I sure did miss my family.

What have I been doing these past four weeks you ask????? Well, besides washing/tuning up cars and basically trying to be lazy, I've been taxi cab drivier for the most part. Before I got back, I haven't driven a car in over 11 months period. I was affraid I forgot how to, so I was a lil' surprised that 2 days after stepping off a plane my parents were telling me to drop off my lola in Canada. I was so nerrrrrvous getting behind the wheel. I felt like I was 15 again and I just got my driving permit.  Going over 60 mph seemed like Warp 10 at first, but that wore off quickly. Before I knew it I was back to my usual "race car/ speed freak self."  I almost forgot how fun it was to drive in Canada. Ontario Canada is the only place i've driven in in which I can be driving 95+ mph hour (~160 km/Hr) on the highway and still be passed by a hella lot of cars like I was a senior citizen or something.

See no lie....

The Canada trip was good. Got to see my cousins, aunts, uncles and old friends. Nothing like family and friends to put a smile on my face . I wish I could of stayed longer but my sister had a baby, so I had to come back. That's right you heard it. My sister has produced another baby in which I'm sure will find ways in the future to take advantage of their ever so cool uncle Tristan.  Wow, I'm definitely losing the kids race with my sister. Trisha 3. Tristan 0. 

So after Canada I had to go to Chicago to pick up my cousins Kristine and Caesar from the airport. My cousin Kristine is a 4th year med student and she got a 1 month internship at Baylor University in Texas. My cousin Caesar , or C as he is called,  is my roomate in med school and he'll be here until the end of May when him and me go back to school just in time for school, which starts up on June 6th.

So okay I'll admit it i'm tired so i'm gonna cop out and give you the condensed 4 week update version.... in a nutshell here's the last 4 weeks..... Got back April 1st, had a big welcome home party with lots of fettuchini alfredo yum, crazy jet lag, finally bought an X-Box, drove my lola back to Canada- saw and hung out with some old school friends, drove really fast,  hung out with my cousin Ramil, after Canada picked up my cousins in Chicago and then went directly to Purdue- stayed for 4 days at KRIS/REX/MARITESSES' place, met with friends, got madd drunk, met up with frat, strolled and danced at some party at Magoo's, saw my old dance group Dance 2XS perform at U-Sing Competition- which they won CONGRATS guys!!!!!!, found time to go to Cactus, bought some new Nikes, Hookah'd with Sue, Vingh, and Roland, ate with my fellow PFAers at the end of the year potluck, DOUG I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WAITED ALL THESE YEARS TO START DRINKING....SHAME ON YOU; after Purdue I drove back to Bluffton hung out with the fam, washed cars, cut the grass, ate a lot of junk food, almost cried when my computer crashed- freaking laptop!!!; then I drove for 19 hours to Texas to drop off my cousin Kristine, ate lots of steak and pototos, gained 5 pound in 3 days, and then drove back again to Bluffton, the drive sucked bad.... and now....I'm at home..... getting ready to go to Chicago for a wedding.  Did you get all that? Anyways I'm out. I need some sleep cuz I'm driving again tomorrow- BOO. I leave you with  a few pics from the past 4 weeks. Goodnight.

5-6-7-

CANADA 5- My cousins Jonathan, Quenna Mae, Conly and Jason, 6-7 Roaming the streets of London Ontario with my friends Merhawi, Magda, and Kelly.

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8 - PFA end of the year potlock 9- Dance 2XS Purdue practicing for U-Sing 10 - Me and Da Girls.

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11 - One of the many stops during my 19 hour driving voyage to Texas.