La Jolla Cove Day

After the madness of the previous 2 days, we decided to keep it chill on the Sabbath. We hit up the Cove for some Sunday appropriate activities which included a fashion shoot of the 2 graduates. I think we have a potential models in the cap and gown photo industry
Pondering all that life has in store for us.



Reaching our full potential

Graduation Weekend Continued!

After all the pomp and circumstance of the graduation we decided to live it up SD style. On Saturday night we went to a padres game where the were giving out free t shirts. Philly boy decided that he was too cool for a jacket or pants and was freezing until he....

made an outfit out of 4 of those shirts. No worries when he went to the bathroom and we got lots of pics of him walking back up with people starring at him.

Curtis and Tamara

Mr. Kim and Philly Boy

Philip and Truth
It was a good game, pretty cold though. Good thing we had all those extra shirts

Graduation Weekend

It finally happened. My graduation from SDSU. It was a fun weekend full of the whole family and lots of fun. My ceremony was on Friday morning and Steph's was on Saturday morning. So it felt a little like Ground Hog's Day, but being with the fam totally made it worth it. Here are some pics to highlight the trip.

Here we are waiting outside the arena to go it. It was really hot in the robes and the salmon colored hoods. But I did love the salmon and pink hoods.

One of my favorite friends who went to Jamaica with me and had some classes together. The view from my 4th row seat inside the arena

The view from my 4th row seat inside the arena.

More waiting outside photos of the girls.

AHHHH, so cute! That's a keeper.

Here we are after the ceremony. Well, during the ceremony. I left after they read my name. We had a baby that needed to sleep.

At my favorite restaurant in San Diego. The server was from Sardinia and loved my Sardinian wedding ring. At the end of the meal, we had a fabulous dessert that Curtisx2 loved.

Here is the former family baby having a hard time with the fact that he is no longer the family baby. He has been replaced with....

This lovable guy who is being attacked by a puppet.

The whole family after the ceremony. Truth made a lay with money and I got a nice floral one from Mr. Kim with fresh flowers. It was a great Memorial Day Weekend.

Summer Vacation

This year I have been having the most wonderful summer vacation of which I was so deserving after the thesis. As part of the summer festivities I had to say goodbye to some wonderful friends in San Diego as I have moved away from the sand and sun. I'm now in Stockton on my migratory path to the Mormon Mecca. Stopping in my hometown, I've had a lot of fun. So far I've done a lot of hot yoga, bike riding, frozen yogurt eating and tennis playing. Last Saturday was my first tennis tournament ever and I had a great time. I played 4 matches and was in the cutest tennis skirt all day long! I even won a couple of matches to top it off. Truth and her mixed doubles partner won the consolation bracket(they were the #1 losers) and got a bag. I received nothing of monetary worth, but I did learn a lot about the rules, which was priceless.
Also during my summer vacation I have been job hunting and I'm excited to report that I have my first interview tomorrow, so I've been preparing for that. The job searching has not been as horrid as I thought it would be, but I still technically don't have a job, still, I'm really good at filling out applications. To further the delight of summer vacation I have been quilting. I have finished the top of a quilt I should have finished 1 year ago and started on another quilt with an astral theme. So lots of stars, navigational devices and open seas. I think this was inspired by my new favorite television show "Whale Wars." The guy who started Greenpeace, got voted out because his methods were too "extreme" so he started a new program "The Sea Shepards." I'm a huge fan and have always wanted to join Greenpeace and now someday hope to join this even more extreme group.
I've plans for some wonderful vacations. I will be going to Wyoming to raft the Snake River in July, going to a family reunion in Oregon also in July and hopefully going to Seattle to live it up at the Microsoft village. Also, that trip to Peru keeps calling my name, we will see how the job hunting goes. I look forward to experiencing my first Pioneer Day celebration in the motherland. (I heard it's bigger than the 4th of July out there.)
I just remembered I didn't post any pics from graduation weekend. That will be my next post. So goodbye SD and hello real world with a real job!

Hot Sweaty Yoga

With all this unwanted "HairofGold" time I've been able to pick up some extracurricular activities. Some of you may not think that my intense studies warrant a break, but after 6 months of never really have a weekend and worrying about what I should be doing, I'm taking a little "HairofGold" time.a Lately I've been practicing Bikram Yoga. Some of you may have heard of this, but I have also posted some info from http://www.bikramyoga.com/ the official site. It's 90 minutes of the best exercise ever. Some of your questions may include:

Q. How hot should the room?
A. The recommended temperature is minimum 105F degrees and about 40% humidity.

The room is kept at this temperature or more for the following:

* Keeping the body from overheating (contrary to popular misconception)
* Protecting the muscles to allow for deeper stretching
* Detoxing the body (open pores to let toxins out)
* Thinning the blood to clear the circulatory system
* Increasing heart rate for better cardiovascular workout
* Improving strength by putting muscle tissue in optimal state for reorganization
* Reorganize the lipids (fat) in the muscular structure

Q. What is happening to my body during Bikram yoga?
A. Muscles are contracted and stretched at a cellular, biochemical level. Lipids and proteins reorganize optimally in such stretching, allowing for better circulation. Joint mobility and range of motion is increased, and strength is built by the use of gravity. Muscles and joints are balanced.

Blood and calcium are brought to the bones. Working against gravity strengthens the bones. The organs of the immune system within the bones (red marrow) are boosted.

The lymph nodes are massaged, lymph is pumped throughout the body, and white blood cells are distributed throughout the body as the lymphatic system works more efficiently.

There is compression and extension to the thymus, spleen, appendix and intestines; lungs are stretched and flushed out by increased blood circulation. The endocrine glands are encouraged to secrete appropriate hormones, and the communication between hormones and various glands and systems of the body is perfected. Toxins and waste are eliminated through the organs of elimination.

The nerves are stimulated by compression and extension, improving communication within the systems of the body and supplying fresh blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout. The brain is stimulated by improved circulation and by varying blood pressure.

Q. What are the benefits of Bikram yoga?
A. A minimum of 10 classes per month is recommended to get the benefits of Bikram Yoga, among which is weight normalization. As a beginner, It takes three classes for your body to understand the proper approach to the posture, and ten classes for your body to begin to work with postures. You will realize optimization of all your body systems.

Digestion and respiration, as well as endocrine, lymphatic and elimination systems will begin to work harmoniously. Your appetite will normalize, and your unhealthy cravings will diminish. All of these results will help to normalize your weight if you devote yourself to regular practice, at least, but preferably more than 3 times per week.

Does Bikram Yoga balance emotions?
A. Bikram Yoga helps balance the emotions in several ways.

Physiologically, regular practice harmonizes the nervous and endocrine systems, two systems which figure heavily in emotional well-being.

In addition, practicing Bikram Yoga cultivates the mental faculties of faith, self-control, concentration, determination, and patience. As we become more aware of our inner life, we notice how events, interactions, and even the atmospheric pressure effect us. When we are aware, we can exercise choice in our response. This helps us balance our emotional life.


I must say that I feel much stronger, am more flexible, have better posture and love the intense stretching! I guess I can no longer use that excuse of "crazy emotions made me do/say that." :) Most studios offer a cheap introductory rate for about $20/7days for unlimited yoga. I would suggest it for all you non believers of intense stretching.

The Summer of Golden Hair

Summer has already hit me, well, the feeling of freedom and slight golden skin tone at least. I still have 1 more presentation, 1 paper, 1 take home final and 1 in class final. Other than that, I'm free to do whatever I want. Recently I have added a number of activities to my list of things to do. This includes:
1) Sailing. I have another lovely day on the open sea tomorrow afternoon thanks to the Navy and Big Red. It feels so right, I just couldn't say no.

2) Tennis. I have made a goal to play twice a week to work on serving and to beat Philly Boy. He's a punk anyways who talks a lot of smack and doesn't read this blog so I can say whatever I want about him. I can't wait to play him soon at high elevations. I will be playing some tennis tomorrow morning.

3) Bikram Yoga. For those of you who don't know, this is the sweaty yoga where the room is 90 degrees and you sweat A LOT!!!! I have never had that much sweat on me before, but I love the intense stretching and strength building. I have a week pass so I will be going everyday until Tuesday, when my normal workout routine will resume. I'd just like to take this moment right now to thank my parents for putting my in gymnastics growing up. I am so flexible because of those 4 years and even though I was too tall to compete at an international level, it has enabled me to have "excellent inner strength" according to my instructor today. Yeah, that felt like a gold star to me too.

4) Golf. I have never been 'real' golfing. I've gone to the putting green and driving range, but never the real deal. This Saturday is my big coming out party. I hope it goes well. "I hope I don't suck too bad" really is my mentality. I'm sure all this yoga will help with my lower back. I hear that really hurts golfers.

5) Crafting. Since none of my school friends read this I can say that I am making animal print scarves for them all. I think it will be a huge success. I am especially excited to see the pink snake skin scarves, they have so much potential. Also, I am learning to craft something else, but can't state what at this time because of some of my readers and the upcoming festivities for those who have procreated.

6) Babysitting. Since the nephew is a great distraction for the lil' sista's studies I will be babysitting 'Auntie J style' as needed. So far we have ran on Mission Bay, swung in the swings and gone fabric shopping. He loved it and I even changed a diaper. That makes it twice on this kid for me. He had so much fun, sista told me he cried when I left. I think next time we'll go to Rosies' and really live it up.

7) Live it Up! I don't have much more time here, so everyday is planned to the fullest. Really it is. I quit the job so now have a lot more time to do all the fun things that San Diego has to offer. Finally, I will enjoy this city with no stress and no worries. Anyone up for a good time let me know and we can definitely make some plans.

I Practically Live in Mexico, Really I Do

This weekend I have thoroughly enjoyed the history of San Diego and its cultural. Friday night I drove 30 minutes to Chula Vista (near the border, the real international border, not the Taco Bell one) for some of the best tacos ever. The location called "Tacos el Gordo" is part of a Mexican chain that is highly ranked on all visitor's response scales. They are small, but very good and very greasy. I had a pork and 2 carne asada tacos. The tacos came with generous helpings of cilantro sauce and guacamole. That was Mexican event #1 of the weekend.

Next Sally G. invited me to Chicano Park Day in Barrio Logan. It's just south of downtown and the free was built right through it, kicking a lot of people out and so the city had to build a park. Established by Chicano activists on April 22, 1970, Chicano Park has received international recognition as a major public art site for its mural paintings of the past and present struggle of Mexican and Chicano history. Plus, the lowriders were A PLENTY!!!! So many cool cars, all decked out and oh so close to the ground. Sally G and I are going to start our own car club. I was thinking of naming it "Las Chicas Blancas." I think that would look great on a gold chain and have a spinning rim in there somewhere. It will only be for mid 90's car models from countries that the U.S. helped rebuild after destroying in WWII, but are actually made in Mexico.

After waiting a super long time for a burrito, (they ran out of tortas, which are Mexican for sandwich, not cake) we enjoyed the music and traditional dancing. I applauded for the first group a really long time, because the song they danced to was probably 15 minutes long, no joke and they deserved some lovin' for just being able to make it that long. Here's what it looked like.


I did learn that people who cruise are very nice to pedestrians because they have no where to go and just want to be seen, so they let everyone cross the street. So courteous of them. I also learned that Mexican Spanish is different from other Spanish. Since when is a torta not a sweetened cake? We did have a good time looking at all the booths and jewelery. Turquoise is starting to grow on me. I'm not saying I'll go all Southwestern, but some of the pieces I would wear.

Then I hit up the Padres game vs. Pirates. We took the Trolley from Old Town (aka Mexican touristy spot)and headed downtown. I accidentally bought tickets for Sunday's game, but they still let Dayna, (other roomie) and I in. Plus, it was replica jersey night, so we walked through the line a couple of times and got some extras, just in case something should happen to the other ones. Since we didn't really have seats, we thought why not dream big and so we hit up the nice seats in front in between the pitcher's mound and 3rd base. It was a nice view, too bad the Padres were sucking it up big time. But overall a really great experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day of appreciating the Mexican culture and the area in which I live. Who knows how much longer I'll be here, so I gotta live it!