If You Were to Know Someone Like Chelsey...

      If you were to know someone like Chelsey, you would probably tell her Happy Birthday today.  "Why?" you might ask.  Well, I have no flippin' clue, just to be nice?
      If you were to know someone like Chelsey, you would know how much she likes mac and cheese...but only the Kraft's blue box.  The ones with the cartoon shapes.  And I mean really, really like; as in eating it everyday kind of like.
      If you were to know someone like Chelsey, you would know how much she looooooves the Twilight series and how R-Pats is her not-so-secret lover.  She also has a thing for vampires as she has also read and watched Vampire Diaries and True Blood.  She will also have a serious conversation with you about the different definitions of vampires and which one she believes is correct.
      Now, I haven't read, watched, or frankly, cared about any of this vampire...stuff, but I do enjoy Chelsey's recaps of the Vampire Diaries books.  That's some crazy ish right there!  Also, the author is a crazy unicorn-riding nut as Chelsey proved by showing us her website and reading her "About the Author" section of the back of the book. It made us laugh and laugh.
       Speaking of laughing, if you were to know someone like Chelsey, you'd be laughing all of the time at the funny, crazy, and sometimes bizarre things she'll say or do. You'll laugh so hard that you will spit your toothpaste out all over the floor.  In fact, that's where some of our funniest moments have occurred.  Whether it was making up our own language of toothbrushing, "spying" on people in the living room (or mocking them, you're choice), we always had a good laugh in the bathroom.
      If you were to know someone like Chelsey, you'd also be dying a lot.  She has an unhealthy preoccupation with stabbing ("gutting") me with an invisible knitting needle.  And, since I am an enabler, I over-dramatically, painfully, and slowly squirm around on the floor until she "bitch slaps" me and then I "die" until she gives me the OK to get up.  Sounds like fun, right?  Wrong!  Because sometimes she doesn't give me the OK, and instead, drags me by my feet to my room.  Yes, we are adult, college students.
     If you were to know someone like Chelsey, you'd be the luckiest person in the world.  She pulled me out of my darkness with her kindness, openness, and love.  She lights up all of my days, even when I'm not with her, because something always reminds me of her.  Her smile is infectious and laughing with her will clear up any dark, cloudy day.  She's the bestest of friends and greatest of greats.  She's all that I need in a friend, but sometimes she seems more like a sister.  
    She's the pal you play in the rain with, tell your darkest secrets to, chase around the room while calling  out in your Batman voice, go to for a shoulder to cry on, go to for encouragement when you feel like giving up, go running to because everyone else has left, push into donation bins, want to share an apartment with, want to have for your entire life, and will tell your grandkids about.
    I AM fortunate to know someone like Chelsey and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for everything she has done for me.  She is such an amazing, talented, beautiful, intelligent, passionate, loud, crazy, warm, energetic, sincere human being.*  I love her more than I can put into words.  I hope she has   an amazing birthday and many more to come.  I miss her and can't wait to her!


*As of print time, the tests had not yet come in confirming this.  But it can be assumed, at least for this article, that Chelsey, is, indeed, a human being.


"A friend is a second self" -Aristotle


"Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another" -Eustace budgell


"The road to a friend's house is never long" -Anonymous    

What Do You Remember?

So as I was successfully avoiding studying for finals, I stumbled upon (literally) these two quizzes, and thought they were very poignant. It's entitled the "Charles Schultz Philosophy."



1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world .
The few that come to mind our Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and that other guy...
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
I believe Tim Tebow won one year...all I know is that the Trojans haven't won one for awhile, so it doesn't really matter.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.
The current Miss America is named something like Fakimh, and the only reason I know this is because she is the first woman of Middle Eastern descent to win, which of course, really pissed off all of the Fox and Friends, and probably my grandparents. Also, there was/is some controversy surrounding whether or not she participated in a pole dancing competition or something. Well, if you haven't yet figured out that the Miss America Contest is full of slutty, made-up, fake, "All-American" girls, then you must not be from around here.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Pretty sure someone by the name of Obama recently won a Nobel Peace Prize, but I believe the jury is still out on just exactly what he won it for.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
Not a strength of mine. I would like to say Johnny Depp for all of them, but sadly that's not true. I do know that Meryl Streep has been nominated like a scagillion times, without yet winning one.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
Hell yah! This is my category! Ready? 1996-Yankees, 1997-Nobody cares, 1998-Yankees, 1999-Yankees, 2000-Yankees, 2001-Diamondbacks, 2002-Angels, 2003- Marlins, 2004-Team to remain unnamed, 2005-White Sox, 2006-Cardinals, 2007-Team to remain unnamed, 2008-Phillies, 2009-Yankees. Sit on that!

But that's not the point. Here's the next list of questions that puts the whole quiz into perspective:


1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school...
The top three teachers that have influenced me and have helped me become the person that I am both academically and as a whole have to be my 7th grade teacher, Mr. Duxbury, who taught history. He was such a cool guy and totally put up with all of our crap. He also taught me a lot about personal strength, perseverance, and optimism. His wife had some sort of cancer, I never knew what kind or how bad, but I think it was pretty bad (not that cancer is ever good, but you know what I mean). He never let it bother him, at least in front of us, and would joke around with us. I remember him leaving funny responses to my somewhat sarcastic or attempts at humorous remarks on my homeworks and tests. I look up to him a lot, and always thought he had so much strength to put the worries and stress that his wife's cancer must have brought to teach the crazy kids that we were. He made history fun and I still have a great passion for it today.

My high school biology teacher and volleyball coach, Mr. Wilmoth also means a lot to me. He was almost like my dad away from home, and being that I spent more time at school and volleyball than home, it's not hard to imagine. He taught me a lot about balance, he was very involved in the school, had a family, and was involved in his church. He just seemed to have everything worked out, and I really admire that about him. He also taught me a lot about how to be a Christian in the Science World. I realized that it doesn't have to be one or the other; rather, both can coexist, which was what one of his shirts that he would wear to volleyball practice would say.

Another high school teacher I had who had a big impact on me was my chemistry teacher, Mr. Brown. He was also like a father figure to me. He was always looking out for me and warning me about "the boys" but at the same time he would say what a shame it was that I wasn't a year younger because I would be a good match for his son. He was always thinking about what was in my best interest, and had me take this chemistry test (which I got the top score in, holla!). He was so proud of me, and would brag about me as if I was his on daughter, which I thought was sweet. Mr. Brown is such a sweet guy, and always wants to know how you are doing. He was always concerned that I was too skinny, but he doesn't have to worry about that now, since I have now developed some jiggly parts around the middle.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
Well, number one would have to be Nathalie. She was always there for me, and she was the first friend I felt like I could really open up to. I always feel so comfortable around her, it's just like second nature having her around. She means the world to me, and can't wait for summer, so I will only be a few miles from her instead of hundreds.

I'm going to group these next few people together because that's how I roll. Chelsey, Jo, and Jezli have helped me overcome some of my darker demons without even realizing it. Before I met them, I wasn't in the best of places mentally or emotionally. Living with them has truly changed my life, for the better. They are just the group of girls I needed. They are all so funny, honest, smart, beautiful and easy to get along with. I can't imagine my life without them, nor do I want to. They say college is the place where you meet the friends you will have for the rest of your life, and I think they're right. Like it or not ladies, you're stuck with me for the rest of your lives (insert evil laugh here).
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
Well, definitely all of the people mentioned above have each taught me something valuable. A "life lesson" as Mr. Wilmoth would call them.

I would also include my parents, who taught me the importance of family and how to love unconditionally.

Everyone who holds the door for me or says "bless you" when I sneeze have taught me that world isn't full of jerks and inconsiderate people, no matter how convinced I am of this.

My general chemistry professor who told the class that if we went through UCSD without learning how to surf, we were idiots.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
Recently, Jezli, Jo, Chelsey and Nathalie made me feel special when they did a surprise shin-dig at the beach for my birthday. It made me feel special.

My mom makes me feel special because when I check my email everyday, there's always a little message from her saying that she misses me, loves me, and hopes I have a great day. It always makes me smile.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Hmm, well, it seems like I keep going back to the same people: Jo, Chelsey, Nathalie and Jezli, being with them guarantees that I will have a fun, crazy time. My family, especially my brother who makes us pee our pants from laughing so hard at the crazy things he says. My puppies, they always want to be with the family. I also enjoy spending time with the Yankees, even though no one on the team knows who I am (except Andy Pettitte, who I'm convinced still remembers me and my "nice visor"). I spend many a day watching them play, or the little gameday stick figure on mlb.com when I can't watch them on TV.

To quote the website where I found this: "The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. They are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care."

I think this sums it up very nicely. Make sure to tell those you care about just how much they mean to you.

Ain't No Business Like Jo Business!!!

So someone like Chelsey keeps bugging me to blog, but I've been pretty busy with midterms and the like. To appease this madwoman and to tip my proverbial hat to one of the most awes (I just made up that abbrev on the the spot!) person I know: Joanne W. Ho.

There are many reasons one should have a friend like Jo, and I feel special that I do. Even though I have only known Jo for about a year, I feel like we have created a special bond. So I dedicate this blog to Joanne W. Ho and to all those special friends that make the world go round.

The following are little snapshots (in word form) into the reasons I love Joanne W. Ho:

1) I remember the first time I met Jo, it was last year while we were trying to figure living arrangements for this year. Chelsey, whom I had met through Muirons, invited me to her room to go over possible living situations. Enter Jo: she had her mini white board filled with different possibilities and started going through them, as I remember, in a very straight-forward, business-like manner. I thought to myself, "Dang, this girl is serious about getting an apartment next year." Little did I know that only a year later, she would be like family to me.

1.5) Our second encounter was when we officially signed up to be in the same apartment. Afterwards, before we scoped out our future apartment, we talked about classes and what not. And I remember saying that I was taking Math 20C, and Jo (and I'm pretty sure Jezli) replying, "Oh, it's not that bad, I took it 5 billion years ago." This might be a slight exaggeration, but I knew right then that she was a genius.

2) Taco Tuesday!! If I had to choose one thing that kept me looking forward to each week, it would have to be Taco Tuesday. This might be a bit an exaggeration, but not by much. At first, it was just Jo and me, since everyone else had class. It was always a highlight of my week just eating tacos, watching LOST, and talking about all sorts of things with Jo. I think Taco Tuesday brought us a lot closer, and now it's a whole apartment event! And I'm really glad everyone gets to share in the awesomeness that is Taco Tuesday.

2.5) LOST! Even though Jo may claim to not like watch, she's secretly a huge fan! One of the best LOST conversations I've had was with Jo. We spent almost two whole hours discussing the show, its symbolism, and what it all means.

3) I particularly enjoy our verbal arguments in our valley girl/squeaky mocking accents. They usually start with something like: "I'm Katie, I think I'm so cool 'cuz I'm in everyone's way!" -Jo

Followed by, "You know what, Jo? You are just like all in my business when I'm like trying to make some like food, and you're just like being annoying and like distracting" -Katie, while emphatically waving arms around. These conversations go on for a bit, and usually end with me cracking up and being unable to keep up argument.

4) Her car. Jo is an extremely professional chauffeur and I highly recommend her if you need to go to the train station or grocery shopping :) Thanks, Jo!

5) She's my surfing buddy!

6) One of the more memorable Jo moments has to be one weekend when we both opened our doors and walked out into the hallway at the exact same time. I am not even exaggerating in the least. We just kind of stood there for a second, and then started laughing. Jo asked if I was just getting up, and I said I was. It was a bit creepy, but then again, great minds think a like.

7) Those dang headphones! One time her door was slightly opened and I knocked, but she didn't hear, so I called out her name, still nothing. So I open the door, and again call her name. She doesn't even flinch and is intently studying o-chem. I walk into her room a little, hoping she might see me out of her periphery, but nothing. So I get up right next to her, and she still doesn't hear me. It's not until I wave my hand in front of book, that I get her attention. I felt bad because I had scared her, but those headphones are super duty noise blockers! Sheesh!

8) Our Mentalist breaks. Simon Baker and The Mentalist, can't go wrong with that.

9) Speaking of Simon Baker, I think Jo has a great taste in hotties like Baker and Depp.

10) Being our own judges an array of things, such as, Dancing with the Stars, and especially commercials. We find particularly annoying the Olive Garden commercials, and the very frightening ventriloquist commercial.

11) I'm pretty sure Jo is a pirate, or a ninja, or maybe a pirate-ninja. She enjoys beating the crap out of people in dodgeball and was thrilled when she received a gun (of the nerf variety) and wanted to immediately start shooting things. Ye be warned, she may be tiny, but you do not want to get on her bad side.

12) I'm not quite sure how to describe this one, but hopefully Jo knows what I'm talking about. We have this look we give to each other when someone is being particularly annoying. Be it Chelsey, Jezli, or again, one of those stupid commercials. We look at each other with a very annoyed/disappointed look, while our chins go down and we tilt our heads to the side.

13) Our discussions about religion and politics. Those are always really interesting, and I think it's a good way to get to know someone and broaden your viewpoints.

14) The Old Spice commercial, and how Jo and the rest of the apartment liked it so much that they would repeatedly quote it. Good times!

15) Her passion. Be it the Lakers, Trojans, friends, family, volunteering, it is easy to see how much Jo cares for these things and many more. Her caring and helpfulness, knowing her heavy workload, make me appreciate her even more.

16) Our morning walks to class.

17) Her and Chelsey beat-boxing and rapping the beginning lines of the 50 cent song "In Da Club." They were doing okay until the end, when they got really off beat. Good thing I have evidence. Well, shawty, it is your birthday, so we're gonna party like it's your birthday!

18) Pazookies!!!!!!! And Jo asking after dinner, "You want a pazookie?" It is quite possibly the best phrase you could ever hear.

19) Our leg kick, arm snap dance. We saw Date Night for Jo's birthday. Since I didn't get to sit next to her, the first thing I said to her after the movie was, "They totally stole our dance move!" Then Jo got excited and said, "I know!! I was totally thinking that!" So who cares about the rest of the movie, they did our dance move!!!! I felt kind of famous ;)

20) When Jezli, Jo, and I spent an hour looking at the "Lesbians who look like Justin Bieber" website. Then, we somehow got onto the "Drag Kings of San Diego" website. Let's just say that hour was horrifying.

21) Suffering through one of the worst USC Trojans football seasons ever! At least we had each other, otherwise I probably would have punched someone!

22) Our epic tag/hide-and-go-seek night after Nathalie's birthday dinner at Round Table. I won't lie, when I saw Nathalie and Jo carrying really big sticks (they were practically baby trees), I got scared and I feared for my life. Then, for primal scream, we used those sticks and did our "boat a lay lei" chant from volleyball.

23) Our tendency to carry on long conversations while I'm in the bathroom sink area, with Jo standing in the hallway. I don't know why this always happens, but it does. The conversation that comes to mind is the conversation about V for Vendetta.

24) She always seems to have a smile on her face, even if she hasn't had the best day. She lights up a room, and makes me laugh even when I don't feel like it. That's what I love about Jo; she could have just been through hell and back, but she'll put on a smile and tell you a joke to make you feel better. That's the kind of selfless, caring person she is.

I admire so much about Jo: her work ethic, spunk, personality, desire, compassion, humor...She's pretty much the whole package. I feel privileged to have her in my life and honored to be considered her friend. I sympathize with those who do not have Joanne W. Ho in their life, because she has made my life so much better. I also feel great joy and excitement for all those who will someday have even the slightest bit of interaction with Jo because she will have a great, positive impact in their life. I know she has in mine.

I love you Jo!! And from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for all that you do for me! As the great lyricist, Kelly Clarkson, once wrote, "My life would suck without you." She must have been talking about you, Jo :)

Someone Like Me Associates Apartment Friends with Songs

As I'm sitting here at home, outwardly sharing with my apartment friends' misery over finals week, yet inwardly laughing at their misery, I realized how much I miss them. It has only been a day. And I didn't even get to say goodbye to one because someone like her would have a final during my scheduled departure time. By scheduled departure time, I mean when my parents called and said they were in the parking lot.

I would be wary of this one, as her reach knows no bounds. For instance, for my of goodbye, she put a hit out on me. And, while I was attempting to snowboard, this hit was completed. I survived a kamikaze of snowballs repeatedly throw at me by a certain someone who is a lot like Natalie, but with a silent, and deadly, H. Her message was clear: "This is for not saying goodbye to *****" (Her name has been withheld due to the fact that I am scared of what she will do to me next, especially after she learns how I survived the bullets of snow) . Ye be warned.

Anywho, as I was thinking about those cool cats, I realized that I associate each of their names to a song, and when I say, "Hi, ____", in my head, I continue with the song. I thought I would share those songs here.

First, there's Jo*. Her song is set to the tune of the "Tiger Song" from The Hangover. It's a simple song, not even a song really, just a line, but it always pops into my head. This is how it works:

"Morning, Katie," says Jo.

incoherent mumbling from Katie due to the fact that she is half asleep and still has her retainers in, but can be interpreted to something along the lines of "Morning, Jo"

Then, as I walk into the kitchen, in my head I sing, "Jooooooo, Joo-o-oh, Joo-o-ooh, Jo, Jo, Joey, Jo, Jo"

I also have a tendency to add the ends of different names to Jo. Jo-athon comes to mind.

Next, there's Chelsey*, whom I lovingly refer to as C. Dizzle. Anytime I say 'C. Dizzle,' my brain automatically jumps to the Taylor Swift and T-Pain rap:

" C. Dizzle and T. Pizzle.....by the time I woke, I was singing 'I'm on a booooaaat'.... cuz I'm a singer turned rapper, shorty I'm a make ya, straight to the top yo, shorty I'm a take ya"

Those are the only lines I sing with C. Dizzle in them, mostly because those are the only lines I know...

Last**, but not least, Jezli*. I think Jezli's song has been sung before on multiple occasions because it's awesome. I think it came about because I like to pronounce Jezli as Jez-a-li, so it naturally fits into "Ebony and Ivory" mixed with a little SNL opposite band. It goes a little something like this:

"Jez-a-li and ivory, live together in perfect cacophony. Side by side on my piano keyboard, dark lord, why can't we?"

So, even though I might be snowboarding or going to the beach or sleeping in without a care in the world while you are taking your finals, know that each of your songs is always in my heart. I love you guys!!

*All names will be mispronounced by the reader to ensure that the identities of my apartment mates remain anonymous.

**The order in which these songs were mentioned are directly proportional to the order in which they popped up in my mind, and in no way reflect favoritism of any sort. If that were the case, it would be inversely proportional to the root mean square of the average velocities of the molecules floating in the air of the living room.

1, 2, 3...Nutty Buddies

(click for bigger picture)

This actually happened. Someone like me was enjoying a nice bowl of macaroni and cheese, while someone who is a total jerk wad, but not you, was studying. It was peaceful and quiet. Then......BAM!..... "I wonder how much Jesus weighed?" It took me a moment to register this contemplation and wondered if I could just be imagining it. But as soon as I looked at that jerk wad and saw the look on her face, I knew she had heard it too. We then start laughing uncontrollably at the randomness and seriousness in which this thought was asked. Who could have asked something like this? Only the coolest person ever, who is not you, that's who! Someone who is deathly afraid of spiders, and seemed traumatized when recounting a recent dream she had about a gigantic spider.

This then turned into a conversation about who weighs more, Jesus or Satan. Progressed into the creation of a new reality show called Biggest Loser, Soul Edition. And eventually solved the mysteries of the greatest show on earth, Lost.

All in all, it was a pretty productive conversation. And if my parents ask me why I have failed all my classes, and am now applying to the local McDonald's, I will simply answer them with a question: How much do you think Jesus weighed?

Simon Says Make a Blog

I have a blog because someone like you said everyone else does, and I'm a follower. Actually, I just want to be like someone like you, but not you specifically...more like you generally. Also, this is a great way to procrastinate and not study for my final tomorrow. Half my grade shall be decided then.