Merry Christmas!

It's been a while because it's Christmas Time!  I got a purple iPod nano!  Which is exactly what I wanted!  Here's a video I put together from the pictures on Christmas Eve!  G'night!

Getting ready

Here's what I got in my inbox today:

MA in Global Communications Spring 2009 Reading List

* Celine Dion’s Let’s talk about love: A Journey To The End Of Taste By Carl Wilson

* International Communication: Continuity and Change: Second Edition by Daya Kishan Thussu

* Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide by Henry Jenkins

 

And so it begins!

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is...

Really quick here because it's 2 am and I'm actually tired.  Today my dad drove down from LA in my uncle's truck to help me move.  So anyways long story short it was pouring rain today and I had to move in the pissing rain.  Awesome.  We were completely drenched, every single inch of us was soaked.  In all the times I have moved I have never ever moved in the rain and it was horrible.  In San Diego no less!!  Of all the days it had to rain on moving day!  Well, needless to say if you know me or my dad you know that about 20 minutes in to it we were just laughing and saying "oh well!" let's just get through this as best we can.  And we did, we were soaked doing it but we laughed about it.  I think you just have to laugh at stuff like that.  My mom was sweet tonight, she said San Diego was crying because I was leaving.  Awww...how cute?!  And with that I say goodnight, stay dry and sweet dreams world!

USandA

Here are the pictures from my Citizenship ceremony.  I became a US citizen on 12/17/08.   Ugh what a pain in the ass this process was!  It took about a year and a half to get this done.  I applied for citizenship in July 2007 and I thought that was enough time since my Green Card expired in April 2008.  But no, I didn't get it all done until December 2008!  

So finally it is ceremony day!  Now what are the chances of rain in San Diego?  Oh about 5% chance and of course it rained on Wednesday.  So I'm supposed to get there at 7:30am sharp.  I get there on an empty tank of gas (with the light ON!), park and walk out to the LINE.  Walked in the rain without a coat or an umbrella.  I expected there to be a fair amount of people but what I didn't expect was to have to stand in line in the rain!  Once we got inside I had to stand in another line to register.  That line took at least 40 minutes.  I get to the front of the line and am told I'm in the WRONG line!  ugh.  Get in the other line and get up front.  The guy doesn't understand at first what i'm trying explain about my expired Green Card and how it was taken away already and that yes i have traveled outside the US and yadda yadda yadda.  So FINALLY I get signed in and get my US Citizen's Almanac (whoo!) and a flag (Flag!).  

So now i'm sitting waiting for the ceremony to start but nope, they decide that now is a good time to bring on the Polish folk dancers on stage.  Um.  

Ok, you danced now let's get on with it.  The judge comes on stage and talks for a while.  We then have to stand when our country is called.  There were about 10 Canadians.  He skipped Mexico but at the end said "so are there any people from Mexico here?" and about 75% of the room stood up and people were cheering and clapping...ok fine yay now can we move on?   In the end I walked away as an American Citizen and I should be getting my passport in 1 - 3 weeks.  

This doesn't mean that i'm not a Canadian!  I will always and forever be a Canadian and I will never give up my Canadian passport!!  

...

utterly and completely bored tonight. 

About 89%...

I think I am about 89% done packing.  A few clothes are still hanging in the closet because I still need some clothes out and I have a bunch of boxes that need to be closed.  I kept them open in case I need to throw something in them still.  

All xmas shopping done!  Need to wrap them now which is the best part!  I love wrapping presents...if you need any wrapping done call me!  Seriously, I know it's weird but I love wrapping presents!  

So the official moving day is now Monday.  The great part is that my roommates wanted to hire a cleaner/maid to come on Tuesday and we split it 3 ways so I paid $80 and I don't have to clean anything!  SWEET!  

Ok you know what I realized this week?  There's nothing but CRAP on TV in the middle of the day!  And when did it really hit me?  Today when I had to return the cable box to Time Warner and then we switched the cable to Ry's name so my name is off the account.  Well I decided that since i'm only here for another 2 days that I wouldn't hook up the new cable box back up to my TV in my room.  So now as I sit here and try to find something to watch in the background while i work on my packing I've been flipping through the basic cable channels that I have and there's nothing but crap!  And I don't have the digital so there's no guide so I actually have to flip through the channels!  ugh.  

And another thing happened this morning.  So we had to find the closest time warner office and we'd already unplugged the cable box so no Internet and i already gave up my blackberry so how to find??  What did we do before Internet??  And there's no yellow pages in the house!  Thankfully there's still 411.  Wow...how accustomed we've become to the internets. 

Happy Trails!

My feets...dey hurt!

Totally wore the wrong shoes to the mall today.  And they are definitely going in the "I'm not bringing you to Paris" pile!  But the good thing is that I got almost all my shopping done and I only had to go to one mall!  I got my mom, my dad and my cousin done!  Just my brother is left! Nice.

Had the "Creative Services/Design Department Holiday Gift Exchange/Lunch Thing" today!  It doesn't quite feel like I'm "gone" yet though since it's only been 2 days.  It's also weird saying goodbye to people, goodbye is just weird so I was saying See you later.  Which is hopefully true.  Judy called it my "vacation".  Not quite like a vacation but sure why not? 

I think my packing is about 60% done.  Most everything not in my room is not coming with me.  I have some dishes and bowls that I'm leaving.  I'm taking my shot glass collection, I have quite a few actually!  So I'm taking those with me to my parent's house.  Other than that it's just the stuff in my room which is mostly clothes.  The hard part right now is leaving clothes out to wear this week.  

I have my citizenship ceremony tomorrow morning at 7:30am!  Ugh.  Why does it have to be so early!?!?  boo.  So tomorrow I'll officially be an American citizen (but I will always be a Canadian!).  

Happy Trails!

Stay Classy San Diego

Here are the pictures from my bye bye lunch

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=194491&l=b3f45&id=705000542

and my bye bye party

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=194494&l=ed57b&id=705000542

My girls Molly & Suzanne who are in London right now still managed to make it to the party!

This is me...d-runk!

Zach, Marissa, Tricia & Adam!

Me & Jeremy

Good friends!

Me & Sean, yes the one that got his cubicle tin foiled! 

With one of my roommies - Sam and friends Aline and Luis

They got me a cake at work!

Robin decorated my entire car in post-it notes that say Bon Voyage!!

My partner in crime Robin!

Pics from TEB

Here are the pictures from Third Eye Blind...

i'm dumb @ heart

I had a t-shirt up in my old cubicle that said "Dumb at Heart".  And, yes I'm dumb at heart.  Last night was my party and it was fun, I got really drunk!  Some people who said they were coming didn't show, which I expected but there were a few people who didn't come and I really thought they would.  I know I was talking to someone and I admitted something I probably shouldn't have but I know he won't say anything.  Really though, he guessed it pretty much right away so is it really a surprise?  No.  And if you use logic you can pretty much figure it out.  Ugh, sometimes I hate how I feel about people.  I can crush so hard and feel so stupid because it's never reciprocated.  I guess it really doesn't matter now since i'm moving away.  Oh well.  Ces't La Vie!  

Pictures to follow later...

This is it!

Today is my last day at channel 6! wow...

In times where jobs are few and far between I am quitting mine! So I was thinking about that yesterday. This is how I see it...

In the sales presentations that were going on this week the GSM said something that really stuck with me. He said that businesses that advertise during down times are usually the first ones to bounce back and do better on the up-swing. So I sort of see this as applying to me. Instead of sitting back and going with the flow and doing the same job that I have been doing for the last 7 years I am bettering myself, making myself more valuable in the job market. This process will take a year. Many see the economic turn around coming in 2010 which is right when I will be looking for a job. Hopefully, this means I have timed things right! I guess we'll see what happens!

We're going to McGregor's tonight!

Happy Trails

Third Eye...

Thanks to a local radio station - Sophie 103.7 - myself, Nicole and Beau (another co-worker) went to Anthology in Little Italy to see Third Eye Blind perform. Whenever we go to these radio lounge type things it's very "intimate" and the bands play 3 - 4 songs. I don't really know the band that well but it's a cool thing to go to. The first time I went to something like this at Anthology was to see Death Cab For Cutie. That was cool! This was "ok". Stephen Jenkins, the lead singer in TEB (from now on that's short for Third Eye Blind), anyways so he was kinda funny and they both looked and seemed totally baked. I took a few pictures but haven't downloaded them yet. I'll see how they turned out, I think i'll post at least a few here.

So tomorrow is Friday, which means it's my last day of work! AHHHHHHH

I'm off work soon...going to head up to have dinner with Dawn and the gerkins! YAY love my baby time!!

Happy Trails

Fortune Cookie...

My fortune cookie says "Remember 1 month from this date. Good things are coming!" ...1 month from today is the day I land in Paris! Wow...how did a cookie now? I believe you cookie! I believe!

Tonight consisted of watching some tv and hanging out with the roommies. A nice relaxed evening. Relaxed of course until I start writing in this blog! I seem to start stressing when I sit in front of this thing! Maybe I should stop? Nah! I'll keep stressing! lol

So tomorrow is Thursday, that leaves me with 2 days left of work. This week has been more manageable because our sales department has these presentations that they are doing to potential clients. I've been helping with the slide show. I'm like the kid in the back of the class who pushes the button to go to the next slide...except I have to sit right in front! At least it keeps me busy during the day. It's nice to have a distraction and not have to think too much about my last day.

What I'm looking forward to right now is the see ya' later party at McGregor's on Friday. After that, I can tell you I'm not looking forward to the packing that I have to do. So much packing!!

Ok, enough for tonight.

Happy Trails

~Nilo

Shtuff

Tuesday is almost over, which means I have 3 days left at work.  That trips me out!  I look around my room at all the stuff I have to pack and THAT trips me out.  One of my roommates asked me tonight when I'm moving...next weekend.  Wow.  I can't take that in, I can't compute that in my head.  Maybe when Friday rolls around I will but for now, I'm a basket case...internally of course.  

Today I helped out at work with a sales presentation.  I didn't do anything special, I just pushed a few buttons during a slide presentation but it felt good to be a part of their presentation.  Even though I didn't really DO anything, it was nice to be in the room.  

Today also marks the day I gave up my blackberry.  $30 a month just for the internet package!  Plus I was paying an additional $10 a month for the GPS.  I LOVED the GPS on my phone, her name was Sally.  But with a month...litterally a month from today I fly away I needed to cut down the cost of my phone.  I also found out that I can suspend my service for 6 months at a time.  So, starting January 10th my phone will be suspended.  No incoming and no outgoing calls.  I just have to resist the urge to use my phone while i'm gone.  I have a Skype account set up and i'll get a cell phone when I get to Paris for the local calls.  So much more to do!  I'm so anxious, so nervous, so scared, so happy, so still can't believe this is really happening!  

I'm starting to ween myself off of the TV shows that I watch.  I haven't watched Days of our Lives in a few weeks.  I love Days but I can't watch it every day when i'm gone so i've started not watching it while i'm here.  I'm also way behind on the other shows that I like to watch.  If I don't catch up by next week that's it.  Time Warner is under my name and they have a new policy now which states that they won't transfer accounts anymore.  So, in order to get my name off the account we have to unplug and return all of the equipment and then the boys will have to open a new account under their name with new equipment.  Such a pain!  Oh well, we do what we have to do I suppose.  

Wednesday...Thursday...FRIDAY.  Friday is the day of my going-away happy hour/party.  It's not really a party "party".  It's more of a get together at McGregors.  A lot of people have said they are coming...I hope that's true.  Why do I worry so much!  Geeze...can I just not worry about something for once?  I guess it's a sign of caring...or so someone once told me.  I'm also pretty paranoid in general...I guess that doesn't help either.  

I'm tired tonight...looks like i'm going to bed early.  I just put a load of clothes in the washer though...I want to stay up to put them in the dryer but I don't think I'll make it...

Happy Trails

~Nilo

It's the Final Countdown

Tonight it hit me, this week is my last week at work.  HOLY CRAP!  Last Friday I had my goodbye lunch with co-workers.  We went to Sadaf, a Persian restaurant downtown.  It was nice and everyone seemed to like it.  It was kinda weird though, aside from a single diner we were the only people there.  We had one long table right in the middle of the restaurant.  Someone said it was the Last Supper and it really felt that way.  It's always strange to have a goodbye meal.  You don't really get to talk to everyone, I guess it's more of a gesture.  It was nice to have people there who are not from my department.  In the end, it was a nice meal and we had some good Persian food.  

So, this is my last week.  Tomorrow - Monday - my replacement and I are supposed to have lunch with my old boss who now works at Club/Restaurant that the station will do promotions with.  I'd rather not have it be so formal but i'm sure it'll be fine.  Monday night i'm supposed to go to Dawn's to help her with her Christmas cards.  I'm all for that, any time I get to spend with Dawn and the babies is precious to me.  Tuesday i probably have something but I can't think of it...oh ya it's the Teddy Bear Drive.  I'm supposed to drive our SD6 car in the caravan with the teddy bears.  Early morning, i think 7am?  Wednesday i'm not sure what i have and Thursday is meetings in the morning.  Friday is my LAST day!  wow...It's hard to even imagine.  Friday after work I will be at Mcgregor's for my last "hurrah" I guess is what I'd call it.  A lot of people have said they are coming, I really hope they do!  It's going to be an interesting week to say the least.  I've never had a "last week" like this.  A week where i've known and been prepared to leave.  I am definitely feeling a touch of "senoritis", i've had to hand over all of my duties to Nicole.  She's doing a great job.  I know she'll do great and she really deserves the job.  She's been an intern/part-time for over a year and she's already graduated college.  I feel like she's really getting the hang of it and she can hold her own.  I see myself in her 7 years ago.  I'm proud of her, she's come a long way since i met her in January!  I wonder if I had anything to do with it?  If there's one person I know I helped it was Monica.  I know I taught Monica skills she didn't have before she started working for me.  And now, she's doing really well and i'm really proud of her and proud that I taught her something.  ...I'm getting teary!  I cry easily lately!  

After this week and after work is done I will start packing.  I have to pack EVERYTHING I own and move it to my parent's house in LA.  I need to start getting rid of stuff.  I need to stop feeling so attached to my stuff.  I just hate throwing things away!  I don't have enough room to store everything and do I really need ALL this stuff?  Probably not but it's so hard to get rid of it!  But I will, I have been getting rid of a lot clothes i'm not wearing...so at least that's something.  

I can feel the pressure on my chest/heart again tonight.  It's the anxiety, the stress of knowing that IT is coming and it's just around the corner.  Not only is it almost time to go but it's also almost Christmas and I haven't bought a single present yet.  I have to buy for my mom, my dad, my brother, my cousin and an office gift exchange.  I don't have the money or the time for this.  How is that I made more money this year than I ever have YET I STILL live paycheck-to-paycheck?  I spend too much on crap, that's my problem.  Well and the fact that I NEVER cook so all of my meals are "to-go" or frozen.  That shit ads up!  I don't know how i'm going to survive in Paris!  Do they have Ramen noodles in Paris?  lol  Somebody told me recently "What are you going to do?  They don't have Wal-Mart in Paris!"  No, they don't and I'll figure it out.  I don't know how, but I will.  

I want this weight lifted off of my chest...I need to calm down.  Everything is going to be ok...don't cry!  Don't cry!  As soon as I start thinking about money and how I will be able to afford anything when I get there I start to freak out!!  Ok, just writing this is making it worse so no more for tonight.  

IMG00175.jpg

Knickerbocker!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Another one!

Things You Don't Know About Me

TAKE THIS SURVEY!

Take this survey

What is on your bed right now?
CLOTHES, OLD RECEIPTS, LAPTOP

When was the last time you threw up?
DON'T REMEMBER

What's your favorite word or phrase?
GO FUCK YOURSELF!

Name 3 people who made you smile today?
WHO WILL - DAWN ZOE HARLOW

What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
NOT GETTING OUT OF BED LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN

What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
ANOTHER STUPID SURVEY

What is your favorite holiday?
MY BIRTHDAY! OK AND CHRISTMAS

Have you ever been to another country?
YES

What is the last thing you said aloud?
HUH

What is the best ice cream flavor?
COOKIE DOUGH

What was the last thing you had to drink?
DIET CHERRY COKE

What are you wearing right now?
BLACK BLACK BLACK

What was the last thing you ate?
SANDWICH

Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
THIS WEEK? NO

When was the last time you ran?
TOO LONG AGO

What's the last sporting event you watched?
CANUCKS VS. FLAMES FROM THE 10TH ROW AT GM PLACE!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
GREECE AND EGYPT

Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace?
ALEX

Ever go camping?
YES

Do you have a tan?
NOT ANYMORE

Have you ever lost anything down a toilet?
NO

What is your guilty pleasure?
DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Do you use smiley faces on the computer alot?
DEFINE A LOT

Do you drink your soda from a straw?
ONLY IF IT'S IN A GLASS AT A RESTAURANT

What did your last text message say?
FROM MY ROOMMATE ABOUT A DVD

Are you someone's best friend?
YES

What are you doing tomorrow?
WORKING

Where is your mom right now?
WORKING

Look to your left, what do you see?
TABLE

What color is your watch?
DON'T WEAR A WATCH

What do you think of when you think of Australia?
THAT OPERA HOUSE THING

Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
YES

What is your birthstone?
AQUAMARINE

Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive tthru?
DEPENDS

Do you have any friends on myspace that you actually hate?
I DON'T THINK SO

Do you have a dog?
NO

Last person you talked to on the phone?
BEAU

Any plans today?
DINNER

Are you happy?
YES

Where are you right now?
AT WORK

Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY

Last song listened to?
CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Last movie you saw?
TWILIGHT

Are you allergic to anything?
NO

Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
BLACK FLATS

Are you jealous of anyone?
NO

Are you married?
NO

Is anyone jealous of you?
YES

Do any of your friends have children?
YES

Do you eat healthy?
NOT REALLY

What do you usually do during the day?
WORK

Do you hate anyone right now?
NOT REALLY

Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
YES

How many kids do you want when you're older?
2

How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
30

Have you ever been to Six Flags?
YES

How did u get one of your scars?
AT THE GYM

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THIS SURVEY!

MySpace Surveys

MySpaceBulletins

Get To The Point

TAKE THIS SURVEY!

Take this survey

whats your name spelt backwards?
rafoulin

What did you do last night?
laundry, clean, watch tv, read

The last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
Britney Spears' album "Circus"

Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery?
eww no

Last time you swam in a pool?
don't remember

What are you wearing?
excuse me? I just met you

How many cars have you owned?
6

Type of music you dislike most?
trance/house

Are you registered to vote?
can't vote not a citizen yet!

Do you have cable?
yes

What kind of computer do you use?
at home - Dell laptop

Ever made a prank phone call?
yes

You like anyone right now?
always

Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
no

Furthest place you ever traveled?
Europe

What's your favorite comic strip?
it was Garfield

Do u know all the words to the national anthem?
yes

Shower, morning or night?
either one

Best movie you've seen in the past month?
can't think of one

Favorite pizza toppings?
mushrooms and italian sausage

Chips or popcorn?
both

What cell phone provider do you have?
at&t

Have you ever smoked peanut shells?
huh?

Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
no

Orange Juice or apple?
OJ will kill ya'

Who were the last people you sat at lunch with?
Nicole

favorite chocolate bar?
all kinds!

Who is your longest friend and how long?
Tara, since we were 8

Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
don't know

Have you ever won a trophy?
yes

Favorite arcade game?
Pinball

Ever ordered from an infomercial?
yes but i sent it right back!

Sprite or 7-UP?
doesn't matter

Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?
yes

Last thing you bought at Walgreens?
nothing

Ever thrown up in public?
yes

Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love?
true love

Do you believe in love at first sight?
yes

SPONGEBOB OR JIMMY NEUTRON?
neither

Did you have long hair as a young kid?
sometimes

What message is on your voicemail machine?
me

Where would you like to go right now?
home

Whats the name of your pet?
don't have one

What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it?
back pack?

What do you think about most?
moving to Paris

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THIS SURVEY!

MySpace Surveys

Quizzzzzz

fail.

NKOTB!!

One of the most amazing concerts I have ever been to you! And I've seen my fair share of shows! Everybody was totally in to it...it was magical.

When a co-worker leaves...

THIS happens! =)

Geography

This Traveler IQ challenge compares your geographical knowledge against the World's Original Travel Blog's other 3,269,282 travelers who have taken this challenge as of Tuesday, November 04, 2008 at 09:50PM GMT. (TravelPod is a TripAdvisor Media Network member)

I'm surrounded by Assholes!

Have you seen Spaceballs? No? Well then you don't know what that saying is from but it's freaking hilarious!

Ok so today is November 4Th, which means it's election day in the United States. Has that EVER concerned me before today? Nope. Not even a little bit. Before the last few months I couldn't have cared less about politics or elections or anything like that. Well if you haven't been paying attention you may have missed a very important proposition that is on the ballot this time around - Prop 8. If you need more info on what this prop is about go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_(2008) or google it.

This is the first time I have ever actually wanted to vote. And if I could, I would vote No on Prop 8. I believe that anyone should be able to get married if they want to. We cannot discriminate against people for any reason - race, colour, religion or sexual preference. Gay people are people. Plain and simple. Government does not say that a black person can't marry a white person so why would we let them say that a man can't marry a man? Being in a gay marriage doesn't hurt anyone, let alone children! Don't even get me started on the ridiculous ads that say children will suffer if gay marriage is allowed! And the bullshit lies the pro-yes on 8 people say about the teacher in San Fran who got married and forced her students to attend!!! Are you kidding me? The teacher didn't even know that the students were coming, it was the parents of those students who arranged to be there when the teacher got married.

And it's not just about the right to marry but everything that comes with being married. The hospital visitation rights, the medical benefits and anything else that comes along with it. If you're married, no matter who you are you deserve the same benefits. That's not hard to figure out people!

Well, the bottom line for me is that legally I can't vote because I'm not an American citizen yet. So I urge you to do your part to help end discrimination and VOTE NO on 8!

Funny "ha ha"

It's official!

Yesterday I got my student visa!  I'm sooooo outta here!  Peace out bitches.  Ok not quite like that.  But I did get my Visa yesterday so the French will take me!  (Even when a certain American won't...but we won't get in to that)

I have to get black & white passport photos taken and then send that off with my last form!  Finally!  All of that paperwork is done.  Now I just have to find out about financial aid/student loans.  That part sucks.  I wish money wasn't such an issue...oh well.  

Work is weird right now.  I'm training somebody to do part of my job and another guy is going to do the other part.  My boss told me that it'll take 2 people to replace me!  Very sweet of her to say.  So at the moment I'm training and that sorta leaves me with not much to do.  I'm not complaining, it's actually nice not to have to do everything for a change.  Plus once i get to grad school i'll be so busy that this slower pace is nice.  For now.  I can only be "bored" for so long before i start getting restless. 

I had a beer and a half tonight and i was so tipsy!  I'm going to need to work on that tolerance level.  Had some time to catch up with some friends - Monica and Britt.  So that was nice, i haven't seen them in a while.  I'll have to start making time for all my friends that i won't be seeing for a while.  

This Friday is Halloween!  I love Halloween!!  I really wanted to dress up in something cute, I was leaning towards something like Nancy Sinatra but I didn't find anything that i liked.  I might be able to pull some stuff from my closet but I really need those white go go boots to make that work.  I have some old cat ears that I could wear or i also have a plastic crown/wand that i could wear and be a princess.  We'll see...i have tomorrow after work to go through my closet and put something decent together.  

I'm seriously about to pass out...

Head gear

Check this out...found it on the Nylon Magazine blog...

You can get it on Amazon.com for like $12! LOL I could never actually wear it but it's still pretty cool. Wonder what other little gifts are in this book? hmmm...