Southern Hospitality

Long time no blog, eh kiddies? I do apologize, but I've been busy with finals, vacation, work, and junk. I know, I know they're just excuses, but the plus side is that... I'm back, right?

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Moving onward.... I'm just going to skip the bitching about finals and final projects because I want to put it all behind me. It was a big and complicated ordeal that I want to forget. So, I'll just end that subject with these four words: (1) final (2) projects (3) are (4) stupid...

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So, most of you already know that Mel and I went on a week vacation to the East coast area. We went to New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and of course New York. It was a lot of fun, but it seriously went by way too fast. We got to visit some family and I met up with an old friend, Jonah, and site see. Overall the trip was a success. Surprisingly, my mother did let us have a vacation on our own. It may be the last one...but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Even though, up East is a lot of fun and the weather is fairly cooler than the South, there were some downsides....

Number 1: Traffic- OK. So I thought I-35 in Austin was unbearable, try waiting in traffic for hours and then every few miles pay a ridiculous toll. Yeah, that will get your blood boiling. Oh, and a word of advice...Don't EVER drive in Boston. It was by far one of the worst transportation experiences in my life. If I could choose between walking 20 miles versus driving 5 in Boston...I'd gladly tie up my Nikes because F that place.

Number 2: Politeness- If you're an avid follower of my blog you have already read my post about etiquette. If not you can take a gander by clicking --> here. Anyway, I didn't appreciate Southern hospitality as much as I do now until our East coast trip. So, apparently I was wrong in assuming that workers such as food industry employees should at least acknowledge you when you arrive at an establishment.... I stand corrected. Just one example is when Mel and I went to McDonald's to grab something quick I stood in line to order and when it was my turn, I politely waited to be "called on" to order. Maybe a, "Hi, may I take your order?" or a, "Are you ready?" Nope nothing. So, I just waited in front of the cashier for a good few minutes and she just stared at me while I waited. Once, I realized that I was the one who supposed to initiate conversation, I awkwardly said, "Uh, yeah hello. Could I please get..." I was overly nice in effort to compensate for her inconsideration. Also, something else rude and disgusting happened at this McDonald's. Mel and I were sitting inside just taking a break, and this dude next to us flat out rips out the loudest fart I've ever heard. My only response was to say out loud, "Oh....my.....God..." He apparently had earphones so I guess he assumed what he couldn't hear no one else could either. But, that was certainly not the case. It was disgusting.

Another thing... How many of you smile at someone when they make eye contact with you? I know I do most of the time, unless I'm utterly surprised by the way they look. Well, don't try that crap up East, they'll just give you a straight up dirty look. I know that these things don't apply to every person who resides in the East coast, but I'm just presenting a trend that I picked up on.

Number 3: Stereotypes- Just because you're from Texas doesn't mean that you have a thick Southern-drawl. Mel and I stayed at the Oak N' Spruce Resort in South Lee, MA. Lee is a small town, probably smaller than Kerrville and with less people, I would say. Anyway, being in a small town they don't have a big supermarket like Wal-Mart or anything. So, we found a small grocery shop called, Price Chopper. It kinda reminds me of Super-S. Well, my God mother, Alicia wanted us to buy some lottery plays for her in the different states. So, we saw that in Price Chopper they sold Mega Millions and so forth. We got a few quick picks and of course it never fails, my ID is needed to verify I'm over the age of 18. I get carded everywhere... even at the movies when I want to watch a rated R film... Anyway, she saw that we were from Texas and said, "Oh, my God. You're from Texas?!" We of course told her we were and she went on and on about how she would of never guessed because we don't have accents. "Where are your accents? There was this guy that came in the other day from Texas, and I barely could understand what he was saying. Haha you all talk funny." ....Yeah, really funny, uneducated small town girl that probably has 20 babies at home...

Number 4: Six Flags New England- OK the park overall was decent and they actually had a really fun ride called the Bizarro. But, get this... There is not ONE water fountain in the whole park? WTF right? OK, I get that they're trying to make as much profit as possible, but come on. You pay close to 50 bucks to get in and you can't even get lukewarm tap water for free? I think that's straight up bullshit.

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OK, enough about the trip. I'll have to post my pics up sometime soon.

***WARNING: PLEASE NOTE EXTREME SUBJECT CHANGE***

So, I've had my share of weird dreams, but I've recently had one that for sure should make some kind of top list. I can't remember all of the exact details so bear with me. Ok here goes...

So, in my dream I'm some kind of professional athlete. The setting is a basketball court and everyone has on basketball uniforms and yada yada. But, here's the twist. We're not playing with a basketball. Instead of a ball it's a stick of deodorant and instead of a basket it's a place to apply the deodorant, like a huge armpit or something...I can't really remember. All I know is that it was exactly like playing basketball, everyone was running hard and playing defense. Also, apparently in my dream I was really good at this deodorant/basketball sport and I could do the equivalent to a "dunk" with the deodorant stick..... Haha I know, I know this is way, way, way out there. I woke up and was completely confused. I've only told a few people this story and all got the same response: What the hell?

So, what do youskies think? Can anyone top this weird dream with your own. I'd like to hear 'bout 'em. Please comment by clicking HERE.

Venez M'aider

It's been a while I know... So, let's acquaint ourselves again, shall we?

For those of you who don't know, Mel and I are having a mini-vacation in the New York/Massachusetts area. And get this... my uber-strict Asian mother is only going to be there for the first few days, and is leaving us with a rent-a-car and cash to do as we please... I smell something fishy because she's never let us do anything in the past... Don't believe me?

Well, here's a small compilation of what my mother is a hardass about:

1. No sleeping over at friends' houses - seems harmless eh? Yeah, well my mother doesn't trust anyone straight off... Actually, there is one exception... If you're Filipino then it's OK. Like there's a whole lot of credible FLIPs around.... I'm the opposite. I put Filipinos last in my trust list...
   
2. No "hanging out" - I always tell her that I'm just "hanging out" and she hates this term... She always wants to know exactly what is happening. And since she's not so fresh off the boat, she understands what it means, but she still manages to change the phrase... She'll say, "I don't like this 'hanging around.' If you're not doing anything then you should just go home."*This should be read in my mother's Filipino accent, with all of the rolling of the "R's" and her loud voice
3. Don't work when you're in school - This sounds good right? She doesn't want me to work while I'm taking classes so I can focus on studying and junk. So, my first semester or so she gave me a credit card so I didn't have to get a job. Awesome right? OK, here's the problem... She doesn't want me to work...but she doesn't want me to use the credit card she gave me... Confusing to you too? Yeah, my point exactly....
4. No galavanting - OK so most of you know what kind of person I am. I'm pretty chill and I am not much of a "partier." I consider myself some what responsible. My mother on the other hand must watch a lot of Dateline specials on college life, because she thinks that's what's happening to me. If she hears anything about drinking, drugs, etc she automatically thinks I have some association with it. First off, if I do drink it's maybe one drink. Second, I've never had problems with alcohol or drugs in the past. Third, c'mon. It's me. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I'm pretty goody-goody. Honestly, I think no matter what age I am, my mom will treat me like a child. I can just see when I'm 50 and she'll call me up and still be harassing me about these things...
   

Those of you who have Asian parents should understand. If not... just read or watch Joy Luck Club. It's pretty much the same thing haha. Anyway, we'll see how this trip goes. I won't be surprised if my mom is just messing with us. On the day we drop her off at the airport, I can see her just punking us and say, "Did you really think I was going to let you be here by yourselves? Ha!" We will see...

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I went home this past weekend to make some extra cash for the trip. I some how ended up making around 600 bucks in tips. Unbelievable, eh? Yeah, I must have just been lucky. I'm going back this weekend too to see if I can do it again...doubt it though.

When I went to church last Sunday I noticed that there was a new priest. He was ok, but he had a bit of an accent and when he would ask everyone a question no one answered because no one understood. It was kinda entertaining. During these semi-long awkward pauses in the church you could probably hear my snickers... haha Don't judge me. At least I always contribute to the collection plate. So, anyway, you know how during the 'Our Father' everyone holds hands? Well, I was sitting between an older woman and Grace. I held Grace's hand and politely raised my other one for the woman to grab....but she never did! She just looked at my hand and raised both of her hands in front of herself like she was blowing a kiss from her chest. Really? I don't know her reasoning, but I'm sure my hands were cleaner than hers. I know for a fact because I've recently been using hand sanitizer like every 15 minutes. I'm not sure if she's going to use Swine flu as a scapegoat, but c'mon it's church. And, to think of it...if she is scared of contamination... Why did she drink out of the communal eucharist cup? Multiple people drink out of the same cup and she probably drank some dirty backwash. I should of pulled this on her:

Oh, well I'm sure she'll get hers...

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School's almost over!! Hazaa! Only one more week for me and then two finals. "Hanging out" or "galavanting" anyone?

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