Busy week of visitors!

The past week has been busy.  Two of our friends (also in our wedding party) were in town at the same time.  On Wednesday night, we stayed out in the west side to meet up with a few of Emmanuell's grad school friends for dinner at C&O's Cucina followed by boba.  Then on Thursday, we went out to Father's Office where I was reunited with my favorite beer.  On Friday night, I stayed up til about 2am (I couldn't sleep for some reason) and ended up just cleaning the apartment since M was staying w/ us the following night.

On Saturday morning, we drove out to SGV to pick up L and headed to dim sum with other grade school friends.  M came to meet up w/ us and got to meet a few of my friends.  E went with M to help him pack while my friends and I hung out and went for some boba at Tea Station.  A few hours later, we headed down to Gardena for kbbq and boba (again for me) with E's grad school friends.  We also got to meet an adorable newborn!  By that time it was sometime after 10pm.  The three of us then headed to J-town for karaoke w/ M's sister.  That lasted til around 2:30am.  After we got home, we played a boardgame til about 6am.  We were up for almost 24 hrs!  E and I woke up around three hours later and browsed online til M woke up for a late breakfast before he left.

This past weekend was very much needed!  I really enjoyed the weekend, thanks to L & M being in town.  It felt like Wednesday night started the weekend!  Looking forward to the next reunion!

Quick updates

It's been nearly a month since I've updated.  Not too much has happened.

• lunch date w/one of my bridesmaids and her hubby
• dinner w/ some of Emmanuell's grad school friends
• wedding errands
• visit a dear friend's mom in the hospital
• watching the playoffs
• apartment hunting
• watched "Thor" (surprisingly good movie)

Hopefully I'll be able to write more soon.

Star Wars Day

I found out from O that today is Star Wars Day.

May the 4th be with you.

long work day

got to work at 7:10am, left work at 6:45pm.  i'm pooped.

When the man is away...

I go shopping!

Emmanuell was out of town (Thurs night thru Mon morn) visiting a friend.  Since he booked his trip, I've been contemplating on whether to go to SD.  What pushed me to make it a day trip and do the driving solo on Saturday?  It became an advanced retail therapy before I went to see my family the next day.  Yes, I felt like it was a needed trip down.  Also, my friend, O, who lives in SD tempted me w/ turon and my favorite dessert place.  Yes, she knows how to through to me!

I woke up at 6:45am Saturday morning (after going to bed past 1am) to get ready.  I left at about 7:40 and arrive at O's house in SD at 9:35.  We headed out to brunch at Goldilocks (same place we've been to a few times before).  Afterwards, O and I headed to an outlet to start some shopping.  I bought some heels for work, mascara, and stocked up on hand soaps and shower gels.

After doing some damage (our shopping bags from Bath & Body Works were a bit heavy hence it was double bagged), we decided to head out to get some dessert.  Yup, whenever I go down to SD, dessert is a must.  Once we devoured our delicious treats, we headed back to O's house to drop off the to-go desserts we ordered before going out to another mall.  We did some more shopping at VS.  I also bought a couple tops at a store I've never heard of (until now).  We decided to leave before doing more damage.  (Thanks O for dragging my butt out of there!!)  We went to Lolita's for dinner.  They've got some massive burritos!  We headed to O's house after dinner to chill and chat for a couple hours.  It started to get late (sadness!) and so I left at around 9:30 to drive back and got home at about midnight.

What a FUN day trip!  Thank you soo much O for spending the day with me eating and shopping!  No shopping for a while, haha.  Good times, good times. =)

Tough love

It's been over nine months since I've been engaged, and my wedding is less than eight months away.  For the most part, I am very excited for one of the biggest days of my life.  Unfortunately, there's been something that's been quite frustrating for me.  Normally, the couple's family would be excited for the couple's big day.  Sadly, I don't get that feeling from my family.  I've been thinking about it more lately, and it depresses me.  It's gotten to a point where I don't care anymore... I don't care if they don't attend my big day.  I've gotten unpleasant feedback.

For example:

• I did not get a "Congratulations" from my oldest brother since informing my siblings I got engaged on 6/6/10.  And til this day, nothing.  And to be told that the oldest son has to walk me down the aisle, are you f*ing kidding me??? 
• I called my sister during my lunch break one day to let her know that a date's been set.  After telling her the date and time, she said that she would have to find someone to cover for her because she can't close the shop.  I asked if they would close the shop if they couldn't find anyone to cover.  Answer - no, they "can't".  Seriously?  For just one day?  I was really upset hearing that from my older sister - someone who I consider to be one of my closest siblings - after lunch that I told Emmanuell and even tried to hold back my tears.  Emmanuell ended up talking to my sister to say that it already hurts that no one seems to be excited for me. 
• My mom does not approve, and she never will.  There's no need to explain any further here.
• I've been told how I HAVE to invite my mom.  Given they know how much she despises the relationship and how miserable I was dealing with her physical, emotional and verbal abuse, I have to invite someone who I KNOW will do something traumatizing on one of the most important days of my life.  They make it sound soo easy, as if she'll happily accept the invitation and all of a sudden behave and accept my marriage to my future husband.  I'm sorry, you do know Mom longer than I have... do you not remember anything? 

It really sucks.  I hate it.  Given the fact on how important this day is to me, it disappoints me that I have to deal w/ this crap.  It's gotten to the point where I'm giving up on getting any support from my family.  I feel like there isn't even an ounce of excitement.  It hurts... a lot.  What also hurts is when I keep trying to hope that things have changed, but then nothing changes.  I receive the same outcome.  Going through that repetitive cycle of hoping that there is some sort of support/excitement/affection continues to get crushed.  Every single time, it's a slap in the face.  It makes me wonder if there is a point to be optimistic on this issue.  Why?  Because so far, it just fails me.  I thought that after my dad passed, things would get better (i.e. better communication, moral support, showing more affection).  I guess I thought wrong.  I've learned to not put up with that crap, to avoid getting screwed over by family.  It seems like me not wanting to put a car or house under my name (things that wouldn't serve as my own vehicle to drive in or a house for me to live in) labels me as the black sheep in the family.

I've worked my ass off.  Knowing that I have my loans to pay on top of my other expenses, I've been much better at managing my finances, and I refuse to get myself involved in situations where I feel I'd get screwed.  I have done my best to give my advice to forewarn them "no, don't do it" because I'd have a gut feeling that they'll get screwed over.  They go ahead and do it anyway.  Then lo and behold - bam, I'm right.

That's family...

Engagement

My cousin in France is engaged!  I'm super happy for him!!  Congrats Michel!! =)