Blogging again

For my avid followers I would like to apologize for my lack of posting. For those of you who dont know, my computer died (RIP). So I had to buy a new one, which was an experience all its own.

Its crazy. The computer sticker prices are so cheap!! $699 or $599 for new laptops! I got all excited about how I could afford one! BUT there is ALWAYS a catch. The computers are truly $599, PLUS windows, PLUS RAM, PLUS hard drive space..PLUS, PLUS PLUS.... they still come out to being over $1,000!!!! Its crazy!!

So I finally got my new computer and the first week was full of feeding though emails and responding to people. That took a lot longer than I thought it would, but now Im finally back in the blogging world. Have a few things and some pictures to post from the past month or so that you all have missed, but I am sure I will eventually catch you up on all that!

So the moral of this blog: HAVE NO FEAR MONICA'S BLOG IS HERE!

LOL

Growing

I was thinking about the people I have known in my life today. I was thinking about how much we have all grown and changed over the years, but how we really are essentially the same.

The hopeless romantics are still hopeless romantics. The posers are still posers. The people needing approval from others are still in need of approval. The ones who march to their own beat still march to their own beat. And so on and so forth.

But with age comes wisdom. We become wiser about life and the decisions we make. We are more poised and graceful the older we get. We learn from our mistakes. We understand more and those around us better. And I believe we become more accepting.

We really don't change deep down I think, but we grow and learn to adapt who we are to those around us, making us appear as changed, but really we've just grown and adapted.

Strep

Well this week I had been feeling under the weather, but especially Friday and early Saturday morning my throat was bothering me. I was getting nervous that I might have Swine Flu so I got online and looked up the symptoms, usual flu symptoms plus vomiting and diarrhea, and knew that's totally NOT what I had. So I started looking up Strep throat thinking that might be it and I read the symptoms: Soar and swollen throat (check), Pain swallowing liquid or food (check), fever (check) and No coughing nor runny nose (check). So I assumed I had strep throat and looked online for home remedies since I hate going to the doctors. They suggested the usual: Aspirin for the pain, gargle with salt water, lots of liquids. BUT all websites said that the only way to get rid of strep throat is to get an antibiotic from your doctor. I looked up Kaiser hospitals close by, but none were open on the weekends (WTF?!), so I remembered the CVS Minute Clinic commercials online so I went.

Its a clever thing this Minute Clinic at CVS. An actual doctor there to basically test you out and give you prescriptions fast and easy without insurance. Unfortunately, they don't take Kaiser (no surprise really), so I had to pay full price which was $69 for the doctor fee (one of the more expensive fees). She gave me a throat swab that was supposed to show if I was positive or negative for Strep Throat within 5 minutes, about 2 minutes in she looked at it and said "WOW! That was the fastest I have ever seen it change, you sure do have Strep, no question". She also looked in my throat and said "Oh its red in there and white spots too!" She also said "Good self diagnosis, you called it". I don't know if I should be proud of these things or not, but what I do know is that now I have Penicillin and some mouth gargle. Doctor said I should start feeling at least a little better tomorrow... I hope she is right!

The only positive: I got to Dial 911

I was waiting for the bus at the Bethesda Metro station to go home (usually I walk, but I haven't been well so I decided to wait for the bus). There was a lady standing to my right talking to a young man about what time the next bus was coming and then all of a sudden I heard a strange crash pop sound and then she said "Did that car just hit that man?!" and gasped. There was a column in my way so I could exactly see from where I was, but I could see that people started rushing towards that area and the lady said "I hope someone calls 911!" My cell phone happened to be in my hand so I dialed 911. Apparently I was the first to call in and I was transferred to emergency response and they asked me a lot of questions. I had to walk over to the area that the man who was hit was at to answer them. Like "How old is he?" "Is he moving or talking?" "Is he on the ground?" I answered the best I could and told them that a police officer was there already and talking to them and the man on the phone said "Yes, we are just now getting the call in, OK, can we get your name and the telephone number from which you are calling" I gave it to them and that was it. It took longer than expected, but first another police car arrived, then a fire truck and then two ambulances. The young man who hit him couldn't have been over 21 and seemed very regretful and flustered at what had just happened (in the kids defense, there was no crosswalk there, bu there was a cross walk a few feet away.. USE THE CROSSWALK PEOPLE). Anyways it was all kinds of exciting and also scary and reminded me to use cross walks and be a good pedestrians. Also I got to call 911 for real!! That was cool!

GRE

So I bought my first GRE study/practice book and have started preparing myself for the mindset that I will be taking the exam in the next year or so. I have been out of school for so long and have never been a very good test taker, so I am a little nervous. Also I realized that my vocabulary has greatly decreased from living in Japan for so long. I am thinking of majoring in International Communications, but you all know me-I always change my mind and end up doing something completely different anyways. So the point of the blog... wish me luck on my studying!!

Won't lie, Im totally bummed

Met a guy that I really liked. Different from some of the other guys. Funny, down to earth, religious, kind, geeky... perfect. It took a long time and a few friends pointing him in the right direction to get the nerves to ask me out. Apparently I make people nervous. Finally he asked me for coffee and we talked for 5 hours. It was great! I couldn't wait to see him next, but it took him so long to ask me out. Finally he called and sounded so sad and stressed... a talker he is, but he didn't speak for a few moments and then explained that in the time that we had coffee to now his friend expressed her deep feelings for him and that he decided to try things out with her. He told me that it wasn't his intention to lead me on and that it wasn't honourable to see more than one person at a time. So that was it. I told him I was happy for him and that I understood, but was still totally bummed. "I won't lie, I'm totally bummed, but happy for you." were my exact words. I want to be angry and bummed, but he is so nice and straight forward that I just cant be.

I secretly wish it all goes wrong and that I'm next in line...... is that terrible?

Out with Andrea and Casey

Went out with Andrea and Casey on saturday night so I could check out the hot bartender at Rira. We had a great time! It was Casey's first time sitting and drinking at a bar!! We had some good laughs and good music!

Me and Casey