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Barbie Girl

Me (23:41:04): we had lots of gay moments
Me (23:41:09): as cousins in elementary school
Me (23:41:10): LOTS.
Me (23:41:30): singing the barbie girl song all squished together in cathy's car
Me (23:41:32): etc.
Me (23:41:36): cathy's dad's car*
B (23:42:25): LOL THATS LEGIT
Me (23:42:37): http://www.imeem.com/cewebatakz/music/WqRrDtSo/aqua-barbie-girl/
Me (23:42:39): OH YEAH.
Me (23:42:43): BRING BACK THE 90s
B (23:42:46): Hahahahaha!

I sure do get nostalgic at times.

Even as a small child in the 90s, I found things lame. Take Rick Astley's big sunglasses in his "Never Gonna Give You Up" music video for example. But then again, I wore them also. :D

What Matters Most

That's what they've been saying all along.

As always.


(Source: CNN Poll 10/22 19:38)

Californian Tours

Today, I walked through a metal detector when a federal officer spotted a high-density object in my backpack on his X-ray computer screen. I'm at the State Capitol in Sacramento, California--you know, where Arnie is--and am at their security screening area.

Officer: Is there anything in your backpack that's hard?
Me: Um, my bicycle tools? This is my bicycle bag. I can get it for you?
Officer (after another peek): No, not that; there's something hard in there.

By now he and some other female officer start fumbling around with my backpack, expecting something like a pipebomb or a gun. And guess what they pulled out?

Female Officer: What's he got in there?
Male Officer: Err, some tools and... a [road/pavement] reflector.

LOL.
OH, MAN. That was from my trip up in Mt. Hamilton in San Jose and I took that as a souvenir because it wasn't glued to the road with tar. I ended up explaining why it was in my possession and we resolve the problem with hearty laughter.

I had a chance to see Arnold Schwarzenegger's office too! I really wanted to pound the door and say hello, but without facing misdemeanor charges that was out of the question.


We also found ourselves lost in downtown while finding the Capitol.
Way too many one-way streets.



As for why I was in Sacramento in the first place, I was actually attending a campus tour of UC Davis. The campus is ridiculously huge, occupying some space nearly a fourth of the city of Davis. Without a bicycle, you'll be into some serious walking. It's even got its own fire department.



Overall, neat campus. There weren't as many cows as I expected there to be, though. :0

Here was the wonderful sunset to end the day--on a state scenic highway. (:

Getting Around

A (22:00:02): so i take the muni lightrail
Me (22:00:07): Im scared of MUNI
Me (22:00:10): too many crashes recently lol
A (22:00:16): i'm still alive
A (22:00:18): so it's ok
A (22:00:23): have faith in GOD!

HAHA. Being alive is all that matters--what a philosophy. :)

Braving the Brunt

I danced bare in the rain for the first time today. (:

Didn't know what I was thinking, but with a lot of stress on my shoulders, I found it rather soothing--dancing in the middle of a typhoon with winds at hurricane level. No, I'm not crazy or anything. The PE teachers insisted that we swim in this crummy weather, so I took the best and made the most out of it.


Though the rain was a blessing, it doesn't mean mother nature will play nice.
Aside: Just a few moments ago, a 3.8 earthquake shook up the entire Bay Area. :(

Set Me Ablaze

Your lips are a hot flame, baby,
and our chemistry is kerosene.

Never Let Go

Even if it means we'll
go our separate ways.

(Photo by Abby Bennethum)

Lost

I feel so proud of myself.

Earlier today, I had to stand on the bus because there were no seats left, but a kind woman scooted a bit to make room for me. I thanked her and dozed off on the way home until I was awakened by her 10 minutes after. She'd asked me if this is a downtown-bound bus, and I told her the regrettable news. Yikes. She would have to transfer at Great Mall for another bus or take a Santa Teresa light rail train to downtown, but her English was limited at best. I could hardly understand her. All I knew was that she wanted to get to the Martin Luther King Jr. Library.

So I took some paper, wrote down what bus number to take at Great Mall (since it's faster than taking the train from there) and where she had to deboard. Most of my friends know I visit downtown every month too often, and that I know the city all too well. Knowing downtown SJ and all its points of interests, districts, high-rise buildings, and streets by heart, I proceeded to draw for her a quick map from where she had to get off and walk to find the library.

It was the first time I'd ever given directions to anyone like that. (:
All from a seventeen year old.

Over the River, Through the Woods

I've traveled north, I've traveled south, and I've traveled west. Only the east remains.
That's where the mountains are, and up I went. I'm typically an urban cyclist but decided to give the California scenery a try, because I practically know the whole entire south bay by heart. I needed something to scare me--something daunting that lies to be challenged, and this was it. Going out of the city means no urban services such as police or medical services, no convenience stores to buy drinks, or any of the luxury I've been enjoying all along. My body needed conditioning as well, because I managed to reduce my mile running time (by foot) to 6 minutes after not having to run for 3 years, where my best time was 8 minutes way back long ago. It was a real ego boost. (:




The first destination was Alum Rock Park. There were park rangers rolling around here and there patrolling the park, I guess. I couldn't go all the way because the rest of the trail was unpaved. Boo-hoo. ):

That's how far I got up. So what next? Mt. Hamilton of course! It would be a long ascent, 2,000 feet up, but it isn't that steep. Okay! It's decided. Down I coasted from Alum Rock Park, then south in the city to McKee and I began my adventure.


Wonderful view of McKee Road from the state highway 130 at 1,000 feet. It's a long straight road headed straight to downtown San Jose. Freeway 680 lies left of it.

By this point, I'm not really tired, but rather I'm concerned about my inadequate supply of water. So I take breaks to minimize my need for water. A lady pulled up beside me in her car just to make sure I was all right. A nod and a cordial smile reassured her that I was.

Looks like our descent will be fun later!

By now, it's about 2,000 feet up from sea level, It's cold and chilly 50 degrees, and the wind's blowing quite moderately. Basically, I can feel how high I've gone up.

There's the Lick observatory. That white spec on the mountaintop, that is.
But crap, I'm running out of water. I flag down another oncoming cyclist and ask him how far I was from the Joseph D. Grant county park. 5 miles. He wishes me luck and I keep pushing on, but I'm going considerably slower. After the next 20 minutes or so, I ask this time an oncoming car for some water. They have none, so I ask the same thing I asked earlier to the cyclist.

"You made it, bro! Keep on going!" the dude nudges me on. I'm already in the park but the information kiosk is a mile and a half away.

I need water! I'm going to DIE out here going back without any. Stupid of me to carry a small water bottle. Panting and cold, I happened to see a house on the side of the road where family members were conversing outside.

"Excuse me, sir!" I shout with my arms flailing hoping the man would see behind the person he was talking to. Two more tries and he finally sees me. I tell him my situation and he is happy to give me another water bottle. I thank him and we begin a quick 3 minute discussion from where I had started McKee and where I was headed to. With some words of encouragement, he sends me off again, informing me that I was half a mile away from where I was headed.

And I made it! The park resembled a rest stop than anything else, nothing but some public facilities, parking space and a kiosk with a lonely park ranger reading her book. I took a half an hour break, refilled my three empty water bottles (there were empty ones in my backpack) and stretched before I returned on a 15-20 minute long descent.

Here's a zoomed out version.

I was literally in the middle of nowhere. Notice the lack of cellular service. The thought of something happening and no one to call is frightening. I wanted that feeling and I did it, though.
I can now go to college away from where I was born knowing that I've enjoyed everything that my city can possibly offer.

Oh, yes. Now the reward. A 15-20 minute descent at 30 mph. I felt the wind warming up as I came down, and had a chance to see the city from way up high.

My adventure is complete. (:

Let's Become Wonderful

"...To the person I love most."

Finish Line

It's time.
So we begin.