Christmas Cheers and Fears--Wait, What?

Yes, fears! Or just chills.

So here's what happened: some 23 hours and 15 minutes ago, or midnight on Christmas day, I took the time to wish a merry Christmas to my loved and close ones via texting.

One of my close friends was one whom I met at San Jose State University two years ago for my homestay pre-departure orientation. Remembering that he had given me his number at that time, I figured it wouldn't hurt to spread the cheer around, right? So with my iPhone I happily, smile broad across the face, tapped out "Merry Christmas from California" with my two thumbs.

I gleam across the room into open living room, and continue with the festivities with my cousins. A few minutes later, I receive a response.

It read:
Who's this?

Understanding that it's been a while since I ever got in touch with him using that number (though I frequently do with him via Facebook), I let out a chuckle and two ha ha's come out instantly from my mouth. With a grin on my face, I innocently joke back with him (or so I thought), and send the following:
Guess, who else lives in California whom you met in San Jose?

His response:
Idk... lol I don't remember

Okay, by now I'm thinking I have the wrong number. Just as a precaution, I politely send out:
lol just making sure that im not messaging the wrong number and this is [name] right?

I patiently wait, and guess what comes back?
Hell

Wow, good riddance. Have some decency, it's Christmas morning. No question mark, so are you declaring 'hell?' Or are you stupid enough to leave out every grammatical mark and word that aid in comprehension? I assume the latter for "What the hell?" Dirty and insulting words are flying inside my head at this guy, but I apologize anyway for any trouble I might've caused and for the lost time.

So I'm assuming this is [the] wrong number; sorry for any inconvenience!
But merry christmas anyway haha


Expecting no response from the person or maybe one accepting my apology, I was wrong. I'll let you read the response, taken as a screenshot, AS IS from my inbox.


Um, yeah. Like I'm dumb enough to respond to this kid or creep...


OH NOES HOLD 'EM UP! On second thought, I could have some fun playing as a persona of a girl.

Girls, just watch out after yourselves and stay away from guys like this, okay? And for the rest of you all, have a happy WONDERFUL Christmas. (:
I later found out my friend changed numbers.

San Jose Bike Party

Loads of fun! I blew out my tire going to school earlier this day, got it fixed and my friend blew his out on the night ride. Luckily we were prepared and patched it up within 10-20 minutes. This ride was the best I've attended, it's getting better every time thanks to the creative planners and organizers of this event. Downtown has become a bustling financial district from what was a deserted ghost town, even at 12:30 o'clock midnight (aside: it was the latest I've stayed!). The name "San Jose Bike Party" sounds pretty corny, I must admit, but it definitely beats San Francisco's high-risk Critical Mass. Give it a shot and you'll know what I mean.

I made a video to top it off. (:
Covers downtown (including Christmas in the Park), Willow Glen and Campbell. I couldn't get the neighborhoods whose entire blocks had lighted houses because it was too dark for my camera, sorry!

Now do me a favor and just enjoy the video.

Frying Pans

My neck hurts. It's stiff from all the laughter in the past hour.

Aya and I were poking fun of Japanese English for about two hours now. Now for those who don't know, Aya is my language study mate on Skype; I help her in English and she helps me with my Japanese. One of the discussions was regarding the word bread in Japanese, which is pan. Pan happens to be a borrowed word from Portuguese and Spanish, so the word for bread is--well--pan.

Unfortunately, some Japanese speakers think pan is an English word since it's written in katakana (one of the alphabet systems used to write foreign borrowed words), and when they want to purchase or buy bread in the United States, they end up requesting, "Pan, please." To their surprise, they find a frying pan sitting in front of them on their dining table, and can offer nothing back but a puzzled look.

"Kuenai!" Aya jokingly adds. (I can't eat this!)


Oh, boy. I would love to see this personally.

Two as One

Take her by the hand and
show her the entire world.

That's the first step to our journey in finding happiness.

Ask

Most of the time around this period, people begin to realize there's something they haven't discovered yet.