Some Pictures

I've finally uploaded photos to my computer and thought I would post a few here. The rest are at my flickr account but you will have to be my friend to view them.

The nearby park (easy walking distance)

Kitchen/Dinning Room empty + Cadence
This one was just too cute to pass up on posting

Mom in front of my new place of employment: UCI Science Library

Rainbow-themed bathroom
See the artwork on the mirrors (I know, I'm amazing)

The Rainbow Rug in my bathroom

Living Room with chairs and pictures

Getting Settled

Today I hung up my first framed picture. It's nothing fabulous, maybe that made it easier. Less commitment. The frame I bought at Ikea for half off ($12) and the poster inside for 25 cents (97% off). It looks okay. What is causing the most deliberation is my grandma's painting. I love it and really want to make sure I put it in the best spot (good viewage and no direct light). This means either above my entertainment set-up (which includes my 1999 20-inch TV and and 20-inch iMac) or in my dining room (but there might be too much light here). I just don't know. I have several other framed pictures that I must decide what to do with. Perhaps some of these will eventually go in my office (which at the moment is essentially empty).

So for the move-in story (for those interested). I drove down to Irvine in my nifty Mazda5 on Wednesday, January 21st. I was a little sick with a cold but fortunately, it was a completely uneventful drive. I moved into my new apartment with only the items that fit into my car. On the 24th, the rest of my stuff arrived in the PODS container. My friends (Joe, Nick and Andre) drove up from the San Diego area, spent the night Friday (we played a very fun submarine game), and then helped me unload the pod early Saturday morning. I could not have done it without them. And they were so much fun to be around. I hope to see them soon again.

My mom arrived on Sunday, and we began unpacking and finding places for things. I think in the first week that I was here, I went to Target five times (3 different stores), Ikea four times, Lowes three times, TJ Max twice, Costco twice, and Trader Joe's four times. It was handy to have a week and a half before I started working. Oh, this reminds me, I had a terrible time getting my Internet up and running. I was supposed to have connection on Monday but did not get it until Friday night. Why did I not get it? 1) They couldn't tell me and 2) It was hooked up to the wrong phone line. I think I spent about 6 hours in total on the phone with AT&T. Their customer service is horrendously terrible. I could ramble about this for a very very very long time but it will just build up all the old anger and frustration, and the story is not over yet. They wouldn't compensate me for lost time until I get my AT&T bill (stupid!!!!), so now I wait for that to arrive in the mail.

My one bedroom apartment is nice and the complex is also nice (so descriptive, I know). I'll get around to some pictures, maybe. I am within an easy 3-minute walk to Trader Joes and to Albertsons (though opposite directions). There are also some very yummy places to eat around here too. When I first moved in, it was very warm (70s and low 80s) but now it has returned to winter weather (50s), and I find myself occasionally turning on the heater.

So that's a little about the settling stuff. Oh, and my bathroom is rainbow-themed -YAY!!!

Missing Out

Sorry for the month long absence. I know some of you have been waiting for a post and I have been seriously slacking. Well, I am not really going to make a full one now but hopefully tomorrow. Big changes: move to Irvine and starting new job as a UCI Librarian.

Happy Valentine's Day!
and
Happy Roommates Appreciation Day [Amanda, Karen, Katy, Heather, Faith, and Salena]!!!

The Move

Whoo hoo! I'm moving to Irvine. I am so excited to be starting my new job as the Research Librarian for Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy at UC Irvine on February 2nd. Truly. This is the exact job that I dreamed of having so I cannot wait to begin. However, it is in less than a month and I have so much to do to get there. Currently I am boxing and packing like crazy. So many dust bunnies. Gina, Mark, and Jamie have all helped and I so appreciate it. Even if they had done nothing but stand there and talk to me, I would have been happy. Moving can be kind of lonely and sad. Oh, and my mom also has also been extremely awesome. She has packed quite a bit and had some excellent ideas. I have to have everything packed and put into the PODS unit by Wednesday evening. I think I am one third there, so I guess that means I still have a lot to do because I only have one more day. If anyone is bored tomorrow and needs some physical activity to do, give me a call. ;D

Now I am also on the hunt for a couch, TV stand, and a twin-sized bed. If you know of anyone who is getting rid of these things, please let me know. Okay, I gotta get back to work.

A Million Years Have Passed

Okay, maybe not that long, but it has been quite some time. I don't really know if I actually have any followers (oh wait, I think Jonathan and Elizabeth are definitely keeping track of my updates -that's two - yay!), but I will try to better over the next few months as I share my adventures into a new life (if I do end up moving to Irvine).

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family. Christmas Eve was at my cousin's home and Christmas Day was with my mom, dad, and brother, very low key. We watched "It's a Wonderful Life," which I hadn't seen possibly in a decade or so. I really really enjoyed it but then I adore Jimmy Stewart. Mom and I were watching a making of feature and they said that when this movie was released in the theatres, it pretty much bombed. It wasn't until several decades later that it became so popular. This seems so odd to me when this happens with a movie. Ahh, the mysteries of life. ;D

Immediately after school finished, I started reading The Shack by William P. Young. I think I cried through every chapter I read. The story seemed to speak directly to my heart. How do we deal with the horrible things that happen in this world and believing that God is completely good? It is not an easy mental battle and certainly one that I struggle with on occasion. I do strongly believe that God wants a relationship with each of us, and not a particular amount of goodness or proper behavior from us. That's really the point of Jesus, right?

Oh, I was a bridesmaid in the wedding of dear friends, Nadia and Abhi, on December 20th. A very cold but beautiful sunny day in Palo Alto. I look forward to getting some copies of the professional photos since I really didn't take any myself. May God bless their union richly in love. My fabulous friend, Gina, did my hair and it was amazing. She's so talented. [She also dressed me for my interviews -Thank you Gina!!!]

Shane left today to go to Colorado to be with Tiffany and family. I miss him already, and I wish I could have seen Tiffany, too. Oh well, holidays and seeing all family members can be quite tricky.

Anything else to report... hmmm... not at the moment but I'll try to be better about posting in the future. Some photos...

Mommy and the Tookie

The Dress & The Hair

Nadia and her sister, Nina, getting ready for the wedding - woot!

Graduation Gift from Dad

Dad, Shane, Shelly, Me, Jackie [Mom taking the picture]

Taken this just before we drove Shaner to the airport.

Sunday's AIDS Walk

I will be participating in the San Jose AIDS Walk this Sunday with the Beautiful Day Team (composed of many many San Jose churches). I've added a little widget on the side to thank my donors so far. I made a display in Special Collections on the impact of AIDS, so I guess this year the AIDS walk means something a little more.

See what I added?

You can now chat with me from my blog if I am logged into meebo. This is a common way for librarians to intentionally be available for patrons. Give it a try if you feel like it.

Sorry I have posted in a while. I've been busy posting on my class blog instead. There really isn't any new news yet. I'll let you know if that changes, I promise. (Well, I guess I should say that I moved back in with my parents. A special thank you to my dear friends, Jonathan, Gina, Jenn, Jamie, and Mark, who helped me to move.)

To RSS or Not to RSS?

I sent an email out to a few of my friends to poll them on their use of RSS feeds. It was an assignment for one of my classes this semester. My instructor guessed that although RSS subscriptions are very useful and can seem very popular since so many websites have them now, the number of users is quite lower than one would expect. She asked us to poll our friends and see what we find. Here are my poll results:

Are you familiar with RSS feeds? ...
(1) Yes, and I use them.
(2) Yes, but I'd never used them.
(3) No, not a clue.

The Outcome.

(1) IIIII 5
(2) IIIII IIIII 10
(3) IIIII IIII 9

Total: 24 responses.

Note that those who chose 2 or 3 (a total of 19 out of the 24) do not use RSS feeds. Thus, a majority of my friends do not subscribe to RSS feeds, though at least half them are familiar with RSS (in some way).

If you are curious what is the deal with RSS, I have included a video to help out with your quandary. (I wanted to embed it but there is no embedding code at YouTube--which I find odd--, so you'll just have to follow the link. I think it is well worth it.)
RSS in Plain English


For those of you who participated - Thank You!!!!

Still Entertained

Sad but true, I am still very entertained by the squirrels when they play in the dead walnut tree and other wild growth trees in the background (I've really got a great view, in fact I just took a picture with my iPhone and I'll post that below). They chase each, fall off, and just jump around like the crazy animals they are. See how desperately I need to get out and have fun?

Also, if you plan to buy healthy whole wheat tortillas made with olive oil, beware!!! They do not taste the same, quite disappointed I am. And the package only came with 6 tortillas. I was trying to be a healthy buyer rather than a sell out for the cheapest items (I also bought cage-free eggs instead of the on-sale safeway brand).

Some other photos I like that I caught on my iPhone.

Jeffra Voki

Still playing with LIBR 246 Web 2.0 apps. This is a Voki I created to represent myself. Unfortunately I couldn't get my mike to sync so I had to use one of their voices.




Get a Voki now!

Lady Friends for Dinner & Games

Last Tuesday, I had some friends from church over to make our own pizzas and then play some games. Thus, we ate delicious pizza and laughed through some silly game playing. Good times.


I was told, "Of course, Jeffra's pizza looks the best." I'm not sure if this is compliment, or of it just goes to show that I am a crazy control-freak. (And you can't really see mine because it is mostly in the oven - on the left.)

Final Animoto - Friends

Well, while the location of the videos is better, some of the pictures are kind of dark. I guess for a quickie, it's not too shabby.

2nd Attempt Animoto

It's better but my head is still cut off. If they had a way for you to select the impt part of a photo, it would be better.

First Animoto Attempt

It's not perfect but it is not bad either.

Friday Visit with the Haradas

After laboring in the Math Dept, I hopped in my zippy but very dirty Mazda5 and drove to Karen's parents' house. As I walked up the pathway to their house, I remembered the first time I visited Karen at was then home. We were in 8th grade, I think, so we would have been 13 years old since it would have been Fall. Shane was having little league baseball games at the park near her house (about 1/2 a block away). When we discovered this fact, she told me that I could stop by any time. At this point in my life, I didn't just go to a friend's house. Arrangements had to be made in advance and parents had to be contacted and in approval. When I made the bold move to walk to Karen's home before one of Shane's games, I hadn't called first (and no, there were no cellphones back then so I couldn't just call on my way over) and wasn't even sure she was home. Also, I was worried that her parents might be upset with an unexpected guest at the front door. Thus, I paced in front of the house, debating whether or not to start down the path to the door. I think I may have even headed back to the park a few times. Finally, I plucked up the courage and rang the doorbell. I'd like to say that we've been best friends ever since.

Anyway, on Friday night, I ate dinner with Karen's parents (Mary and Hideo) and her sister (Liza) and Liza's husband (Randy) and their son (Tyler). Tyler is about 20 months or so. He can count to 10 (sometimes skipping seven). He can drink from a regular cup (apparently he skipped sippy cups) and eat with an almost adult sized metal fork. And he even gave me a hug when he left (this is only the third time he's met me, and the other times he wasn't even a year old yet). So basically, lots of cuteness.

This One's for Elizabeth

And I'm off to start my busy day (with a veggie sandwich - yum yum, well, and a piece of cake). Hmmm, I think I still have sleepy eyes in this picture...

The Utah Trip

Well, early August I flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, to visit my brother, Shane, and his girlfriend, Tiffany, in their new home. I was also there to be free labor. Nah, really, I am so glad that I was there in perfect time to help them get settled in because I know that is not an easy process. So there isn't anything too exciting to report about it. I cleaned walls, taped walls, primed walls, painted walls, and removed tape from walls. Predominately, that is about it. I also ate some delicious veggie sandwiches (brie cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, and lettuce) with Shane. He made tofu-onaise to put on them that was quite tasty (even though thus far I have intensely disliked tofu). He also made a vegetarian carrot-corn quesadilla filling that last us for the six days that I was there. Finally, on Sunday, Shane and I went to see The Dark Knight. It was his first and my second. Oddly, I didn't enjoy it as much the second time but I think I was trying to be extra critical plus I knew when all the scary parts were going to happen. I still look forward to seeing it on DVD and catching on the behind-the-scenes extras, like how did they make it so that Batman's head can turn? You know it has never been done in the movies before, big stuff. Anyhoo, here are some photos from the trip:

My brother in the doorway to their downstairs 1/2 bathroom (it's very short).

The dinning room (nice and blue). Shane's working on his computer in the kitchen.

The Hallway/Stairway - nearly all done.

And this is the only people photo (it's Shane in the kitchen).

Well, so that is that. It was a great trip and I am so glad that I was there to help. I'm looking forward to visiting again when it is all set-up and when there is snow for me to play in. Whoo hoo!
*HUGS* for Shane and Tiffany!

I guess I could add...

... that my mom and I got our iPhones, finally! Some pictures:




Later I'll post information about my trip to visit Shane and Tiffany in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I was told that...

... I need to update my blog. So here it is: Hello my viewers.

Gilroy Gardens

Formally known as Bonfante Gardens, Jonathan, Jamie, Jenn, and I (wow, all J-names) made a little trip to the southern bay area theme park. Gilroy Gardens is the perfect young family theme park. Lots of little kiddie rides and attractions. As I have thought about it, I saw few teens or adults unaccompanied by little kiddies. There are plenty of plants, trees, and flowers to make the park far more attractive than Great America. It was a good day but also a hot day. We went in the water areas at least five times. Our shoes would become soggy and drippy, our clothes sticky and heavy. Anyway here are a few pictures [I forgot my camera -so annoying and disappointing, I would have made a video clip or two-these pictures are from Jenn's camera].

TP ... really?

So some unknown persons TP-ed my parents's house last night. For what reason, we are clueless. Perhaps they had the wrong address? It is so weird.

Yesterday's Excitement

The day started with my car covered in ash. Regrettably, Santa Cruz mountains are still having fires. The night before, the smoke has so much reached San Jose skies, that the evening was a burning yellow-orange-red one. It was very eerie.

Next, Karen and I went to Target to buy needed items for the new incoming refugees (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, deodorant, address book, flashlight, San Jose street map, backpack, etc.). I really appreciated her company and her willingness to help out in this endeavor. The refugees, when they finally are brought to the US, are given nothing more than $400. This backpack is sort of a beginning survival kit for them. (In case you are wondering, Refugees are persons fleeing the chaos of war and persecution; they cannot return to their homelands. Most are women and children. All have lost family, jobs, homes and support systems. Refugees entering the US are persons who were individually selected by the US government for permanent resettlement here. Catholic Charities then welcomes and resettles them.)

After watching an adorable children's production of Alice in Wonderland with Karen, I went home to watch the US Open (golf, duh!) with my dad. It was quite the thrill. So much happened in the last 6 holes of the last two groups. Despite Tiger Woods being in incredible pain (he had knee surgery only two months earlier), he ended the round with 2 eagles and a birdie to put him in the lead. It was truly awesome to watch. The first eagle was a 65-foot putt that cause him to do a two fisted pump for joy. The birdie at the 17th was a spectacular bounce from a shot from the bunker into the hole that left him saying, "You've got to be kidding!" And at the final 18th hole, he made a 40-ft putt that put his score to 3 under par. Go Tiger, go! I have to wonder how he will do today because he was limping so bad at the end yesterday, and it was obvious that he was in extreme pain after his full swings. Maybe he'll dope up on drugs. Regardless, I am looking forward to watching the last round today.

Final word: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!!!

The Run Down Shack

Our adventure at the "run down shack" as we called it.

Mysterious Booth

Our thoughts about the Lick Observatory booth.

Trip to James Lick Observatory

This is part of the windy road we took up to the observatory. I would say I was driving somewhere between 10 and 25 mph, nice and slow (lots of hairpin turns).

My car, enjoying the visit.

The oldest observatory there.

A view to the bay area.

The mysterious booth. What do you think it was used for? We have a video clip to come on our guesses. Shane - do you know???

An old boarded-up house that peeked our curiosity as well. I wanted to crawl in through the basement but then one of the local workers warned us about rattle snakes (I think he was just trying to keep us away from the house).

Cousins-together at last

A view of a few observatories, I think there are nine in total.

Boring Video Blog

But since I made it, why not post it?

It's Been Ages

Okay, really, barely a month since I last posted. I just got busy with school, and then visitors, and then laziness. So whenever this happens, I seem to favors lists, so here we go:

• Did excelente in my two LIS classes, even enjoyed writing the term paper, which at first thought was terrible but turned out to be better than I expected
• Finished up my reference and instruction internship, it was needed practical experience
• Still have plenty to learn about working in SJSU Special Collections
  
• Had some cavities filled at the dentist
• Traveled with my awesome friends to Alcatraz Island (love spending time with them)
  
• Kent ladies, their husbands, and their daughters were all in town for their dad's wedding. Whoo hoo! I got to spend the evening with them at their aunt and uncle's house, trying to keep up with their daughters.
• My cousin, Rachel, made a stop-over in CA on her way back from Kentucky to WA (I'll be posting pictures and videos of our escapades later)
• Discovered that with on and off freeway driving, my car gets about 26.6 mpg, not bad I guess
  
• Saw Iron Man (twice) and Prince Caspian in the theatres
• Watched season finales for Smallville (disappointed), Bones (crushed), and Lost (still confused)

I think that's it. I'll try to be more regular but no guarantees. Here's a couple of pictures from the Alcatraz Trip (taken by Jenn Wu since I forgot my camera):

Alcatraz Island from the ferry

C Cell Block

Alcatraz Island Lighthouse (oldest on the West Coast, I think)

Nice Group Photo with San Francisco in the background

The Ladies (Jamie, Megan, Gina, and Jenn)

The View from the island

The Silly Photo

The Squirrels Gymboree

I'm sitting here at my computer and I'm supposed to be writing my term paper on Academic Library 2.0 but it is, um, not going as I would like it to. I'm taking notes on articles I've already read two or three times. I'm finding additional blogs and other online sources of new-to-me Library 2.0 information. Then I remember I have stack of books I populated with stickies and I think one of them said something important. Where was that? And it easily leads to me feeling very overwhelmed. Directly behind my computer are three good-sized windows. In the backyard that they look out upon, there is a large old dead walnut tree. In it is a dilapidated base of treehouse with a sign hanging from it that says, "Elizabeth's Treehouse." I don't think it has been played in for over two decades. Except perhaps by a few special little guests: the squirrels. As I sit here, pondering the purpose of my paper, there are four squirrels scrambling through the tree's dry leafless branches and chasing each other. If you are frustrated with an unproductive writing session, then this can be quite amusing to watch. Maybe one of these days, I'll give you a play by play using the video camera on this computer.