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Davistkd
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Name: Gloria
Location: California, United States
Birthday: 12/10/1982
Gender: Female
Interests: taekwondo (representin' UCDavis!), sleeping (can never get too much sleep!), pool (I LOVE pool!)
Expertise: TKD!!, Sleeping
Occupation: Student
Industry: Medical
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
2/16/2003
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| it's been awhile since I wrote my last entry.
Let me recap what I did this month.....
June 2, Saturday, I went to the Union Street Fair in the Marina in SF by myself. I walked around, had some garlic fries, and did a little shopping in the afternoon. Then I went to my first S. Factor pole dancing intro class. Yes - a pole dancing intro class! It was totally awesome! There was nothing sleazy about the place or the way pole dancing was taught. That class gave my entire body, specially my booty and abds, a good work out. During the class, we learned some "seductive" way to stretch, 2 stripper moves, and 1 pole trick. And I got the pole trick right the first time! The instructor jokingly told me that I was a "natural". (Yeah right). Surprisingly, I even met some Davis alums too! I thought the instructors and the girls that were in my class were really nice. It was a warm, cozy, and very inviting environment. I've always thought that pole dancing was pretty intriguing. In fact, I signed up for level 1 course that will start every Saturday, for 8 weeks, starting on June 23! This is such a bold move! I'm nervous and excited at the same time. This is something that is completely out of my element. It was always about playing the piano, beating people up on the mat (taekwondo) or beating people on the table (pool). Dancing around a pole and hanging myself upside down is a complete polar opposite of what I used to do. Anyway, there are 6 levels and 8 weeks per each level. The price is pretty steep. I think I'll just take through level 4, possibly to 5, depending on how much i like it, and stop. One other interesting thing is that not only will I get to learn pole dancing, but I will also learn strip tease (with different types of garmets) and lap dance! This is still fairly overwhelming to me to digest all at once. Hopefully I'll retain what I learn after all these classes.
Then that night, I had dinner with my highschool/college friend, Nick, at CPK in WC.
Sunday - I went to do archery with Nick in Orinda - Thankfully, no humans or animals were harm that day!
June 8, Friday, I set up the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society booth at the National Marrow and Cord Blood Survivor Conference at the Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel in Milbrae. Later on, I hung out with out one of my college buddies, Raj. How he and I reconnected is another story. But I he was quite attractive.
June 9, Saturday - I didn't get much sleep the previous night, so I had a harder time staying awake during the many downtimes I had during the conference. I did manage to speak to 90% of the patients/survivor/care taker/primary care providers though. I was able to give out a lot of informations and brochures of all the services the LLS offers. This conference was an eye-opening experience because I was able to experience medicine from a different perspective. Medicine is not just about diagnosing a disease and treating it. There are social, financial, resource, and psychological factors involved: where can I find support group for my disease? What happens if I need assistance to help pay my co-pay? Where can I go to get connected to others in similar situations? Where can I get more informations about my disease? What kind of food can I eat? How can I emotionally cope with my incurable illness? I never had thought about medicine that way, but that day, I saw a different side of medicine
That night, I had all of my good friends together to eat yummy good and watched 2 movies. The planets must have aligned properly, because Liana, Bonnie and all my other pool and high school friends were able to come to my house - on the same day and time - to enjoy each others' company! Of course, Jason ate most of the mango pudding!
June 14 - Bonnie and I drove down from Santa Barbara, we stayed at a cute little B&B. During the day, we were all over State Street and did a lot of shopping/browsing. We ate the Palace Grill. Man, that place was a winner! I had cajun crawfish popcorn, blackened catfish, and Louisiana Bread Pudding Souffle with a nice Whiskey Cream Sauce. It was SOOO good. I thought I died and had gone to heaven!
June 15 - I'm still in Santa Barbara, but I'll be back this Sunday. Tomorrow we are going to Anacapa Island, which is one of the small chain of islands off of the coast of California. I will for sure take lots of pictures!
Ooo, and next week, I'm starting my first level 1 pole dancing class and then work the HIV/AIDS/HepC Nightline!
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| It's been a long time since my March2006 entry.
Of course, many things have happened.
I don't even know where to begin. In the academic department, I am studying as usual. Given the increased volunteering gigs I signed up for, I haven't been able to study as much. I feel kinda bummed out about that. I should be able t get back on track once I finish training for the HIV/Aids/HepC nightline. I really need to get back on track! The more I don't study, the more anxious I feel about the situation. Sometimes, I feel like I have went off my straight and narrow path to get into medical school. As I see my friends beginning their second year in medical school and my others graduating from their respective residencies, I couldn't help but to feel sad that I am not in school yet. I feel even more "far behind". Even though everyone's path into medical school is different, I feel restless at times and keep asking myself why i'm not in school yet while everyone else is either getting into school or finishing school. I just have to keep reminding myself that getting into school is not a race. I really should enjoy this "journey". It is really nerve recking. Soon enough, it will be my time.
In my relationship, I have come to realize that Joe and I might not be a good fit for each other. Over the last 6 months, he is more involved with golf, work, and study. I became more involved with pool, study, and work. I started to notice that Joe wasn't as affectionate as before. In a very subtle, but significant way, he wasn't the same person I began dating a year ago. Maybe it's partly my fault too because I became wrapped up in my own thing. Nonetheless, this impacted how Joe and I interact with each other when we did see each other. Situation got to a point that we hardly had anything meangingfull say to each other. We barely can hold down a decent conversation about things anymore. Finally, he suggested that we should take a break. That was oct2006. I guess we haven't spoken to each other since then. I did IM him shortly after christmas to wish him a Merry Christmas & happy new year, but he never replied. He didnt even call on NYE or my birthday. I guess that really is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. I don't blame him for anything or how we have come to be. I guess in the end, how he handles a relationship isn't my style. I hope he finds someone better suited to him than me. I hope he will be truely happy in the near future. As for me, I started dating Frank. He sorta came out from no where. It was just "hi" and "bye" at Family on thursday night. Little did I know that he and I shared the same interests and shared very similar views on life and many other things. The most important thing is that, Frank makes me want to be a better person. Something about him makes me just want to become a better person and a better friend.
I feel that my life is fuller, I am doing more things other than pool and work. I began volunteering with the East Bay SPCA (I get to be with my kitty friends!), San Francisco HIV/AIDS/HepC Nightline emotional counselor, patient services committee member for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and in the near future - SF Leadership board member for the American Cancer Society. In fact, I'm blogging as I'm waiting for calls at the SF NightLine office!
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| It's been a long time since my past post.
Let's backtrack. Sometime in Feb, I "won" my first USPPA tournament at the Emeryville Broken Rack Tuesday tourney. This is how it happened. I was playing well. I was in the semis with 3 other folks. Then all of a sudden everyone heard glass shattered across the room. Then all of us saw a group of asian guys (presumably Koreans) and a group of middle-eastern guys started to clobber each other. There were cue sticks flying, fists flying across from one end of the room to the other. I'd never thought that I'd witness a poolhall fight. I guess never say never. When you play pool long enough, you'll eventually watch one. So here we are huddling in a corner. The fight stopped, but as one middle eastern guy started to walk away, this asisn guy took the butt of the cue stick and whack the back of the middle eastern guy! Then all hell broke lose and more people were fighting once again. Then the cops came, all 5 or 6 of them. They drew the guns, everyone froze. This was all surreal. The paramedics arrived shortly after the cops. For the rest of the night, the cops were just questioning the people at Broken Rack. I snucked out the back after things seem to calm down. My friends later told me that they stayed pretty late. The prize money, we just divided the money amoungst the 4 of us who were in the semis. So my wish came true: I "won" the tuesday night tournament. Funny how things come true at the most unexpected times.
Then fast forward to 3 weekends ago, Joe and I went down to the monterey area for his first golf tournament. I'm so proud of him, but I was freeezing my legs off. Wind was blowing and my pants were too thin for the wind. But I got to drive the golf cart! O, I saw deers too, pictuires will be posted sometime soon. The drive was beautiful, as we were driving by the mansions, we were just gaping at how big and interesting the big houses looked. I wish I could own one. Then again, I'd never settle in the Monterey county, there aren't too many happening things to do and it's not close to the city. I guess I am slowly turning into a city gal afterall. Just makes me want to move to NY or SF to experience the city life. O wait, then I can't zoom around in my little car and parking is a bitch. But I'm sure that it's a small sacrafice to pay.
This past Tuesday, I got 4th place at the broken rack! And there was no fight to disrupt the tournament. =) I made so many good shots that it still feel surreal to me. I just could not believe that I made some long shots and run out that I will either miss or choke respectively. I hope that I can continue to play this well. Hopefully my average will jump.
I guess the time has finally arrived: Reno USPPA Pro Am Open AND the Reno 9-Ball Open. I have been waiting for the pastw 2.5 years to play in these tournament and make my "professional" debut. Haha, I'd probably will get my ass kicked in the first round. But hey, it will def. be an experience I'd never forget. I'd just have to tweak my patient schedules so that they won't come during those days I'll be off in Reno.
Speaking out vacation getaway, I am so excited about my upcoming Ft.Lauderdale trip! I am leaving night of April 19 and returning Saturday April 22. Partly is work, since meeting dinner starts on the night of April 20. I actually land at 8am in Florida on thursday the 20, so I have the whole day to myself before the dinner. I'm staying at the Westin resort, right on the beach, so it said. I will def. take advantage of my day and soak up some sun in my new white bikini (maybe I'll return it and get a black one, not sure yet) and walk around the boardwalk. I just can't wait. I'll post pictures when I return.
On a note of medical schools, more rejections. Just as I predicted, I have never gotten so many rejections in the last 2 months. On one hand, I feel devastated because I really want to get closer to the goal of becoming a doctor, on the other, I secretly feel relieved. Maybe it's all too soon. Even after 2 years out of college. I am torn about what I should do to better myself as an applicant when I apply in about a year or so. When I talked to my primary Doc at kaiser, Joe, and my other doctor friends, it seems that the only thing that is in my way is my low MCAT score. Well maybe for the fact that I turned in all my applications late contributed to those rejections too. Nevertheless, I have several choices.
1. apply for a post-baccalaureate program (improve GPA, mcat, blah blah). Not sure how much help it will do for my application
2. Apply for a post-bacc/masters degree program. Well at least I'm getting SOMETHING out of it.
*what the worst part for these two choices tho, I have to give up my fabulous present job. I feel so cherished at work , it's not even funny.
3. Continue my job, adding on some volunteering positions (I'm actually in the process of interviewing with UCSF volunteer services) and taking some classes (I'm taking my English writing class right now. It's helping) while studying for the MCAT and take it again next april.
I am torn because I don't want to give up my job, but I have a hunch that I might have to work part time or give it up altogether to go back to school and take the MCAT again.
What to do? Help!
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| Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all that jazz...
New Years Eve unexpectedly turned out to be one of the best I've had; although the party got canceled the day of and we found out from a friend of a friend of a friend and later confirmed by the internet announcement.
On our way down, it was pouring rain on Saturday morning at 7am. Joe was driving. We were hydroplaning like crazying on the 680 south and the 5 South that we thought we were going to die. Luckily, I was asleep most of the way down =) For the time that I was awake, there was a car blew up burnt to a crisp sitting on the side at the Grape Vine, a truck flipped over directly on the other side of the same part of the road, and a cop car was using its plastic prong device to push a car on the side of the road. It was, as according to Joe, car-mageddon!
We arrived at the hotel, ate some food, and took a nap. As Joe and I ate dinner with his best friend John and his girl friend Helen, Tkd Jimmy called us at 7 to tell us that the Giant Village concert/party had been canceled due to the weather.
The then was to get back to our hotel room, and search on the web to see where else we could go for NYE celebration. Finally we settled to go to VanGuard on Hollywood Blvd to celebrate given the price tag at the door to be around $125.
So we got to VanGuard only to find out that the price has now been jacked up to $200 a person! We were thinking What the F**K?!? That's hella expensive! Since we also met up with Joe's other frat bros, they had other events that we may be able to attend like Vision Shock, Together as One and Spundae. I guess Chris (or Jason, forgot which one of them) kep asking Joe if he had dress clothes (slacks and button up shirt) to go to Vision Shock (seems like 97% of Joe's other bros want to go to that instead), but unfortunately, we did not PLAN to go to Vision Shock to begin with, why on EARTH would we bring nice clothes to LA??????? Originally, Joe, John, Helen and I were planning to get wet and dirty at Giant Village, too bad the LA Fire Marshall had to close us down - and it wasn't even RAINING by the time the event would have started!
By the time we went through the trouble of going through Hollywood, debating alternate plans, it was 10 and had no where to go. Finally, the four of us decided to go back to the the our hotel room at the Marriot and get drunk before midnight strike.
Just as we thought things just couldn't get any better, the 110 South we were taking was closed down by the LA po po for no apparent reasons. So we were sitting in traffic for the next 50 mins or so making our way back to the Marriot. By the time we got back to the hotel, it was 11:15, so Joe and John busted out the champange and Gentlemen's Jack (another brand of whiskey that I thought tasted disgusting). I had some Asti Champange (it is now my new favorite bubbly drink). By midnight, Joe and John were drunk and acting funny and Helen and I took the stumbling drunks to Dennys to eat at 2am.
Everything was NOT happenining according to plan. But, I did have a lot of fun.
Sunday rolled around, Joe and I went shopping at the Beverly Center. I bought some work and casual clothes from ForeverXXII (of course) and watched The Ringer with John and Helen. Then we ate dinner at the Grand Luxe cafe on the ground level.
Monday morning. Joe and I almost died again driving back up to the bay. Somehow, we were caught in pouring raining leaving LA on the Grape Vine. Then we were caught in some serious traffic jam on the 5 North in Fresno. Apparently a tour bus with no passengers was turned over on the side of the road. At least 5 sheriffs cop cars, and one news station crew were there. As we were passing the flipped tour bus, the flipped tour bus also caused a traffic jam on 5 S too. Those rubber-neckers!! Since that jam, we had no trouble getting home, but folks who were heading south had at least 2 other major jams that were caused by some truck driver got caught in the mud between 5 S and 5 N as he was trying to illegally switch freeway, and a 2 car-collison.
NYE 2006 is by far the most memorable one because it was just plagued with nexpected events and near-death expierences. But you know, I wouldn't have it any other way. | | |
| I woke up today and had a familiar feeling of anxiousness about my relationship with Joe. It will be 7 months in a matter of weeks. Time really flies. In the beginning, I cautioned myself not to fall so fast and be really careful. Somehow, I have loosened up my barrier to him. Maybe it's all the things he had said and done to really show me he cares. Everyday is like a wonderful day with him. I guess recently we have butted head on the topic of ETOH consumption. Suddenly, I found myself being in the familiar vulnerable place - again. Which brings me to think about several issues:
1. Am I too uptight about ETOH? I am ok having a few drinks myself, but not to the point that I'm falling all over the place and going overboard. Is it too much to ask for a significant other who doesn't drink like a frat boy anymore? My birthday, and two other incidents really made me think hard about him drinking only moderately now. Seeing someone drunk is disgusting and is one of my top pet peeves. I just feel that if I don't resolve this or arrive at a mutual understanding, this issue will affect my relationship. This really sucks.
2. Completely unrelated to ETOH consumption and I have not idea why it even led me think about this is that I wonder if he is losing interest in me. Not because he doesn't like me, but maybe he thinks that now he has got me, he doesn't have to do as much or say as much? Either way, I feel like a looney saying all these nonsense because I don't believe they are true. At the same time, deep down I feel that I have once again given a huge part of me to someone. Why am I being so insecure right now? I hate feeling like this!
On a lighter note: LA with Joe for NYE! Yes! I am really looking forward to this =)
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