2012 has been amazing.

I literally started the new year in the hospital ER. As I listened to the nurses and doctors celebrating outside my door, I thought to myself if I'm starting the year this way, I wonder what the rest of the year will have in store for me... and I have so say these first three months have been incredible.

• I have this illness for life. But being in the hospital I realized I never want others to worry about me like that again. So it was a slap in the face to get a better control of my health through efforts I can make everyday. I made a change in my lifestyle and I have lost ten pounds since January and been toning up. I haven't gotten sick even when everyone around me had to take sick days off...! What a change from when I used to suffer from fevers every month. I have to say... it feels good when I found my jeans to be loose and baggy on me. Time for some shopping :)
• I got a pretty nice promotion at work. I'll be managing the instruction and study abroad for the entire LA market area. I have new bosses (on a national level) to report to and my LA director and I have been developing a great relationship. It feels wonderful to be trusted and depended upon. My new role will begin April 2nd, 11 months to the day since starting at the company! 
• I'll be visiting DC this week with my parents to see my sister and the cherry blossoms. I will also be meeting with my college friends there. That's one goal marked off for the year! 
• All of these benefits, I believe, were a direct result of my faith with my sisters in the Ikeda Kayokai Ten Corps that I joined back in September. During the first three months my life had slowly crumbled around me. When you're going through a bad situation sometimes you don't realize how badly you were suffering until some time passes. I look back now and I see how painful it was but I appreciate everything that had happened!! The next three months were a complete transformation. I had changed every single poison in my life into medicine, and I do mean every aspect in my life that I was suffering through-- my job, my relationships, my health, and my practice. I can't wait to start my Ten Corps so my YWDs can experience their own breakthroughs. 
• I've discussed my health, job, faith. I don't really want to go into relationships on here so let's share when we are able to meet again! I am excited for a much needed update session in DC!!
• LA Zone has recently split into two. I now practice in LA Sunshine Zone, and am so excited for each one of us to be the sunshine, showering our bright light to everyone around us everywhere we go despite our circumstances. Are you ready 2012?! We've only just started!

we've all felt this way before.

When someone takes a bad picture of you:

That awkward moment when Santa has the same wrapping paper as your mom:

Don't you love it when your ipod is about to fall and your earphones saves its life?

Minding your own business then hearing your name in a conversation...

When someone threatens to tell your crush you like them and starts walking towards your crush, you're like: 

When someone pisses you off...

what you do:

what you want to do:

That amazing moment when you type your homework into Google and find EXACTLY what you need...

When you and your best friend act like rappers:

The look you give your friend when they say something and you're thinking of something perverted...

When your computer is taking forever to load and you're sitting there like...

That scary moment when you hear freaky sounds at night...

I didn't run into anyone I know today. Guess who's wearing the exact same thing tomorrow. 

When I die I want someone to keep updating my facebook status to freak people out: 

Doing homework for the first time and the teacher asks "Who did the homework?" and you're like: 

ME. 

Teacher asks you to read outloud...

You don't even know the page they're on. 

When you and your friend are laughing at an inside joke and someone decides to laugh too... 

"No you have no idea what we are laughing at."

Dear people who don't obsess over TV shows, books, movies or celebrities... what do you do all day?

Studying at your friend's place... 

Expectation: 

Reality: 

and this one is just for smilies:

from That Funny Blog Tumblr :)

It's Friday and I don't feel like writing in paragraphs tonight so I'll bullet point them instead. 

• Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter is amazing. Now I know why Sensei recommended to all YWDs. Let's just say that there is something good in everything that has happened and will happen. 
• Next on the list: Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini
• The new Vow of the Ikeda Kayokai book? Go buy it now, srsly. 
• I really like my new boss. I like my team. I like my work. I appreciate it more than ever. 
• I'm kinda doing something crazy next week because I didn't want to have any regrets. I'm young and what's life without a little risk? It's a bit of a big life decision to make and since my current gig is satisfying I don't think I'll take the jump in the end... but who knows? One thing I have learned these past couple of months is that life never turns out the way you expect it to. 
• Byakuren Handbook is draining me out. So much so that my passion for BSG is waning. Is that possible?
• I want and need a change in my life. 
• Stress --> serious talk with el doctor --> significantly longer dose of steroids --> some DSD for health
• I don't know what's special about 11.11.11 but happy 11.11.11 to you all :)

autumn cold

I am back at home in Valencia for the weekend and finally have the focus to write a post. We have entered autumn and I am enjoying the change in weather, though it seems like it will be warm in LA again this coming week.

Happy to have celebrated my birthday in September along with some of my other friends who have also turned 25. Onto the next quarter of our lives!

Things have been a bit stressful in my life, especially at work. I will be working in Santa Monica for training again next week. Unfortunately it seems like my symptoms have made their appearance on my legs and I believe it may be due to this stress.

On a good note, I am becoming a lot more active within the SGI here, particularly with Gosho studies and lectures. We are also in (hopefully!) our last stages of the National Byakuren Handbook, which we have been working on since August 2010. This past week we worked until midnight on Thursday and we will be spending next weekend on it as well.  I really appreciate the members who have committed so much time for all of this-- this past year we have really been through our struggles and victories together. It looks really great so far, and I can't wait until we can pass it on to publishing. One of the members is a big Harry Potter fan, and we are planning to go to Harry Potter World at Universal someday once this project is over :D

lately.

Work was a bit stressful this week so I developed a painful canker sore in my mouth complete with a bout of fever one night. I've realized more than ever that I am very fortunate to live walking distance to work. This past week I've had many off-site location visits for training and supervision so I ended up in traffic both morning and evening, and the drives made me so tired.

Since there was a request for pictures of my place, here are a couple.

My entrance is from a courtyard garden. It's a little, quiet oasis in the middle of the city. 

The bed and mirror. I'm watching Glee... 

The perks of living here is that I can walk to cafes, shops and restaurants on Robertson Blvd and 3rd St. One of my favorites is a place called Le Pain Quotidien. We ordered the smoked salmon and roast beef tartines.

I also like Magnolia Bakery; it's known most for its location in New York. Their banana pudding is the best... my friend got the banana cream pie and it's a lighter version of the pudding. I like the pudding more. 

My birthday is coming up soon and when I went back home for Labor Day weekend, my parents welcomed me with a surprise raspberry mousse cake that we always used to get at Mousse Fantasy in Santa Monica when we were kids. A week before that weekend, my dad came over here to get me an early birthday present... a Panasonic flatscreen and PS3 so I can watch my precious Netflix. Thank you fahjah... ;___;

A little escape

I took a weekend trip to Norcal last weekend, and we went to Napa Valley. Before heading out to the vineyards, we went to the fresh market to buy some brie cheese, crackers, and fine meats for our picnic. We decided to go to Mumm Napa first, one of the few wineries that specializes in sparking wine.

We were given three different sparkling wines for tasting. Then we headed to another winery for our picnic in the woods. The last stop was Beringer, which was beautiful!

I wanted to share a cute tiny apartment in Sweden.

time to breathe

July has been an absolutely crazy month.

First, we had an incredible spike in numbers at my work (which is great for business) but it means busy busy busy!!

Second, I moved into my new place in Beverly Hills. It feels wonderful to walk to work everyday and I love my new home :) I was very fortunate to find such a great place of my own. My SGI district is also a 20-second walk from my company so I head to meetings right after work. Yes, I am incredibly fortunate.

Third, I attended my classmate's wedding last weekend in San Diego. It was beautiful. I love my classmates and I am filled with so much joy when I am with them. Congratulations Jessica <3

Fourth, the boy came to visit me for the wedding. I wasn't ready to say goodbye so I bought a ticket to SF and will be flying there next week. We are heading to Napa Valley!

I am taking this weekend to just breathe a little and forget about work. I am excited that it's August already. I can't wait until the fall and winter... my favorite seasons!