On December 4 of 2009, my older sister gave birth to a baby girl. It was sooner than expected, as she was projected to have the baby around December 13. The baby's name is Barbara May Leyba. A couple of days before, my sister went to the hospital to get a check up on the pregnancy to see if everything was fine. The doctors recommended for her to stay there because she had high blood pressure and they wanted to monitor her health status. Soon thereafter, my mother and other sister also went to the hospital to give her company and support. She would end up being there until she gave birth. This was a better option than being rushed to the hospital at an unexpected time and with no one to help you. Her husband works in San Francisco and commutes by using BART.
On Friday afternoon, I got a call from my mom telling me to go to the hospital as the time was near for my sister to give birth. So I told my dad, got ready, and we were on our way to Kaiser. We arrived around 6:00pm and met my other sister at the waiting room. Not too long after, my mom returned to the waiting room with tears in her eyes. Obviously she was worried about the pregnancy and my sister's high blood pressure affecting the baby. I had the opportunity to go to the patient room where my sister was being treated. I told her that everything was going to be fine and that I would pray for her.
Apparently, the procedure was being delayed because the operation rooms were still full due to other emergencies. In addition, the medication to reduce pain was not helping my sister at all. The doctors concluded that she could not have a normal birth and had to have a C-section. As much as my sister did not want to do that, it was her only choice. After four hours of patiently waiting, the good news came that the procedure was complete and the baby was born. The newborn was beautiful in so many ways and I could not stop smiling as I was happy for my sister.
Vocabulary Words
Lief (adv.) - soon, gladly
Nimrod (n.) - idiot, jerk
Monday, December 7, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Thanksgiving Weekend
I have to say that I enjoyed this year's Thanksgiving holiday. On Thursday, I spent most of the day playing Halo 3 on Xbox Live. I seldom have time to play video games during the school semesters, so I really took advantage of every minute that I had. Later on in the day, I helped my parents set up the tables and clean the house. My family hosted the Thanksgiving dinner, as two families from my mom's side joined us. Before we ate, we all had to share with the group what we were thankful for this year. The dinner was absolutely delicious; I won't go into specifics because I will get hungry.
On Friday, we met again at our house to eat what was left over from the day before. We had so much food that we had enough for everyone to eat. To keep my younger cousins busy, I played Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Wii system. That game never get old and I can play it for hours. I was easy on my cousins and gave them chances to win; I didn't want to be the only one winning.
On Saturday, my sister was going to have her baby shower at my house. She will be due sometime around December 13 and will be having a girl. She decided to name her Barbara, after her husband's mother, who passed away last year. By 2:00pm I had to leave the house, so I decided to play football with some friends. We played at Hillview Park, which is just across the street from my house.
Finally, on Sunday I slept in for most of the morning. Later on, I started getting ready to go to church. Overall, I had a great time at church. The pastor gave a sermon on the theme of thanksgiving.
Vocabulary Words
Disputatious (adj.) - inclined to dispute
Mollycoddle (v.) - to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence or attention
On Friday, we met again at our house to eat what was left over from the day before. We had so much food that we had enough for everyone to eat. To keep my younger cousins busy, I played Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Wii system. That game never get old and I can play it for hours. I was easy on my cousins and gave them chances to win; I didn't want to be the only one winning.
On Saturday, my sister was going to have her baby shower at my house. She will be due sometime around December 13 and will be having a girl. She decided to name her Barbara, after her husband's mother, who passed away last year. By 2:00pm I had to leave the house, so I decided to play football with some friends. We played at Hillview Park, which is just across the street from my house.
Finally, on Sunday I slept in for most of the morning. Later on, I started getting ready to go to church. Overall, I had a great time at church. The pastor gave a sermon on the theme of thanksgiving.
Vocabulary Words
Disputatious (adj.) - inclined to dispute
Mollycoddle (v.) - to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence or attention
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bad way to start the day...
With all the stress and emotions I am going through with school and my family, the last thing I need is another thing to worry about. Well, what happened to me today did not help at all. I was on my way driving to school this morning as I usually do. The places I usually park at are along 11th Street and San Fernando or 11th Street and St. John, since they are free to park on. I was lucky to find a spot near the intersection of 11th and San Fernando, but the space was a little tight. After three attempts, I decided to find another spot. The traffic on 11th Street at 8:00am is really crazy, so I had to be careful when I was getting out of the space. After checking and realizing that the road was clear, I pulled out of the space. Then the unthinkable happened: a truck that I didn't see hit the front side of my car and completely detached the bumper.
I was shocked, angry, worried, and nervous. To make things worse, the driver that hit me did not bother to stop and kept driving. Therefore, I was unable to get a description of the driver or the license plate number. I parked on another space that was not in the way of traffic and called the police to file a report. Once the police officer arrived, I told him everything that happened and gave him my driver's license, insurance, and registration. Next, I called my insurance to let them know what happened and they told me that they would call me in 24 hours to give me the details on the repairs.
Because of this unfortunate incident, I was not able to attend my first class. It was a KIN class, but I wanted to go so bad because I was not going to this class on Tuesdays for the passed several weeks. I still managed to go attend my last two classes, but I was not in the mood to go. I am just asking God to give me the patience, peace, and strength to move on and focus on the things that are at hand. Things like the three papers I have to write within four weeks, my presentation for this class, and final exams.
Vocabulary Words
Invective (n.) - an abusive expression or speech
Voluble (adj.) - easily rolling or turning : rotating
I was shocked, angry, worried, and nervous. To make things worse, the driver that hit me did not bother to stop and kept driving. Therefore, I was unable to get a description of the driver or the license plate number. I parked on another space that was not in the way of traffic and called the police to file a report. Once the police officer arrived, I told him everything that happened and gave him my driver's license, insurance, and registration. Next, I called my insurance to let them know what happened and they told me that they would call me in 24 hours to give me the details on the repairs.
Because of this unfortunate incident, I was not able to attend my first class. It was a KIN class, but I wanted to go so bad because I was not going to this class on Tuesdays for the passed several weeks. I still managed to go attend my last two classes, but I was not in the mood to go. I am just asking God to give me the patience, peace, and strength to move on and focus on the things that are at hand. Things like the three papers I have to write within four weeks, my presentation for this class, and final exams.
Vocabulary Words
Invective (n.) - an abusive expression or speech
Voluble (adj.) - easily rolling or turning : rotating
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
2012
December 21 of 2012 is a date that is known worldwide among many religions, cultures, and philosophers. I have not seen the movie 2012 yet, but I am interested in seeing what special effects will be used to depict the "so called" end of the world. Personally, I believe that no one can predict the end of the world or the future in general. However, I do believe that the world will eventually end, as I am of Christian belief. After the recent catastrophic events such as hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, and earthquakes, it is hard to ignore that the end is near. There have been numerous movies that are about the end of the world, but this movie seems to draw more attention. The date originates from the Aztec calendar, which has predicted eclipses thousands of years before they occurred. The Mayans believed that the date symbolized the end of the cycle, or in other words, the end of the world. I just hope that if it happens during my lifetime, that I am close to my family.
Vocabulary Words
Impetuous (adj.) - marked by impulsive vehemence or passion
Swarthy (adj.) - of a dark color, complexion, or cast
Vocabulary Words
Impetuous (adj.) - marked by impulsive vehemence or passion
Swarthy (adj.) - of a dark color, complexion, or cast
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Scars
After this past Saturday, it had been one year since I had surgery on my left leg. As I was thinking about this when I was at home, I looked at the scar on my left leg and memories of pain came back to my mind. I should might as well tell the story of how I ended up in the hospital.
It was sometime in October of last year when I was playing a game of soccer with my cousins and friends. We play competitively for the most part, so it would get rough at times. Then there was a scramble for the ball. It was there when I felt a hit on my left leg. At first I did not feel any pain because the pace of the game kept my mind distracted. I don't remember who hit me because it all happened so fast.
A couple of days later, I noticed that I would feel pain when I put pressure on the area where I got hit. Without pressure, my leg was fine and I was able to walk without any pain. A week after that game, I decided to go for a run around the park to test out my leg and see if there was anything seriously wrong. At the end of the run, I felt fine and thought to myself that there was no injury. It was the morning after when I realized I was completely wrong.
The second I put my weight on my left leg, I felt instant pain. I could not walk at all and had to limp on my right leg. I didnt know that an infection was developing on my leg, so I just took dome tylenol for the pain. Soon thereafter I began to have fever and lost my apetite. To make things worse, my stomach was feeling horrible and I started to vomit. I decided to visit my doctor the day after.
It did not take long for my doctor to realize that I had develped cellulitis, a skin infection caused by bacteria. I was sent straight to the emergency room, where I stayed for the rest of the day. The doctors told me that I had to stay overnight because the infection was severe and required intensive treatment. I remained in the hospital bed for an entire week without being able to walk. It was not a good feeling at all. My family and friends visited me, which made my days better.
The doctors had to perform a surgery on my leg to remove the infection. In order to this, however, they had to cut part of my skin from my upper thigh to cover the hole that was going to be left after the removal of the infection. That was fine with me, as long as they did not use skin from any other part of my body. I was nervous, since I've never had surgery on my body before or put to sleep by anaesthesia.
The surgery was successful and I was able to go back home a couple of days later. I was still not able to walk, so I had to be on crutches for a week or so. In addition, I was still under treatment of antibiotics and pain killers such as Vykodin. The scar looked nasty at first, but with time it began to blend in with the rest of my skin. It took me a long time before I started playing sports again, but I had to overcome the fear of getting injured again. I learned to play a lot more careful and not too rough.
Vocabulary Words
Cartography (n.) - the production of maps, including construction of projections, design, compilation, drafting, and reproduction.
Echelon (n.) - a level of command, authority, or rank.
It was sometime in October of last year when I was playing a game of soccer with my cousins and friends. We play competitively for the most part, so it would get rough at times. Then there was a scramble for the ball. It was there when I felt a hit on my left leg. At first I did not feel any pain because the pace of the game kept my mind distracted. I don't remember who hit me because it all happened so fast.
A couple of days later, I noticed that I would feel pain when I put pressure on the area where I got hit. Without pressure, my leg was fine and I was able to walk without any pain. A week after that game, I decided to go for a run around the park to test out my leg and see if there was anything seriously wrong. At the end of the run, I felt fine and thought to myself that there was no injury. It was the morning after when I realized I was completely wrong.
The second I put my weight on my left leg, I felt instant pain. I could not walk at all and had to limp on my right leg. I didnt know that an infection was developing on my leg, so I just took dome tylenol for the pain. Soon thereafter I began to have fever and lost my apetite. To make things worse, my stomach was feeling horrible and I started to vomit. I decided to visit my doctor the day after.
It did not take long for my doctor to realize that I had develped cellulitis, a skin infection caused by bacteria. I was sent straight to the emergency room, where I stayed for the rest of the day. The doctors told me that I had to stay overnight because the infection was severe and required intensive treatment. I remained in the hospital bed for an entire week without being able to walk. It was not a good feeling at all. My family and friends visited me, which made my days better.
The doctors had to perform a surgery on my leg to remove the infection. In order to this, however, they had to cut part of my skin from my upper thigh to cover the hole that was going to be left after the removal of the infection. That was fine with me, as long as they did not use skin from any other part of my body. I was nervous, since I've never had surgery on my body before or put to sleep by anaesthesia.
The surgery was successful and I was able to go back home a couple of days later. I was still not able to walk, so I had to be on crutches for a week or so. In addition, I was still under treatment of antibiotics and pain killers such as Vykodin. The scar looked nasty at first, but with time it began to blend in with the rest of my skin. It took me a long time before I started playing sports again, but I had to overcome the fear of getting injured again. I learned to play a lot more careful and not too rough.
Vocabulary Words
Cartography (n.) - the production of maps, including construction of projections, design, compilation, drafting, and reproduction.
Echelon (n.) - a level of command, authority, or rank.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Fresh Start
My academic years at San Jose State have been a roller coaster ride. Let me begin with the Fall of 2005. It was my freshman year, coming straight from high school and ready to begin a new chapter of my life. I decided to choose Computer Science as my major, since I liked computers, playing video games, and technology in general. My career goal at the time was to get a job in the video game industry. I used to play video games a lot and wanted to work for a video game developing company like Electronic Arts (EA). After a successful first semester, reality set in the following year. Introduction to Programming, one of the first core courses for the major, was a complete pain in the neck and required a lot of time to learn the language of Java. Add to that Calculus 2 and Physics 50 and I was soon digging myself into a whole. It was just too much for me to handle and I began to look for resources on campus. The tutoring was still not enough and I began to fail class after class after class and so on.
Two years later, I knew I had to make a change in the direction I was going. Since I had taken plenty of math and science courses, I decided to change to a major that required the courses I had already taken. I changed my major to Materials Engineering, with the hopes of improving my academic standing. However, the same two courses continued to haunt me: Calculus 2 and Physics 50. To make things worse, I had to take Chem 1A, a course that requires every minute of your life. After talking to my major adviser, I came to the conclusion that math and physical science majors were not for me.
I began to research other majors to see which ones caught my interest. Then I came in contact with the Political Science Department. I looked back in my senior year in high school and remembered that I did well in my American Goverment class and was interested in learning more. It was the Fall of 2008 when I made the decision to change my major to Political Science. The following semester, I took POLS 1 and POLS 20, along with two other GE courses that I had not taken yet. I did really well in those courses and improved my GPA to get out of academic probation. Not only did I pass those Poli Sci courses, but I enjoyed both of them as well.
This semester, I am taking POLS 2, 3, 4, and 100W so I can begin taking advanced GE courses and classes required for the major. I feel like I have been given a fresh start and a new outlook in life. I plan to take advantage of this opportunity because they do not come often. I do not know what career I plan to pursuit, but it will involve the government.
Vocabulary Words
Repudiate (v.) - to divorce or seperate formally from
Enervation (n.) - to lessen the vitality or strength of
Two years later, I knew I had to make a change in the direction I was going. Since I had taken plenty of math and science courses, I decided to change to a major that required the courses I had already taken. I changed my major to Materials Engineering, with the hopes of improving my academic standing. However, the same two courses continued to haunt me: Calculus 2 and Physics 50. To make things worse, I had to take Chem 1A, a course that requires every minute of your life. After talking to my major adviser, I came to the conclusion that math and physical science majors were not for me.
I began to research other majors to see which ones caught my interest. Then I came in contact with the Political Science Department. I looked back in my senior year in high school and remembered that I did well in my American Goverment class and was interested in learning more. It was the Fall of 2008 when I made the decision to change my major to Political Science. The following semester, I took POLS 1 and POLS 20, along with two other GE courses that I had not taken yet. I did really well in those courses and improved my GPA to get out of academic probation. Not only did I pass those Poli Sci courses, but I enjoyed both of them as well.
This semester, I am taking POLS 2, 3, 4, and 100W so I can begin taking advanced GE courses and classes required for the major. I feel like I have been given a fresh start and a new outlook in life. I plan to take advantage of this opportunity because they do not come often. I do not know what career I plan to pursuit, but it will involve the government.
Vocabulary Words
Repudiate (v.) - to divorce or seperate formally from
Enervation (n.) - to lessen the vitality or strength of
Monday, October 19, 2009
Impressions of the SJ Sharks' Season so far...
After watching today's game against the New York Rangers, I am very pleased with the way the Sharks have played. A complete team effort was given today from the Sharks, starting with goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. He has made spectacular saves that has kept the Sharks in the game for the most part this season. Most of the Sharks' defensemen are in their first year with the team, so there are question regarding team chemistry. Led by Rob Blake and Douglas Murray, the Sharks defense will need to make some adjustments to start shutting down opposing teams. On offense, the Sharks received a huge upgrade by acquiring Dany Heatley, the disgruntled left wing that left Ottawa via a trade. Since the NHL lockout in 2005, Heatley has scored 188 goals, 3rd among active players. At home, the Sharks continue to dominate their opponents with a record 2-0-1 this season. On the road, however, the Sharks have had a rough start, posting a 3-3-0 record to begin the season.
The biggest question is whether the Sharks will get past the opening rounds of the playoffs. Last year, the Sharks ended the regular season with the best record in the NHL, but got eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim ducks. This has been the story for the San Jose Sharks for the past four seasons, with each early playoff exit feeling even more bitter. The Sharks off season roster moves are sure to bring some new life to a fan base that has been left with disappointment. One can hope that this is the year the Sharks get "over the hump" and advance to the Stanley Cup. Only time will tell.
Vocabulary Words
Replete (adj.) - abundantly supplied or provided; filled
Overwrought (adj.) - extremely or excessively excited or agitated
The biggest question is whether the Sharks will get past the opening rounds of the playoffs. Last year, the Sharks ended the regular season with the best record in the NHL, but got eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim ducks. This has been the story for the San Jose Sharks for the past four seasons, with each early playoff exit feeling even more bitter. The Sharks off season roster moves are sure to bring some new life to a fan base that has been left with disappointment. One can hope that this is the year the Sharks get "over the hump" and advance to the Stanley Cup. Only time will tell.
Vocabulary Words
Replete (adj.) - abundantly supplied or provided; filled
Overwrought (adj.) - extremely or excessively excited or agitated
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Long Night
After I was done with work yesterday, I decided to go to Starbucks and have a coffee. I needed an extra push to help me stay awake and finish my assigned reading. I arrived at Starbucks around 8:00PM and decided to buy a grande White Chocolate Mocha. I was reading A Discourse on Voluntary Servitude by Etienne de la Boetie, which was assigned by Professor Quill of my POLS 3 class. It was a very interesting reading that talked about how nations fall victims to a single tyrant, who's only power comes from the people of those nations. He stresses throughout the book that a people should never take their freedoms for granted. So I stayed at Starbucks for a good two and a half hours until I finished the reading.
When I returned home, I decided to write my previous blog, since I was falling behind the past couple of weeks. I was still wide awake from the coffee I drank, so I had no problems finishing my blog. While I was writing the blog, I decided to watch some TV with my friend. It was around 12:00AM when I finished writing my blog.
This is when I started to worry that I was not going to get enough sleep. I showed no signs of drowsiness and did not feel tired at all. So I started talking to my friend for a while about random topics, hoping that I would start feeling sleepy. It was 1:00AM and I said to myself "What the heck, I should go to bed regardless how I feel". While in bed, I was listening to my Zune for a while, again hoping that this would help me fall asleep. Unfortunately it didn't, so I just put my Zune away and closed my eyes shut. I ended up falling asleep around 2:00AM and woke up around 7:00AM. Fortunately, the workout at the gym today gave me an extra energy boost to stay awake throughout the day.
Vocabulary Words
Jingoism (n.) - extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy
Delate (v.) - accuse, denounce
When I returned home, I decided to write my previous blog, since I was falling behind the past couple of weeks. I was still wide awake from the coffee I drank, so I had no problems finishing my blog. While I was writing the blog, I decided to watch some TV with my friend. It was around 12:00AM when I finished writing my blog.
This is when I started to worry that I was not going to get enough sleep. I showed no signs of drowsiness and did not feel tired at all. So I started talking to my friend for a while about random topics, hoping that I would start feeling sleepy. It was 1:00AM and I said to myself "What the heck, I should go to bed regardless how I feel". While in bed, I was listening to my Zune for a while, again hoping that this would help me fall asleep. Unfortunately it didn't, so I just put my Zune away and closed my eyes shut. I ended up falling asleep around 2:00AM and woke up around 7:00AM. Fortunately, the workout at the gym today gave me an extra energy boost to stay awake throughout the day.
Vocabulary Words
Jingoism (n.) - extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy
Delate (v.) - accuse, denounce
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Review of the SF Giants 2009 Season
Although the Giants did not make the playoffs this year, they made many improvements compared to previous seasons. First of all, they finished the season with a winning record of 88-74. The Giants posted four consecutive losing seasons before the start of the 2009 season. Secondly, the Giants pitching rotation proved to be a force to be reckoned with. The late season acquisition of Brad Penny provided a boost to the Giants pitching core. The dynamic duo of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain had outstanding performances and combined for a record of 29-15 and 432 strikeouts. The rest of the rotation, consisting of Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez, showed signs of improvement and brought optimism for the upcoming season. Two of the highlights of the Giants pitching staff included Jonathan Sanchez no-hitter and Randy Johnson's 300 career win. Finally, the Giants were able to establish a new identity following the end of the Barry Bonds era. A mixture of young players and veterans brought the Giants back to postseason contention. Pablo Sandoval, who earned the nickname "Kung Fu Panda", became the face of the Giants franchise along with Lincecum and Cain. Sandoval led the team in batting average, home runs, runs batted in, and other offensive categories. Randy Johnson, Edgar Renteria, and Aaron Rowand provided guidance to the Giants' pitching staff, infield, and outfield respectively.
The 2009 Giants still showed signs of weakness in certain areas. They had an impressive home record of 52-29, but it was overshadowed by their mediocre 36-45 record on the road. Most of the Giants hitters performed below expectations and put all the pressure on Pablo Sandoval to provide the offensive punch. Playing in his rookie season, Sandoval performed at his very best, but eventually ran out of gas towards the end of the season. Sandoval's main goal this offseason is to trim down his weight with hopes to improve his already stellar rookie season.
Vocabulary Words
Kin- a group of persons of common ancestry
Irenic- favoring, conducive to, or operating towards peace, moderation, or conciliation
The 2009 Giants still showed signs of weakness in certain areas. They had an impressive home record of 52-29, but it was overshadowed by their mediocre 36-45 record on the road. Most of the Giants hitters performed below expectations and put all the pressure on Pablo Sandoval to provide the offensive punch. Playing in his rookie season, Sandoval performed at his very best, but eventually ran out of gas towards the end of the season. Sandoval's main goal this offseason is to trim down his weight with hopes to improve his already stellar rookie season.
Vocabulary Words
Kin- a group of persons of common ancestry
Irenic- favoring, conducive to, or operating towards peace, moderation, or conciliation
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
SJ City Hall, Pizza, and Bowling
On Saturday September 26 of 2009, I attended an event called "Gathering of the Unashamed" that took place in San Jose City Hall. It was an event where Christian high school and college students came together for a time of worship, listening to speakers, and prayer. The event started at 5:00 PM with some music to get the people in the mood. Then some speakers volunteered to share their experiences of how God has changed their lives. At the end, we joined in prayer for the schools, our government, and all the nations of the world. The event ended around 8:00 PM. Overall, I would say that this event was worth attending.
After that, I got together with some of my friends from church and went to Round Table Pizza. I did not eat much that day, so I was really starving. Since it was eight of us, we ordered one extra large pepperoni pizza, twelve hot wings, and drinks for everyone.
To end the night, we played three games of bowling. The special of the night was $3.00 per game. Only five of us decided to play, while the rest just watched. The last time I bowled was a very long time ago, so I knew that my skills we going to be rusty. I started the first game with two gutter balls. After that, I recovered nicely and ended up in second place, while my cousin Adriana got first place. For the second game, I played a lot better and was in the lead from start to finish, as I won the game. Finally, the third game was a race between my friend David and I. After 10 frames, David and I tied for first with 87 points.
Since we came all together in one van, my cousin had to give rides to everyone back to their homes. By the time I returned home, it was 12:45AM. I had a great time though, from City Hall all the way to the final game of bowling.
Vocabulary Words
Exacerbate: to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
Surreptitious: obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized
After that, I got together with some of my friends from church and went to Round Table Pizza. I did not eat much that day, so I was really starving. Since it was eight of us, we ordered one extra large pepperoni pizza, twelve hot wings, and drinks for everyone.
To end the night, we played three games of bowling. The special of the night was $3.00 per game. Only five of us decided to play, while the rest just watched. The last time I bowled was a very long time ago, so I knew that my skills we going to be rusty. I started the first game with two gutter balls. After that, I recovered nicely and ended up in second place, while my cousin Adriana got first place. For the second game, I played a lot better and was in the lead from start to finish, as I won the game. Finally, the third game was a race between my friend David and I. After 10 frames, David and I tied for first with 87 points.
Since we came all together in one van, my cousin had to give rides to everyone back to their homes. By the time I returned home, it was 12:45AM. I had a great time though, from City Hall all the way to the final game of bowling.
Vocabulary Words
Exacerbate: to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
Surreptitious: obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized
Monday, September 21, 2009
Quinceñera
On Saturday September 19 of 2009, I was part of a Mexican tradition known as a Quinceñera. It is the coming of age 15th Birthday party for teen girls of Mexican descent and very similar to a Sweet 16 party that Americans usually celebrate. This is an important stage of a girl's life because it marks the transition from a girl to a young lady. The event starts with a traditional ceremony, where the teen receives words of encouragement and gifts that symbolize different stages of her life. Gifts such as a doll, a Holy Bible, and a crown are some examples.
After the ceremony, the celebration really starts with a party where family and friends are invited. During the party, the teen is accompanied by a group of couples known as Chambelanes and Damas. They perform what is known as a Baltz, a dance that celebrates the girl's special birthday. That is followed by a toast to wish the girl a bright future and best of luck in all her future aspirations. Finally, the dance floor is open to everyone who wants to show off their moves and have a good time with the Quinceñera.
I was asked if I wanted to participate in the event for a girl from my church. I decided to accept the invite and help out. After 3 months of practicing, the day finally arrived for us to perform at our best. Not only did we have to do the Baltz, but the birthday girl also had us practice two surprise dances. In the end, I believe we did an excellent job. My only complaint was the malfunction of the CD that was used, which kept skipping while one of the three songs was playing. We kept our composure though and kept dancing until the song was over. As much as I enjoyed being part of this event, I would like to say that I am officially retiring from participating in Quinceñeras.
Vocabulary Words
Pernicious: highly injurious or destructive
Ameliorate: to make better or more tolerable
After the ceremony, the celebration really starts with a party where family and friends are invited. During the party, the teen is accompanied by a group of couples known as Chambelanes and Damas. They perform what is known as a Baltz, a dance that celebrates the girl's special birthday. That is followed by a toast to wish the girl a bright future and best of luck in all her future aspirations. Finally, the dance floor is open to everyone who wants to show off their moves and have a good time with the Quinceñera.
I was asked if I wanted to participate in the event for a girl from my church. I decided to accept the invite and help out. After 3 months of practicing, the day finally arrived for us to perform at our best. Not only did we have to do the Baltz, but the birthday girl also had us practice two surprise dances. In the end, I believe we did an excellent job. My only complaint was the malfunction of the CD that was used, which kept skipping while one of the three songs was playing. We kept our composure though and kept dancing until the song was over. As much as I enjoyed being part of this event, I would like to say that I am officially retiring from participating in Quinceñeras.
Vocabulary Words
Pernicious: highly injurious or destructive
Ameliorate: to make better or more tolerable
Monday, September 14, 2009
Church Fundraiser
On Saturday September 12, I participated in my church's fundraiser that included a flea market and a car wash. The main reason for this fundraiser was to recover the funds that were used to reconstruct the pathway at the front entrance of the church. This event was initially planned to take place at the end of August, but it had to be delayed due to availability of people wanting to help.
The fundraiser took place at church and was scheduled to be from 9:00am-2:00pm. We agreed to meet at 6:00am to begin setting up the stands and posting signs. It was a huge challenge for me to get up at this early in the morning, especially on a Saturday! I decided to help out and pass fliers around each block near the church. The youth group, which I am a part of, was in charge of conducting the car wash. We set up different groups with the simple assignment of either washing or drying the cars. Being one of the few licensed drivers, I was in charge of moving the cars from the washing to the drying area.
Overall, I would say that this event was a success but very tiring as well. The car wash group raised $378, which was a very satisfying amount. I do not recall how much money the flea market raised, but it was near or more than the car wash group. At the end of the day, I was glad to be able to help out for a good cause. The event ended up finishing around 3:30pm. After a very long day of hard work, I went home and thought of nothing else other than going to sleep.
Vocabulary Words
Nuisance: one that is annoying, unpleasant, or obnoxious
Enigma: a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation
The fundraiser took place at church and was scheduled to be from 9:00am-2:00pm. We agreed to meet at 6:00am to begin setting up the stands and posting signs. It was a huge challenge for me to get up at this early in the morning, especially on a Saturday! I decided to help out and pass fliers around each block near the church. The youth group, which I am a part of, was in charge of conducting the car wash. We set up different groups with the simple assignment of either washing or drying the cars. Being one of the few licensed drivers, I was in charge of moving the cars from the washing to the drying area.
Overall, I would say that this event was a success but very tiring as well. The car wash group raised $378, which was a very satisfying amount. I do not recall how much money the flea market raised, but it was near or more than the car wash group. At the end of the day, I was glad to be able to help out for a good cause. The event ended up finishing around 3:30pm. After a very long day of hard work, I went home and thought of nothing else other than going to sleep.
Vocabulary Words
Nuisance: one that is annoying, unpleasant, or obnoxious
Enigma: a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wisdom Teeth
The highlight of my weekend was the removal of my bottom wisdom teeth on Friday. This event was more than two years in the making, as my dentist kept urging me to have my wisdom teeth removed. My wisdom teeth were not even fully grown out, but the sooner the procedure was done the better. The main reason dentists recommend to remove wisdom teeth is overcrowding. Since I already had braces in the past, I did not want to risk having my teeth unaligned once again.
My dentist referred me to another oral surgeon to remove my bottom wisdom teeth. A week before the surgery, I made an appointment for a consultation to do all the paperwork and get a preview on what I was in for. My initial plan was to have my wisdom teeth removed before the fall semester at San Jose State University began. My procrastination got the better of me and I ended up calling the surgeon's office three weeks before school began. The next available appointment was on the 28 of August. When I met with the surgeon, I told him that I wanted the surgery done before a holiday to have extra days of rest. Another reason for this was to not miss any days of school. This worked out perfectly, as Labor Day weekend was coming up. I scheduled an appointment for September 4.
As I was on my way to have my surgery, I was somewhat nervous, not knowing what to expect. Last year, I had surgery to remove an infection that developed on my left leg from a soccer injury. I thought to myself: "If I can handle the pain I went through in the hospital for a week, this surgery shouldn't be that bad." This surgery was not a pleasing experience. First of all, I was not put to sleep like I was in the previous surgery on my leg. They just gave me anesthesia shots on my mouth to numb the area that was going to be worked on. I could literally hear the cracking of my teeth as the tried to pull them out. The drilling and cutting of my gums was endless. To make things worse, I could even smell my own blood, which is not the best smell in the world. At the end of my surgery, my lips were very swollen I could not speak at all. My gums began to swell up and are still like this as I am typing this blog. To make up for the pain I went through, I requested to keep what was left of my wisdom teeth.
Vocabulary Words
Alchemy: any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value.
Interim: a temporary or provisional arrangement; stopgap; makeshift.
My dentist referred me to another oral surgeon to remove my bottom wisdom teeth. A week before the surgery, I made an appointment for a consultation to do all the paperwork and get a preview on what I was in for. My initial plan was to have my wisdom teeth removed before the fall semester at San Jose State University began. My procrastination got the better of me and I ended up calling the surgeon's office three weeks before school began. The next available appointment was on the 28 of August. When I met with the surgeon, I told him that I wanted the surgery done before a holiday to have extra days of rest. Another reason for this was to not miss any days of school. This worked out perfectly, as Labor Day weekend was coming up. I scheduled an appointment for September 4.
As I was on my way to have my surgery, I was somewhat nervous, not knowing what to expect. Last year, I had surgery to remove an infection that developed on my left leg from a soccer injury. I thought to myself: "If I can handle the pain I went through in the hospital for a week, this surgery shouldn't be that bad." This surgery was not a pleasing experience. First of all, I was not put to sleep like I was in the previous surgery on my leg. They just gave me anesthesia shots on my mouth to numb the area that was going to be worked on. I could literally hear the cracking of my teeth as the tried to pull them out. The drilling and cutting of my gums was endless. To make things worse, I could even smell my own blood, which is not the best smell in the world. At the end of my surgery, my lips were very swollen I could not speak at all. My gums began to swell up and are still like this as I am typing this blog. To make up for the pain I went through, I requested to keep what was left of my wisdom teeth.
Vocabulary Words
Alchemy: any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value.
Interim: a temporary or provisional arrangement; stopgap; makeshift.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Socrates: A one of a kind philosopher
Looking back at my senior year in high school, I can now appreciate the job that my English teacher did by covering Greek history. I never thought that I would use what I learned during that period. Four years later, after changing my major to Political Science, I see myself trying to refresh my memory on The Apology by Plato. I just finished reading it a couple of days ago for my POLS 3 class. What got my attention was the way Socrates used reason and logic to study people through cross examination. Socrates always challenged peoples' opinions and beliefs to see if they really knew what they were talking about. In addition, he was less interested in appearances, but more concerned with the mind and the soul of a person. Nevertheless, Socrates' accusers disliked his ways of thinking and his views on people. His indictment in The Apology includes Socrates' interesting way of defending himself, where he was actually asking for a reward rather than a punishment. After watching a short clip about Socrates and his appearance, I could see another reason why they wanted him dead. If this documentary was accurate, Socrates had a disfigured face, had feet of a hobbit, and wore nothing but a mantle. Although he had physical deficiencies, it was his thinking that really stood out. He was a strong defender of Athenian Laws and a devoted follower of the gods, even though his accusers did not agree. All in all, Socrates was a loyal Athenian who became a martyr in hopes of passing on his message for generations to come.
Vocabulary words
Impertinent- not restrained within due or proper bounds especially of propriety or good taste.
Deities- the rank or essential nature of a god
Vocabulary words
Impertinent- not restrained within due or proper bounds especially of propriety or good taste.
Deities- the rank or essential nature of a god
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