It's the fourth of July. Our family usually gets together on Independence Day because it happens to fall close to my grandfather's birthday. This year, the family reunion is held at my parent's new house. This is a pretty big deal, because we've been living in apartments for about 10 years now.

As always, there was catered Chinese food, a cake from my aunt's bakery, grandpa playing a song or two on his harmonica (he's really skilled at it), inappropriate pinching of different body parts from the relatives, small talk on topics like weight, marraige, career, etc. This year, only my cousin Brian brought his girlfriend. Her name is Helen. She seems really nice and bright. Even if Sam were here, I don't think he would count because he's no longer my sister's boyfriend. He's her fiancee!

My eldest cousins, Maria unni and Andy oppa, didn't come this year. Maria unni is currently out of state. She recently also got engaged with a British fellow. I"ll probably meet him soon. Andy oppa is off doing his Dr. thing in New York. He's too busy with that to be getting into a relationship, according to my aunt.

It's so cool to come together like this a few times a year...to see everyone and catch up with what's new in everyone's lives. It's crazy how things evolve over time. Last year, Sam and unni were dating. This year, they're engaged. Next year, they'll be married and so will Maria unni. Then maybe my other sisters will bring home their boyfriends. Then people will start having babies. OH MY...I'm going to be an aunt!

I took an elective this quarter called "Heart of Pharmacy." I missed a class, and they had me make up my absence by keeping a journal for a week, answering these 3 questions for each day. Yea, it sounds cheesy and girly, but I LIKE IT DAMNIT...hehe

What was unique about today (i.e. – how was it different than any other day?)

I felt like crap, because I caught a cold. I was feeling highs and lows all day. In the morning, I was fine, smiling, laughing, and able to concentrate in class. Then at noon, I felt like I was going to throw up. During bioinformatics lab, I was able to fight off my stomachache to complete the lab. After the lab, I just about died. I could barely walk. I had to miss the CSHP banquet because I wanted to go home and take a nap.

What touched you today?

One of my classmates, upon hearing that I came down with something, ran home to grab me some herbal stuff that's supposed to help to decrease my symptoms and the length of my sickness. She straight up stopped eating her lunch, packed up her stuff, and ran home to get it for me! It sucks not to have my mom around when I'm sick to take care of me, but my friends are my family up here in SF. I am so blessed to have them in my life. They challenge me to be a better person and to strive for my best.

What inspired or surprised you?

I received an email from a good friend in SD. It's always a nice surprise when he checks up on me, his "babygirl"...I need to call him back, my "big daddy" hehe

dork alert...

i got cut by the edge of a tin can today...

my finger started to bleed a little...

all i could think was...

ooh platelet aggregation, fibrin clot formation, thrombin activation, coagulation cascade, covalent linkage of fibrin molecules...

Things that make it officially spring break

-saw a romantic comedy: “The Holiday” (soooo cute, this movie!)

-got out of SF

-attended Sunday service with dad

-took a yoga class at my sister’s yoga studio on Larchmont Street in LA  (I’m sore)

-went jogging with dad  (I’m really sore)

-got my hair trimmed at a salon

bonus:

-went on cake deliveries with dad

-watching a Korean drama series on video (a work still in progress)

-saw grandpa…he snuck some candies into my pocket as my dad and I left.  Like a little kid, I couldn’t have been happier.

-learned how to bake "island cookies" from scratch...from sister dearest

Things I still would like to do over spring break:

-cannot say