Jacqueline

The Palace of Fine Arts

2009-05-17T22:46:00.001-07:00

A random day after Amanda's baby shower, Erika and I found ourselves taking the last exit before hitting Marin and taking a walk through the Palace of Fine Arts. Gorgeous Architecture. Amazing. I love San Francisco. You never know what you'll find. I tried to capture it. I was going to post what else I did, but everything loses spotlight next to this

I Went Out!

2009-05-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

I'm turning 25 next month and it's my turn to be in the phase of not wanting to celebrate. Oh well, c'est la vie! Derick came up for the weekend with DJ, filming a wedding. It's nice to have him home once in a while. And I liked getting to know DJ a little more. Alcohol helps in icebreakers. Another thing I love to do: Meeting new people. They all have a story. I could write a book on these stories of these interesting people I meet. Saturday was Doowutchyalike. An 80's Edition as in L80's Edition for Mama's Day.
Elle

And then on Mama's Day, we had breakfast with my mom. Together. Now how often does that ever happen? Never. This is the man that takes up most of my time. Happy Mother's Day to me too. I'm his second mom.

GetAway

2009-05-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

While the rest of my friends were in Vegas, I routed to San Diego to visit Derick. I shouldve taken my camera around more than I did. Dont you wish you could capture every thing you see so you dont forget it? Lets try to do that more often.
San Francisco International Airport:: International Side:: Virgin America

Usually when I go somewhere, its Virgin America. So I'm used to this terminal side and I'm used to the restaurants to sit in while I wait for my flight. Like this one. Firewood Cafe. At the end of the terminals before you go downstairs for that flight to Vegas or Orange County in Terminal 9 and 10 or London was it this time?, it's on your right hand side headed towards the end. It's smaller than the full loaded restaurant when you first get past security, but it has so much space for you to lounge. Today it was just Minestrone Soup, seeing I was getting over a cough.

The French Bakery across the way.

And then the space.

When I landed we went straight to the Asian Supermarket. Someone had to cook for this man. So seafood salmon sinigang with whitehead shrimp and 2 hours of making real lumpia the next day, dinner was ready for him when he got home. Longanisa and Filipino scrambled eggs with tomatoes and onions the last day for breakfast. And eating out in between, I managed to stay away from their infamous Mexican food this trip but unfortunately, never got to cook adobo that was requested. We were cut on time. Mmmmmm.... I miss cooking. On my to do list of things to do more often as well. I keep on telling myself, when I have time, when I have time. I think it's time to make time, don't you think? Then I can cook all of you food! (oh, these aren't what I made, just an idea. My sinigang's off the hook though and my Grandma taught me how to make real lumpia. So ya, I rock)

Movies. We had a fest. Well, for me at least. Because I never have time to watch movies. I think I'll spend more time now.

This is one of my picks. I used to watch this with my Daddy when I was a little girl. Love this movie.

I had fun with Monsters vs. Aliens. We've both never watched a 3-D movie before (Disneyland, Great America, Magic Mountain, the M&M Factory do not count) and now we want to watch all of them! haha There's nothing wrong with letting your inner kid out like a monster. A goofy monster. With popcorn and an Icee and 3-D and uh Pump Reeboks.

Then this fool wanted to watch this off Netflix. It was the first time I've seen it. It reminded me of a movie Milk was playing one time during the last Popsh!t party we did with Vinroc. When was that again? I can hardly keep up nowadays.

Then we watched the first one to get ready for the one that just came out and skipped 2 and 3... was there a 3? Youtube says there was a 3.... but like I said, I haven't been watching that many movies.

Crash. Please tell me you've watched this.

Now, let's talk about Saturday. Mission Valley. Off Saks Fifth, I found a pair of Anne Klein $500 pair brown scale skinned 3 inch pointed toe boots were magically $49.32 for me. Now, to get them back home. Ship it? Wear it on the plane? I wore it on the plane and I left the box at Derick house for me to get later on. Damn. I should've asked them to ship it. It's ok. I love 'em. Then tell me why we filled up a whole bag of sour power and Peach o's at Sweet Factory and snacked on that and whatever that guy got from Dairy Queen, so we could munch on it at the movie theater after the fight.Ok so, I've never missed a boxing match. I come from a sports family where my uncles used to sit me in front on the couch and make me watch sports. While drinking beer, swearing at the tv, fighting, BBQ, oysters, more swearing, more fighting, more watching sports. I was trained to know my sports. It's part of my family. And I love my boxing. Ferreal. And this was the first time I wasn't with my family in Socal or Norcal, just with Derick. So we went to Seau's. A restaurant in San Diego owned by a former Charger, yea, Seau. And uhm, I don't like the Chargers. Every time I'm there and there's Charger gear in front of me, I tend to gasp in shock and forget where I am. One time, we were in this plaza down there and this little boy maybe only 1 years old came out in a full Chargers fit (that city was full of baby blue the week where they were trying for the Playoffs), I swear I didn't know what to do with myself. I have never been so shocked. My close minded self can only think red and white. I'm sorry. Ahem, but back to the restaurant. I actually liked it! The figure of Jerry Rice catching a touchdown and a signed poster of Steve Young helped. ;) The place gets packed easily, well, there was no cover charge, and the big screen everyone can see. Oh, and the fight. AND THE GAME. AT THE SAME TIME. while eating. and drinking Heineken and Coronas and munching on calamari, a lobster ravioli, and the Stanley Cup Pizza. Front row seats to the television. And though Game 7 wasn't as much hype as the last 6 there was THAT GOOD ASSSSSSSSSS FIIIGGHHHTTT. uunngggghhhhh nananNAnaaaaaaaa. Mayweather? Mayweather? ;)

San Francisco International Airport
Virgin America
Firewood Cafe
The Last Castle
Monsters vs. Aliens
Full Metal Jacket
Crash
Xmen
Wolverine: Xmen Origins
Seau's, San Diego
Off Saks 5th
Sweet Factory
Mission Valley Mall, San Diego
Milk Bar, San Francisco
Game 7, Boston vs. Chicago

Pacquiao vs. Hatton

Doowutchyalike with Neil Armstrong

2009-04-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

Distortion 2 Static presents you DJ Neil Armstrong. Jay Z's official DJ is our special guest at Poleng this Saturday April 11th, at 10. I think I'm pulling a sliding scale for this one. rsvp here to get reduced admission before 11. I'm excited to have him as our special guest. very. :) I cant wait to hear what he has planned.

Distortion 2 Static

Beats Rhymes and Life trailer

2009-04-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

There's this program started by my friend Tomas' to help the youth in Oakland. Using hip hop as a source of inspiration, (as it should be) the youth use their amazing talents of hip hop to express themselves and what they've been going through. Lead by Distortion 2 Static's Tomas' and Halline helps too and so do a numerous generous strong willed leaders, this undeniably valuable program now has been approached with a team of filmmakers and the mayor of Oakland to follow around the youth of Beats, Rhymes, and Life and see what positivity can come through of the hip hop culture. Check it out.

Beats, Rhymes, and Life

Beats, Rhymes, and Life film trailer

DJ Haylow's blog

My Hero

2009-04-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

If anyone were to ask me what you meant to me, I think I wouldn't have the words to describe it. What you meant to all of us. But I wanted to tell you.................................................
When Mr. Swan paired you up with me as my leadership mentor in high school, he must have been on to something. Because can I just please tell you that you have made me into the best leader I could have possibly imagined I would be. When we all messed around at auditions and I didn't want to get in trouble with all of you, you used to tell me, its ok, because we're gonna get call backs anyways so don't trip. And then the next day we would get callbacks, then the role, then rehearsals, then dancing and messing around in the band room with everyone. Practicing songs. And dances. Then our own songs. And our own dances. And you would always make me laugh so hard. You made the whole room laugh. And thats an example of how you were always right. So right. And we'd have another leadership retreat and we'd always have the coolest ideas and the coolest project out of everyone. And look, we even had dopest outcome. And it is an honor to call you my mentor and by big brother. And I hate writing you this because I wish I could have told you all this in person before you left me. I would have told you more how you made me in to so much more of a better person. And how I would have told you how I think you've done that to everyone you came across. And you made everyone feel important like Annie said. Because I know we were all important to you. You used to tell me that in high school over and over again. And when I came back from going away, and I saw you again and you grabbed me and lifted me up in one of your infamous hugs and you told me I cant believe you and you told me thank you for coming home and kept on saying my name and I just laughed at you and we squeezed each other so hard I almost couldn't breathe. I never got to thank you for not forgetting about me when I was away and how much it meant to me for you to check up on me still. We were supposed to go finish recording that song. And we were supposed to go out with all of our musical friends for drinks remember? And I promised you I'd buy you another drink, but you wouldn't drink it by yourself because you said you'd only let me buy you a drink if I had another one too. So you were waiting for me to get sober. And I didn't that night, so I promised you next time. And you said no next time, we're starting all over again. Thank you for everything you have made me, done for me, done with me. If I would have known God was going to take away my Hero, I would have let you known that was what you were to me. And I'm mad at you for not telling me yourself you were going. Because I just saw you the other day and you said you were gonna come by and see the baby and then we were going to go out for drinks together. And we never got too. I'm just waiting for you to hug me and tell me its ok, and hey if i want a drink and then come on lets go dance. I'm waiting for you to bust out in song so that I could join you and we would talk about what we would do in this world. I am soooo waiting for that hug of yours, you have no idea. and if you tell me all of us down here are going to be okay without you then ok fine we'll be ok. Because you were always right. Thank you thank you thank you a million times over for being everything you were to me and so much more. My big brother in every way possible, one of my best friends dear to my heart, my mentor to the fullest you've shaped me, and my hero because you're everything I could ever hope to be. "Stay Fly" I love you so much, Eric.

Mama Culp picked a perfect song.

2009-04-03T00:53:00.000-07:00

For my name to be used when it has nothing to do with me.... is getting very tiring. period. This is absurd and very uh... WHACK.

2009-03-29T19:11:00.001-07:00

but this is true too

2009-03-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

When he used to call again, I would never pick up.
But honestly, sometimes I still wish I picked up the phone.

JADA

2009-03-24T23:50:00.001-07:00

Today Jada and I clicked on almost every single person on video chat today that would accept because she wanted to meet them. and then we made crowns. 3 crowns. One for her, one for mommy Joanna, and one more for Solange', We used all the expensive scrapbook stickers and scrapbook paper that was piling up in the living room. Then we watched Cinderella and ate spaghetti and had Ube ice cream for dessert. mmmmmmmm!!!!!!! yummmyyy!!! And we ran out of pineapple juice boooo!!!!!

2009-03-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

THIS IS MY BOYFRIEND. I AM HELLA ON HIM.

-houstaltantavegas girl sooner or later closer type of remix kind of lady in his life.... i suppose ;)

2009-03-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

I had a dream last night and this song which I havent heard in ages started playing in my dream. And it struck me again. Just like it used to more than 10 years ago. This is my favorite Hawaiian song. I'm deeply in love with it.

I Miss This

2009-03-19T10:21:00.001-07:00

yyuuuupppp

2009-03-18T19:43:00.001-07:00

Trina - Single Again - Trina

I'm going out tonight. Holler.

Musicals

2009-03-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

I miss doing musicals and going to watch performances. I'm after orchestra seats for this one on my birthday. This is a must see.

Wicked the Musical in San Francisco

I'll Go

2009-03-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Flickr

2009-03-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

I went on Flickr today, an urge to look at photos while I stay in bed trying to battle a fever. I typed in San Francisco and then my life showed up.

Look! The lady has my style. And my walk.But her strides are longer, shes wearing heels too, you can tell by the slant and her stride. That fast walk, like she knows exactly where shes going... in this beautiful city.

Stowe Lake. How many times have I walked this lake, boated this lake, ran this lake.

Lands End. The Cliff House looks amazing from this view. Bonfires below here then up top to the secret spot where the fort is on the other side.

I Need A New Camera

2009-03-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

Make sure you're there. March 27th 2009. I'm going to ask them to play Miss January.

So my camera broke... or it's not working... or something's wrong with the battery or charger... so the easiest way to fix this? Get a new one! So for now, here is what I've been up to through the lens' of others.

This is where all my time goes to now after work and class. My baby nephew. The answer to the question why you hardly see me out now. His name is Danny.

We shot this, and Talib, and Pac Div, and another one on tonight.

We threw this on Valentines Day. someone gave me a single rose that day and someone else wrote me a letter.

We threw this too

and this... and a bunch in between.

My best friend from Kindergarten, Karen, got married. It was that beautiful. I cried. (and 3 more got engaged and another one got married in San Diego)

Bowling with D2S and Mercury Lounge @ Serra Bowl for KingPin

That crazy party we threw at Mighty with Reignforest, On & On

Would you rather stand out in the crowd or blend in. Wild N Krazy Kids throw Fuck Yea!

One of my bests Erikas birthday this month! @ Straits for Fine Lines party.

I'll start updated more frequently. Swear. ;)

xoxo,

Jacqueline

On repeat: DamFunk Rhythm Trax Volume 4

Distortion 2 Static

Platinum Pied Pipers

Wild N Krazy Kidz

Fine Lines Barber Shop

Mercury Lounge

Darling

2009-01-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

When you're the star in the sky.
When the night twinkles bright.
When you look up and can see that
The stars have amazingly aligned.
Those are the clearest nights.

And down here in my world,
Where everything moves as fast as it should
When you're going places you've told yourself you'd go.
And psyched yourself out to follow this flow.

Because in my night
I'm part of a world
That takes over your soul
And lets you dance until the early morning comes hither
And shine your star's shine
And we can forget our worries together.

But then there's those nights
that's quieter than all the others
and you looked up at the skies
and changes came over.

And you felt it all over
Could feel if all over
And choices and dreams rolled over

2008-11-16T18:04:00.000-08:00

I hardly ever get Sundays off. So that in itself was a blessing. I wasted a sunny San Francisco day laying in bed until 2:30 in the afternoon and enjoyed it. I went through every page of the Victoria's Secret Holiday 2008 catalog and window shopped the Anthropologie Fall 2008 catalog that had been dismissed by me since July.... or was it August? I ignored texts and had missed calls while layed on top of sheets, comforters, a quilt, and a red worn woven blanket my grandma had hand made before I was even born with my Daddy's name needle and threaded into the center. When I finally lifted myself out of bliss, I threw on a purple halter patterned dress with a purple patent belt, a long brown hooded cardigan that I used to hate three years ago, did one brush run through on my hair, didn't put on makeup, and chose the first black flats in reach, a pair of worn Cinderella round toed ones that are losing wear on the top that black shoe polish wont work and I had gotten on sale at Cathy Jean in Newport Beach's Fashion Island, and grabbed the soft leather Limited handbag packed full of what my guy friends say as "rocks". I left to hang out at Linda's store eating popcorn chicken and glurbing down milk teas. I hung around until the Niner game had ended knowing that my exit would be blocked in the meantime and I would have to take the side roads back home, which I prefer anyhow. I sat patiently against traffic on 3rd Street maneuvering my car through side roads and hills, away from the Niner faithfuls who were getting restless to flee the area, and into my neighborhood. I pulled up into my driveway, sat there listening to KMEL, backed out of the driveway, turned left then another left, to the Church of the Visitation.

Mass was more than halfway done. The parking lot wasn't full on the connected school playground and the street lights were dimmed. I got out and walked to the back of the church, passing by the side and hearing the choir sing another Hallelujah verse. The stained glass windows and the dance of the lit flames of the electronic candles, which you can light with the honorable donation of one dollar, made me feel like Esmeralda and a yearn to go into the House of God silently escalated. The unwashed bulletproof doors to the lobby I pulled open and then the familiar heavy church doors I braced. I haven't entered mass in a very long time. I slipped through the back, cordially waiting for the priest to finish his sermon before I had seated myself. To my left, a Knights of Columbus old man in the uniformed green jacket with the bearings on the back, looked over his shoulder to me. I nodded to him in response as a hello and bowed my head to show respect. He had smiled and looked back ahead to the priest. I can go ahead and seat myself and no need to get up is what it had meant, and he had acknowledged me for doing so. I dipped the tips of my fingers to the marble holdings of the cold Holy Water. How does it stay so cold? Bow head, sign of the cross. I crept forward silently, picked up a missilette on the back folded table, went towards the back pews, genuflect, and took a side aisle seat. Then I listened to Father.

www.victoriassecret.com

www.anthropologie.com

www.sfniners.com

www.visitacionchurch.org

Knights of the Columbus

2008-11-11T02:09:00.000-08:00

I just finished the KMEL blast for the event coming up on Saturday. Gregory Maguire's newest bestseller, A Lion Among Men, is tossed on my four post bed with the plastic booklight firmly attatched to the binding of the hardback. Albums for review by hustlers scatter the bedding and my plush woven carpet from Indonesia. Subconsciously having Jasmine in mind, I had swiped out my credit card, the one I had promised myself five years ago is for emergencies only, but now has an overwhelming balance, and had bought myself my own magic carpet ride. Now I even have the tiger to go with it, my Persian kitty Rahjah. Nose high up in the air and not availing herself to my attention when I call her, she looks like a cat goddess from Egypt's ancient day; snoot and all. My personal diary lays open on a blank page, waiting for the familiar Tiffany's pen to massage quail ink with words formatted with calligraphy. A practice long forgotten and a talent passed on by my family, Auntie Cynthia and Auntie Stella had coached me the stroke of a pen. Novels and encyclopedias and magazines and newspapers enriched my memory and cursive, perfected over page by page of words put together a dance on paper. I indulged myself in books and fashion and music and the liberal arts and later on, business. It shows on me. I believe how you present yourself to the world is your being and your being will help you accomplish so much more than whatever you told yourself you'd be.

This morning, I had gone into SF Weekly to edit out more archives. It amazes me how many stories come pouring in from one night in San Francisco and how many freelance journalists are fighting for a cut and recognition for what they believe is news. Event coverage runs through the pages, I scan blurs of what the editors are looking for to feed the city of San Francisco. Veering towards one thing then another. Village Voice Media runs an account and veers another way on me and suddenly my sleepy morning in the fall of San Francisco turns into a wildfire of journalists, editors, coffeegrubbers, and know it all gurus cussing underneath their breathe and breathing fire down whoever dares to disagree with them. I'm the youngest family journalist to the branch, and they call me their baby. "Baby, do this for me." "Baby, did you see that story?" "Baby, look at this and tell me what you think of this write-up." After, I went home, grabbed my textbooks and laptop and headed to my other job. I socialized with businessmen who had just gotten off planes from New York, Washington DC, Tennessee, Texas, and pilots flying in from Hawaii, Chicago, Maine, and Georgia. I ordered drinks for guests with thick accents from Little Rock, Arkansas and watched the 49ers lose a great Monday Night Football game to Arizona while I bloomed social butterfly with local guests from Bakersfield who were in for a convention at the property. Surrounded a good amount of my day by the upper middle class and that other 6%, I greet and hear their stories and views and takes on how they had gotten what they were after. And I take it in. Instead of creating blame and hate, I listen. And learn. Always keep on learning. Today, some jeweler retailer from New Mexico told me he was in the Peninsula because he was buying out a chain of jewelry stores in the Bay Area that were going to close. A guest that stays at my property for at least 75 nights a year, when given his outstanding bill for the round of drinks at the bar, had replied to me, "It's just money."

Then I went away from perfect Burlingame, back to San Francisco, and home my hood, the Visitacion Valley. I got on worker mode and started producing things for Distortion 2 Static and ended with the write up blast for KMEL while putting in a random album, transferring files to others, replying back to emails, texts and phone calls and making myself a cup of coffee while keeping myself sane chitchatting with friends on AIM. The day wont be over until I'm satisfied with my what I've progressed throughout it.

When I was 6 I wanted to be an actress and a princess. When I was 12 I wanted to be a newscaster. When I was 15 I wanted to my own library. When I was 16 I knew I was good at fashion and stayed in it for 7 years. When I turned 18 I knew I was headed into the business industry. When I was 22 I became a hustler. Now, I'm 24, and I've done everything I had told myself I was going to be and do when I was 6, 12, 15, 16, 18, and 22.

I had had a cup of coffee with Lori today and Lori just shook her head and said, "I dont know how you do it." If someone could have given me everything I had ever wanted on a silver platter I think I would have replied that I wouldn't want everything I'm after to tarnish. It's true when they say it means more when you work for it. Can't Stop. Won't Stop. I'll see you all at the top.

-Jacqueline

www.kmel.com

www.gregorymaguire.com

www.sfweekly.com

www.villagevoicemedia.com

www. sf49ers.com

www.distortion2static.com

2008-10-20T03:15:00.000-07:00

I live here. I walk underneath these posts and through the rolling San Francisco fog everyday. I breathe the bay breeze and let it hold my hair until it passes me. This city is my blood. I'm a bred San Franciscan. A city girl with dreams so big and detailed, I'm going to shatter that glass ceiling one day. Watch.

It's just turned fall here and I can tell the season's changing. My eyes catch for warm pea coats in the windows of Union Street and Hayes Valley and my head stays down to the whip of the wind pushing me. I'm automated to stop at every shoe store window searching for the perfect boots. My lady's skin dries and I buy the best oils I find to help keep it moisturized.

Falls coming. A play off of words, I'm trying to not falter. Friendships are tested when they shouldn't be at all. The "should haves" come out of mouths that I wish knew better than to tell me what to do. Sometimes, it feels as though people need someone to dislike because they ran out of other people to talk about. Or maybe its a subconscious cop-out taken on on someone else. Or maybe its just an excuse to argue and to knit pick at someone else. I choose the side way. Where I let people be and stop telling them the should have because I would do that and so would anyone else just ask talk. Instead, I tell them once, and see if they listen. I'd like for other people to stop telling me how to live my life, and oh I don't know? Maybe? Concentrate on the faults on theirs?

It's a delicate life I choose to live. A life where you find your real friends and search for more, and maybe the ones you thought were your real friends..... well, you have to question. I'm 24 and have so much to learn. I know I don't have anything figured out. I know to humble myself and continue to be gracious and kind. To mind my manners and mind my own business. Concentration, concentrate. I have a way to go.

2008-06-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

I dont have anything to say. I get like this when they disappoint me. They do this every season and make stupid trades and moves. No one talk to me. Everyone stop texting me and leaving me voicemails and calling me if I've heard. Stop it. Im so mad.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3468448

Melite

2008-06-16T01:22:00.000-07:00

She said to me, "ka may ang daigdig unahan ng ka. ako makita paano ka ay tapos, velasang ko. mo pagayan hanapbuhay maibigan at matigas panguluhan mo. mo a tunay maganda batang babae. dont maari takot sa gumamit ay sinusulat maganda." It means, "you have the world ahead of you. I see how you are already, my dearest. You're so business like and hard headed. Youre a very beautiful girl. Dont be afraid to use being beautiful."

A wonderous woman has just entered my life. Before I met her, I used to have my coworkers mentioning her asking me if I've met her yet. The first day I met her the thing that caught my eye was her Louis Vuitton purse. Then the second day I met her it was her Ferragamo sunglasses and 2 ply cashmere scarf from Greece when she was checking in. I've worked with her many times after that and when I've worked with her she had answered any questions I've had and short conversations were given while she walked past the office. There was something mysterious about her that I loved. And maybe its because I love mysterious women and that I tend to follow that trend, I let the relationship be. I never pried into her life that everyone hinted about and treated her as a regular coworker of mine. We did our office work and did the polite business talks. From this, I believe she was amused and went on with it as well while we were laughing openly with our other coworkers. Two weeks ago they put me closely training with her. And slowly, I got to know this amazing woman. And today, I was lucky enough to sip a cup of coffee with her at the concierge while she let me into her life.

Im going to pass the sad hardship story because everyone has one, and my purpose is to not make this entry a drama episode where the heroine tries to find her way in life, falls in love, goes through a tragedy, then lives a realistic happily ever after in the end. Or something along those four main scenes. She has a house in Palo Alto right behind the Stanford shopping center. She showed me her house online and its worth $1,800,000. It has a tennis court, encloses 3 stories, a dog, and looks something along the lines of a brick castle. Now, I know a lot of people with nice houses and nice cars and nice things. But never has a single woman with two teenage boys attending St Francis who works for fun and just to stay busy has 2 care homes (one in Arizona and one in Hillsborough) who can teach me stocks and flips and how to save and has an awesome fashion sense and is a golden donor to the Samaritan House of San Mateo sit me down and tell me that she sees something in me.

What a wonderful feeling to hear this person who has just amazed you with her life amenities tell you with confidence that you are going to do great things. I heard the finish school. Work hard. Then she smiled and told me how she sees how I am and how that was her at my age. How I'm destined for great things if I keep at it and to not listen to advice that will just confuse me and tug me on different paths. She told me that being a lady is not a disadvantage because if you use it right it becomes an advantage. She told me to use my beauty to get what I target and use your head. Because your beauty will flow from your head. We talked about books and politics and handbags and stocks and real estate. She told me about the property and how to handle different guests. We went online shopping on ELuxury.com and gushed over new designer bags and I helped her assist the concierge on the 11th floor.

I wondered why I was so amazed by this woman when I have successful group that is headed in her direction. Then I came to the conclusion that all this time that I want to be like her. I want that. Everything she has, that has been my aim. And she's achieved everything that I'm after. And I'm flabberghasted how she told me I remind her of myself at my age. "Ako was makataungun maibigan ka." "I was just like you." I'm watching her closely. Every advice she gives me I'm going to do. I believe every person you meet comes into your life for a reason. Let's just say I know Melite's purpose. I just landed a new role model.

www.eluxury.com

www.samaritanhouse.com

www.louisvuitton.com

www.salvatoreferragamo.com

Stanford Shopping Center

St. Francis High School

2008-06-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up to non stop Flamingo ring tones and shooting star sound text messages playing in my ear. I picked up the phone to 5 new voice mails and 7 missed calls and 4 new text messages. The electronic generic music would last through out the day as friends and family wished me happy birthday. It feels like its always someones birthday every week. And when you wish them Happy birthday and how does it feel to be ____, or are you excited, the answer always stays as "ya I'm OK" or "not really" or I feel the same. Jimson said if you feel like its always someones birthday every week then that means you have too many friends. I run with a popstars and rockstars, what can I say?

I started my day out as promised at Bally's to do a cardio workout. Now, the thing with me and working out is it helps me straighten out my mind. Theres something about burning, toning, and heating up that keeps me sane. My new Sony headphones blasted N.E.R.D in my ear as I finished course 6 on the elliptical and ran the shit out of the treadmill. The Ballys guys all wished me happy birthday and tried to me give me that protein powder stuff that they take, but I conned them into giving me a pack of Luna bars instead. I laid myself down in the sauna after a dip in the jacuzzi to ease myself, closed my eyes, and went through the 24 years of my crazy life and what I've accomplished.

And what I have left to accomplish.

My accomplishment list is big but so is my to do list as well. Trust. I'm sure you already get the gist that I embrace a life that leads me into something bigger. Dream big. Aim big. Do you. Go after it. Make mistakes then get up and when a friend makes a mistake, you help them up. If you want to be successful then surround yourself with successful people.

I went home and worked on the show for a while. I had a great talk with Ariel that night before on what he sees in me and my ideas for marketing and my work ethic. We had talked about everything that night. Boys, girls, friends, the show, music, being on another level, health, and where this exhilarating ride called life is leading us. It just made me want to work harder on everything I do. Distortion 2 Static has become my life. A dope set of friends so passionate about music and entailing it in their own different way, we all contribute to the greater cause of hip hop. I am blessed to belong to a group of mind like individuals. Everything we stand for, I'm all for it. I must be doing something right. They could have taken anyone on as part of their family. But they took me. And that's a wonderful feeling.

Jimson and Mike took me to Pacific Catch for lunch. They passed me my birthday blunt and we drove through the city and into the Sunset. On the corner of 9th and Lincoln, most people know of it as the old Cannabis place. We used to hang out at Cannabis when there were open mics and my old Spintronix DJs roommates and the girls would sip on coffee, tea, and alcohol, depending on our mood as we scrounged for couch seats and listened to artists spit their game of art, lyrics, and music on the mic. Now turned into a restaurant, the place still looks the same but brighter. The menu leads on a Hawaiian, Japanese, and Mexican style of food specializing in seafood. Phone calls still ringing, I said my thanks yous and told them whats going on for Saturday. I accepted compliments uneasily as I wished to get off the phone. One thing about me, I hate repeated compliments or when someone patronizes you. Imagine a whole day of that! That was me yesterday. After, we went to Clear Channel where Jimson had to pick up tickets at the station. He handed me a white envelope with 2 Kanye tickets in section 113. I laughed and said thank you, then frowned and said I couldn't take it. I have work until 11 that night.

Now, in order for me to be where I want to be, I need to make sacrifices. This is so hard. Ever since I've started this corporate job, I haven't had time to hang out with my bests, my family, I'm not always up to date on whats going on, and no- I can't use advantage of my comp if there's an event going on. Now I understand why people go for drinks right after work. I don't think I will ever get a chill day at work ever in my life anymore. But if I want to stay at the top, I have to pay my dues. And yes, I am at the top. My time management is very stiff right now, and I'm not as flexible as I used to be. I hope my friends and family understand that. Right now, my mind is all on me. Whats best for me and what I need to do. So I hope they understand if I don't have the most time for them as I used to and all I want to do is have a cup of coffee at Starbucks or stay at home once in awhile or just hang out at a bar instead of doing such and such. My mind's on work and school. I see where this job can take me and what I can learn from it. It's going to help me in the entertainment industry too and I'll be able to handle and have input in my preferred job through training and learning from the corporate one.

I went back home and got ready for my third date of the day with my close family and friends at Bucca de Beppo, another hangout of ours. We took a corner room of 15ish of us while we had family style portions of everything Italian. We ordered a bottle of house wine all around and filled our glasses to the top. Or shall I say Tamara filled our glasses to the top. As you can see, I share a lot of dinner parties with my friends and family. Again, we toasted to my birthday round after round of red wine from Italy. Louder and louder my party grew as finally we became the last ones in the restaurant. Again. 2 hours filled of laughs and girlfriends trying to get their thoughts across before someone else interrupted.

Date 4: Skylark. Four cars filled with girls who've had a stressful week and needed to drink... well actually, take shots, we did more rounds until we caught ourselves before we started slurring over our words. We met more friends there and more drinks were passed around. More birthday drinks were offered until I felt like running away and outside where I'd be safe from that smell of alcohol. We ended up half of us outside and half inside, trading places and entertaining friends, being socialites on Mission and Valencia.

So this is how it feels to be 24. I do feel older. I feel like I've done so much already, why stop now? It's going to be a great year for me. You have no idea what I have in store.......

www.distortion2static.com

2008-05-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

I'm eating half a box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts. I was with Sheeva and Nicole yesterday night and we were sitting around in Sheeva's apartment in between Pacific and Laurel Heights. I parked myself across Locust Street and stepped to my right to pick up a Tall Soy Latte' at the corner Starbucks. I still dont have a laptop case so I carried my imac in my big red bag that looks like a hippie's sack. It's funny what comes out of a bag. The tissues, ba-on 'ed food, gum, compact mirrors, lipsticks, lipglosses, travel mascara, wallets, cash, cell phones, sunglasses, paper, pens, keys, digital camera, money for the bar, card just in case, listerine strips, Marlboro menthol lights, little purse, cardigan or some clothing, and random receipt paper we have in there? At that moment in time, my big red bag was carrying a pink scarf from Persia and a fitted blazer from MNG that I borrowed from Sheeva the night before. I also brought over a house gift of a 2001 wine bottle of Merlot that added to my load. Keys, cell phone, Wrigley gum, my mac laptop, a little bag of fries from KFC I was snacking on, my black leather H&M checkbook wallet, and random cash and cards everywhere but inside the wallet. Dont you hate it when your purse gets like that?

Sheeva, Nicole, and I sprawled ourselves out on the bed, iMacs out and heads perched down while we skimmed through emails, myspace, facebook, and looked up once in awhile to share something a friend had messaged. After, Sheeva had just come back from Europe the week before and she drove me into stories about Paris, Roma, Milan, Germany, and Belgium. She told me how she had met her friends from the Philippines there and how they had such a great time away together. Then Nicole had told me about her trip to Hawaii the weekend before. A getaway trip to relax because spring semester was done. Then it was my turn to tell them what the city has to offer them. Both being new to San Francisco, even more, the United States, I've become the city girl they go to to see where to relax and party.

You know, it's kind of great to have a whole set of different friends. Not the same crowd all the time, but I like being associated to one. I'm glad Sheeva's in San Francisco and she knows this is where she belongs. And I'm glad I've gotten to meet Nicole. Nicole is also my cousin Bianca's best friend in the Philippines, so family is family. I feel like I have another girlfriend to look out for now. But I've made closer friends as well.

We dished over guys and dilemmas and work and school. They told me how they miss the Philippines and usually I'm not one to say that to because I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to that country. But I understand. Its not easy living in a different country and having a different lifestyle. There's no ya-yas around or chauffer drivers or papparazzi following them here. And from this, they explained living here feels more like a vacation if anything. We all exchanged advice on boys, friends, and school. We argued when's the next time we should shop together and what we've been dying to do. Nicole talked about her sorority and her parties and Sheeva told us about the frisbee season that was starting soon and how nervous she was. I showed them the show and what I've been up too. We catalog shopped Urban Outfitters for Sheeva's trip to China for the frisbee tournament. We turned on Safari and found more dresses online. We gushed over the new designs and helped restrain one another from buying everything on the site. She decided on a black one and I got another flowy white piece to add to my collection. We hiccuped and took turns playing our music on our iTunes. So much music I've never heard of! But then again, that's what they said to me when I played mine. Before I left that night, Nicole had given me a box of Hawaiian Host chocolate covered macadamia nuts. She told me that she'd been listening to me tell them how I missed Hawaii and how I wanted to go back and visit our "apo" (its Nicole's apo now too bc shes part of the family) and how I wish I could travel again like them and need extra passport spaces provided because the booklet is full. But #1. I'm not a star in the Philippines like they are. (only here to a certain extent ;)) #2. I cant just leave whenever I want. I have too much going around and for me here. #3. I feel like my schedule has been booked 2 years in advance sometimes. and #4. I dont think I even know what a vacation is.

But I know I'm going to start traveling soon and see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pi architecture, the Rome coliseums, real gondolas, and the southern wine country of France one day. Those dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts are my favorite chocolates in the world. A small affection of friendship like a box of chocolates can make someone appreciate so much of one another. A bottle of red wine and family girl talk with cousins makes the feeling even better. I love these wind downs. And when I get them with my cousins, I take full advantage of my time with my anaks.

www.hawaiianhost.com

www.apple.com

www.urbanoutffiters.com

2008-05-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

There was this documentary on VH1 Soul about conflict diamonds called Rock Docs: Bling'd: Blood, Diamonds, and Hip Hop. Sometimes we forget what's going around in the rest of the world and we get too caught up in our own selfish lives. I was watching CNN this morning and after the segment on the democratic race where Hilary tried to pesuade America her view on a gas tax (something about saving truckers 2 billion dollars which can go to groceries and something about the hidden medical tax we pay for uninsured) and filming the reaction of Obama sticking out for his wife when she was attacked on a video on you tube about her stature and capability if in the White House, CNN went on with new footage of the survivors of the Earthquake in China, a follow up of the children who were effected from the cyclone in Myanmar and the US' best efforts to send aid their way.

It sparked a reminder to write this blog on the conflict diamonds of Sierra Leone and how theres so much to work on in this world. I watched the documentary with Aries, Erika, and Kristine Friday night while we made more buttons for the Distortion 2 Static booth in the Asian Heritage Festival. I used to be a journalism major at SFState and I remember learning how much the media had so much to expose us too. My professors would go over examples over examples of how one newscaster would try so much to get a story across, but as soon as the media had something better to catch the viewers eye, such as celebrity gossip and what American icon is screwing up and why, (the latter I feel is still important) the stories of the mass of the world goes down.

We've all heard of the conflict diamonds. Most recently held fame for one month or two by the movie Blood Diaminds and Kanye's effort in raising attention with his lyrically held controversial self, one month or two and the subject felt like it was a taboo. Was there no more information to gain from it? Did we feed into the media and get tired of the subject and leap to the opportunity to hear Perez Hilton instead of our true news reporters? Or did we just forget?

I'm guilty of the third.

Flat out. I'm a busy girl. Period.

I have work. full time. I have class. full time. I'm in an Industry. holding 2 positions in it. I have a huge family and they are my All the Time. I have a dope set of friends. (i dont consider the latter 3 a job, just the first 2) Basically, I'm on my shit. On a grind and a state of mind not a lot of people can stay hustlin with. I surround myself with people who are like me to keep me sane. Im focused. And in this case, here's the negative side.

I'm so focused sometimes that I forget about the bigger picture and my bigger community. And by bigger community I mean the rest of the world. Is it a rude awakening if I say to you so much is happening and we don't pay attention? Because if it's rude or not, I just said it. Im trying to get through to us, that's all. In all our fighting for that six figure job, that new handbag, are you going to this and that, that new ride, and who's winning the playoffs (and trust. I'm one of your biggest NBA fans so I cringed when I typed that in)- thats how hard I'm being on myself, we need to do the three finger snap snap snap and wake up.

I'm always talking about giving my time to charities, and building one in the future which WILL happen, I promise you. But in the meantime, how about me and you be more with it and pay attention to the world. Because poor conditions in sweatshops, workers who bend in the sun to find a gem for you, and children with abnormal conditions because of starvation is so not cool. Peace out. For real.

www.cnn.com

Roc Docs: Bling'd: Blood, Diamonds, and Hip Hop

Asian Heritage Street Festival

and the one article that irks me most:

the kids eating mud cookies in Haiti

2008-05-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

It felt like being in SoCal again. The bay breeze stayed for the most part silent yesterday, as friends and I spent the end of our lazy day at Pac Bell Park. Some now call it AT&T, others like playing trivia and testing everyone they know what it was first called (SBC Park), but to me, it will always be known as Pac Bell. (just like Candlestick will always be Candlestick, never Monster or 3Com) Located by the bay and sitting on 13 acres, the massive park can hold about 41500 die hard Giants fans.

It felt warmsome as Jimson, Linda, Aries, and I walked to King Street and towards the ball park. Hellos started our way and hi's followed as we made our way through the crowd. We must have stopped every 5 feet to greet another friend, someone we havent seen in awhile, or in Jimson and Aries' case, a fan. We shook numerous hands, met new people as friends of friends, and promised get togethers left and right to friends weve lost in touch with when we bumped into them. How are you's echoed through our speeches as we walked tried to walk through the orange and black crowd to get our tshirts on the third level and cell phones rang of where are yous began to more friends already in the stadium. And it was only the 3rd inning.

Thats the thing about San Francisco. It's a big but small city. Everyone knows each other. And if an event goes down, the community comes through. We were celebrating Filipino Heritage Day while the Giants entertained us against a game with the Houston Astros. I'm very blessed to be part of a society who is culturally aware of our differences and prides itself in representing it. I am blessed to be part of a city where one can be open with another about ones culture and the recipient yearns to learn more about it. It is an HONOR to belong to somewhere where we are not culturally divided and we respect each others differences and prides oneself it in. I'm one of the lucky ones to have friends so diverse as they are and so involved in the city and so much driven as well. I represent a mass people, who live different lives, intertwine them with others, and stand culturally aware without the prejudices you'd see elsewhere. It is an honor to represent San Francisco.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/index.jsp

2008-05-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

My mother always taught me to be Beautiful. I can easily finger the back buttons of a dress into an orderly manner without a struggle. I was told to brush my hair 50 strokes on each side every day to keep it healthy. I was lectured repeatedly to mind my manners, chin up, back straight, hands folded, legs crossed, hair done in a do, when we were in company of a family friend or relative. I hardly had any toys growing up. She encouraged reading. So I indulged myself in books and writing. (I believe she did this in part because my dad was always after us to learn sports) I was reminded that education was the most important thing for me and my future and that if I wanted to be anyone I desired, education would lead me there. So the more I poured myself over books. Then she would remind me to not forget to be beautiful. I would be reading a novel in my hand, immensely deep into the other world it presented to me. I would be lounging on my four poster bed, curtains open, with just me and my book. So many times she would walk in with a new product she had bought just to show me and to see if I liked it. They say I am the epitome of my mother.

When I was little, after school, she sent me to cotillion classes. Cheerleading. Then it was the American Conservatory Theater, Young Conservatory, where I remained. I took up assisting instructors and where I was taught by mentors how to make my love of writing and the arts beautiful. My extra curricular activities were first criticized by her before I was allowed to do them. After class, she would pick me up and sometimes we would go window shopping. But window shopping always turned into buying something. I would wait in front of the dressing rooms at Maloufs in Burlingame while she "needed" another designer suit, or The Grocery Store or Susans because she didn't have enough black in her wardrobe for the season. She would find the most amazing pieces of clothing for up to 70% off.

She surrounded me with high end restaurants, black tie fundraisers of San Francisco and the bay area, 4 star hotels, designers with names I had difficulty pronouncing, urged me to travel the world just like she had, to never let my studies falter, and introduced me to cosmetics as a tool used to enhance beauty not something to cover it up.

So today, we found ourselves in the Macy's at Union Square. A must see stop by, Macy's Union Square, San Francisco stands as the 4th largest department store in the world right after Harrods of Europe. The new Chanel line, Aqualumiere Gloss, had just recently launched earlier this month and she had made up her mind to select what she desired from that collection. (as well as anything else that had caught her eye) We played with her shades of pinks and oranges and reds while I beckoned her away from those three and into some peaches or neutrals... which didn't last long before she went back to her favorites. After that. Then it was Barneys. Then it was Saks. Then it would've been Nordstrom before my sister and I attacked her to go back to Macy's so we could have dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

A regular city spot, of course the night was packed full of mothers. We took a booth next to the window almost automatically putting the menus down, already knowing what to order. My party enjoyed cocktails while I sipped on hot black tea. (I have some studying to do tonight) We talked about the buildings of the city and which ones we haven't gone in in awhile, which ones we've worked in, and whats still around. We exchanged what was going on in our lives, encouraging and teasing one another. My mother conversed with us in Tagalog in the way only her class can do. It doesn't sound broken or choppy or ugly. When she talks in the language, it sounds exquisite, a dialect where I can see it is known as a romance language. Talking with her hands and over exaggerrating a story, she takes advantage of the days when the attention is on her. That beautiful language rolling off her tongue, yearning for me to learn my culture's native way of words. We ended the night with one slice of cheesecake between the 5 of us, being too full to order even 2. And of course, with a cup of the Cheesecake Factory Coffee.

I rode back home with my mother and daddy while Micheal Buble played into our ears. Everything positive about me is the effect in some way of my mother. My mentality to be independent, my stubbornness to never settle for less, and my hard driven skill that leads to aggressiveness, I believe comes from her lessons in some way. I was raised to be a lady. Not to just act like a lady. I know my fashion sense, because yes, I was raised to believe that appearance is important. I know to never stop learning. In this time, I read my books usually cuddled against the side of a couch, with a long sweatshirt on, coffee in hand, hair brushed 50 times on each side, and legs crossed sideways while I lounge. She still comes in and shows me her new material things or what she heard today, and I listen and enjoy the company for a bit before she starts pushing me to get back to studying. I am molded into what I am, because of that woman. She's raised me to be beautiful. In all the love and sacrifice shes given, she's raised me beautifully.

Happy mothers day, Mommy.

www.thecheesecakefactory.com

2008-05-09T00:35:00.000-07:00

I'm walking down the street of Bush and its late in the evening. I had just finished having dinner for my sister's birthday on Beldin Place, A hidden alleyway in the Financial District lined with restaurants and bars with tables closely twined together and hostesses in all black beckoning you to enjoy a wonderful evening in their company. Our reservations were set for B-44, a Barcelona devoted white table cloth beauty decored' in a rouge dim red gave off an ambiance that would satisfy the overwhelmed individual's thoughts of getting away. Specializing in unforgettable paellas and sipping on a 2004 Bodegas El Coto, the red wine warmed a family conversation that has been well past due. Minus one sister, we laughed and joked and caught up with each other as we ignored our cotillion polished manners and reached over and to the side to dabble over other plates of Arroz Negra, Paella B-44, Arroz a Blanc, a simple yet juicy baked chicken over mushrooms, and two different types of steaks, carefully watching one another to make sure the sleevesof our buttoned up peacoats didnt touch the saucy side of a ceramic dish. We dwelled over cafe and creme brule and a type of mini churro lady finger sticks with powdered sugar with a dipping dark chocolate sauce until we found ourselves scraping the sides of the saucer to get the lasting effect.

After that, we walked together through the alley. As a family.

And shortly after that, we said good bye to one another and separated ways suggesting next week we should do it again while Monica declared she was going to pick the next restaurant suggesting a favorite of hers next to the TransAmerica building. We all were excited about the idea, but knowingly, its very hard to gather all of us up for another outing.

I am 1 of an estimated 700,000 something people who call San Francisco their home. Realistically, I must be one in a million of people, counting those unaccounted for and such, who call San Francisco their home. I live a city life. Its a fast paced life full of more than one place to be at at a certain time. I am part of a city that prides itself in culture, prides itself in being an artisan, and boastful of individuals who all have something unique in their barrier. Everyday, I walk this fast paced wonderland, goals in my head, to do lists begging for attention, errands to run, and always a destination to be. We walk with our heads up, straight ahead, strong held and witted. And no wonder, there is always something on our mind. We flood the sidewalks with our soy lattes and teas in our recycled paper cups. We dress in layers and top it off with a stellar peacoat to brush passed tourists. We come with hairstyles that compliment us when the bay winds blow in and purses and briefcases full of our magic tricks. We walk fast. Everyone has an elegance to their walk. I do my catwalk with a sassy sway, a little bounce thats only for effect and I finish in heels.

I lead a life of a city girl. Always busy. Very cultured. Open minded. Independant. Full of motivation. Self directed. Image conscious. Business mattered. Doing ten things at once. A true socialite of the city.

Welcome inside my world.

Jacqueline-Rochelle