Placebo Week

So, as I enter into this next week (only significant for two things: 1) Placebo pill week and 2) it’s the second week of classes) I’ve got a lot on my mind. But in a great way.

First week of classes was great! Monday is going to be my demise for a few reasons.
a) When crew starts, my day will start at 4:30 am and end at about 9:30 pm.
b) I have ALL my classes on Mondays– but the profs are all amazing, so it should be fine.
c) I won’t have (much) time to do hw for Tuesdays on Mon’s so I’ll have to plan ahead (here’s to slaughtering procrastination part I!)
d) They are Mondays– they’re ALREADY EVIL.

BUT on a brighter note,
There is a boy on Girl in Like’s radar.
And apparently this radar signal is mutual.

I think I earned like 20 nerd points for that analogy.
Or a level up.
(Make that TWO with that reference!)

Nerdy-Girl in Like

August Rush(ed)

So August is almost at a close and it came in a rush.

Just like the title of this post implies.
So, I will try to be short and sweet.
Okay scratch that; just sweet.

I haven’t written anything since the end of July for a number of reasons.
1) I had to pack for my Junior year of college.
2) I had to squeeze in all the “hang out with the folks” time that I could.
3) I roadtripped up to school with my best friend and his girlfriend (stopping at Uncle Tom’s on the way).
4) ResLife (Residence Life), or my group/community of other RAs and RCCs has officially taken over.

So let’s begin: I’m a Junior in college. It’s my third year. And what have I figured out? That I love the classes at this university. Again, I find myself SO overwhelmed, excited, and enamored to be back on campus and almost starting classes. Being here early for ResLife training (more about that in a bit) has been amazing. It’s surreal to do all the behind the scenes work, then check all the freshmen in, and all the while my fellow returning students are trickling in all around me into their respective on/off campus residences for the year.

That’s sort of a jump ahead. So I’ll recount a bit of the beginning of August: I spent my last night in town with the best group of people ever. Gavin, Mooney, Cailynn and I went to Abbott Kinney on that Friday night (Aug 6th) because apparently LA has been satiating a food-truck fetish since I’ve been at school. We heard there would be a bajillion and one trucks there that night, so naturally we had to go; we’re alllll about good eats.

I had: 2 carne asada tacos con guacamole, pico de gallo, y cebollas (onions), half a serving (and it was huge) of fries with steak, green onions, cheese, and a bunch of other way delicious things, 1 cupcake (that I ate later) that was a Peanut Butter and Banana cupcake (banana bread with PB frosting *drool*) and then to top off the night, part of a chocolate chip cookie with blueberry cobbler ice cream sandwich. IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY. There were real bits of cobbler and blueberries! So delicious (and well worth the 45 minute, or longer?, wait).

Gavin and I left the next morning, bright and early, to head to Manteca, where his grandparents live. We had sushi for lunch (and guess what! I ENJOYED IT. I’m definitely a new fan) then had Italian for dinner, and spent an hour or two digesting in the jacuzzi. We picked up Emily in SanFran, saw our friend Daniel for lunch and a walk (best sandwich ever: mozzarella and turkey pesto panini on sourdough) with Gavin’s dog Joe Cool (a very well behaved mutt).

Anyways, we took the coast (101 and the 1) to Uncle Tom’s. Let’s just say that I won’t be taking that drive again for a long time (hopefully), but nevertheless I’m SO glad we did it. It was beautiful and amazing and well worth the extra hours it tacked on, but very windy and very slow. I got to take the midnight to 4 am shift through the redwoods. I’d like to see them in the day time, but the truck headlights lit up the trunks of the trees and I could feel their enormity and their presence. It was truly humbling. Such a beautiful sight.

We made it to Uncle Tom’s, slept the night, and when I woke up to use the bathroom in the morning at around 06:30 he asked what time we got in, and when I told him 4:15, he said “I’m surprised you’re not still knocked out. Well when he left for golf, I hit the sack again.

He left a note on the counter with cereals and bread and jam out for us saying “it was lovely to see you. Have a good rest of the year. -Uncle Tom” and to that note I said, well I’m not ready to only have 2 minutes with him, so we waited on his porch til he came back from golf. =]

Actually, we went to Applegate Lake (BEAUTIFUL!) for the afternoon and when we got back, the Oregon family had planned a dinner for us all at Uncle Tom’s. He was glad to have us be staying longer (even though he totally tried to get rid of us with that note!) =D

We stayed up til 10 or so talking, laughing, and having a good time. We were told to come back soon (which I think will be Thanksgiving!) and then we all retired for the night.

We arrived in Tacoma the next day in the evening after 8 hours of driving and a few road-trippy meals (artery clogging for sure) and helped move Gavin’s stuff into his room. I crashed on his couch for the night and then the next day moved into my room in Trimble! (the upperclassmen suite-style residence hall on campus) in which I am one of 6 Residential Community Coordinators! (Basically the same as an RA, but we have a slightly less traditional style, so we have different expectations and ways of doing things.

Welcome to Junior year, is all I can say. It’s gonna be a whirlwind, and I think I’m ready.

Sincerely,
Junior-Girl-in-Like

ResLife

“ResLife, full of strife, but it’s the life for me;
Writing up students for smoking and boozing, but it’s the life for me.”

This was a rap crafted by my staff team made up of Trimble/Todd Phibbs RAs and RCCs. To put it bluntly, and people have heard me say this about a few things ResLife already: I’m mildly obsessed with them.

We’ve got the TP components:
Savannah, a returning RA who is a great role model and great person to talk to.
Chris D, who’s a self proclaimed ex-bro with a sarcastic and witty sense of humor to put you in good spirits.
Katie P, a lacrosse player with a kick-ass attitude and such a great personality.
Lucy, a vibrant addition to the TTP team (who has a career in rapping, haha, or not!)
Katie M, aka K-Mo, who’s got the sweetest personality, but knows how to crack the whip!
Nick, a returner who knows the ropes and means business, all the while being such a goofy kid.
and Maddie, the sweetest person who’s gonna have her residents wrapped around her fingers. =]

And the Trimble Staff:
Myself, an awesome Junior, first-timer, but ready for anything Crew Girl!
Garner, a witty HS debater with a flair for v-necks and b-ball shorts.
Anna, a returner with eyes that light up the world and an awesome and open heart.
Janessa, a bubbly sophomore who’s gonna be ready for anything with her laughter and commanding attitude.
Chris M., a laid back Junior from Hawaii with an island attitude that brings ease to your worries.
and Vienna, a super amazing sophomore with a sense of team and family that has already started bringing us together.

We’ve gone bowling in wacky bright 80s colors and afro wigs, gone for Pho (Vietnamese noodle-soups), sat out under the full moon looking out at the Sound with cheese, grapes, chocolates, and desserts, and this is just the beginning.

We’ve had training almost everyday from 8 or 9 am til 5 at the earliest, but more often than not, stuff that goes until 8 or 9. From staff meetings to role playing, from food meet-and-greets to Jeopardy quizzing, we’ve done it all and we’re prepared for anything.

I’m looking forward to the leadership role and the responsibility that I’ve signed up for. I feel ready to rock this year and this job and also ready to do well in the classroom, out on the water, and with whatever else I sign myself up for.

I’m missing my family back home, but I’ve been calling when I get the chance.
Chloe is doing well, currently doing pre-season training for cross-country, and Cailynn and I have a skype date sometime soon, but she’s settled in and working with the football team (for athletic training stuff, I believe). Leah took a family RV trip to Oregon and Seattle (and didn’t stop to see me! haha) and seems to have had an amazing time, but I know her, and I know she’ll be glad to be back in the City of Angles and within the next month starting her sophomore year at UCLA.

I love my life right now.
I don’t think that’s strange.
But I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time.

It’s a weird sense of calm I’ve never felt before, but I’m fully embracing it. It’s weird to go from an overactively involved High Schooler to a responsibly active Junior in college with my whole life starting to unfold beautifully before my eyes. But I LOVE IT.

With a smile on my face,
ResLife-Girl-in-Like

Times are a-changing

As I finish off what could be one of my last full summers at home, I notice a few things have changed. I don’t clamor to see all my “friends” that are in town. There are a few faces that have earned their places and I make an effort to see them. And there are a hundred more that I know I would LOVE to see, but it’s a two-way street. Another thing is the lack of interest I have in boys this summer. Usually I jump at the idea that a guy might be interested, and I pursue, or let myself be pursued. Not that it happens a lot, but there is usually one once in a while. This summer I have out right said “no thanks” once, put my foot down twice, crushed on three guys, and really cared about none.

I turned 20. My hormones should be RAAAAGING.
But I think I’ve realized that there is so much more out there than flings and crushes.
I have dubbed this summer “My edible summer” because it has been filled with great food. I roadtripped to Oregon with my mom, played softball, hiked, and went on runs with my dad. Went to comic stores and cupcake boutiques with Lauren. Had movie nights with my Kevin and Karina. Discovered new music at the Culver City free concerts on Thursday nights. Discovered that LA had a foodtruck craze. Almost completed a to-do list that included 10 food spots, 2 amusement parks, and visiting San Diego, Berkeley, and Medford.

How or when would I have time to notice a guy worth my time? It always sounds snobby to me when I say things like “he’s not worth my time,” but unlike being picky about a food (like Tomatoes, bleh) being picky when it comes to a guy is something I think all women are allowed. My disinterest in romance manifested itself in a workout schedule to rival Kobe Bryant’s (okay, maybe not), and a summer menu that encapsulated smoothies, fruit cobblers, s’mores, pasta dishes, steaks, burgers, spicy hot dogs, bacon/avocado sandwiches, gourmet breakfasts and dinners, and homemade cheesey omelets with peppers and onions.

It has been a rockin’ summer.
And there are still about two weeks left.
Bring on the finale.

Welcome to your 20s!

I have failed, per usual, with regards to updating you, who ever you are, about the charades and shenanigans in my life. It is now SUMMER– YAY!

What have I been doing? Let’s see… Upon my first morning back, I went on a hike with my dad to celebrate the sun in all it’s California splendor.

Me and Dad in Temescal Canyon!

Then I headed to Palm Springs with Mom, Sarah-Jane, and Auntie Eileen for some much needed pool and relaxation time…

June was half way through, which, every year, means one thing: CAILYNN’S BIRTHDAY. My dad and I took her on a birthday hike. Probably not the ideal gift, but hey, who wouldn’t wanna spend sweaty time with the two Hammond Athletes on top of a huge rock?!

What naturally follows Cailynn’s birthday (despite June Gloom) is, well, MY BIRTHDAY. Woot woot. I had part one with Cailynn and my folks, going to breakfast at Uncle Joe’s Pancake House in Manhattan Beach, and then part two with my girlies–and Ron– at Ketchup. BUT no bday dinner would be complete without a little slapstick comedy, during which Whitney, Briana, and I posed near the bench, then on the bench for a picture… at which point the old rickety bench broke as soon as I put myself onto it. Quite hilarious if I do say so myself =]

Anywho, my birthday was great, and as my friends put it: Welcome to your 20s.
HOLY COW.
20 is almost 25, which is almost 30.

xoxo
20 year-old Girl in Like

May? Summer VACAY?

ell, here we are, or, here I am: sitting in a temporary on-campus establishment with 4 other post-season, NCAA Championships bound rowers. We are training after school has gotten out (yes, I survived Sophomore year!) in order to do the best we can at this amazing point in our rowing season. We will battle it out with 8 other teams in Division III and see who comes out on top. Varsity has been really great; the girls are amazing and accepting and wonderful (and super funny and into Youtube videos, more about that late). They have been really helpful in the transitional period between Novice and Varsity.

I think just about every time I’m with any of these girls, a Youtube video is quoted or alluded to. The best one is of a black woman driving in Los Angeles (by the looks of it) who yells (while filming herself) “STAY ON YO SIDE” to a driver who cuts her off. SOOO funny. (You can watch here). She’s “dramatic, but less ghetto.” hahaha.

Anywayssss. Kevin and Karina got to come up and enjoy beautiful AND SUNNY! Tacoma! We went to Point Defiance, did the 5 mile drive, went to all the good food places, drove into Seattle, went to Pike Place Public Market, and visited the first Starbucks! =]

Kevin and Karina at Point D

It was a really wonderful time, complete with an end of day heart-to-heart. They are really amazing and are doing really well together and staying happy (especially with their new puppy!) I miss them already, but I’ll be headed home in just under 2 weeks!

Moving out is always this surreal experience: literally, one door closes and another opens. I boxed and stored all my stuff that I “won’t need in Los Angeles”… but all that really means is that I boxed up stuff I HOPE I won’t need in LA. haha. Lauren called me the other day (she’s getting so mature on the phone, it’s amazing) and she left me a voicemail that said “It’s your sister Lauren. I just calc-ka-lated how long you’re coming, 17 days. I love you, bye.”
PRECIOUS.
She is so incredible. Being away from her for large chunks at a time makes her progress seem so intensified and huge. I always used to say watching her grow up and mature was like watching your toddler make their big first everythings; now it’s like watching your pre-teen mature into an adult at hyper speed. Obviously I will do all I can to make sure she is still my baby sister! Haha. What would I (or we) do without that inner child of hers? We’d all go crazy. But you all know what I mean: she’s growing up so much right now and it’s beautiful. Such an experience. I’m proud of her everyday. She came up with my dad to the Rowing Championships in Sacramento, CA last week and she didn’t have a single meltdown or anxiety issue. It was so impressive and I was so proud of her. She shook hands with people, introduced my dad to them, sat quietly (and loudly) with people. She did well under circumstances that just 2 years ago would have made her freaaaaaaaak out. It’s so exciting to see her accomplishments.

So last night I went to a graduation party for a few friends of mine (who I will thoroughly miss seeing the faces of on campus next year!) and I met a graduate named Jason Lee. His younger brother (who’s my age) has Autism. Leland is incredible! He paints, plays guitar, and sings! I talked to Jason for 20 minutes about those major steps when they finally hug you or hold your hand. I will always remember Lauren’s first REAL moment of reaching out: When grandpa Bud passed away, we were all clearly and visibly sad and Lauren came and sat down on the couch (she was tear-free and anxiety free at this point) and just sat down with me and held me and told me to “lay your head on me” and she just let me cry on her. My mom and I were speechless and cried even hard; but those were tears of joy and pride. She was tapping into emotions of others in a way she had never done before. Almost 4 years later, this is still an incredible memory, one I won’t ever forget. I talked with Jason’s parents about Leland and Lauren (they know about HELP Group in SM!) and to Jason some more and we all agreed that it’s amazing to watch two people talking about someone they truly admire and look up to; in our cases, it’s our siblings. I have never felt so connected to someone I didn’t know before. He told me to contact him if I want to get involved with helping those with Autism in the Tacoma area. And I definitely will. =]

The past few months since I last wrote have gone by so quickly, but they’ve been great. I can hear my belly growling, so I’m going to go pile some food into it.

Girl in Like of New Friendships

Marchuary

Much like the word "Marchuary" this post is about the beginning of March and the end of February.

February was fast. Per usual. It only has like 11 days in it. Okay, a little more, but you catch my drift.
Anyways: not much happened. I liked a boy. I liked another boy. I liked liking the boys. I decided I didn't want to like the boys. I jumped into a freezing cold American Lake. I slept a lot. I didn't sleep enough. I woke up early at least 4 times for 5 AM rowing on the lake and didn't end up being able to row until this morning (the 5th time). I worked a shit ton. A SHIT TON. I missed my friends from Los Angeles.

Now it's March, which means Spring Break.
And 2-a-days for crew.
And Portlandia for the tail end of break.
And midterms before that.
And a paper due after that.
And possibly Leah visiting?

I bought insulated overalls. I'm stoked. They're amazing. And I look like a man in them. Which is cool, since I swore off boys for the time being. =]