Celebrations

*Today is my blog's 1 year anniversary. I've changed the layout and title to commemorate it. Both reflect the state of mind I hope to reach one day: total serenity. After googling the title of my blog, I discovered there is a novel of the same name and it is apparently an Oprah's Book Club favorite. I'm going to have to read it someday.

*My Parents' 29th Wedding Anniversary is today. 29 years. Wow. We are old. But old is gold!

*My nephew and aunt celebrate their birthdays today. Happy Birthday!

Today is also international dance day so get your groove on people!

Maybe by tonight I'll be in a celebratory mood once my finance paper is done. I'm feeling stuck with it. Please send some good karma and prayers my way.

My Story

*I saw this "survey" while passing through some blogs so I thought I'd play along, too*

Hi, my name is: gini

but you can call me: gin, gino, ginster, ginnah, ginenous, ginrummy, kitty

Never in my life have I: fell in love (in THAT way).

The one person who can drive me nuts is: nuts in a bad way - GW Bush.; nuts in a good way: Matilda

My high school is: ranked #22 in U.S. News & World Report. Rankings, shmankings....

When I’m nervous: i bite my lip and experience an uncomfortable lump in my throat.

The last song I listened to was: "Cruise Control" from Mimi's new album

If I were to get married right now it would be to: please my parents?

My hair is: falling out! GAHHHH

When I was 4: I was traumatized by a velvet shirt I owned that featured a baby tiger on the front which I was forced to wear on picture day. I thought the tiger would eat me.

Last Christmas: was full of yuletide cheer! (i.e. fun with the fam)

I should be: buried in research

When I look down I see: my laptop

The happiest recent event was: getting news that I'm an inaugural Public Interest Law Fellow!

If I were a character on ‘Friends’ : I would be the missing minority, Ashwathi Shawntay Josefina Chen Gopalanathan

By this time next year: I'll be preparing a dance routine, preferably set to POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE

My current gripe is: Maintenance trolls in my apt.

I have a hard time understanding: people whom you love trifling with your feelings

There’s these girls: that I miss so much. Can't wait to see you all!

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: my parents/sisters

I want to buy: nail polish.

Where do you plan to visit: New Zealand. Before I'm 30.

If you spent the night at my house: we'd laugh like hyenas at unfunny things.

The world could do without: Extremism, guns, pollution, ignorance and crocs

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: A loofa sponge

Most recent thing someone else bought me: An ornament from the Mardi Gras festival in 'Nawlins.

My middle name is: Elizabeth

In the morning I: Pray.

Last night I was: on the phone with mi hermana pequena.

There’s this guy I know who: is merely a fantasy. *sigh* Mr. Darcy

If I was an animal I’d be a: Lion, according to my zodiac. But if I had my way, probably a gazelle. Or a turtle.

A better name for me would be: Layzee Bohns. I'm not going to lie, I've got this thing for campy soap-operaish names like Veronica, Olivia and Isabella or really exotic Persianish names like Zara and Zasima. *high glamour*

Tomorrow I am: writing, reading, moping, hoping.

Tonight I am: doing laundry

My birthday is: a time to celebrate the gift of ME to the world. =p

Emancipation of Mimi to the SECOND Power

As many of you readers may know, Mariah Carey is my favorite singer. So it should come as no surprise that I pre-ordered her new album. My review in a nutshell: Its awesome!! More R&B flavored ballads along with the usual commercial pop songs and a really odd club number which I'm not sure why she threw in there. Anyway, you can get a preview of her songs here.

I remember first hearing Mariah's voice when I was eight years old. It was 1992, and she had released her second or third album by then. I think I saw her on some PBS special and she was singing "Hero" and the voice gave me chills and I've been hooked ever since. Though I can't relate to her lyrics all the time, its provided an escape from some really crappy moments in my life.

No matter how "divaish" she appears to people, the woman is still pretty humble and she knows not to take herself too seriously. To be able to still be current almost twenty years after she first came out is a big accomplishment. She's not just a singer either: she writes and produces all her songs. That's rarely seen these days. I hope young people who are just discovering her will listen to some old-school Mariah to see why she became as famous as she is now.

God is Good

I love Fridays!

BARACKY: THE MOVIE

In honor of the PA Primaries, I thought I'd post something that I found fun to watch. Enjoy!

A Papal Visit

The barrage of media on the Pope's arrival in America prompted me to make some interesting discoveries. First off, I didn't know that it had been 29 years since a Pope last visited the United States! Second, the man is a Mozart enthusiast. (yay! apparently he plays the piano regularly) Third, he shares a birthday with Su!.

I'm not sure how Catholics feel about Pope Benedict, but it must be hard for him to follow a charismatic leader like John Paul II. Admittedly, I didn't warm up to the idea of Cardinal Ratzinger, former Hitler youth member and man-who-inserts-foot in mouth-regularly, rising to be Pontiff. Anyhoo, he seems like a genuinely passionate Catholic and frail old man which satisfies the basic criteria.

I'm posting this video of Kelly Clarkson singing Ave Maria. Pope Benedict seems awkwardly cute in here, and she does a phenomenal job. Its such a beautiful and moving song, its no wonder my eyes water whenever I hear it!

Meeting a First Daughter

Today was overwhelmingly exhaustifying. But it was also the highlight of my week.

Chelsea Clinton came by our law school in a surprise visit. She came to speak in an informal setting about student loans and affording graduate education. Naturally, other issues were brought up as well but it was pretty much repetitive talking points. Meeting her was cool. She's very down-to earth and sincere. I told her that she was courageous to come out onto the campaign trail for her mom; and that I volunteered for Senator Clinton's campaign when she first ran back in 2000. ("Volunteering" limited to handing out pamphlets teehee). There were about 80 students and faculty in the room. Overall, it was a good event. This is the pic I took from my camera phone, which explains why it looks crappy. She definitely resembles Hillary.

In other news, I interviewed with the public interest grant selection committee. I really, really hope they consider me as a finalist. Otherwise its back to another unfunded summer. =/

Balmy weather

Its almost 70 degrees out. As much as I welcome this mild temperature, I dread the seasonal allergies that accompany it. Its weather like this that also makes me want to do less work and more play. Granted, there's no one around at the moment to do anything with, but just walking outside and staring into oblivion is preferred than sitting inside, cooped up in my room doing work.

Yesterday was such a crazy day. It started off with filling out last minute applications for a public interest grant through my school for the summer. Thankfully, the coordinator was on top of her game and didn't make me wait or go through hoops and hurdles to get those in. After that, I attempted writing my brief, but once again was distracted by the gorgeous weather and people around me that I couldn't help but conversate with.

I went to my first pro-bono (service project) session yesterday. I'm part of a group called Project Peace who's mission is to train students in elementary and high-school peer mediation and conflict resolution skills. The high-school that we're working at opened up its doors at the same time our law school did; its been an inaugural moment for both institutions. The kids were really great! They were really enthusiastic and I think they had a good time. I'm hoping I can get to know them a bit better next week, though. I missed the first session so they were more familiar with my fellow law students who were there last week.

I got home around 7pm only to find that my room had been ransacked by our apartment management. I thought I was robbed at first, but noticed all my stuff was still here. Our apartment has been renovating its heating and cooling system and changing vents in apartments. For the past three weeks, they've left notices on our door telling us when they'd be coming and so on so we could remove our belongings etc. But they never left a notice about coming into our bedrooms!! Nor do they leave notes after they come in (when nobody's home) to inform us of what they were there for. Needless to say, I was infuriated and called up the maintenance desk (useless, as always) and ranted for about five minutes. I'm going to have file a complaint or something on Monday because this is getting ridiculous.

The sniffles are coming. I'm going to buy some Claritin.

April may not be so cruel after all...

except for all the mind-numbing assignments that have to be completed. the more work on my plate, the less motivation I have to do it.

had an interview this weekend. went really well. the people were awesome. definitely something to think about for the long-term future.

spoke at my church on saturday for Makarios' Thirumeni's 40th day memorial service. didn't expect to be there, let alone to speak. my uncle insisted upon it. i miss Thirumeni.

looks like i might be set for the summer. *crossing fingers*

did absolutely nothing of major value today. oh wait, i spent time in solitude listening to heart-thumping music. totally worth it.

today feels like april 6 going on may.