Some people make you think, others just damper your spirits

I'm a very positive person and while I love to see the best in everything, whether it be a person or a situation, there are just some things that can't be helped.  Something a previous classmate said made me think.  

"Secrets=power=happiness. I have learned that it is impossible to truly make someone outside of yourself happy. So why waste time. Keep yourself happy and that is all you need. Forget about all of those around you and satisfy only you. The meaning of everything is your own happiness. People will tell you that happiness comes in helping others. This may be true to a sliver of a degree. Making others happy is a disappointment, because you will never get the recognition that you truly deserve, or the self recognition that you strive for. Happiness is a time to time basis."

Over-analyzing is my specialty so I have dissected the meanings and hidden meaning behind this to the point where my scrutiny has hindered my positivity.  So, my question is if people truly believe this.  Don't we all have a circle of close people whom we make ourselves fully vulnerable for and who truly care for us as much as we do for them, those we genuinely care for their successes and try our hardest to barrier failures from them?  Or is it just me?  The ideology that we determine our own destiny is certainly most motivating but the happiness of those around me contributes to that empire I have built for myself (in reality, I'm only 25 so I suppose I'm still building it).  How am I to expect total and complete glee without the merriment of my family and other loved ones in support of that?  Sure, I can be 'happy' unparalleled to others but utter euphoria constitutes the health, well-being and most importantly, happiness, of  those I truly care for.  


So, dearest former-friend, take your cryptic words with you and please don't preach to me about the tough facade you claim uphold because you are empty and bare.  While you try so hard to keep from exposing yourself at the sacrifice of your own support system, ironically, you have managed to expose yourself to the highest level of unhappiness, loneliness. 




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Like I've said before, it's about the little things...

I care the world for the people in my life.  There are times I feel sad when they worry and I'm as happy for their excitements as if it were happening to me.  With this being said, I love to do little things for the ones I love.  This past Feliz Dia de San Valentin I made sure to acknowledge those I love and appreciate in my life by sending out cards to my closests.  


Well, I had no clue that my small gesture would make sure a large impact on someone's day.  Here is the chat:

Friend:  You are going to make me cry.  thank you for the sweet card. thank you for remembering me

Me:      Of course I remembered you, silly!  Apparently you are a hard person to forget ;) 

Friend:  not true. i felt totally forgotten today. and i was fine with it until about 3 minutes before i got home. And I got home and there was no mail in the mailbox and i walked in and the mail was on the table and there was a card for MEEE. not even my parents called! hahahaha. you are wonderful. seriously. thanks for being such a great friend.

All I have to say is that it was so worth it.  It made me so happy to know someone was smiling at that exact moment just because of me, no one else but me.

Friday is only days away... HAPPY HUMP DAY!


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... and they're out!

After writing only forty six cards this year, I finally sent them off a few days ago.  I know my timing is a bit off but better late than never, right?  Or is it 'never be late, that's best'?

Hope you get one, and if not, maybe next year!

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Happy Birthday, Raz!

Anyone who really knows me probably knows that I screamed, "Happy birthday, Babaloo!"  That's right, last week was his birthday and oh my, was it a grand celebration!  The festivities began with a home-cooked French meal, Sundance concert featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill at HarryO's, followed by a small, intimate dinner at Rino's with his family, brunch at Pago (the pork tacos were amazing but remind me of sopes), snowboarding and then a weekend of shenanigans in Park City, and lastly, GO KARTING!  


Raz's friend, Cameron, whom I met only once and at that it was technically our first date, came into town and Taylor aquired a house in Park City for the weekend.  We had a four bedroom plus loft house, not to mention the free parking, all to ourselves on the top of Main Street.  I met Shiela, Cameron's Aussie-Denver friend, and we all enjoyed a small concert at Star Bar with Chali 2na of Jurassic 5.  We had a great time, Taylor couldn't stop talking about how he met Chali in the loo,  and it was the first time Ioana and I got to spend time together in a social setting and away from the parents' house.  We went back to the house, where we enjoyed a few more drinks and birthday cake, of course.  Now, if you think that's a great night, Cameron made us a breakfast of traditional, southern-style biscuits and gravy all from scratch and we also enjoyed OJ from a duck pitcher.  


Sunday was not a day of rest, however.  Dan and James took Raz go karting at SpeedSkate in Layton.  It was such a blast.  I knew it would be fun but never anticipated it to be that amazing!  The only down side was that I couldn't reach the gas petal fully and Dan's main competitor was a retired race car driver, i mean, a professional!  Isn't that unethical?!  Here are a few photos from the jollity...

Needless-to-say, we were both exhausted after such an eventful week.  I think a few more naps are in order!


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Martine, mmmm or meh?

I know I have been slacking on this whole blog posting thingy but I'm back for now and that's what counts, right? ...right?!  Well, here we go...


An activity that I muchly enjoy is to dine out.  I love love love getting dressed up and walking around the city with that special someone.  And don't forget electing the experience of the evening.  Those who know me know exactly how much time and consideration goes into picking just the right place.  Sometimes I think I get more into discovering the most fitting location (and why it's suitable) than actually carrying through with it.  


As another Friday night date-night pulled around, Raz and I contemplated the usual question of what to do and where to eat.  We came across option of Martine, as it was the only place left with open reservation slots.  Although I had been there on a date with Nelson and had a terrible time, I decided to give it another shot with some new company.  


And here is my honest opinion after the jump, again.  Firstly, the hostess NEVER smiled.  Not like, "Dude, you should smile more often," but as if her smile sensors where physically and mechanically disabled.  Then the service was slow, and I mean snail-ass-slow!  I'm one to deal with slothful service for amazingly mind-blowing chow, but only amazingly mind-blowing.  Sad to say, it was not.  We ordered four tapas plates to begin with and the only reason I liked this dish was because I really find all things asparagus quite delightful, especially white asparagus.  Like I said, it was not.  The stocks were over cooked and the only thing worse than no asparagus is mushy asparagus.  

The trip-tip with sweet potato chips were over cooked and the haricot verts were saturated in oil to the point were it almost escaped my mouth disguised as drool.... phew, that was a close one!  The peculiar potato cake, however, was yummy until I realized that the chorizo tasted like a jerked pepperoni stick.  I prefer my tapas to be more on the fresh side and that usually entails veggies, superiorly seasonal ones, and spices used very lightly, such as saffron or nutmeg, which this was not by any means.  But at least the bread was the right amount of soft and hard!

Now on to the decor.  Let me just start with how much I absolutely hate mixed decor.  Traditional and contemporary just don't work for me together.  It looked like the room I had to share with my two sisters when I was in elementary school.  We all designed a wall and had our own beddings.  You can just imagine how it looked since I was only 7 at the time!

All-in-all, Martine gets a 1 out of 5 stars which means the verdict is 'meh'.  

The up side, after dinner Raz and I attended the Downtown Gallery Stroll and we had a grand time.

HAPPY WEEKEND, ALL!

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