The holidays

The holidays are my favorite time of year simply because famillies get together from their busy schedules to come spend time with one another. The two holidays that I enjoy the most are Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both holidays, most of my family comes over or we go to visit them. On Thanksgiving, for instance, its a tradition that we we usually host thanksgiving at our house. We usually have my uncles, aunts, and cousins over. We always watch football and eat snacks before dinner so we cant really enjoy the turkey, however, we always eat more than we can handle. It is hard to blame us because the turkey takes forever to be ready to eat so the snacks are necessary. Since both my uncle and my sister were born on thanksgiving, we usually celebrate their birthdays then. Besides the pumpkin and pecan pie, we always have a birthday cake that we would never finish along with the leftovers. Thanksgiving is basically a great way to get together with the family, get stuffed with food, and have leftovers for days.

Christmas, is another holiday I've always enjoyed since I was pretty born. I just love all the lights, the songs, and the tradition. Every Christmas, my family and I go to my aunts house for both Christmas eve and Christmas day. On Christmas eve, we do not have big dinner, mostly snacks, however, we open the presents from my aunt that night. Then we go back home to sleep and wake up to the presents from "Santa Claus". Even though, I am twenty years old I still believe in Santa Claus. I still leave out the milk and cookies out, however, I know it is my parents that get rid of them. The next morning, my sisters and I open our presents at our house. Then we leave to go back to my aunts house again for christmas dinner where the big dinner is. We usually have prime rib and shrimp. I cannot wait until the holidays come along. Even though work is going to be hectic, I still cannot wait to have everyone home for the holidays.

Anyone want Seconds?..not me...

So after halloween, I had my second round of midterms. I do not understand the point in having second midterms. The whole point of a midterm is having a test in the middle of the term. It doesnt mean having two tests in the middle of the semester. Luckily instead of having second midterms for all of my classes. I have a test only three classes, however, I have taken one second midterm so far. Unfortunately, they are both on the same day after my four day weekend. I have taken my business law midterm which was multiple choice and true or false. Most people would think that would be a pretty easy exam having that. Unfortunately, it was not easy as expected. I studied as much as I could and tried my best on it. I am hopeing that I passed. Next week, I have two more midterms. I was hopeing to enjoy my 4 day weekend, but that doesnt look like that will happen. I do not think I will enjoy much this semester until finals are over. I will just have to take one day at a time. This semester has been very busy with school and work, second midterms are not helping me out. I think professors who do not give midterms are even better, hopefully next semester, my professors wont give second midterms. However, that is not very likely.

Earthquake!

On a normal tuesday night at work, the store had just closed. My co-workers and I were cleaning up the store for the next day. As I was counting the money in the register, I saw the windows starting to shake and items in the store started falling from the shelves. I must say I was hesitant of what to do or where to go because I was not expecting an earthquake to happen. My manager ran to the front and told us to run to the doorway. The earthquake lasted for at least thirty seconds. After all the shaking was over, my manager, co-workers and I were afraid another earthquake would happen again. Unfortantely, my manager made us stay to finish cleaning up. We were all very shooken up after the quake. I was hopeing there wouldnt be any strong after shocks. However, I was thankful that there werent any customers in the store or else there would have been a complete craziness.

In an article written by the mercury news confirmed that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.6 and lasted thirty seconds. The earthquake was caused from the calaveras fault and hit the alum rock area the most. This has been the most powerful earthquake since the Loma Prieta quake in 1989 which was from the San Andreas Fault line. We have many fault lines running through California and we can never tell when another earthquake will hit like it did on tuesday again.


http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_7325191?nclick_check=1

Business Classes

As this semester goes by I find myself in a weekly routine. My daily routine has been going to school and work. Last week, I finished the first round of midterms. Based on those exams, Ive been doing pretty well except for my business law class. Being that this is my first business class ever taken, it is very difficult for me. The word usage in my text book is very hard to understand. When I read the chapter, I have to re-read a paragraph two or three times before I am able to understand what the writer was trying to say. There is a study guide used for that class and I dont know what I would do without it. The language used in the study guide is still the same, but its more of a summary. In the back of each chapter in the study guide, it has true/false and multiple choice questions. I seem to do pretty well on those. However, I still need help understanding the material. Sitting in lecture is not going to help me, so I went to the tutoring center but they do not have any tutors for that class.

I emailed my teacher about the problems I've been having. She did give me some suggestions, however, her office hours are very limited because she is an Attorney. So far I am not having any luck finding help for that class. My professor told me that intensive studying is required to appriciate the material. How am I supposed to appriciate the material if I do not understand it. My last resort if probably to find someone in the class who understands the information better than I do. I find my business law class very interesting because all the information is new to me,however, I just do not comprehend the material in the textbook. If anyone knows what I should do, please let me know.

Small Claims

Not to long ago on April 1st, 2007, I got into my first car accident. My mom, my sisters, and I were visiting family up in San Mateo. My mom took my grandmother to the store to buy a couple things before my grandmother went back home. As we were trying to leave the parking lot, we notice something come up behind us. Unfortunately, it had to be a wide truck. The parking spaces are very compact for most cars to get through. Our car was turned on but still in the parking gear. Suddenly, we felt the car move from side to side. I got out of my car after the guy in the truck stopped. On the drivers side, both the quarter panel and bumper had a dent. Since toyotas are not made very well, both parts were crushed like soda cans. I was so mad to see my car in the bad shape. The guy who hit my car was very sincere and promised to pay for the damages, but people do not always do what they say. We exchanged information such as insurance policy numbers. Dealing with the insurance was a different story.

When we got a hold of the insurance, it took a couple weeks to get a response to see what they would do. Unfortantely, they informed my parents and I that they wouldnt pay for the accident and that they couldnt tell us why. I thought it was very unfair because that guy hit my car and he should pay for what he did. Since the insurance wouldnt pay, I would have to take it to the next level which would be to sue him. I really did not want to go through the trouble of going into court when I have school and work. What made matters worse was that I had to file in San Mateo county because thats where the accident occurred. So I filed the papers online and payed the fees. I am only asking for the estimate of the damages, nothing more. I do not want anything else, I just want my car to be fixed. Anywho, so the small claims court sent me an email saying I should call in to verify my court day beforehand. So a couple days ago I called in and they told me that the defended was not notified of the charges. Being this is the first time I am suing someone, I had no idea I had to get a process server. No one told me that.

Therefore, I had to take the day off from work to drive all the way to San Mateo to reset my court date because I did not get a process server. Small claims changed my court date and hopefully this time things will run smoothly.

Recent school shootings

Besides complaining about my life, I think it would be time well spent if I wrote about serious problems going on in the world. For instance, school shootings have been going on for as long as I can remember. It is a shame that these sort of things are still going on. Even though gun control laws have been changed and have became stricter. More shootings still have been occuring. Unfortunately, the typical school shootings are done by students who are troubled or have been abused. In Cleveland, Ohio, a student shot five students and himself. This tragedy occurred on wednesday, just a few days ago. The students of SuccessTech knew the shooter was troubled and had threatened the school before. In addition, the shooter had been suspended from school before the shooting. I believe that he probably thought that he would be getting revenge at the school for suspending him.

For instance, the shootings at Virginia Tech, a professor knew there was something wrong with the shooter. However, the staff never did anything to prevent or help the shooter. It is terrible how he was ignored and how he never recieved any help. If anyone knows about troubled students, they should recieve treatment.

I can not imagine going to a school where there is a shooting on campus. People watch and hear about these shootings on the news. However, they never believe that anything like that could happen to them. Until it does, it really has a big impact on their lives. My sister is a freshmen in high school and it could happen at any place at anytime. Honestly, its mostly the teenagers that might get abused by their parents and are confused about what they want out of life. So the saying goes "guns don't kill, people do". So I think controling the gun laws are not going to prevent teenagers from obtaining a gun. The parents should talk to their children about their lives. Instead of the abuse that causes these shootings because innnocent lives are at stake.



http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8329dc77-1f9a-49cf-8ce5-06f0b186e4ba&rss=91

Family

Some of my friends often ask me why I never want to get married or have kids. Well often enough it is because I see the way my parents act towards one another. I don't want to have to go through some of the experiences that my parents have. In some of the justice studies classes that I have taken, I have heard quite a few cases about abuse in marriages. Whether the abuse be verbal or physical, it happens in many homes. The husband feels he has control over the women and he is able to do whatever he wants. However the women has to have consent from her husband. While I was growing up, I noticed that my mom had to ask my dad if she could go somewhere or if she could use the car. One reason for this is my dad felt he owned everything since he made the money. It is not fair that women especially my mom have to live this way. Not being able to depend on myself is something i dont want to have to go through. I find myself very lucky to be in college and working to make my own money.


For a couple years now, I havent had that much of a good relationship with my dad. Basically, for the reason how he treats my mom. Do not get me wrong, I do love my parents. They are good parents to my sisters and I. However, they are not good to each other. They married young and didnt know what to expect. I believe any woman can get out of a relationship such as this, but sometimes it is complicated when you have children. I really want to see my mom happy and have no regrets in her lifetime. So when I am asked why I do not want to get married or have children, not because im being selfish, but to have a life where I can whatever I want.