I Need a Breather

I feel like I've just been going and going nonstop for most of the past 2 or 3weeks. First there's been the usual homework and studying, plus a 2-week stretch in which all of my midterms fall in (last one tomorrow, thank God). Luckily I've managed to commit just enough time to study for my tests and so far I've done really well, hopefully tomorrow will be icing on the cake. Then a little over a month until finals; I really hate all of you right now with away messages like "Working on my last project!" or "___ more days until summer officially starts!" As for my summer, I'll be spending most of it in Irvine working at my current office, then towards the end of August or so I'm gonna try to look for a job that actually involves my major. I'm still undecided on whether or not I'm going to take summer classes.

Another thing I've done the past month is hit up more clubs and hotspots than I have during the other months of the year so far combined. First there was House of Blues in Downtown Disney for Best of Both Worlds. Thanks to Vicky and Debbie again for the hospitality, you guys are always awesome hostesses. The actual event was alright, waaay too many people and it was hard to stay in a group so it ended up only being Raf and me for most of the night, plus the DJ sucked. It was too hard to get around without getting humped by people on both sides of you; I made the most of the night but I had more fun last year. I'd still be down to go next time if the venue is right.

Ladies at preparty before HOB

Level 3 in Hollywood was the next stop last Thursday for Annie's birthday. After getting lost, having to cut in a looooong line, lying about being in "Hip Hop Congress" to get inside, and some guest list complications, we finally made it inside only to be a surrounded by a "super-AZN" crowd (according to Mel). The music was a little better than HOB, but they stopped everything for about half an hour for a "lingerie show" on stage. I was expecting some decent models to come out with some cute outfits, but instead the girls looked like they were picked right off of UCI's campus and let me tell you they were not fierce at all. Not too many creepers in the place, except for one guy who kept trying to get me to go onstage to dance with him. After he said "What, am I not cute enough for you" I seriously just wanted to laugh in his face. Fellas, please don't ever use a line like that unless you KNOW you have the looks to back it up aka you better be a 10, otherwise it just makes you look really pretentious/stupid.

Waiting in line in front of 500 people

And finally, this past Saturday was Belo in Downtown for the 24th birthday of Jackie's sister, Tiffanie. Overall it had good music, a good crowd, nice decor, and overall I had a really good time reuniting with the girls. I think part of the reason why I liked the aura so much was that it was 21 and up, it's still a little weird for me seeing 18 year olds get down in the clubs, I don't know. I would definitely hit this place up again. Anyone down? Haha.

MCHS c/o '05

Although not exactly a club environment, honorable mention would go to Sushi, Sake & Karaoke night at Brent's the day after HOB. I wasn't even planning on having fun that day but wow, I didn't know OC housewives could be so fun. Plus free sushi, sake, mochi ice cream and dancing? It really doesn't get any better than that. I also came across 2 new ultimate favorites of mine - Kinsen Plum Wine (only $4.99 at Bevmo!) and this:

Lychee Sake by Hana. Heaven in a glass.

No air-uh air-uh

I swear this week is the slowest ever at work and I must have heard that song about 7 times, no joke. That and "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis ,which I can't stand anymore and never really liked in the first place. At least with "No Air" I can listen to the sweetness of my boy Chris Brown. I've said some funny things about CB (my roommates think so at least) but I don't feel like disclosing them right now to save myself the embarrassment.

Since the last time I blogged I really have nothing to talk about. No new discoveries, life-changing epiphanies, just blah. Maybe if I had some actual drama in my life I could tell cool stories about things like how my best friend stabbed me in the back, or how I went out of my way just to spite an ex, exciting stuff like that.

I think a part of it is also how I refrain from going in depth about specific issues i.e. some relationship stuff or sex because I don't have the luxury of anonymity in these cases. I tend to talk about that stuff in general because if I say something like "Don't you fcking hate it when your boyfriend _______", everyone would just think "Damn Raf what did you do" haha. Who knows, maybe I do mean it, maybe I don't, but I just avoid that situation in general cuz people be too assuming nowadays. Sometimes it's hard to discern what people are really trying to say when it's on paper, nawmean.

Anyways, one thing I do look forward to is Culture Clash at House of Blues tomorrow, it feels like it's been forever since I've gone to an event like this or anything remotely close to the club scene. I know a lot of SD people that I haven't seen in a while are going, so it'll be good to see some familiar faces up here. Also, I'll probably have more to talk about after making some observations of club rats & manwhores in their natural setting tomorrow, so that means more posts along the lines of "'Bout to roll up in this club" or the Ladies Night part of "What a Week" .

Exciting stuff coming up hopefully, time to study...

'Bout to roll up in this club...

It'll be nice to have a couple days full of nothing this week after the birthdays/midterms/craziness that was last. Sometimes I just want to sit on the couch without having to do a damn thing. Besides watch some tv of course (Making the Band 4 on tonight wooo).

Anyways, probably the craziest and most fun part of last week was my first club experience being 21 for Mel's 21st at On Broadway event center downtown. I don't even remember the last time I went clubbing, so with that plus the whole being 21 thing I was pretty excited for this. Yeah, I get to buy stuff from Albertson's by myself now and order drinks at restaurants and whatnot, but I hadn't used my 21-status to get into a restricted place yet.

We got in line a couple minutes before 10pm, and little to my surprise the bouncer took just a little more time inspecting my ID compared to the others before us. While Alan was given a "happy belated birthday man" after being carded, I got about a quadruple-take on mine and asked to recite my birthday and address. Still, not as embarassing as dinner at Ra Sushi; our server already checked the 7 or so IDs at our table, only to come back a couple minutes later to take just mine to the back and scan it.

So once I got in the club I felt like a total noob because I didn't know jack about the ordering process. Due to lack of funds I only got a Tokyo Iced Tea ($12!) and a Monster/Vodka (cuz it was cheap). I'll try to be more prepared for the next outing. As for the whole night, just being with the girls made it super fun. It's totally possible to not be single and still have a good ass time at the club haha.

More pics here.

While I can appreciate when a guy comes up to me and tries to start conversation - flattery is always a good ego boost once in a while - I really don't understand the whole "club mentality" of a lot of guys out there. Boys don't take this personal, I'm talking generalizations here. To help you guys out with what I'm talking about, I came up with a helpful list:

What NOT to Do When Trying to Pick Up Females At the Club

-If a girl makes it blatantly obvious that they aren't that interested in talking to you (i.e. you've been standing 2 feet away from her for 3 minutes and she still avoids looking at you), don't yank her arm to try to get her attention. That's just rude. In fact don't do anything remotely close to physical force, even in the slightest bit; do it to the wrong girl and you just might get a smack in the face in return.

-When the hell did cat calls ever work to a guy's advantage? Probably never. So no use in trying now. It just makes you look really creepy and desperate. Honestly. If it has, maybe you guys just happen to run into girls that throw themselves at guys' feet. But that doesn't go for the 99% rest of us.

-If you notice that everytime you try to get close to that one female she just happens to find a way to not cross paths with you, it's probably not just a coincidence. We have our ways, we work in teams to get this done.

-I've already mentioned the physical force thing, but inappropriate touching in general is a no-no. I'm not talking dirty dancing cuz that's mutual and hey some girls enjoy that stuff I guess. But once you try to get your hands on a female that you're not dancing with...that you're not even talking to...that you don't even know...that just happens to pass you by...you're a fcking perv.

-This doesn't really just apply to the club in general, but guys that act like they are God's gift to women. Yuck. I just wanted to throw that one out there.

-In conclusion, guys should just follow the same common sense that us girls have been told many times. If the signs aren't there - she doesn't flash a smile at you, no eye contact, tries to avoid you at all costs - she's just not that into you!