The gang's all here!

Well early Saturday, Colleen and I went shopping and the out to lunch at Mongolian BBQ. It was very Americanized, but still very good. Here's a random "non-posing" pictures of her:
Everything worked out great at out little reunion :) I don't know why I always worry about our reunions and stuff because we always hit it off. The guys were actually joking about it how the relationships have changed. And it was sooo good to see my girl Cat again.

Funny thing too - we're stuck on the highway and there's a convertible next to us. I go, "wow that looks like Chad" and Dusan goes, "omg that is Chad!" So I rolled down the window and was like "IS THAT YOU CHAD SCHMIDT?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN AMERICA?!" and it was. So I got his number and I guess he's back in the US for a little bit. I hope he doesn't leave soon so I get a chance to talk to him.

Oh yeah, the guy in the middle is Chad (the other two are Nitin and Dusan). This is from ATL two years ago:

Anyway, here's are "now" pictures of the gang from this past Saturday's Tigers game:

Here are "then" pictures from like... 3 years ago:

^ Here's our last reunion^ Homecoming in 2003 ^ Ypsilanti after GLR - right when we leaned in to take this picture, we bumped heads (which is why we're laughing)^ Just a random summer day where Dusan and I were making fun of Catalina's "curlies" and he sat on her back to tug on her curlies^ Kyle and me back when we were together

I dare you to impress me

He's about a pound heavier (you can tell real easily). Here's an updated picture of my baby:

Woow lots going on. Should I write the events backwards? I'll start with today. I went shopping with D yesterday on one of our late-night-Meijer runs for some random snacks and presents for the cousins. I bought two electronic Sudoku games, three 20 Q games, a stuffed animal for the baby, barbie clothes, two shirts, and some cute towels. I'm glad I thought of the 20 Q because Hans loved it and it makes him have to learn English. I think I'll be back to buy another 20 Q for myself.

I guess last night, my mom looked at Hans' itinerary and was like, "omg he's not leaving Saturday, he's leaving tomorrow!" So the rest of my plans of taking the day off to spend time with him ice skating, shopping, and arcade-ing went down the drain. Today we helped him pack and off he was off to the airport. I love my cousin but I gotta say, with all the chaos around here, it's a good time for him to return home. Oh how I miss Taiwan when I think about it.

Back tracking a little bit to Wednesday, I got a raise! Yayyy! I guess Jeremy (the president of Ricardo) was talking to Claude about Veronica and me, and after seeing some of the work I had done for Chris, suggested in giving me a raise. I was telling Dusan the other day that I think of Claude as a mentor/boss to be one of those people who will know when to tell me what to do in order for me to grow as an employee in the business world. Wasn't I right? I feel like I have added so much value to myself and my work life over the last few months because of Claude. And his laugh is so funny! I think this is one of the best environments I can surround myself in during this place and time.

On Tuesday, I found out that Gary finally proposed to Catherine. Her ring is goregous - I have to guess it's more than 2 carats altogether. It's the kind of ring that blinds you when you look at it because it is loaded with diamonds. It's like this below. Not that I look for rings online or anything.

Cedar Point with the boys: hottest day of my life! Pictures are here of course...A new word I like: penultimate. Meaning next to last.

I guess I have a free night tonight! What am I going to do? :) Tomorrow is the reunion with the old gang and I am excited!

Don't you see baby? Asi es perfecto

While I have an extra minute to type up a little entry...

Friday:
Worked a little later than usual, but also goofed off more than usual
Laser Tag with the boys (aka brother, cousin, and boyfriend)
To D's to meet the Slovaks, flight attendant, and Szechkoooo (don't know how to spell his name)

Saturday:
Spent the day with the boyfriend and puppy
Crazy night with Yvonne ;) Meijer's, Josh's, Wendy's, drinks

Today (if this all works out):
Leaving for canoeing in a few minutes with the cuz and boy
IMAX Superman tonight

Tomorrow:
Cedar Point
No work!

Whoooo haaa!

Yayyy - happy news!

The old gang is gonna have a reunion next Saturday!!!!! We're going to dinner and a Tigers game next Saturday, although I don't know why we go to baseball games for reunions - Kyle is the only one who knows anything about baseball. This will be the first reunion since our last reunion two summers ago. I'm super excited/nervous because things between the four of us have changed soo much (you know what I'm talking about). I would have to say, hands down, that this is one of the best group of friends I've ever had in my life.

The doggie's potty training is getting better and better, although his biting is getting worse. He wasn't biting at all when we first got him, which is weird. But Lindsey says he might be teething and he just needs something to chew on.

It's kind of sad how the summer is ending. Although work (and school) will continue for me right where I am right now, everyone is moving away to school talking about how exciting everything will be. Even all my co-op buddies are leaving work within the next month or so. I guess we'll see what happens.

The most random line of a song I heard on the radio this morning on my way to work caught my attention (I know that was a funny sentence, it made sense in my head): maybe next time will be the right time. I think I need to be more patient and not so eager, while still ambitious, and let everything happen at the right time. Maybe.

I guess what was, won't be again

I got a lot to say and not a lot of time. I'll just list what's going on and expand on them until I have to get off I guess.

CFCU technology: being able to IM a live rep online with bank questions is much better than waiting on the phone and listening to hold music. It's a pretty neat upgrade

Printer jammed incident: it's like automated employees who stand there and stare blankly at the printer not knowing what to do. It was funny to see that when an average Ricardo employee's regular rhythm is disrupted, he/she almost panics.

Hans problem: leaving him too bored makes him get himself in trouble and I've had to address some serious issues with him. It makes me feel guilty to think it might be my fault he's bored out of his mind. After all, Tim is a couch potato and my mom has meetings with SGM (Shanghai GM) all week.

Romeo digs: it's so cute how he takes his toys to a corner and pretends to dig a hole in the carpet, drop the toy in the "hole", and use his nose to push the "dirt" back over the hole.

Kristin: just started to get to know her and she quit to move to Arizona, leaving next Tuesday. She started telling me about how it's starting to hit her that she's leaving, and I think she started tearing up.

Lemonade stands: kids in our sub always have them, and today, a little boy was outside by himself holding up a sign so I stopped by. I asked the boy, who looked about 6, if he was by himself, and the poor kid said his friends all had to go home. Overtime worker. That's the sign of a future entrepreneur, don't ya think?

Ignorance: is it bliss? I think my mom likes to excuse herself from dealing with things just so she won't have to have one more problem on her plate. I guess I don't blame her, but there are just some things you can't let slip through your fingers, selectively.

It's nice: Helen emails me the longest, sweetest emails with lots of smiley faces and cheesy jokes. I wish I could communicate with my grandma the way her and I write to each other.

Blu-ray: Dusan says that since they have created tinier (is that a word?) lasers, they can fit up to 50 gig on one disc now. So the way VHS and floppy discs became extinct, I guess DVDs will become extinct within the next year. I'm so glad to have a tekkie boyfriend who can warn me not to waste money on DVD's/DVD players.

A word I like: hiatus. Which means a gap or a pause. For example, "I wish I had a hiatus in my summer so I could have some time to myself." You know how it goes.