Before

After

Here’s the link:

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2008/10/22/kingwood_observer/news/43kodinosaur.txt

Honeycrisp apples at Whole Food! Soo juicy and crispy!

Yesterday I went to Mai’s for some Pho Ga (Vietnamese soup) and got these hilariously random fortunes in my fortune cookies.

My sister is soo awesome! She made this little trailer of the longer 10 min video she’s creating for Rotary documenting our trip. I most excited however of the fun video she’s making with the bloopers of us in them . It might take her awhile since she has a lot on her plate right now.

I’ve basically been listening to two CDs on non-stop repeat this fall. They are on opposite sides of the music spectrum, but both are soo good!

First one:

Jay Z's The Blueprint 3 album

One of my favorite songs is “Forever Young” – Rod Stewart. Random I know, but it’s got a great intro. Well, JAY Z does a remix to it! LOVE IT! Here’s the song:

Second one:

Mika's The Boy Who New Too Much

Love Mika! Just great fun music you can dance to! Favorite on this CD is “Blame it on the Girls”! Note on the video, I like how they zoom in on the old lady with the hot pink shirt singing along… hahah

Okay, here’s how it went down. Back in June I started seeing a nutritionist, best decision of my life, and as a side effect my clothes stopped fitting me. I still have a ways to go for my goal, but in the mean time I was like oh crap I need a new wardrobe! Then I was like oh crap that costs money! Since Jcrew has been a staple in my wardrobe tracing back to my first critter chino skirt in 8th grade, I was like hmm maybe I should work there and get a discount and slowly build my wardrobe! Their style is classic, conservative and versatile (haha like me – JK), so I know it’s a good investment.

I’ve never worked retail before. I was a waitress one summer at the Volcano (bar), as well as a bartender at Willy’s Pub (Rice’s on campus bar). I thought to myself I might not have retail experience per se, but if there is one thing I do have a skill in is customer service. I’m a people pleaser. My parents own their own business and I grew up catering to our customers/friends (they become part of your family after 24 years haha). I think customer service runs in the family, because when I was younger my grandmother, Mami Fina, owned her own neighborhood market (abarrote in Spanish) in Monterrey, MX. There were two stores across the street, but everyone came to her. You know why? Customer service. I would get so excited when I would get to visit and got to help out. I loved taking money and giving change (nerd alert – it was the math that I really liked). I also just like people in general and love to interact with different types of people and if I can help them on the way that’s a plus.

Not Mami Fina's abarrotes, but similar in style and feel to get a picture

Well, long story short I applied and got a job. Last night was my first shift and I totally enjoyed it! There’s always something to do: fold clothes, open dressing rooms, get people different sizes, and ring up people. My co-workers are all pretty cool. It’s going to take me a bit to remember their names, but I will get there. One of them already gave me the 411 on the managers and who the nice “non-fake” workers where, then we bonded over Glee.

My only reserve about taking on a second job, is that I might be spreading my self a bit thin… basically I work an average of 22 hours a week (this is based on my two week schedule I just got) on top of my full-time 40 hour a week job, and my extra curricular activities (Rice Young Alumni, Rotoract, Optix Studios, tennis, social life…). But you know what? I always loved a good challenge, and if I can make it through the end of the year, 2009 is going to go in my record books as one of the most accomplished years in MK’s life (until I have kids of course) hahaha!

I will keep you posted if any interesting stories happen at the Crew J, apparently working in retail you always have stories to tell.

Last night I went to the U2 concert and it was pretty legit! Back in mid 2007 through early 2008 I was really into U2 and then for some reason I moved on, but I did always say I would love to see U2 in concert. Well, last night it happened. Muse was the opening act also a band that I really like! They made it on to my 11*2=22 birthday CD, not only once but twice. That’s a rare thing with my bday cds… hahaha

Muse was great, but I have to give real probs to the production crew of U2. The lights and set were out of this world… hahah their theme was space! All in all it was a great concert

Cait, Lisa, Jon (idea man behind attending the concert)

the girls

the spaceship aka stage

They played my favorite song – City of Blinding Lights!! Also on my 11*2=22 CD or maybe it was my Party in the City CD? Either way it made it to a bday CD.


Video below (it’s kind of shaky.. I was moving to the beat.. hahaha!)

Hey kids,

Just got back  Monday evening from a Wunderbar (wonderful in German) trip to Germany!! More deets on the trip to come, but for now here’s some background info as to why I went to this amazing country!

In a nutshell, my sister is awesome and she owns her own video production company (www.optixstudios.com). It’s only about 2 months old, but her talent has already gotten her a list of projects. Among those projects was one special one that sent her to Germany. Cimela started going to the  Houston Rotary – Public Image Committee to volunteer her talents (we’re both part of Rotarct, which is Rotary for young professionals) and earlier they had asked her to do a piece on one of there volunteer projects. She presented her piece, which was audio only because the lady didn’t like being recorded and they loved it! They loved her creativity and her enthusiasm. It just so happened the District Governer of Rotary was there and told her that the Rotary of Houston would be going to Leipzing, Germany in two weeks for a Peace Convention they put together in conjunction with the Rotary groups in Leipzig and he would love for her to go and document the trip.  Rotary would find a host family for her stay with and would pay for her flight.

Being the Director of Operations and my sisters travel buddy she asked me to go along with her. I mean she did need a crew since it’s a lot of equipment to carry along and take care of and someone has to hold the boom mic. haha  It just so happened that it was slow at work and I was able to take off.  We started making the plans and getting ready to head over and document our trip. We were unsure of exactly what we were documenting, until we arrived to Leipzig as it was all a bit fuzzy…

City of Leipz Flag

Back in 1989  there were a series of peaceful political protests against the GDR that took place every Monday evening that began in Leipzig and soon spread to all of East Germany. All these protests  lead to pressure and the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall.  This was the 20th Anniversary of the protests and Leipzig was having a giant peace march commemorating how far they’ve come since that time. It was kind of crazy to think that only 20 years ago it was communist.

The reason Rotary was involved was that back in the 80s Rotary decided that they wanted to start initiatives in non-traditional Rotary countries i.e. no democratic countries and Liepzig was chosen as a sight to start a Rotary program exchange. It also happened that because of the Houston Rotary initiative talks began and ended with Leipzig becoming a sister city of Houston.  To commemorate the 20th anniversary and the bond between Rotary, Houston, and Leipzig,  Rotary put together a peace conference for the Rotarians of the Leipzig and Houston districts in Leipzig and what better time to talk peace then on the 20th anniversary of a peaceful revolution.

There was also a dedication of a new modern stained glass window at the St. Thomas Church by the Rotary of Houston.  The St. Thomas Church is famous for it’s Boys Choir, in which Johan Sebastian Bach was a part of and is now buried under.

More on the trip to come soon.