So I know I'm kinda late to make the switch to Wordpress.. but all the cool kids left the Myspace lunchroom table and headed over to trade snacks with the Twitter kids. I got lonely.

I've been off of my blog game for almost a month now.. mostly because December is when the three F's own my life: Finals, Family, and Food. Those all call for 3-dimensional interaction with life.. hence, the e-absence.


http://marimcfly.wordpress.com

You know you have a good group of friends if you can grow up without growing apart.. even when you're geographically apart.  And if you can still get along when you finally get back together.. well then you're set for life.  I reunited with a bunch of my high school girls on Wednesday for dinner and game night.. and again on Friday for Porsha's 2nd Annual Hammered Holidaze party.  These girls are basically THE reasons that I survived Brentwood without punching anybody in the face.    (I punched one girl in the gut, but that was 5th grade and I was still adjusting to the private school world)

Big Bird and Action Jackson.



Diversity shot: me, Shauna, Porsha.



Porsha, Alana, Joy.



Jennifer had the bootleg version of Jenga, called Jumbling Towers.  The blocks are NOT evenly sized.



Shakari dropped her drink RIGHT after this pic.



Dealt a poor hand like this.. and Alana and I STILL won.



In case you were wondering why Porsha calls it HAMMERED HOLIDAZE.



Not just grown.. we're grown grown.  And drinking punch punch.
(Larissa, me, Porsha, Ashley, Alana)



Noel, me, and Veronica (a.k.a. Mrs. Claus)



The unstoppable trio.  Joy, Veronica and I used to RUN things.



Seeing these lovely ladies twice in one week reminded me of how blessed I am to be where I am and to have what I have.. but also how huge a role WHERE I'VE BEEN really plays in my life.  I love you girls!

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."
--George Bernard Shaw

I've been slipping on the blog posts.. you know how things get during the holidays.  Anyway, here are some pics from Chad's photoshoot, as promised.  He needed studio shots for his final project for a photo class..  And these were the final three that he used. 

A ball, a hoop, a heart.. nothing fancy.


No one believes me.. there is no superglue or photoshopping in this picture.


True Laker fans bleed purple and gold.



How awesome is Chad??  Plus, now I can say that I've been a "model."  Yesssss, all my dreams are coming true, haha.

So my last final was on Friday morning... which means I'm officially done with this semester.  This weekend was jam-packed with celebrations:

Celebration 1: Mark's birthday at Yardhouse and Dave-n-Busters.

Yes, we really drove all the way down to Irvine to celebrate with a guy who stays in West LA.  Surprisingly, it was still well worth it.  Plus, I rode with Chad because I was already in Torrance, helping him with a photo shoot.  More details to come, I'm sure.  Anyway... photo recap.

This guy is officially as old as two bar mitzvah kids put together. 
(and I'm holding an imaginary pint of beer)



I too dream in color.. and in rhyme.



Giggles.



Yayyyy no more finals!



Jager bombs = rarely ever a good idea.



Onion rings.  Yes.



Get to steppin', son.. that's NACHO CHEESE.



California rollin'.



Kristen and I have known each other since Summertime Girls had it going on.



Laughter.



Celebration 2: Jacque's "Black in LA" get-together.

Lots of beautiful people, all in the same room.. it was almost overwhelming.

The beautiful hostess.. and Hance!



DJ Shady and DJ Koko.. play that funky music.



Tunj and Salim, immaculately polished.



Doris showed up!!



Celebration 3: Megan's birthday at Rosen Karaoke

Julie has the most magical voice ever.



"Waaait.. my hair!"



She's so lucky, she's a star.



Yes, yes we did.



In short, it was the most exhausting yet excellent way to start off my Winter break.. I'm so lucky to have such caring, fun-loving friends.  Let's make this a December to remember! 

I'll be on Winter break by about 12 noon tomorrow, yessss.

I'm about to get back to studying for Med Lectures, but first I feel like posting the last few videos I've watched.. (because who can study without flipping to youtube every few minutes?)

This is how randomly my brain works when I'm deep into nerd mode.


Let's rock this joint.



Anything less would be uncivilized.



Hahahaha I used to groove to this.



This would totally sweep me off my feet.



Okay, now I'm ready to get back to studying.. mostly because of this last video. Thanks for the inspiration, Dean.



Let's gooooo...

So this is a recap of last Friday night.   I know, it's Wednesday.  Excuse the lateness, I'm in the middle of finals week.  Effervescence, time is of the essence.

Anyway.. Cherie's bday party.  Zanzibar.  (affectionately nicknamed Manzibar by my male friends, who are often disappointed by the gender ratio.. although Friday night wasn't bad at all).  In celebration of Cherie, we were steady rockin' all night long.

Here's Cherie, being 24 and all.



Shauna and I have Tae-Bo skills for dayyyyys, son!



Me and Bindi.  Chanira calls this my Kris Kross pose.  It always feels like it's gonna look so much cooler than it actually does.



Thriller dance, or am I in the middle of Superman-ing (youuuuuuuuu)?  You decide.



Just point out the bounce..



Hooray for diversity.. we look like a pack of Skittles.  Taste the rainbow.



Cherie, me, and Chanira.  We're tighter than 3LW.  With less substitutions, too.



Random action shot..




To: straight boys everywhere
From: straight girls everywhere
Re: club etiquette

Dear Sirs:

Kindly introduce yourself and ask permission to dance with us.  Don't just take the sense of entitlement that our society has given you and run with it.  It's not a good look for anyone.

Exhibit A: "Where is the eject button?"


(Gross.)


Less gross = Laker colors!



Where do all the lonely people go when the party's over?



"Eff this, I got something better at home."



Cherie had a great time, which was the main point of the night.

My ladies pretty much owned the dance floor.  Surprise, surprise.

My body hated me for the next three days.  Apparently, running/lifting/hooping has nothing to do with electric sliding in high heels.

Generally speaking, the people there were carefree, respectful, and just there to have a good time.  This does not include yellow shirt guy from Exhibit A.

Overall, it was a great night. 

I have one more final, Friday morning.. So for now, it's time to put away the boogie shoes and put on my my my my my thinking cap.

Over and out!

Good news.. I got the fieldwork placement I wanted for Spring 2009!

Long story short.. I'll be in Ghana for two weeks in March 2009 through my program at USC with about 30 other students. 

We'll be at Mephibosheth Training Center.


In Ghana, people who are disabled are considered "cursed". They believe someone in their family broke a taboo to cause the disability. Sometimes the family is advised to leave the disabled person in the bushes and let nature take its course. Some parents cannot do this, so they make sure their child has some food and clothing. They may not be able to afford to send all their children to school, and not realize the importance of educating those with handicaps.

Our goal is to to equip disabled children to become productive members of society and share God's love for them and their families.

Our center will house children from the age of 3 and up. Since the average level of education in Ghana is 6th grade, the children will achieve that level or as close as possible if they are mentally challenged. After they finish their studies, they will learn a trade so that they will not be forced to beg.

"Neither this man or his parents sinned", said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." -- John 9:3

I'm so excited for this program.. I know that I have a lot to do (and a lot to learn) before March, but I can't wait!!! 

I'm rounding the final turn and heading down the home stretch of this semester..

This week:
-2 presentations
-2 scholarship/grant applications due
-1 take-home assessment due

Next week:
-1 presentation
-1 final paper due
-2 final exams

I'm ready for anything, just like this kid.

So last night, I went out with my ladies (and Greg.. and Dion..) to celebrate Shakari's 22nd.  We pop-locked it in the hotel room for a little bit and then headed over to Boulevard 3. 

I normally don't do the Hollywood thing (ride in traffic.. finally find a spot to park.. walk and try to avoid hoot'n'hollerers.. wait in line.. find out you're in the wrong line.. finally get in.. pay a cover charge.. walk into the club and realize you must have at least $40 worth of fun for the night to be worth the trouble.. and realize that you're wearing more clothing and less makeup than most of the other women around you.. no thanks).. but this whole evening was actually pretty fun.  I'm sure the hotel and VIP entry helped with that.  Here are a million pictures.

The birthday girl.



Question: Do my ladies run this mutha...?
Answer: Hell yeah.



Don't stare too hard.
(Porsha, Shakari, Veronica)



Greg is one lucky man.



Oh, were there boys in that club?  We didn't even notice.
(Me, Noel, Porsha, Joy)



Hahaha classy, V.



Our annual Mariko-kisses-Porsha's-cheek picture.  2007: here.



Tick-tick-tick-tick fight.



Long story short.. you got served.



No Diggity.



We make the world go round..



Welcome to the party life.




"A diva is NOT a female version of a hustla.  WTF, Beyonce?"
--Porsha, frustrated at Beyonce's confident yet erroneous definition.


"Oh thank GOODNESS, she has rhythm!" 
---random guy, excited to learn that some pretty girls can dance too.


"Mmmph." 
---Shakari, in response to my "goodbye" back at the hotel.


I rarely wear heels.  I was okay all night, in terms of not falling on my face or turning an ankle.  Keep in mind that these were like 1.5" heels, which is about as high as I can go if I want to feel safe.

Anyway.. This morning, I woke up and I was sore all over.  I seriously feel like I just played 5 basketball games in a row.  To all the women out there who go out to battle in stilettos.. daily.. wow.  You have my respect.  Or at least a little bit of awe.


All in all, it was a highly entertaining night.. I only got about 3 hours of sleep (totally my own fault for not going home instead of clocking in some wifey time).. but it was definitely worth it.  It's pretty much impossible to go wrong with good music, old friends, a carefree attitude, and a reason to celebrate. 

Shakari.. you are beautiful.  I couldn't be prouder to have you as a little sister. 

(That's my girrrrl.)