I am boycotting Quizno's for life!

The tittle pretty much sums it up...
So my dear friend, Santos - who I have to say is quite the bargainer- found this coupon online where you could get any regular sub for free at Quizno's. Of course we planned our strategy. There is one Quizno's in the student center here at UCI. So, we agreed on meeting in front of the student center, brought sides - she brought chips and I brought some veggie leftovers from the day before- and she was getting water and I brought a small bottle of juice. With this plan, we didn't need to spend a cent there, have an awesome free lunch, talk for a little bit and walk back to lab. While we are standing in the big line at Quizno's we read a small sign in front of the cashier that read: "Sorry, we do not accept any coupons". At that point our little hearts just shattered, our master plan was ruined and we were pissed. We've been wanting do this and take advantage of the system in these shitty economy times!! We only had like 45 minutes to eat before going to lab, so with much sadness we dropped our idea of free lunch and stayed in line to buy a stupid sandwich. We automatically assumed that maybe cuz this was a Quizno's that was part of the student center, maybe not everything applied there. So fine we ate there.

Unfortunately, it doesn't end here... Next day comes, and we are even more determined to get the free sandwich that we felt entitled to. We decided to go to another Quizno's at the Bluffs - a small food center in Newport Beach. Since we were being all cheap, we decided to walk there (maybe a 15 min walk?). While we are leaving we decided to better call and make sure they were accepting the infamous coupon. Because if I would've walked there and couldn't get my free sandwich, there would've been the first Newport Beach masacre!
So, we get the number, call, and some one picks up the phone. I was able to only say: "Hi, do you guys accept..." Bitch interrupts me without even being done with the question, and says: "Sorry ma'am we don't" and hung up. Big WTF!!! So at this point I am so obsessed with getting my free sandwich that I called the other Quizno's around (for this one we would've had to drive), and of course: "no, we don't". So we ended up not getting our free sub, and in one of the attempts we even had to pay for one. Never going there again. Why even advertise this stupid coupon if no restaurant will accept it? Was that a shitty corporate strategy to get us to go there? Ughhh! Thank God that night, Santos (always reliable) found a coupon for 2 free tacos at Jack in the Box. We went, got 2 tacos, got some fries and had an awesome junk food date. Jack was our savior for the week, and we know we can always count on him.

New Haircut!

I decided to keep the dark color, although this one is a lot darker... and is back to short-short. Maybe for the summer I will go back to the dirty blonde.

I support gay marriage...

...So for those of you who don't know, I am married. And for those of you who may question my orientation, I am straight. Yes, I support gay marriage and I don't believe in discrimination. I don't think us or any religion can impose our/their believes in they way they love. Being married is a right and not a privilege. This past summer I had the opportunity to go to a rally against proposition 8. This proposition takes away the civil right from gay men and women to marry in California. Unfortunately, the California voters passed this proposition and many gay marriages are now up in the air. The campaign for yes on this proposition was sponsored by many religious groups, specially the mormons. Their ads were intentionally made to scare ignorants and religious people with how straight marriages needed protection from gay marriages, and the way to pretct them was voting yes. WTF with all that bullshit about needing protection for straight marriages?? Please, the only thing we need protection from is divorce! How can divorce be legal and gay marriage not? I still ask myself this question everytime I hear something related with banning gay marriages in California. And I have to say, coming from a very strict/religious background were even wearing earrings is bad (trust me I am not that way anymore), I understand the point of view of so many. Also, as a scientist I understand the concept of what is supposed to be "natural". But this doesn't affect any of us, only the gay community and they should have the same rights all citizens, and tax payers have. Some one you know, someone you care about, maybe someone in your family is gay... hell maybe your kid could be gay... Don't you wish for them to have the same civil rights that all of us have? Don't you want them to be happy? Please watch the video below, it really touched me and hopefully it will touch you.







"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Remembering...

Remembering... that's what I've been doing all day, instead of working on and practicing my talk. I feel a little nostalgic when I remember college days. Life was so different, so easy. I love remembering the friendships made, friendships that will survive a lifetime. Every year, we get together in December, and remember our college days together at a local beach near our Alma Mater. Each and everyone of them will always have a special place in my heart, no matter how far we are.

I really don't like Sarah Palin and keep finding reasons to dispise her

I love animals and think this is a bad idea

http://www.cvma.net/

This proposal could add approximately 9% to the cost of veterinary care. Many animals won’t get the necessary medical care and treatment they deserve because veterinary services will be more expensive. Pets are part of our families and a lot of families are already facing financial hardship in this weak economy. Increasing the cost of veterinary care will only lead to more animals being abandoned, or euthanized. It’s not fair for your pets to suffer because the state cannot balance its budget.

Random Things About Me

1. When I was little I had an imaginary doctor's office in my bedroom, I also had records of all my patients (dolls of course)
2. I am very close to my parents, eventhough we have arguments all the time... maybe cuz we're very much alike. I adore my gradparents
3. I use to play basketball in the high school team, people seem surprised about this. My dear youngest brother taught me how to play.
4. My dad had a heart transplant when I was 6, still a living miracle.
5. I always fear the day my parents die.
6. I LOVE to eat, and I eat like a man. I also, used to be VERY skinny.
7. I took piano lessons from 3rd to 4th grade. I quit, after a whole year of complaining... they were on Saturdays afternoon, and I couldn't play outside.
8. In kindergarten I had a major crush on a little Chinese boy that use to kick me all the time. Asians are a rare thing in PR. I still remember him clearly.
9. I love getting tanned and I think I know how to do it very well without getting burned.
10. I constantly dream about living in Europe.
11. I've taken couple years of French, I can write and read it. I'm not that great at speaking it.
12. Cheese is my favorite all time snack, with orange juice after.
13. I hold grudges and I am very resentful. I also try to get even.
14. I am extremely organized, and I like labels, containers and color-coding. I also have a mild OCD.
15. I really like shopping and trends. People always ask me for advice on what to wear, haircuts and stuff like that.
16. I am a very bad decision-maker. I also go to grad school for PhD in Biology. (hahaha)
17. I read Twilight and like how it made me feel like a teenager all over again.
18. I have a very special niece and cousin that remind me of me when I was younger. They are my two dearest. Sometimes I think they are my own children.
19. I was very popular in high school.
20. My mom's side of the family came from Italy.
21. I used to like dogs a little bit, but was very disgusted by their smell. Now I have 2 puppies and I'm always cleaning poo.
22. I am very good with kids.
23. Secretly, I want to be a housewife. (not so secretly anymore)
24. I read PerezHilton.com every day.
25. I rarely remember my dreams.

...and I'm back....

So, I am finally back! I've been back from my Christmas vacation awhile ago but I just intentionally put my blog in the back burner for all these weeks. While I had decided to have a blog and made a duty to keep it regularly up to date, all these time I just didn't want to write. But not for the lack of not having anything to write, or because I was lazy or much less because I was busy... no, I was just mentally stuck and couldn't write my thoughts or feelings. I had it in the back of my head all along, but just kept shushing that little voice over and over again. I think I was just homesick, and missing my family and the warmth of my island and maybe it was this sadness that made me feel numb and nostalgic. I had such a great time there, and the fact that I spent some quality time with my parents, specially my dad really gives me great satisfaction. I also spent a lot of time with my hubby, it was the longest I've ever been with Irvin without any interruption... 24/7 together, and we made it :).

Well, back to reality... and back to lab. I was having the most unpleasant experience in lab after coming back. I was depressed, unmotivated and very negative about everything science-related. It was like academically I had hit a wall. I don't know what happened, but all the fears and insecurities came back with the new year... maybe the fact that I was about to give my yearly "progress" seminar and a committee meeting had something to do with all this. I hope it goes well, cuz I really feel worried about the outcome of all this. I tried to have a positive attitude and thinking, but it is a really hard thing to do when you have been negative your whole life. And most, specially since my thesis project is not that promising anymore. We'll see how it goes. I will most likely write about how it went...