PHIDONG.COM . 5.0

I think Sam said it best in his journal:

Although I like to think that everyday is a chance for new beginnings, an opportunity to create and change... the New Year stands as a symbol for improvement and refinement.

Sometimes I wonder I take advantage of all of the opportunities given to me. Honestly, I think I've fallen into a lull and have been taking every new day for granted. At the beginning of last week, I decided it was time that imports@uci got a new beginning. I promptly took the website down and put up the splash page you are likely to encounter when you click on the link. I worked on it for a good two days before Christmas came around. Christmas for me was good. Good because I got to get my mind off of things and good because I got what I wanted. Well, to be completely honest, I already had everything I could ever want/need before gifts were ever exchanged, so Christmas was good, but the ending of this year as good to me as well.

This week has been a week of growth and rebirth. My sleep schedule is all fucked up. I've been waking up at 6PM and going to sleep at 11AM. I've been pretty unproductive as well, but who can blame me when it rains this much? This week more or less summarizes this year, 2004, up for me. I mean.. it seems like I've really taken the time for granted. "Everyday is a chance for a new beginning", yet I haven't even made the effort to start anew.

So let it begin. A couple days ago I decided to continue work on the site when I found my computer wouldn't let me connect to FTP at all. Impulsively , I decided to reformat the thing. A fresh start for a new year... or something like that.

There is one thing that the new year does give us. Its not about making resolutions, but its a marker of time for us to look upon and reflect upon our year. To see what we accomplished and failed at. Where we grew or if we grew up at all.

So I bring to you, my readers, the best of 2004 .

The most memorable moment of 2004
Wow. Compared to last year, things seem to be completely lackluster. Its been a dull year, but one of the moments that definitely stand out to me is the fact that I met a lot of good people and made a lot of connections. I got close to some of the people I consider to be my good friends this year and while it can't exactly be summed up in a single refined moment, I feel like it should be mentioned.
Runner up: Meeting my true love. Sorry you had to be second

The greatest purchase of 2004
Its crazy. Last year I listed my Canon Digital Rebel as the greatest purchase of 2003. In almost pattern-like fashion, this year the greatest purchase I probably made was the upgrade from my Rebel to the 20D. After only a year of owning the Rebel, it was time to let it go. I sold it at a 400 dollar loss and bought my new baby and I haven't looked back ever since.

2004 was a year of growth for me. I learned a lot about photography and myself. The Rebel guided me through most of the year, but the 20D kind of shadowed the path of my life, ending the year on a strong note. It was a purchase that I probably will never forget.
Runners up : I want to say my iPod, but I got that for free.

Best movie of 2004
I didn't nearly watch as many movies this year as I did last year. Fearing getting owned by the MPAA (just kidding), I watched most of my movies in the theatres. The best movie of 2004 though.. this will be tough. I'm going to have to say Man on Fire . It wasn't as much about the movie being superb as who I watched it with.
Runners up : Shrek 2, Garden State, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Ocean's Eleven, Fight Club (I just watched them this year, ok? )

Biggest Accomplishment of 2004
Wow. I really think it has to go to my developments in photography. I started off 2004 really as a n00b and grew to where I am today. Some people won't believe that I've only been into photography since last September, but its true. I think getting to a level where I am content with my own work to a point where I don't have to show people is a big accomplishment for me. I wish I could look on this year and say the same thing I said last year (accomplishments in school) because I really nose-dived, but I'm still somewhat proud about poetry, being able to change someone's mind about who I am and where I am headed.
Runner up : Launching the newest version of phidong.com

Best SONG of 2004
You know what? It has to be this. This has to be against the rules , it isn't a new song, but then again last year I talked about classical music, which isn't exactly new either. Binary Star - Honest Expression takes the title.
Runner Up : Last Emporer - Secret Wars

Random stuff:
Best Drink - Pepsi (two years in a row! )
Suckiest Thing - School. I need to focus..

Thats this year summed up. I look forward to next year. Let this moment be the moment we use as a reference for growth and improvement but don't forget that everyday is an opportunity to change who you are. Happy new year guys. arty:

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I think I have found my true love. More info coming soon!

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I know what I'm doing this weekend.

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I typed out a long ass journal but then my internet went down and while I was leeching my neighbor's internet, the power went out causing me to lose everything. I'll sum it up in pictures and few words.

My ipod came in from freeipods.com on my bday


I got CD-rs (120) from a forum contest I miraculously won

The only thing keeping me up is knocking pins down (with good friends). Bowled with John, Dan, Zach. Got my first turkey after throwing the first three frames away playing around. Then got 3 more turkeys after (got 6 strikes in a row), ended up with a 194.

Berfday dinner was great. Thanks to all my good friends for making it out. That is all.

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I don't know if I could have scripted it any better. A cinderella story, with a twist. I started off this quarter on horrible footing, never got anything together and slacked off. I turned my head from the signs I was getting, people pushing me forward and then suddenly I was at the edge of a cliff. I had reached a point of no looking back and instead of leaping to the other side, I tumbled down. The twist? The story doesn't end with a crowning acheivement of victory at the end.. it simply says, " Welcome to reality "

It sucks for me that even with my back against the wall, that I curled into a ball and gave up. Instead of standing up to adversity and fighting a battle where the odds were up against me, I crumbled and failed. I got my MAE final grade back today, in an e-mail. Perfect timing, with it being the celebration of my day of birth and all. I keyed in my ID code and searched and the screen scrolled down to my name along with line of numbers. I glanced over and saw it. No way. There is no way I'm getting anything higher than an F in this class.

I don't know what to do. Where to go. Who to run to. All I have is myself. I am determined to turn things around, to change everything... if they'll give me a chance.

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Its my birthday. I'm 20, but I feel no different than when I was 19.

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I can't say that things have been 100% good or all bad, but for the most part things have been going in the negative direction over the last couple of weeks. I still manage to hold on to the small amount of hope that I have left and try to look forward at the positive things in life. If I can't help myself, how am I supposed to expect others to help me?

When there is no motivation, nobody to push you.. you only have hope, and yourself.

In the midst of darkness there is a glimmer of light.

Today it is the fact that my iPod shipped out.

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I've been so bad. I decided to start my break a little bit early, now I'm a little bit behind. I can't wait until Friday. Things will feel so good.

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Imports@UCI was the greatest waste of time, ever. I'm ready to move on. Its me time now from here on out.

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I lost my wallet sometime on Thursday between Taco Bell with John, studying at the Science Library, and bowling later that night. On Friday someone called my mom and told her they had the wallet. They said they were from the UCI PD. My mom got confused and told them I didn't live at home anymore (she thought it was for my sister). I went to the UCI PD after my sister informed me about it and they said there was no wallet. I filed a report so that if soemthing did turn up, I would be informed.

When I got home, I checked my mom's phone and called the number back to make sure it was UCI PD and not Irvine PD. It was. The guy said to come back on Monday because the Administration Offices were closed when I called and would be closed all weekend so today when I arrived at the UCI PD I expected to finally get my wallet back. I spoke to the lady and she left for about 5 minutes. When she came back she told me she thought I said someone called. I told her someone did...

Heres where it gets confusing. Someone definitely called my mom from UCI PD on Friday morning. I came in and filed a report on Friday afternoon. She says theres only a log of my wallet being reported missing on Friday afternoon and no log of it ever coming in. How did they call?

Either way, I'm going to renew my license now (it expires on December 13, 2004....), cancel my credit cards and atm cards, and get a new insurance card. I already had a duplicate student ID, but I'll probably get another one so I can go to the ARC when I forget my wallet or when I take a final, etc. Good thing for me everything is expiring this year because I'm turning 20. I hope no one stole my credit cards and put up a huge tab for me..

In brighter news, they were giving Sobe Energy drinks on ring "mall" today. I got two. This should keep me up to study.

Edit: Ok. I have my new insurance card. I filled out a renewal for my Driver's license, which I am going to send out tomorrow and I'll cancel all my credit cards tomorrow, make a deposit at the bank and pay off their balances as well. Go me.

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Unfortunately... I've just been busy. School is going decently. Its amazing how easy classes are when you attend lectures, something I should've done more of.

I have my MAE30 Final on Monday, my Poetry portfolio due on Wednesday and then my Math 2J Final on Friday, all nice and spread out.

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