Monday, May 6, 2013

Blog 16 – Blogging


         The moment I first learned we were going to be required to keep a blog, I thought to myself, “Oh great! This is just my luck!” I wasn’t too big on the idea because I’m very insecure about my writing skills, and the thought of others being able to read my work terrified me. I only wanted to be evaluated by my instructor not the whole class. I didn’t really enjoy having to do it but it was something I forced myself to get used to.
            I’m certain I don’t want to continue with the blog after this class because I don’t like to be this public. I enjoyed reading many of the blogs but to name a few the ones titled: Sandra Magallanes, Britany Arce, and Just Bloggin’ it, were some that I liked. I didn’t have access to certain blogs for some reason so it felt like I was forced to comment on the same ones over and over. The experience overall was different and beneficial in a way, because knowing that others were going to be reading my work encouraged me to want to do a better job. I felt everyone in the class had their own unique ways of expressing themselves and they were great at it. The the only thing I would like to say to them is “high five!” because this was one tough class and we all got through it.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Blog 15 - Punk Rock Bowling


       

            In May 2011 I took a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada for their annual Punk Rock Bowling music/bowling festival, and it was seriously one of the most awesome things I’ve ever experienced. I drove out there with my friends Shantal, Daniel and Anthony, on May 27, for four nights and five days. That was who was in our car but we had actually gone out there to meet up with over 30 other friends as well. I bought my tickets 3 months in advance, so the time until then was such torture, but when the day finally came I was so hyper and excited to arrive. We had gotten a room a block from the strip, at Safari Sam’s, where the bowling tournaments took place. When we got there we unpacked a little and got ready for the night. Although, we weren’t on a team, we bowled a few games on our own, drank a little and met up with our other friends.
The second night we were there was when the first show took place. There were over 60 bands playing combined in all three days, but the main attractions this night were Dropkick Murphys and Stiff Little Fingers. On the third night I got to see Descendents and Me First & the Gimme Gimmes and on the fourth night I got to see Cock Sparrer and Agnostic Front. Going to the shows each night was just the gist of my fun experience. I had been to Vegas many times as a minor, but since this was my first time going while over the age of 21, I wanted to make it a point to do as much as I could. During the day I gambled, had a few margaritas, I went to Little Italy and went a boat ride, I went to a wax museum, I did some shopping and I ate a ton. To add to all of that there were over 200 bowling teams and the team representing Oxnard, CA made it to the top 10. This whole weekend could not have been more epic. 

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Blog 14 – Three Important People



            I could sit here and tell you my parents and grandparents impacted my life greatly, but I think that’s a give-in. I looked a little further than just my immediate family and decided on three people that I feel genuinely helped to mold me into the person I am now.   
            My third grade teacher at Fred Williams Elementary, Mrs. Mastriano. From day one in her class, I despised everything about her and it. Her class room was unbelievably tidy and didn’t seem welcoming, especially to a third grader. She sat there on her stool in front of us as she introduced herself. She was a fairly large woman, in her sixties or seventies, with pasty skin, curly short, blond and gray hair, and she always wore khaki pants that didn’t cover her socks. I remember looking at her more like a drill sergeant rather than a teacher. She intimidated me and challenged me with her high expectations; after all I was only 8. I always begged my mom to let me stay home. I would pretend to be sick constantly to avoid going to school. As we walked in the hall ways, she would make us walk in a single file line and chant 123 hut! And if anyone was out of order they were scolded. At lunch time, while all the other kids were chatting and laughing with one another, she shadowed over us and made sure we told the school cooks please and thank you before and after every serving. Despite her lack of leniency, I look back on what the point of all of it was and I must admit I’m extremely thankful for it all. She showed me how to respect others, how to be grateful, she introduced me to manners, and how to show thanks.
            The second person that greatly impacted my life was not a very appealing or nice person, through my point of view. I’ll call her C, since I’ve chosen not to disclose her true name. I met C at 15 years old when I was in high school my sophomore year and she made it known immediately that she wasn’t huge on the idea of being my friend. She had barely learned my name and already the rumors rolled out of her mouth. She was a very large girl, with short curly brown hair, a big fat nose that dominated her face (really! there is no over exaggeration in this statement), a double chin, and she always breathed very heavily and never looked you in the eye when talking to you. We had the same group of friends in school and outside of school so I think she eventually learned to forcefully accept me because everyone else in the group had. She made my life a living hell for years upon years and no matter how many times I confronted her about the rumors she would deny every bit of it and I would forgive her. I finally found the courage to cut her out of my life entirely when I turned 22. I would love to thank her for teaching me to stand up for myself, teaching me to speak up, and how not to stress the small stuff. Her actions taught me how to be a genuine friend to the friends I have, because I knew I wanted to be nothing like her.
            The last person I’ve had the privilege of having in my life is my good friend Anthony. He’s a super chill individual, almost 6 foot, dark brown hair, tan skin, thin, fit, tattoos, honey colored eyes, large lips, nose and ears, which may seem odd but aren’t because it all really fits him. He had the patience to teach me how to play the drums and he introduced me to animals. My family was never big on pets so I didn’t grow up knowing how to love an animal. When I met Anthony he introduced me to his dogs and cat, however, I must admit I was a little standoffish, they eventually grew on me. Now because of him I am able to play an instrument, I adopted a dog and named him Ernie, I have a fat cat named Dee, a kitten named Clam Chowder, two turtles one named Stella and the other named Timmy, and at one point I even had a bunny named Ollie. 

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Blog Wk 13 My Pizza Joint!



Toppers Pizza Place! Need I say more? I’m obsessed with Toppers Pizza not only because of the great tasting pizza but also because of the salads, garlic bread, oven baked pasta, dessert, beer and subs. I don’t think I’ve ever had pizza this good and this fresh anywhere else. The customer service is also very good, and the salad bar is always stocked and fresh. I’ve had people tell me they’ve had better but I personally feel Toppers Pizza is by far the best. They serve award winning pizza and have several varieties you can choose from, so I’m positive there is something for everyone. Even though I don’t eat pork or beef, I still have a huge selection of veggies to choose from and chicken. I normally go with the BBQ Chicken Pizza they offer or their Vegetarian Combination pizza.
Those of us that live in Oxnard are lucky to have three convenient locations to choose from and our neighboring cities each have one. Each location has great ours of operation, arcade games to keep kids entertained, and screen TV’s that normally have a sports game on, depending on the season. Eight different pizzas and subs are offered, and if your pizza isn’t on the menu you can, of course, build your own. I really like that the environment is also very family friendly and inviting.
On top of all those great things I mentioned above, one of the best things about Toppers is that it is locally owned and they do things to support our local community. I think the pizza can get a little pricey but I much rather support them than Dominoes, Pizza Hut or Little Caesars. The price is completely worth it to me. Those of you who haven’t had the privilege of trying their pizza, you definitely have to put it on your to do list. 

Monday, April 8, 2013

Blog Entry Week 12 - FFN


           I don’t even know where to begin expressing how I feel about the in depth information I read in Fast Food Nation. So much of it truly turned my stomach and it made me question a lot of things about the food we consume. My diet hasn't consisted of pork or beef for 8 years and I must say I’m extremely proud of myself for eliminating it from my diet. It’s horrible how disgustingly crooked the cattle industry is all for the sake of making profits. They feel no remorse in putting bad product out there to be consumed, and what’s worse is what they send to schools for the children.
            I love how forward the author was in describing every aspect of where the food in fast food restaurants comes from. After reading this book, I feel like I don’t even want to eat fast food chicken or fries anymore because I fear they might be cooked with beef fat or artificial beef flavoring. I wish I had time to create a garden and cook more so that I knew exactly where my food came from. One thing I know for sure is that I will definitely only eat at fast food restaurants as a last resort. I don’t eat out much now because it can get expensive but I will definitely eat out even less after reading this book.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Blog Entry Week Eleven – School


The truth I posted last week was number two: I’m really into Alfred Hitchcock films.

            I’m currently enrolled in eight units at Oxnard College, consisting of a statistics class and an English composition class. This is my second part time semester at OC. Prior to attending OC I attended Ventura College from 2007 – 2009 then graduated in 2009 with my A.S. in Accounting. I’m really regretting not following the correct curriculum, at VC, in order to transfer to a four year school. When I started in 2007 I was very motivated but towards the end I just wanted to finish. I was over it but didn’t want to take a semester off because I felt I would never go back if I did. I neglected to take to necessary courses to transfer so as a result, now that I’m interested in transferring, I was forced to enroll at OC to finish my transfer requirements.
            Although, I wish I could transfer to a four year school already, I feel good to be back at school in general. I hate that at times I allow my personal life to take a major toll on me because it affects my school work so much. I’ve had to teach myself not to over think things in my life so that I can focus on what matters most, like my education. What bugs me the most about school right now is the amount of homework I have. I know it’s beneficial for me to do it so that I can get the most out of the class but sometimes it’s very difficult to juggle it with family and other personal things I would like to make time for. I also hate how understaffed the counseling/transfer center is at OC. Just about every time I’ve had to see a counselor I’ve had to wait over an hour and a half. I know all the homework and practice will be more than worth it in the end.
My parents could not be prouder of me for wanting to pursue more than a high school education and for setting an example for my brothers and sisters. I feel getting an education is going to open many doors in my life and I feel it’s the greatest investment I can make. My parents and feeling that way is what keeps me motivated. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Lie or Truth? You decide.

  1. I collect Star Wars memorabilia.
  2. I'm really into Alfred Hitchcock films.
  3. I have a one year old daughter.
  4. I was adopted.
  5. I enjoy eating delicacies.
  6. I got engaged at the age of 21. 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

My Future Duckling!

              I chose to comment on this video of a duckling chasing a man because I had a similar encounter. My encounter took place almost 5 years ago near Bubbling Springs Park in Port Hueneme. I was dropping off a friend at his house down the street from Bubbling Springs when all of a sudden we notice something peculiar in the middle of the street walking. I stopped right in front of his house then everyone in my car got out getting a closer look. As we got closer we realized it was a duck. We all looked at each other and wondered what it was doing in the middle of the street all alone. We decided it was most likely just walking back to the pond at the park which is inhabited by many other ducks. As we began to walk back to my car we heard a quack right behind us. The duck was following us to my car and even after we got in he tried to jump in. We all sat there in my car in shock and excitement. I finally said “Josh help him in”. He sat on Josh’s lap quacking non-stop as we drove him back to the pond. When we got to the park Josh put him on the ground near the pond and we began to walk away but once again there came the quacks. It turned out he didn’t want to stay; He wanted to stay with us.
                We tried a few methods to get him to stay, even running away, but nothing would change his stubborn little mind. After feeling bad we ended up hanging out with him until 3 A.M. It was such a great experience. He was such an amazing duck, full of so much character. All three of us took turns holding him and he walked on our laps as if he knew us since birth. He looked at us with such curiosity and even pecked lightly at our clothes and rubbed his head on us.  I almost want to say he belonged to someone since he seemed very domesticated and affectionate.
                The hours I spent with him were enough hours to convince me to want a pet duck. Unfortunately where I live now I don’t have a yard but one day I plan on moving to a place with a yard and when that happens I will own my first pet duck. The video I displayed off of Youtube.com was just super adorable in my opinion. I hope it made everyone smile. 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Blog Wk 8 - Change of Heart


Change of Heart
            I absolutely hated whenever my parent’s argued over money or over my dad not being there enough. There were countless times that I would wake up from a deep sleep due to the shouting of curse words flowing out of my parent’s mouths and doors slamming. As a child I lay there in my bed wishing and hoping it would all come to an end for good. I despised my dad for choosing substance abuse over the well-being of his family. Always promising us the world knowing he would turn around and continue on with his binge. I was tired of not having him there at such a crucial age. I wanted him to stay out of prison for good, to stop with his heroin addiction and to stop being a thief. Every time he was released from the county jail or prison, after not having seen him for so long, it put a smile on our faces. My brothers, sisters and mom would run to him full of joy and excitement. He would stay loyal to us for a while then end up back on the same old route eventually. I loved him when he was sober; He was so much fun and very smart.
            I was somewhat of a latchkey kid since my mom usually worked to pay our rent and my dad was hardly there. When I hit my teens I began to rebel against my parents. I recall one day in particular when I came home drunk at the age of 15 and my dad was furious with me. I shouted at him “Why do you even care?! All of a sudden because you’ve been out of prison for a year you think you have a saying in what I do?!” At this very moment my relationship with my dad changed forever. My words stung him so bad that I could see him deteriorate before my eyes. I think he saw how much of an example he was setting for me and the rest of his children. I’m not going to say our interaction that night motivated him to change but I like the idea of thinking that it pushed him a little.
            My dad stayed out of prison and gave up his old gang member and drug addict lifestyle since I turned 14. There were some days I could see he wanted to give up because his transition from the negative lifestyle he had to a productive, positive lifestyle was not an easy task. Seeing his struggle and seeing him not give up has inspired me so much. To get back into the work field he took a minimum wage job in Camarillo as a janitor but has worked his way up in their quality assurance department. Now he makes triple the amount from when he first started and works 6 days a week. I’m not making up excuses for all the wrong he did but I do feel he has been rehabilitated.
My change of heart didn’t come smoothly and right away but as I matured I was able to understand him more. We now are closer than ever and I go to him with every problem I encounter. In my opinion he couldn’t be greater. For any people out there that has someone in their life that lives a similar lifestyle as my dad once did just know that my dad is living proof that it is never too late. 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Blog Wk 7 - My First Priority


My immediate family consists of 7 including me. My family as a whole is pretty large though. I have many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and my only living grandparent. I was never able to meet my dad’s mom because we lost her to breast cancer before I was born. I was able to meet my mom’s parents though and got to spend a lot of time with them up until they passed away in 2005. Growing up I remember spending a lot of time with my cousins running around my grandma’s house like wild animals; sometimes barefoot but always carefree. I’ve always been easily amused so growing up with the bare minimum didn’t seem to bother me. The move from my grandparents to our own house was very exciting. I finally got to experience what it was like to have a little privacy, despite sharing a room with my sisters. We moved to a 3 bedroom house from all 7 of us living in a tiny trailer on my grandparents drive way so of course a little privacy came along with the new environment.
When I got into my teens a lot changed not only with my physical appearance but with my personality and attitude. I must admit I was probably very difficult to deal with at times. In regards to my family I started to alienate myself from them because I had come to the conclusion that my friends were more important to me. I would spend countless hours on Yahoo’s chat messenger or on the telephone talking to them and ignoring my own siblings. When I turned 15 I “fell in love” with a boy I met at a local show so along with that came more distance from my family.  I missed out on a lot of things such as birthday parties, holiday events and family gatherings because I opted out from going so I could spend more time with my boyfriend and friends. My mom never made me participate and my dad was in and out of prison at the time so I didn’t see him as an authority figure.
Some things that happened to me along the way made me realize my friends weren’t always going to be there for me so it was selfish and ridiculous of me to have that mentality. Whenever anything traumatic happened to me my family was always the most supportive. Now as a 25 year old I put my family first for everything. I constantly look forward to spending time with them and creating awesome memories. I regret not always feeling this way because it made me miss out on way too much. Out of all the friends I put before them I think only 2 remain in my life because the others gradually proved to me I didn’t matter. I love the relationship I currently hold with my parents and siblings. I will never make them 2nd in my life again. 

Student Interview


Life as Luiz Leon
I had the privilege of recently interviewing Luiz Leon in my Wednesday English Composition class at Oxnard College. He had a great personality and was very confident in answering my questions. I learned that he was born on August 3, 1988 in Oxnard. His parents raised him, his 4 sisters and his only brother. Luiz attended Larson Elementary, Blackstock Jr. High, graduated in 2006 from Hueneme High School and mentioned he has been attending Oxnard College since 2006. At the end of this semester he will be graduating with an A.S in Liberal Arts. What motivates him to continue his education is to know that it will lead to a better job and greater opportunities. One motto he currently follows to accomplish things is to “not be lazy”. At the moment he attends OC Monday through Wednesday from 7 P.M. to 9:50 P.M. He likes that OC is so close to his house but does wish they would offer more classes.
He being able to live at home allows him to not have to juggle school, homework and family. Although, sometimes he would like to do other things but can’t because school can cause him to stress out. I asked if he had a mentor in his life and he answers with a smile “Yes, my dad. He always pushed me to do better”. When I asked how his culture affected his decision to attend college he said “I come from a Mexican background with parents that always worked outdoors. They pushed us to reach for more because they wanted more for us”.  
In 5 – 10 years he definitely hopes to have a good paying job with stability, a house, a family of his own and plans to do this all in Oxnard.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Learning the Value of a Dollar



I still remember the day I landed my first job as if it was just yesterday. This day could not have had more impact on my life. The day was Monday, July 5, 2004 that I landed my very first interview. I was 16 years old and had just finished up my junior year at Oxnard High School. I had been searching for a job since I first turned 16 in October of 2003 but had no luck because I had no experience. I applied just about everywhere that I knew was hiring. I found that I didn’t really enjoy high school so I wanted to take the work experience class they offered so that I could leave school early to work. I also come from a family of seven which includes my parents and four siblings; I wanted to be the first out of my siblings to get a job. My parents were not financially stable at the time and weren’t throughout my whole childhood so I wanted to contribute something rather than sit there and ask for things and want things I knew they could not afford. 
I had taken a home economics class during my junior year that gave us a lecture on how to land a job and proper work etiquette. I learned that you needed to show interest by calling the employer because they get a lot of applicants so calling them would help me stand out of the bunch. I wouldn’t overdo it on the phone calls because I also learned that a business can be busy and I didn’t want to annoy them. After applying and all the calls and hard work the day I landed my first interview finally came.
I wasn’t home on the Friday afternoon that Deanna from Subway called my house asking for me. I was out with my boyfriend at the time shopping but the minute I started walking up to my house my older sister Eileen and younger sister Vivian ran up to me holding a message written on a little piece of paper. Of course I asked “what’s going on?!” they continued to talk over each other for a moment because they were really excited for me. Finally Eileen said “A lady named Deanna called you from Subway and wants you to call her back! she wants to know if you’re still looking for a job”. I said “no way!!!” and I ran inside really nervous and excited and locked myself in my room to call her in private. I proceeded dialing the number with a shaky hand on my parents white phone with my heart pounding up to my throat. Three rings later I hear “thank you for calling Subway how may I help you?”  After my conversation with her I had an interview set for the very next Monday at 2 P.M. That whole weekend I remember being a nervous wreck and doing some research online for what to expect at my interview. I practiced how I would respond to the questions I thought she was going to ask me and prepared my outfit for the day.
When Monday finally arrived my mom drove me to my interview. I arrived a few minutes early so I waited in the lobby shaking and wiping my sweaty palms on my black pants. Finally the moment came when Deanna walked out of the back and called me into her tiny little office. Seeing her in person finally after only having talked over the phone was not what I expected. She was sort of heavy set with red hair and was younger then she sounded. I sat there with her as she asked me about my availability and questions about how I would handle certain situations. I was very intimidated because, although she was very friendly, she was also stern at times. After the interview she gave me a quick tour of the restaurant and then it all came to an end. That is until a few hours later when she called me to tell me she would love for me start working with them that week. I began working two days later.
My first day on the job was very nerve wrecking because I was afraid of not impressing my boss and my coworkers. I wanted to stay busy and ask a lot of questions to show them I was eager to learn and wanted to be there. Alberta Beall, the manager on staff at the time, trained me. She taught me the basics as to how to prep the veggies, where the supplies were, the types of bread and cookies we sold, the names of the sandwiches and how to prepare some of them. Making my first sandwich for a customer was very exciting for me. The customer could tell I was new and told me to take my time which I though was very nice. He made small talk with me as I somewhat struggled to make his sandwich. He asked how my first day was going so far and mentioned that I was doing great on his sandwich so for me not to be so nervous.
My parents were so proud of me for landing the job just as much as I was. I felt a sense of independence and accomplishment. From that point on I made it a point to give half of my paycheck every two weeks to my parents to help out with a utility bill. I absolutely hated to see them struggle financially or argue over money so I felt at 16 I should be old enough to do my part. They couldn’t have been more appreciative. Growing up I was never able to have the things I wanted so after my job it truly felt great to be able to save up for my own things or to walk into a store and buy that pair of jeans I wanted so much. I didn’t want my little sister and brother to grow up the way I did so I bought them a lot of things too. I always took them out for new shoes and clothes because I wanted them to look sharp all the time. I grew up wearing nothing but hand-me downs and had to wear my shoes until they honestly fell apart. I know it may sound materialistic of me but for once I wanted to have nice things.
I couldn’t be more grateful that Deanna saw potential in me and was willing to hire me without any previous experience. I kept that job throughout high school and was still able to keep very exceptional grades. Landing my first job at such a young age taught me a lot about myself. I knew at that point the true value of a dollar and the experience helped me grow up a little faster. Working in fast food also taught me that I knew I wanted an education so that I could find a way better job with much higher pay. I have had several jobs since and have worked consistently except for when I attended Ventura College full time in 2007. Overall, my first job definitely helped mold me so I will forever see that time as a beneficial experience for me. 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Texting!


            Yes I’m a texter and not ashamed to admit it. Texting has become a huge part of our era. I know it’s not the best way to communicate with someone but it’s honestly very addicting and convenient at times in my opinion. Sometimes I just have a quick question to ask someone and really don’t have the time to hold a conversation so I’ll text them. However, when I know I’m going to have several questions or a lot to say on the subject I try to call them instead.
 I got really into texting when I was out of high school. I wasn’t able to afford a cell phone during so I resorted to actually calling my friends on a land line or writing letters to them and passing it to them in between classes. I am now guilty of using letters for words or numbers for words and shortening words such as: ur for you’re, c for see, lol for laugh out loud, pics for pictures, 4 for for, u for you, etc.  
            People now seem to not want to be direct with the people they talk to so they resort to texting. Even though I do it I don’t agree with how it’s affecting the way we communicate so I try to forget about my phone at times especially when I’m out at an event or hanging out with friends. I find that it’s hard to not do it at times because I see it everywhere even at work. I doubt I will ever give up texting but I will work on limiting it to have more verbal conversations with the people in my life.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Reality TV = Junk


           I am guilty of watching reality shows but that’s not to say I keep up with one in particular. I rarely turn my television on to even watch the news because I find that I’m just way too busy. I think I watch about 30 - 45 minutes of TV a day and sometimes not even that in the day. It’s hard to avoid watching a reality show when you turn on the TV since there are so many of them now, they are on a lot of channels, we can access them online, through our phones and iPads. In the past I really only remember them being broadcasted on certain channels like MTV or VH1 but now I even see them on the History Channel, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. The reality shows on those channels are the only ones that ever catch my attention. I’m not into the drama filled shows at all. I’m more into the ones that will state facts and are somewhat educational.
            I really dislike the drama filled reality shows like 16 and Pregnant, The real world, any dating show, any show that involves competing, and the Jersey Shore, etc. I find it very disturbing when I turn on the news and they broadcast things about celebrities or reality stars. For that reason sometimes I don’t even want to watch the news. I feel like those shows could not be more pointless. In my opinion they give us false hope at times and lead us to believe certain things are acceptable in society just because a reality TV star is doing it. The only thing I think they are good for is to show us how disgusting, provocative and foolish some people are. I know that the shows I do watch can contain the drama as well but on the other hand they can be educational at times. For example the cast of American Pickers on the History Channel will give us the facts and history on any item they choose to purchase.
            I think overall society would benefit greatly if we had less of these shows because they make us fall out of actual reality. I do know some people that can’t get enough of these shows and when I ask why they watch the junk, they simply say “because it’s funny to see people look dumb on TV.” I guess it is all for the entertainment but every time we tune in we contribute to the reality stars paycheck which I think states we support their actions. The more time we spend watching them the less time we spend studying, reading, watching the news, taking up hobbies, or doing outdoor activities. I don’t have children but when and if I do have some I would pressure them not to rot their minds with senseless reality shows. I would encourage them to do some of the things I mentioned above. As for me, I feel I don’t overdo it when it comes to watching reality shows and that’s one thing I don’t plan to change.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Could Live Without Fast Food


          Growing up I don’t recall eating out much but not because I didn’t want to but because it was just something my parents could not afford to do on a regular basis. I was just like any other kid drawn into the television ads so whenever I was able to eat fast food it felt like I was receiving a huge gift. I had the privilege of eating out about once every two months. Although, I was getting the fast food, it’s not to say I was getting what I wanted as a kid. For example a kid’s meals with the toy since those things were much overpriced. As I got older and my parents became a little more financially independent I did notice the amount of times we ate out had grown from once every two months to twice a month at the most. As a kid, when we ate out, it was usually McDonald's and as I got older the list grew from Dominoes Pizza to Burger King. When I got into my teens we ate out even more. My mom just seemed to not want to cook as much. Then when I turned 16 I started working at Subway so I ate there a lot and due to having my own money I was able to control how many times I chose to eat out. From the time I turned 16 until I turned 17 I encountered 3 very disgusting experiences while eating out at fast food restaurants.

Encounter #1: While biting into a burger at McDonald's I bit into a little white rock of some sort. The whole idea of biting into something that should be 100% ground beef but also biting something hard that felt like a pebble ruined my appetite.

Encounter #2: I ordered some chili cheese fries from Tommy’s Burger and it was honestly like I had ordered a hair ball on the side. I stuck my fork in and pulled out over 5 strands of thick long black hair.

Encounter #3: I ordered a western bacon cheeseburger from Carl’s Jr. but when I got home I realized it was extremely cold. I didn’t want to go back and complain over the cold food so I thought I would heat it up. When I went to pull the patty out it had some grey gooey stuff all over it. I’m sure it was probably just cold fat but it was so unappealing to me that I just couldn’t bite into it.
With that said, shortly before I turned 17, I gave up red meat all together and gave up eating McDonald's 100%. I won’t even order a soda at McDonald's  I stuck to chicken, turkey, and fish but thought I would eventually give those things up as well. It was very difficult giving up red meat so abruptly. For a whole year of my life I never felt satisfied when I ate. My body always felt like something was missing but as time went on I eventually became used to my new diet. Giving up red meat has impacted the amount of times I eat out now since I feel somewhat limited in the options I have. If I end up at a fast food restaurant it’s of course strictly for a chicken salad or chicken sandwich with fries. Now that I live on my own I hardly eat out because I rather spend my money on shopping or buying things for the duplex I rent. I must admit though, when I do have one too many drinks I will end up at a drive through to buy things off of the dollar menu. I’ve now been red meat free and McDonald's free for almost 9 years.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Meet Me!


       My name is Christina Adame. I was born in Oxnard, CA to Samuel and Maria Adame. I’m the middle child with two brothers and two sisters. As a kid I remember being very shy with people I had just met until I became comfortable. My grandparents assisted my parents significantly in raising my siblings and me. I’m very thankful for that because it allowed me to learn Spanish since my grandparents were only Spanish speaking. I graduated from Channel Islands High School in 2005. During high school I did normal teen things while always keeping my grades up. I got really into music so I bought a drum set with the money I saved up from working at Subway. With the help from a friend I learned to play them. Soon after I graduated, I bought a car and began to work as a technician for Imation Corporation to pay it off. While working here I adopted a puppy and named him Ernie Ball, after Ernie Ball guitar strings. The minute I made my last payment on my car I left my job to start attending Ventura College full time. I was the first of my siblings to attend college and graduate high school. I started attending VC in 2007 and graduated with my A.S. in 2009. After that I had not considered transferring to another school so I looked for work. I was luckily finally able to move out of my parent’s home in 2011. In spring of 2012 I decided to go back to school to take the remaining necessary classes to transfer to a four year school. I also decided to start taking better care of my teeth this year and got braces.
            I currently work at Maxim Companion Services as their Personnel Coordinator. I have the greatest boss and I find my job super beneficial to my career. I rent a duplex out with a few roommates and 3 of my pets. I’m taking statistics and this English composition class to complete some of the requirements I need to transfer to a four year school. My typical week days consist of work, visiting with family, maintaining my home, walking Ernie, bills, orthodontic visits, homework, and school. On the weekends I do enjoy spending time with friends, playing music, shopping, having an occasional drink, attending concerts, and doing spontaneous things when I can afford it.
            As soon as I reach my transfer requirements I plan to transfer to Cal State LA that is if I get accepted. I would like to acquire my Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management. I plan on keeping my job at Maxim until I reach my bachelors then hopefully pursue something a little more challenging. I’m counting off the units for that goal and counting off the months to when I will finally be able to get my braces off. It’s definitely hard to tell further then the next 5 years, as to where I would like to be, but I would definitely love to have a career in human resources.