How I Spent My Year 2012

I've spent a lot of my time this year focusing on myself. Taking a step back, looking at the good times I cherish, and the hard times that humbled me. I've been putting it together to see how all of that has affected who I am today.

I'm gaining a much better understanding of myself now. I really starting to understand what makes me tick, what inspires me to take bold steps, and what kind people/things hold me back.

I think know the right formula for me to move on (at least I think I do). I just have to put it all together.

A big part of that formula is getting my career back on track. Because when I have financial freedom, I can go out and spend more time with people that inspire me.

That's why my career has been my top priority for the past year.

Anyways, without any further ado, for my 9th straight year, here is my annual survey.

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How I Spent My Year 2010

I don't expect you guys to read all of this...but I hope you take the time to answer this survey yourselves just to reflect on the past year. If you do this, answer truthfully and with meaningful answers that you can look back on several years from now; it's amazing to look back on how you've grown.

This is my 8th straight year of doing this, and it's an absolute TRIP looking back and my old posts. Anyways, here it is.

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Thank you, everyone!!

Thank you, everyone, for all the birthday wishes! I feel so young turning 21 again for the 7th straight year! My phone would NOT stop buzzing all day cuz of all the @replies, facebook notifications, tumblr posts and text messages...birthdays like yesterday remind me how blessed I am.

  • _melistar
  • 9natran
  • adrian
  • adrieee
  • ajiiizzzle
  • akachrisTOPS
  • akbdc
  • alexjohn
  • aline-m
  • and0n
  • andykim84
  • anita-jose
  • anthong
  • ari
  • arielmariee
  • ashish patel
  • auroraempire
  • b0otayx3
  • babytoes81
  • bing87
  • bm-photography
  • bored44
  • briceorbryce
  • bkeeeezy
  • cathy-nguyen
  • cedricjoshua
  • chaaaany
  • charlenedang
  • chrisanne
  • christina-b
  • christina-luna
  • christinieweenie
  • cindyboo
  • confidential
  • cookiemunstarr
  • cristie suzukawa
  • cristina-dg
  • da1flipguy
  • dad
  • dailo
  • dajark
  • danielszetho
  • danitokyo
  • darweeenie
  • david-choi
  • dee-celera
  • dessiegirl
  • devinxrenee
  • djblinks
  • djmajik202
  • DoctorRico
  • donnaaa
  • dreamingoutloud
  • droidoid
  • eddieparas
  • eddymyla
  • eelyajekim
  • elisa
  • erniesbudolab
  • ey_mikz
  • farsid3pin0y
  • fizzi
  • flipgal77
  • francisrochino
  • FTWSammie
  • FUNK_CHINK
  • gabeezy
  • genix
  • goldylox
  • goshNicole
  • gotkatzy
  • h20ballz
  • halfsensed
  • hayleigh
  • hayley watson
  • hazeldb
  • henry-s
  • heyitsthatgirl
  • heylisajue
  • hollisterloser
  • hollykins
  • hsustyle
  • huskyboydrew
  • hypnoticasia
  • iiamjelly
  • iknowrenato
  • imjenni
  • ImVeryActive
  • ira-dg
  • itsCHELLAbaby
  • itsjonsense
  • itstoofragile
  • j0anne
  • jackielyn
  • jacraig34
  • janicexp
  • janiise
  • janne
  • janNYC
  • jaypwnsyou
  • Jdiep08
  • jenny-suk
  • jer0meskee
  • jgibs
  • jimb0
  • jimmychenpiano
  • JJANGNAH
  • joeescobar
  • jonchaniscool
  • jonjcp
  • joseph-diaz
  • josephvincent
  • JSQUARED
  • jtam7992603
  • julianna_amerie
  • juliannemariee
  • kabannaboyroy
  • kame88
  • karolangcaco
  • kat-blanco
  • kathleen-santiago
  • kaydeex3
  • kevinbognot
  • kim-o
  • kirsten-p
  • kishan
  • konradthompson
  • kris-cunanan
  • krismark
  • krystalderosas
  • krystovalina
  • kulayberde
  • Kuya
  • KuyaDeejay
  • ladykitay
  • lifeisfilm08
  • lilbearpeachie
  • linhmonster
  • LionGali
  • loval
  • lpina
  • marichris1
  • marinakamel
  • markque
  • marlo_t
  • marnz
  • maykimagination
  • meganfromTC
  • meggggan
  • melissa-v
  • melvinsings
  • micahmarie
  • michael-tajon
  • michellepark
  • mirtheous
  • misschanto
  • mizzamanda
  • mom
  • mquerol
  • mrfuijikicker
  • msclumsiee
  • mynameisroth
  • nadsmustafa
  • nannerzz
  • natlielatunay
  • neegahson
  • neenerslambchop
  • neil_84
  • neosubz
  • NeroRamos
  • nessarica
  • noa-martinsen
  • not_june
  • nykko_x3
  • olee
  • omgitsrobb
  • ooobbyitsloveooo
  • paka79
  • patflynn
  • peachesudh
  • peteeee
  • phatts
  • philchao
  • pinktea6
  • r0ckingreen
  • rachel-s
  • racheljasmin
  • raelynnerosales
  • ram_ree
  • randolph-permejo
  • raineezy
  • raycel98
  • reggiesee
  • reii
  • renC
  • rhezamae
  • rina-dakanay
  • rjay23
  • rock-star
  • ron_palustre
  • rosemary bales
  • rosmel-ramos
  • rowdysaudi1
  • rtran
  • ryan-shin
  • ryanhurley
  • safaricat
  • samchy
  • scarlett
  • scikotik
  • scottyoshimoto
  • sean-doyle
  • shazadsk
  • shireen-h
  • shraddha
  • sinxjae
  • slackerSC
  • slimbeats
  • sogooey
  • spideyudh
  • stefansinging
  • stephanie-chiang
  • stephbaloy
  • sun_tzu
  • thatsajudy
  • theapradioshow
  • thisGIRLis_
  • tiffany-o
  • tl2eesa
  • toekneekay
  • tpm_music
  • udh7
  • uhmberr
  • uhohitsari
  • ulysses
  • usarmymich
  • vankho
  • vinimack
  • vjayyy
  • vobot
  • whattheda
  • xxflipxpryd3xx
  • youlikepoo
  • zeephunk

Hopefully I got everyone in here that gave me a shoutout (over 240!?!). Love you all! <33

-Mel

How I Spent My Year 2009

I don't expect you guys to read all of this...but I hope you take the time to answer this survey yourselves just to reflect on the past year. If you do this, answer truthfully and with meaningful answers that you can look back on several years from now; it's amazing to look back on how you've grown.

This is my 7th straight year of doing this, and it's an absolute TRIP looking back and my old posts. Anyways, here it is.

Read More

Thank you, everyone!

Holy crap! Thank you guys so much for all the birthday wishes. My facebook, twitter and cell phone were going crazy the whole freakin' day!

Not gonna lie, I've had some miserable birthdays in the past...so I've learned to appreciate the simplest birthdays of facebook/myspace comments, twitters, text messages and just being around people that I love. Yesterday was all about that and I loved it.

A few days ago, I was thinking of doing something like, "for every person that wishes me happy birthday, I'll do a body roll for one second." Damn, if I actually did that, it'd be a video of me doing body rolls for over 2.5 minute!! :laugh: Maybe next year. Maybe.

Anyways, lotsa love to the people that wished me happy birthday (in chronological order):

  • Wush
  • Michael
  • Hazel
  • Melissa G
  • Michelle T
  • Hammy
  • Kris Mark
  • Joanne
  • Paolo L
  • Mom & Dad
  • Sheena
  • Ernie
  • Sierra
  • Phatts
  • Tracie
  • Tops
  • Chany
  • Roth
  • BM-Mike
  • Loval
  • Loris
  • RJ
  • Raelynne
  • Crissy
  • Mquerol
  • Nessa
  • Naythen
  • Jackielyn
  • Jae -- omg pole dancing video??! :rofl:
  • Nikki
  • Kina Grannis -- :biggrin:
  • Drew -- loved the body roll video :bangin:
  • Roy
  • Van
  • Marlo
  • Confi
  • Cristina Blake
  • Tillmann
  • Stefan
  • Hollykinns
  • Slimbeats
  • Courtney
  • Nicole P
  • Japstaboi
  • DesoMatt
  • Fred
  • Nam
  • Stephanie C
  • Michelle
  • Meliss
  • Dru
  • Jimbo
  • Amanda H
  • Ulysses
  • Jon G
  • Tam
  • Abel
  • Dee
  • Rochi
  • Julie
  • Lorraine
  • Kulay Mike -- awww yehhh :hehe:
  • Adriee
  • Melissa V
  • Ashley
  • Angel
  • Justine
  • Renabette
  • Sara
  • Renato
  • Mike E
  • Vicki
  • Pete
  • Erin
  • Amy T
  • Samir
  • Paolo
  • Ariana
  • Jasper
  • Justin H
  • Kim T
  • April
  • Nadin
  • Rachel
  • Pat
  • Jason C
  • Deland
  • Ernie
  • Phil
  • Kishan
  • Richard J
  • Mary
  • Dae
  • Noa
  • Wing
  • James
  • Chris P
  • Dimples
  • Preston
  • Jennie
  • Allie
  • Erleen
  • Chain
  • Erin
  • Lisa J
  • JR
  • Joanne
  • Ashley S
  • Norm
  • NJ
  • Stephanie R
  • Elisa
  • Bobby Lee, I mean, Cathy Nguyen -- :chill:
  • Thomas Yu
  • Gayle
  • Devin
  • Jon Chan
  • Katzy -- <3 video mail
  • Alex John -- all the way from Chicago?!! :noway:
  • Jec -- zomg, awesome drawing skillz!! :coold:
  • Josh S
  • Darwin
  • Daniel
  • Chris P
  • Brianne
  • Goldy
  • Nirav
  • AJ -- thanks for dedicating a song to me with Cathy. :cheers:
  • Janice
  • Jessica M
  • Kathleen B
  • random people at AJ's show that apparently recognized me from blogtv (whoa!?!)
  • Ronan
  • Bryan Keith
  • Angel
  • Rex
  • Amy
  • Megan
  • Ray
  • Mark M
  • Kim
  • Tiff
  • Dana
  • Heather
  • Stan
  • Adoboy
  • Laila
  • Sara T
  • Elwood
  • Khaing
  • Ron P
  • Audrey P
  • Cynthia

And on a random note...

This Ralph Emerson quote popped into my head yesterday. I've posted this before but I just love this quote so much I wanted to share it with you guys again:

Ralph Waldo Emerson:

To laugh often and much.
To win the respect of intelligent people,
and the affection of children.
To earn the appreciation of honest critics,
and endure the betrayal of false friends.
To appreciate beauty.
To find the best in others.
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition.
To know even one life has breathed easier,
because you have lived.
That is to have succeeded.

Love you guys. <3

Oregon Reunion '08

// Due to my crappy internet, I'm gonna have to keep this blog post very, very short...

Thanks for your patience, everyone. It took me a few days longer than expected but 300 photos are up on my Flickr! (There's actually a total of 853 photos and videos which I'll make available for download soon)

What can I say? It was a very chill reunion, filled with a lot of nostalgia and laughter; it was a nice change of pace for once, compared to our past wild reunions. Once again we find ourselves as a group of people in the middle of no where, doing what we do best -- chilling, drinking and finding ways to amuse ourselves.

The highlights of the reunion are all in the photos.

Randoms:

Loren: you'd think it was only us kids that were drinking and partying but really it's just the adults were a lot better at dodging us than we were at them.

Mel: petting the dogs
Alan: hey Loren, do you have any peanut butter? (Reference to the movie Road Trip)

Mel: quick, deep, hollow fart
Samir: what?
Loren: dude, was that your ass??
Samir: oh shit! I thought he said "yo"

Re-Created Picture of the Moment:

In Closing...

In the movie Garden State, a wise Zach Braff one said:

Home is so much more than just a house to put your shit in.

The more I think about that quote, the more I realize how true it is. Home isn't just a house. It's not just a town. It's a time. A moment. It's the people around you in a certain phase of your life. It's the world in the eyes of someone before all that real world stuff.

Home is an experience when you're there, and a state of mind when you're not.

Let's face it, none of us will ever truly be able to "go back." Even if we decide to go to that Ar@mco sponsored reunion in Saudi next year, it wouldn't be the same. It's not that same time and it's not the same place.

But the people -- us -- we'll always have. And that will never change.

Maybe that's what 'family' really is: a group of people that miss the same imaginary place.

View Photos (289) | Downloads & Videos coming soon!