October 28, 2004 VEGAS DAY 2 Vegas: Saturday 10:27AM - Saturday 3:58PM Saturday Morning So get this: I go to bed at around six. I wake up in the middle of the night (well, morning) to find that Xinlei has moved over to the far side of the bed and is no longer on my pillow so I get under the blanket and go back to sleep. I hear talking at around 9:30am, wake up, can't go back to sleep. Maria, Aaron and Christy were all up at this time. So I got up. Kind of. April woke up that morning with a really bad hangover so she took a couple of Advil and went back to bed. Steve was still in the fetal position on the air mattress and didn't seem like he wanted to get up. After we got dressed, Xinlei and I went over to the guys room to see what was up. They were playing cards for shots =P wtf mate. They tried to explain Texas Hold em' to us (well, me) but I didn't get it really...I'm kind of slow like that I suppose. Anyway, we ended up waiting in the hallway for a while before we decided to go down to the car to wait for all of the guys to leave. April stayed behind in our room and slept. We managed to get Steve up and back into his room, but he just ended up falling asleep again so we just left him there. Photos Row 1 (L to R): 1. i was prob comparing christy's boobs to mine ;P 2. poor steve 3. look at the tv! 4. me and christy 5. christy and steph Row 2 (L to R): 1. christy and xinlei 2. steph and maria Row 3 (L to R): 1. christy and xinlei 2. maria and me 3. steph, me and maria looking in random directions? * * * The Strip We went to Aladdin to go get food. I think we were originally planning on eating at a buffet, but I don't think that any of us really felt like eating all that much. Instead we ate at some burger place where the waiters and waitresses wear grass skirts. We went to go get gelato afterward and spent some time walking around...? Anyway, we walked to Paris after a little bit. Christy bought me a specialty drink. Since I'm a little bit afraid of tequila (even though Xinlei loves it) I got a daquiri and not a margarita. Little did I know that all of the rum had ended up at the bottom of the drink and yeah I drank all of the alcohol at once ;P I was buzzing for the rest of the afternoon. I think we headed back to Aladdin after that. We passed a bunch of shops and kiosks including this one kiosk that was demonstrating this head massager thing. We all tried it, and Aaron liked it so much that he bought one. What the hell did they call it? Ting ting BJ3000? Okay right anyway. We drove over to Harrahs so we could go gamble at Casino Royale (I think that's what it was called). I was kind of dazed thanks to the drink and my lack of sleep, so I look pretty out of it in the pictures. Anyway, I somehow managed to turn four quarters into $15 on the slots which was badass. April and Steve walked over from the hotel and met us at the casino. I was exhausted and so was Christy, so we went to the hotel to nap while the rest of the group went to the Venetian. Photos Row 1 (L to R): 1. five guys 2. hairstylists 3. lunch 4. food is here :D 5. xinlei and steph Row 2 (L to R): 1. christy and aaron 2. waiting outside of fcuk? 3. walking to paris 4. i was seriously confused in this picture :( 5. in the love sack Row 3 (L to R): 1. maria and aaron 2. driving to harrahs 3. monopoly slots! Row 4 (L to R): 1. this was before i was buzzed 2. that army dude was badass 3. me and xinlei 4. andy, aaron and steph 5. brian in xinlei's jacket 6. steph, brian and aaron Row 4 (L to R): 1. aaron is wearing my poncho (link) Midori | | 4:27 PM

October 27, 2004 VEGAS DAY 1 Vegas: Friday 5:43PM - Saturday 5:54AM Leaving for Vegas The way this was going to work was that five of us (me, Apes, Christy, Xinlei, and Maria) were going to leave from Irvine. Ray was going to pick up Steph at the airport and drive her and Steve and Huntz over to Vegas. Andy, Aaron and Brian were going to all go to Vegas in Andy's car. At around 4:45PM April and I went to go pick up Maria and get sandwiches at Togo's. Not too long after we got back, Christy got home from work. We loaded up her trunk and left. We left a little later than we anticipated (just before six) but it ended up being okay. We hit traffic for the first leg of the trip (up until the I-15) and met up with some slowing on the first few miles of the 15, but because we took toll roads, it could have been a lot worse (and before I forget...thanks to Christy for driving...!) Because I'm the smallest, I ended up in the middle seat between April and Maria. Xinlei sat up front with Christy. I did a little bit of preparation for the review session I had to hold on Tuesday, but it started to get dark so I stopped. We were stuck in traffic for a while. There was this silver station wagon in the lane next to us with this creepy little (well, he looked like he was ten) kid in the backseat that kept staring at us. Maria noticed him first. When we passed by the station wagon again, we saw the kid staring at our car again and smiling. When the station wagon passed us, the kid stuck his head out the window to look at us. HOOOOLY CRAP. Anyway, Christy sped up so we wouldn't end up next to the station wagon again (heheh). We stopped by an In N Out at Barstow to get food for Xinlei and Christy. April and I ate the spam musubi (YUM) that we had made last night (we made a lot) and then stupid April went to sleep ;P I thought Maria had gone to sleep too, but every time a song that she liked came on she would get up to sing and dance. HA. It was really cold and foggy when we started to get close to Vegas, but it cleared up when we hit the city. We got there just before 11. Photos Row 1 (L to R): 1. our vegas countdown :) 2. maria, me, and april in the car driving down jamboree 3. xinlei 4. maria and me...i'm trying to cover maria's forehead with my pencil because she thinks it's too big 5. xinlei, april, christy, and maria at in n out, barstow Row 2 (L to R): 1. parking lot @ in n out 2. maria wrote "hot" on the window 3. stuck in vegas traffic :( * * * @ the Hotel We were staying at the Circus Circus manor which ended up being this thing that was detached from the actual hotel/casino. Ghetto? A bit. The top of our television had a hole melted into it. But it was the cheapest place we could get that was not completely booked. If you've ever tried to get a room on a weeked in October, you understand what happened. We met up with Ray's car in the parking structure and went to go check in. They told the desk that there were only going to be two people in each room =0. We got our keys and headed over to meet up with Andy's car at the manor. We got there and unloaded our luggage onto the ground and everyone helped to carry it up while Steph and I watched the luggage. As soon as we got to our rooms, the girls started getting ready to go to the club and the guys were guys and started drinking the the vodka and jager that they had brought with them. In fact, when April and I were using their bathroom (ours was full) one of them came in with a plastic cup of vodka for her to try. In the meantime...the guys were taking shots. Aaron was trying to get into our bathroom for some reason. Andy was trying to blow dry his shirt but it wasn't working so he wore one of Aaron's. After we were all more or less ready I took my birthday shot. Vox vodka. BLARGH. I chased with a Smirnoff Triple Black. There was something about that vodka...iono...but as soon as I walked out of the door and into the hallway BAM the alcohol hit me and I started to feel...weird? Haha. I don't know what it was but I'm assuming that it meant I was starting to feel what you seasoned alcoholics would call a buzz. Anyway, we left the hotel so we could get a taxi. I was feeling a little bit not quite there and was walking around with lip gloss all over by cheeks because Steph and Xinlei both kissed me. We split up into three cabs (I think I was riding with Andy, Steve, and Steph) and headed over to Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay. Photos Row 1 (L to R): 1. april and maria 2. me and xinlei 3. xinlei, april and maria 4. the guys not getting ready 5. me and my roommates :D Row 2 (L to R): 1. all of the girls :D 2. christy and xinlei 3. my birthday shot 4. me post-birthday shot, chaser in hand 5. (aaron and) xinlei and me Row 3 (L to R): 1. all of the guys Row 4 (L to R): 1. april getting ready 2. christy, me and april getting ready in the guy's bathroom 3. she was supposed to take a photo of our faces 4. that's right 5. maria (she's so cute) 6. maria and xinlei * * * Club We ended up going to Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay. The line was actually pretty short, but we had to wait for a long time anyway. A few of us (myself included) started dancing in line but maybe we shouldn't have...? I don't know. I was still feeling that vodka and I think I was probably saying stupid things that I shouldn't have been saying but whatever ;P We finally got inside after what felt like forever. The bouncer said that I was just a baby. Anyway, cover was $25. The first place we went to was the bar where someone (April? Aaron? I don't remember) bought me a drink. Midori sour. I think that Xinlei took a tequila shot and April had a cosmo. I drank a little and the April started pulling me up to the dance floor so I followed her, drink in hand. I'm amazed that I didn't spill anything. Sooo we started dancing. Things got just a tiny bit fuzzy for me. Everyone was dancing with everyone else. Xinlei and I fell. We danced some more. Someone brought me another drink. Danced some more. Someone brought up another Midori sour that I drank about half of. Realized that people were disappearing so we made our way back to the front of the club. We ended up sitting at the front end of the club (and dancing in the front end of the club) until the club closed at four. Aaron bought me a Scooby Snack. What I didn't realize at the time was that Ray and Steve were extremely drunk and very sick. I heard later that they had a good portion of that bottle of Vox before we left. Figures. We caught three cabs back. I don't remember who was in the cab with me, but I do remember feeling like I was living in the third person or something and was talking a little crazy. It was probably a combo of the alcohol and the late hour. I didn't get that much sleep the previous night (I hate school :() @ the Hotel We all hung out in the hotel room for a while after we got back from the club. After that someone had the bright idea to go to the casino and gamble a little bit, so April, Christy, Xinlei, Steve and I all went to the casino. I didn't know that Steve wasn't feeling too great at the time so now I feel kinda bad...? Yeah. Well we only stayed for a little bit. We played slots and video poker (well, I did anyway) and then headed back. Aaron was asleep on one bed and Maria on the other. Turns out, neither Aaron or Steve had the key to their room, so they ended up sharing our twin air mattress while the girls all tripled up on the double beds. I think I got to bed at around six or so. Holy crap. Look for all of our spam musubis in the photos below :D Photos Row 1 (L to R): 1. maria and brian 2. andy, me and april 3. huntz eating spam 4. steve drank too much 5. andy is wearing my poncho Row 2 (L to R): 1. andy is still wearing my poncho (link) Midori | | 3:40 PM

October 25, 2004 good lord to think that just yesterday (well it was technically yesterday) we were clubbing in vegas and now it's back to reality and i don't like it one bit ;P i'm just sore and tired. and i have a lot of homework. this week feels like an eternity. (link) Midori | | 9:57 PM

October 24, 2004 Got back from Vegas about an hour ago... Pictures later...! (link) Midori | | 9:56 PM

October 22, 2004 LV POR VIDA! ¡VIVA LAS VEGAS! Be back Sunday :) (link) Midori | | 11:50 AM

October 21, 2004 DIRTY DAVE! So I check my hotmail account this afternoon and find this... HAPPY BELATED BDAY!!! DID YOU GOTO VEGAS!!! HAVE LOts oF SEX!! This is the same guy that IMed me this a couple of years ago. Thanks for making my day Dave...haha. Also got a coolio birthday phone call from Maria Tortilla who sang to me in both English and Spanish. Oh yeah...that whole being at the pub thing. I was there with my project group because they decided that I needed to get my birthday drink. In the end we wound up getting two pitchers of pear ale and a whole lot of food. I had less than a glass because I still needed to drive back and do homework. Nikhil drank the most because he's a 24 year old alcoholic who can't spell (actually he had the most because he wasn't driving but whatEV). I'm so tired. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm very angry at someone's boyfriend right now. No, not my boyfriend. I miss my boyfriend =\ (link) Midori | | 6:10 PM

October 20, 2004 It's Wednesday we're in the middle of fourth week and I have a TON of homework I should NOT be at the pub drinking pear ale :(((((( (link) Midori | | 10:31 PM

October 16, 2004 Yay In the car... Sar: Hey Hollie? Thanks for driving. HoHo: No problem! Me: Hey Hollie? Thanks for drinking with me. HoHo: No problem! Hahaha ;D I had a rum and coke at 1pm. Oh lord. Thanks to Steph, Apes, Ra, Lam and Brady for their phone callsand thanks to Sar, Damon, HoHo and Derek for breakfast (+ booze + games =0 )! Yay to Xin for the gift and Steph because that card was badass ;D Kit is driving here now. Yay. (link) Midori | | 3:53 PM

October 14, 2004 - negative negative negative negative negative sometimes i feel like an idiot for ever thinking that things will be okay. (link) Midori | | 10:51 PM

public speaking ;P Okay so I did the oral presentation for ICS125 today and I think I did a stupid job because when I get up in front of people I don't get shakynervous the way I do during like auditions and solos and things but I forget a lot of stuff and I can't get my words out straight (actually that happens all the time) and I end up acting a damn fool. Hrm. But I think this means I won't have to do it again. Yay me. (link) Midori | | 9:30 PM

MAN HORSE! what Lam found when trying to impress me with the capabilities of Paint (link) Midori | | 7:06 PM

Interesting Dress Left keys plugged into back of a stinky lab computer (I am dumb) Girl in MRC just asked me to help her with her math homework (she's insane) Am having trouble with Subversion. My brain is fried. But my internet is working. Yay. (link) Midori | | 7:00 PM

October 10, 2004 CS Nerdiness We were seated by subject. Those who tutor chem at one table, bio at another, etc. There are only two of us who tutor ICS, so we were seated with the lone physics tutor. The instructor was lecturing about something impossibly boring until she used an all too familiar phrase: first in last out. She paused, trying to think of a first in last out situation to help explain first in last out. I began to smile. Then I started to laugh. And then I turned to look at my fellow ICS-er and he was laughing too. I looked at him. He looked at me. And then I felt really, really geeky. yay data structures * * * Trying to figure out why his conditional statement wasn't working over the phone...at this point we had been talking for about 30 minutes Me: So, okay. So what you have written is "if, open paren, a dot getSize, equal, equal..." Brother: GAHHHHHHHH Heheh...he was trying to write an "if" statement like if(a.getSize() = this.getSize()) ..... the joys of debugging... (link) Midori | | 10:49 PM

October 09, 2004 Bad year? Man, people seem to be dropping off like flies this year =\ All of my roommates each lost one of their grandmothers within the space of a few months and Thursday night another good friend told me that his grandmother had passed away recently (keep your head up dear take care and have a safe trip down) and THEN I come home on Friday where my dad tells me that my mom's uncle died last Monday. Shizzle. My heart goes out to all of you guys, seriously. It's been a hard year. * * * On a lighter note, I was thinking of updating the layout but decided against it since I've been feeling pretty uninspired lately. Instead, I think I'll be putting up photo albums. Unlike my old photo albums (think geocities) I'll make GOOD scans. Went for dim sum today with Apes and her posse (including her 13 year old sis who's taller than me). Thanks to the Great Wall for ordering (the only Chinese-speaker out of all of us) and to the would-be drug dealer for paying :) Vegas Days until: 12 1/2 Headcount: 11(!) I hear Steph has bought some hoochielicious tops. You go girl ;) (link) Midori | | 10:02 PM

October 07, 2004 Waiting in line for what used to be mine... One of the saddest lines ever. That's from Bic Runga's "Honest Goodbyes". Did I mention that one of our group members is a badass exchange student from New Zealand who knows who Bic Runga is? He likes "Get Some Sleep" :) Um yeah and I think I swallowed a fly today. Yuck :( (link) Midori | | 7:55 PM

Me: I just want you to make sure that I don't end up on some table taking my shirt off. Ape: Ha, yeah right! Me: Yeah...you'd probably be down there yelling "take it offff!" Ape: Actually, I meant I'd probably be right up there with you. And that's why I love her ;D (link) Midori | | 7:50 PM

October 04, 2004 Bad day? $40 fine lot G (overflow) and superthanks to my project group for rescuing me and taking me cruising through lot 1B to locate my car. Esp. to Hoa for driving. And to Nikhil for spotting me at In n Out. And to Lam for doing the running man in the parking lot. my little pony It's okay if you don't get it. Neither does he :) (link) Midori | | 9:22 PM

October 03, 2004 Coldstones? Anyone up for a Saturday night trip to Coldstones in Paseo Colorado? I have a supergood singer friend who works there and I want to make her sing for tips ;D (link) Midori | | 3:02 PM

...and as a reward for failing my first class at UCI I hereby claim the right to say "I told you so" I told you so! (link) Midori | | 1:36 AM

October 02, 2004 Do not have any normal photos of myself. Must change that. But probably will not... (link) Midori | | 8:22 PM

October already? (link) Midori | | 4:51 PM