got cornflakes?

Yup, five days after going down the Salt River, I'm finally peeling like crazy. It hurt for a while the first 3 days, but now, God have mercy on me, I am itching like crazy!

Can I scratch you a bowl of cornflakes? With milk, it does a body good! ;)

discussion about Real ID

me: what do you think of this?
me: link.
friend: I heard about this...
friend: Just more unnecessary security increases
me: while I think technology is cool, I think it is going too far
me: what if private organizations take advantage of the information stored on the ID?
me: and sell to marketers?
me: and what if the ID keeps a log of everything you purchased and another competitor can scroll your purchase records?
me: maybe I am just being paranoid, but can't help feeling it may happen
friend: I agree.
friend: and retinal scan? No thanks.

baked!

Yesterday, I went Salt River Tubing. For some reason, the sunblock I used before didn't work. I used 45 spf! What the Hell?! If it is that bad, maybe we all need to start using 99 spf!

Anyway, I am a one very burned mofo.

testing out a new tool

(this message was composed on Sat, Jun 18, 2005)

Dear FutureMe,

I am just testing out a new tool for blogging and writing letters to myself. This is only a test.

BEEEEEEEEEEP!

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wristband - one

I hope this is for a good purpose and not end up being one of those wristband fads!

Nevertheless, I've ordered 10 bands! Whoohoo!

css plug

Hello, my bloggin' friends!! I know some of you wanted to know how CSS works, so here's a link to a great CSS Tutorial!

a bed for your doggy

Tonight, I went to IKEA with my folks tonight to help pick out some shelves for their new bathroom. I found this cute bed for pets. They have dead mouse pillows for cats and dead cat pillows for dogs. It made me chuckle. So, that's the favorite IKEA product during my visit tonight.

quiz plug - Sneaky Villain

What Type of Villain are You?
mutedfaith.com.

adding my stumbleupon archives

What is StumbleUpon?
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remember?

Remember that HUGE Arizona forest fire we all heard and seen on the news? It was happening at the same time as the Colorado forest fire which was also a big one. Gee! Both fires were started by authorities! Az's started by a part-time firefighter who wanted to earn money by starting a fire. Co's started by a forest ranger who read a letter and had fit, then burned the papers which the embers floated and started a forest fire.

Anyway, this is where the reunion is located, in the former site of that Arizona's forest fire. It's sad to look at the damages but kinda uplifting to see some pines surviving and trying to grow again.

reunions suck without ASL

Yeah, reunion sucks without ASL. Some of my cousins knows a little sign, so it made the camping experience more bearable. I've gone camping with Deaf friends before and always had a blast. But when they're all hearies... *sigh*

sidekick skins

I made some skins for using on sidekicks. You'll have to order them through a link and banner I provided on this blog.

water rockets

Several family members made water bottle rockets under the instruction of my brother. He's the dude in the red, long sleeve shirt. Half the people are chickenshits, hiding in the shade and far away from the launch site. The other half have moxie and balls, sitting in the sun close to the launch site. Sometimes we'd feel the misted spray of water whenever a rocket launches.

258!

My family is having a reunion right now. On the way to the campsite, my mom turned to me and informed me about the couple running the place. The guy is profoundly deaf and his wife is hearing. His name is Don Hunsaker. Wearing a Harley Davidson t-shirt and suspender straps, he got this almost white beard that reminds me of Santa Claus. I saw him last night but didn't have a chance to talk to him. He wears hearing aids. I still don't know if he knows ASL. I took a few pictures of the bulletin board at the camp's kitchen. I found an ILY pin stuck on there. Anyway, that's 258 about a Deaf-owned campsite/ranch!

campin'

Nice shot of me in bed. ;)

I am at a family reunion for 3 days. I got some mixed feelings about being here.

inspiring pictures

today's mood

I am in such a morbid mood.





I adopted a cute lil' death fetus from Fetusmart!

Hooray fetus!

my new button

<a href="http://www.deaf258.com/blog" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.deaf258.com/images/button2.png" title="Deaf258" width=80 height=15 border=0></a>

no idea

I don't know how long I will be gone. I had another episode last night because I felt I have no control over my time or my life. No matter what I say or do, I am not allowed to be myself around my family.

as the wind blows

It's my favorite part of California.

quiz plug - Your Quick and Dirty IQ score

Your IQ Is 105

Your Logical Intelligence is Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Exceptional Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Average

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

Want a calorie-free cookie?

Wow, Megan!

I can never stop checking out your site for more than a couple of years! I love it!

I want to let you know this - thanks to your marble magnets page, I got a new hobby! :D

I don't know if you would be interested in adding more info or links to your marble magnets tutorial page, because I found a great online store that sells excellent marble glass pieces. I mean big ones! They even have square-shaped ones. The company I speak of is www.WholesalersUSAInc.com. As a customer, I've been happy and thrilled with their products.

Square & Flat Glass pieces - http://www.wholesalersusainc.com/product_info.php?cPath=58_84&products_id=712

Round & Flat Glass pieces - http://www.wholesalersusainc.com/product_info.php?cPath=58_66&products_id=368

They have smaller glass sizes. I ran into a common problem.. I couldn't handle the goop/silicone glue for 2 reasons: one, still strong odor and fumes, and two, the glue seeps through the papers and ruining the images. I ended up trying Weldbond glue ( http://www.wholesalersusainc.com/product_info.php?products_id=431 ). It works great so far.

I've attached 2 pics to this email. I used those large, round glass pieces, cut out a circle of that chocolate chip cookie background scrapbooking paper (whew! so many adjectives!), used 3 magnets (because the glass piece is heavy!) and put them all together! You can see the front and back pictures! Also, you are more than welcome to do whatever you like with the cookie magnet pictures.

Well, see you around in the blogworld!

Philip

holy hands!

Hmm, Light Talk is a great idea for glow-in-the-dark gloves. But their flash-based layout sucked bytes. They're too slow and I am on T1 connection! ugh.

Studio Ghibli Rocks!

I commented on someone's blog and thought I should also save a copy on here:
So, you liked "Spirited Away"?? You'll probably like "Howl's Moving Castle", too! Don't forget to check out other classics!

favorite ride @ six flags

Jasmine suffers

I was visitng Jarmilla today and dropping off a few things from the Six Flags trip. We were chatting for a bit. I found out Jarmilla's apartment had a major problem with the ACs in the complex, so it is HOT in her apartment. I looked over the left and saw Jarmilla's cat, Jasmine, laying there on her back. She was on the rug with all legs spread wide apart. It got a good laugh out of me, and it's SOOOOO cute!

permitted damage

Believe it or not, you're seeing a hole I made in the wall in one of the bathrooms at my folks' home. Over a week ago, Dad had me scrape a hole in the wall because he bought a pre-assembled piece of cabinetry work. First, we tried to bring it through the hallway. No luck. The piece was about 5 inches too big. We set it in the family room to see what we could do about it.. My dad got the idea to slip through the bedroom's window the the doorway that is almost facing the bathroom's door. The piece still didn't fit through the bathroom door! *sigh!* We managed to squeeze it through, but I ended up scraping 3/4th of an inch out of the wallpapered sheetrock. I didn't like making that hole, but I liked the fact I didn't get in trouble! LOL!

quiz plug - You are... Delight!

Which Member of the Endless Are You?

the blogger decoder

My blogger code: B9 d+ t k s u- f i++ o x+ e+ l+ c- (decode it!)

quiz plug - BLOGinality: the personality test

My Bloginality is INFP!!!

after six flags

Tara, Jarmilla and I were at Denny's after midnight, chatting with Alcira and her friends. We were at Six Flags Magic Mountain all afternoon. I nodded off after waiting for everyone else to finish eating. Jarmilla snuck a picture of me in sleepyland. I get annoyed EVERYTIME someone takes a picture of me sleeping! It seems to me that it is a popular thing for almost all my friends to take a picture of me sleeping on the chair, in the car, on the booth, in the couch, or at the desk. Aurgh!

Psst! If you wonder what wristband I am wearing, check it out!

---

See?? Another picture of me asleep.. *sigh* I don't see how I am photogenic enough to be photographed in my sleep!?

Vee's cats

I was at Veronica's a few days ago to help her with her blog and sidekick. I took some close-up shots of her 2 cats. Cute, huh? :)

quiz plug - Libra 2005 Love Horoscope

Libra 2005 Love Horoscope

If your New Year gets off to a bit of a slow start in the love department, work on your romantic karma by doing some of your trademark matchmaking. Your perceptiveness and natural knack for connections, along with your subtlety and diplomacy, mean that in January and February you can easily assist those who tend more toward floundering in the realm of romance. They'll thank you, and by March you'll reap some intense rewards. The fabulousness of the weekend of March 25th is practically overwhelming, as you're showered with attention and dishing it right back out to someone wonderful. Around April 8th, spring blossoms for you, and it's all about relationships -- and it's all up to you. Get clarity surrounding what you truly want, and then all you have to do is communicate to obtain it. The weekend of April 22nd and the following days find you sitting pretty in the realm of romance, perhaps with the perfect someone to share your throne. Things develop at an exponential rate from there, with May and June sprinkled liberally with happy days and increasingly hot nights. You're not prone to jealousy, but if something offends your sense of fair play in the love arena at summer's outset, you could find yourself suddenly cozy with the green-eyed monster. Don't hold it in; with your natural grace, you can express your feelings (perhaps around mid-July) and come out feeling better and stronger. Your relationship or a potential one will benefit as well, with some sweet results to be found toward the end of August. If a romantic test comes your way in September, you'll pass with flying colors, and the beginning of October invites fresh, exciting new energy into your love life. Be open and let it in no matter what unusual form it may take, and be ready for almost anything to happen. November offers several days of particular sweetness beginning on the 12th, while your December holidays are happily family-oriented -- and your notion of family may suddenly, beautifully expand. And from December 24th through January 2006, you have a stellar opportunity to examine and reshape the role of love in your life. Where is your relationship heading? Get a peek at your future together with a free Romantic Compatibility Reading! Content provided by Astrology.com © Astrology.com 1996 - 2005

What Does 2005 Have In Store For You? Get Life, Love, and Career Horoscopes - for Free!

quiz plug - The True You

The True You

You want your girlfriend or boyfriend to be more relaxed, calm, and composed.

With respect to money, you are a bit stingy.

You think good luck depends on maintaining good relationships with others.

The hidden side of your personality tends to be methodical in your ways - with trouble adapting to the rules of society.

You have a tendency to overdo things, but basically you value your friendships highly.

When it comes to finding a romantic partner, you base your search on information from your friends.

Who's the True You?

interesting fact

Human World: "When shipped to the US, the London bridge ( thought by the new owner to be the more famous Tower Bridge ) was classified by US customs to be a 'large antique'."

That's on Lake Havasu now.

huh? you don't know CAP and your VR didn't tell you?!?!

I kept bumping into Deafies in Arizona who aren't satisfied or happy with Vocational Rehabilitation's decisions. I kept asking the Deafies if they asked V.R. why and how they come up with the decision to support or not to support the client's career plan. Most of their replies were that V.R.'s excuse is lack of money. I have a rant about that, but will save it for another time. I also asked the Deafies if they tried contacting CAP - Client Assistance Program. I still haven't met an Arizonan Deafie who knew what CAP meant and what it does for its clients!!! Vocational Rehabilitation is required to inform all their clients upon the first appointment and explain what CAP is and what it is for. I did a little research and googled for some CAP programs in Arizona. So far, I found two of them: Arizona Center For Disability Law and Community Provider of Enrichment Services, Inc. If you are a Deafie living in Arizona and if you think you were treated unfairly by your Vocational Rehabilitation Representative, give CAP a call! They will sit down with you, go over your case file and your background. CAP will determine whether V.R. made the right decision or not. If not, then CAP will inform you the next steps you will have to take. Do the steps! The effort and motivation rest on your hands. If you want it, you have to give in your best! No one else is going to do it for you.

If you are living in another state in the USA, just go to Google and add your state's name along with the "CAP client assistance program" in the search box. Click search. You should find your local CAP programs.

my boo-boo (cont.)

Okay.. Remember my previous post about my 'boo-boo'?? Here's what happened. Tara, Jarmilla and I were on our way to meet Vee, Maurice, Sean, TJ and April at the Salt River Tubing location. We took the highway to Payson and then planned to turn off at Bush highway. Somehow, Tara missed the turn and we kept going and going until I saw the sign that says approx. 30 miles until Payson. Jarmilla and I got wide-eyed. We are FAR and knew we missed our turn. Then I turned to Tara, "I think we passed the exit a LONG time ago!" Tara started cussing (it's so cute when she cusses, you'll have to see her do it to know what I meant!) and we got lucky we found an intersection, turned off and went BACK to the same way we came from. After a while, we FINALLY found the Bush Highway exit and turned off there. We passed a lot of sherrif cars. Oh, right!! Memorial weekends tend to have a lot of drunk drivers. So, we finally arrived at the tube rental place an hour late. We figured if we get everything ready and got on the bus, we might meet Vee, Maurice, Sean, TJ and April at the 2nd point of the river. We met this guy from San Francisco, Leonard. Interesting, friendly guy! He just moved to Arizona very recently. He's always smiling and cheerful. It's refreshing to hang out with someone like him. Anyway, he was also late and we caught a few other Deafies who are also late too. We had to use my ID to get 6 tubes, paid the fees and deposit. We all got in line with other Deafies and waited and waited and waited.. Gosh! It was sooo HOT. Finally, we got on the bus and went to the 1st point of the river. Some of the Deafies got off. Only Leo, Tara, Jarmilla and I stayed on the bus. The bus driver dropped us off at the 2nd point. We got all our stuff down on the river. I stepped in the water and gasped! It was COLD!! It feels so good, cold water with hot weather. Ahhhhh! Anyway, Tara wanted everyone tied together (bad move I felt, but went ahead with tying up the tubes). We pushed off into the river. Jarmilla didn't get in her tube and was about to miss the whole thing! So, I jumped off my tube and held the tied up bunch so she could hop on her tube. After she got on her tube, I got in mine. Wow! The water current was pretty fast! It was very leisurely. Some of the kids on the river were throwing marshmallows everywhere, and part of the trip, I could STILL see marshmallows floating by. Eww. There were some interesting characters floating past us. One guy dressed up like a pimp with velvet hat that has a boa rim. It's funny to see such people on the river. Sometimes we get stuck in parts of the river where there are no currents, so I tried to paddle back into the current. Damn! It was hard work trying to get 6 tied up tubes to MOVE in one direction! At one point, we got into a fast current that sent us dashing onto the boulders. I fell off my tube, went uderwater really fast and almost couldn't get up from the current! I almost lost my eyeglasses but caught them with my hand. I got back into my tube. Everything went fine for a while. It was a lot of fun and I was getting my tan. We passed a sign that said we need to get off at 4th point, so I started untying the tubes. Tara wanted me to use her Swiss Army knife. I didn't want to use a knife near the tubes full of air. What if I accidentally poke and the tube explodes? What if I fumbled with the knife and lose it in the water? Tara went, "Oh, come OOOON!" Forget it, I am taking the line apart with my own hands! We got close to the 4th point. Tara said we have to get up NOW. I had the rope tangled in one hand and trying to get out of my tube. Tara already got out of her tube and held it in place with Jarmilla beside her. I was STILL going with the current, the rope getting tight and my fingers became knotted into the rope. I couldn't break free. Then, I could feel my weight being pulled off my tube, so I tried to get a good foothold on the slippery, shallow riverbed. One hand was stuck in the rope and my free hand was trying to grab the tube with my 2 shirts. Knowing that I didn't have the extra cash on me, I'll be damned if I lose my tube or I'll have to pay 20 bucks to get my ID back! At the same time, I was clutching part of the tube, falling off and struck out my foot to catch my balance. I felt my toe hit a rock real hard but ignored the pain. The water current was SO strong! I fumbled around, Tara pulling on the rope and me losing my balance. During all that confusion, my eyeglasses FELL off! I saw my pair of eyeglasses fall from my face in slow motion and then *WHOOSH!* disappeared instantly when it touched the rushing river water. SHIT! My ONLY pair of eyeglasses!! And I am going to be blind until I get new eyeglasses! I also had 3 days left to do my research paper for my English class! Man.. May 2005 was a month full of bad luck! I got up again and something went past me really fast. It was Jarmilla!! She was already out of her tube and the tube was still tied to Tara's tube. Jarmilla was screaming Tara's name because Jarmilla is not familiar with walking on slippery rocks and going through strong water currents. She kept falling back in the water and getting washed down the river. Tara skittered carefully like a butch girl after Jarmilla. I knew they would be okay and looked at the girls' tubes. Leonard had already made sure no one is losing their tube. I helped him pull everything off the river. I was still pissed off but kept myself in check. Jarmilla and Tara finally got out the river and walked back on the beach. I am glad Jarmilla is okay! I told her that next time we go river tubing, two things will happen: one, I will use strap on my new eyeglasses, and two, NO MORE ROPE! Only to the cooler tube is fine, but to other tubes, no. I felt something throbbing painfully, so I looked down at my toe. Eww! My toenail was a little bloody with the river plant still stuck in the crack. 1/3 of it was cracked and seperated half-way from under my toenail skin. Everyone got out and got on the bus back to the rental place. We returned our tubes and Leo got his deposit back. I just wanted to go home and find out what I could do about my eyeglasses. I was so happy, pissy, mopey and tired from the events. I found out my eye doctor was out of town (later, found out his wife had a heart attack while vacationing!), so my mom decided to loan me some money to get 2 pairs of cheap-assed eyeglasses on Monday night. I really needed eyeglasses for my classes! With the new eyeglasses, I realized I was getting tired fast and easily because the lenses are a little strong for my eyes. I asked my English teacher if I could turn in my work later. He granted me until Thursday. But I was still too tired from reading all those sources and citations. Ugh. I gave up and told my teacher that I'll take the class again in the summer. Later on Thursday night, he told me by email I have until Monday at noon, to turn in my research paper on Aristotle. Whee! Now, that's my story. Two lucky things are that I got an extension on my research paper and my toenail never got infected! Whew! And, now, back to working on my research paper!

all I got was this lousy t-shirt

:: front ::

:: back ::

I was cleaning out my boxes in storage and found a box full of clothes. Gee, what great memories! I pulled out a white t-shirt. This shirt was a birthday present from my best friend. We were badly mocking this one guy, Seth, who LOVES to flip everyone off. Seth always flipped me off because he was frustrated that I keep mouthing him and having good comebacks that he couldn't counter. That was a few years ago, and Seth has chilled some more since. Now, he says he only flips off at police officers and stupid drivers.

cool plug - Googlism

Googlism:
philip is experienced in putting people at ease with his disability
philip is the oldest of 5 children
philip is 31 years old
philip is a professional photographer and writer
philip is likely to have an opinion
philip is described as an easygoing man who is a qualified chef and baker
philip is different
philip is finding happiness
philip is quite a challenge at home and at childcare
philip is the shit

a poll

If you have a blog and you are Deaf, would you want to be listed in a Deaf Blog Directory?
	Yes!
	Yes, but with some restrictions.
	No!
	No, but I don't mind getting some traffic to my blog.
	Maybe.
	I don't know!
Free polls from Pollhost.com

blogging project

I am trying to set up a deaf blog directory. Hmm, where to start?

old comic strip

Wow!! I was looking through my old LiveJournal entries. *GAG!* Thank God for Blogger.com! Years ago, in 2001 to be exact, I found a site that makes your own comic strips. You can see I wrote in the blanks. You can check my ancient comic strip!