Visiting my dad.

Got to see my dad yesterday. He's doing very well, compared to other times I've seen him. I'm very happy to see him, and he was very happy to see me. Dahlia, Yasmeen, and Omar came also. It was the first time they saw my dad. I'm sure it was a very unique experience. haha. 

Cousin's Birthday

Who knows what we're doing today, and honestly, I don't really care what we do. I just want to do something. That's all that matters is that we spend today doing something... That's all.

done!

Okay, so after about 15 hours of assembling furniture, I'm finally done. I'm so glad. Still a few more things to buy but 98% of the work is done. Rick & Aimee stopped by as they passed thru on their way to Tahoe. Parents are coming later this morning to check out the place and how everything looks. 

Tomorrow, I see my Dad, and the rest of the Ringl family for Christmas dinner. Then tomorrow night, I get dropped off at my cousin's house for a 2 week stay in SoCal. Whew, just when I finish all that work I start traveling again. No time to relish my accomplishment. Oh well. -Ray

All Falls Down

So, what a great way to end a day of tough biology finals with dinner at Applebee's with my biology buddies... right? Well, that is if you like to be soaked with ice water by a clumsy waitress... Right after taking our orders, she reaches for a menu and knocks over a 20 ounce glass of ice water right onto my lap. This is really my idea of a nice, relaxing, after-finals dinner =P. She apologized, I forgave her. Everything is all good now. 

So after dinner, I say goodbye to my friends. It was most likely the last time I'd see them in the same context as I do now. As I got in my car, I couldn't help but feel, well different. It felt like things wouldn't the same again. After some thinking, it turns out I'm right. It's a small taste of what's to come... Soon, I'll be done with finals and done with NVC. While I'm looking forward to finishing up at NVC, at the same time, I'm really saddened about it. I feel this emotion deep in my heart. I made quite a few new friends this semester, and kept in touch with some old ones. Now, that the semester is coming to a close, it's bittersweet. I'm know I'm ready for what's lies ahead of me, but I'm just not ready say goodbye to the friendships I've gained from my years here in Napa & Vallejo.

I'll miss you my bio buddy.

- Raymond

almost there...

it's hard to imagine that the year is about to end. There are people I met this year, even just this semester, that I will not ever see in person again. well mostly likely, that is. 

Take my lab partner for example. He was a good guy, very nice to me. He takes his final early this semester for micro. Then takes off on a plane to Colorado that same night! I doubt I'll ever see this guy again, but it's just pretty crazy how people & things just come and go in life. While in the midst of a tough semester of classes, it just hit me like a rock that the semester is just about to finish. I mean, I knew the semester was gonna end and I'd eventually start vacation, but the most surprising thing that I failed to realize is that the people I have become so accustomed to seeing on a somewhat daily basis were not always gonna be around after the semester ends. In a way, I'm naive. It's not like, "hey guys, we're friends forever! yay!" type of a deal. It's more like, you know people and then 4 months later, they're gone for the rest of your life.

 It's kind of sad if you ask me. Well, anywho... If you ever end up reading this, and you know who you are. I wish the best of luck to you in your upcoming studies & future endeavors in life. For some reason you stand out in my mind for the most unknown reason.

first post.

  2 more papers, 5 more tests,3 more days of class, and 3 days of finals... and then what? I'm done with nvc. (hopefully =p)  my winterbreak will consist of :  

1. Moving to sac on the 18th. 

2. Leave for socal on the 21st... THEN, Christmas dinner with the Ringl's in SoCaL Finally, THE RINGL'S WILL UNITE! YAY! lol. sorry. This is gonna be my first time to spend Christmas dinner with my Dad's side, so I'm so very happy. =] 

3. 2 weeks of vacation with the Altawaty's and Lola. I can't wait to see my Lola! Hopefully we go to Vegas! 

4. Come back, Jan 5th. 

5. Live the Sac life. Drum with my buddies. Hopefully I make mandarins (on snare, bass, or even Contra hahahah). See family, make new friends, catch up with old friends, and start a new chapter of life. Hopefully I get to see the Vintage Winterline too. I wish you guys the best and will definitely stop by on occasion.  

I digress, as for Sac State Winterline, I'm very optimistic about everything. Snareline was playin' a good amount of clean beats. Esp. those long rolls. oh and it's this now, CIJRZ... ( i think that's correct EDIT: it is)  Time to start thinking about what classes I should take for the Spring Semester... 

 Hopefully I kick it with ya'll soon. Esp YOU who I was talkin' to tonight during rehearsal. haha jk. =p