Precious

10 July 2008: Krissy (high school classmate and volleyball teammate) has been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

MDS is a primary bone marrow condition, where her bone marrow does not produce normal blood cells. The condition is otherwise known as "preleukemia".

Typically diagnosed in 60+ year old men, Krissy is a vibrant 25 year old woman. Her treatment requires a bone marrow transplant. Complicated still by needing to find a tissue match given her mixed Asian and Caucasian heritage.

Attached, please find her letter to high school classmates and an article in the newspaper. She is calling for people to register with the National Bone Marrow Transplant Registry.

I am going to register, if I can from overseas. Details of the registration, commitment, and donation procedure can be found here.

Much love and good health.

Love,
Jackie

image from: krissy

Dateline

15 September 2007: 29 pounds prepared for 5 months.

Check-in and security went quickly and easily at Los Angeles International. At the gate I met a group of martial artists bound to compete in Shanghai. Restless already, they were doing stretches.

The plane left on time. 1h 20m into the flight, a smoker was caught in the bathroom. Restless already.

I got some sleep on the 12h flight.

Image from: manganite

Theme

8 September 2007: The first half of my trip includes Japan and India - please enjoy my travel theme with a good sound system.

The video features Zakir Hussain on tabla and a Japanese Takio drummer. Also, for the uninitiated, here is a tabla lesson.

Plot

2 September 2007: My elementary school and high school sandwich not only UCLA, but the resting place of Marilyn Monroe.

I never knew Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery even existed. Yet there she lies...

Groucho Marx expressed a desire to be buried on top of Marilyn Monroe. He also joked that his epitaph should read: Excuse me, I can't stand up.

However, his mausoleum marker (in another Los Angeles County cemetery) bears only: Groucho Marx 1890-1977. Similar to Marilyn's crypt: Marilyn Monroe 1926-1962.

The craved spot above her, instead goes to Richard F. Poncher.

What about the unoccupied spot available beside her? It's reserved for Hugh Hefner.

Image from: cinema ieti

Shot

28 August 2007: Last bits of my world travel plans are coming together - one day at a time - like my typhoid vaccine pill.

Tetanus, polio, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria... Destination: Cambodia.

Visa

25 August 2007: Indian visa camp epic.

I waited four hours to turn in my visa application and passport. I had lunch in little India with friends I made in line. I waited two hours to pick up my newly approved visa and passport.

Never again.

The Cambodian EVisa, Australia ETA, and the New Zealand working holiday visa are the way to go.

Positive

23 August 2007: I am not one of the chosen twelve, rather I was the first juror dismissed.

If you want to know why, call me. I can tell you the story over vegan tamales at Cafe de Souso in Olvera Street.

Peers

22 August 2007: I'm back in LA because it's my civic duty.

25 jurors are called to the County of Los Angeles traffic court. We swear an oath and hear the case allegations: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

Each juror answers basic questions. Then the judge questions us: do we donate to MADD, have we been involved in a case regarding DUI, is our business in alcohol production or distribution, do we know law enforcement officers, lawyers, judges...

Each time we respond affirmatively, the judge asks that all too important question - will it influence our ability to hear this case?

The ranges of experience are really astounding. I almost feel like I'm on trial. Please enjoy my mug shot.

Image from: jaxpix50

Long

21 August 2007: Family field trip to watch the blue whale.

We found her filter feeding along a trench outside Long Beach harbor. A member of the biggest animals ever club, Tallulah did not fail to impress.

She would evacuate her blog hole, roll a chorus line of vertebrae above the water, and then expose her diminutive dorsal fin (located 3/4 along the length of her body) before diving to feed. Repeat. It was plenty to see.

She would stay under for 7 minutes, leaving me free to sing sailing songs. My favorite treat was seeing her flukes underwater glowing blue-white.

Image from: jackie

Melt

12 August 2007: Family field trip to Wicked the musical at the Pantages theatre.

While reading the book I became intrigued with Elphaba's relationship with other women characters. Besides Elphaba/Glinda, my particular interests focused on the connection with her mother, Melena.

I found their mother-daughter relationship so caustic, I suspect Elphaba's aversion to water began during her gestation - burning in the fluid of her mother's womb...

Image from: *sean

Grads

It's a family 3-way graduation party today.

3 sisters have earned degrees: Jennifer (the eldest daughter) in theatre, Jessica (the middle daughter) in international affairs, and me (the youngest daughter) in engineering.

I got to say grace before the meal, which included a reading of my letter to God (returned today).

I could have also read my diploma, but it's written in Latin.

Image from: erik_found

Membership

Tonight was Vanessa's birthday gathering in the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Nina and her older sister, Vanessa, are two daughters amongst a total of 17 siblings. Most of the birthdays in their family occur in August - including the father's birthday this weekend.

A family friend joined us late in the evening. Once he was introduced to everyone at the table he proudly reported - tonight he's finally made 17.

Immediately, the siblings present stood up, congratulated him, and shook his hand.

Image from: Mary Carmen SVI

Letter

Dear God:

Mt 6:9-13.


Love always,
Jackie

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Image from: erik_found

Pacific

LA's been too earthquakey - I'm seeking refuge in the sky.

Last night at 12:58 AM, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake moderately shook my household awake. We're all fine.

It was the first earthquake my family has experienced together since the 6.4 Northridge earthquake, which destroyed this very same home in 1994, now rebuilt in 2000. We reminisced.

I also hopped on USGS to get the latest scoop. Turns out the Pacific Rim has been busy. Yesterday, Java suffered a 7.5 earthquake and 30 seconds after tonight's quake a 5.1 earthquake hit Tonga.

Good thing I received my passport today, but too bad I won't escape...

Image from: USGS

Sample

Did hear a good joke at the hospital:

An elderly man was having some difficulty. The ER doctor listens to his symptoms and then asks him to produce a urine specimen, a stool specimen, and a semen specimen.

The elderly man can't hear too well and asks his wife what the doctor wants.

The wife responds: the doctor wants your underwear...

Image from: R2Blue

Care

Had the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life this afternoon.

Diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, sweating, went pale. I nearly fainted.

Went to the UCLA hospital emergency room. They didn't take a stool sample (high cost, low yield) - instead, they gave me a pregnancy test.

Turns out I'm not pregnant.

Image from: suzanna

LAX

- Any trouble in the airport?
- Nope. Typical. Slept on the flight, landed, waited at the curb next to Jude Law.

- Did you say hi?
- No. I ignored him.
- Ah. Like a true Angelino!

Image from: arimoore

Send

Ladies -

Well, I'm off and gone. Leaving for South America - tonight!

Please let me know if you want to keep updated of Linda's and my 5 week mis-adventures. It should be exciting: avoiding the FARC, Cartagena heat stroke, mugged at Machu Picchu...

Then again, Huaraz should be spectacular!

Hope all is well with each of you and that you're enjoying the best plumbing the world has to offer.

Best,
Jackie

Image from: DefMo

Liberal

Bless me father, for I have sinned. It's been...

I told the priest about a few personal difficulties, then I went through my hit-or-miss list of the Ten Commandments.

In response, the priest agreed with my choice to give up flirting for Lent. He then highlighted, above all, that I should go to Confession more often. At least twice a year.

So I said an Act of Contrition, was forgiven my sins, and left.

Now I felt more prepared to embark on my trip, but first I had to call Nina:

- That's it? No Penance?
- That's right, Nina. No Penance.
- At my parish I miss one Sunday Mass and I get a whole Rosary!

Image from: danieldors

Central

After picking me up in LAX, Jes brought me to her work.

Comedy Central: Roast of Flavor Flav.

Image from: artist direct