Musings, Updates, and the Unclear Future

On a whim, I applied to CSUN's MA program. I had much encouragement from my professors and classmates. One--because I truly think that these people believed that I could succeed in grad school. Two--I still felt I had much to learn about my writing: the art, the literary value, and the theoretical approaches of it. I know many people think it's crazy, to go the same undergrad for grad, but I have only been at CSUN for two years and only spent about half the time truly concentrating on creative writing.

For me, this is simply a continuation. I will continue to grow as a writer in this time. Grad school will be a challenge, but I feel that it would be more on my level. I enjoy a challenge myself. I'm ambitious. In undergrad, I always liked to go the extra mile just so I could not only test my boundaries, but also so that I could set myself apart and show that I have merit. Something beyond the workshop story, but an actual literary and artistic piece that may be perhaps be a cut above, or a potential contender for greatness.

With that said, I am accepted as a conditionally classified student. I am enrolled in one class, but it's a 400-level undergrad creative writing class. O.o I haven't been able to register in any grad classes because (and here's why I mentioned I applied on a whim) I applied so late, so last minute that by the time I was able to register, all the classes were full. Now it is time to do the sit-in, beg, plead, and hope for an open spot somewhere.

In other news, I have had a short story accepted for publication. Tayo Literary Magazine is up-and-coming and is geared towards Filipino-American youth empowerment. I think it's great that this magazine coming up. It's great to read literature, see photos and artwork by Fil-Am youth. Somehow, I think that Filipinos in the arts are rarely highlighted. We exist. We are there. This magazine, though it is still fledgling, is a novel (no pun intended :P) idea because it showscases Filipinos in a way, that perhaps prior, we haven't been seen before. I'm proud of the beliefs of the editors of the magazine, what it stands for, what it is doing for the community.

In other editorial news, perhaps I've not mentioned this, but I am the co-head editor of CSUN's literary magazine, The Northridge Review for the Fall 2009 issue. We are nearly complete with the magazine, and are expecting to have a release early in the upcoming semester. :D

Now for the future. I'm not sure what will happen within these next two months. Two friends of mine have thrown a curveball into my life. They are going to Korea to teach English, as part of a special program. I'm excited for them and I want them to succeed, especially because not only is an excellent opportunity to travel, immerse into another culture, and on a humanitarian note, to teach children...but it's also a great alternative to being thrust into the capitalist real world that we call an economically faltering America. I won't lie and say to myself that I applied to grad school so that I could postpone diving into the real world because I couldn't find a job. (However, this is a topic I will further elaborate on, in terms of my longer-term future goals) I can't even get hired at Barnes & Noble, for crying out loud, despite the fact that my resume is looking pretty good now.

In any case, Myra and Jenny, are off to Korea within the next two months, and they will fulfill a year's contract to teach. They are two of my closest friends and I will miss them terribly.

And so they are persuading me to go to Korea and teach as well. -_-

Now this is going to be tricky. Stay tuned...

I Ate Vegan

I am prepared to take the verbal hits and blows that may come my way when I say that I ate and enjoyed vegan food. This is what happened. (copied from my review on Yelp!)



My brother and I happened upon this place while strolling through the neighborhood after a run at the Silverlake Farmer's Market. He's a newfound vegetarian, for health reasons, and I am not. Though, I could be if I wanted to...but...well, I am a human who surrenders to temptation, guilty as charged.

I was a little reluctant to eat here, because the word "vegan" struck fear and horror in me. I envisioned frou-frou tofu atop raw pieces of dough and bland tomato sauce. You know, because I was an ignorant fool. However, I pride myself in being open-minded and I was willing to take the plunge. Besides, my poor brother finally found a restaurant that catered to his very strict diet and I felt obligated to compromise.

We came in for brunch and he had the breakfast burrito with a side of fruit. I had the buckwheat blueberry bliss pancakes with a side of breakfast potatoes. My pancakes certainly were bliss. They had an interesting texture--crispy around the edges, but the center was as fluffy as any old American flapjack, with a few walnuts tucked into the cake. The blueberry topping tasted fresh. I was given a small ramekin of soy butter, which I kid you not, tasted and melted as real butter. I didn't miss cow butter at all! They didn't give me a ton of syrup, but for some reason, I didn't feel compelled to drown my pancakes in the syrup, as one normally would. I wanted the pancakes to speak for themselves, and they certainly did.

Everything here is natural, free of chemicals and artificial sugars. The food tastes so good, that any non-vegan can waltz in here and seamlessly enjoy a meal without missing a single beat of their own daily fare. I definitely recommend!

And take a home a chocolate cupcake. Oh, it was divine!

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Yes. This is a good vegan place. Vegan food isn't just plain raw veggies and dip. I didn't realize that I could have my cake and eat it, too. And you know something, I'm really proud of my brother, because he's finally taking control of his life and his health. Now I wish I could say the same for me, but um...well, I still like meat.



Oh and! I also saw Pazza Gelato, a gelateria that Giada di Laurentiis featured on her show, Giada's Favorites, which made me very excited because I love Giada...