College Spending Problem

#1: “Hey Daddy….oh yea Daddy, of course the books here are expensive. Yea, I kinda need another grand.

#2: Arches eyebrow

#1: *Pause and listen*. "Great! Thanks Daddy, I love you."

#2: "I take that he doesn’t know of your shopping problem."

#1: "And he never will."

- Berkeley Bookstore, MLK Building.

Parents often complain about their kids spend like there is no tomorrow.

And why shouldn't they?

Its not their money.

So how do you make them view the money as the "'family stash?".

Stay Tuned.

(Yes, I will actually answer this question, and the "how to deal with women" one too)

Don't Fake it In College

Hello Freshmen (for all you 1st years out there....others, ignore me)!

School starts on Monday, and you might want to know that...

College isn't and extended version of High School, don't try to impress someone.

You have all the time in the world to do that.

Don’t bury your face in books either.

This is the time to find your goals, your friends, your insecurities, yourself.

These four years someone else is paying (if you’re lucky) for your opportunity to think about the rest of your life.

Use it well.

Because what is going to come after college?

God willing, it will be a high-paying job

A stressful job

And then you’ll always try to impress your boss, trying to establish yourself as a professional.

By the time you did, you’ll have kids and a mortgage.

So stop trying to impress someone. Start living your life.

Stop trying to attain the unattainable and comparing with everyone else.

If only I can get into Haas

Yale Law

Harvard Med School

UPenn MBA

That Perfect Job.

If only I can get a boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband

Oh wait…that would be the start of your troubles.

Beatboxing flute inspector gadget remix

Holy Merlin on a bicycle...

Downtown San Francisco

After been told that I might need a new putter, I decided to set off to downtown SF with my new friend (lets call said friend J) to a Golf Pro Shop.

The day started off on a bad note as I frantically flipped my apartment upside down trying to remember where in the world did I put my set of keys after yesterday's 9pm grocery shopping trip (will tell you 'bout that later).

Then I rushed to greet the 51 bus that leads to Downtown Berkeley's Bart Station.

J meet me at SF


and drove to the nearest Golf Superstore, filled with putters of all shapes and sizes that are just queuing for me to try out.

It started off innocently enough

I was pleased

Heck, I'll even take this


But ohhh no

Apparently everyone around me had to have the snazziest

Top of the line eyecandy

That is sure to put the ball in for you.

Niiiiiiiiice, you say.

But oh oh oh....

wait for it....

THAT is just nifty

To be honest, I am a simple girl. Really. The nifty ones generally scare me and give me a headache. I tend to look at the white circles more than I look at the ball itself.

I'll just stick to simple, apparently I am not meant for great things.

But what really got my blood going is...

Chocolateeee

Right beside the Pro Shop is a See's Factory. I was so excited because the only time I got to see a See's Factory Store first hand is through the Food Network where they did a documentary of See's and their awesome workers and their awesome chocolates.

But See's don't offer tours.

How do I know?

Because I asked.

And they almost made me cry.

So I did the next best thing, I bought a luscious cocoon of angel-wings...

ahem See's Best Truffles


For my mom.

Self-Discipline much?

Yann Tiersen - La Valse d'Amelie

Feast for your Ears

Golf..........is the SHIZZLES

I think I caught a bug.

Really, go ahead, question my sanity all you want, but golf is the shizzles.

I am not a particularly

strong person

Nor can I whip up a


So naturally I am attracted to sports that don't require that much strength but will still deliver

a hiney kickin

Alright hotshot, whats your point?

Golf is about as harmless as calling your dear uncle Markie

But oh wait,

Yeah.

More golf?

No?

*lip quivers*

Okay I understand.

I Disappeared off the Face of the Planet

because I was dealing with

THIS

Nothing screams "Welcome Back" quite like it.

There was no place to even put down

Sexy

much less muster enough sitting room to blog.

So how did I get myself into this

lovely debacle?

A friend took over my spot during the summer and I flied back early to settle down before the new wave of Freshpops take over the city.

Well, there is no use disassembling my 70lb luggage until friend cleans the area out so I did the only thing a sane person would do...

Somebody has got to suffer

Nay, I'm not that mean.

After sparring with random people, I took it out on myself via Pilates.

Effectively kicking my own hiney.

Only to realize when I limped back that I have to face

This

Roomies....

You WIN

*Note: I love my friends. I really do. Every single one of them. Especially the ones who teaches me important life virtues like.....patience.

I Promise to Be Interesting!

Some of you might know me as The Girl Who Wanted to Play Golf

Other simply know me as the masochist who took way too many classes last semester.

Either way, I'll be happy to entertain you.

My desire to golf put me in touch with a few kind hearted golfers whose responses really brought a shine into my life. The responses are honest and creative and everything in between.

There are those that tried to pet me in the head and say "Hon, you have no idea what you are getting yourself into". Sir I know...but try telling my brain that.

Others tried to get me to play tennis with them.

Sawree...I already have way to many tennis partners on my speed dial. A occasional wack or two is agreeable...or you can try the Hearst Court Thursday or Saturday evening and look for the girl who likes to make people run.

That’s my partner.

"Hey! That was a cheap shot!"
"99 cents special baaaaby"

Some are generous enough to take me shopping with them for "cute golf attire". Thanks! But I don't even go shopping with my friends. My mother is more honest.

Picture this:

"Dani, does this dress make me look fat?"
"Of course not! You look like a million bucks!"

But my mom favors the British.

"Mommy, does this dress make me look fat?"
"Sweetheart, you look like a million pounds!"

And then there are the rare few and between that took pity on me. Some even offered to start right away when I get back to Cal.

I thank you, I thank you, and I thank you.

As time pass, I promise to strive to be more of a golfer and less of a gopher.

I promise to make your contributions worth your while, soon enough you'll have a full fledge hacking partner with you.

There are a few that wanted to help, perhaps taken by my desperateness. And then came to their senses and go "why am I doing this? For all I know she might be a serial killer"

I promise that I am not. I don't have time for that stuff. I don't even know why I am starting this blog when I am cramming way too many courses and barely hang on to sleep.

But I do know that many of you are having it worse than me.

And a little entertainment goes a lonnnnnnnng way

So if you think that this worth it, give me a shout out by clicking on that tantalizing button underneath. Comment away, I'll try to get back to all of you. Understand that it will take time, but I'll try.

For those who are media shy, email me at joannablogging@gmail.com

I'll still get back to you...eventually.

So let’s recap, my name is Joanna. A Cal Bear who is taking on golf while updating this blog (once or twice a week) with funny golf stories or my daily life in Cal. Mostly about my life in Cal. That and my culinary conquests.

Yes, stick to this blog and I'll guide you through midterms and hangovers.

And yes, Stanford students are welcome too.


Really, we're a friendly lot.

I ask of nothing more than a simple comment to know that I am entertaining you.

This makes this worthwhile.

Oh, for those who are worried about being posted here if you are already associated with me, worry not. I highly respect everyone's privacy and will ASK before posting anything about you.

For those who are worried about my sanity / willingness to let people into my life because I'll get stalked....well....

I genuinely believe that most people you'll meet in life are good people, as long as you let them be. Or at least this is what I hope, for I don't want to live in a world that I can't pretend I believe in.

So anyone is welcomed: golfers, gofers, college slaves, alumni, those who aspire to attend college, worried parents who want a glimpse into college life other than stalking your kids on myspace. The occasional day laborer.

Welcome aboard.


Oh before I go, if anyone is interested to put a face to this lunatic, this is me when I was 8.


Didn't change much, use your imagination.

* Oh yes, guys who are confused as to how to answer the "does this make me look fat" question, stick around. First I got my final to deal with.