sunset over water

I'm slowly knocking off points on my summer bucket list. Calhoun is one of my favorite places to be, the Minneapolis skyline is one of my most comforting sights.

There really is no place like home

progress!

makin' real progress here. gotta start within the family of course, this is Odie. Baby of my cousins and one of the most hyper of dogs. I'm good when he's sitting calmly but all he has to do is flinch or sneeze to have my heart go immobile for a min. Any swift movement that resembles the forever imprinted chase has me spazzing! Stinkin Taco scarred me for life. 

I'm hoping to hang out with Kiba, he's probably calmed down since he was a pup. 

2 more months of summer & by the end...

man's best friend could be mine too??

Summer Bucket

Wise words that I heard in a previous graduation speech have been turning the gears in my mind these last few weeks. The speaker encouraged the fresh batch of graduates to quit waiting for great things to happen and to stop  relying on the world to knock on their doors; in other words, we should retire from playing defense. 


Switching to offense requires that we become active leaders in the community. Make learning opportunities out of quiet phases in your life and inspire people you interact with every day. Playing on this side of the field requires that we not only recognize our goals, but do what it takes to achieve them.

I've been told that the offense side of the game is my common field but that hasn't been on purpose. From here on out I want to reach out for opportunities, work with different people on many different things, volunteer in organizations that have nothing to do with education, try all sorts of new things and step out of my comfort box so much that it's no longer a box. There are a few things I want to do this summer, but I won't limit myself to this list, nor do I think it'll be extensive enough. ( Just things to keep in mind as my summer days pass)

Boston to see my girls

Florida with my family

Fishing (I haven't done this in ages, why not try it out again?)

Kayaking on calhoun with the family

shooting range with the sister

Cook great food

Inspire -everyone, anyone

Try new foods, even at places I've already been to

Go to valley fair to entertain my inner ride warrior

Harry Potter 7 with the fam

Fountains, gotta continue on!

See a sunset over water ( saw one in aus. curious why I never tried to here with all these lakes we've got)

Finish all my new books from borders!

Conquer fear of dogs- or animals in general

See "The Help" when it comes to theaters

MAKE TIME to work out more ( how could there be so little time even when school is out..)

Find a breathtaking view in Minnesota

I've got very high hopes for these next few months.
This makes up for all those summers of eat sleep and watch tv...

                                                                I'm playing offense now.

fork in the road

It's important for me to remember, especially right now that from here on out there are no more blueprints, checkpoints or trail maps to guide  me (or rather tell me) where to go in life. Most people would just about freak out without knowing what summer they're supposed to have an internship or what year it is that they are to be married at this point, but we really shouldn't. Think, if there's no answer key, or one right answer...who's to say that any of us is ever wrong? Sure we make mistakes, but life is the teacher now, without that-eh might as well croak- living and learning go  hand in hand.

Why in the world am I stressin'?!

It's a shame that I personally think this way but I can't bring myself to do it because don't feel this way.
 This is what happens when you're of two completely opposite cultures. One encourages me to do what I can to find my own happiness-per my own definition of the term. The other strongly feels that quality of life is measured in numbers...actually, dollar signs. What kind of house I can provide myself, and other such things make up how respected I am and how 'happy' I could be in the future. This might not be true of everyone, but shit, it's pretty apparent in the world of Vu. I feel hesitant to move forward in any direction whatsoever because there will always be contradiction.

Simply working and volunteering does not allow me to move up the social ladder, but it will satisfy my current dread of additional school. The cla commencement speaker spoke my thoughts as she explained what most responses to " what are you going to do now?" would be. " We will be doing what we've been doing all along: touching lives, inspiring others, being leaders in our communities, and making a difference in the world." That is precisely why working to support myself ( all moved out, for cryin out loud.) and continuing my little legacy would be ideal. This move, however, invites sneers from my Vietnamese side, and questions as to why I would 'waste' such precious time. ( I've been strongly conditioned to avoid this little consequence btw. It's pretty severe....till I develop a tolerance?)

Applying and continuing my education will definitely please my parents but then that's little ann played like a puppet, obedient as she always has been.  I won't receive any praise or recognition for this, ( which I should since I removed my own personal interest) I'll just be spared from criticism. I might win in this, considering afterwards I'd have a masters in teaching, I just feel like it's not a choice I have. If that's not enough, there's going to be some under privileged communities that I won't get to help as much.

Sidenote** I am soo afraid of being rejected from grad school. Applying just puts me in the danger zone for that, I don't know if I'm ready for more stress. I just started my summer...

So yup, post graduate woes. I think I would die if I was a perfectionist. Nothing is ever perfect, whatever the word means.

what to do what to do...

good thing I am a procrastinator. I don't believe time well spent could ever be considered a waste ;)

Summer, get at me.