CHOKE!!

chok·ing

  [choh-king] 

adjective

1.

(of the voice) husky and strained, especially because of emotion.

I CHOKED!!! I effin choked! uggghhhh.... shoot me!!!

So last min, my girl JLo (follow her on twitter @msjlo haha) said she got us in da Meet & Greet for Sean Paul. She is the BIGGEST Sean Paul fan eveeeerrrrr! So we were super excited. We grubbed on some yummy bbq food and then continued into the conf room. Then in walks Sean Paul with a cute lil mohawk. Like him with braids if ya ask me. Nessa, a DJ on Wild 949, did the interview with Sean Paul and I have to say, I really enjoyed his answers. He was talking about Jamaica & Reggae music. I felt like we connected more because No1 in that whole room knew who frickin Peter Tosh was. And he was talking about his influence and what not. 

Nessa, who is a friend of JLo's, told her to think of a question cause she's going to pick on her. So I text Jlo a variety of question. Sure enough, Nessa picked on JLo and she asked for his Fav reggae song and Fav vacation spot. I dare not to share the answer....u just had to be there! lol FINALLY, it was time to meet him, take pix, conversate. Every1 is doing their thing, JLo was in front of me, she took her pix, held his hand, told him how much she loves him, and then it's my turn. I had a million questions running thru my head. What your fav Bob Song? Would you colab with Tanya Stephens? 

I go up and smile, Take my picture, his hand on my lower back gave me goosebumps  (oooohhhwweeeeee), after the flash, I said "Thank You"... and then Walked Away! I frickin WALKED AWAY!! CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE!!! What an idiot! Like a lil fat girl getting shy in front of her crush in high school! hahahahaha OMG, Im sooo kicking myself right now. On our drive home, I kept telling Lupe how much I wanted to bang my head against a brick wall! My fam one by one is asking how was it? I roll my eyes while the ones who knows the story laugh. Mui stupido!

Hopefully, I can meet him again and redeem myself:( Until then....ofa atu ofa'anga! lol

one of my FAV Sean Paul songs.... a good kickin it drinking song.....

namesakes are the *BEST*

I love being an Auntie especially cause I can spoil, play, wine & dine the child, but then send them back to their parents when I had enough for the day! LOL! I dont have kids of my own yet so why not enjoy it, rite! I've named a couple of my nieces & nephews middle name, but I've never been FIRST NAME worthy! I named my lil cousin in Tonga, but I named her after my great aunt. If you ask me to name a child, I wouldnt name it after myself, just do it yourself and ask for my help;) Then after pleading for one of my siblings to name a child after me (so fk'ofa), my wish finally gets granted at grandbaby #20. She will be the baby for a LOOONG time but she is the sweetest, adorable, lil suga momma everrrr!

Introducing my 7 month old namesake Eseta Halaki'umata Nisa. The first name is mine of course, and I'm named after my maternal grandmother. I chose her middle name because it is my paternal grandmother's name, which is also my younger sister's name. So she's name after my 2 grandmothers and her 2 oh so fly aunties!! haha

**BABY TATE**

She's such a cutie..but can be a handful too. That is when i take her back to her mom...or her older sister Belle.

Smile like da sunrise...like her namesake! LoL!

3 generations of ESETAz! My granny (mom's mom), Me and Baby Tate. This is not the best pix but it was kinda a rush after my cousin's wedding and i was urgent to get one before I never do. My grandparents moved back to Vava'u a few yrs back so I only get to see them once a year (if that) so I wanted to capture this moment.

and today was the first day she crawled. Its only been a lil while but she is all over the house and eating whatever she finds on the floor:/

hugs & kisses to da CHI

As I was laying down ready for bed last night, i got those last min thoughts running thru my head. All random, this & that. Then I started reflecting on the letter I read earlier that day from my baby brother serving in the Illinois, Chicago mission. All of the sudden, I just got all emotional. Not a wreck tho, but I just HELLA miss my brother. And its always the small things. I missed teaching him how to find knots in my back just to get him to fota, singing along to "Sara Smile" by Hall & Oats, worrying bout what he's gonna eat for breakfast and taking him straight to Jacks drive-thru, washing my car for whatever lil change, going to his football games @ CSM or SM Warriors Rugby games!

He got asked to be the Best Man at one of his convert's wedding. I thought it would be so cool for my sisters & I to attend and surprise him. In my words, it was to "support him". To other ppl, it looks like "wedding crashers". But then my dad told us to "leave the boy alone and let him do his thing!"

He got 8 more months to serve and he loves it. I can totally see his progression thru his letters. He is the baby of the family so he was one spoiled missionary and got any & everything from my mom including overnight deliveries of Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburgers from Jack in da Box (none in the Chicago area. The nearest is 5 hrs away) but recently has rejected the splurges from my family due to one of the families in the area broke down to him about how bad the economy is. I told him, if you dont take it, i will! LOL!

All in All, I miss this crazy guy! Love You T.Y.:) xoxo

a HIKING we will go...

So it may not look like it but im a fan of hiking. When I go to the gym, i get so bored easily and wanna go home. When I'm outdoors, not only is it pretty out, but when I'm on a hill or on a trail, it's not like I can press a STOP button and be at my car.

My friend Moana and I went on a hike Saturday afternoon. Its been been a while since I've been on a hike especially it being a busy summer for both of us, it was nice to finally have a free weekend. We know a couple trails and this San Bruno mountain is probably one of the hardest because its totally inclined the whole way up, but it's the best feeling at the top and has the best view! This hike totally kicked my ass! it was hot, the sun was burning me, i left my water in the car...uggghhh! Finally reached the top and the view was amazing! Had to take a moment and just ponder. It was beautiful! Ahead you get SF, the right you see boats sailing on the Bay, left you see the beautiful Pacific Ocean...it was nice!

It took us a lil over 2 hrs to get to the top and probably less than an hr to get down. We always have the best talks going down cause we're not huffing and puffing. As we galloping down the hill, randomly talking bout everything under the sun, Moana who's in front of me stops and backs up and says A SNAKE! I'm like a lil scary cat in a big girl body LOL so I freak out not knowing what to do. The snake was totally in the middle of our 1 ft path and it was so not moving. Moana attempted to throw rocks to see if it was moving cause she convinced herself that it was dead. As she was preparing herself to jump over it, she totally saw the tongue smackin going in & out of its mouth! GROSS! The only solution was to go back up the HORRIFIC mountain and go back down the other side (HELL NO!) We waited a bit and FINALLY the damn snake crosses to the other side of the shrubs, watever.

Still shaking in my big girl boots, I was still scared to cross. I was convinced it was a poisonous snake. Finally after long deliberation, we decided to just run like a mad woman. To make it worse, I made Moana hold my hand and we run together! hahahah Frickin LAME!! Made it safely to the bottom of the mountain, and made it to the buffet safely;)

After thinking back on it, I was such a baby! I didnt hear a rattle, she snake was probably only a foot and half long, not even thick in circumference. I bet it was just a garden snake! That night after telling my sisters & aunties about my brush with death over drinks, they all totally laughed at me so I was too embarrased to finish my story about making Moana hold my hand! HAHA I wouldnt even hear the end of it!


Moana going up the first part of the mountain

After getting past the first part...takin a quick pix!

Prepping myself for the 2nd of 4 parts! You cant even see the 2 ppl coming down

View from the top!



My friend:)

P.S. I talk like this cause I can back it up...I got a big Ego...such a Huge Ego!

MATE MA'A TONGA!!!

Per my last blog, I was getting ready to attend the Bay Area IKALE TAHI fan car parade that same day. Plan was for EPA to come up 101 North to San Mateo, we hop on and so on with San Bruno and cruise all the way up to Treasure Island. Same goes for the East Bay going up 880 N onto the Bay Bridge and to T.I.

Met up at Key Market parking lot where San Mateo was to meet and already it was packed. Cars were decked out, flags, colors, it was crazy. We rode out and already...stuntin on da Norfolk & Shoreview intersection. We didnt even make it to da freeway! Approaching the freeway, crazy madness again. The ride up to SF was CRAAAZZYYY!!! Omg, i had such a blast. Flags everywhere, people hanging out windows, on top of cars, running on the freeway, at one point we even stopped traffic on 101 North! I was having flash backs of sideshow days! lol Getting closer to Bay Bridge, police finally caught up to us and pulled a few cars over, including our Tongan Ninja and the Tonga TV Video guy who was taping from the back of a iate truck with the video stand.

Arrived to T.I. and police were already waiting there and they turned all the cars away. We blocked the road again and got out to cars to wave to the ABC Channel 7 chopper in the sky! lol Another crazy moment. Went WhoRydin in SF all over Market, the Tenderloin, passed the TONGA room at Fairmont Hotel and to the Civic Center. We all rallied up, going crazy as cars were coming, took pix and departed there probably  an hr later.

Later on, stayed up to watch the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony and opening game...TOnga vs NZ and Tonga got spanked...but the support Ikale Tahi got...was remarkable!! It was like a Tongan National Holiday! lol Loved every minute of it!


some pix i took off FB...sharing is caring;)

THANKS WILL for the WINDOW decoration! LOL! ROLL CALL


da Galz gettin ready to head out....


San Mateo boys...


das our mascot!! LOL! Bay Area's Tongan Ninja/Samarai/Geisha...whatever u want...


Ridin up to SF, da brothers going crazy


When we shut down traffic at 6pm! There we are... far right w/ da girls on top



MY CRAZZZZZY PASANGERS!!! I should get an award for Driver of the Year! lol


CRAZY cousin Lupe driving opposite direction on da freeway!! LOL!




Freeway splits- Golden Gate go left, Bay Bridge go right. You see Pate with the white hat, stood on the center divide with his video camera capturing every car passing by. Yeah, heard he got a ticket! LOL!


Didnt make it to Treasure Island but we did make it to Civic Center. Last time I was here was for the SF Giants parade!! Great times!!

Cousin Maile captures this video when they shut down traffic

was captured by a random person on the opposite side of traffic

and this is why....

I love my faith. Pictures like this make me smile ear to ear.


I got this off my cousin's page on FB. Monson & Oaks gives Obama 5 volumes of his family geneology! Frickin AWESOME!




ON another note.... I'm excited for the Bay Area IKALE TAHI fan car parade. When I first saw the text from my cousin, i thought it was a joke. Then it just blew up overnight! So I guess I'm going now! LoL Parade at 5, Bball games at 9, Tonga vs NZ @1am. Pray I can get thru my day tomorrow HOI. Tonga may get their a** handed to them on a platter.... but I'm sooo lovin all this support & pride. MATE MA'A TONGA!!!

there's no place like HOME

Yesterday was such a beautiful day and I wanted to take advantage of it. So after work, I changed into "workout" gear to take a walk around the block! lol I put Baby Tate in the stroller and she and I went for a stroll.

Everyone loves where they're from just as much as I love where I'm from! Walk 3 houses down to the corner at my Auntie Mele's house and Matangi & Toni are playing basketball in the front. Stopped and said Hi to them. Strolled along and a few houses down, I saw my cousin Kofe getting something from the car, who I havent seen since she gave birth, who now has a family with a childhood Miko buddy. Stopped and talked to her. Made my way to the corner and it was the Va'enuku residence. Peeked through my girl Kasandra's open window and she was in there playing with her son. They came out and we chatted as Baby Tate & Baby Misi starred at each other. Continued on with my stroll... waved hi to familiar passing cars, got smiles and greets from neighbors in their front lawn. Stopped to talked to my high school friend's dad who was mowing his lawn.

Taking my last stretch before I reach the house, I was all smiles. I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD! I was born & raised in Shoreview so my heart is here! My Asian neighbors work at the local donut shop Wild Bills and she opens our side door every other day and drops off a batch for the kids. Mr Brown has been living on that same corner just as long as we lived here and is still driving the same 2 Cadillacs. We're not ghetto, we're not upscale! Kids still play on the street and you still see folks takin back a cold one on their front porch. Humans rule the streets in the day and racoons take over at night. But I still love that street.

Police pulled me over for 'running the stop sign on the corner'. I replied "Sir, I lived here my whole life! There is NO stop sign on that corner". He walked to check it out, came back, returned my DL and I was on my merry way (YEAH B*TCH! haha)

I <3 my City!

P.S. ♫Out here in ShoreView, Let Them See♫ listen here:)

Dear Journal.....

Last night I attended a musical fireside called DEAR JOURNAL. It was a really good fireside filled with some of my fav church songs (I've Got To Find Out Who I Am and COURAGE) In between musical numbers, they had people get up and read actual journal entries as a teen, before mission, during mission and so on as a young LDS member. It was really deep and moving

Kasandra sitting next to me said "i dont talk about church stuff in my journal" and I nodded and agreed with her jokingly...but it was true! I even joked with another person saying if I went up with my journal, I would spend too much time flipping through the pages tryin to find something that was appropriate to read during a fireside! SMH!

Anyways, amongst other entries, I really enjoyed this one...

It was a poem written by Mz. Liumeitupou Pulotu

TESTIMONY
Every day i ask myself, Why did i wake up today?
My testimony Burns through me
but no one can ever hear it.
He see's me but i Can't see him, Yet i still believe in him.
When things go wrong i never Kneel & question WHY.
I simply walk away hoping i'll find the answer along my way.
You gave me a keystone, I walk past it everyday.
You gave me a book, I never opened it.
Yet my testimony still burns through me
I hate that I can't change the Bad, But i know i can do better.
Members so afraid of whats ahead, Forgetting that there is a Plan.
Living by a book? Na Living for what i believe in.
You left me at an early age so its hard for me to remember you;
You test me here on Earth Im hoping that I'm acing this test everyday.
Testimony your more than words, Your more than a Sunday Afternoon.
Everyday my faith grows & other days my faith leaves me.
Im growing So Please don't Judge me.
Testimony Im relying on you

P.S. Courage is my way of saying I WILL FOLLOW THEE

Getting 2 know ME:)

Got a couple hours to kill before I make up my mind on what to do 2nite so here I go with a good ole survey I used to love to do during da 'MySpace' days!!

1. What time did you get up this morning? - BARELY got out at 6:45am

2. How do you like your steak? Surprisingly, I'm not a big steak person AT ALL! If I had to choose, It would just be a skirt steak. Give me chicken and I'd tear dat mug up!

3. What was the last film you saw at the theater?- As my last blog said.. it was "THE HELP"

4. What is your favorite TV show? – Oh gosh, where do I start! Real Housewives series, Swamp People, everything on Food Network, True Life, E! shows, I <3 TV period!!

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? – an island life! Tahiti, Maui, V.I., St. Lucia etc

6. What did you have for breakfast? -Damn nearly half a box of Cheez-Its and a glass of berry juice. 

7. What is your favorite cuisine? -all of the above! Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc

8. What foods do you dislike?- Cucumbers, never cared for em! Jalapenos, do not like spicy foods! Sourdough bread- yuck! 

9. Favorite Place to Eat? - I LOVE Cheesecake Factory! You can never go wrong with that place...so many options. Off The Grid- Food Truck paradise! Fisherman's Wharf- love fresh seafood. Cant get any easier than getting it right there on the street cart. 

10. Favorite dressing?- I dont get creative with my salads at all. I just stick to Caesar.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? – black Mercedes C230 Kompressor

12. What are your favorite clothes? – a nice summer dress with sandals or flip flops:)

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? – Maldives. Tahiti, Capri, Italy

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? – always 1/2 full... gotta be grateful for everything you have!

15. Where do you want to retire? – Lake Tahoe in da Summer and an island (Maui) in da Winter

16. Favorite time of day?- Midnight

17. Where were you born? – San Mateo, Ca

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? – Rugby

19. Are you a morning person or a night person? - Night

20. Do you have any pets? – I did have a fishy Sydney but it disappeared when I came home from Vacation. Now we have a black Pit named "Ellie". She's a feisty lil sucker. 

21. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? – I still have a week of vacation left for this year and dont know what to do or where to go!

22. What did you want to be when you were little? – LoL! I wanted to be a news reporter! 

23. What is your best childhood memory? – Anything surrounding my Grandparent's house on Washington St! My Fav, Fondest, BEST memories ever!

24. Are you a cat or dog person? - More of a fish/turtle person

25. Are you married?- Nope

26. Always wear your seat belt? – Most DEF

27. Been in a car accident? – Yes but nothing serious!

28. Any pet peeves? – an empty room with the lights & tv on, kitchen cabinet doors open, folks who dont use their blinker to switch lanes, cars who dont know the right of way, House music, dog walkers who dont pick up their dog shit in my front lawn, drunk people who take forever to order at Denny's

29. Favorite Pizza Toppings? – Mushrooms, Garlic & Bacon

30. Favorite ice cream? – Mocha Almond Fudge

31. Favorite fast food restaurant? – Taco Bell & Jack in da Box

32. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? – written test once but passed da behind da wheel with flying colors.

33. From whom did you get your last email?- probably a FB notification

34. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? – I did Max out my Macy's card! I'm waiting for the collection agency to send me a settlement in the mail lol

35. Do anything spontaneous lately? – Going to Hawaii in May was spontaneous enough

36. Like your job? – it pays da bills

37.Like Broccoli? – Love broccoli

38. What was your favorite vacation?–when I went to visit my grandparents in Vava'u

39. Last person you went out to dinner with? –probably my sister at the local taqueria

40. What are you listening to right now? – The TV is on. Watching True Hollywood Story of Snooki

41. What is your favorite color? – Purple, Blue, Black, Coral & Teal

42. How many tattoos do you have? – None. 

43. Coffee Drinker? – light weight. I drink coffee cause I like the taste & flavor. NOT because I need the caffeine.