Roaming Horned Frog

December 15, 2009

Today was the potluck for EAD 875! Lovely way to end the semester! I decided to make a Fruit Tart. Originally, I was going to make a Tiramisu Bowl, but Dani was making her famous Toffee Chocolate Trifle.

I made the crust out of Nila wafers (50 crushed) and almonds (1/2 cup crushed)...mixed with melted butter. Had to press it down into my glass pie pan thing.
Next, I had to make the filling. One cup of cold milk (whole), with Vanilla Pudding mix, and a cup of Cool Whip. :) Then I poured it in.



Finally, I left it sit in the refrigerator for about 3 hours....after....I cut/washed some fruit and placed it on top. I used strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, and raspberries.


Took it to the potluck and people loved it. :) (At least I hope they were not lying to me....)

Personally, it was delicious! For next time--- I need to crush the nila wafers and almonds more...to little pieces. There were a couple of chunky almonds left. It was hard to cut out the crust without losing some...So I think I might also try some graham crackers to crush and mix it in.

Hope you enjoy!

Cleda

November 23, 2009

It's almost Thanksgiving! I'm very thankful that TCU is ranked #4 in the BCS standings! I feel so proud as an alumnus! I'm definitely going to give more money to TCU.

I'm also thankful to have wonderful friends and co-workers! I am going home with Jess P. for Thanksgiving! She's so wonderful! I'm really excited to meet her family and also to go Black Friday shopping with her!!!!

So back to TCU --- I've already told my mom and dad that I'm going to the Bowl Game when TCU goes....Fiesta or Sugar...we'll see. I just really want to go and support. They are against me going, but I'm an adult and I can make my own decisions! We'll see how much it all costs. Depends also on how much I spend this Friday!

I've put up my Christmas lights. :) So excited! It looks awesome at night. I'll try to post a picture.

I have so many things to do -- including my self-paced on-line class which is currently at no pace for me. I've got a lot of reading and writing to do! The history paper (huge) is done and over with....all I need to work on is my poster presentation, my portion of the Office Consultation Project, and my on-line class. :) Weeee!

It's almost here--- i'm less than a month away from home. Can't wait! I miss my family, my godmother, my cat, and my dog. It's been 6 months since I've seen them.

Anyways.....making lunch now. Turkey and rice :) Hope it turns out okay.

Much love and hugs,

Cleda

November 20, 2009

I'm a month away from home! I can't wait to be back in Texas. It's been 6 months now...and will be a total of 7 months since I've been home.

It hasn't snowed yet in Michigan -- well in East Lansing.

I kind of miss it. I forgot what it looks like.

So.....just finished a huge history paper. *crosses fingers* I hope it's good. We'll see.

Now going to clean my apt. I hope my next post is longer.

<3 Cledes

I had a relatively busy weekend.
I spent Saturday from 1PM-2:30PM working on a case study presentation with my group --we're attacking the issue of Hazing. It was a really good discussion and I'm really excited we're working on this early.

Then Charlie and I went to Expresso Royale Cafe to write our Case Study Analysis due Tuesday. We sat there for a long time. From 2:30 until about 7:45PM. We hashed out our papers and only have a little bit left and editing! :) So proud of us. Plus, we were able to get Thai Kitchen for dinner. Delicious!

We then came back to ERC --- there wasn't anyone there because their expresso machine was out of commission - EPIC Fail. BUT, when we got back, they fixed it! :) We didn't stay too long.

I had to leave because I was on secondary duty at 9PM and had to be back at Williams.

TODAY was really hectic. I created the flyers to post up all around West Circle for the Career and Majors Exploration Campaign. The printer in Landon was out of color ink and I didn't know where the extra cartridges were. Went to the other color printer in another hall and found out the printer "lost connection" with the computer. So I had to go to Staples to buy my own color and black in for my printer to orint out one set.

Now i'm making a lot of copies. It's taking about 30 minutes for every set of 50 copies. :(

Fail.

On the other hand, my supervisor just walked into the office and told me training went well tonight. It was short, simple, and sweet.

LOTs of things happened. I created Jeopardy questions and had everything ready, but didn't have internet connection in the Ivy Room to reload it. I was ready, but not. Jess got sick. Remember how the printers weren't working? Well, she made the handout and it was ready, but she didn't print them because of the printers. Fail. She ended up going to the hospital and left the meeting early. So Prohibitive Harassment training was all me. I had a lot of support from Scott. Nick, Audrey, and Kate were also very supportive. I was just frantic and a wreck. I'm a J (MBTI) and not having anything made me nervous. I typed up definitions and created some activities on the spot. It was all done in 45 minutes (Imagine a 1.5 hr presentation cut in half). I ended without doing Jeopardy, but just now came up with a good idea. I'm going to make a crossword/worksheet/essay sheet for Mentors/Staff and have them fill them out (optional) and turn them into me for cookies+candy. Yay! :)

I'm just really happy that people liked the training and told Kate and she told me. I feel good, but being a Maximizer (StrengthsQuest), I know I could have done it better. It was mediocre because it was on the spot, last minute.

Now I'm making copies and listening to the K-Ci and JoJo Radio on Pandora. Good music.

Much love and hugs,

Cleda

Sorry that I have not been able to update my blog.

Lots of things have happened since the last post:

*I had a great summer in Bloomington, IN.
*I am now an Assistant Hall Director in Williams Hall - West Circle.
*I love my Senior Staff, Sub-Staff, and Hall Government!
*My BEST FRIEND moved to Switzerland.
*I'm a little behind on Academics.
*I've been to Atlanta to visit JPizzle with Dani!
*I am planning to present at a conference at UW-Madison.
*I have had to readjust my plans for Thanksgiving.

:)

P.S. I miss Ambika.

July 7, 2009

I went to Chicago for the 4th of July weekend and had a blast! We, Tassia, Andres, and I, drove from Bloomington up to Chi-town and made it in about 5 hours with traffic/construction. We made it to our hostel --which was located in downtown and one block away from Grant Park. Such a great location and great price!!!! We went to the Taste of Chicago and spent most of our day there on Friday. Then we watched the Fireworks in Grant Park -- SPECTACULAR! I'll post a video later of the show. On Saturday, we decided we would go to a Cubs game -- Cubs vs. Brewers. We browsed the different vendors and bought ourselves some Cubs gear to conform to the norm. Too bad it started raining and the Cubs did not do well at all. LOL. Wrigley field is small compared to what I'm used to in Arlington -- GO RANGERS!

After the game -- we went to the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum ---wow. Just wow! I do have to say that although I was impressed by the Shedd Aquarium, the New England Aquarium was better (in its own way). We did see Pole to Pole (part of Planet Earth) in 4D. Pretty fun! Later that evening, we grabbed some delicious cheesecake from the Taste. Andres and I then went to see "America All Better" at The Second City. This is where Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, Alan Arkin, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, and Amy Poelhar (sp?) started!!!! The show was hilarious! They made a lot of jabs at Americans in general, some at Texas, a lot of fun poked at Indiana and Gary, IN. Race issues, classism, you name it -- it was covered! Got back to the hosttel at around 2:30 AM. Then drove back to Bloomington early in the morning. Made it just in time for a nap before our weekly 7PM housekeeping meeting with the entire student body (of the Groups program).

Still exhauted, but incredibly happy that I was able to go to Chi-town for a weekend, especially that of the 4th of July!

I know we didn't do the Magnificent Mile, didn't wait in line for an hour to get some of Garrett's Popcorn, go to Navy Pier, or the Sear's tower. I'm saving all of that for March when I go to NASPA. :) tee hee.


Until next time,

Cleds

P.S. I got a phone call from a friend I haven't talked to in a long, long time. It's good to hear from people. Call me ---- anyone!

I've been at IU for 5 weeks and two days!!! WOW! Time goes by quickly! I'm only 5 weeks away from training/going back to East Lansing! Oh how I miss it so! I absolutely love it here in Bloomington! I went to Indianapolis this past weekend and had a blast! I saw Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen in IMAX and it was incredible! Did a lot of shopping and had incredible creole/cajun food at Yats (the original location)!

The weather in Bloomington is quite unusual. Last week, it was very humid and hot. Today, the high is about 75 and tomorrow it will be 72 or so. I am used to the upper 90s and low 100s in Texas. I am definitely enjoying this weather!

My internship is pretty sweet. I'm enjoying my time learning and spending some informal time with the students. I believe I can relate to them, being a first-generation student. They might not know it, but I am hoping to connect with them in the next 5 weeks. They finished their 4th day of classes today and have about 5 more weeks of classes.

The Resident Assistants are incredibly bright and talented. They are putting on phenomenal programs: Guess that RA, Speed Meeting, Club Teter, Sex in a Fishbowl....etc. They plan on doing more this summer: Top Chef, Biggest Loser, Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance Crew, etc. I'm very proud of what they have accomplished and am excited for the rest of the summer.

I've lost some weight, not because of what I'm eating, but because of my free membership to their student recreation center! I love putting in an hour of cardio each time I go! Gabe was right! The food is very greasy and it gets really old: chicken, sandwhiches, sbarro, and some Chinese that I have yet to try.

I've tried a lot of great local/townie restaurants and am very impressed. My Thai is not as good as Thai Kitchen. Bloomington Bagel Company (BBC) needs to come to East Lansing. Laughing Planet Cafe - wow! I'm definitely doing a video blog update for the Foods of Bloomington/Indianapolis!

This 4th of July -- I'm going to Chicago!!!! Going to the Taste of Chicago and am super excited! It will be my first time exploring the city. The other times, I've flown in for layovers and spent one night in the O'hare airport! Can't wait to go to the Container Store and Harpo Studios. Thinking of going to a Cubs game!!!!! Brewers are coming into town and the tickets are about $40. Cubs better impress!

Until next time,

Cleds

June 17, 2009

Indiana University -- the best decision ever! I love it here! I can't believe I'm in the middle of my 4th week being here! Time goes by so quickly!

Andres, my colleague, gave me a great idea ---- VIDEO BLOGGING!
I've already uploaded my first video and posted it on my http://cledasatiu.blogspot.com blog. :) I'll be making another post after this.

Andres and I worked on Orientation Schedules for our students that are coming in on Saturday! We have a Master Schedule and 10 separate schedules for 10 different "teams." We have to call them teams and not groups because the program's name is "Groups" and it would confuse the students. LOL.

The weather. It's interesting. Humid. Hot. Cold. Windy. Sunny. Humid. Cloudy. Damp. Fall-like. Spring-like. Hot. Just a mix of everything in one day. LOL. This happens often. Michael assured me in our one-on-one that the weather is abnormal this summer, thus far. It's supposed to be really hot the next couple of days and possibly all next week! We'll see how it goes.

So, I miss everyone in Michigan! Kind of miss my parents and my brother. Miss my dog and my cat. Miss my godmother. *sighs*

So...until next time,

<3 Cleds

June 2, 2009

Wow. I almost put May instead of June. How silly of me. I can't believe it is already June. Before we all know it, the summer will be over. 10 Weeks in Indiana, one week done, nine more? I'm sad already. I don't want to leave. I love it here in Indiana. You can read about my time there by clicking here or clicking the link at the top of the Blog.

So, I've thoroughly enjoyed the weather. I do have to admit that although the high 80s and low 90s are warm, it is way better than the Texas heat. This is my first summer not living at home. The past three summers, I worked for Breakthrough Collaborative, specifically the Fort Worth site. I've lived at home -- Teacher/Program Coordinator by day and retail with parents at night.

This summer, I'm an ACUHO-I intern with Indiana University - Bloomington. Woo! IU! Go Hoosiers! This will be my second Big Ten experience!

Anyways, just wanted to let you all know that I loved my first full week, thus far and look forward to the next nine weeks!

<3,

Cleds

P.S. I really miss my cohort and East Lansing. I do have to say that Bloomington is pretty sweet and they have Oberon here! :)

May 26, 2009.

Few words:
Limited internet access.
Safe trip to Indiana.
Love IU's campus!
Thunderstorms...
Met a lot of great people...
Still coughing...
Super excited about this summer.

Read about my first day. Click on the "Cleda's Summer at IU" link on top!

<3,

Cleds

May 20, 2009

I'm getting ready for a full day with my Godmother....

*Having some good Thai Curry Chicken
*Visiting 'Uncle Bud' (Godfather) at the Cemetary
*Going to the Ranch and seeing my pony, Thunder!
*Dinner (Thai Satay!)

Thursday is going to be sooo busy:

7:30 AM: Dentist
11AM: Lunch w. Toby!!!!
3PM: Optometrist
7PM: Dinner w/Sisters (Alumni) - we're discussing Incorporation and a National Board!!!

Friday:
Taking Grandparents to the Botanical Gardens and Kimbell Art Museum
Coffee/Gelatto w. Karen!!!
Dinner w. familia at Jumbo in Arlington

Saturday:
Piranha's Sushi in Downtown Fort Worth for Lunch
Movie w. Mike and Thuy?
Packing for Indiana!


Wow.....busy, busy bee!

May 17, 2009

I'm home in Texas! Wooooot! The drive wasn't as bad as I thought. It was about 1,000 miles. I only stopped three time total to pee/put gas in the car. hehe. I DO have a bladder of steel! Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm safe and at home.

Missouri was such a beautiful state to drive through. Oh my goodness it was beautiiifulll!

Stopped in Tulsa overnight on Thursday...then drove to McKinney, Texas to spend time with Frank. Poor thing -- he had stayed up for 48 hours working. He slept for about 20 hours straight! We watched a movie and a couple of shows on TV, had really good flatbread pizza, and he showed me his new toy:

Dodge Challenger SRT 80. It's a beauty.....!

I love his dogs...Rocco and Spencer - Chocolate Labs!

Anyways, I stopped by Allen Premium Outlets (3 exits away from his home) and got a new Coach bag, passport holder, and wallet. I'm Coach'd out for the year!

Got home at around 6PM or so....stopped at Dad's store and saw him and my brother. It was the first time in my life that I can remember him opening his arms for a hug. He was soo happy to see me. My dad is not the emotional type. For a grown Asian, traditional-minded man -- it was a sight to see!

Then went to see mom at her store....the newest on Hulen. She was quite happy to see me as well.

Finally, went to the original store near Ridgemar to see my Aunt and Cousin. :) I decided to give my newly purchased Coach wristlet to Yvette. :) She loved it. We then proceeded to go shopping at Rosss!!!!! (Ross doesn't exist in Michigan!) I got a new summer dress and 4 pint glasses that have the "Cowboys" and their star emblem on them. :)

This morning -- with the help of my brother and grandmother -- we took everything out of the car. Wow. I DO have a lot of things with me. I'm not sure how i'll be able to take everything to Indiana, but I have to. LOL.

Anyways....such a long and random post....

I love Texas...and I'm so glad I'm back -- even if it is for a week!

I leave for Indiana next Sunday! ahhhh!!

<3

Cleds

P.S. I hope everyone who went on the South Africa trip is safe! (Ashleigh, Dani, Jessica, Chris R., Matt and Mrs. W -- oh and the Ph.D. students. :) )

May 12, 2009

Let me tell you: I'm very indecisive about clothes and I'm pretty much taking all of my clothes to Indiana. Anything that is not winter and late fall is going with me.

I really don't enjoy packing. I have to pack several things separately: clothes for Texas, everything else for Indiana. Plus, I have to figure out storage. I'm going to be an Assistant Hall Director and am moving out of my apartment. I need to figure out what stuff is staying in East Lansing.

PLUS, there's a spider in my roooommmm!!!! I hate spiders! They have 8 legsssss!!! Oh my goodness, I can't get to my cabinet's/closet because it is in the way. Ughhh. This is going to delay my packing time. :(

Anyways, less than 2 weeks until Indiana!!! Only a couple of days away from Texas. It's going to be a long drive!

<3

Cleda

May 6, 2009

V8
Banana
Jello (Strawberry)
Apple Sauce (Strawberry)

Hooray for soft foods.

Ughh...GAP presentation--I'm not worried about. I'm just worried about this last paper that I have to do and it's due tomorrow. Woot.

So...plan for today: write, write, write, laundry, laundry, laundry, LOST, organize/pack.

Wow. One more week and I'll be on the road home to Texas!

<3,

Cleds

May 5, 2009

Happy Cinco de Mayo! and Happy Childrens Day!!!

Going on a liquid diet for a couple of days...not doing so well....Colon, Gall bladder, liver? Not sure yet. My blood tests haven't come back. We'll see what's going on.

Need to get ready for my GAP presentation, write a paper, and pack --- but can't really do that while i'm in bed. FML.


Possibly on hiatus for a while,

Cleds

The Way I Am

Written by Ingrid Michaelson

May 4, 2009

When I think of Michigan, I think of several things:
1) Too much snow
2) Good Oberon.
3) Bad Roads
4) Pretty sunsets.
5) The most delicious apples - much better than Washington.
6) Quiet capitol.
7) Home of the world's oldest Jazz Club (Detroit)
8) Home of Motown
9) Too much snow.
10) Weird weather patters.

5 Good, 5 Bad -- pretty even.

I'm sure all states have positives and negatives. I'm sure I can point out the flaws of Texas.

What can I say? You've been in Michigan for 27 years and I've only been here for 9 months. (This is far-fetched, but 9 months is the same as a pregnancy term and maybe at the end of 9 months, I'll love Michigan.) I know I'll miss it during the summer, for sure.

Oh...and I was comparing Michigan to places like Cancun, Jamaica, and Hawaii -- "tropical paradises" -- places people would go on their honeymoon or what not.

Thanks for sharing the greatness of Michigan, Terry.

P.S. Maybe it's because I'm a city girl that lives somewhat in the country. I'm just used to a booming metropolitan and things to do with great weather (with exception to some terrible tornadoes and 100F + in the summer). When I saw this comparison (Lansing vs. Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex), I got homesick:


Cleds.

P.S.S. I've scheduled an appt. with Olin Health Center. My body heats up at night, I'm fatigued, i have a cough, in the morning my stomach doesn't hold anything. Imagine cramping x 10. =( We'll see what happens. No worries -- I'm pretty sure I don't have H1N1 Flu!

May 4, 2009

So I've decided to share two of my favorite websites with you all.

www.postsecret.com
I discovered this waaay before the books came out. People send in secrets to Frank in Germantown, MD and he posts some on his blog. It's a way for people to let out their "secrets." Some are heartening and others are disturbing. I wake up every Sunday and the first thing I do is read new secrets.

www.woot.com
I also found this before it became very public and popular. Every day, Woot! posts an item for sale. It only sells one item each day until it is sold out. Then you have to wait until Midnight for the next item. The crazy thing is that shipping is only $5. You can buy a plasma TV that costs $999 and only pay $5 for shipping! Sometimes they have Woot!-Offs -- this is when they sell more than one item for about 24-36 hours. The catch, they don't display the other items unless the previous one gets sold out. You'll know when it's a Woot!-Off when they have the blinking orange lights. Lots of items for good prices and some refurbished items. Another catch -- there's a limit of 3 per item. LOL.


Enjoy,

Cleds

May 3, 2009

Updated as of this morning and in no particular order:

Frank (<3)
Thuytrinh! (Lunch + Movie + Mike)
Mike L. (Angels & Demons)
Phi (Lunch)
Toby (Lunch)
Yvette (shopping)
Katy (Lunch)
TCU: Natasha, Margot, Natalie, Darron

Let me know if you want to meet up when I'm in town, May 16-May 23, 2009.

Other news: Mavericks lost first game to the Nuggets in Round 2 of the Playoffs. Sad day.

Okay, back to paper writing.

Much love,

Cleds

Leaders should aim to be transformational; they should empower their members in order to move the team forward.

Leaders should not be transactional - barking orders A, B, C, D,..etc.

It's hard describing leadership -- everyone leads differently.

I'm having a lot of 1 hour+ conversations about leadership with my sorors.

I'm trying to get us incorporated and get insurance in order to expand.

BUT, we can't expand unless we have a solid foundation for Alpha chapter...

Disaster
Rage
Anxiety
Madness
Anger

These are the emotions/things I am sensing right now.

Some of this stuff is necessary.

Think of a Phoenix.

Picturing it?

Good.

According to Wikipedia: " It has a 500 to 1,000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of myrrh twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. In some stories, the new phoenix embalms the ashes of its old self in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis (sun city in Greek). The bird was also said to regenerate when hurt or wounded by a foe, thus being almost immortal and invincible — it is also said that it can heal a person with a tear from its eyes and make them temporarily immune to death."

I believe the sorority is like a Phoenix -- we are able to regenerate when we are hurt. Sometimes a fire is needed to bring out the best of us.

"Absence is to love what the wind is to fire. When it's a small fire? The wind kills it. But when it's a real fire? It intensifies it. So that absence should do that."- Diane Von Furstenberg

This really describes how I feel. My absence at TCU with the sorority is intensifying my love for it. I really want to see us grow and develop into a great organization in the next 10-20 years!

Lots of work to do....

Much Love,

Cleds