I truly believe produce recalls are some political-economist's method of "stimulating" the economy, forcing the disposal of previously purchased food stuffs, requiring inspections from multiple agencies and supply chains, supporting the generation of new harvest, pausing sales and forging alternative purchases, then encouraging the mass re-buy after the "all clear." Rubbish. I'd rather test the waters and sit on the can for an hour if I eat a "bad egg."

5 month update in 5 lines:

1. graduated uc berkeley in may
2. got a job at yelp.com
3. moved to SOMA in SF
4. brother is engaged and deploying for Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq in a month
5. parents are good, but grandma is in chemo for breast cancer.

All is well.

AHHCK! Why wont retris work?!

I need a valentine!!!
AHCKK!

I want to lay on the edge of Memorial Glade, surrounded in its' green, green grass. Listening to music, smiling and starring into the open sky. I'll blink every so often, letting the breeze carry over my body and invigorate my spirit.

Happiness.

me needs a job.

The birthday has been great! As usual, my new year's resolutions weren't in effect until now. I've slowly been downsizing my online existence. Anyone know how to get your pictures off of someone else's fantasy site?

I'm sharing this, because I'm fabulous and NOT ASHAMED.

I choked on a piece of chicken tonight at work.
My friend brought me dinner, and it was much hotter than I expected. My first response was to swallow, except I hadn't chewed it at ALL! It went straight down and stopped half-way through.

I immediately stood up and started to flex my throat muscles, I moved my head to and fro. By this time, my friend was asking if I was okay?... uh, clearly not! I started beating my chest, pushing my neck, and it started to budge. I could get air through... slowly. I paused, took a few breaths, then took a sip of water - hoping it would help lubricate. I continued hitting my chest, moving my throat and neck. I was swallowing incessantly hoping it would push the damn chicken down.

After about 3 real minutes, which felt like an hour, the damn piece of meat pushed its' way down. But it was only in SEVERE PAIN! The kind of pain that comes from within, as though there's an alien clawing its' way out of my chest.

Needless to say, I couldn't swallow and I had a huge headache. My face was pink, and my eyes were bloodshot. My ears started to experience a hallow ring and exponential pressure.

I worked up the courage to text a friend to take me to the ER. I got work covered and left.

The ER wasn't that busy. It took two hours to see me, amidst men complaining of headaches, boys vomiting up their crayfish dinner, and other sickly looking individuals. All the staff was SO friendly, which was surprising! It was only 10pm.

The doctor said there wasn't much to do, and there didn't feel like anything big was still lingering. The pain, irritation, and sensation of a foreign body still in my throat was most likely a laceration in my esophageal lining. She strongly encouraged me to see a specialist, cautioning me to rest and whatnot.

Thinking I was feeling better, I went and had a smoothie and fries. Bad Idea. It led to a HUGE headache and throat ache. Now I'm up, because I can't sleep with my mouth salivating like a hooker in Vegas. Swallowing is still painful, but I'm spitting so I don't have to swallow ;).

I'm hoping the pain simmers down tomorrow, so things can return to normal!

I read a book in my Anthropology of Celebrity, Culture, and Power that really entertained my spirits. I finished the 342-page novel in a matter of 12-hours spread over two days. It read brilliantly, and I thought I'd share some of my favorite moments:

"Funny how at twenty-five you worry about not being taken seriously and take being a sex object for granted. Later you take being taken seriously for granted, and worry about not being a sex object."

"Her mouth's as tight as a choirboys ass."

"This style of romantic follow-up to a sexual encounter is the kind of thing crushes allow you to put up with, which is why they are monstrous afflictions to be fled from like vengeful beasts."

"People are either drains or radiators."

"I don't know how people manage to cope with accidents which are definitely their fault. But I know that people can emerge more or less intact from the most outrageous situations if they learn to think about them in the right way."

TURKEY TURKEY!

I can't wait!!!

I have a weird fascination for all those horoscope/astrology/personality summarizations!
This one is just splendid:

★ JANUARY = PERFECT
Fun to be with. Loves to try new things. Boy/girls LOVE you. You are very hott. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's fellings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. spazzy at times.Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover. Repost this in the next 5 mins and your reputation will boost someway in the next 12 days

God knows who made it up, but they're definitely my friend! There isn't a damn thing in there that I don't like! And I didn't edit it, I promise!

Alec Arizola (2:25): seriously andrew, we need to change our eating habits before it's too late. obesity kills!
Andrew Cerda (2:26): guns kill quicker than obesity. i know my options, alec

I'm finding it difficult to sleep. I'd like to think it's because I'm worried about San Diego and those fires, but I think I've exhausted those worries through phone calls, myspace comments, and checking the San Diego News web-sites more often that I scratch my nads.
I'm most likely up, because I slept in. When I say slept-in, I mean, slept for about 19 hours. It was delicious.

I'm experiencing a newfound motivation to update this journal more often. I'm sure it's just a phase, and it will pass like the homosexuality, but if it doesn't, I hope it's entertaining for you.

I'm still stressed about my future. Perhaps that's what makes me want to post. Is this my outlet? My avenue of solace for the uncertainties that lay ahead? Geeze. How typical...



I could be a teacher - I believe I can motivate and inform without boring.
I could be a student - I love the ability to procrastinate and pull it off.
I could be a businessman - Bullshitting comes naturally.
I could be a lawyer - I have a catty temperament to argument.
I could be a writer - I believe my words are personable.
I could be an actor - I've done it before, all I need is training.
I could be a porn star - There's always room for another cute face and average body.

I have terrible illusions of grandeur.
The scenarios and contexts change depending on my mood and environment.
I assume these fantasies are a normal function of the human mind, derived from jealousy and aspiration.
But I wonder how much of this false sense of hope is the result of other persons determining my bright future before I have a chance to acquire it.

This isn't anything new.
I've always had a knack for day-dreaming, and living artificial lives in my own platonic space.
Unfortunately, they've been heightened by the fact that I'm graduating and am forced to make plans for the future.

Thus far, I've applied to a few non-profit organizations, but I'm not feeling like they're receptive of my capabilities.
I can't explain how demotivating it is when the sector often starving for talent doesn't recognize your potential.
Add this attitude undercutting to the battle between individual and bureaucracy/system that is graduating and ensuring all requirements are met, and I'm stricken with grief. Perhaps not as legitimate as others' yet still present.

I can't end the post on the above sentence, because if I did, I would be at odds with my newfound feeling towards the digital space.
Casting myself online makes me available to anyone, which definitely touches on my masculine insecurity of showing true emotions.

So I have to leave by letting "my audience" know that I had a great weekend. I saw my mother on Friday, and after a complacent time getting lost in SF, we had a nice dinner.
On Saturday, I went to Santa Cruz, CA with a few of my close faguddys (fag buddys) to watch surfers change in/out of their wet-suits.
Now I'm finishing up my weekend shifts, and listening to a collection of delicious music my friend recommended.

Best,
-Andrew

Today was one of the best days I've had in a very long time.
Ahh, folsom street fair. Who knew you could be so fun.

Dear God,
All I need is three bullets in a gun, and this world will be three useless persons less.

Sincerely,
Andrew

Excerpt from my brother's blog 09/18/2007:

"I think a lot of people are going to ask me why I am leaving a job where I am making over $50k a year after salary and bonus, not to mention that I will likely have to sell my Audi, to what? Join the army… So for one, I believe that military service should be mandatory in the United States as it is in Germany. Second, I want to serve my country, because freedom isn't free, and to believe otherwise is naive. Third, the training and experience will help me achieve my goals in life. Fourth, I need to do this to feel like I didn't waste my life. I don't feel that I could create art or music anymore. I don't feel that I could love again. This is all there is left for me."

His words to me:

"Obviously, you know that I am not doing this for the money... You know probably better than a lot of people that this is something I've always wanted to do. I am just the military type of person... I will finish my Bachelors in the Army and hopefully learn German if I get stationed in Germany...

I wish you luck with your job applications. I hope everything goes to your plan, and if they don’t, remember things will work one way or another. You’re very smart and you have accomplished a lot in life. You are making Mom and Dad very proud, they have made sacrifices in their lives to raise us well and we will never be able to fully repay them. Thank you for being so involved in our family... keep in touch with them like you have, because I will not be able to while I am in training.

Love you Drew, we’re brothers until the end."

20 units: anthropology of media, sociology of culture, history of media law, effects of mass media, and sex//culture//colonialism.

I'm in the process of applying for TFA (Teach For America) with Atlanta and Hawaii as my top preferences. I haven't decided what order. Hawaii would be nice because of the weather, but I've never been and I think that's the draw. Atlanta would be nice because I have family, but it gets cold and that's not nice.

I have 2 or 3 graduate programs I may apply to, depending on my moods.

I'll also attend a job fair in October that has businesses who are 'friendly,' and I'll distribute my resume through that grapevine.

We'll see

the revolution eats its young.