Fun With Photos: "Christmas Tree" Edition
A GAL NAMED RANIA
Sorry again for the long delay in our picture game. We have all been a little bit busy. However, in honor of the recent holidays and the New Year I thought it only appropriate to do a "CHRISTMAS TREE" edition. Granted, they're actually all palm/coconut trees, but whatever. Haha. And although all of you thought that having more photos was a lot harder, I like to keep it challenging so for this round it will be six once again. To make it a little easier though, I'll give you a hint! Each vacation spot matches with a single tree and a group of trees. Good luck! 

OBJECTIVE: Match each of the 6 photos with either of these 3 places: Kauai, Trinidad, or Costa Rica. Post your answers as a comment below, and in one week from now, I will provide the answers. Simple, but very fun if you are easily amused. And if you don't wish to play, feel free to enjoy my fabulous photography :)
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Bye Bye 2009! Hello There 2010!
A GAL NAMED RANIA

**HAPPY NEW YEAR** everyone!!! I wish all of you nothing but the best for 2010 and a year full of good health, happiness, love, success, new experiences, joy, laughter, adventure, and fun! I figured since it's the start of a new year and a new decade I would summarize the HIGHS and LOWS of my 2009 so you, my reader, can get a better understanding of the past 365 days of my life! In reality, making this list will give me a better sense of my 2009 and what I disliked about the year, enjoyed about the year, and want to change/accomplish in 2010. In honor of the new decade, I figured a TOP 10 for each category was most fitting since I'm not about to make a list of two thousand and ten things! Although, I'm sure I could if really had the time and patience. However, I'd rather be sleeping, eating, etc. etc. Okay, on to the lists. 

LOWS OF 2009
10. PULLING MY GROIN MUSCLE A FEW WEEKS AGO RIGHT BEFORE ALL MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND ERRANDS HAD TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. IT'S DEFINITELY NOT FUN WHEN YOU ARE GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR, RACING THROUGH CRAZY PEOPLE, AND JUST MOVING. SUCKS. NOTE TO ALL: STRETCH PROPERLY BEFORE ANY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (90 MINUTES OF SOCCER WITH UNEXPECTED OVERLY INTENSE PLAYERS). IT WAS FUN THOUGH MINUS THE PAIN.
9. LOSING AND SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY IN VEGAS. I LOVE THE CITY AND IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME, BUT I WISH I COULD JUST SAY NO TO THOSE ALLURING DOUBLE DIAMOND SLOTS! I GO TOO OFTEN AND SHOULD KNOW BETTER! 
8. GETTING SUPER SICK FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER RECEIVING A FLU SHOT AND A PNEUMONIA SHOT ON THE SAME DAY FROM MY DOCTOR DURING A PHYSICAL IN FEBRUARY. IT WAS PRETTY SHITTY. I'M STILL CURIOUS WHY THE HELL I NEEDED A PNEUMONIA SHOT, BUT WHATEVER! WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS GOES! 
7. BURNING MY ARM, HANDS, AND THIGHS WITH HOT HOT HONEY AT MY COUSINS' APARTMENT UP NORTH BECAUSE MY OTHER COUSIN, REHANA, INSISTED I PUT SOME IN MY TEA. BITCH! HAHA. JK. I LOVE YOU DESPITE THE SMALL SCAR ON MY LEFT HAND! I'M MORE MAD AT THE DUMB BEAR HONEY JAR WHO MUST HAVE HATED ME FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON. 
6. SPILLING WATER IN MY PURSE ON MY FLIGHT FROM MIAMI TO LA ON MY WAY BACK FROM TRINIDAD IN JANUARY AND IT BREAKING MY CELL PHONE! WORST THING EVER WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE PICKED UP AT THE AIRPORT 6 HOURS LATER! 
5. GETTING TWO PARKING TICKETS IN JANUARY AND IN JULY DUE TO THE POOR JUDGEMENT OF A CERTAIN GIRL WHO I SHALL NOT NAME. NOTE: ALWAYS READ THE PARKING SIGNS YOURSELF AND NEVER TRUST ANYONE BY THE NAME OF ELIZABETH GARCIA. OOPS DID I JUST SAY HER NAME? I THINK I DID. SORRY. I ALSO GOT MY FIRST SPEEDING TICKET BACK IN SEPTEMBER TWO DAYS BEFORE I LEFT TO COSTA RICA FROM A DUMB SOUTH PASADENA COP. COST ME OVER $300. NOT COOL! IT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER BEING PULLED OVER. HAVE A HEART MISTER. I DIDN'T MEAN TO "SPEED".
4. AUDITIONING FOR A FEW ROLES, GETTING GOOD FEEDBACK, BUT NOT GETTING CAST! WTF. WHEN WILL I GET A BREAK? WHEN?
3. BREAKING UP WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND BEST FRIEND, CHRIS, AFTER A 3.5 YEAR RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE OF DISTANCE, LIFE PATHS, ETC. HARDEST THING EVER AND VERY PAINFUL. STILL IS. LOVE AND BEING YOUNG AND LIFE IN GENERAL IS NEVER EASY. SIGH.....
2. MOMMY NOT BEING HERE IN A PHYSICAL FORM TO CELEBRATE HER 60TH BIRTHDAY AND MY 24TH BIRTHDAY WITH ME, DADDY, ETC. MISSING HER EVERY SINGLE DAY. WORRYING ABOUT LIFE, MY DAD, MY BROTHER, MY GRANDMA, AND TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE, HAPPY, HOPEFUL, UNDERSTANDING, AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS GOD HAS BESTOWED UPON ME. BLEH.
1. NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND A JOB IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY DESPITE MY VERY BEST EFFORTS! SO FRUSTRATING. SO ANNOYING. SO DISHEARTENING. SO UTTERLY DEPRESSING. DOUBLE BLEH. 

HIGHS OF 2009
10. GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE 2 SITCOM SCRIPTS FOR THIS PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ACTOR GUY AND MEETING BOBBY BROWN (A LITTLE SCARY. HAHA) AND OMAR EPPS (HOT) ON THE SAME DAY BECAUSE OF HIM. HE TURNED OUT TO BE SUPER UNPROFESSIONAL AND ANNOYING AS HELL, BUT WHATEVER, IT WAS STILL A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I WAS OFFERED MORE WORK, BUT SORRY, I COULD NOT WORK WITH A CRAZY LIKE HIM. IT'S CALLED RESPECT. HAVE SOME. PLUS, YOU'RE NOT COOL! LIVING IN BEVERLY HILLS AND DRIVING A SEXY MASERATI DOES NOT IMPRESS ME IF YOU'RE NOT A GENUINE PERSON. BUT REGARDLESS, THANKS FOR THE LITTLE BIT OF UNDER-PAYED WORK YOU GAVE ME. IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE DESPITE THE HELL AND STRESS YOU PUT ME THROUGH.
9. APPLYING TO TWO FELLOWSHIPS, WHICH MADE ME WRITE TWO MORE SITCOM SPECS! STARTING THIS BLOG AND GETTING ACCEPTED AS A WRITER FOR EXAMINER.COM TOO. THESE OPPORTUNITIES KEEP ME OPTIMISTIC AND HELP MAINTAIN MY PASSION FOR WRITING. IT ALSO ADDS TO THE RESUME :)
8. FINALLY CLEANING OUT MY BEDROOM, DONATING A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT I DID NOT NEED, PAINTING MY ENTIRE ROOM BY MYSELF, AND GETTING REORGANIZED. IT TOOK ME A YEAR AND HALF OF BEING BACK FROM LMU AND BACK AT HOME TO ACCOMPLISH THIS! OUT WITH THE OLD; IN WITH THE NEW. FRESH START. NEW BEGINNINGS! 
7. GALAXY GAME WITH DADDY FOR FATHER'S DAY! AMAZINGLY FUN TIME. A SOL GAME AND ANOTHER GALAXY GAME WITH DADDY, JENNIFER, AND AUNTY KIKU DURING THE SUMMER! LOTSA FUN! AND YET ANOTHER GALAXY GAME WITH DADDY, EDREN, AND ORLANDO FOR THE MLS WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP! SOOO FREAKING EXCITING SINCE WE WON! LANDON DONOVAN I LOVE YOU DESPITE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FINALS VS REAL SALT LAKE :(
6. GETTING MY PRACTICALLY NEW (2008) HONDA CRV DURING THANKSGIVING WEEKEND! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT ALTHOUGH I MISS MY MOM VAN JUST A LITTLE! THANKS, DADDY! LOVE YOU. YOU'RE THE BEST FOR GIVING ME SO MUCH AND SUPPORTING ME NO MATTER WHAT. I AM UTTERLY AND ALWAYS THANKFUL.
5. ALL MY 24TH BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES. EACH NIGHT OUT WAS SO MUCH FUN. BUT THE SURPRISE PARTY AFTER MY HUGE WEEKEND BASH WAS THE CHERRY ON TOP OF AN ALREADY FABULOUS BIRTHDAY. I WAS SO SURPRISED AND ECSTATIC. IT WAS HONESTLY ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTS OF MY LIFE AND MADE TURNING 24 ONE OF MY FAVORITE BIRTHDAYS EVER! I LOVE ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY! THEY'RE THE GREATEST! 
4. FUN FUN ROAD TRIPS WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY CONSISTING OF MULTIPLE TREKS TO NORCAL, PLENTY OF VISITS TO SAN DIEGO, AND OF COURSE ADVENTURES TO VEGAS! 
3. MY 28 DAY TRIP TO TRINIDAD AT THE START OF THE YEAR! I WENT ON MY OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND IT WAS GREAT CATCHING UP WITH FAMILY, RELAXING AT THE BEACH HOUSE, LEARNING MORE ABOUT MY CARIBBEAN ROOTS, AND EXPLORING MORE OF THE COUNTRY.
2. MY 25 DAY BACKPACKING TRIP TO COSTA RICA AT THE END OF SUMMER WITH TARA. IT WAS THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME FULL OF AMAZING ADVENTURES, AMAZING PEOPLE, AND AMAZING SIGHTS. A TRULY GREAT EXPERIENCE FULL OF FUN AND MORE GROWING UP. PURA VIDA!
1. SPENDING SO MUCH TIME REKINDLING OLD FRIENDSHIPS, DEVELOPING NEW FRIENDSHIPS, AND DEEPENING EXISTING FRIENDSHIPS WITH SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE. I HONESTLY HAD THE BEST YEAR JUST HANGING OUT, PARTYING, ADVENTURING, CRYING, LAUGHING, FIGHTING, JOKING, RELAXING, AND TALKING WITH ALL OF MY FRIENDS! BESIDES MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS ARE HONESTLY, MY LIFE! I LOVE GETTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT EACH OF THEM ALL THE TIME AND EXPERIENCING NEW THINGS WITH THEM. I HOPE TO ALWAYS BE THERE FOR THEM AND VICE VERSA. THEY HAVE MADE MY 2009 SO ENJOYABLE AND SO SO SO SO SO MUCH FUN! 

GOALS FOR 2010
1. GETTING ANY TYPE OF ENTRY LEVEL PAYING JOB IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY BY THE END OF THE MONTH OR SOON AFTER IS MY NUMBER ONE ULTIMATE GOAL. I HOPE I CAN ACCOMPLISH IT! 
2. APPLYING TO MORE WRITING FELLOWSHIPS, REWRITING "ORCHIDS AND ALE", COMPLETING ANOTHER FEATURE FILM SCRIPT, AND WRITING SOME MORE SITCOM SPECS AND ORIGINAL EPISODES.  
3. AUDITIONING MORE OFTEN AND CONTINUING TO PURSUE MY ACTING DREAMS AS WELL. MAYBE FINALLY GETTING AN AGENT! NOT GIVING UP AND BEING PERSISTENT WITH MY CAREER GOALS.
4. TRAVELING TRAVELING TRAVELING TO WHEREVER I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO. NEARBY OR FAR AWAY. SOMEWHERE ABROAD IS ALWAYS PREFERRED!
5. VOLUNTEERING MORE LIKE I USED TO WHEN I WAS YOUNGER! IDEALLY WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL  ORGANIZATION, THE HUMANE SOCIETY, AND/OR WITH NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS).
6. STAYING ACTIVE, PLAYING MORE SPORTS, AND EXERCISING MORE TO STAY FIT AND HEALTHY. 
7. CONTINUING TO BE KIND, CONSIDERATE, UNDERSTANDING, GENEROUS, AND LESS JUDGEMENTAL. 
8. GOING THROUGH MOMMY'S THINGS AND TRYING TO ORGANIZE IT ALL. PUTTING HER THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS INTO ALBUMS AND DONATING SOME OF HER THINGS TO CHARITY. 
9. VISITING MY BROTHER MORE AND TRYING TO BE MORE UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSIONATE. REMAINING POSITIVE, HOPING FOR THE BEST, AND TRYING MY BEST TO COPE AND CONTINUE TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST WITHOUT EVER FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF. 
10. STAYING HEALTHY AND HAPPY. REMAINING POSITIVE. MAINTAINING MY FRIENDSHIPS AND CONTINUING TO BE THE BEST FRIEND I CAN BE. BEING THE BEST DAUGHTER, SISTER, GRANDDAUGHTER, NIECE, COUSIN, AUNT, ETC. ALL WHILE MAKING THE MOST OUT OF EACH AND EVERY MOMENT! 

YAY DONE. GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES TO US ALL FOR THE NEW YEAR! 


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Ummm LOVE
A GAL NAMED RANIA
Bye Bye to 2009! It was an okay year personally, but musically, it was great! I came across this mix and absolutely love it! Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! 


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