in a daydream bubble all my own

sweet reunion.

2009-04-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

at long last
the days have been slow to pass
my love and i will reunite
and he will never again leave my sight.
3 months it has been
and i shall soon see him again
the world will once again be right
and he will be the last thing i see before i sleep at night.
love transcends space and time
it inspires words of rhyme
all bad things disappear
and everything becomes clear.
no more doubt within my heart
with him i will have a brand new start
for him i'd go anywhere
and as long as i'm with him, it doesn't matter where.

why china sucks.

2009-03-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

they don't know a good thing when they see one.
the people rip you off mercilessly
the people are racist
the people can't be trusted
the government is ruthless
u breathe in exhaust constantly
there are no Targets or Costcos
it can get cold
it can get hot
it's not even that cheap
they don't know a good thing when they see one.

why it's tolerable:
subways
it's close to other countries of interest
places to see
good food
future fiance is there

wiiunfit

2009-03-20T20:44:00.001-07:00

according to wiifit i am overweight and at the physical age of 50. i am not 50 yo chronologically. and i won't mention if i'm closer to being obese or normal. it's the wiiunfit for me. the standing tree pose is haaaaaaaaaaaard. but it's pretty fun.

i hope d gets the wiiunfit b/c what is good is the wii without it? are u a shii or a hii? i know who mii is. :)

china.

2009-03-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

china is a whole different world.
the best part of china is that d is in it!
he loves me he loves me he loves me!
and i love him! >_<

hives

2009-02-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

are no fun. they're all over me.
was it the fish i ate? the vitamins i'm taking again? the new nutritional supplement drink? something at work? work? the eucalyptus oil? the perfume i used last week?

too hard to tell. i should just not use/ingest anything at all. but then i'd die. :(

things i'm grateful for.

2009-01-26T21:11:00.000-08:00

1. i don't owe the state lots of money.
2. i found my pooch a loving home.
3. my pooch didn't need bank-breaking surgery.
4. i have a job.
5. and it's close by.
6. my rent is minimal.
7. i have a bf who loves me (even if he's MIA).
8. beautiful nature.

i'm sure there's more but that's all i can think of for now. my chinese new year's resolution is to be grateful for what i have and not sour abt what i don't have.

year of the (angry) ox.

2009-01-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

both my grandmother and mother were born in the Year of the Ox. One 84 years ago and one 60 years ago.
both have the same raging temper as a feral wild ox.
now i know where i get mine even if i was born in the Year of the Snake. maybe i'm part Ox.
we snake get mad too.
this was a pretty bad chinese new year's. probably one of the worse our family has had. tempers flew. so did mean words. and people went home angry and hungry.
well, i hope the rest of the world has a wonderful new year's. Let's hope my family does too.

is he really out of the white house?

2009-01-22T21:52:00.001-08:00

W was just wrong. so glad he's officially out.

a ring woulda been sweeter...

2009-01-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

but i'll settle for flowers. love you d. thank you for remembering across the pacific.

1 year anniversary

2009-01-19T23:07:00.001-08:00

yesterday was the saddest anniversary i've ever not celebrated. apart and half a globe away, it was a sad way to remember the 1 year we've been together. but our love is strong and we will be reunited again. it is with that prospect that i wake up each morning and smile thinking of d. time will fly, although it feels like it's crawling right now. but soon, we shall be together once more.

happy 1 year d.
i love you now and always.
and i will always remember the day we decided we wanted to be boyfriend girlfriend. :)

TM 2nd week

2009-01-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

so tonight i did my first speech at Toastmasters int'l. it was impromptu. we had to pick a fortune cookie and make a speech on how the fortune related to our lives. my fortune said something about me being a quality person. i was so nervous. i honestly can't even remember what i said. i blushed, shook, looked down, froze and they counted 6 ums, and a few other filler words. out of everyone, i had the single highest number of filler words. i outnumbered everyone else by ALOT. i know this about myself, but it was just embarassing to hear them tell me how many i used. they tell everyone how many they used. you'd think i'd be used to this by now with all the presentations and speeches i have done, but NO.

i'm summoning up courage to go back next week. i paid my fees so i pretty much committed. my little cousin agreed to go check it out next week. she's an introvert. i don't know if she'll actually join.

i just wanted to say aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

a thought at 1257.

2009-01-19T00:54:00.000-08:00

i think my cousins are neat.

twilight.

2009-01-19T00:50:00.000-08:00

as much as i loved the movie and want to love the novel, i just can't get past the first few pages of the book. i think the unsophisticated style of writing just doesn't stimulate my brain enough. and i think we all can agree robert pattinson made the movie.

but i will try try again.

Laguna Beach in the winter.

2009-01-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

i sure am gonna miss the sunny winters 'round here when i move to china. one of the best things about OC has got to be the nearly year round summer weather.

home sweet home.

2009-01-18T16:12:00.000-08:00

these past couple weeks have been bittersweet, sad and happy at the same time. i've found nibblet a new home and her new parents and elvis, her bf, are head over heels in love with her. i feel confident that her new life in gorgeous laguna beach, where there are sunbathing decks with an ocean view, a million-dollar beach resort home, a new boyfriend, and gracious loving human parents will give her a life even i will envy.

this is probably one of the hardest things i have had to do in my life. any dog-owner knows that their pooch is just like their child. but following in the tradition of the Joy Luck Club, i'd rather give up my child in the hopes of a wonderful life than keep her and have her possibly put down by the chinese government during quarantine. well not exactly Joy Luck Club, but same premise. i visit her once a week, b/c i miss her and i don't take her home with me, to get used to her not being around. it's been hard, lonely and sad but i tell myself everyday, this is for the best.

here's to nibblet's new home sweet home.

argyle.

2009-01-16T10:28:00.002-08:00

my co-worker is mad b/c she and i wore the same exact Target argyle
sweater. i have never had this happen. maybe we have the same decadent
taste. but she's so mad she wants to go home and change! it's better than
wearing the same prom dress!

quote of the day

2009-01-16T10:28:00.001-08:00

Hope is a waking dream. -Aristotle

LDR

2009-01-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

i never believed in long distance relationships.
i still don't.
and i never will.

so there.

upper sea.

2009-01-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

shanghai means upper sea. well, that's my literal translation. i do know that i will definitely experience an "upper" when i "see" d again.

oh romeo romeo wherefore art thou romeo
deny thy father and refuse thy name
for if thou wilt not
be but sworn by my love
and i shall no longer be a capulet.

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all myself.

in the mood for shakespeare. these are my 2 fave monologues from billy shakespeare, courtesy of juliet.

2009-01-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

call me tragic
call me sick
this is not something
i would pick.

friendship is the only rose without a thorn

2009-01-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

here

and then gone

not believing

what went wrong.

friendship

is the only rose without a thorn

a phrase not true

yet well worn.

unconditional

does not exist

disappointment

does persist.

nostalgic

for days gone by

today

a part of me died.

lost dog.

2009-01-15T16:20:00.001-08:00

last night as i was driving home, i saw a white dog running around leashless on the sidewalk near my house. my first instinct was to see if it had a tag and take it home with me. and i did not want him/her to get run over by a car. i left my car on the side of the street and began sprinting towards where i last saw the dog. a guy on a bike helped me chase down the dog. i think it was stray cus when i called it, it stopped and growled at me. it didn't seem to have a tag. i ran after it and he kept going. i went back to my car and drove around hoping to find it. i knew if i called animal control, they wouldn't be able to find it. i was kinda sad cus i thought it might get run over and i figured it was stray. it was kinda a sad night. i never saw the dog again.

it looked kinda like this dog.

quotes of the day

2009-01-15T16:16:00.000-08:00

everyday when i get into the office, i make myself a hot cup of decaf lemongrass green tea. they have little quotes on the tags. today i had 2 bags. the 2 quotes of the day are:

The truth is the kindest thing we can give folks in the end. -Harriet Beecher Stowe

Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up. -Chinese proverb

Both quotes carry personal meaning to me today, esp. the first one.

lucky bamboo

2009-01-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

whenever i have a new office, i buy a plant and see if i can keep it alive and make it thrive. the only green thumb i have is the color of gangrene, mold, and rot on the plant as it dies. i couldn't keep cactus alive. i was told plants absorb our energy. if the plant is alive, so are you. at my last office, i tried so hard to keep a beautiful plant alive, but it seemed to wilt even though i watered it often. when i left, i bequeathed it to a friend with a green thumb.

i just bought a lucky bamboo and will try my best to keep this alive. i heard bamboo are pretty hardy which is primarily why i bought it, in addition to how cool bamboo are anyway.

here's to life. mine and the (hopefully) lucky bamboo.

Life resolutions.

2009-01-12T22:43:00.000-08:00

screw New Year's resolutions. i don't need a new year as an excuse to improve myself. my life is a good enough reason. that's why i've got LIFE resolutions.

1. get healthy. that means getting in shape, getting fit, eating healthier, eating less, exercising. i really need to join a gym to keep the exercise regular. not only cus it's dark when i get outta work, it's probably safer too. and as of today, decreasing my 203 cholesterol count. i don't want to die of a stroke at age 31. this seems to be a rolling resolution.
2. follow through with hobby aspirations. today i attended my first Toastmasters Int'l meeting. tomorrow i plan to enroll in a Ceramics class at a local comm. college. i've been wanting to do both since forever. i've been wanting to enroll in different educational and recreational classes ever since i graduated. eventually i plan to join the Sierra Club informally. it was way too much fun hiking this weekend. and i want to pick up my guitar again. i want to pick up my paintbrush again. i've begun picking up books again. when was the last time anyone read an actual book (besides Twilight, these days?)
3. think positive. again, another rolling resolution. like they say, wherever you go, you follow. and i say wherever you think, you follow.
4. enjoy being alone. enjoy solitude. enjoy my own company. my hobby has always been my friends. friends are a great addition to life, but they shouldn't be your hobby.
5. work on me. this should always be my first priority but somehow has always found a way to remain at the bottom of my list. essentially, if i accomplish the first 4 resolutions, this will be accomplished too.

here's to everyone working on their life resolutions. it may take a lifetime to accomplish them but since you're alive anyway, why not work on a few things?

Toastmasters Int'l

2009-01-12T22:36:00.000-08:00

i went to a Toastmasters Int'l meeting tonight and have decided to join. it's one of those life resolutions i never got around to doing. but i decided it's time. it's something i've been wanting to do for years now. it's a group where the members perfect their public speaking skills, group-leading skills and evaluate others' speeches. there is structure, form and organization in the weekly meetings and it was a bit unnerving as i watched the members do planned and impromptu speeches in front of an audience of about 11. public speaking tops the nation's greatest fears list and it's time for me to conquer it. it will do wonders wherever i go, whatever i do. it will make me a more comfortable person in general. in my profession, you do alot of training and presentations and speaking to groups. public speaking is not only essential but part and parcel to my work. this oughta be hard and fun at the same time. we even got a First Time attendees ribbon!

edward.

2008-12-18T22:16:00.000-08:00

it's official. i am in love. with edward cullen. it's not just for teens. it's for all women. of all shapes and sizes, ages, and backgrounds. it touches that deep part of a woman that wants to be swept off her feet and to be made to feel that there is no other person edward could ever love, but you. i thought it'd be a sappy teen romance. it was that...and more. i was swooning the entire movie. hanging onto every word he said and movement he made. i haven't been this in love since high school? it's like something inside me came alive.

i want to marry edward. i want to have a vampire boyfriend who rescues me from everything, who carries me atop trees on his back, who tells me he's been waiting his whole life for me, literally. i don't even care if he bites me. :)

malcolm gladwell.

2008-12-16T21:38:00.000-08:00

i was so delighted to find that malcolm gladwell had finally written a third book. i had been waiting for him to produce another book for years, after finishing his last book. i read both of his books, The Tipping Point and Blink and absolutely loved his writing style and content. the guy is so intuitive. and now i embark on Outliers.

Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside.

2008-12-15T22:15:00.000-08:00

i love missions. i don't think i ever get tired of the old dilapidated rubble, speaking of old ancient history, the old brick and mortar that used to hold the place together and the holy air within. it's like walking back into history. u can feel the life that used to be within these walls. this mission was nice. it was closed but the outside of it was pretty god-like in beauty.

Birch Aquarium at La Jolla.

2008-12-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

o

aquariums are so lovely. no matter how many i've been to, i remain awed at the multitude of colors and lifeforms that exist in the deep blue sea (or aquarium). i was tempted to let them all out then realized they would all drown if i burst the aquarium so i changed my mind.

santa monica ain't bad either.

2008-12-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

all these years and i've never actually stepped foot on the santa monica pier. maybe one of these days i'll ride that famous ferris wheel.

i love the sky.

2008-12-15T19:16:00.003-08:00

i love how it changes in every way possible. it never looks the same twice.

i spend too much time.

2008-12-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

i spend too much time trying to love other people and not myself.
i spend too much time trying to be happy around others but not by myself.
i spend too much time co-existing but not existing.
i spend too much time thinking of what i don't have not what i have.
i spend too much time thinking of the glass being half empty and not the fact that there's water at all.
i spend too much time thinking of what's without rather than within.

attitude is everything. so is taking action once you achieve that new attitude.

the best part of a break up is realizing people are put in your lives for you to learn something about yourself and life. you don't really lose anyone. you don't really waste your time. every wrong relationship prepares you for the right one. life to me is about learning, it's about experiences. and here another chapter ends, as one begins.

here's to new beginnings, as the beginning of a new year unfolds.

thank you d for letting me go.

why try.

2008-12-14T20:47:00.000-08:00

why try
if it just dies
why lie
if we're just gonna say goodbye?
never again
will i begin
if i won't win
trying is a sin.

trying again.

2008-11-24T23:42:00.000-08:00

trying again
for that ten out of ten
wanting to win
all over again.
learning to trust
for to trust you must
it's love or bust
as we discussed.
hope springs alive
hold your nose and take a dive
don't know til you try
the only limit is the sky.
love is real
love is right
it should only be done
with all your might!

passing by the skin of my teeth.

2008-11-24T18:08:00.000-08:00

well i don't know how close i came to failing, but the best part is i passed the god forsaken test that has been giving me night terrors for the past year. strange how dejavu works. this time last year, i was going through many of the same things i am going through now: prepping for a test (then passing!), the ending of a relationship, figuring out where i was going to work and live. those are the big issues that usually put people over the edge. it's like my life decided to conspire against me. but i'm still in one piece. hopefully, i can find the other pieces to myself soon.

here's to one victory that will hopefully lead to many more. i have a follow up interview with a place i interviewed with back in august who told me to come back once i was licensed. i won't be technically licensed til i get my license # but in about 4 weeks time, i can hang out my own shingle.

signing off..

2008-11-18T12:15:00.000-08:00

until further notice.
and when i get the internet again.
happy holidays to everyone out there.

old school love songs.

2008-11-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

imeem is so cool. i can finally listen to old long-lost love songs i haven't heard since high school.

i used to dream of love listening to old school kenny rogers.

CrazyInLove - KennyRogers

i also loved kenny loggins. one of my faves of all time.

Too Early For The Sun - Kenny Loggins

anyone else but you.

2008-11-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

a feel good song in a feel good movie. one of the cutest songs ever.

The Moldy Peaches Anyone Else But You Lyrics in Juno
Songwriters: N/A

You're a part time lover and a full time friend
The monkey on your back is the latest trend
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
I'll kiss you on the brain in the shadow of the train
I'll kiss you all starry eyed my body swingin' from side to side
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
Here is the church and here is the steeple
We sure are cute for two ugly people
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
Pebbles forgive me, the trees forgive
So why can't you forgive me
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
I will find my niche in your car
With my MP3, DVD, rumble pack guitar
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
Up up down down left right left right B A start
Just because we use cheats doesn't mean we're not smart
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
You are always tryin' to keep it real
I'm in love with how you feel
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
We both have shiny happy fits of rage
You want more fans, I want more stage
I don't see what anyone can see im anyone else...but you
Don Quixote was a steel driving man
My name is Adam I'm your biggest fan
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
Squinched up your face and did a dance
And you blew a little load out of the bottom of your pants
I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else...but you
But you
Anyone Else But You - The Moldy Peaches

a poem a day keeps the doctor away...

2008-11-13T18:11:00.001-08:00

You're beautiful to me in so many ways,
It's with you I want to spend my remaining days,
Though you're still unsure I think you will find,
That there are few who are so generous or kind,
So please find your way to loving me true,
For when it's not there I find myself blue,
And one day I hope that you'll see it too,
For there's no one that I'd rather be with than you.

evil double cheeseburger.

2008-11-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

sometimes i swear food talks to me. they actually talk to me.

i was hungry yesterday at tigress' church and the McD double cheeseburger was screaming my name. i was trying to resist. i even left it on my plate for as long as i could. then i proceeded to munch away. i ate half of it first, reasoning that half of a death burger wouldn't be so bad. then i ate another quarter of it. all that was left was some of the bun and ketchup. i ate all the meat patty. i think the thing was 400 some odd calories. boo hoo.

i also helped myself to nibbles of the pumpkin pie both my friends were having. and some chips and dip. and 0 calorie green tea, which kept me awake all night.

i was proud i said NO to a reese's pieces PB cup, which i picked up, argued with for a few minutes, then placed back where i found it.

although food talks to me, i will talk back. same thing my mama says.

The Year of the Dog.

2008-11-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

another movie i thoroughly enjoyed. ok, i'm a dog lover so i'd probably enjoy most dog movies. but this one tugged at my heart strings, big time. it's about peggy, whose beagle named Pencil dies at the beginning of the movie. right away, a tear jerker for me. then she goes on this quest to deal with the grief. first she adopts a german shepherd who is about to be put to sleep, except he's got behavior problems. then the guy she is interested in turns out to be "celibate." she becomes vegan and an animal rights activist for him. then after her german shepherd, valentine, is put down for killing another dog, she decides to go to the animal shelter and adopt all 15 of the dogs who are going to be euthanized that day. except the limit is 3 per household. her neighbor then calls Animal Control on her and one day she comes home to find her place empty. she goes crazy. she then gets fired because her boss found out she was writing out company checks to animal activist organizations illegally. at this point she's gone apeshit with saving all the animals in the world, constantly logging onto their websites, bringing her niece and nephew to a animal rescue farm to educate them. finally her boss takes pity on her and gives her her job back. but then she figures out her fate. she writes a farewell email to everyone in her life, and joins a travelling animal rights rally group. and the movie ends.

it's a touching and kinda sad movie which began with the death of Pencil her beagle. but i can honestly see myself going down that path should my little pooch kick the bucket prematurely. i've always had an animal rights activist within me and can see myself trying to save all the animals who are being tortured or abused. and it was nice to see molly shannon in a non-comedic role. i liked her the most in this movie. definitely a 2 thumbs up for me.

Grindhouse: Deathproof

2008-11-12T14:39:00.001-08:00

following in tarantino's tradition of 60's movies, superfluous violence and sexy women, i have to say i was once again impressed with his work. there is nothing like the vengeful death of a stalker/sociopath. kurt russell didn't do too shabby. i especially enjoyed the extreme death scene in the first half of the movie. oh so graphic, leaves almost nothing to the imagination. and the best part was that i bumped into tarantino at a hotel while he was filming the 2nd half of the movie, filmed in buellton, ca. how awesome is that!

mr. t

2008-11-12T14:30:00.001-08:00

i have to say i rather enjoyed that movie. i didn't care much for the musical part of the movie but i thoroughly enjoyed the tragedy and story line. i do love revenge movies. not to mention johnny depp and helena bonham carter's acting, which were great. the best part was the horribly tragic ending where everyone was killing everyone, without realizing who they were. d didn't care for the music but i thought it kinda worked. kudos to tim burton..someone who is able to make a dark movie feel whimsical too.

btw, does johnny d ever get old?

november flowers.

2008-11-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

april showers bring november flowers! the cat and i both fully appreciated the beautiful red roses d brought home. for me it was the aesthestic and olfactory beauty. for cornelius it was reminiscient of outdoor grass she could romp in.

i am so grateful i have such a thoughtful bf. flowers never get old with me. thank u d. :)

falling in love in the Fall.

2008-11-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

you touch my heart
and send shivers down my spine
when you show me a love
that i know is only mine.
i feel intense joy
knowing i am loved
the truth is we do fit
like a hand and glove.
no one has accepted me
simply the way i am
even when i feel like a one
you make me feel like a ten.
what more could a girl ask for
i've got it all
in my tumultuous emo war
you've secured me within your wall.
when things are wrong
you make me feel just right
that's why i know
this is definitely worth the fight.

nutrition facts suck.

2008-11-06T15:42:00.000-08:00

i caved and just had a McD ice cream cone worth 150 cal.

i usually eat a small McD fries when i'm feeling down or up. it's a small amount worth a whopping 23o cal! but i was able to resist it today. praise the lard!!

my proposition.

2008-11-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

although a CA proposition was passed that was unconstitutional towards human rights, my proposition is to continue to fight for human RIGHTS not human WRONGS.

vote Yes on Proposition Human Rights.

hope will keep us alive.

2008-11-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

when therapy first begins, the most crucial ingredient to having the patient come back for a second time is to instill hope that things can and will get better.

obama just did that for this nation.

here's to 4 years of hope, at the very least.

Vote.

2008-11-04T10:49:00.001-08:00

we can vote but we don't have to. i think that's ultra-cool. even if i do think the voting system is rigged, i voted just in case my vote does count. i hope my prez choice wins. it sends shivers down my spine to think the other guy might win.

that being said, i voted for the first time today. i enjoyed the electronic system. i enjoyed seeing my ballot on a transparency. i enjoyed believing this vote might count. after all, it's our chance to create change once every 4 years. i enjoyed the I VOTED sticker. although i didn't know all the people running for office, it's nice to know we all hold a little power in our ballot.

today is a special day for many.

good luck to bunnycreates as she gets the news of her life.

happy 33rd birthday to my sister, who is a mama and a wife.

and good luck to both presidential candidates. we all know one guy needs it more than the other. :)

Halloween 08

2008-11-03T12:22:00.001-08:00

in sum:

1. we were bad ass ninjas who had a hard time breathing through our masks so we had to take them off whereby making us pretty NON-incognito and unstealthy.

2. Marvimon, where the halloween party took place was pretty bad ass. the best parts were the free food (unlimited McD fries are killer, literally), candy gambling (we won and ate alot of candy, and btw, candy for breakfast is a BAD idea), prize winning (best buy), free booze (i vow never to have a hang over again but i did enjoy the kahlua bailey) and some people had pretty funny costumes.

3. bad saturday hangover was not made any better by candy breakfast.

4. didn't see too many horror movies but we did get home past halloween.

I Saw Saw.

2008-10-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

Saw had a bad rap from the start. I remember when it came out in 2004. My intern cohort and I were both into horror movies and were joking about all of us skipping out on seminar day to go watch Saw I. We never went. Somehow we heard it was a bad horror from somebody. Well now, 4 years and 5 Saws later, I decided to give it a go. D had Saw I-II. We were able to record Saw III on TV. We bought Saw IV from amazon.com. After watching the first 4 Saws nearly in a row, we had to see Saw V. So, last night we went to watch Saw V. You'd think the same premise would get old. The whole ancient torture methods drawn from around the world many many hundreds of years ago might seem scary at first then trite. But I will tell you, I am thoroughly impressed by the Saw horror series' ability to keep me wanting more, to see what other torture vs. escape method is next, who the next victims are and what they have to do to survive, or not. Every Saw has kept me writhing in my seat, nearly covering my eyes, grimacing, saying Oh Shit, glad I'm not there!, and left me with a sense of unease. And i love it. I don't know if it will ever get old, but I do know that I am always impressed with the creative, sophisticated, and twisted ways the characters have to torture themselves in order to survive (most of the time). There's nothing more demented than having to get your hand and arm sliced in order to escape detonation, or getting your hand crushed so you're not gutted by a swinging pendulum of death or gouging out your eyes to get a key to a lock so nails won't spring into your face. Live or die. Make your choice.

In-n-Out (of shape)!!

2008-10-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

more un-fun food facts:
In-n-out cheeseburger with everything on it 480 cal
French fries 400 cal

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! that's my usual in-n-out order. i had no idea i was eating 2 meals when i ate one!!

this bowl of porridge was just right..

2008-10-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

too much porridge is a bad thing...

i like to make porridge with egg out of my leftover rice. i usually put scallions if i have any, beat 2 eggs, add salt and pepper and mix it all in. i also like to add pork sung to give it that MSG flavor. i also added some leftover chicken in.

my gramma makes the most awesome porridge. she usually uses leftover food too. usually she puts in some sort of ground meat, egg, vegie. she puts just the right amount of spice and seasoning mixed in with love. gosh i miss her porridge. my re-creation never comes close. i always end up regretting eating it.

i need a calorie discount, not a calorie count!

2008-10-27T15:29:00.001-07:00

lately, looking at the nutrition facts for the things i've been putting into my mouth has been quite an eye-opener. i am far from being obsessed with counting calories, as that would be too much work and heartache, but i am definitely much more aware and thoughtful of what i actually eat or drink. some of the things i learned that don't sit well with me (or my weight for that matter), according to various calorie counter websites i found:

my weekly japanese green tea milk matcha without boba = approx 445 cal
flame broiler beef bowl = 435 cal
papa john's large slice of The Works pizza = 330 cal
outback's 12 oz. prime rib = approx 675 cal

i would be the last person to support depriving oneself of the things one enjoys eating. i have decided that the strategy to continue enjoying the things that make you happy when you put it into your mouth and tummy is curtailing your intake of calories for that day and exercising. if i do those two things, i can enjoy my fattening boba tea and eat the flame broiler delight guilt-free!

i need a calorie discount but at least i'm not calorie counting!

happy carving!

2008-10-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

Tanaka Farms in Irvine is the bomb. it was there that we got our 5 pumpkins. one for me, d, the pug and the kitty. we also got an acne looking one for d's bro. they had a corn maze with a very sad center (there were dead sunflowers and some tattered windvane and dirt). it was hot but definitely a pumpkin pickin kind of day! it was especially fun carving all 4 pumpkins. lighting them up was the best part! i always feel like a kid when i carve pumpkins. i remember doing it in elementary school in 6th grade. then we gathered the pumpkin seeds, baked them and ate them. i can say i don't want to eat pumpkin seeds for another year. happy carving!

jack-o-lantern.

2008-10-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

i think one of my favorite past-times of halloween is carving jack-o-lanterns. i don't always do a good job but i always have tons of fun doing it. i usually carve a big one for myself and a little one for my pug. i love the smell of the insides of the pumpkin with the candle burning lighting it up. it smells like roasted pumpkin. i enjoy the orange glow coming from the hopefully scary face of my pumpkin. i like to turn off all the lights and watch my lanterns glow. i like to bake the pumpkin seeds with salt and pepper and eat those crunchy snacks. i like perusing the pumpkin patch for the perfect pumpkin to catch my eye. the entire process is just so much fun. and we get to do it this weekend! yay!

it's nice to feel like a kid again without having to be one.

life's a bike.

2008-10-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

i'm excited about biking again. for as long as i can remember, i have always had a bike. it was my recreation since i could walk to the present day. some of my happiest moments were riding my bike around my old hood, wind in my hair, sun on my back, smile on my face. i felt freeeee! of course they got more expensive and fancier as i got older. i remember one x'mas my parents got me a pink Barbie bike from Costco. i could tell what the present was from the shape even though it was wrapped. i loved it. but i always loved this old black boy's bike we inherited from the child of a family friend. i even remember, the boy's name was Winston. i loved that black bike and rode it everywhere. to this day, my gramma still has a picture of me on that bike hanging on her wall. i've upgraded since. i now have a black Giant mountain bike for women that cost me around $200. i haven't gotten on that thing for ages but i've kept it for a couple years now. it's in the shop for tune-up but as soon as we pick up our bikes tomorrow, trails beware!!

Pablo Francisco.

2008-10-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

we went to the Improv in Irvine last night. it was my first time watching live comedy and i really enjoyed it. there were 4 comics on stage before Pablo went on that were all pretty funny. i even got a picture with Steve Monroe, the opening act for the show. and Pablo tapped my right arm as he walked away. yeah, i'm star-struck. i always get this way with famous people. but after looking on their myspace page, i realized they are just people like you and me who take craps and go biking on weekends.

the only thing uncool about the Improv is they make you buy 2 things minimum per person. a bit pricey but not too bad if you don't watch live comedy every night. some people might wonder why we don't just watch stand-up comedy on Comedy Central instead. d was right. when you see them live, their charisma makes them funnier.

when life gives you fat, make muscles!

2008-10-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

i've resisted pumping iron for as long as i could. i am fine just doing cardio alone but many sources have told me i have to lift weights in order to lose weight more effectively and to tone up. so i began pumping a couple days ago. i'm more sore than a bad loser because i was supposed to take a day off between lifting but didn't. but here's to breaking down the muscle tissue and making muscle out of fat. when life gives you fat, make muscles!

Odyssey of the Mind.

2008-10-17T16:38:00.001-07:00

Odyssey Of The Mind
by Enigma

.metsys troppus efil decnalab-yltbus ,xelpmoc A .erehpsoib a ,htraE
!ior el EVIV ,trom tse ior eL
segnahc era ereht ,llits dnA
segnahc gnihton tuB
gnignahc era sgnihT
.orez eerht-renin eno era uoy regoR .lortnoC noissiM si siht ,enO atleD yaR-X

There's no teacher who can teach anything new.
He can just help us to understand the things we always knew.

hair-do part deux.

2008-10-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

so my hair didn't exactly turn out the way i wanted.
what i loved:
1. the triple shampoo and conditioner action. he must have washed and conditioned my hair at least 3 times. johnny had some masseuse-like hands! not only did my hair feel squeeky clean, he massaged the crap out of my scalp.
2. the layering and thinning of my hair. i have some thick ass hair and can always appreciate a good thinning. i also appreciated the cutting of dry ends and a new do altogether.
3. watching johnny comb dry, curl and tease my hair. it's always nice to learn from the experts how to make my hair look salon-good cuz i know it'll never look that way again til my next hair cut.
4. i think my hair looked better afterwards than the day i went to prom. i had to take pictures to memorialize what a fine do.
5. he nearly replicated the picture i handed him. i was wowed. except for the shorter and thinner bangs he gave me.
6. he was a no-nonsense hairdresser. i like that.
7. how the price included the shampooing, cutting and styling and drying of my hair.

what i didn't like:
1. how my hair looked after i showered.
2. the shorter and thinner bangs.

i was thoroughly amused watching another hairdresser or perhaps the owner while i was getting my hair done. she kinda had nappy hair in a ponytail. i watched her wash her own hair. then i saw her dry it. then i saw her put huge curlers in it. then i saw her take out the curlers, at which point her hair looked nice. but then i saw her put her hair back into her original nappy ponytail. and all i was thinking was, why did she go through all that trouble?

ninja danja!

2008-10-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

yippee! we got our matching ninja uniforms today. mind you, these aren't costumes. they are actual ninja uniforms from the Academy Of Martial Arts Supplies. so that means, when i wear my uniform, i transform into a REAL ninja! haya!

will this make-over go under?

2008-10-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

i need a make-over bad. i'm talking hair-do, wardrobe, attitude, make-up, beauty care all around. i don't quite have the budget to look stunning so i'm starting with an affordable new do. the danger of looking for new do's is that the picture you find might look awesome but those models get their hair styled in addition to cut. let's face it, their hair is teased, curled, combed, air dried and then teased some more. they also are models, so they can make almost anything look good. in fact it's their job to make whatever they are fashioning, whether it's clothing or hair look, well, fashionable. that's why it sells. i've learned this lesson multiple times, fingering pictures of beautiful actresses and pop stars to the hairdresser only to find my reflection less than impressive. well, this is the do i'm going to try out. kohana recommended her hairdresser, specifying i have to bring in a photo of what i want. we'll see how close the hairdresser can get. and whether i can prevent this make-over from going under.

We're all looking for Somebody.

2008-10-14T15:17:00.001-07:00

Somebody

I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone who'll stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
She'll get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
She'll hear me out
And won't easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact she'll often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and with every breath
Someone who'll help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I don't want to be tied
To anyone's strings
I'm carefully trying to steer clear
Of those things
But when I'm asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
I'll get away with it.

aaronkratenart.com

2008-10-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

we went to d's friend's art show on saturday. it was held at The Living Room, a salon art gallery in CM. aside from aaron kraten's interesting art, there were loads of alternative-looking people, most of whom looked like they had their hair cut at the expensive salon, a live band, and free booze which we did not sample. the music was too loud. i did enjoy the art and thought, if only i could create something i called art and everyone would think the same too..

what i really wanna be for halloween.

2008-10-10T00:35:00.000-07:00

murderface. cus he's the biggest underdog in the world.

or the guy from no country for old men. cus he's badass and creepy all at once.

they kinda have the same hairdo.

baking soda isn't just for baking anymore.

2008-10-10T00:27:00.001-07:00

when i lifted the hood to my car yesterday, i noticed battery acid corrosion on my car battery. i called my friend's husband who was a mechanic b/c i knew there was a cheap home remedy for this. he said it's natural over time for the acid to leak out and when the people installed my battery, they did not spray an anti-corrosion chemical over it. he said to mix baking soda with water until it had the consistency of nonfat milk, pour it over the corrosion and after it was done fizzling, wipe it off then rinse with water. wala! it worked. aside from the pleasure of watching the nasty stuff fizz off, it's all clean, my car starts with more ease and i saved tons of money that a mechanic would have charged me to do the same thing. or those expensive bottles which would have mixed the baking soda for me. i love home remedies.

Charmed.

2008-10-09T00:46:00.000-07:00

today we had some thai food at Charm Thai in the YL. i always get my famous Drunken Noodles. Gramma likes her yellow curry chicken. the food was average. however, the best thing about that place was refillable thai ice tea. that's right, you heard me, refillable $1.99 thai ice tea. at first when the waiter grabbed my almost empty glass and insisted on a refill without my request, i thought, hey, that's quite a sales strategy there. but when he tried to refill again, i knew i wasn't dreaming. another good thing was the really nice and helpful waitress who i think was the owner. she gave lots of tips on what type of chili flavor was good with either my noodles or gramma's curry.

overall I rate a B for food. I give an A for everything else.

The Nixon Library and Museum.

2008-10-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

it's been a long time since i've been back to my old stomping ground, Yorba Linda. thanks to Tigress, grams and I were able to enjoy the Nixon Library and Museum free of charge. the grounds were nice and big and well-taken care of. I was especially impressed by the Berlin Wall, and I think every presidential library probably has one. The Reagan library had a piece too. What's interesting is the Watergate exhibit was down. Makes me wonder if it has ever been up. After all, I wouldn't want a museum dedicated to me to have anything that could possibly tarnish my reputation or legacy.

alter ego.

2008-10-07T19:11:00.000-07:00

i always thought of costumes as alter egos, or projections of who we want to be. i have no clue what i am going to be this year at the costume party. i do like the harajuku goth. i wonder what that says about me? that i wanna be part of gwen stefani's posse?

got dice?

2008-10-07T19:00:00.000-07:00

essential to every D&D player is his/her dice. from d20's to d4's, it's all how you roll and how you play, and often how you "roleplay." it determines whether you'll enact a crit on a monster or whether you'll accidentally hit yourself or your fellow travellers.

so here it is, my first very own dice. i wanted a red/orange marbled look, and as d assured me, the exact dice i was looking for, existed, b/c as he says, D&D players are very particular about their dice. my scarlet scarab dice awaits my rolling.

let's slay some dragons.

"Revolution changes nothing; Voting changes even less." - "Democracy" by the Damned

2008-10-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

as cynical as i am about the American voting system (it's completely rigged), i registered to vote today. the driving force was the absolute fear of John McCain possibly becoming our next president. and sarah palin as his runner up if anything ever happened to him.

never thought we'd have a black man running for president. or a white woman as a running mate. this is truly history in the making. it's america. anything can happen.

Halloween.

2008-10-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

i think halloween is my fave holiday. the core of it is just plain FUN. from the haunted houses, to pumpkin carving, to costumes, to candy, to the Halloween reruns they show on TV, it's just the funnest holiday in my book. and i can't wait to explore it OC style again!

The Emerald City.

2008-10-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

Seattle has got to be one of the coolest cities i've visited. it's kinda like a more upscale and alternative version of downtown SD, with a hint of SF in there. but it pretty much stands on its own. it's got a unique counterculture eco-friendly aura, multi-ethnic corners, fabulous seafood, the open market, free public transport within the downtown area, and everything within walking distance (if you're motivated). surrounded by elliot bay and many mountain ranges in the distance. we were lucky to catch 4 days of sunny weather, uncharacteristic of late Sept. weather. it was like the sun followed us there. the people seemed very helpful and friendly. the only thing i objected to was the 9% sales tax but hey, someone's got to pay for the free buses! and also the rumor that it rains more than it suns. but as far as i'm concerned, that remains a rumor!

the cook is losing her steam.

2008-10-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

i ordinarily love salmon. but it's usually grilled. b/c we don't have one of those yet, i've been broiling it. it just doesn't taste the same. d hinted that he might like that for a gift. those are the best kinds of gifts. the ones that keep on giving, not only to the recipient. :)

Tokyo Table.

2008-10-06T12:46:00.001-07:00

so d and i decided to take an adventure to the Diamond Jamboree Shopping Plaza, apparently the talk of the town. i didn't see all the skinny attractive multi-age asians that kohana was lamenting over, but i did see alot of overpriced asian food and stores. we tried Tokyo Table. the food was pretty good but the prices made me lose my appetite. notable was the charsiu pork with japanese scallions, the garlic ahi, the miso cod, the pesto salmon and of course the huge honey toast. after that we went over to the H-Mart where we were wowed by how much kalbi we could eat at home if only we had a grill. :) we peeked into Guppy Cafe, which was exceedingly crowded for what appeared to be typical asian food. we really just wanted to try some shave ice there but could barely get into the door. so we left. we walked through 85C bakery. those long lines of people throwing pastries on their platters reminded me of every chinese bakery i've ever been to and i was pretty unimpressed with the selection anyway.

overall, i was unimpressed with this new overpriced food plaza. maybe i should go in there on a monday night cus i am dying to have some shaved ice. kohana was right. it's just asian food. u shouldn't have to pay that much for it. it seems to be a place to see and be seen.

study partner.

2008-10-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

studying is so much more bearable in the company of a friend!

the best things in life are...flowers and ice cream!

2008-10-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

d was so sweet to bring home my fave flowers and an ice cream flavor i've been wanting to eat again! extra extra sweet--read all about it! and that includes the ice cream too!

car ride.

2008-10-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

it's funny how talking and driving are illegal. then they added texting and driving as illegal. but how about clicking while driving! is that illegal?

Laguna Art Museum.

2008-10-05T01:53:00.001-07:00

Today we went to the Laguna Art Museum. The special exhibit was truly "The Land of Retinal Delights." It was like my eyes were bombarded with more stimulation it could handle. My eyes were truly delighted. It was great. Art is amazing, esp. surreal art. The art made Dali look somewhat trite. Tomorrow is the last day of the exhibit. I'm glad we caught it.

afterwards we hung out by the beach area right next door. it was the perfect overcast day with sunlight peeking through the clouds. not too hot, not too cold. we watched the waves get bigger and bigger, the tourists take excessive amounts of pictures. d built a moat b/c the waves nearly got us. unfortunately it started to rain before the moat was put to the test. i have never been down that area of LB. it just reaffirmed to me how i love the beach.

losing wait.

2008-09-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

it's funny how it's always in between relationships that i really lose weight. i know it makes sense because i'm single, trying to find a guy, trying to impress. but why does my self-care depend on my relationship status? am i losing weight while i'm losing wait? am i losing weight while i wait for the right guy?

weight is such a famous topic among women. either about why we can't lose it fast enough, why we can't lose it at all, why it's so hard to even begin weight loss, why it's hard to continue and why it always seems easy to end. kohana and i were talking about calories and how there is an endless struggle to negate the calories we so easily and happily ingest throughout the day and how painful it is to shed just as many calories. take me for example. each day, i actively shed about 250 calories on my 2.5 mile walk/run. whenever i do so, i always think of the calories i usually ingest for lunch, a can of soup for about 190 calories. i tell myself, hey, at least i just burned off what i ate for lunch and then some. but then what about my breakfast, dinner and the snacks and delishly forbidden stuff i put in my belly in between all that? unaccounted for, i tell you. so it becomes this neverending war between what i put in and what i shed. and you know what, input always exceeds output.

and ironically, all this was a discussion that took place over boba and tea, which i'm too terrified to know the calorie count of, because i know it just negated a few days of exercise in one long sip. but it was one long yummy sip.

i love LA.

2008-09-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

downtown santa monica

we visited santa monica and the westwood, brentwood and bel air areas on sunday. i love downtown santa monica. i love the holistic, organic, alternative, artsy fartsy-ness of it. the shops, restaurants, stores and overall feel of that overpriced beach town is just perfect. we ate at the Library Alehouse, which was kinda cute. the food was average. then we made our way down santa monica blvd, pass the 3rd street promenade where we did not stop. we drove around the UCLA area, through the exclusive Bel Air gates (there were tons of security cars but no security guard) and gawked at the wonderful gates those richie riches put in front of their homes, blocking our free view of their underused home. the canopy roads were beautiful and i barely saw any residents enjoy what they spent their easily earned money on. there was no one on the streets, strolling down the sidewalk on a beautiful sunday afternoon. the entire UCLA area is just so beautiful. surrounded by westwood, brentwood, and bel air, the students must feel like celebrities.

i'd rather be a beach bum.

2008-09-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

time to see the car doctor.

2008-09-12T17:24:00.001-07:00

my car has been reliable ever since i got it in 2004. it has been across the country several times, traversed snow, rain, sleet, wind, desert sun and even good weather. however, its age is showing. it's time to bring her in for a car doctor check-up. i am grateful that my friend's husband is a mechanic because that means i don't have to be ripped off by some greedy, sloppy mechanic somewhere else and i can trust that my ride will be safe for the years to come. thank you naku. here's to many many more, because i can't afford a new ride, even if i want, so i best make this one last.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

2008-09-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

The best part about the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is the yue bin, or moon cakes, filled with different varieties of beans and nuts and fruits.

Mid-Autumn Festival

The joyous Mid-Autumn Festival, the third and last festival for the living, was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon, around the time of the autumn equinox. Many referred to it simply as the "Fifteenth of the Eighth Moon". In the Western calendar, the day of the festival usually occurred sometime between the second week of September and the second week ofOctober.This day was also considered a harvest festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested by this time and food was abundant. With delinquent accounts settled prior to the festival , it was a time for relaxation and celebration. Food offerings were placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates , melons, oranges and pomelos might be seen. Special foods for the festival included moon cakes, cooked taro, edible snails from the taro patches or rice paddies cooked with sweet basil, and water caltrope, a type of water chestnut resembling black buffalo horns. Some people insisted that cooked taro be included because at the time of creation, taro was the first food discovered at night in the moonlight. Of all these foods, it could not be omitted from the Mid-Autumn Festival.The round moon cakes, measuring about three inches in diameter and one and a half inches in thickness, resembled Western fruitcakes in taste and consistency. These cakes were made with melon seeds, lotus seeds, almonds, minced meats, bean paste, orange peels and lard. A golden yolk from a salted duck egg was placed at the center of each cake, and the golden brown crust was decorated with symbols of the festival. Traditionally, thirteen moon cakes were piled in a pyramid to symbolize the thirteen moons of a "complete year," that is, twelve moons plus one intercalary moon.

Origin

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festivity for both the Han and minority nationalities. The custom of worshipping the moon (called xi yue in Chinese) can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia and Shang Dynasties (2000 B.C.-1066 B.C.). In the Zhou Dynasty(1066 B.C.-221 B.C.), people hold ceremonies to greet winter and worship the moon whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival sets in. It becomes very prevalent in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.) that people enjoy and worship the full moon. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), however, people send round moon cakes to their relatives as gifts in expression of their best wishes of family reunion. When it becomes dark, they look up at the full silver moon or go sightseeing on lakes to celebrate the festival. Since the Ming (1368-1644 A.D. ) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911A.D.), the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration becomes unprecedented popular. Together with the celebration there appear some special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense, planting Mid-Autumn trees, lighting lanterns on towers and fire dragon dances. However, the custom of playing under the moon is not so popular as it used to be nowadays, but it is not less popular to enjoy the bright silver moon. Whenever the festival sets in, people will look up at the full silver moon, drinking wine to celebrate their happy life or thinking of their relatives and friends far from home, and extending all of their best wishes to them.

Moon Cakes

There is this story about the moon-cake. during the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon caked was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attached and overthrew the government. Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend and was called the Moon Cake.For generations, moon cakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare moon cakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes which are served in the English holiday seasons.Nowadays, there are hundreds varieties of moon cakes on sale a month before the arrival of Moon Festival.

gobble gobble.

2008-09-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

d liked my pan-fried turkey loins so much that he ate the whole thing! i'll take that as a compliment! he beat me to it, but i'll take his word for it.

these are alot of work but they're good. coat the pan with olive oil. pan fry each side on medium low for about 15 minutes (depending on how thick the loin is, and these were very thick). check on them frequently, as d said they don't taste good burned and you don't want to eat them raw. i flipped them frequently to make sure. i ended up covering them with a lid as they fried because i was running out of time and wanted them ready for d when he got home.

turkeys beware! tasting this good will get you in lots of trouble!

light.

2008-09-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

where there is light

there is you

your love for me

is true blue.

you show me

unsurpassed faith

for something

that began on one date.

i hope when you look at me

you see love

for what you gave me

is something i've always dreamed of.

ants.

2008-09-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

somehow i think i'm losing the battle against the ants that have been raiding the house. i picture the ants enjoying themselves with a good cup of coffee after claiming victory every day.

9/11

2008-09-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

wow, has it been 7 years since it happened? what were YOU doing when it happened?

Bowers Museum feat. the Terracotta Warriors.

2008-09-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

gramma and i had an enjoyable day at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. i do think the gaggle of stone warriors, animals and horsedrawn carriages were a bit of a pompous gesture by the first emperor of China who was not satisfied with people serving him hand and foot alive and had to continue this in his after life. i think of all the people who slaved over constructing his necropolis who probably were starved and underpaid and died during construction. on a happy note, since i don't know if i'll ever visit Xi'an and see the real deal, a sample of the terracotta warriors in an American museum sufficed.

Canter's Deli of Fairfax.

2008-09-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

after the NIN Concert, we grabbed a bite at Canter's, this Jewish diner in downtown LA. I had their world famous corned beef sandwich, which actually wasn't too impressive. But i did enjoy the casual yet chaotic ambiance of the deli and i was happy to appease my growling tummy and parched throat.

Halvah.

2008-09-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

We tried a Halvah bar we purchased from Canter's in the Fairfax district in downtown LA. It reminded me of a chinese confection. Grainy and sweet in the inside. It was tasty but one bar was equivalent to more than a meal in calories!

Halvah is a Turkish confection. It is one of the worlds oldest candies.The earliest references date as far back as the year 3000 B.C. The word halvah means literally 'sweetmeat'.

Ingredients include tahini and sugar. Tahini is created by grinding sesame seeds into a smooth creamy butter. Sesame seeds are rich in calcium, zinc, iron, phosphorous, protein, niacin and lecithin and many B complex vitamins.

Halvah contains three basic nutrients; protein and vegetable fat from tahini and carbohydrates from sugar. Halvah provides protein and calories, making it an excellent choice for the beginning of the day or for a backpacking energy source.

NIN

2008-09-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

this morph was the best!

i had heard a few NIN songs prior to going to the concert and liked his stuff but when i heard and saw him perform live, it blew me away. not only was the music awesome, the technical stuff and performance itself was remarkable. i especially enjoyed it when he threw his stuff across the stage and the stage hands had to keep coming up to pick up after him. the bush to mccain morph was really cool. as was the Censored for your protection cam shots which included 2 people having sex. i am officially a NIN fan.

milk+honey

2008-09-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

milk+honey=yummy for my tummy!
i liked the shave ice with the fresh assortment of fruit and red bean. but i have to say i LOVED the tart fro yo! next time, i'm getting a happy serving of that! i also liked the little atrium outside with the zen fountain and rock flooring.
go organic fro yo!

one improvement woulda been shave ice plus fro yo in one large happy cup!!

change is good. and it buys you a cup of coffee.

2008-09-04T16:10:00.001-07:00

am i not happy
because of him
or am i not happy
because of who i am within?
i see black and white
when i see a rainbow
instead of joy
i see only sorrow.
do i look for the bad
when there is also good
is my attitude what needs to change
i know it should.
i am the common denominator
that's tried and true
as long as that doesn't change
nothing else will do.

The more things change, the more they remain... insane.

blunder asunder.

2008-09-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

even good chefs have bad days.

i tried to replicate my friend's baked chicken with rice casserole. i failed.

the things i learned/speculated:

1. cover the entire thing in tinfoil because when you bake it, it tends to dry up.
2. chicken sorta tastes rubbery when baked on top of the rice with no cover.
3. use 2 cans of cream of mushroom/chicken, not 1 because all you'll end up with is mushy tasteless rice as opposed to mushy tasty rice.
4. perhaps i can try baking the rice instead of cooking it in the rice cooker then baking it?

it was bad. after having it for supper, i didn't even bother eating dinner. however, i did enjoy the garlic spinach i made instead, seasoned with hand-minced garlic, salt, and pepper.

bad cook.

2008-09-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

i can probably cook up quite a feast for cockroaches. i ventured out of broiling and ended up with stir fry nightmare and baking hell.

Yoga for Beginning Beginners.

2008-09-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

d and i started a home yoga program last night using the Yoga for Beginners DVD. you're supposed to go in sequence. we did the first one, which was Unwinding from your day. i am so outta shape. it hurt to stretch. it hurt to sit Indian style with my back straight for that long. is that even possible? you're supposed to go at your own pace. if that's the case, i'll still be on the first sequence next month. we're gonna do yoga M, W, F and hit the gym T, Th. here's to fitness or

not-being-a-total-sack-of-flab-ness.

wii sports.

2008-09-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

i gave wii sports a go this weekend. i have to say, i like tennis and bowling the most and golf and baseball the least, probably because i SUCKED at those. and boxing was kinda fun too. i wonder how calibrated the thing is. i coulda sworn i made steffi graf jealous with my slices! i came out with a fitness age of my gramma. time to shape up!