Domo 2 is getting too comfortable.
7/22/2008
7/21/2008
getting more confortable
Domo 2 wants to be like Minsoo. Here he is, trying on Minsoo's new shirt... and glasses:
Yes, that is a pac-man blanket in the background. We are grown ups.
Yes, that is a pac-man blanket in the background. We are grown ups.
7/20/2008
a new addition
I think our new friend Domo 2 has been busy exploring our apartment. I keep finding him in random places. For example, I think he's trying to make friends with my other stuffed animals:
Silly Domo 2.
Silly Domo 2.
7/19/2008
old friend
I was never really into stuff animals, but when my ceiling collapsed on all my worldly possessions back in 2003, I lost my modest collection of random stuffed friends. One of them was a brown animal called "Domokun" (he's the mascot of a Japanese tv station). Today, I finally bought a replacement, Domo 2, if you will.
I forgot how much I loved Domo 1, but now that I have Domo 2, I feel like I found an old friend which is kind of weird.
He's so ugly, he's almost cute:
There he is, spending time with minsoo. Yay Domo 2!
7/18/2008
spent
I had a long week because we had three days of a staff meeting. On Thursday, I wanted to punch out a few of my coworkers.
By the way, I'm so glad that Pr0ject Runway has started up again. I'm also glad that Sarah is back in the Yusa! These two things made up for my sucky week.
By the way, I'm so glad that Pr0ject Runway has started up again. I'm also glad that Sarah is back in the Yusa! These two things made up for my sucky week.
7/17/2008
colonial gardens
Our apartment has a courtyard that's filled with overgrown random trees, bushes and plants. There's also a huge ass tall green bush-tree that shoots up above the second floor apartments. It's at least 50 feet high -- you can see the tree sticking up above the roof when you drive by the building. Everyone who visits wonders what the crap this weird tree is doing in the middle of our courtyard.
Anyway, they're re-doing the plaster on our apartment (re-colonial-izing it?) so they've been cutting down some of the bushes and plants on the sides outside our building. When I arrived home today, I walked through the gate and saw people cutting up pieces of wood. I looked up, saw the blue sky and realized they had cut down the big ass tree!! For those of you who have been to your apartment, you'll know that this is a big deal -- the tree is gigantic and blocks natural light from our courtyard. Yay!
A few days ago, Minsoo and I were debating whether or not the big tree could ever be cut down. I think I won the debate.
Anyway, they're re-doing the plaster on our apartment (re-colonial-izing it?) so they've been cutting down some of the bushes and plants on the sides outside our building. When I arrived home today, I walked through the gate and saw people cutting up pieces of wood. I looked up, saw the blue sky and realized they had cut down the big ass tree!! For those of you who have been to your apartment, you'll know that this is a big deal -- the tree is gigantic and blocks natural light from our courtyard. Yay!
A few days ago, Minsoo and I were debating whether or not the big tree could ever be cut down. I think I won the debate.
7/16/2008
neighborhood drama
This morning, I drove by an accident in my neighborhood. An old guy driving a white mazda miata drove over the curb, knocked over a fire hydrant and crashed into the front yard of a home and into the handicapped ramp leading up to the door of the house. There was water shooting up like 20 feet in the air onto the home's front lawn and the street. The fire department was there, blocking the entrance to the side street and the police were arriving when I rolled by. The driver was still sitting in his car, looking dazed. A crazy scene at 8am. I immediately called Minsoo to describe the scene to him. I think you had to be there to appreciate how chaotic it was. It looked like a movie set or something. I half expected to see a film crew you know, because it's LA. Unfortunately the accident was very much real. Bummer for the homeowner.
7/15/2008
geeking out
Yesterday we watched a preview of the new batman movie. It was pretty awesome. It was on IMAX so the screen was huge! We got there an hour before, but still had to sit fairly close to the front. When we were searching for seats, I asked an asian guy if the seats next to him were taken and he said yes. When I walked away, I realized that guy was a local newscaster! TV journalists aren't movie stars, but kind of like local celebrities.
There were a lot of movie geeks at the screening too. You'll recognize them based on few features:
1. Scruffy beard meant to look "hip" but looks more disheveled. Beer Belly, mostly from sitting in front of screens all day.
2. Stripped or patterned button down over the special edition movie tv
3. Talking to companion about movies, comic books and comic book movies. Loudly. Authoritatively.
We saw one guy with tons of comic book character tattoos on his arms... and of course, a Chinese character tat on his neck. Because you know, no one is completely "inked" until they have a tattoo in a language that they can't understand.
There were a lot of movie geeks at the screening too. You'll recognize them based on few features:
1. Scruffy beard meant to look "hip" but looks more disheveled. Beer Belly, mostly from sitting in front of screens all day.
2. Stripped or patterned button down over the special edition movie tv
3. Talking to companion about movies, comic books and comic book movies. Loudly. Authoritatively.
We saw one guy with tons of comic book character tattoos on his arms... and of course, a Chinese character tat on his neck. Because you know, no one is completely "inked" until they have a tattoo in a language that they can't understand.
7/14/2008
if only....
I have such a crummy attitude when it comes to work. Of course, I always feel worse when the dreaded "should" (as in, I should be grateful I have a job at all) creeps into my vocabulary and then I get totally guilty for feeling crummy. It's a vicious guilt/sadness cycle. I don't know how to get out of it.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about work as a means to an end. What if I lived more simply and in a place that didn't require money? Could I do it? Would I do it?
Unfortunately I like electricity, shoes, showering and sleeping indoors too much. Damn you capitalism. My friend once suggested that we go back to the bardering instead of currency. I'll trade your shoes for my.... my.... sense of organization? My GIS mapping skills? My pumpkin cookies? This is when bow-hunting skills comes into play. I should have learned that at girl scout camp.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about work as a means to an end. What if I lived more simply and in a place that didn't require money? Could I do it? Would I do it?
Unfortunately I like electricity, shoes, showering and sleeping indoors too much. Damn you capitalism. My friend once suggested that we go back to the bardering instead of currency. I'll trade your shoes for my.... my.... sense of organization? My GIS mapping skills? My pumpkin cookies? This is when bow-hunting skills comes into play. I should have learned that at girl scout camp.
7/13/2008
happy birthday hannah!
Because J.D. is spending her birthday studying for the bar exam, I going to bequeath the fortune cookie message I received today to her (pictured left):"Everyone around you is rooting for you. Don't give up." Word.
7/12/2008
ice capades?
I recently made a new mix tape for myself to help me get motivated at work. It's a random mix of songs that make me feel good -- OutKast "So Fresh, So Clean", Ben Lee "We're all in this together", "Suddenly I see" KT Tunstall, along with some Mary J... random huh?
I struggled with putting these songs into order. Do you categorize by type of music? By theme of lyrics? By gender? I've never been good at ordering mixes.
I remember those days when people recorded music off the radio. Many of my mix tapes had horribly taped songs with the DJ's voice introducing the song during the instrumental intro. There was no flow or order... you just recorded the song when happened to be on the radio.
I remember that I was really into taping Janet Jackson songs. When Escapade was the song of the moment, I used to tape it several times onto one tape until I got it just right (very little/no DJ voice over, etc.). I remember that I couldn't figure out all of the lyrics and once thought the title of the song was "Ice Capades." No really, I did. I think I only figured it out when I actually bought the actual tape and looked at the titles.
I struggled with putting these songs into order. Do you categorize by type of music? By theme of lyrics? By gender? I've never been good at ordering mixes.
I remember those days when people recorded music off the radio. Many of my mix tapes had horribly taped songs with the DJ's voice introducing the song during the instrumental intro. There was no flow or order... you just recorded the song when happened to be on the radio.
I remember that I was really into taping Janet Jackson songs. When Escapade was the song of the moment, I used to tape it several times onto one tape until I got it just right (very little/no DJ voice over, etc.). I remember that I couldn't figure out all of the lyrics and once thought the title of the song was "Ice Capades." No really, I did. I think I only figured it out when I actually bought the actual tape and looked at the titles.
7/11/2008
mean girls
Dude, I'm watching this show called "Queen Bees" that's about mean girls. They all think they're totally beautiful and rule the people around them.
Unbeknownst to them, their friends and family nominate them and the most "reformed" will win $25K. Several of the girls were nominated by their MOMS! It's a sad day when moms will rat out their daughters for being horrible human beings. Message to moms: it might have been your fault that your offspring sucks as a human being. Duh!
In this episode, to win, the girls have to impress blind judges. Ha ha! I love it.
Minsoo thinks I like watching this because "those bitches need to get what's coming to them." I guess I'd agree... a little. But then does that make me a mean girl?
Unbeknownst to them, their friends and family nominate them and the most "reformed" will win $25K. Several of the girls were nominated by their MOMS! It's a sad day when moms will rat out their daughters for being horrible human beings. Message to moms: it might have been your fault that your offspring sucks as a human being. Duh!
In this episode, to win, the girls have to impress blind judges. Ha ha! I love it.
Minsoo thinks I like watching this because "those bitches need to get what's coming to them." I guess I'd agree... a little. But then does that make me a mean girl?
7/10/2008
sneakin' in
I had a meeting at city hall today, which is a fairly regular occurence. Since it's such a large city and a huge city hall complex, there are a bunch of security measures that you have to follow which include pre-arranged parking, getting badges for your car and yourself, showing your bag and drivers' license. Normally it's a bit of a pain in the butt, but oh well, I deal.
Everytime I go there, it's the same routine. I'd say I've been there at least 20 times. But today, it was different. There were NO security measures. I drove right into the parking complex without an ID tag (the guy asked me my name and then waved me by), I didn't have to go through the metal detector in the building (he was flirting with my coworker instead). It was weird and although normally I think the measures are a pain, when I didn't have to deal with them today I almost felt... unsafe.
Today was an awesome day to sneak into city hall, if anyone was so inclined. Ooo, So fun... Oh look it's the chief legislative analyst! Is that the public works commissioner? Ohmigod, it's the mayor!!!
Everytime I go there, it's the same routine. I'd say I've been there at least 20 times. But today, it was different. There were NO security measures. I drove right into the parking complex without an ID tag (the guy asked me my name and then waved me by), I didn't have to go through the metal detector in the building (he was flirting with my coworker instead). It was weird and although normally I think the measures are a pain, when I didn't have to deal with them today I almost felt... unsafe.
Today was an awesome day to sneak into city hall, if anyone was so inclined. Ooo, So fun... Oh look it's the chief legislative analyst! Is that the public works commissioner? Ohmigod, it's the mayor!!!
7/09/2008
nimby
Today we got a letter in the mail from the city planning department. When you get a letter like this, it most likely means that there's a new development happening in your neighborhood and it's most likely going to be huge and/or obnoxiously different from the rest of the neighborhood. I didn't need to open it up to know that it's going to be a pain in the ass.
A 48-unit apartment building down the street from us is being converted to a 92-unit with 201 parking spaces. I guess I shouldn't get all NIMBY (not in my backyard) since I am only a lowly apartment dweller, but this new development is going to suck ass. Not only is it going to be noisy but the traffic and the parking!
And of course, because public participation is *sooo* important, the public meeting is at 10:30am on a Wednesday morning at city hall downtown. What bull crap. I'm going to be at city hall that day, so mmmm. I could represent like the Yu family did.
Or maybe, as minsoo suggested, we should just see if we can move there...
A 48-unit apartment building down the street from us is being converted to a 92-unit with 201 parking spaces. I guess I shouldn't get all NIMBY (not in my backyard) since I am only a lowly apartment dweller, but this new development is going to suck ass. Not only is it going to be noisy but the traffic and the parking!
And of course, because public participation is *sooo* important, the public meeting is at 10:30am on a Wednesday morning at city hall downtown. What bull crap. I'm going to be at city hall that day, so mmmm. I could represent like the Yu family did.
Or maybe, as minsoo suggested, we should just see if we can move there...
7/08/2008
bumming around
Today I was craving some pumpkin pie to feed my job sadness. I know, it's not Thanksgiving! Luckily the awesomest pumpkin pie is available year around at a cafe in Santa Monica (it's outdoors too!). They serve huge slices of spiced pumpkin pie with a yummy sugary thick crust. So basically this place is my favorite place in all of LA because it serves up three of my favorite things: pumpkin pie, dining alfresco and yummy green tea. This is why LA rocks my face off (for all of you LA haters.) Anyway, I digress...
So anyway, I really wanted pie. However, Minsoo was watching a movie so I was scrounging around trying to find someone who would go with me. It's not like I couldn't go by myself, but it's much more fun to eat pie with other people, especially when the piece of pie serves more than one person. I couldn't find anyone to go with so I just ended up at my second favorite place in LA: the shoe store. Then I went home, unbuttoned my pants and ate half a container of green tea ice cream. Ah, another productive Tuesday night that I should have spent working.
I'm so bummed because this time around, the stress of work is going to make me chunky, instead of thin, like last time.
Now I'm watching that america's got talent show... there's an asian girl without an asian name (and has a white mom) who's on stage doing chinese acrobat-type things. Is she adopted and now being exploited for her "exotic" talents? Something about this act makes me feel yucky.
So anyway, I really wanted pie. However, Minsoo was watching a movie so I was scrounging around trying to find someone who would go with me. It's not like I couldn't go by myself, but it's much more fun to eat pie with other people, especially when the piece of pie serves more than one person. I couldn't find anyone to go with so I just ended up at my second favorite place in LA: the shoe store. Then I went home, unbuttoned my pants and ate half a container of green tea ice cream. Ah, another productive Tuesday night that I should have spent working.
I'm so bummed because this time around, the stress of work is going to make me chunky, instead of thin, like last time.
Now I'm watching that america's got talent show... there's an asian girl without an asian name (and has a white mom) who's on stage doing chinese acrobat-type things. Is she adopted and now being exploited for her "exotic" talents? Something about this act makes me feel yucky.
7/07/2008
strange white dude dancing video
That where the hell is matt video is addictive. If you haven't seen it, just go to youtube.
At first, I thought it was lame, but the more and more I watch it, the more I like it. It's oddly moving. It seems like it was something he was meant to do and is loving it.
I'm realizing more and more that I'm not doing what I love doing... and that maybe if I did what I loved, the rest of the details of life would fall into place.
Ugh, I sound like that stupid color of your parachute book...nevermind. Back to work.
At first, I thought it was lame, but the more and more I watch it, the more I like it. It's oddly moving. It seems like it was something he was meant to do and is loving it.
I'm realizing more and more that I'm not doing what I love doing... and that maybe if I did what I loved, the rest of the details of life would fall into place.
Ugh, I sound like that stupid color of your parachute book...nevermind. Back to work.
7/06/2008
i heart dining alfresco
I have a love of eating outdoors. And of course, LA has a ton of outdoor cafes. I think I love eating in restaurants with patios that feel like you're eating in someone's backyard because my parents have a backyard deck and I remember some of my favorite family meals were held outdoors.
Sometimes, I think food even tastes better when you're eating it on a warm summer day. I think I'll eat almost anything if we're dining alfresco.
I also have a love of macaroni salad. Since I didn't post yesterday, my next post today will be about mac salad.
Sometimes, I think food even tastes better when you're eating it on a warm summer day. I think I'll eat almost anything if we're dining alfresco.
I also have a love of macaroni salad. Since I didn't post yesterday, my next post today will be about mac salad.
summer addiction
I think I have a problem. I love macaroni salad.
Okay, so loving mac salad is not a problem. Some may say it's merely a gross food preference. But for me, it's more than just a preference. It's an addiction.
Every summer, it starts out innocently. I'm at the grocery store shopping for a dish to bring to a potluck bbq and I see it in the deli aisle. Instead of buying the smallest serving, I opt for the larger size, because you never know how many people will be there. Of course, the mac salad is always one of leftovers (because no one eats THAT much mac salad, right?) and I end up bringing at least half the tub of mayonnaise-y goodness home.
The real problem begins the next day. I begin the long long journey of trying to finish the tub of mac salad all by myself. One bowl turns into another one, which turns into eating more than one person should consuming in a week.
Yesterday, I ate A LOT of macaroni salad. So much, that I felt nauseated for at least a few hours after it. We went out to see a movie and I had to stick my head out the window to get some fresh air and make sure I didn't toss my cooki... mac salad. Ewwww.
I should have known better. I'm sure you all are grossed out right now. I know I am. Maybe this post will help me get over this obsession.
Okay, so loving mac salad is not a problem. Some may say it's merely a gross food preference. But for me, it's more than just a preference. It's an addiction.
Every summer, it starts out innocently. I'm at the grocery store shopping for a dish to bring to a potluck bbq and I see it in the deli aisle. Instead of buying the smallest serving, I opt for the larger size, because you never know how many people will be there. Of course, the mac salad is always one of leftovers (because no one eats THAT much mac salad, right?) and I end up bringing at least half the tub of mayonnaise-y goodness home.
The real problem begins the next day. I begin the long long journey of trying to finish the tub of mac salad all by myself. One bowl turns into another one, which turns into eating more than one person should consuming in a week.
Yesterday, I ate A LOT of macaroni salad. So much, that I felt nauseated for at least a few hours after it. We went out to see a movie and I had to stick my head out the window to get some fresh air and make sure I didn't toss my cooki... mac salad. Ewwww.
I should have known better. I'm sure you all are grossed out right now. I know I am. Maybe this post will help me get over this obsession.
7/04/2008
4th of july thoughts
I appreciate these thoughts on how to be a different kind of "patriot" during this holiday, from activist J0e Navarr0....
"...How can one demonstrate "zealous love" for this tradition? As an American citizen, who is also a Native American and Chicano, I prefer to celebrate the heroes who have resisted and opposed oppression domestically and internationally.
Instead, I honor African slaves who rebelled against slavery, and white abolitionists who dedicated their lives to end the barbarism; I celebrate the original people of this land who fought and resisted genocide and the Mexicans who battled against a mighty military force to defend their lands from a brutal annexation; I admire the women who have tireless fought for women's rights to vote, for reproductive choice and for equality; I honor Chinese, Japanese and other Asian immigrants who have survived and resisted severe racism, ostracism and unlawful incarceration; I celebrate civil rights and human rights activists who marched, protested and fought for equality in education, employment, housing and healthcare, and expanded democracy; I honor people who strive to uncover the truth about this nation and peace activists who protest in the streets to let the world know that imperialist aggression is not supported by everyone.
So, on the Fourth of July, I will not be a blindfolded flag waving patriot. I will honor and celebrate all the people who have fought (and died) to defend people from oppression and who worked to expand democracy in America."
"...How can one demonstrate "zealous love" for this tradition? As an American citizen, who is also a Native American and Chicano, I prefer to celebrate the heroes who have resisted and opposed oppression domestically and internationally.
Instead, I honor African slaves who rebelled against slavery, and white abolitionists who dedicated their lives to end the barbarism; I celebrate the original people of this land who fought and resisted genocide and the Mexicans who battled against a mighty military force to defend their lands from a brutal annexation; I admire the women who have tireless fought for women's rights to vote, for reproductive choice and for equality; I honor Chinese, Japanese and other Asian immigrants who have survived and resisted severe racism, ostracism and unlawful incarceration; I celebrate civil rights and human rights activists who marched, protested and fought for equality in education, employment, housing and healthcare, and expanded democracy; I honor people who strive to uncover the truth about this nation and peace activists who protest in the streets to let the world know that imperialist aggression is not supported by everyone.
So, on the Fourth of July, I will not be a blindfolded flag waving patriot. I will honor and celebrate all the people who have fought (and died) to defend people from oppression and who worked to expand democracy in America."
7/03/2008
Oh snap, I'm beginning to think I'm a good cook
I've been told that cooking with a crock pot is fool-proof. All of my married friends rave about it, but I've always been scared to use it. Apparently you put meat into a pot with some water and seasonings, leave it all day and then presto! A meal. I was pretty skeptical.
Tonight I made some sort of beef dish. I didn't use a recipe, and instead used salt/pepper and a variety of seasonings and sauces I had in my kitchen, browned the meat, dumped it into a very sketchy sauce, said a little prayer and then hours later, presto! A meat dish that was actually sort of good. Tender meat, tasty & thick sauce/gravy. Yay!
I think that cooking with a crock pot is similar to wearing A-line skirts: it works for anyone and always make you look good. I can't believe I just compared cooking to clothes. Oh well.
Tonight I made some sort of beef dish. I didn't use a recipe, and instead used salt/pepper and a variety of seasonings and sauces I had in my kitchen, browned the meat, dumped it into a very sketchy sauce, said a little prayer and then hours later, presto! A meat dish that was actually sort of good. Tender meat, tasty & thick sauce/gravy. Yay!
I think that cooking with a crock pot is similar to wearing A-line skirts: it works for anyone and always make you look good. I can't believe I just compared cooking to clothes. Oh well.
7/02/2008
hot asian men!
I just watched Lust, Caution. One word: Whoa.
Tony Leung is ridiculously hot. Definitely at the top of my list.
Also, apparently one of the actors is Asian pop star Wang 1ee h0m, who is very very pretty, and one of those Asian Americans making it big in Asia.
Next steps: y0utube (so i can check out the pretty dude's musical stylings)
Tony Leung is ridiculously hot. Definitely at the top of my list.
Also, apparently one of the actors is Asian pop star Wang 1ee h0m, who is very very pretty, and one of those Asian Americans making it big in Asia.
Next steps: y0utube (so i can check out the pretty dude's musical stylings)
7/01/2008
6/30/2008
quoted
This afternoon I had meeting with a city councilmember's staff. I arrived early so I sat in the waiting room with my coworker and picked up a magazine. I was flipping through the magazine when I noticed that minsoo was quoted in one of the articles. That was really cool.
6/29/2008
t0ny camp0l0 rocks my face off
TC was the speaker at our church conference this week and I think he covered a lot of really controversial topics. He was all up in our faces about caring about the poor and rejecting our materialistic culture. Although he's Christian, he also has some very controversial views that are very different from the religious right, which was very refreshing. I'm also really glad that one of my friends, who isn't Christian, came to our service to hear TC and really liked it. He definitely ministered to her today. Yay!
I also saw Wall-E today. Awesome and so deep. P1xar did it again.
I also saw Wall-E today. Awesome and so deep. P1xar did it again.
6/28/2008
happy birthday jess!
Today is Jess' golden birthday!
I'm sure you're having a great one. Sorry I can't be there! You rock.
6/26/2008
walks
We've been trying to take walks after dinner to get a little bit of fresh air, time away from screens (tv, computer) and hopefully a teeny bit of exercise.
We walk through the nice residential neighborhood behind our apartment and up the hill to check out the amazing view of the city. On the way up the hill, there's a house on a corner that has a dog in their backyard that barks at anyone that walks by the property. The dog sound slike it wants to eat you. I've never seen the dog because it's locked up behind a big wall & gate, but I imagine that's it's a type of pit bull or large dog with sharp teeth and lots of drool.
Minsoo is afraid of dogs so today he told me that he wanted to run by the house, instead of walk by it, so that we could avoid the barking assault. I agreed so we booked it by the house and avoided the barking. We were so proud of ourselves. In hindsight it sounds dumb, but it felt good at the time.
In other news, I'm glad that sasstimesseven got kicked off abdc this week. Good riddance.
We walk through the nice residential neighborhood behind our apartment and up the hill to check out the amazing view of the city. On the way up the hill, there's a house on a corner that has a dog in their backyard that barks at anyone that walks by the property. The dog sound slike it wants to eat you. I've never seen the dog because it's locked up behind a big wall & gate, but I imagine that's it's a type of pit bull or large dog with sharp teeth and lots of drool.
Minsoo is afraid of dogs so today he told me that he wanted to run by the house, instead of walk by it, so that we could avoid the barking assault. I agreed so we booked it by the house and avoided the barking. We were so proud of ourselves. In hindsight it sounds dumb, but it felt good at the time.
In other news, I'm glad that sasstimesseven got kicked off abdc this week. Good riddance.
6/25/2008
6/24/2008
where's bruce?
On the Turner C1ass1c movie channel, they're doing a special on Asian films. Tonight was my favorite film, Flower Drum Song. We were out so we missed it, but now Enter the Dragon is on, which is Minsoo's favorite. We're watching it, even though we have it on DVD. I love those polyester suits and cheesy haircuts.
Speaking of Bruce, when we were leaving Kauai after our honeymoon, the guy checking our IDs and tickets looked down at mine and asked, "Where's Bruce?" Of course, I had no idea what he was asking so I said, "What? Oh, no, it's just me and him [pointing at minsoo.]" The guy asking me was Asian and we were in Hawaii, so I was surprised that he would crack a brucelee joke.
Bruce Lee's family came from the same area in China as my family. We could be related! I sometimes think that this might contribute to minsoo's love for me.
Speaking of Bruce, when we were leaving Kauai after our honeymoon, the guy checking our IDs and tickets looked down at mine and asked, "Where's Bruce?" Of course, I had no idea what he was asking so I said, "What? Oh, no, it's just me and him [pointing at minsoo.]" The guy asking me was Asian and we were in Hawaii, so I was surprised that he would crack a brucelee joke.
Bruce Lee's family came from the same area in China as my family. We could be related! I sometimes think that this might contribute to minsoo's love for me.
6/23/2008
reality show monday
I just watched the most uncomfortable make-over reality show. It was one of those makeover shows where friends nominate you and then get to pick out various "looks" for you. You get to pick one of the "looks" and get a corresponding makeover haircut. It's supposedly a transformative experience.
This episode was a train wreck. At the end, the woman said that she was no longer friends with the people who nominated her and felt like they were trying to break her spirit (she was a 30-year old goth hippie called "p1um"). The whole episode she kept pouting and said nasty things to the host and her friends. I felt so bad for the host, who was trying her best to keep her cool. I even began to get pissed at her. The stylist who was one of the people to help her get her new look scolded her for not thanking her friend who gave up important plans to be there to help her get her makeover. The woman didn't even thank her friends and instead just left on her high horse, saying she'd keep the sneakers but give everything else to g00dwill. I wanted to cry for her friends after watching it because the woman was so cruel, ungrateful and stubborn. Actually, I don't think she was a horrible person, but it did seem like she had serious trust issues and other issues that made it impossible for her to relinquish control and appreciate good intentions. I know it sounds weird but the episode was so intense.
I'm emotionally exhausted now. That episode was toxic for my soul.
I wish I had just watched j0nandkate+8 instead.
This episode was a train wreck. At the end, the woman said that she was no longer friends with the people who nominated her and felt like they were trying to break her spirit (she was a 30-year old goth hippie called "p1um"). The whole episode she kept pouting and said nasty things to the host and her friends. I felt so bad for the host, who was trying her best to keep her cool. I even began to get pissed at her. The stylist who was one of the people to help her get her new look scolded her for not thanking her friend who gave up important plans to be there to help her get her makeover. The woman didn't even thank her friends and instead just left on her high horse, saying she'd keep the sneakers but give everything else to g00dwill. I wanted to cry for her friends after watching it because the woman was so cruel, ungrateful and stubborn. Actually, I don't think she was a horrible person, but it did seem like she had serious trust issues and other issues that made it impossible for her to relinquish control and appreciate good intentions. I know it sounds weird but the episode was so intense.
I'm emotionally exhausted now. That episode was toxic for my soul.
I wish I had just watched j0nandkate+8 instead.
6/22/2008
warm Sunday night thoughts
I'm sitting outside on my little balcony right now. It's so dang hot in our apartment so I've escaped to the outdoors. It's nice.
It's days like this when I wish that I had a house on the beach so I could sit outside and watch the sunset, instead of sitting outside watching cars drive in and out of our side street and alley.
Sunday nights are so bittersweet. I'm finally winding down from last week and them, boom, I have to begin thinking about next week.
Every Sunday evening, the same thoughts go running around in my head:
"Should I call in sick?"
"Ooo, I wonder if there are any new job listings...".
"Maybe I should start playing the lottery...."
"Is Red Mango open?"
"Gotta check my email before I walk in on Monday and end up already behind on work..."
Ah, sweet, sweet Sunday.
It's days like this when I wish that I had a house on the beach so I could sit outside and watch the sunset, instead of sitting outside watching cars drive in and out of our side street and alley.
Sunday nights are so bittersweet. I'm finally winding down from last week and them, boom, I have to begin thinking about next week.
Every Sunday evening, the same thoughts go running around in my head:
"Should I call in sick?"
"Ooo, I wonder if there are any new job listings...".
"Maybe I should start playing the lottery...."
"Is Red Mango open?"
"Gotta check my email before I walk in on Monday and end up already behind on work..."
Ah, sweet, sweet Sunday.
6/21/2008
it's hot.
It's been blazing hot this weekend, which sucks for sleeping. Our wall unit A/C only cools the dining room and part of the living room so the bedroom never gets cool at night. I'm really tired because even though I got 10 hours of sleep last night, I was so hot it feels like I only slept for 5. Now, I really want to go to sleep but the room is so hot I don't want to go back in there.
That's it for today.
That's it for today.
6/20/2008
We celebrate the darnedest things
Just to let you all know, June is national bathroom reading month. I found this out today while listening to npr.
Unbeknownst to me, I have honored this June designation many times this month. I hope you all will get the chance to celebrate this American tradition sometime in the next week.
Unbeknownst to me, I have honored this June designation many times this month. I hope you all will get the chance to celebrate this American tradition sometime in the next week.
6/19/2008
hi, my name is wai-ling, and i'm addicted to a.b.d.c.
I don't watch mtv on a regular basis because I'm too old (they target kids up to 24 years old). However, I reject ageism on Thursday night when they air that america's best dance crew show. It's a freaking awesome show.
I love how Asian the show is and how the asian crews kick ass. Last season there were only a few crews with Asians in them, however this season it seems like everyone has a token Asian members, even that girl cheerleading group. Asians are like every crew's lucky rabbit's foot 'cuz we keep it real on the dance floor. Okay, when I say we, I mean them.
One of the groups tonight were a group of guys from Napervi11e IL who got ripped a new a-hole by the judges. Their routine made me feel really uncomfortable because they looked like they were trying out for America's best stripping crew. I'm glad the judges also felt that they sucked. Yucky. The other group I totally disliked were a group of girls who did a routine that reminded me of a sport's team's dance crew. Go home Lakers girls, go home, you lost the NBA finals suckas, stop dancing. I can't believe these 2 groups won't go home tonight because of the voting system.
I've gotta go vote online for the crews now. I can't let both the strippers and the cheerleaders make it past next week. ABDC is the best!!!
I love how Asian the show is and how the asian crews kick ass. Last season there were only a few crews with Asians in them, however this season it seems like everyone has a token Asian members, even that girl cheerleading group. Asians are like every crew's lucky rabbit's foot 'cuz we keep it real on the dance floor. Okay, when I say we, I mean them.
One of the groups tonight were a group of guys from Napervi11e IL who got ripped a new a-hole by the judges. Their routine made me feel really uncomfortable because they looked like they were trying out for America's best stripping crew. I'm glad the judges also felt that they sucked. Yucky. The other group I totally disliked were a group of girls who did a routine that reminded me of a sport's team's dance crew. Go home Lakers girls, go home, you lost the NBA finals suckas, stop dancing. I can't believe these 2 groups won't go home tonight because of the voting system.
I've gotta go vote online for the crews now. I can't let both the strippers and the cheerleaders make it past next week. ABDC is the best!!!
6/18/2008
boo (hoo hoo)
Today I broke my streak of not-crying-at-work. I haven't cried at work (not including the time my coworker died in 2006) since my last job in 2004.
Damn and my not-crying streak was going so good.
I guess this is a pretty rad statistic for me since I've managed to have a breakdown at almost every job I've had except for the one where I was an assistant at a publishing company.
Non-profit jobs are hard, yo.
After a really crappy meeting, due in part to my horrible attitude about work, my coworker friend asked me what was bugging me. So of course that sent me into a crying nightmare. I am not a graceful crier. I get the shakes, the hyperventilating, hiccups, the inability to speak complete sentences without gasping for air....the works. I end up a big fat mess. The aftermath entails huge swollen eye lids, a raging headache and red face. It's so ugly.
Anyway, I've just been really disillusioned with my job as I was hired to do cutting edge social change research and since my co-worker died 2 weeks after I was hired, all I've ended up doing is project management (without the for-profit salary). I love what the organization does, but I really hate what I do day-in-and-day-out. There's a bunch of other things, but that's for another post. Suffice it to say that while I like to say that I'm helping to change the world, in my day to day life, it feels very much like I'm not doing anything but making too little money for too much work.
Sometimes the money looks greener on the other side (the for profit side).
Damn and my not-crying streak was going so good.
I guess this is a pretty rad statistic for me since I've managed to have a breakdown at almost every job I've had except for the one where I was an assistant at a publishing company.
Non-profit jobs are hard, yo.
After a really crappy meeting, due in part to my horrible attitude about work, my coworker friend asked me what was bugging me. So of course that sent me into a crying nightmare. I am not a graceful crier. I get the shakes, the hyperventilating, hiccups, the inability to speak complete sentences without gasping for air....the works. I end up a big fat mess. The aftermath entails huge swollen eye lids, a raging headache and red face. It's so ugly.
Anyway, I've just been really disillusioned with my job as I was hired to do cutting edge social change research and since my co-worker died 2 weeks after I was hired, all I've ended up doing is project management (without the for-profit salary). I love what the organization does, but I really hate what I do day-in-and-day-out. There's a bunch of other things, but that's for another post. Suffice it to say that while I like to say that I'm helping to change the world, in my day to day life, it feels very much like I'm not doing anything but making too little money for too much work.
Sometimes the money looks greener on the other side (the for profit side).
6/17/2008
all look same
Today I was at an all day training with a small group of people when one of the other attendees came up to me and said "Hey!" like we had been engaged in a conversation. So I said "hey!" because we had talked a few hours ago and maybe she wanted to talk more...
Then she said, "So I have go in awhile, but I know you had some questions about what I'm doing." I looked at her blankly. She kind of stared at me and then said... "Ohhhhh" and walked over toward the one other Asian girl in the room.
She mistook me for the only other Asian girl in the room... who was at least 3 inches taller, had short hair, no glasses, wearing a completely different outfit and was Korean.
Even in the diverse non-profit sector we Asians all look alike, I guess.
Then she said, "So I have go in awhile, but I know you had some questions about what I'm doing." I looked at her blankly. She kind of stared at me and then said... "Ohhhhh" and walked over toward the one other Asian girl in the room.
She mistook me for the only other Asian girl in the room... who was at least 3 inches taller, had short hair, no glasses, wearing a completely different outfit and was Korean.
Even in the diverse non-profit sector we Asians all look alike, I guess.
6/16/2008
bad day
Mondays usually suck but today was a thoroughly bad Monday.
I opened up my work email box this morning to find that a grant proposal I had submitted was rejected. Then, later on in the afternoon, I found another grant proposal rejection letter in my in-box. Well, it wasn't so much a rejection letter ("Thank you for your application, however because of the number of applications we are unable to award you a grant....") as it was a mass "Congratulations" email blast for the organizations who had been given a grant. So I had to read the whole email and look for our name on the list, hoping that it was my organization they were congratulating. Unfortunately it was not. It felt like I had tried out for high school jazz band and they posted the list and I didn't make it, even though my jazz piano skillz were so excellent (just an example, though, uh not based on real life).
To make me "feel better" my Exec Dir decided to make a joke about how apparently it's just a myth that my department is supposed to earn our org money, ha ha. I gave her a look that said "you suck bitch" while she tried to hug me and make it all better. I just crossed my arms.
On top of this, I saw a big ass cockroach on the ceiling of the conference room when I was having a meeting. I know they are stalking me, I know it.
And of course, to end my bad day....tonight my friend called me up to hang out so I went over to her house thinking that it would cheer me up. I was already in a cranky mood, so I ended up getting into a tense conversation with another girl who was at my friends' house about how "ching chong ching chong" jokes are not funny (she is not asian) and, in fact, racist and offensive to me. She thought "accents" were always funny, R0sie0's joke about DannyDev1to was hilarious and in general ching chong jokes are really funny and so what's the big deal? Comedians are supposed to make fun of people. My head almost exploded. If you know me, you know how little tolerance I have for stuff like this (prob the reason why minsoo and I get along so well). So my bad mood did not help. I almost walked out, but I was eating Chocolate ice cream and I hadn't finished yet.
Today was like a slap in the face reminder that the weekend was over.
I opened up my work email box this morning to find that a grant proposal I had submitted was rejected. Then, later on in the afternoon, I found another grant proposal rejection letter in my in-box. Well, it wasn't so much a rejection letter ("Thank you for your application, however because of the number of applications we are unable to award you a grant....") as it was a mass "Congratulations" email blast for the organizations who had been given a grant. So I had to read the whole email and look for our name on the list, hoping that it was my organization they were congratulating. Unfortunately it was not. It felt like I had tried out for high school jazz band and they posted the list and I didn't make it, even though my jazz piano skillz were so excellent (just an example, though, uh not based on real life).
To make me "feel better" my Exec Dir decided to make a joke about how apparently it's just a myth that my department is supposed to earn our org money, ha ha. I gave her a look that said "you suck bitch" while she tried to hug me and make it all better. I just crossed my arms.
On top of this, I saw a big ass cockroach on the ceiling of the conference room when I was having a meeting. I know they are stalking me, I know it.
And of course, to end my bad day....tonight my friend called me up to hang out so I went over to her house thinking that it would cheer me up. I was already in a cranky mood, so I ended up getting into a tense conversation with another girl who was at my friends' house about how "ching chong ching chong" jokes are not funny (she is not asian) and, in fact, racist and offensive to me. She thought "accents" were always funny, R0sie0's joke about DannyDev1to was hilarious and in general ching chong jokes are really funny and so what's the big deal? Comedians are supposed to make fun of people. My head almost exploded. If you know me, you know how little tolerance I have for stuff like this (prob the reason why minsoo and I get along so well). So my bad mood did not help. I almost walked out, but I was eating Chocolate ice cream and I hadn't finished yet.
Today was like a slap in the face reminder that the weekend was over.
6/15/2008
wildcat gathering, east coast style
We just got back from a short trip to "the 'Shire" as minsoo calls it. Our college pal got married so we headed to the east coast to celebrate and reunite with our old friends.
And just a little extra for you all, spotted in the hotel parking lot:
We also got to meet our friends new twins. The last time we "saw them" they were inside our friend's belly. They are adorable! They're fraternal and also have distinct personalities already. I'm sad that they live in Boston, because if they lived in LA, auntie wai-ling and uncle minsoo would be hanging out all the time with the little ladies... and of course, with their parents. :)
It was also awesome to hang out with the ladies -- I miss them! It's crazy to think that I've known them for almost 12 years. Luckily, we all haven't aged that much since undergrad (I think.) Maybe I'll post some old pics later on, but for now, here are the ladies, with the new little ladies...
I think that the dress I'm wearing makes me look like I have a tummy. Boo for trendy baggy dresses (so comfortable, though).Minsoo also reunited with his freshman year roommate. Yay Andrew!
And just a little extra for you all, spotted in the hotel parking lot:
6/13/2008
off for the weekend
Heading off to New Hampshire for a wedding. I'm super excited to see friends, especially our friends' young twin girls. We've watched them grow by monitoring their blog, so it'll be nice to finally meet them in person.
It's early. I'm tired. Gotta catch a flight!
It's early. I'm tired. Gotta catch a flight!
6/12/2008
"you're not cool" - 5-year-old matthew at bethel
So today, I went to a w0rkf0rce 'n' ec0n0m1c development conference and guess who was there?? OMG, It was rockstar economist JSachs! He's like the only economist that hangs out with bono! He was giving the lunchtime plenary talk and I was totally freaking out! I know, how cool is that?
Okay, so it's not cool. It's totally nerdy. And you know what's nerdier? Because I knew that he'd be at the conference, I brought my copy of his book so that he could sign it after his talk (even though he was hocking a new book).
This was the most exciting thing I did today. I need a vacation.
Okay, so it's not cool. It's totally nerdy. And you know what's nerdier? Because I knew that he'd be at the conference, I brought my copy of his book so that he could sign it after his talk (even though he was hocking a new book).
This was the most exciting thing I did today. I need a vacation.
6/11/2008
gas prices part 2 & daily blogging
After yesterday's gas violation, I went to this website called 1osange1esgaspr1ces to find out if there are any cheaper stations near my place. The cheapest gas is about 30 cents/gal cheaper than what I paid yesterday... which seems like a lot until you really think about it. For 10-11 gallons, it really only adds up to saving about $3, which means that I would still end up paying $50 for gas, which is still ridiculous.
I used to scour my neighborhood for the lowest priced station, but finding a station where you only pay $50 instead of $53 is still highway robbery. I'd rather take those 5 minutes doing something worthwhile...
On that note, minsoo and I talked about blogging everyday (minus traveling weekends) in solidarity with hannah, who is studying hard for the bar exam. While blogging does nothing to help her with bar classes, we think it might be a good temporary distraction. I don't promise that every day will be interesting, but I do promise that there will be something on this page everyday (minus traveling weekends) until Hannah opens up a can of whoop ass on the bar exam.
I used to scour my neighborhood for the lowest priced station, but finding a station where you only pay $50 instead of $53 is still highway robbery. I'd rather take those 5 minutes doing something worthwhile...
On that note, minsoo and I talked about blogging everyday (minus traveling weekends) in solidarity with hannah, who is studying hard for the bar exam. While blogging does nothing to help her with bar classes, we think it might be a good temporary distraction. I don't promise that every day will be interesting, but I do promise that there will be something on this page everyday (minus traveling weekends) until Hannah opens up a can of whoop ass on the bar exam.
6/10/2008
Obligatory gas prices suck post
I waited until I was running on fumes before I filled up gas. I drive a civic ex. I paid $53.27 for a tank of gas this morning. Yikes.
6/09/2008
book therapy
I had a horrible day, which turned around when I entered the bookstore this evening and saw Dav1dSedar1s' new book! MeTa1kPretty1Day (one of his older books) is the most hilarious book I have ever read and one of my favorite books. I highly recommend it.
Being at the bookstore reminded me of how I once wanted to be a librarian. I'm not kidding. Did you know that you have to have a master's degree in library sciences to be a librarian? I think I would be a rad librarian. I think I'd like to work in the map collections or the electronic data section. If I worked as a librarian, then maybe I could be the coolest person at my workplace (like someone I know). Boo-yeah.
Being at the bookstore reminded me of how I once wanted to be a librarian. I'm not kidding. Did you know that you have to have a master's degree in library sciences to be a librarian? I think I would be a rad librarian. I think I'd like to work in the map collections or the electronic data section. If I worked as a librarian, then maybe I could be the coolest person at my workplace (like someone I know). Boo-yeah.
6/05/2008
our small group is a bad influence
Minsoo & I are in a married couples small group at church. Even though a "married couples" group sounds horribly boring and straight out of a scene from bridgetj's diary ("smug marrieds"), the group rocks my face off because the people are all cool and normal. Anyway, I digress. Our group met up for dinner last night at a Mexican restaurant instead of bible study. We were told that a new couple was going to join us to check out our group so we were told by the couple that organizes our group to "be on our best behavior."
We ordered margaritas and coronas while we waited for the new couple and looked at the menus. When they arrived, I was thinking to myself, wow they look young. They were actually not married, but very recently engaged -- and recent college graduates. Oh man.
So I think they were surprised at the fact that we're all oldies (last night I was the youngest person) but also that we were drinking (gasp, Christians drinking!). I'm sure that since they're recently graduated but getting married that they might be a tad bit more conservative than the rest of us.
I'm not sure if they're going to be joining us regularly and honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about having such a young engaged couple joining us. I think we might be a bad influence on them. I would also hate to scare the girl with stories of what married like is really like. She still has that "I found a guy who makes my heart sparkle" look. (Hannah, that reference was for you.)
We ordered margaritas and coronas while we waited for the new couple and looked at the menus. When they arrived, I was thinking to myself, wow they look young. They were actually not married, but very recently engaged -- and recent college graduates. Oh man.
So I think they were surprised at the fact that we're all oldies (last night I was the youngest person) but also that we were drinking (gasp, Christians drinking!). I'm sure that since they're recently graduated but getting married that they might be a tad bit more conservative than the rest of us.
I'm not sure if they're going to be joining us regularly and honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about having such a young engaged couple joining us. I think we might be a bad influence on them. I would also hate to scare the girl with stories of what married like is really like. She still has that "I found a guy who makes my heart sparkle" look. (Hannah, that reference was for you.)
6/02/2008
fun photos
Instead of a deep post about tv, my job or our crazy neighbors, here are some fun photos...
The NU crew
The sisters:
Fun times.
It's minsoo's 30th!
The NU crew
The sisters:
Fun times.
5/19/2008
not profound, just a blog
When I sit down to blog, I usually have several things running around in my head that I want to write down. For example right now I'm thinking about the people in the area near Chengdu and feeling sad, the great weekend I had in the bay area, and trying to hold my breath because minsoo's farts have permeated every inch of the apartment.
Today I will talk about how I need to get a new cell phone. Apparently instead of text messages, I've been sending picture messages to people. When I called the phone company the tech people told me that this problems is common to my phone model... they also told me my warranty ran out last month. How convenient. So in the meantime, no text messaging. Normally, I would just ignore this broken feature but my coworkers have started texting me instead of calling me so I need to have an operational text messaging feature. Ah, this is such a boring post.
I think I've decided that we need to have parties more often. It seems as though people enjoy our shindigs and fun times are always had by all. I also like the parties because our bay area party crew represents.
I also appreciate our friends who post pics of their kids from far away (yes, you know who you are). I love seeing how they grow and getting to know them even if I can't be a proper auntie. Yay, keep doing it! I love it!
I'll end this post now. I think I'm going to have to tell a certain someone that farts mean it's time to poo.
Today I will talk about how I need to get a new cell phone. Apparently instead of text messages, I've been sending picture messages to people. When I called the phone company the tech people told me that this problems is common to my phone model... they also told me my warranty ran out last month. How convenient. So in the meantime, no text messaging. Normally, I would just ignore this broken feature but my coworkers have started texting me instead of calling me so I need to have an operational text messaging feature. Ah, this is such a boring post.
I think I've decided that we need to have parties more often. It seems as though people enjoy our shindigs and fun times are always had by all. I also like the parties because our bay area party crew represents.
I also appreciate our friends who post pics of their kids from far away (yes, you know who you are). I love seeing how they grow and getting to know them even if I can't be a proper auntie. Yay, keep doing it! I love it!
I'll end this post now. I think I'm going to have to tell a certain someone that farts mean it's time to poo.
5/13/2008
5/04/2008
no... sleep... 'till brooklyn?
This weekend was all about the LA APA film fest... saw some really excellent films and some semi-well known Asian celebrities. Don't worry, I played it cool.
I'm headed out to Baltimore this week to hang out with McNu1ty and Bunk and duff at charm city cakes*... Okay, okay, I'm going there for a conference. I don't even think I'll get to see the city at all. Boo.
I also have to get ready for minsoo's big b-day bash. Yes, 30! A lot of the San Jose crew are going to be hanging out so I have to get my apartment ready for a massive sleep over.
I'm tired just thinking about this week. I thought that April was hellish, but think I also overbooked myself for May. Oops. It turns out that every weekend this month is completely booked with events (birthday/graduation/wedding/film festival) and every week is booked with work deadlines. June doesn't look any clearer.
So far this year, I think sleeping is optional. If the past 4 months are any indication, I'm going to party like a rock star and work like a dog as I head into my 30s. Bring it on.
*For those of you who don't watch an obscene amount of tv, McNu1ty and Bunk are from thew1re and duff is from ace0fcakes on the f00dnetw0rk.
I'm headed out to Baltimore this week to hang out with McNu1ty and Bunk and duff at charm city cakes*... Okay, okay, I'm going there for a conference. I don't even think I'll get to see the city at all. Boo.
I also have to get ready for minsoo's big b-day bash. Yes, 30! A lot of the San Jose crew are going to be hanging out so I have to get my apartment ready for a massive sleep over.
I'm tired just thinking about this week. I thought that April was hellish, but think I also overbooked myself for May. Oops. It turns out that every weekend this month is completely booked with events (birthday/graduation/wedding/film festival) and every week is booked with work deadlines. June doesn't look any clearer.
So far this year, I think sleeping is optional. If the past 4 months are any indication, I'm going to party like a rock star and work like a dog as I head into my 30s. Bring it on.
*For those of you who don't watch an obscene amount of tv, McNu1ty and Bunk are from thew1re and duff is from ace0fcakes on the f00dnetw0rk.
4/28/2008
i think they're stalking me
I'm a part of the "count" team at church, which means that we count the offering at the end of service. After the offering is collected, we count it up in the attic/projection room above the cafeteria (we meet in a high school).
Last Sunday, when I was up in the attic counting with another girl, something flew onto my shoulder while I was counting. I brushed it away but it fell onto my sweater by my waist so I took another swat at it. While I was swatting it off my body I noticed that the thing that I was swatting off my body was a GIGANTIC COCKROACH. You know, the brown ones with the big shell... probably a cousin of the one that was in our apartment. FOUL.
I started screaming and so did the girl that I was with. We were scrambling around this 10x10 room screaming, all the while, the band is downstairs and everyone's singing and the roach is crawling around, taunting us. The money is just laying out on the table, meanwhile we were scrambling around the room trying to figure out what to do. I finally ran down the stairs and got our security guard to come up and kill it.
By this time, we were sweating (it was lik 90 degrees) and so exhausted that I hope we counted the offering correctly.
Now I'm wondering whether I have some kind of smell that attracts roaches... or whether they are drawn to the smell of fear.
Last Sunday, when I was up in the attic counting with another girl, something flew onto my shoulder while I was counting. I brushed it away but it fell onto my sweater by my waist so I took another swat at it. While I was swatting it off my body I noticed that the thing that I was swatting off my body was a GIGANTIC COCKROACH. You know, the brown ones with the big shell... probably a cousin of the one that was in our apartment. FOUL.
I started screaming and so did the girl that I was with. We were scrambling around this 10x10 room screaming, all the while, the band is downstairs and everyone's singing and the roach is crawling around, taunting us. The money is just laying out on the table, meanwhile we were scrambling around the room trying to figure out what to do. I finally ran down the stairs and got our security guard to come up and kill it.
By this time, we were sweating (it was lik 90 degrees) and so exhausted that I hope we counted the offering correctly.
Now I'm wondering whether I have some kind of smell that attracts roaches... or whether they are drawn to the smell of fear.
4/24/2008
the gr0ve: horrible and at the same time, not so bad...
I always take my out-of-town guests to the Gr0ve, but I really hate it because it's so LA (i.e. bad parking, trendy people make me feel ugly, too crowded, too expensive, too etc.)
It's funny that it takes a writer from NY times to describe exactly how I feel about this faux downtown mall thingie:
THE first time you go to the Grove, the immensely successful and completely fabricated commercial center in Los Angeles, you will try to hate it. But then you will watch the old-fashioned trolley passing by, or the dancing fountain as it splurts jovially to the cadence of a Sinatra song, and you will drop your snobby urban integrity and walk around consuming things in a mouth-breathing stupor just like everyone else...
The Grove is everything that is horrible and spectacular about our brand-saturated American lives. It’s a living version of every pretentious theory you may have read back in grad school: a facsimile of a space, a scripted zone, a generic city, a vituperative quote by Baudrillard or Deleuze. But it’s also totally great!
I think the fact that the writer speaks to a lot of things we talk about in urban planning really got to me.
Damn you gr0ve, how do you do it?
It's funny that it takes a writer from NY times to describe exactly how I feel about this faux downtown mall thingie:
THE first time you go to the Grove, the immensely successful and completely fabricated commercial center in Los Angeles, you will try to hate it. But then you will watch the old-fashioned trolley passing by, or the dancing fountain as it splurts jovially to the cadence of a Sinatra song, and you will drop your snobby urban integrity and walk around consuming things in a mouth-breathing stupor just like everyone else...
The Grove is everything that is horrible and spectacular about our brand-saturated American lives. It’s a living version of every pretentious theory you may have read back in grad school: a facsimile of a space, a scripted zone, a generic city, a vituperative quote by Baudrillard or Deleuze. But it’s also totally great!
I think the fact that the writer speaks to a lot of things we talk about in urban planning really got to me.
Damn you gr0ve, how do you do it?
4/21/2008
glug glug glug
That is the sound of me drowning in my work. All I have been doing lately is working, eating, dealing with cockroaches and sleeping -- in that order.
I'm starting to enter into the work stage when I'm asking myself: Do I still want to work here?
My boss is pregnant and leaving in a month. When she returns, she's being promoted. I, however, am not. Unfortunately not being promoted does not mean that I don't get more work. Most of her current projects are going to become mine. Boo.
Unfortunately, I really like the work my organization does, I just don't like the work that I am having to do now and the situation that I'm in now. I've been so burnt out in other jobs that I really want to prevent me from getting in the same situation....glug glug glug...
I'm starting to enter into the work stage when I'm asking myself: Do I still want to work here?
My boss is pregnant and leaving in a month. When she returns, she's being promoted. I, however, am not. Unfortunately not being promoted does not mean that I don't get more work. Most of her current projects are going to become mine. Boo.
Unfortunately, I really like the work my organization does, I just don't like the work that I am having to do now and the situation that I'm in now. I've been so burnt out in other jobs that I really want to prevent me from getting in the same situation....glug glug glug...
4/12/2008
cockroach terror
Last night I dropped Minsoo off at the airport for a flight to NYC and then returned home to find a BIG ASS Cockroach on my kitchen counter. It was one of those large brown ones with scaley brown backs and long antennae.
I was horrified because I was all alone, plus I was already exhausted from a really busy week and stressed out about speaking at a large work event today. I felt like it was some sort of spiritual battle. I called Minsoo but realized that I was all by myself.
So I called the friend that lives the closest to us: Nakji. Faithful friend Nakji was unable to killed the creature, but sprayed the area to keep it on its toes.
Last night, I was so exhaused that after Nakji left, I became totally hysterical. I closed the door to my bedroom and put a towel up against the bottom in case the beast wanted to come after me. I text messaged Hannah in desperation:
Huge roach loose in apt
minsoo on plane to nyc
barricaded in rm
cant sleep
big speaking thing tomorrow have to wake up at 6
freaking out
A phone call from Hannah gave me with some perspective while I cried under the covers and prayed for sleep.
Today, I was almost glad to work so that I could escape cockroach island (aka my apartment). After work, I realized that I needed some back up. So I called my parents and asked them to help me clean up my apartment. I think they also wanted to make sure I was okay since I left a hysterical message on their answering machine at 12:30am last night.
My parents helped me clean and then we left to get coffee. When we returned, IT had returned.
My Dad complained that it was "so tiny" (yeah right) and promptly stepped on it, leaving a streak of messy remains.
And that was it.
My Dad killed the big bug. Just like when I was a kid. I guess sometimes a 29-year-old girl still needs her Dad.
PS The event went well. I did my thing. People wanted copies of my powerpoint, which I guess is a sign that my talk was relevant and useful. I got accosted by a few weirdo "policy" people, but overall, I think I was received well.
I was horrified because I was all alone, plus I was already exhausted from a really busy week and stressed out about speaking at a large work event today. I felt like it was some sort of spiritual battle. I called Minsoo but realized that I was all by myself.
So I called the friend that lives the closest to us: Nakji. Faithful friend Nakji was unable to killed the creature, but sprayed the area to keep it on its toes.
Last night, I was so exhaused that after Nakji left, I became totally hysterical. I closed the door to my bedroom and put a towel up against the bottom in case the beast wanted to come after me. I text messaged Hannah in desperation:
Huge roach loose in apt
minsoo on plane to nyc
barricaded in rm
cant sleep
big speaking thing tomorrow have to wake up at 6
freaking out
A phone call from Hannah gave me with some perspective while I cried under the covers and prayed for sleep.
Today, I was almost glad to work so that I could escape cockroach island (aka my apartment). After work, I realized that I needed some back up. So I called my parents and asked them to help me clean up my apartment. I think they also wanted to make sure I was okay since I left a hysterical message on their answering machine at 12:30am last night.
My parents helped me clean and then we left to get coffee. When we returned, IT had returned.
My Dad complained that it was "so tiny" (yeah right) and promptly stepped on it, leaving a streak of messy remains.
And that was it.
My Dad killed the big bug. Just like when I was a kid. I guess sometimes a 29-year-old girl still needs her Dad.
PS The event went well. I did my thing. People wanted copies of my powerpoint, which I guess is a sign that my talk was relevant and useful. I got accosted by a few weirdo "policy" people, but overall, I think I was received well.
4/08/2008
a career-defining moment? i hope not.
I got roped into being one of the speakers at an event on Saturday, which includes the second most powerful policy-maker in CA (the new assemb1y speaker) and the may0r of the sec0nd largest city in the country (yes, that would be LA). There's going to be anywhere from 200-400 people there.
I am also nervous because I've been really unmotivated at work and I'm not coming to the table with the best attitude. On top of that, I'm not the strongest public speaker.
Pray for me. I can't wait until it's over. I hope I don't suck too much.
I am also nervous because I've been really unmotivated at work and I'm not coming to the table with the best attitude. On top of that, I'm not the strongest public speaker.
Pray for me. I can't wait until it's over. I hope I don't suck too much.
4/06/2008
He doesn't want me to share this but...
Minsoo is this month's "role model" on our local Asian TV station. You can find the cheese-tastic clip on t0nylamf1lms dot com slash role underscore models dot htm. He he he...
4/01/2008
i gotta little bit o'seoul
... and then some...
Something's really funny. i'm not sure what it is.
At the dmz with ohmahnim and sistas hannah & sarah... 
Mixed drinks in a bag. yummy. that's minsoo's cousin and sista sarah.
Big hite...
I dream of hotteok
we think posing in front of the soldier is funny.
The trip was totally fun and crazy, full of food, laughing, "jhul", and chatty emo-nims. I had a blast.
Something's really funny. i'm not sure what it is.
At the dmz with ohmahnim and sistas hannah & sarah... 
Mixed drinks in a bag. yummy. that's minsoo's cousin and sista sarah.
Big hite...
I dream of hotteok
we think posing in front of the soldier is funny.
The trip was totally fun and crazy, full of food, laughing, "jhul", and chatty emo-nims. I had a blast.3/21/2008
3/08/2008
best.textmessage.ever
I received this photo on my cell from a co-worker who's at a policy conference in New Orleans, which I couldn't go to because I have family in town this weekend...
Yes, my friends, it is Wenda11 P1erce aka BUNK from themostawesomeshowihaveeverwatched thew1re. This photo came with the following message:
"...He says he wants to meet with us when he gets back to LA -- I said our Research Coordinator would be the best point on that." -- Research coordinator?! That's ME!!! The BUNK is interested in the work WE do?!
Yes, my friends, it is Wenda11 P1erce aka BUNK from themostawesomeshowihaveeverwatched thew1re. This photo came with the following message:
"...He says he wants to meet with us when he gets back to LA -- I said our Research Coordinator would be the best point on that." -- Research coordinator?! That's ME!!! The BUNK is interested in the work WE do?!
3/06/2008
on the phone with CA politcal celebrity (sort of)
Work has sucked lately so I haven't been motivated to post.
Work still sucks, but right now I'm on a conference call with Ph1l Angel1des, the guy who lost to the governator. I'm geeking out a little bit. I voted for him!
Work still sucks, but right now I'm on a conference call with Ph1l Angel1des, the guy who lost to the governator. I'm geeking out a little bit. I voted for him!
2/03/2008
hope is not a crap reason to vote for a president.
Really cool video from B1ack Eyed Peas' Wi11.i.am. plus why he recorded this video, from the huff1ngt0np0t. Sums up a lot of how I'm feeling about all of this and why I think the "experience" vs "hope" thing is a load of crap:
I was sitting in my recording studio watching the debates...
Torn between the candidates...
I was never really big on politics...
and actually I'm still not big on politics...
The outcome of the last 2 elections has saddened me...
on how unfair, backwards, upside down, unbalanced, untruthful,
corrupt, and just simply, how wrong the world and "politics" are...
So this year i wanted to get involved and do all i could early...
And i found myself torn...
because this time it's not that simple...
our choices aren't as clear as the last elections ...
last time it was so obvious...
Bush and war
vs
no Bush and no war...
But this time it's not that simple...
and there are a lot of people that are torn just like i am...
So for awhile I put it off and i was going to wait until it was decided for me...
And then came New Hampshire...
And i was captivated...
Inspired...
I reflected on my life...
and the blessings I have...
and the people who fought for me to have these rights and blessings...
and I'm not talking about a "black thing"
I'm talking about a "human thing" me as a "person"
an American...
That speech made me think of Martin Luther King...
Kennedy...
and Lincoln...
and all the others that have fought for what we have today...
what America is "supposed" to be...
freedom...
equality...
and truth...
and thats not what we have today...
we think we are free...
but in reality terror and fear controls our decisions...
this is not the America that our pioneers and leaders fought and
died for...
and then there was New Hampshire
it was that speech...
like many great speeches...
that one moved me...
because words and ideas are powerful...
It made me think...
and realize that today we have "very few" leaders...
maybe none...
but that speech...
it inspired me...
it inspired me to look inside myself and outwards towards the world...
it inspired me to want to change myself to better the world...
and take a "leap" towards change...
and hope that others become inspired to do the same...
change themselves..
change their greed...
change their fears...
and if we "change that"
"then hey"..
we got something right...???...
1 week later after the speech settled in me...
I began making this song...
I came up with the idea to turn his speech into a song...
because that speech affected and touched my inner core like nothing in a very long time...
it spoke to me...
because words and ideas are powerful...
I just wanted to add a melody to those words...
I wanted the inspiration that was bubbling inside me to take over...
so i let it..
I wasn't afraid to stand for something...
to stand for "change"...
I wasn't afraid of "fear"...
it was pure inspiration...
so I called my friends...
and they called their friends...
in a matter of 2 days...
We made the song and video...
Usually this process would take months...
a bunch of record company people figuring out strategies and release dates...
interviews...
all that stuff...
but this time i took it in my own hands...
so i called my friends Sarah Pantera, Mike Jurkovac, Fred Goldring, and Jesse Dylan to help make it happen...
and they called their friends..
and we did it together in 48 hours...
and instead of putting it in the hands of profit we put it in the hands of inspiration...
then we put it on the net for the world to feel...
When you are truly inspired..
magic happens...
incredible things happen...
love happens..
(and with that combination)
"love, and inspiration"
change happens...
"change for the better"
Inspiration breeds change...
"Positive change"...
no one on this planet is truly experienced to handle the obstacles we face today...
Terror, fear, lies, agendas, politics, money, all the above...
It's all scary...
Martin Luther King didn't have experience to lead...
Kennedy didn't have experience to lead...
Susan B. Anthony...
Nelson Mandela...
Rosa Parks...
Gandhi...
Anne Frank...
and everyone else who has had a hand in molding the freedoms we have and take for granted today...
no one truly has experience to deal with the world today...
they just need "desire, strength, courage ability, and passion" to change...
and to stand for something even when people say it's not possible...
America would not be here "today" if we didn't stand and fight for
change "yesterday"...
Everything we have as a "people" is because of the "people" who fought for
change...
and whoever is the President has to realize we have a lot of changing to do
I'm not trying to convince people to see things how i do...
I produced this song to share my new found inspiration and how I've been moved...
I hope this song will make you feel...
love...
and think...
and be inspired just like the speech inspired me...
that's all...
Let's all come together like America is supposed to...
Like Japan did after Hiroshima...
that was less than 65 years ago...
and look at Japan now...
they did it together...
they did it...
"We can't?...
Are you serious..?..
WE CAN!!!
Yes we can...
A United "America"
Democrats, Republicans and Independents together...
Building a new America
We can do it...
"TOGETHER"
Thank you for reading and listening...
will.i.am
I was sitting in my recording studio watching the debates...
Torn between the candidates...
I was never really big on politics...
and actually I'm still not big on politics...
The outcome of the last 2 elections has saddened me...
on how unfair, backwards, upside down, unbalanced, untruthful,
corrupt, and just simply, how wrong the world and "politics" are...
So this year i wanted to get involved and do all i could early...
And i found myself torn...
because this time it's not that simple...
our choices aren't as clear as the last elections ...
last time it was so obvious...
Bush and war
vs
no Bush and no war...
But this time it's not that simple...
and there are a lot of people that are torn just like i am...
So for awhile I put it off and i was going to wait until it was decided for me...
And then came New Hampshire...
And i was captivated...
Inspired...
I reflected on my life...
and the blessings I have...
and the people who fought for me to have these rights and blessings...
and I'm not talking about a "black thing"
I'm talking about a "human thing" me as a "person"
an American...
That speech made me think of Martin Luther King...
Kennedy...
and Lincoln...
and all the others that have fought for what we have today...
what America is "supposed" to be...
freedom...
equality...
and truth...
and thats not what we have today...
we think we are free...
but in reality terror and fear controls our decisions...
this is not the America that our pioneers and leaders fought and
died for...
and then there was New Hampshire
it was that speech...
like many great speeches...
that one moved me...
because words and ideas are powerful...
It made me think...
and realize that today we have "very few" leaders...
maybe none...
but that speech...
it inspired me...
it inspired me to look inside myself and outwards towards the world...
it inspired me to want to change myself to better the world...
and take a "leap" towards change...
and hope that others become inspired to do the same...
change themselves..
change their greed...
change their fears...
and if we "change that"
"then hey"..
we got something right...???...
1 week later after the speech settled in me...
I began making this song...
I came up with the idea to turn his speech into a song...
because that speech affected and touched my inner core like nothing in a very long time...
it spoke to me...
because words and ideas are powerful...
I just wanted to add a melody to those words...
I wanted the inspiration that was bubbling inside me to take over...
so i let it..
I wasn't afraid to stand for something...
to stand for "change"...
I wasn't afraid of "fear"...
it was pure inspiration...
so I called my friends...
and they called their friends...
in a matter of 2 days...
We made the song and video...
Usually this process would take months...
a bunch of record company people figuring out strategies and release dates...
interviews...
all that stuff...
but this time i took it in my own hands...
so i called my friends Sarah Pantera, Mike Jurkovac, Fred Goldring, and Jesse Dylan to help make it happen...
and they called their friends..
and we did it together in 48 hours...
and instead of putting it in the hands of profit we put it in the hands of inspiration...
then we put it on the net for the world to feel...
When you are truly inspired..
magic happens...
incredible things happen...
love happens..
(and with that combination)
"love, and inspiration"
change happens...
"change for the better"
Inspiration breeds change...
"Positive change"...
no one on this planet is truly experienced to handle the obstacles we face today...
Terror, fear, lies, agendas, politics, money, all the above...
It's all scary...
Martin Luther King didn't have experience to lead...
Kennedy didn't have experience to lead...
Susan B. Anthony...
Nelson Mandela...
Rosa Parks...
Gandhi...
Anne Frank...
and everyone else who has had a hand in molding the freedoms we have and take for granted today...
no one truly has experience to deal with the world today...
they just need "desire, strength, courage ability, and passion" to change...
and to stand for something even when people say it's not possible...
America would not be here "today" if we didn't stand and fight for
change "yesterday"...
Everything we have as a "people" is because of the "people" who fought for
change...
and whoever is the President has to realize we have a lot of changing to do
I'm not trying to convince people to see things how i do...
I produced this song to share my new found inspiration and how I've been moved...
I hope this song will make you feel...
love...
and think...
and be inspired just like the speech inspired me...
that's all...
Let's all come together like America is supposed to...
Like Japan did after Hiroshima...
that was less than 65 years ago...
and look at Japan now...
they did it together...
they did it...
"We can't?...
Are you serious..?..
WE CAN!!!
Yes we can...
A United "America"
Democrats, Republicans and Independents together...
Building a new America
We can do it...
"TOGETHER"
Thank you for reading and listening...
will.i.am
1/31/2008
take that chuck n0rr1s!
Let's talk about what really matters in selecting a new president:
Favorite TV show?
Wai-Ling: The Wire
0bama: The Wire (Apparently 0mar is his favorite character!)
Left handed or right?
Wai-Ling: LEFT and proud (in more ways than one)
0bama: Lefty
Favorite Pro-Wrestler?
Wai-Ling: Hulk Hogan (okay, okay, so I only know one)
0bama: Hulk Hogan (who said he supported 0bama)
Can't wait until next Tuesday...
Favorite TV show?
Wai-Ling: The Wire
0bama: The Wire (Apparently 0mar is his favorite character!)
Left handed or right?
Wai-Ling: LEFT and proud (in more ways than one)
0bama: Lefty
Favorite Pro-Wrestler?
Wai-Ling: Hulk Hogan (okay, okay, so I only know one)
0bama: Hulk Hogan (who said he supported 0bama)
Can't wait until next Tuesday...
obscure LA post
n1c harc0urt read my name on the rad1o!
n1c harc0urt read my name on the rad1o!
n1c harc0urt read my name on the rad1o!
n1c harc0urt read my name on the rad1o!
I am DEFINITELY supporting kcrw next year. If nothing else, to hear n1charcourt read off my name on the radio.
I think I've decided that morning becomes ec1ectic is one of, if not THE best thing about Los Angeles. If you're not here, you're missing out.
n1c harc0urt read my name on the rad1o!
n1c harc0urt read my name on the rad1o!
n1c harc0urt read my name on the rad1o!
I am DEFINITELY supporting kcrw next year. If nothing else, to hear n1charcourt read off my name on the radio.
I think I've decided that morning becomes ec1ectic is one of, if not THE best thing about Los Angeles. If you're not here, you're missing out.
1/11/2008
my heart is heavy
On Sunday, I found out that a couple in my married couples small group is going through a contentious divorce under really strange circumstances. We are shocked, saddened and most importantly, fearful for the spiritual well-being of one member of the couple. There's a serious spiritual battle going on so we're praying for power from above. I've been in desperate prayer this week for my friends.
I also just found out that one of the kids that was a part of my afterschool program a few years ago (well, like 5 years ago) died in a car accident in Campbe11 this week -- at the same intersection where I was involved in an accident that totaled my car over 4 years ago. She was such a sweet girl. I found her legacy page on the local newspaper's website and it was heartbreaking to see condolences written to her by other students that were part of our program. She was 16 but I will remember Jessi as a cute, rambunctious 11 year old.
Sometimes I don't even know how to pray for the things that weigh my heart down.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." - Romans 8:26-27
I also just found out that one of the kids that was a part of my afterschool program a few years ago (well, like 5 years ago) died in a car accident in Campbe11 this week -- at the same intersection where I was involved in an accident that totaled my car over 4 years ago. She was such a sweet girl. I found her legacy page on the local newspaper's website and it was heartbreaking to see condolences written to her by other students that were part of our program. She was 16 but I will remember Jessi as a cute, rambunctious 11 year old.
Sometimes I don't even know how to pray for the things that weigh my heart down.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." - Romans 8:26-27
1/07/2008
i may be someone's enemy
I think someone has made me their office enemy.
I'm getting some weird vibes from the executive assistant to our exec. dir. -- whom I rarely work with and don't know well at all.
So why should I be getting weird vibes?
A few examples:
1.She has a high pitched shrilly voice when she says hi to everyone. When she sees me, she waves and says nothing.
2. At the holiday white elephant gift exchange, she told my co-worker she stole my gift "just because." She didn't really want it, she just wanted to take it.
3. When she leaves the office, she walks by and says "Bye Gloria!" -- even though I share the office space with Gloria.
Am I just paranoid? Or do I have an office enemy... or rather, someone has chosen me as THEIR office enemy (because I don't have any office enemies)
And if I've been tagged as the woman's enemy, why?? I'm probably nicer at work than I am any other place in the world, not joking.
I'm getting some weird vibes from the executive assistant to our exec. dir. -- whom I rarely work with and don't know well at all.
So why should I be getting weird vibes?
A few examples:
1.She has a high pitched shrilly voice when she says hi to everyone. When she sees me, she waves and says nothing.
2. At the holiday white elephant gift exchange, she told my co-worker she stole my gift "just because." She didn't really want it, she just wanted to take it.
3. When she leaves the office, she walks by and says "Bye Gloria!" -- even though I share the office space with Gloria.
Am I just paranoid? Or do I have an office enemy... or rather, someone has chosen me as THEIR office enemy (because I don't have any office enemies)
And if I've been tagged as the woman's enemy, why?? I'm probably nicer at work than I am any other place in the world, not joking.
1/06/2008
post-post remorse
"In Chino, a 25-year-old woman was swept to her death in a flash flood early Saturday...She was traveling east about 1 a.m. when her pickup truck was swept away by 8-foot-high waters."
Now I feel kind of bad.
Now I feel kind of bad.
1/04/2008
week in review
unrelated to each other, but all relevant to me right now.
1. "Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it." -- Damn you, 0bama. Your politics aren't as progressive as white-boy Edwards, but man, your speeches always get me. I'm so glad you stomped on h1llary in Iowa. I can't wait for November.
2. Season 5 of the-show-that-rocks-my-face-off starts on Sunday. "The show would instead be about untethered capitalism run amok, about how power and money actually route themselves in a postmodern American city, and, ultimately, about why we as an urban people are no longer able to solve our problems or heal our wounds...a show that would, with each season, slice off another piece of the American city, so that by the end of the run, a simulated Baltimore would stand in for urban America, and the fundamental problems of urbanity would be fully addressed."
"I’m from Baltimore and I’ve got some s*** you f***** need to see, people! Put down that CSI s*** and pay some heed, motherf******!"
"My standard for verisimilitude is simple and I came to it when I started to write prose narrative: f*** the average reader...The average reader, as they meant it, was some suburban white [cable] subscriber with two-point-whatever kids and three-point-whatever cars and a dog and a cat and lawn furniture. He knows nothing and he needs everything explained to him right away, so that exposition becomes this incredible, story-killing burden."
"Most smart people cannot watch most TV, because it has generally been a condescending medium, explaining everything immediately, offering no ambiguities, and using dialogue that simplifies and mitigates against the idiosyncratic ways in which people in different worlds actually communicate. It eventually requires that characters from different places talk the same way as the viewer. This, of course, sucks."
-- Why the W1re rocks my face off. Quotes from Creater-Writer David Simon in an awesome interview with Nick Hornby.
3. "DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE." -- The warning from the national weather service website... the image it conjures in my mind makes me laugh, I don't know why. I wonder if any of the drunk Hollywood "It" girls will be driving out tonight. If only...
1. "Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it." -- Damn you, 0bama. Your politics aren't as progressive as white-boy Edwards, but man, your speeches always get me. I'm so glad you stomped on h1llary in Iowa. I can't wait for November.
2. Season 5 of the-show-that-rocks-my-face-off starts on Sunday. "The show would instead be about untethered capitalism run amok, about how power and money actually route themselves in a postmodern American city, and, ultimately, about why we as an urban people are no longer able to solve our problems or heal our wounds...a show that would, with each season, slice off another piece of the American city, so that by the end of the run, a simulated Baltimore would stand in for urban America, and the fundamental problems of urbanity would be fully addressed."
"I’m from Baltimore and I’ve got some s*** you f***** need to see, people! Put down that CSI s*** and pay some heed, motherf******!"
"My standard for verisimilitude is simple and I came to it when I started to write prose narrative: f*** the average reader...The average reader, as they meant it, was some suburban white [cable] subscriber with two-point-whatever kids and three-point-whatever cars and a dog and a cat and lawn furniture. He knows nothing and he needs everything explained to him right away, so that exposition becomes this incredible, story-killing burden."
"Most smart people cannot watch most TV, because it has generally been a condescending medium, explaining everything immediately, offering no ambiguities, and using dialogue that simplifies and mitigates against the idiosyncratic ways in which people in different worlds actually communicate. It eventually requires that characters from different places talk the same way as the viewer. This, of course, sucks."
-- Why the W1re rocks my face off. Quotes from Creater-Writer David Simon in an awesome interview with Nick Hornby.
3. "DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE." -- The warning from the national weather service website... the image it conjures in my mind makes me laugh, I don't know why. I wonder if any of the drunk Hollywood "It" girls will be driving out tonight. If only...
1/03/2008
12/15/2007
you can see the joy on his face
Guess what movie inaugurated our new 42-inch LCD tv:
His choice, not mine.
Good bye panason1c 19-inch. You served me well. Through the various bay area moves, getting drenched with water after my ceiling collapsed, you remained faithful. Thanks for the memories.
His choice, not mine.
Good bye panason1c 19-inch. You served me well. Through the various bay area moves, getting drenched with water after my ceiling collapsed, you remained faithful. Thanks for the memories.
11/15/2007
today's union commentary...
"NO JUSTICE, NO NOODLES!"
- NYC Chinese restaurant workers who are protesting the blacklisting effort against workers who are trying to organize.
vs.
"Don't be ugly, don't be petty, You won't get your Ug1y Betty!"
- WGA members
I'm not sure which is more compelling.
- NYC Chinese restaurant workers who are protesting the blacklisting effort against workers who are trying to organize.
vs.
"Don't be ugly, don't be petty, You won't get your Ug1y Betty!"
- WGA members
I'm not sure which is more compelling.
11/13/2007
speaking of corporation greed...
Tonight, Hannah represents her 'hood against the evil developers near her neighborhood who want to build a parking lot facing their house.
I'm so proud of you, Hannah... not only for speaking up but also for spending almost 4 hours sitting in a planning commission meeting. Yay for streaming online commission meetings!
... and a guest appearance by AhBuhNim
Minsoo & I had stopped paying attention by this point, until we heard him say "My daughter hannah y..." and we were like OH SNAP, DAD TOO! REPRESENT YU!
I'm so proud of you, Hannah... not only for speaking up but also for spending almost 4 hours sitting in a planning commission meeting. Yay for streaming online commission meetings!
... and a guest appearance by AhBuhNim
Minsoo & I had stopped paying attention by this point, until we heard him say "My daughter hannah y..." and we were like OH SNAP, DAD TOO! REPRESENT YU!
11/12/2007
damn you merid1th grey
fine. no more tvontheinternets.
stupid corporate greed.
[see youtube video put out by the wga titled ourfriendsfromgrey.]
stupid corporate greed.
[see youtube video put out by the wga titled ourfriendsfromgrey.]
11/11/2007
tvontheinternet rocks (corporate green sucks)
I've been challenged by someone on my tvontheinternets habit despite my so-called support of the writers' strike. My response: I continue to watch tv online as a way to be counted as part of the online viewership so the writers can continue to make a case of why they need to get paid... and of course, I haven't gotten a memo saying to ban tvonline. But rest assured when I do, I will stand in solidarity, I promise.
11/08/2007
quarantined
I'm at home, quarantined by my boss who refused to let me come into work. I've watched all of the past episodes of survivor (by the way, eating 1000 yr old eggs is not the most foulest thing in the world, JeffProbst -- people here in the US eat that stuff, go out and get yourself some culture), did as much laundry as my quarters would take me & checked my email 20 times.
I'm so bored.
Here's a tidbit about the neighborhood where I work. I've been reluctant to post anything about it because it's not like this everyday:
2:30 pm Monday. The corner of West Slauson and South Western. Over 200 people watch as a brawl between 30 women ends as one drives her convertible into the melee. Two women were injured. One, Shontae Blanche, a 22 year old pregnant woman, is killed.
One witness, who asked not to be identified, said the driver hit the pregnant woman with her car, dragged her nearly 10 feet until she fell off, then backed up and ran over her again.
That's the corner where I go to get my starbucks fix. Usually, I go in the afternoon, but I had a meeting on Monday. Guess it's good I didn't go.
I'm so bored.
Here's a tidbit about the neighborhood where I work. I've been reluctant to post anything about it because it's not like this everyday:
2:30 pm Monday. The corner of West Slauson and South Western. Over 200 people watch as a brawl between 30 women ends as one drives her convertible into the melee. Two women were injured. One, Shontae Blanche, a 22 year old pregnant woman, is killed.
One witness, who asked not to be identified, said the driver hit the pregnant woman with her car, dragged her nearly 10 feet until she fell off, then backed up and ran over her again.
That's the corner where I go to get my starbucks fix. Usually, I go in the afternoon, but I had a meeting on Monday. Guess it's good I didn't go.
11/07/2007
give 'em their money!
I'm a believer in the power of unions to help maintain the middle class and protect workers rights. I know there are "bad" unions out there that make it hard for businesses, but I know A LOT of unions that have made sure teachers get paid, service employees get their due and port workers can keep their heads above water (see thebestshowintheworldthewire).
I know hollywood is a souless place, but the writers strike is legit. The Office writers have a great youtubevideo (go to youtube dot com and search for theofficeisclosed, with spaces).
Industry, give 'em their money! Reality TV sucks.
I know hollywood is a souless place, but the writers strike is legit. The Office writers have a great youtubevideo (go to youtube dot com and search for theofficeisclosed, with spaces).
Industry, give 'em their money! Reality TV sucks.
10/28/2007
anti-social internet user
I joined one of those new fangled online networking sites recently. I don't know why, given that I'm very paranoid about having my stuff out there. I did it just because it seemed like a safer place than my-whatchamacalit and it seemed legit.
By joining this networking site, I was hoping to stay under the radar and just monitor the landscape. Silly me. The madness is already beginning... And by madness, I mean the "unwanted adding"... I mean the friend requests from people who I've been trying to avoid for a decade (at least).
Dang it. I don't want to add them. But I can't NOT add them. They'd know, right?
And once one of them adds me, then everyone else sees me on their list and then wants to add me. And then I got a whole bunch of unwanted adding. Soon, my "list" will consist of more non-friends because I'm only adding people who find me and most of my friends know I'm adverse to these sites. [I typically only add friends who request to be on my list first.]
What do I do? What do I do? I wish I wasn't so anti-social on the web. I'm seriously considering erasing my profile. I'm think I'm going to go erase my photo from my profile right now.
By joining this networking site, I was hoping to stay under the radar and just monitor the landscape. Silly me. The madness is already beginning... And by madness, I mean the "unwanted adding"... I mean the friend requests from people who I've been trying to avoid for a decade (at least).
Dang it. I don't want to add them. But I can't NOT add them. They'd know, right?
And once one of them adds me, then everyone else sees me on their list and then wants to add me. And then I got a whole bunch of unwanted adding. Soon, my "list" will consist of more non-friends because I'm only adding people who find me and most of my friends know I'm adverse to these sites. [I typically only add friends who request to be on my list first.]
What do I do? What do I do? I wish I wasn't so anti-social on the web. I'm seriously considering erasing my profile. I'm think I'm going to go erase my photo from my profile right now.
10/22/2007
9/28/2007
the motherland
I returned home last weekend from China and barely made it through work this week. Here are a few pics from the trip:
Nanjing Road in Shanghai
Terracotta warriors from the Qin Dynasty were unearthed in the 70s in Xi'an, the former capital of China way back when.
We took two highly unsafe golf-cart things in Yangshuo. Breathtaking scenery. This photo doesn't do it justice.
On our way up to Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, Minsoo, found Bruce...
We also saw my mom's cousins... including TRIPLETS. One of them has 11 fingers. All three of them are very strange looking.
Nanjing Road in Shanghai
Terracotta warriors from the Qin Dynasty were unearthed in the 70s in Xi'an, the former capital of China way back when.
We took two highly unsafe golf-cart things in Yangshuo. Breathtaking scenery. This photo doesn't do it justice.
On our way up to Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, Minsoo, found Bruce...
We also saw my mom's cousins... including TRIPLETS. One of them has 11 fingers. All three of them are very strange looking.
9/07/2007
heading to the motherland...
Please pray for traveling mercies and no diarrhea. [Particular emphasis on the latter.]
9/05/2007
weekend in review
This past weekend was my aunt's memorial service, which was sad and traumatic 1. because we weren't sure whether she was a Christian and 2. because it concluded with watching her casket be placed into a big metal contraption with red buttons. Yes, a cremation machine.
I now know how I do NOT want my funeral to be like.
On a lighter note, I was able to see family & friends so the whole weekend wasn't totally emotionally draining. It was, however, very physically draining as it was so freakin' hot. We went bowling for Secret's 21st b-day and the bowling alley's a/c was broken. Sweaty drinking bowling fun.
Next up? Minsoo and I are preparing for my family trip to the motherland. Shanghai, Xi'an, Guilin, Shunde & Hong Kong. Woo wee.
I now know how I do NOT want my funeral to be like.
On a lighter note, I was able to see family & friends so the whole weekend wasn't totally emotionally draining. It was, however, very physically draining as it was so freakin' hot. We went bowling for Secret's 21st b-day and the bowling alley's a/c was broken. Sweaty drinking bowling fun.
Next up? Minsoo and I are preparing for my family trip to the motherland. Shanghai, Xi'an, Guilin, Shunde & Hong Kong. Woo wee.
8/22/2007
Auntie Wai
My aunt was diagnosed with MDS last year, which developed into AcuteMyelogeneousLeukemia. While they were deciding whether or not to do chemo, they found a huge tumor in her back. She went through 10 days of radiation but then developed a fever. They gave her tylenol, but it turns out she had pneumonia.
My aunt passed away this afternoon. I'm not sure about her God status, although a lot of my family members were talking to her about JC. This is what saddens me the most.
This is how I will remember my very kind aunt:
My aunt passed away this afternoon. I'm not sure about her God status, although a lot of my family members were talking to her about JC. This is what saddens me the most.
This is how I will remember my very kind aunt:
8/20/2007
7/23/2007
Pics From Atlanta
My posse
Myself, another staff and two members at the opening day march. A random looking group huh?
Lots of people... really hot...
The first day of the forum we marched through downtown Atlanta. Hannah was there representin' the ac1u and making sure my civil rights remained intact and we didn't get beat up by the police or cause a riot...
Civil liberties? Check.
If you look closely, you can see that the police officer is not only lounging on the back of his car, but also smoking a cigar. I think LAPD needs to learn from their fellow cops in the ATL.
See? Asians care about social justice too.
This group were Koreans against war and neoliberalism. They brought their drums EVERYWHERE. They'd just stop in the middle of some random plaza and start playing their drums. I'd see them around the hotels where the workshops were being held and in the subway and they were always wearing their hats and carrying those drums. In 90 degree humid weather, that's dedication.
Ebenezer Baptist Church
It was crazy sitting in the sanctuary, imagining what it would have been like to hear MLK jr speak at this church.
Hannah's Atlanta Food tour...
And of course, getting to hang out with Hannah all week was pretty yummy, I mean fun.
Next: Pics from NYC
Myself, another staff and two members at the opening day march. A random looking group huh?
Lots of people... really hot...
The first day of the forum we marched through downtown Atlanta. Hannah was there representin' the ac1u and making sure my civil rights remained intact and we didn't get beat up by the police or cause a riot...
Civil liberties? Check.
If you look closely, you can see that the police officer is not only lounging on the back of his car, but also smoking a cigar. I think LAPD needs to learn from their fellow cops in the ATL.
See? Asians care about social justice too.
This group were Koreans against war and neoliberalism. They brought their drums EVERYWHERE. They'd just stop in the middle of some random plaza and start playing their drums. I'd see them around the hotels where the workshops were being held and in the subway and they were always wearing their hats and carrying those drums. In 90 degree humid weather, that's dedication.
Ebenezer Baptist Church
It was crazy sitting in the sanctuary, imagining what it would have been like to hear MLK jr speak at this church.
Hannah's Atlanta Food tour...
And of course, getting to hang out with Hannah all week was pretty yummy, I mean fun.
Next: Pics from NYC
7/02/2007
(hot)Lanta
I just got back from Atlanta where I was at the US_Social_Forum, a gathering for activists from around the country (and some from around the world) talkin' about making US a better place and how our neo-liberal policies, imperialist, war-monging, globalizing ways need to stop. I know, fun stuff.
A few (non-political) highlights (though I will post about the political highlights because that's how I roll):
- Eating tator tots with cheese fondue. I know, tator tots... dipped in cheese! I felt like a fancy 9-year old.
- Seeing Ebenezer Baptist church -- in color! I'd only seen it in black and white photos. It was so awesome to visit the birthplace of the civil rights movement and be able to connect faith with social justice.
- Spending time with hannah who kept me entertained and well fed throughout the trip. Had it not been for her, I would have been hungry for most of the trip.
- All you can eat shredded bbq pork sandwiches with $5 pitchers of beer. Orange shakes, brunch and fried chicken(not all together). Yeah!
A few low-lights:
- Being hit on while getting on the bus by Andre 3000-wannabe. He was so ridiculous, it was hard to be offended. Lens-less white rimmed glasses, suspenders, plaid pants and a dress shirt... in 90 degree weather I can't even describe it but to say that it was purely ri-diculous. Aw-right, Aw-right, Aw-right...
- Missing out on the API mixer because after going to 2 hotels, I couldn't find the meeting place and then being rained on. Turns out, they had the mixer at a hotel next to the one they said it would be at, in the basement, with the door closed. Stupid APIs. I guess we are exclusive and cliquey.
- Humidity and heat. I thought one of my co-workers (who's over 50) was going to keel over and have a heart attack. I'm not kidding. At one of the subway stations, there's this long escalator going down into the station. It felt like a descent into hell.
- People who don't wear deodorant. A lot of the "hippies" at our forum went eau natural and did not believe that getting cancer from deodorant is a far better way to go than passing out from smelling each other.
- Being asian in the Atl. It's like having a sign that says "HEY, LOOK AT ME. I'M YELLOW. PLEASE STARE AT ME AND ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM BECAUSE I SURE AM NOT FROM HERE." I'm sure there are a lot of us in the outerlying areas, but I did not see any in the inner city.
Anyway, lots more to come. Glad to be back home.
A few (non-political) highlights (though I will post about the political highlights because that's how I roll):
- Eating tator tots with cheese fondue. I know, tator tots... dipped in cheese! I felt like a fancy 9-year old.
- Seeing Ebenezer Baptist church -- in color! I'd only seen it in black and white photos. It was so awesome to visit the birthplace of the civil rights movement and be able to connect faith with social justice.
- Spending time with hannah who kept me entertained and well fed throughout the trip. Had it not been for her, I would have been hungry for most of the trip.
- All you can eat shredded bbq pork sandwiches with $5 pitchers of beer. Orange shakes, brunch and fried chicken(not all together). Yeah!
A few low-lights:
- Being hit on while getting on the bus by Andre 3000-wannabe. He was so ridiculous, it was hard to be offended. Lens-less white rimmed glasses, suspenders, plaid pants and a dress shirt... in 90 degree weather I can't even describe it but to say that it was purely ri-diculous. Aw-right, Aw-right, Aw-right...
- Missing out on the API mixer because after going to 2 hotels, I couldn't find the meeting place and then being rained on. Turns out, they had the mixer at a hotel next to the one they said it would be at, in the basement, with the door closed. Stupid APIs. I guess we are exclusive and cliquey.
- Humidity and heat. I thought one of my co-workers (who's over 50) was going to keel over and have a heart attack. I'm not kidding. At one of the subway stations, there's this long escalator going down into the station. It felt like a descent into hell.
- People who don't wear deodorant. A lot of the "hippies" at our forum went eau natural and did not believe that getting cancer from deodorant is a far better way to go than passing out from smelling each other.
- Being asian in the Atl. It's like having a sign that says "HEY, LOOK AT ME. I'M YELLOW. PLEASE STARE AT ME AND ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM BECAUSE I SURE AM NOT FROM HERE." I'm sure there are a lot of us in the outerlying areas, but I did not see any in the inner city.
Anyway, lots more to come. Glad to be back home.
6/25/2007
this i believe...*
1. RoyPearson is a crazy litigious tool who should be disbarred. (In case you've been living in a hole, this is the mofo that sued a dry cleaners $54M for losing a pair of his pants. Read the news suckas!)
2. The new BBC show "The Planners" is the most awesomeness idea I have ever heard of. I'm sure only me and my urban planning friends think this show is going to rock, but you wait and see. You wait and see.
3. Many of my male and female single friends live on the wrong coast (or not close enough to a coast). Below is a diagram showing ratio of single males to single females in the US. I won't call you out but you know who you are.
*For those of you NPR lovers
2. The new BBC show "The Planners" is the most awesomeness idea I have ever heard of. I'm sure only me and my urban planning friends think this show is going to rock, but you wait and see. You wait and see.
3. Many of my male and female single friends live on the wrong coast (or not close enough to a coast). Below is a diagram showing ratio of single males to single females in the US. I won't call you out but you know who you are.
*For those of you NPR lovers
6/19/2007
good news
Whew. What a month.
I've been MIA because I haven't felt like writing lately. Plus I felt like anything I'd write after the last post would seem superficial or not thoughtful enough.
Anyway....
Good news is blog-worthy, so....
Minsoo and I....
(I know what you're thinking and it's not that!)
...got promotions. Praise God! I've never wanted to be rolling in the bucks, but knowing that we are becoming a bit more financially settled is a blessing. Gah, I guess this means we're adults.
I've been MIA because I haven't felt like writing lately. Plus I felt like anything I'd write after the last post would seem superficial or not thoughtful enough.
Anyway....
Good news is blog-worthy, so....
Minsoo and I....
(I know what you're thinking and it's not that!)
...got promotions. Praise God! I've never wanted to be rolling in the bucks, but knowing that we are becoming a bit more financially settled is a blessing. Gah, I guess this means we're adults.
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