I'm really lazy... but I started to Xanga at work... so check out my xanga site at
http://www.xanga.com/isreme . :)

Ahh... the urge to redecorate my room came and I gave in and finally brought the sunflower Tour De France poster for my room. I'm also fixing up my budget right now... eep! Well, I do save a lot, but it seems like i have so many expenses. Strangely enough, I still rather do budgeting by hand rather than computer. I've gotta figure out how to use the program more efficiently.

So Cute! Too Expensive!

Aiya, another year older. :) Today was such a great day... thank you friends for remembering me. I feel loved! I went to Slanted Door with Carol for lunch and then at night after Karate, Eric took me out to dinner at Kingfish in San Mateo... SOOO GOOD! He always have excellent taste in food and wine. I found out he's also a good singer. hehe. The whole day went well. I even got promoted to yellow belt in one day! haha. Nah, I was a yellow belt before, so my sensei wanted me to be at that level again. Just train harder.

I went to another wedding this weekend- this one down in LA. Interesting highlight of this wedding... a HUMMER getaway car? hehe




This banquet was a traditional HK style one down in Alhambra at Mission 261 Restaurant. It was pretty yummy! But wow, Eric brought us to the best dim sum in town- Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant in Rosemead... yum yum! I've been eatting all day. I've been missing out living in Nor-Cal and not visiting LA more. haha.

So interesting LA trip, drive up and down within the same weekend. I've done it before, I drove most of the way and it was very sleepy! Before leaving LA this time, we went by Beverly Hills to look at houses-- lots of open houses for that area! We went to this perfect bachelor pad that I would LOVE to live in, but would not want for a family house though.

From Lorraine's Xanga

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot,
who calls you back when you hang up on him,
who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.
Wait for the boy who kisses your forehead,
who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats,
who holds your hand in front of his friends,
who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on.
Wait for the one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky he is to have you.
Wait for the one who turns to his friends and says, "...that's her."...

I know there are guys like that out there... because I have met him once but our lives are not crossing right now. I may not know a lot about dating because I've been out of the dating arena for so long, but I really think these words are true. True love is the real love that lasts through thick and thin, even after the initial "newness" excitement in a new relationship. I have family friends whom I see as great examples of strong, long lasting, great marriages that is based on love and respect and appreciation. Part of the intial relationship is what's above.

~*~*~*~

Work has been going okay... sometimes I get bored when I feel like a project I'm working on is "deadlining". I've been researching and researching and I can't access the info. Try again tomorrow. I need to start finding a new position soon... the new college grads are goign to be getting those jobs I need! Otherwise, working in DT SF is great... my job is great. I listen to my ipod, I play songs on my computer as I work (using the speakers), I can walk in and out of the office as I please (as long as I get my work done). During lunch time I walk downtown, Embarcadero, scooping out new restaurants, boutiques, shopping, street shows, werid things.

Today, Carol and I walked around the Farmer's Market on Embarcadero and we finally discovered where Slanted Door was. Viv used to tell me how great that place is. I'm going to try it out next Monday. :)

Yesterday I saw a walking billboard. Literally. Two men had a huge box on their shoulders... or rather they were inside the box and the box was resting on their shoulders, so you only see their legs and head as they walk around. Advertsing. Hmm.. what silly ideas will they come out with next. haha.

There are always funny occurances on BART-- the twig vs the blob episode, the crazy 20 year old playing with a kid's toy that made very annoying noices, people practicing tai-chi while in their seats, cops catching and tackling transients in the trains. Yes, inspiration comes from here.

I am also very appreciative of how people care about me to tell me my flaws. Nobody is perfect. I'm stubborn, but we all need a gentle reminder. That's why I respect my elders. They teach me so much.

Ke-ya! Shorin-ryu Karate here I come. :) Really, karate is like riding a bike, your body never really forgets.

Bessy & Ryan's Wedding. March 12, 2005

Going to LA means seeing Boba Cat. :) You can't imagine how hard it is to take a picture of him! I had a great weekend hanging out with Jon and friends and family friends. Shopping shopping, looking at bling bling and eatting wayyyy too much food. I am going to be on a fast-food diet now for the upcoming weddings... and "fast" means "fasting food" . *_* 1800 calories a day.

Oh yes, never tear a guy from his beloved toys. Never grimace when he wakes up the whole neighborhood with his nitro powered RC car. Never sigh when he tries to clock his car's speed.

WOW... high speed chase in my hometown?! Guy got shot and died? Yes, it did happen. :( So sad.

This is the reason why working in SF is interesting and dangerous. I walked outside on Monday and I saw this. Man on bike got hit by a car.

I also tasted my first dose of office politics with ME in it today. I wasn't truly at fault, it was mainly miscommunication. What an exciting day. I sat working there, quite scared, because I don't know how mean people in the office can get.

One thing cute is, there will be a birthday lunch next week for all the March babies! :)

I also stopped by Michael's today to look at some art supplies and to price framing my Disneyland art deco print. I already have a precut mat for the print. WTF. $80 to frame my print?! It cost only $30 in Davis to frame it! I better head to Cheap Pete's to figure out how much it will cost. I was going to storm out and rush back home to shower, but then some Crystals caught my eye. Another project idea. :)

New Mix: Jon Tse


Check out his new mix. Jon did it again with his amatur DJ mixing skills. :) Last time he did a rendition of Girl from Ipanema for me... one of my fav jazz pieces. Jon Jon, should I call you DJ Helluvazn? LOLLLLLLLL. (No really)

Another reason why I'm glad to work in SF is because I'm close to some old college buddies. :) Today was Bianca's birthday and Viv picked me up after work and went to see Bianca up in Pacific Heights. I haven't been to Bianca's place since she entered dental school, but it's a charming place right by J-town. :) I miss those college days... but we kinda relived it by walking around Fillmore and eating at a really good Korean BBQ restaurant I tried back in January. YUM!Kim Chee!

Afterwards we went to tour the UOP dental school by the Fillmore. I love walking there because the street has so many things to see! And also so many interesting restaurants. YUM. As we walked into the UOP building, I felt a wave of nostalgia-- of walking into Jon's law school-- Loyola Chicago. I miss being around people in academia. We walked up to the 3rd floor and suddenly we were surrounded by people in blue scrubs and whizzing dental equiptment. Lol. A lot of dental students were practicing doing root canals, filling cavities, etc on mannequins. Bianca introduced Viv and me to all her classmates and all of them were really nice. So nice they even hit on Viv. lol. No one ever hits on me. lol. Everyone was really happy and talkative there, despite them stressing over their work. It was really like a big family because everyone suffers together through school. That's how I make my close friends that way too-- suffering through midterms and finals. =p I miss those days of school... the ability to meet more interesting nice, trustworthy people for friends. I'm so happy for Bianca!

Later, we walked back to Bianca's house and had some jello pie... just like the old times. :) Viv made it into a 3 layer jello pie. lol. It's still very good Viv! Neways, we know we are getting old when we need to leave at 9 ish and drive home to go to bed. haha Thanks Bianca for driving me! We need to bring a car to the track to race *wink*. hehe

Guys who cannot communicate perplexes me. argh. Luckily I have other good guy and female friends who CAN communicate :)

Sometimes it's funny how the lives of two people can parallel exactly. Things that happen to me and my best friend... so similar! Sometimes I think we need to read up on some psych books to understand people of the opposite sex. Or else, start writing up scripts to stories and magazine columns.

Nevertheless, being 22 is great right now. I'm starting to realize my dreams and learning more about life. I'm looking at everything with an optimistic view because I see so much opportunity everywhere. I also share the wealth. hehe. But seriously, sometimes I wonder who is writing the script of my life-- me or the Big Guy up there. Maybe I racked up a lot of good Karma so things are nice now. Disappointments and being Delighted-- this is why life is so interesting. We all need a delicate balance.

Miles logged... 24 miles? This is great. I am so sore all over my body! I love the Marin Bike. Biking with Carol is fun too.

YAY!
I'm so excited about going biking today. I haven't biked all winter season. Going to go on probably a 10 mile ride today to Coyote Point with Carol. :) Let's hope I don't cramp up.

ewww.. the Fed Ex guy is hitting on me at work! EWWW

i have a massive headache from reading tax manuals, forms, and shufflign through papers.
I also have a massive headache from the crazy old lady on BART claiming and crying that she has no money and got kicked out into the streets. She was obviously loony.
Chinatown wonton mein for me again. lol

Lol... I have having a great time talking to friends about business tonight. :)

about misunderstandings in acronyms
isreme: my friend is starting up a ebusiness with some VC's
dktq: viet congs?
isreme: i have another friend starting another ebusiness too selling cutesy stuff
isreme: no no! Venture Capitalists!

about referals for animation-commerical design:
isreme: i can refer you
ra a a a a a aY: ah cool
isreme: academy of art student
ra a a a a a aY: you are aweseom
isreme: lol
ra a a a a a aY: always there to hooke me up
ra a a a a a aY: you are my drug dealer

hahahhaa...

Yummy Strawberries I made for a Valentine's Day Treat

looking out of my window at work

Yes, Mission Street, Financial District. It's more gorgeous when I walk around to the other side of the office... I see the whole SF Bay with the Bay Bridge and Embarcadero. I swear, if I am still working at this office in Sept, I will go sit there and look for Lance Armstrong when he rides by the Embarcadero during the Tour de San Francisco (they call the race something different every year depending on the sponser).

Woo hoo! Lance will ride another Tour de France! I am hoping I can ride the SF Critical Mass next month. I've gotta train for the hills though.

Happy President's Day BTW. I love being able to sleep in. :) Of course, it also means lost wages. boo! Had dim sum. Weekend wasn't too eventful. Taxes and Taxes of course. Read a bit, tried to run but too cold.

...

no wonder Adrian Tomine's book caught my eye. He has similar tastes to me in literature, movies, and art. He actually drew the above for the New Yorker. Guess what movie that is from. :) I love the realism in his books... he captures what is going on underneath the facade of happiness and normality in people.

I realized today I missed hanging out with people my age. I've been hanging out with people who are much more older than me. I'm going through a transitional period in my life now, and it's going too fast, especially when everyone else around me is living in the period that is after the stage I am in now. Most of my co-workers, I found out today, have kids. Married. Don't want to discuss their age anymore. I'm still young enough to say how old I am with no shame. lol. I walk around the financial district and I realize that there are not a lot of younger people in their early 20's around. Most of them are grumpy and older.

I somehow wish I partied more in college. In fact, I think I should go wild now and club all I can before I turn "too old" for clubs. lol. I miss our poker nights in college and when everyone can just run around carefree. We were once broke but happy. Now we earn so much money just to give it back in taxes to the feds. *_*

I want to be in an environment where there's people my age, and doing stuff that normal 22, 23 year olds are doing. Maybe there's a chance. Google called today again to interview me for something.