have yourself a merry little christmas

Feeling so cozy at home with hubs on our week off.  December has flown by, and it's hard to believe Christmas is over!  Trying to decide whether we should keep the tree up until after New Year's, or just do it this weekend since work is sure to be busy when we return.

I took Mondays off in December just like last year - 4 day work weeks are seriously the best.  Those days were spent mostly doing all things Christmas - shopping online, in-store, wrapping gifts, etc.  Yesterday was a wonderful day spent with both families as per our tradition.  No traffic on any of our routes either.

My fave gift that I've been using non-stop - the Kindle Fire HD from hubs.  Will discuss more about how I picked this as my new personal tablet in my next post.     

Oh Sandy

We are into Day 3 without power and hot water, and also barely any cell phone reception.  Despite the inconvenience this is, and having to throw out a good amount of food, I consider us lucky, as we had very little damage to our property and no flooding.  Half of our town was evacuated, and fortunately we weren't in that half.  Seeing the devastation that hit other areas, I definitely count my blessings. 

On Monday night we hunkered down in our basement, as the winds seemed a tad dangerous to be sleeping in our bedroom on the 2nd floor.  Our basement reno was completed Saturday, so again, lucky.  The guys hauled away the reno debris on Saturday morning too, clearing up our garage to park our car in during the storm.  Yesterday we finally left the house and drove around to see what was open.  70% of our town is without power, and the lines at places, like the diner, were out the door.  We stopped by one of our fave takeout places, and the owners, who know us by name, were nice enough to let us camp out and charge our phones and laptops.  The hot lunch we enjoyed was great too.  I do what I can during the daylight hours, and our evenings consist of candlelight and flashlights via our phones.  Our mayor announced that we have a few more days of no power, so we'll just have to make do with what we can.

Having no internet/phone since Monday night has been rough - felt so disconnected from the world! 

Hoping everyone is doing okay!          

Let's Go!

Okay, so I thought I could post all my favorite past time entries before I started writing "for real," but with everything going on, it's hard to find the motivation to get them all in.  I'm going to start blogging now and throw some oldies in when needed.

I have always loved writing, and granted, it's always nice to get feedback from readers, but down the road, it's always fun to look back at see what I was up to and how my writing style and personality have evolved.  I hope to share the happenings in my life, as well as home projects, recipes, and crafts.

First up, my attempt at Chipotle at home.  I have loved Chipotle since I first tasted it as a junior at NYU.  (I even did a group project on the company!)  I used to eat the giant burrito, but now I'm happy with a chicken fajita bol everytime.  Sometimes copycat recipes are just too tedious in procedure and or require too many ingredients to make it worth trying.  Might as well just pay the $4.99 for Sakkio Japan's chicken teriyaki, right?

Having taken a knives skills class at the Institute of Culinary Education a few weeks back, part of me wanted to practice cutting up vegetables.  What better way than to chop up tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro for salsa?  Thanks to ChipotleFan.com I was able to get recipes for Chipotle's tomato and corn salsas.  These have been tweaked based on the comments:

Corn Salsa
4.5 cups frozen sweet yellow corn (cook based on directions on bag)
3 green scallions, diced
1/2 Red Onion diced
2 Green Jalapenos - seeds removed & diced
1/3 Cup Chopped Cilantro
1 Tablespoon Lime Juice
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Combine all the ingredients and season to taste.

Tomato Salsa (same recipe as above, except replace corn with 5-6 medium diced tomatoes, use a little less jalapeno, and omit green scallions) 

Cilantro Lime Rice
The same site has this recipe:
but I used this "Skinny Version" from Pinterest - (If you're using a rice cooker, I'd use maybe 1.25 cups of water for 2 cups of uncooked rice)

Chicken
We thought the site's recipe was a little too involved, so Hubs just added his own mix of spices - cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic. 

Here is the site's main recipe but in the comments, someone suggested a simpler recipe, so i might try that next time.

The results were delicious!  Now I find myself craving Chipotle less often because I've been making the corn salsa on a weekly basis as an add-on to my lunch salad.

 

 

To the Moon, Alice!

May 26, 2006

(by chumeister)

"I think it is a pretty widely accepted fact as to what one of the best parts of any relationship is:  the honeymoon.  And no, I'm not talking about the week you spend in the Bahamas after everyone has held their peace and the bride is kissed.  I'm talking about that initial phase in a relationship, when rationality is thrown out the window, and all that matters is the person you're with.   Those first few weeks or months (or for the truly lucky ones, years) where nothing can affect the halo of "newness" surrounding your relationship.  Where your infatuation is still so strong that your thoughts inevitably wander towards your significant other, no matter what you might actually be doing at the time ("Honey, I was at the waste processing plant today, and I thought of you.").
  
Ah, the honeymoon.  It's a good time.  But just like the actual sandy beaches and umbrella drinks honeymoon that follows the wedding, the new relationship honeymoon will have to come to an end.  It's inevitable.  It's unavoidable.  It's chemical.  Eventually, the chemicals that allowed you to ignore all the little imperfections and idiosyncrasies of your new mate will begin to wear off.  Until one day, when you're asking yourself, How come I never noticed that he doesn't take his shoes off when he comes into my room? or Why didn't I realize that she was a Communist sympathizer?  And just like that, the honeymoon is over.  I think, like most people, I dread the end of this honeymoon period.  After all, who doesn't want to constantly feel the exhilaration that accompanies a new relationship?  The excitement of the discovery process.  And the inevitable discovery of the traits that make your significant other just a few rungs short of perfection in your eyes.  Because when you're in your honeymoon phase, those imperfections don't matter.  You ignore them because they are so insignificant relative to the happiness that you feel just being with that person.  If ever there was a time to find out your companion's hidden flaws, it's during the honeymoon.     

Yet much as I like the honeymoon period, what comes after it can be just as fun.  In some ways, it's even better.  Because when you're in the honeymoon, you never get to experience the highs and the lows.  It's just high, high, high, all off the time.  And that can get well, boring.  It's the arguments, the frustrations, and the battles of wills that make a relationship real.  Those are the things that help to shape a relationship.  Everyone has a honeymoon period.  And most honeymoons are fairly similar to what I described.  But relationships are always different.  Relationships let you truly see whether you can be with someone.  Of course, honeymoon periods that seem perfect can sometimes devolve into relationships full of bickering and bitterness.  But sometimes, relationships can evolve into something even better than the honeymoon period.  They can turn into something real.  Something that requires actual discussion and compromise to grow.  Something with a limitless future, rather than an inevitable conclusion.  
 
So yes, I'll be sad when the honeymoon ends.  But I'll also be excited for what happens next.   And yes, I'm sure the "relationship" phase will have its share of arguments and tears.  But that's okay with me.  After all, you can't...make-up...unless you fight a little bit first."

August 6, 2004

LASIK Procedure: $3000
Being able to see without contacts/glasses: PRICELESS

Getting LASIK done is seriously one of the best things I could've done for myself, as well as being a most worthwhile investment. Just being able to get up in the morning and see without putting on glasses first is to me, a gift, heck - even a miracle. Before my surgery, when my alarm rang to wake me up every day, I would have to stick my face right in front of the clock and squint to see the time. (Did you know that a prescription of -3 to -4 is considered legally blind? If that's the case, I was way beyond legally blind!) Yesterday morning after my surgery, when I heard the radio blast, all I had to do was turn my head and voila! the red numbers displaying 6:30 were crisp and clear.

On Wednesday, I was so ready to have LASIK done and over with. My time at work flew and before I knew it, I was at the doctor's office, signing the consent forms with my mom as my witness. They could tell I was pretty "energetic," so they ended up giving me 3 valium. I had asked previously how I would know it was working, and after just two, I knew. My limbs felt really heavy and my mom had to hold my arm because I could barely walk straight. Mentally I was still alert though. They took me into the room and I laid down, while the music from the cd I brought in filled the air. The doctor came in, got me prepped while explaining again what would be happening. He went through everything step by step and told me how the procedure was going along the way. It was pretty much painless; I only felt a split second of pressure when he put the clamp on to keep each eye open. (I had no trouble not blinking either!) I hadn't watched a surgery beforehand, so I assumed that the red blinking light I'd be fixating on would be just that, but to me it looked more like a ball of fire, which kept me fascinated and unblinking. Each eye only took 60 seconds to laser, so the procedure was done in like 5 minutes. (And it was 60 seconds for my eyes because of my high prescription; if you have a lesser number, it'll be like 20 seconds!) When the doctor moved the machinery away from me, he asked me to read the clock on the wall. I told him "Quarter to six" and everyone clapped and congratulated me. I walked out, rested for a while on a lounge chair, then was able to go home. I kept my eyes closed for as much as possible and went to bed early.

The next morning was a whole new me. I went to work to usual and everything. I even drove last night for a celebratory Jamba Juice with some friends. (No problem with the night vision.) I had my post-op checkup yesterday in the afternoon, and the doctor said that my vision is doing great for less than a day after and that I can expect my vision to get even better! After dinner last night, I watched the video of my surgery that the doctor sent home with me. I couldn't believe I was watching my own eyes being done. I admit it was pretty gross, but I was laughing because I was in such disbelief. This science and technology stuff is truly amazing.

As for my doctor, I highly recommend him. His name is Dr. Emil Chynn and you can find out more about his practice at his site, www.iwant2020.com . I totally trusted him and wasn't worried about the possibility of going blind or having some sort of complication. He answered all my questions, as well as his staff, who all had LASIK done by him as well. Dr. Chynn even had LASIK done on himself and now he's 20/20. His office manager who had it done a few months ago, is 20/13, which is even better than 20/20! I was just so excited to see the end result. I knew that when it came to my eyes, I had to go to the best doctor I could find, and he is it. He even called me at home that night to give me his cell phone number in case I had any discomfort I was worried about. I didn't at all! I had a great night of sleep and even woke up earlier than usual because I thought I had been sleeping for too long. If you're considering LASIK or LASEK, go for it with Dr. Chynn. You won't be disappointed.

What's funny about this whole thing is that I swore that before my surgery I had put my glasses in its case, in my bag. But when I got home and dumped everything out, they were gone! I looked for them everywhere, even asked the staff when I went back yesterday, but they're nowhere to be found. Not that I'll ever need them again, but I wanted them for sentimental value. Oh well, I guess this is a sign!

If you want to know more about LASIK from me, just ask! I'm a walking testimonial and success story. I couldn't be more thrilled with how it all turned out.

What he doesn't know will drive you nuts

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

You met him a while ago, and somehow he managed to get stuck in your head like that lyric "Shake it like a Polaroid picture."  Just like you know, (after being an owner of a Polaroid camera for 10 years), that you're not supposed to shake the picture because it actually messes up the developing, you don't know why he's there. But he is, whether you like it or not. You know his cell phone number, his home phone number; even where he likes to buy groceries. But he doesn't know.

His screen name is one that cleverly incorporates part of his name, a nickname, or something that he loves to do. He adds one or two numbers at the end for his birthday, or simply because it's his lucky number. With the help of Dead Aim, you know exactly when he's no longer away because you see that little blue box shoot up from the corner of your computer screen with "_______" has just signed on.  That's when you have a decision to make. To IM or not to IM? You wait a little at first, so it doesn't seem like you've been waiting for him to come back online. Then you decide not to IM him, hoping that he'll double-click your screen name first. You only seem to act this silly when it comes to the guy you like. But he doesn't know.

He's the one. All right, so maybe not the "one." Not absolutely, positively the one you're going to marry or something, but closer to Mr. Right-up-there-with-Brad-Pitt-in-Mr.-and Mrs.-Smith-or-Keanu-Reeves-in-Speed-on-your-list-of-people-you'd-give-anything-to-be-stranded-with-on-a-broken-down-elevator. (Like I was yesterday after the fire drill.) But it's about more than that. When is it ever about more than that? Never. Not like penguin suits, a 10-tier cake, embarrassing relatives who talk really loud more, but closer to a comfy blanket, two cafe mochas from Starbucks to stay awake because you two are always burning the midnight oil and need caffeine, one of those wedge-shaped pillows and a movie you have no interest in seeing more. But he doesn't know.

He's cute; a one-of-a-kind-cute that maybe only a few girls can see, but that's the best kind of cute to be. More like you're startled every time you see him, especially when you aren't expecting it and you can't help but think, Oh my gosh, do I look okay? Because he looks soo good.  But then you can't help but notice that he didn't spike up his hair like he usually does, and so it has that soft, fluffy look about it. More like you can't stop writing these sentences that run on and on and make no sense at all, because it seems almost impossible to describe something ... someone ... as wonderful as he is. But you're a writer, at least on your spare time. You can describe anything if you put your mind to it. That's what you do: even though your major was accounting/finance and not English, you love to write and you've even had your work published. And when you don't have the words, you go to dictionary.com. But nothing seems to precisely capture everything you see in him. More like you're afraid that if you stare at him for too long, your nearsightedness will get even worse, but you wouldn't mind. There's always laser surgery.  (But wait, I've already had LASIK done!)

Even though all it takes is the press of a button in your phone book, it's still so hard for you to call him, without making it seem like you're calling out of nowhere. And when you do, you wouldn't mind that the questioning, "Hello?" on the other end makes you want to smile but at the same time, hang up after mumbling, "Sorry, wrong number."  You wouldn't mind worrying about what to get him for his birthday or Christmas present and going over the limit your first credit card had, because everyone knows how hard it is to buy presents for guys after you've done the cologne, wallet, and scarf thing. You wouldn't mind that you left something at his place and have to go get it because you need it the next morning, because it gives you the chance to see him again. You don't mind that you've probably dropped hints along the way without even realizing it, but knowing your luck, he didn't catch them. So he doesn't know. Sure, he's cute, but it's about more than that, it's his personality, his values, how he sees a lot of things the same way you do. How he introduces you to stuff for the first time and you end up truly liking (and not just because he does.) The mere thought of him makes you smile. You two just click. Anything you toss at him, he can toss right back. He makes you laugh. You knew almost right away that he's the type of guy you're looking for. You can even sense what his mind's thinking sometimes, but you can't quite yet sense what his heart is. If you just had that chance.

You remember everything he's ever told you, and when he's amazed, you just explain that you were the memory champ in 3rd grade. (Which, now that you're in the "real" world, is only the case when it comes to him, because you want him to know he's important to you, along with everything he says). You can't remember when your mom tells you to bring something up from the basement, and you can't remember that you have a client's report due in two days, yet you remember the name of the sister of the guy he met at a party and went to middle school with. Maybe it's because you actually listen when he talks. You listen for the most part, but sometimes you tend to zone out when you're bored. But when he talks, you're totally focused. But he doesn't know.

And even though he's not seeing anyone right now, you don't know if sees you as more than a friend. In fact, it's almost taboo because the two of you discuss everything and anything but relationships. Why is that? You come up with possible reasons, but it's hard to figure out which one it could be. There's really only one way to find out, but you don't because either you don't have enough guts to ask or you think that asking will ruin the friendship or make things weird. Do you really want to take that chance?

But nothing changes. He doesn't know. You get that dizzy feeling you get after doing a cartwheel that he'll never know. You get that feeling that you'll be forced to write a sappy entry in Xanga about him that all your subscribers, random xanga-ers, and probably he too, will end up reading.

You go to sleep. You wake up. He doesn't know. You're not in love. You're not obsessed. Is it more than a crush? Definitely. You blame it on the fact that it's almost impossible to meet decent, dateable guys in the city, but still, it's about more than that. It would just be nice if once in this area of your life, things worked out the way you wanted them to.

I know it's hard for guys, but it can be hard for girls too, you know. The only difference is that we won't let it kill us, just drive us nuts.

So ___________, it's about time you know.

Tuesday September 6, 2005

"We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, reassure every moment that you have. Treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one...

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy...

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Thought for the day:

Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching."

A lot of contemplation over this past weekend, trying to clear my head and figure out what I want and where I'm going. 

reflect. cherish. aspire.

Wednesday August 17, 2005

I refuse to forget the countless number of fond memories I have. Nor do I wish to disregard the bad ones completely, because they are essential in my ability to learn from my mistakes and prior experiences.  A person's past and accumulation of memories play a significant role in who they are today.  Although things might have seemed easier back then, getting older (and wiser) is not as bad as it seems. 

Each and every day I count my blessings for how lucky I feel to have the life I do. Hearing all the crazy stuff on the news and even from the people around me, I can't help but appreciate the fact that I have a loving family and great friends, a job that I hopefully will enjoy, and split my time between city and suburbia. Another thing is my health, because without it, there's no way I could possibly enjoy everything else. I'd say that for the most part, I'm content with my life.

I look forward to what the future has in store, but there will always be those uncertainties. I take a day at a time, but who doesn't wonder what could possibly happen later on that day or even a year from now? The thing is, I know what I want to happen, but whether or not it will is a different story. Right now I'm in this transitional period, preparing for the life of a young professional and the so called "real world" of paying for bills and making it on my own.  I'm up for the challenge, but I know it won't be a piece of cake.  As the days dwindle down to 9/19, the more apprehensive I get about starting work.  Will I not dread waking up for and going to the office every morning?  Or in the audtior's case, to my clients' office?

Yesterday I saw "March of the Penguins," that documentary on the life of the Empire Penguin down in Antarctica.  Those penguins have a pretty difficult life, considering they travel over 70 miles in the harshest conditions to find their "mate," and then risk their lives so that their offspring can survive.  But when they finally arrive at their destination, within days they've found their "one" with some waddling, a simple call, and touch of beaks.  If only it were that easy.  But then again, people come and go in and out of our lives for a reason, and I am a better person because of those I've crossed paths with.  

Saturday, April 22, 2006

I hate the feeling of suppressing a thought that should've come out of my mouth, with apprehension that not having done so will most likely reflect badly upon me in some angle.  I sometimes feel like I have to put on that happy face or cheer in my voice when at that particular moment I'm anything but.  I vaguely recall an essay I had to write in college about "wearing masks" and "playing parts,"  something that people in the business world often have to do in order to adapt to their surroundings and situations, whether it be with coworkers or clients.  It definitely extends beyond the workplace though to our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. 

Maybe it's not a mask per se - an identity that is not at all yours, but a facet of your personality that does exist, with you bringing it out when you see fit, even though underneath that mask, your mind and heart express something completely different.  Why is this?  I guess instinctively to put up a defense for ourselves, but at the same time, to protect those who we might hurt if we chose to disagree instead of agree, or bluntly tell the truth instead of that little white lie.  Is it a sense of selflessness?  Who knows.  We could just be watching our own backs.  In the end all parties will be affected somehow.  Maybe it's unreasonable, but that's just the way it is.  It's a horrible feeling. 

Be dissatisfied, be grateful

Thursday June 19, 2003

Life is precious and fragile. Live your life to the fullest by following two rules:  
1) Be dissatisfied
2) Be grateful

Be dissatisfied. Don't let life carry you along like a leaf in a current of waters. Find what is important to you and pursue it. Discover your passions, whether it be family, a hobby, or a dream. Create goals. Strive to make a difference in this world, however small. Always work towards self improvement. Be critical and examine the world around you. Take advantage of your potential. Use your time wisely to take baby steps towards fulfillment of your dreams and this will make you feel good.

Be grateful. Appreciate the world and the people around you. Respect others. Take time to recognize that you would not be who you are without these people in your life. Make an effort to understand their dreams, their passions, and what drives them. Be a motivating force in helping them to achieve their dreams and this will make you feel great.  

speaker at UC Berkeley graduation

This is unfortunately still applicable...

May 23, 2003

You know what's really irritating? When people suddenly come out of the woodwork to get something from you. I have absolutely no problem doing a favor or anything of the sort for a friend, family member, or someone I know pretty well. At least I know they like me for me and I'm not just being considered as a "friend with benefits." But to just pop out of nowhere just because you want something from me? Not cool. And then you add all this fluff to hide your real motive. I haven't decided yet if I'd prefer bluntness and getting straight to the point, or having to pretend that you're really this nice person and you've suddenly thought of this favor due to the fact that you happened to be talking with me. You can't just forget about the past. Things aren't the same, but maybe I should have known this from the beginning. I don't appreciate being used.

You know, maybe it's partially my fault too. Maybe I give people the benefit of the doubt too easily, and not wanting to seem like this bad/mean person, I do my best to fulfill their request within reason. I don't get mad that often, but when I do, I don't appear to be annoyed, but inside I'm silently seething. Out of all emotions, I've never been good at expressing my anger or resentment; I tend to keep it in or vent it through other methods (like putting on the gloves and boxing). It's probably one of the things I should change before I get stepped on again.

It took me awhile to realize all this, but now I see.

A perfect person out there for everyone...

In my urgency to post my first archived entry, I didn't realize that November 2001 was really where my blogging began.  So we're going to backtrack a bit...

This was a quote that I blogged about on November 30, 2001.  Little did I know at that time, exactly four years later on November 30, 2005, I met that perfect person, my husband. 

"I believe there is a perfect person out there for everyone.
Someone who can totally understand, care and make you happy.
That someone might be already in my life.
Could be someone I know but not close to, someone I currently hate, someone I am close to, someone I've already liked, someone I have been with, or someone I have passed by.
Or he might not be anyone I know...maybe I still have to wait.
What if he was already there, and I missed my chance?
I don't know. I've been told that not too many people get to marry
the person that they truly love the most.
I think that's kind of sad, don't you?"

A.C.

End of Freshman Year

May 10, 2002

Time to Reminisce... The tub has been scrubbed and the dust bunnies have been exterminated. As I sit here in my dorm room which is now almost completely bare, I realize how much of a prison cell it looks like without my decor. Just kidding; it's not that bad. No but seriously, I can't believe this is my last night here, sleeping on my bed that is raised up oh-so-high. I had my last bubble tea tonight for the time being as well. There are so many things I can't believe, but mostly the fact that my freshman year of college is over. Where has the time gone? Before coming here, I had no idea that time could fly by so quickly. It seems like only yesterday that it was that Sunday morning in August, as Dorothy and I moved into our room, with our families making several trips up and down the steps to get everything in. And now, we've just spent a couple hours packing it all up and cleaning.

I've learned so much this year, not just the academic stuff, but about myself and people in general. I don't think my personality has necessarily changed, but I've become more "aware" as Diana put it. I think she's right-the people, the places, the situations, the dangers, and other realities of life. I've pretty much become accustomed to this city life. There's just so much to see and do; it's a little overwhelming sometimes. I never thought I'd be a "city girl" in college, but now that a year has passed, I'm just about there. (I still have that place in my heart for the suburban style. Yay for Paramus.) I've realized that college isn't just about continuing your academic education or in my case, learning about business; it's about learning about yourself and getting a taste of the so called "real world" with people who have come from all over the place. The sheltered life I lived before coming here has turned into an independent one. After 9/11, I was skeptical about my future here. Who knows what else could happen with the sick people that unfortunately live in this world? My parents were worried, just as I was. Living in NYC definitely makes you a target. But you know, after a lot of thought, I realized how lucky I am to be here and how great this city this can be. I made a choice to come here, and I'm going to stick with it.

*Sigh. I'm going to miss this place, although I know the summer will go by just as fast as the year did. I'll miss Dorothy, who I'm so glad agreed to be my roommate (a great one at that) to share our freshman year together-*Thanks a bunch, you're always welcome to my place at Water next year*; my friends, who always know how to put a smile on my face and show me a good time; the crazy late nights, whether I'm out having fun, or up studying-I tell ya, it's hard without coffee; the buzz of city life, Saint's Alp, the karaoke place, the convenience of my dorm being right on campus, and all the other good stuff I love about here. Heck, I'll even miss my dorm room, which has become my "second home."  And although she goes to school uptown, I feel the relationship I have with one of my best friends has definitely gotten stronger. Although we go to different schools, we are both living the "college life" in the city, and that bond makes sharing our daily lives with each other every day the more worthwhile. I've learned so much through her and her experiences, and I love and thank her for that.

There's still so much I've yet to see and do-places to go and people to meet, but I'm sure it will come in due time. And so tomorrow, rather later, since it's now technically Friday, back to suburbia.

And you know what? I'm a college sophomore.

Archives & First Fave

Well, after hours and hours of googling and testing out methods, I'm going to give up on trying to import my old xanga entries to this blog.  Dating back to August 2002, it's funny to see what I deemed necessary to write about - I would never write about some of those things now!  So, I'm going to selectively post my favorite entries.  (At least paying for a month of premium was useful - these files are way easier to go through then paging through my site.) 

Friday, August 9, 2002

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to sit down and play the piano as much as I'd like. Most of my July was spent on flute, specifically on pieces for the band and trying to decide which piece to use for my audition in the fall. (Still quite not sure yet.) Now that it's already August, I'm planning on getting to the piano more often because once school starts, I'll probably be able to get to the music building only once in a while. I was finally able to get back into it a few nights ago. It's weird sometimes because I could be doing one thing, and suddenly just get the urge to get up and go to the piano.

I need to remember to thank my parents for starting me up with lessons when I was about six or seven. Learning at a young age is the best time I think for a kid to get acquainted with an instrument and music in general. My mom told me the story about how my uncle had given me a little pink battery-operated keyboard which was supposed to just be a toy to play with. Then one day my mom suddenly heard me playing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" out of nowhere, and thus she was "inspired" to have me start taking lessons. (Although my parents aren't the typical "hardcore" Asian parents, I think that most Asian parents aspire for their kids to play either the piano or violin.) And so my parents enrolled me in the Yamaha School of Music, and I stayed with that for 2 years. I guess I could say I was excelling beyond the other kids in my class, and with my Yamaha teacher's suggestion, my parents got me a private teacher. Up until right before college, I found myself auditioning and playing in recitals. (Those always got me really nervous, where my hands would be freezing cold and I'd do my best to warm and loosen them up before I had to play.) If it wasn't for the piano, I probably wouldn't be as into music as I am. Plus, I might not have started the flute or joined the band in the 8th grade had I not had the previous musical background. It'd probably be too difficult to catch up with everyone else who had started in 4th grade. (Then again, I did have that one year of recorder in 3rd grade.) So hypothetically speaking, several memories from my life would be missing if it weren't for the piano: those times I've accompanied the choir, the band trips, the halftime shows, the rehearsals, concerts and parties afterward, the musical...The list goes on... 

Nowadays though, I play because I want to. Which piece I start off with is determined by what kind of mood I'm in. I'm pretty much always in a good mood, so I usually begin with Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique, which I'd have to say is one of my absolute favorite pieces not only to play, but to listen to as well. There's just something about the music that's so soothing and it just has the ability to take me away, and sometimes even lift my spirits. Playing allows me to escape from everything else going on in my life to a place where it¡¦s just me and the music. If I¡¦m in a bad mood or just feeling particularly quiet, there are pieces I can play to convey that, without having to take it out on anyone. When there are no words I can use, I turn to music. It¡¦s difficult to describe or completely put into words what I feel as my fingers glide across the ivory keys. Music is definitely an awesome form of self-expression. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy myself at least a baby grand for my house in the future. (Planning on playing 'til I'm a little old lady; hehe.) Most of the time Beethoven and Mozart can be heard in my house, but every so often I can be heard rocking out on some contemporary music too. =) I consider myself a fan of most genres of music, but good classical music can have such a powerful effect. (Notice the music I have playing on my page?) Sometimes you just need music without vocals so you can fill in the words yourself.

Bringing blogging back

I've taken a long hiatus from blogging (since 2010!) but I think it's about time to start it up again.  I'm patiently waiting while my old entries are being archived.  There's nothing like getting your thoughts down and being able to reminisce down the road.