Rollout!!

Damn I can't believe I only posted once this month. Anyway, it's my third week into work and all is swell. In fact, it's doing so well, I'm training someone tomorrow. I don't know how someone who's only been in the field for 3 weeks train, but I guess I'm doing it!

I don't think I've complained enough about the traffic around here, have I? Well let me give you some details:
On a really really good day (i.e., Holiday), it takes me approximately 30 minutes to get to work. Not bad eh? On a normal good day, it'll take me 45 minutes. On an AVERAGE day, about an hour. On a crap day, one hour and fifteen freaking fuckity fuck minutes. I'm telling you, that extra fifteen minutes really gets to me. It took my coworker 2 hours to get to work! I think I would start crying if it took me 2 hours to get to work when it is suppose to take me 30 minutes.

I really thought I've accepted the traffic here... I know, there are a lot of people, a lot of cars, cops are out to get you, I get it, I get it... I actually have not had road rage yet. I actually get that more when Mr. Man T is driving and I'm on the passenger side.

Anyway, VA drivers, you cannot blame all of the traffic on the speed limit (55mph, btw, VA highway are for wimps, haha- that should be their new logo, instead of VA is for lovers, it should be, VA is for wimpy drivers!) You cannot blame it on cops who pull you over for going over by only 5 mph. By the way, I have yet to be pulled over, knockonwood. Instead, I've noticed you VA drivers lack the "street knowledge" of driving, so... if there are any VA readers out there, please obtain this info and pass it along to your loved ones so we can all get to work a little faster and the world will be a better place.

55MPH means to go AT LEAST 55MPH, NOT SLOWER.
Left lane FAST LANE, right lane SLOW LANE. That equals RIGHT LANE=55MPH
If you're driving on the left lane and someone on the right lane is passing you? That's a clue to get out of the left lane.
If you are not exiting stay the hell out of the right lane when an exit is coming up.
When you are exiting the highway, there is no reason for you to be braking unless the exit ramp is a curve. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.
You do not need to leave a space the size of a football field in between you and the car in front of you.
If and when you do get into an accident, exchange information, move on. You do NOT have to wait for the freaking cops, because in the mean time, your blocking traffic to dwindle down to 2 lanes and therefore, the cops aren't going to get to you within the next hour.
I know you're lost, i can't blame you, 45% of the streets name here has the name "Fair" in it. Come on Fairfax, get over yourself, even if you ARE lost, try pulling over or speed the hell up, because you going 2 mph makes me want to ram your ass.
Speaking of 2MPH, did you know you could make turns as you're going over 2MPH. Seriously, the gas pedal is your friend.
Your yield sign means that YOU YIELD FOR ME.

Ugh.

Hey did everyone have a good Valentine's day? Presidents Day? Fat Tuesday? Chinese New Year? And any other holidays/celebrations I may have missed?!?

GMail Dad

I still remember the day my pops was all like, take my credit card and go buy your little sisters a computer and if it is cheap buy me one too. I was like uHHh ookay, thinking the last time he used my laptop was to look at other Vietnamese girls in those dating websites where he would show my mom the girls' pictures. Crazy! So I got him a desktop and set up a gmail account for him so he can be cool. I also set one up for my mom, but she seems to not like checking it for some reason.

Anyway, I have a crap load of siblings, 6 to be exact, 2 older, 4 younger. My dad, seriously, only talks to me. My mom seems to love everyone else equally, but my dad doesn't really say hi to anyone when he sees them, except for his grandchildren, but I don't blame him, they are cute as hell. In any case, moving to VA has now made me the one who lives the furthest. I also have the VA area code, so my parents can't call me from the home phone (no long distance carrier) unless they have a calling card. Plus, my dad got pissed at Verizon Wireless and cancelled his cellphone... so I get emails from my dad now.

These emails don't really tell me how he's doing or he doesn't ask me how I'm doing or anything... these emails are about things that he can definitely ask his other children but for some reason just chooses not to. Even the ones that live with him!!
He also writes them in half Vietnamese half English. I don't know where he got the idea that I know how to read Vietnamese from. Must be all the Karaoking...

The first email I got from him he wanted me to tell him what to do with a letter he got from the state and proceeded to copy down what the letter said. I really wonder how long it took him to type that. Anyway, I had to respond back to him (in Vietnamese) and then ask him, why the heck didn't he just ask one of the twins?? and reminded him that they too speak English.

The second email I got from him, he had in the subject line, "your mom cry". Way to go on getting someone's attention.

The third email, told me to call my brothers and sisters that were back in my home town and who has a local number to join him and my mom for her birthday celebration. I'm like what the? What??

So I just forwarded the email.

Either he really hates his other kids or he thinks I'm some sort of Administrative Assistant for him.

The Cycle of Life

On Death:
I found out that my first bf passed away recently. I suddenly remembered a lot of things I never realized I would've. My first hand holding, first set of late night phone calls, first kiss and first tears I cried because of a boy. You know what I could imagine so clearly in my mind? What his death certificate would look like. I've looked at so many throughout the past months, I know which information would've been added. Manner of death: Accident. It is sad and I'm sure he will be greatly missed. RestInPeaceuntilyourreincarnation: Cao

On Living:
I realized I've been giving out my address all wrong, ooops! I'm a ditz.

On Living (kind of):
I know I thought of this before... and I'm pretty sure I've posted on it, but man... me not going to school OR working, is making my brain turn into mush. I really can't do this much longer. I know a lot of you probably think I'm crazy for actually wanting to work but trust me, having money come in is a security that lets you enjoy life more.

On Cooking:
I know on previous posts I talked about Mr. Man T being a fabulous cook so I definitely should be posting about what I've been eating lately! That will come. I've also picked up cooking (for some reason I can't sleep past 2pm so I have to do something). From Mr. Man T's aunt, I've semi-learned how to make Banh Cuon, which is a doughy like substance (made out of flour) eaten with meat and cha (Vietnamese version of spam?). I will definitely post my step by step moves on this later. Mr. Man T was going crazy with that camera. All in all it came out pretty good, but the aunt pretty much made it fool proof for me. hehe. I believe she showed me the easy way, where you just cook the flour on a pan. There's also a steam version, but man... my poor fingers, I've never held my fingers so close to a hot pan before in my life. Cooking is a dangerous sport!

On Baking:
We seriously spent over 100 dollars on baking products, all because of cupcakeblog
courtesy of chockylit an amazing engineer by day baker by night who has graciously lent the world her recipes. We first tried her Vietnamese inspired recipe, Vietnamese Coffee Cupcakes. Have you guys ever had Cafe Sua Da? Well have it as a cupcake. It came out pretty good, sweeter than I thought it would, the aroma of the coffee was probably the best part for me. Look at how small and cute my cupcakes came out to be!! We did not do the condensed milk pudding or the whipped cream topping since we decided it was actually pretty sweet enough. However, we did dip the cupcakes with sweetened condensed milk and that shit was deeeeeeeeeelish!!!
Check out the blog, it has great easy to follow directions and pictures.

On Eating:
I'm definitely gaining more weight. I can't help it, food is so good and so freaking readily available around here. You ever go food shopping and you're so freaking hungry you buy everything in the store and try to get the hell out of there so you can go home and eat it all? Well around here, you don't have to. A new and freaking spectacular Whole Foods Market just recently opened a few blocks down from us. This place is like a world on its own. True, you can't get regular Coke but... fresh sushi/Japanese food? Check! A full menu of cheese and wine? Check! Sandwiches? Check! Pizza? Check! Fresh seafood meals? Check! Gelato!??! CHECK!!!!!! Eat and then shop, all in one.....ahhhhhhhh...
Mr. Man T pretty much felt like he died and went to heaven. Well those are my words, his words were, WE CAN'T MOVE AWAY FROM HERE!!!!!
When you guys come visit me, Whole Foods will be one of the first places I take you to go "sight-see" hehe.
BTW: CEO of Whole Foods, also blogs and they are now #5 on Fortune's Top 100 companies to work for. See honey, I told you you should work there.

On Marriage:
A bunch of people that I and Mr. Man T know are freaking getting married, it's crazy! 'Tis the age, 'tis the age... anyway I'm super happy for those girls. What? I don't know the guys! Anyway, Mr. Man T's younger brother is also about to pop the question. (If he hasn't done so already.) In Hawaii. How rrrrromantic. I can't wait to hear the proposal story! It is true, since Mr. Man T works in a Jewelery store I've come to learn a little more about the bling... but who cares about that, I've also got to try on more of the bling! That was fun. It's weird that something so small can look so damn b r i g h t on my little finger. Just look, this is only a 1.2Ct. Wow.


On leisure:
I have all this time, I should clean, but I don't. AH! Leisure equals laziness. I can't handle.

Okay, all this writing about cooking and eating has definitely made me hungry. Time for cupcakes!! Ta-ta.

Whoa - 7 Years in 5 Days.

I just had to review the last 7 years of my life for my new job. It came out to be 38 pages long.
In the past 7 years I have:

• Moved approximately 7 times
• Was on and off jobs about 6 times
• Went to 4 different colleges
• Called 6 different people/places to clarify dates
• AIM M.K.W. 10000 times to clarify dates
• Checked my Xanga to clarify dates (sad that I have to check my own blog to remember things)
• Checked my EMail for peoples' names
• Had to pull my credit report
  

I've realized that there are NOT a lot of people I can put as references as to where I've been, etc., etc., I just used the same 4 people over and over again.
I've also realized that if I do not constantly blog about what's going on in my life, there is no way in hell I will remember any events in my life, not even the freaking important ones. Remember the teachers in junior and high school where they use to talk about their lives and give dates... like, I remember in June of 1954 I was blah blah blah... it amazes me that people can do that!!
In any case, I better keep my blog updated so if I ever have to go through this again I have something to check up against.
---

Since Mr. Dad has been in town, we've been hanging out with him and the other relatives lately. I have some great Mr. Dad stories I need to start sharing before I forget!!

I did want to share this one story though... I was sitting in one of the aunt's living room watching the football game when Mr. Man T's cousins started talking... I only first caught bits and pieces of the conversation since I was trying to concentrate on the game via the fuzzy t.v. All of a suddenly I hear:
cousin 1: What did you wear?
cousin's 2 bf: He-he, nothing.
cousin 1: NOTHING!? HAHAHA
cousin's 2 bf: no no, I mean, just plain clothes, nothing special, not nothing - nothing! hehe
cousin 2 looking at me: we went to a S&M party.

ME:

That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet (you knew this was coming)

About a week ago I met Mr. Man T's dad. Let's call him Mr. Dad for short. We picked up Mr. Dad from the airport... we said our hi's, shook hands... it was all very polite and nice. So during the car ride he began asking me questions (non-threatening ones) in Vietnamese and English. Did you start work yet, do you know what Hanh means, do you know what else it means, your parents never told you what it meant, do you have an American name, you DON'T have an American name, but Hanh is so hard to pronounce, what is your last name, oh-no you have two names that are hard to pronounce, hm... let's give you an American name...

.....
.......

How about Rose?

All I could say is... I like my name and is it really that hard to pronounce?

And Mr. Man T brought up the fact that his little brother has an African American name.

All in all I thought it was a nice encounter, I wasn't terrified of talking to him even though I didn't know what to say to the fact that he wanted my name changed within the first 5 minutes of meeting me. Plus, he's a funny man.

New Friends





Almost everyone that I am friends with from my old city, I've met pre-college days. With that, I've known everyone for at least 8 years... wow, so I pretty much "grew up" with my friends. It's hard making new friends and being yourself (retarded) in front of people you just met. Lately, after the holidays, the people we've been sorta, kind-a, not-really, hanging out with are married couples! What would I have to talk about to married couples?

Luckily... they have kids. 8, 5 and 1. They love me, I DDR (and lose) with them, watch cartoon/kids shows with them, play Foosball (and lose) with them, play a weird version of ping pong (and lose) with them, run up and down 3 flights of stairs, play ring around the rosey, etc., etc... all while the "grown-ups" chit chat.

Sigh... at this rate, I'll still be growing up with my "friends".

Hello 2007.



Happy New Year people! Hope that whole ringing in the new year was fun! For me, I did a little something something that I haven't done on New Years Eve in awhile. First, I bought a couch at Ikea and tried to carry that sucker. NO FUN.

Secondly, I went clubbing. I can't even remember the last time I went clubbing... well, actually I do, but that didn't count. I mean, all out clubbing... by the way, my club wear? Jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Everyone elses'? A short dress. Wow. Anyway, we went to this club in D.C. called Love, I heard it has 4 floors. I only made it to the second one. That place was seriously packed, hot, and the music was wack. I got alcohol all over me (damn myself for being short), stepped on, elbowed in the face and was choking on cigarette smoke.

I've also never taking so many pictures at a club before in my life. Actually, I've never taking ANY pictures at a club before in my life. That was a little weird for me. So if anyone sees my picture in myspace or anywhere else somehow... uh, i don't know, let me know?

I didn't get too buzzed either. Only because I noticed Mr. Man T drinking and I knew he wasn't taking his DD responsibilities seriously. We got home around 3 am I think and I had to jump in the shower. I reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke. Man, D.C., when are you going to jump on the bandwagon with the other cool states and ban smoking in public places?!

Overall, I don't think I'll be going back to that club any time soon. I'm more of a small club/lounge person. Where I can sit and drink and watch people.

Ah.. other than that, I haven't gone out much. Does anyone have any ideas for me??

P.S. Congratulations on your engagement PT!!!
P.P.S. I am now computer illiterate. Anyone know how I can design my own template here? Or even better, anyone willing to do it for me?

Nothing like starting a new year with something actually new...

Well, it has been one full week since I've moved down to the big VA, originally from MA I can say it is quite different. From the last post, you could guess, that I'm not use to big city traffic. Yeah, traffic in my city totally sucked when school was in session, but I don't think it could compare to this place. Most roads have 3+ lanes, highways... I don't even know which one I'm on half of the time, north, south, east, west? who knows, I always knew in my home town. Oh well, maybe if I paid more attention to the sun rather than the bastard drivers around here!

In any case, that has been fixed, Mr. Man T got me a TomTom! (New #1) The ultimate bossy device. I have to tell you guys... Phanus should get this thing. I have Janet speaking to me... Janet is from England, someday I will speak with an accent just like her! I also learned another road term, the roundabout. (New #2)

Settling in to a new unfurnished apartment is always hard. The walk-in closet is unfortunately not big enough for two sets of wardrobe. We have no drawers, so half of my stuff is still in my suitcase, the other half is still in my car. You guys use to think I lived in my car before? Psh, you haven't seen anything yet. In any case, it is hard to clean and organize when you have no place to put things... painting hasn't been completed... I guess I should start working on that since I am jobless and all. Here are some pictures though for your enjoyment.
It has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 loft, 1 balcony. I like, I can't wait until the summer!
and everybody's favorite, a spiral staircase:

I've gone up there ONCE.

Ah... Christmas, I never really posted anything about this year's holiday. (BTW, Merry Christmas everybody!!!) What can I say? It was a very different Christmas from what I am use to. I wasn't out doing crazy shopping for anyone. I actually am still going to be buying Christmas gifts though... but I'd rather wait until I get a secure job offer, so do you think they'll still be selling wrapping paper at the end of January?

As for Christmas Eve and Christmas itself, it was quite interesting. I met all of Mr. Man T's cousins and some aunts and uncles all at once. (New #3) I pretty much stepped into the house without him, and his cousin loudly introduced me. What could I do? I just used both my hands and waved. Then I ran to the corner. I am so glad I did not get bombarded with Vietnamese questions. No, I do not mean questions in Vietnamese, I mean the typical Vietnamese questions parents ask. A few of the cousins were sweet enough to actually buy me presents. I thought that was great, everything I got was very nice, especially Mr. Man T's Burberry gift card. I also got to eat one of my favs, Bun Bo Hue! All in all, I wasn't really hassled by anyone, and everybody was super friendly to me and I was super quiet to myself so it worked out swell.

On Christmas, I got to hang out with one of Mr. Man T's favorite cousin, Miss Saigon. Miss Saigon, was her AOL screen name, and she is pretty much the whole reason how Mr Man T and I met. In any case, we went to watch that new Rocky film, which was eh.. and then had dinner at Miss Saigon's house. We had interesting conversations...until her little sister came home. That's when the stories got REALLY entertaining. I haven't heard fun and funny stories like that in a long time. I thought, it was a great way to end Christmas night.

Well this post was pretty much a long babble of babbles. I promise I'll try to stop and start posting normally again.

I wonder if I can tomtom my way back to the cousin's house to eat some left over bbh....

!!!

Hello from VA!!!!! I have relocated and have no job, no family and no uh..friends, well one. The one I live with. =] My short update:

1. My condo is muy nice-o
2. Traffic here sucks hairy monkey balls
3. My area is muy nice-o
4. Interviews are tiring
5. Traffic here sucks hairy monkey balls

There should be a rule...

If you're going to ask me for my opinion/advice:

And I put some thought, time and effort in answering you, you should HAVE to follow it.

If you just want to hear me talk (because I have funny insights) tell me before hand and I'll come up with something and won't be mad at you for 10 seconds while you NOT listen to me.

Geezus!

The Ultimate Statement

I had a nice fun-filled very private conversation with a super good friend of mine. About. My. Cycle. He's a pharmacists. Knowing him personally, I don't know if I would ever trust him to be MY pharmacists, but I do know that he knows his stuff. Most of the time. Anyway I talked to him about me switching my birth control method and how my doctor confused the shit out of me. He recommended to me what birth control pill I should probably be on. The effects of any birth control and for some reason he was really worried about breast tenderness. Trust me Mr. Doctor, that's the least of my worries. I was getting constant headaches, extreme mood swings, exhausted all the time, very irritable, very emotional... seriously, I just thought I was becoming a total bitch. So, I tried to switch some things around to see if it will change things.

First I'd like to say, if this makes me gain weight, I will immediately go off of it.
Secondly, Mr. Doctor, I didn't get the names of what you recommended, can you email me that again? (Just in case these Apris suck.)
Thirdly... is it me or do Target have really heart-felt-feel-good commercials?
(Just started the Apris today.)

Someone let me know if they think I'm changing.

Thanks!

Milestone #? - 8 years in the making (yes a repeat post)

I'd like to first start off by saying, Blogger Beta, you disappointed me yesterday. I needed you yesterday, and you just weren't there for me. You were down! You kept telling me to refresh after 30 seconds! I did, again and again. But you didn't care and I thought about my Xanga days and almost went back to it like a bad ex. I didn't. I was good and held strong and now you're here again.

Anyway, a whirlwind of things have been happening lately. Yesterday was unexpectedly my last day of classes. My last day as an undergraduate. Yes, I AM F I N A L L Y DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!
Unexpectedly because I was suppose to have another paper due next Tuesday. However, my professor is a little nutso with assignments and just said to me (after I was done with my final presentation) that I was finito! Complete, no more see you later, just goodbye and good luck.
And just like that my 8 years of on and off dating with classes/courses/school was done. And just like that I'm considered one of the other many Americans who have their Bachelor's degree and am suppose to be making 37% more than my high school graduates without a degree.
But it wasn't just like that. I do remember the half-ass studying, the half-ass paper writing, the staying at work to finish a paper, the presentations, the hating some professors, late night or all nighters, procastinating, the dollars and dollars and dollars spent on courses.

Boy, am I ever glad that it is over.

Now for a MBA? Maybe... If it took me 8 years to finish a 4 year college degree, maybe it'll only take me 4 to finish a 2 year masters program.

WoOT!

Speaking of fabulous places, created an oasis-

Sorry for the lack of update. Lots have been happening as well as nothing at all. I've lost my ability to update at work again but not because of access. I'm training and only have three weeks left at my place so I want to tie up loose ends before I'm done and say farewell.

I took the boxes out of my car today and started to pack away my books. Then I start thinking if I should really take them with me or not. Is it pretentious of me to want to start my own collection of books? (Includes one kid book and mangas). Heh. Who knows. All I know is that, my favorite book, "The Little Prince" is missing still.

As I rummaged through my books and wiped cobwebs off of them I found random things I used as bookmarks. Christmas cards, a birthday card from my Mom- what year I don't even remember, pictures, receipts, engagement invitations. Everything brought good memories. Everything brought bad.

My how a year goes by so fast, so slow, so sad, so mad
and everything was swallowed with smiles, with tears, with menace, with desire
and out came life.

"Thank you for calling _______, how may I piss you off today?"

I've done my share of customer service in a call center. I failed at it, not at the actual servicing the customer part, but for the building the rapport version of it. It was a rule, 3-5 minutes per call. Be nice, polite, build rapport, service the customer and leave an everlasting image of my company that we are the best! This of course, knocked heads with my own belief that people are calling in to get shit done and not to make a 3 minute friend/counselor (though some really want to). All my call times? Below 3 minutes. Shit, I was like 2 customer service representatives built in 1. You'd think they'd be happy. I remember when I was just a temp. and I did a withdrawal for this dude within 2 minutes. He was super happy with me. I wish there were more people out there to service ME better... all within less than 3 minutes. Now to think of it, the next time I have to call an 800 number and they ask, "how may I help you today?" I should say, you can start by timing yourself, and if you can't assist me within 3 minutes to pass me along to someone who can.

Better yet, if you cannot verify me within 3 minutes, pass me along to someone who can.

I called Verizon Wireless today.
He asked what he could do to help.
I said I need to talk about my bill.
Then, the guy asked me for my name, address, last 4 digits of ssn, secret password, work number.
After all this crap, he must have forgotten what the call was about because he then continued to ask if I had an email on the account, if I knew I could access my account online and if to dial * something something to update my phone every two months, and if I wanted to put my work number on file.
I said, "listen" (I get this tone of voice from Mr. Man T.) "I already know allllllll this stuff... I just need to talk about my bill alright??"
"oh okay okay okay"
me: ::fuming::

So I said, Look under my 8550 bill, page 20, I'm being charged, for an "in-Verizon" call. Why?
"oh okay let me see, what page?"
"page 20....."
"oh our pages are different, what date?"
"11/7, that's NOVEMBER 7th"
"Okay... where are you getting charged at?"


I had to be silent for awhile count to 3 and backwards and forwards again and threw a piece of paper at my cube mate. Hi Verizon Wireless, I'm a loyal customer, please train your associates to read your OWN bill. Thank you.

"The call from 8165, that's a Verizon number, why am I being charged?"
"Ohh noo the dashes mean you're not being charged, we're just keeping track of the minutes you used."
"What? No, you're not looking at the right bill. Look at 8550 not 8165"
"oh, okay okay okay"

Repeat x3.

Ultimately Daniel said, yeah, I shouldn't have been charged, he has to add up all those minutes (it will take him to 2pm) and call me back.

Of course I'm adding them up myself to make sure.
Of course I don't expect a phone call back and will be calling them at 3.

At least he didn't talk to me about the weather... that's the worse.

I'm like the cheerleader... but without the whole cheer thing.


Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to watch an all girls football scrimmage. Sweaty girls running around half tackling each other and falling all over the place?! Awesome!! I love them girls that are athletic. It's something I envy since I was always the bookish/cheerleader type. You know, the cheerleader without the cheer, because being peppy and enthusiastic took way too much damn energy and I was just to cool to be jumping up and down for retarded boys. But I look good in a damn short skirt. Not that I ever wore a cheerleader outfit... but I was some sort of cheerleader in elementary school and middle school and now that's too far for me to remember and talk about how that happened.

I blame it on my mom that I'm not as outdoorsy or athletic as I should be. She was nervous that I'd hurt myself. So all I did during elementary school that was sportsy was Chinese jump rope. Are you done laughing yet? During middle school I was too awkward to join any clubs. I got rejected from chorus.... let me know when you finish laughing again... and I was too utterly busy being amused by Mikki beating up girls that were bigger than her. Now I know most mothers are freakishly over protective of their daughters sometimes but you do know that my mom started a cult right? That's how influential she is. Also, me being hit by a football right smack on the nose in elementary school made me realize that holy crap my mom is right and I will never get near something so hard and stupidly fun in my life. In any case, every time someone tries to throw a football (or any type of ball), plush or not at me I just move out of the way and let it bounce right by me. So when I got asked to play as well, I had to stop myself from saying HELLLLLLLLLLL NO to the girls' faces. I just smiled and shook my head.

My view from the sideline was better anyway.
By the way, the sight of a bunch of 5 foot 100lb something Asian girls taking down a team bigger than them? Priceless.

Happy World Vegan Day!! ...Now join my parents' cult!

My parents in the wake of having more time to do things on their own and less time taking care and cooking for their kids have formed a cult. They've reached out to the city's community of friendless? people and meet with them every Thursday night. In the mean time, they've also reached out to the old and gullible Buddhist community at not one but two Buddhist pagodas (every Sunday and Tuesday). What is the purpose of their cult? Tai Chi. That's right. Tai Chi. Oh but no it's not just an exercise for your body and mind... no no not to my parents. Tai Chi apparently is the cure to EVERYTHING.

Of course being the child of cult leaders, I'd be one of the first people they would try to get to join. I think they are trying to get me to join their Tai Chi work outs so that younger people will see me and want to join too. I would be the hip icon that young ones would look up to and peers would want to be. Little did my parents know I am definitely not that icon. I'm the icon the young ones want to pick on (and hit for some apparent reason) and that my peers definitely do not want to be. So I politely declined.

Of course being cult leaders, they can't just ask. They have to give the reason on why I SHOULD join.

Eternal peace with my mind body and soul? Something like that... my mom always shares stories on how my dad had really really really bad allergies during the fall. Since he's done Tai Chi... no more! (Wow) My dad has always had a bigger belly (who doesn't at his age?), ever since he's done Tai Chi... no more! (Wow) (Okay, I really have to wow! at this one, because he really did lose his belly. That man is FIT... but how else would he be able to influence people to follow his cult??) This old lady "that they know" had arthritis problems, but ever since she's done Tai Chi... no more! (Wow) Wait, one more. This fat man that my mom knows told her that he use to be miserable when he went into work and when people tried to talk to him he was mean and sucked... well ever since he started doing Tai Chi... no more! (double wow)

Happiness for fat people?

Health for old people?

No allergies?!

No thanks. Tai Chi doesn't cure my laziness.

However, I am thinking of making a t-shirt for my parent's cult. Anyone have cool cult names that won't get my old Asian parents arrested??

Milestone #? - 8 Years in the Making

Yesterday marked one of the major milestones in my life. Yesterday, I left work at 4:00PM. Got to my college at 4:30PM, handed over my Visa card and paid $50.00 for my Diploma that will be mailed to me by the end of January 2007. Yes, it has taken me 8 years for me to finally finish my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. A few thoughts ran through my head as I was doing this (as I was sorta pissy for them not accepting an AMEX gift cheque... helloooooo who doesn't accept AMEX gift cheques? They're like, actual cash, they can't bounce, I don't have a bill to pay, wtf school? wtf!) I always thought that the $10,000 in school loans and $5,000+ in credit card bills was paying for my college diploma. Obviously, I was totally wrong, it will be the $50.00 dent in my checking account that pays for the diploma! I had the option of writing how my name was to appear on the diploma. I contemplated a few names.

Dr. Hanh

Super Hanh! (exclamation point needed)

Hanh (Vietnamese accent marks included)

Oh my God I can't believe you are mine. Love, Hanh

I paid $50.o0 and all I got was this lousy piece of sh!t.

Hanh says bow to me.

(I know I'm so full of myself, but you knew that because I have a blog.) Anyway, I was thinking if I wrote down any of the above and they didn't write that as is could I ask for my $50.00 back? If I didn't want to dish out the money and didn't get a diploma, does that mean I actually didn't graduate? Will I ever display my diploma in my office? Should I wrap it up and give it to my parents as a gift because that's one out of the three things they really want out of me? (1. College degree, 2. For me to have a Family (proof that I'm not a loser), 3. For me to give them money). I think once I get my diploma, I will throw down a couple of drinks, yell and cry at it, tell it some secrets, put it in a box and seal that shit shut.

What did or would you do with your college diploma?

Holloween Misc.

What is it about the Halloween holiday that it brings out the skimpiness in females? Why is it all of a suddenly okay to wear the outfit that shows the most arms/legs/cleavage on the coldest day where most kids will see you?

Why? Why? Why?

I do have to admit though... it is scary. So without further ado, what should I be for Halloween?

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If I have a daughter in the future, she will not be able to dress up as a princess/maid/school girl... what does that leave her for a costume? I'll put a brown paper bag over her head and let her go as a loser. Now that's scary!

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I saw a Care Bear costume at Target the other day and I wanted my niece to be a Care Bear. I said, "please please please it would be so cool!!!!!" She said, "umm..." ::diverts eyes:: "wow look at Dora!!" Sigh... 6 years old and already too cool for her aunt.

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For some reason, for Halloween, I want to dress in a Care Bear outfit and DDR or Karaoke. That would definitely make my holiday.

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I would also like to do that for Christmas and New Years as well.

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I suppose the first step would to be invited to a Halloween party...

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Feel sorry for me yet? Chocolate makes me happy.

I Fear. - Part 1. The Dark/Night


I fear the dark. No, let me take that back. I fear the night. I sleep fine in the dark. I sleep fine alone in the dark. I sleep fine at night. I sleep fine alone at night. (Most of the time.) Let me explain...

The first time I realized I was scared of the night was back when I was about 7 years old. We lived in this old house in Wisconsin. I was in bed (bottom of a bunk bed). For some reason the lamp was on. I had my eyes wide open and I imagined... I repeat, I IMAGINED a dark shadow figure floating towards me. Slowly it crept... quietly, darkly, intentionally. I got scared. I started to cry. Cry quietly. Why quietly you may ask? Why wasn't I like a normal kid and screamed for my life? Well, because I knew I was imagining it. I knew, it was all in my head. As soon as I looked away the scary shadow would be gone... would no longer be creeping towards me. But I always looked back. I don't know why... I had to question myself if it was still there. Every time I looked it would still be looming towards me... but it never got to me. Coincidently what seemed to be 10 minutes later my mom came into my room and checked on us. Maybe she heard me crying or maybe she noticed my light was still on I don't know. All I know is that she asked why I was crying. And I couldn't answer her. I couldn't say I'm imagining something scary and I KNOW it's all in my head but it's still scaring the shit out of me and that is why I am crying. So... I told her my stomach was hurting. She gave me medicine and I fell asleep. (Wow even when I was younger I knew how the drugs worked!)

During my teenage years, my brain must have been growing all out of wack because horror movies were my favorite. Every horror movie that came out I wanted to watch. I loved being scared. Now? Now not so much. I'm crazy shit paranoid. All those movies I watched, all those scary monsters, dolls, clowns, dead people, etc.? I can see them clearly in my head and that's the worse. Sometimes when I'm lying there at night time I could just see the girl from The Exorcist, out of no where, and I would be totally freaked out.

The last time I saw X-Files (this is to prove how really gay I am, because really, who the hell is afraid of X-Files?) there was this man who rolled himself on a flat board with wheels... he was small and he couldn't walk. That man would somehow crawl into people's bodies and take over their skin. Anyway, after I watched that show I kept imagining him. In the bathroom (at night, with the lights on), in my bedroom, in the kitchen. Anytime it was night out.. and I had the lights on, I would still see him or feel him behind me.

Of course I don't cry anymore... I mean that would just be wack... I have more self control over my over-active imagination... I just wonder why they still creep in my mind like that? Is it some sort of rush my body needs so my mind scares myself? Who knows... all I know is that, no more X-Files, no more scary movies even though its PG-13. I'm a wuss. At least I imagine that I am.

...I'm also not a morning person but that's a whole other post.

Depressed and Suicidal, Every Monday - Friday, 8:45A.M, 1:20PM, 5:30PM

Since I'm older and more "mature" now, I try to keep up with current events so that I don't look like I live in a box and have imaginary friends. My source of choice? http:://news.yahoo.com. (Sorry Google, your news page just doesn't do it for me). Well every time I'm done reading the articles I want to cry and cry and wonder why I do this to myself and how the world hasn't totally blown up yet or that there are dead bodies at my door.

People chopping each other up and sticking them in an oven? Check.

Natural disasters that happen to our own country that no one cares about? Check.

No fucking respect for the already dead? Check.

Still no peace in the middle east? Check.

People who give a shit about celebrities' lives? Check.

It's all super depressing to me... Every time I'm done with the world news, I'm heartbroken for the people who will never have a chance at living a life without fear of being raped, jailed or killed. Everybody still wants to rule the world. A world where one can lavish in alcohol and look like a superstar while another is drowning in alcohol and looks like death.

A world where children sew clothes for grains of rice where people spend hundreds of dollars on the same clothes.

A world where sex is sold for a profit.

And a profit is lied about to benefit the already wealthy.

Who wants to rule this world?

You can have it. Back to my box and talented cartoonist/blogger!

Hip-hip!

edit: I think if zombies really existed, people would really think about killing one another.