No one else I'd rather spend my birthdays with! Adjectives when I think of, when I think of you: hilarious, silly, crafty, tasty (your food, that is), surprising, thoughtful, loyal, patient, and so much fun!
October 5, 2006
September 27, 2006
Let's Go Oakland!!
The A's clinch! Swisher, Bradley, Harden all doing so well!! As much as Street is good looking, he should sit on the bench for a while, even when the A's are up 10 runs. And that's what happened! And guess what? We finally won. Woohoo!!
It's pretty amazing how much I've learned to love baseball. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy the A's, I enjoy the fans. I'm just starting to get strategy. But seriously..Friday's game against the Angels. Exciting game (the only game they one in the series), fireworks, Crazy George leading us in the wave at the 25th anniversary of the creation of the wave and time with friends who love the same.
Yay for the post-season and for more baseball.
Jason marvels sometimes at whether or not I'm the same girl he was dating a few years back when the Giants went to the world series, bemoaning the fact that baseball season is SOOOOOOO long. And now, baseball is part of the beautiful fabric of summer. What beats sitting outside on a beautiful California evening, with your best buddies and hours of entertainment for ten (or sixteen) dollars?! Oh, and not to mention brat and beer.
September 12, 2006
PDA
Public displays of affection. I’m ok with PDA to some extent. So here, have some PDA.
As I’ve been wedding planning, I’ve realized how wonderful my friends are. Being in our twenties is a strange time and often friends feel more like a cohesive family than family does. 2 years after my mom died, 5 years since 9/11, my life is like “an overflowing soupbowl,” filled with people who love, eat, laugh, and trespass. So, for those of you who don’t know, let me share a little bit about the team who will be standing there with me and others whom I love deeply.
The lineup
Jessica “Where’s the Sisterhood?” Tu: My sister and one of my best friends. There really is no other bond like sisterhood. She is hilarious, can eat like none other, tells me when my hair looks horrible and likes to take my stuff. We’ve freaked out on the phone together about things that no one else can fulling understand. She’s grown into a beautiful lady who inspires me all the time.
Alinna “Don’t mess with my friends” Satake: Alinna is a loyal friend to the end. A provider and a protector, you can count on Alinna to come home after a long day of teaching and bake cupcakes for her friends. She is secretly aspiring to single-handedly open a Cheese Board in her own house. She has protected me from (read: threatened) the string of wrong guys that has come through my life. She will be inaugurating me into the "WifeBuddy Club"
Mary “I ate too much” Chang: HotMary, great roommate. Who else is going to cook a feast with me at 11pm? Mary and I used to study for “sex class” together in college with hideyo (who now happens to be Alinna’s husband!). Through MCATs and public health school to being epidemiologists together, we have had lots of parallel adventures. Mary can eat. She likes salty food and sexy shoes. She’s leaving our house soon, breaking up with us and abandoning us. But, we’ll forgive her….someday.
Karen “Exact same taste” Chiu: Karen and I have the exact same taste. Give us a menu with 100+ choices, and we’ll pick the same one. Give us a wall with different papers, we’ll pick the same one. We have the same watch, the same earrings. It’s frightening. Beyond that, this girl loves sports like few girls do. She can talk football with the best of them. Karen has been a consistent play buddy and friend over the past fifteen years.
Beverly “What are you eating?” Freeman: Bev loves to share food with her friends. Food is love. Bev has taught me the art of asking questions. She also has managed to trick me into running a half marathon. Bev is a friend who laughs when you laugh and cries when you cry. She’ll take pictures of everything, but you may never see them. Bev greets me every morning on IM with a hug. What better way is there to start the day than a hug from a friend?
Janet “COFFEE!!!!” Wu: Nettie spaghetti. Roomie and life buddy. Janet and I used to have the same piano teacher when we were kids. Through college, weekly phone calls when we were in different states, and now sleeping 15 feet from one another, our friendship has grown and changed as we have. But, this girl can bring life to a party, entertain you with a long, drawn-out story, and can seriously climb anything.
Guys, guys
I realized that I only have two close guy friends who I see and hang out with consistently. It’s an honor for me to have them in my life!
Allen “It’s all love” Lo: This guy can dish it like no one else. And he can take it too. Reminding me to wrap myself in bubble wrap so I don’t hurt myself before the wedding, he’s always trying to take care of me. Always a gentleman (well, sometimes a dog), he’s crazy caring. Allen shares my love of The West Wing and witty banter. Allen’s always up for an adventure: climbing mountains, getting lost in the woods, and trespassing through construction sites.
Long “S-Scandal” Vo: Long is one of the most sincere and genuine people I know. Always up for going out, he keeps the drinks coming. But, get this guy talking, and he will listen patiently and share willingly. Long likes to laugh and likes making others laugh. Ask him to impersonate things that he sees, and you’ll be laughing about it for hours. Godzilla baby!
The one and only
Jason “I got you, babe” Ho: What can I say about the guy that won my heart and my hand! He complements me so well, giving me perspective and steadiness. Always up for hanging out, taking walks, wandering around the city, he’s a perfect playmate, companion and my best friend. Strong yet gentle, brave without bravado, he’s such a good man!!! I can’t wait to be married to him!
Everyone else, showing you some love
There are so many other friends, but I need to get to work! Thank you all for being family to me.
Public displays of affection. I’m ok with PDA to some extent. So here, have some PDA.
As I’ve been wedding planning, I’ve realized how wonderful my friends are. Being in our twenties is a strange time and often friends feel more like a cohesive family than family does. 2 years after my mom died, 5 years since 9/11, my life is like “an overflowing soupbowl,” filled with people who love, eat, laugh, and trespass. So, for those of you who don’t know, let me share a little bit about the team who will be standing there with me and others whom I love deeply.
The lineup
Jessica “Where’s the Sisterhood?” Tu: My sister and one of my best friends. There really is no other bond like sisterhood. She is hilarious, can eat like none other, tells me when my hair looks horrible and likes to take my stuff. We’ve freaked out on the phone together about things that no one else can fulling understand. She’s grown into a beautiful lady who inspires me all the time.
Alinna “Don’t mess with my friends” Satake: Alinna is a loyal friend to the end. A provider and a protector, you can count on Alinna to come home after a long day of teaching and bake cupcakes for her friends. She is secretly aspiring to single-handedly open a Cheese Board in her own house. She has protected me from (read: threatened) the string of wrong guys that has come through my life. She will be inaugurating me into the "WifeBuddy Club"
Mary “I ate too much” Chang: HotMary, great roommate. Who else is going to cook a feast with me at 11pm? Mary and I used to study for “sex class” together in college with hideyo (who now happens to be Alinna’s husband!). Through MCATs and public health school to being epidemiologists together, we have had lots of parallel adventures. Mary can eat. She likes salty food and sexy shoes. She’s leaving our house soon, breaking up with us and abandoning us. But, we’ll forgive her….someday.
Karen “Exact same taste” Chiu: Karen and I have the exact same taste. Give us a menu with 100+ choices, and we’ll pick the same one. Give us a wall with different papers, we’ll pick the same one. We have the same watch, the same earrings. It’s frightening. Beyond that, this girl loves sports like few girls do. She can talk football with the best of them. Karen has been a consistent play buddy and friend over the past fifteen years.
Beverly “What are you eating?” Freeman: Bev loves to share food with her friends. Food is love. Bev has taught me the art of asking questions. She also has managed to trick me into running a half marathon. Bev is a friend who laughs when you laugh and cries when you cry. She’ll take pictures of everything, but you may never see them. Bev greets me every morning on IM with a hug. What better way is there to start the day than a hug from a friend?
Janet “COFFEE!!!!” Wu: Nettie spaghetti. Roomie and life buddy. Janet and I used to have the same piano teacher when we were kids. Through college, weekly phone calls when we were in different states, and now sleeping 15 feet from one another, our friendship has grown and changed as we have. But, this girl can bring life to a party, entertain you with a long, drawn-out story, and can seriously climb anything.
Guys, guys
I realized that I only have two close guy friends who I see and hang out with consistently. It’s an honor for me to have them in my life!
Allen “It’s all love” Lo: This guy can dish it like no one else. And he can take it too. Reminding me to wrap myself in bubble wrap so I don’t hurt myself before the wedding, he’s always trying to take care of me. Always a gentleman (well, sometimes a dog), he’s crazy caring. Allen shares my love of The West Wing and witty banter. Allen’s always up for an adventure: climbing mountains, getting lost in the woods, and trespassing through construction sites.
Long “S-Scandal” Vo: Long is one of the most sincere and genuine people I know. Always up for going out, he keeps the drinks coming. But, get this guy talking, and he will listen patiently and share willingly. Long likes to laugh and likes making others laugh. Ask him to impersonate things that he sees, and you’ll be laughing about it for hours. Godzilla baby!
The one and only
Jason “I got you, babe” Ho: What can I say about the guy that won my heart and my hand! He complements me so well, giving me perspective and steadiness. Always up for hanging out, taking walks, wandering around the city, he’s a perfect playmate, companion and my best friend. Strong yet gentle, brave without bravado, he’s such a good man!!! I can’t wait to be married to him!
Everyone else, showing you some love
There are so many other friends, but I need to get to work! Thank you all for being family to me.
August 24, 2006
Education put to use
I got a call today from a woman who thought that I was my boss' secretary. She was an older lady who is a doctor's secretary. Here's the conversation:
Dr.'s Secretary (DS): Hi, I'm calling from blah blah blah's office, and she asked me to set up a meeting for her and [my boss]
Me: Um, well, [my boss] manages her own calendar, so you should contact her directly. [gives phone number].
DS: Oh, you don't do that for her?
Me: No, I'm the manager here.
DS: Oh, how come she doesn't have someone do that for her?
Me: I don't know, ma'am. The best way to schedule an appointment with her is to contact her directly.
DS: Some people are really quite capable! I could retire then!
That's a first. Even when I was a peon at my first job, I've never scheduled meetings for my boss. Somewhere in San Franciso, there is a doctor whose assistant just discovered a newfound liberation and is retiring!
I got a call today from a woman who thought that I was my boss' secretary. She was an older lady who is a doctor's secretary. Here's the conversation:
Dr.'s Secretary (DS): Hi, I'm calling from blah blah blah's office, and she asked me to set up a meeting for her and [my boss]
Me: Um, well, [my boss] manages her own calendar, so you should contact her directly. [gives phone number].
DS: Oh, you don't do that for her?
Me: No, I'm the manager here.
DS: Oh, how come she doesn't have someone do that for her?
Me: I don't know, ma'am. The best way to schedule an appointment with her is to contact her directly.
DS: Some people are really quite capable! I could retire then!
That's a first. Even when I was a peon at my first job, I've never scheduled meetings for my boss. Somewhere in San Franciso, there is a doctor whose assistant just discovered a newfound liberation and is retiring!
August 18, 2006
I've fallen in love..again...
Don't worry, this post is not about Jason. I think that may make most of you vomit. So, I will spare you and those around you.
But, I've rediscovered an old love. Running.
Somehow, Bev managed to get Janet and I training for a half marathon. For those of you who have done marathons, the half sounds easy peasy. But, for me, it's been years since I really ran. But, a 1/2 marathon it is! So, off we've been training.
As I've been running, I've realized several things that I 've come to appreciate:
1) Endorphins aka runner's high. I could bask in this glow forever. Or at least until I get hungry again.
2) California and the Bay Area are truly beautiful. Last night, Janet and I ran down at Shoreline. Running along the water as the sun was setting, a light (and sometimes stinky) breeze, beautiful trails and marshes, the cutest flock of birds. Oh, and the huge power lines buzzing with the million watts/volts/whatever of electricity flowing through them.
3) The discipline of running. It is nice to feel a sense of discipline in my life. Routine and consistency, both hugely lacking as I've been transitioning into a new job, engaged life, and a schedule that has had something planned daily for the past 3 weeks and for the next 2.
4) The mental health benefits. Running clears my mind, gives me a chance to catch up with friends, gives me time to reflect.
I've totally been marvelling at how my body and mind respond to running. It's pretty amazing what our bodies can do! And, I've realized over the past few years how much I love being outside! Hiking, running, walking, swimming, wandering. Moutains, ocean, lakes, city streets. Just give me sun!
If anyone's ever interested in a jogging buddy, let me know! I love the company.
Don't worry, this post is not about Jason. I think that may make most of you vomit. So, I will spare you and those around you.
But, I've rediscovered an old love. Running.
Somehow, Bev managed to get Janet and I training for a half marathon. For those of you who have done marathons, the half sounds easy peasy. But, for me, it's been years since I really ran. But, a 1/2 marathon it is! So, off we've been training.
As I've been running, I've realized several things that I 've come to appreciate:
1) Endorphins aka runner's high. I could bask in this glow forever. Or at least until I get hungry again.
2) California and the Bay Area are truly beautiful. Last night, Janet and I ran down at Shoreline. Running along the water as the sun was setting, a light (and sometimes stinky) breeze, beautiful trails and marshes, the cutest flock of birds. Oh, and the huge power lines buzzing with the million watts/volts/whatever of electricity flowing through them.
3) The discipline of running. It is nice to feel a sense of discipline in my life. Routine and consistency, both hugely lacking as I've been transitioning into a new job, engaged life, and a schedule that has had something planned daily for the past 3 weeks and for the next 2.
4) The mental health benefits. Running clears my mind, gives me a chance to catch up with friends, gives me time to reflect.
I've totally been marvelling at how my body and mind respond to running. It's pretty amazing what our bodies can do! And, I've realized over the past few years how much I love being outside! Hiking, running, walking, swimming, wandering. Moutains, ocean, lakes, city streets. Just give me sun!
If anyone's ever interested in a jogging buddy, let me know! I love the company.