archive

what i'm saving money to buy (incomplete, rough list):
1. a skateboard, guestimated price: ~$100
2. an rca audio/video switchbox, guestimated price: ~$20
3. bluetooth headphones, guestimated price: ~$80
4. digital video recorder, guestimated price: ~$300
5. dvd recorder, guestimated price: ~$300
6. lift tickets for kaela and me for this season, guestimated price: ~$1000
7. 3-year membership at 24-hour fitness, guestimated price: ~$650

now, why do i detest shows like e.r.?   you would think that e.r. appeals to men as well as women, whereas the other three shows i named obviously target a female audience.   i'm very sure e.r. does appeal to many men, just not me.   sure, sometimes the plots are mildy interesting.   however, one thing i hate about hospital shows is that they perpetuate the attitude amongst young people that they should aim to be healthcare providers solely to earn the right to have an attitude of "[singingly] i am so smart, much smarter than you" as their main goal as opposed to actually helping and caring for people.   i've seen many college students puruse medical professions for the wrong reasons.   too often, it's just for status.   t.v. shows like e.r. encourage society to worship doctors like gods>   i think some of these misguided kids that end up becoming doctors believe that they are gods, thinking, "i have the power to give and take away life.... furthermore, i get to see boobies all day.   boobies, boobies, boobies."   okay, you say that's ridiculous.   sure, it's an exaggeration; but can we have shows about professions other than doctor, lawyer, cop, firefighter, soldier, businessman, politician, and actor?   "beno, i know you want a show about engineers.   dream on, you geek!"   the closest thing we engineers get to a t.v. series about our profession is probably the various star trek series.

i know i've. . . [later] i forgot what i was going to say.

so often, i borrow or steal or whatever from superdave kim of starkdavingmad.com.   here's a link to a cool usa today article that he put in his "vault": "New digital camera? Know how, where you can use it" by andrew kantor.   while i'm stealing from other guys' blogs, let me point you towards another cool article that i got to from tim fong's unleashing fong: "let the good times roll: the top ten lies of entrepreneurs" by guy kawasaki.   actually, this one's a blog entry.

[later] 저녁: last night, kaela also said she wants us to go on her school's snowtrip to heavenly, in south lake tahoe.   in case you don't know, heavenly's one of my least favorite resorts because it is too tailored to skiers instead of snowboaders and is very expensive unless you can get ahold of those elusive albertsons discount tickets.   as i have said in previous entris, kaela's school friends are good people, but i obviously lack and common bond with them, which leads to a bit of awkwardness.   however, i then realized that, if i were to be arrogant, i could say to myself that i can pretty much kick anybody's butt in snowboarding, so i shouldn't care whether i fit in or not.   of course, not being an arrogant guy, i wouldn't so much put it like that than like "since i'm decent at snowboarding, i at least can talk about snowboarding with these people that i otherwise don't have anything to talk about with" or something like that.   if you read that guy kawasaki article i linked to above, then you might have seen some line like "wayne gretzky doesn't need to say, 'i'm a good hockey player.'"   beno hwang doesn't need to say, "i'm a good snowboarder."   nah, to put it into perspective though, honestly, when i compare myself to the young snowboard bums that actually live in tahoe and snowboard every single day, i'm not that great.   although there have been times that i earned respect of people who otherwise weren't necessarily nice to me via my snowboarding skills, isn't that all kind of childish in a school playground way?   anyway, more than because i think i put people in their places with my snowboarding skills, i guess i should go on this trip just because, as the "hardcore snowboarder" i am, i should board every chance i can get.   let me tell you, i think some people have stopped asking to go snowboarding with me because i'm so arrogant about my snowboarding.   yes, i realize well that i really need to shut up.   didn't i read some quote on starkdavingmad like keep your words sweet in case you need to eat them?

*sigh* i need to reiterate my disdain over how i accidentally deleted my 2005 journal archive.   wow, reconstruction will be a very unpleasant and unsatisfying experience!

수요일 아침: i guess i've started the reconstruction process for my 2005 beno journal archive.   *sigh* i'm afraid i've lost some entries.   it's a good thing that i usually write my entries in windows notepad and then cut and paste that text into .html file in unix.   if i didn't do that, i might have lost everything.   it's quite devastating already.   what's just a little bit funny is that a little bit before i discovered that i had deleted my 2005 beno journal archive, i had thought, "since some people might think writing in my journal is a waste of time, i wonder if it would be good for me if something happened and i lost my entire journal.   that would actually discourage me from writing in it."   why is the rapper pharrell known as "skateboard p"? [later] i tried to look that up on wikipedia, but the page that popped up depicted the rapper along with a topless female friend, so i had to close the page since i was at work.

i get vistors from my page from all over the world.   i obviously get visitors from the bay area and the rest of california especially socal.   i also get visitors from all over the rest of the united states of america like my most recent vistor at this time from oklahoma city or visitors from houston, texas; kansas city, missouri; minneapolis, missouri; columbus, georgia; roselle, new jersey; cleveland, ohio; lynn, massachusetts; alexandria, virginia; shaw air force base, south carolina; miami, florida; milwaukee, wisconsin, etc.   i get vistors from the rest of north america like from canada and mexico; from south america like from buenos aires, argentina; from africa like from nigeria; from new south wales, mullengandra, australia...   as you might expect, i get visitors from asia.   within the last 100 clicks, i have visitors from korea and the philippines.   now what you may or may not have expected is that i get many, many, many visitors from europe.   did you know that? the united kingdom, france, netherlands, denmark, germany, romania...   i'm a little bit surprised.   well, most people still come to benomix.com for beno's pager code site.   wow, i hate to talk about business (in a way), but i should revamp the advertising on that page; not that i want to flood the page with ads but that i should pick better ads.

[later] mail order beno: my repaired or refurbished pa1mone tungsten t5 is supposed to be delivered to me tomorrow.   i wonder which they are sending me: repaired or refurbished.   in a way, i'd prefer to have my old unit back, repaired.   however, i fear they'll more likely send me a refurbished one, which belonged to someone else before.   it doesn't feel as good to get something like that, but oh well.   on a separate note, as you may have read, i have been slightly considering joining bmg music club again.   however, i'm not considering it that much because i know they're sleazy.   there's another company called yourmusic.com that sends you a cd each month for $5.99 (including shipping).   maybe i should do that instead.   i can get 500 mypoints for joining.   otherwise, if i can get an affiliate link going with them, then i can get $18 if anyone clicks my link and joins.   that would be cool.

어제 밤 태권도 연슴후에 태권도장 옆에 있는 되지 나라 호프에 갔어요, 우리들.   응 저기의 음식이 맛있지만 북잡하고 서비스가 좀 천천히 했어요.   삼겹살은요?   응 맛있죠.   손님이 삼겹살을 좋아하세요?   저는 삼겹살을 벼로 좋아하지 않지만 그걸 먹어요.   삼겹살과 김치와 반찬과 상추와 마늘과 고추와 맥주를 먹었어요.   잼이있어요.   밤 9:00 부터 11:00 까지 머고 있었어요.   태권도 연습은요?   괜찮았어요.

[later] 오후: yesterday and today, i worked out in the company gym during lunch and ate lunch in my cubicle.   yesterday's lunch was a veggie wrap with a diet pepsi.   today's lunch was a chicken burrito.

list of federal holidays for 2006 (my list of holidays from work is much shorter) (from http://www.opm.gov/fedhol/2006.asp):
• new year's day: monday, january 2
• birthday of martin luther king, jr.: monday, january 16
• washngton's birthday: monday, february 20
• memorial day: monday, may 29
• independence day: tuesday, july 4
• labor day: monday, september 4
• columbus day: monday, october 9
• veterans day: friday, november 10
• thanksgiving day: thursday, november 23
• christmas day: monday, december 25

in previous academic quarters, the beautiful kaela hwang attended her "gonstead" club every wednesday evening.   this quarter, the weekly club meeting has been moved from wednesday night to thursday night.   in a way, i don't like that because then kaela can't go to taekwondo practice on thursday nights.   at the same time, that doesn't make too much of a difference because she has been skipping thursday night sparring practice very consistently anyway.   i'd like for her to go, but she doesn't want to spar other people.   even when we just spar each other, though, it's a good workout.   [later] i was thinking yesterday about how i should try to leave work earlier on tuesday and thursday evenings for taekwondo.   i can consider staying later on monday and wednesday nights if necessary.   finally, i should try to leave "on time" on fridays for our t3s couples bible study small group.   i read in an article, which was probably about reducing stress, that one should try to limit him/herself to either working late or going in early and not do both.   i can believe that.   that could mean that one should say, "i'll stay really late if i need to or come in really early if i need to.   however, i refuse to work a little late and come in a little early."

금요일 아침: i've been very busy at work this week.   it's been almost scary.

[later] one of the lamest rap rhymes i've heard lately: "i eat filet mignon, and i'm nice and young.   best believe i'm number one." - missy elliot in ciara's "1, 2 step."   it's not that missy elliot's a bad rapper, but that "filet mignon" line just sounds weird to me.

this morning, on my commute in to work, i saw a trite bumper sticker that read, "one nation under god."   i thought, "forget one nation!   how about one world under god?"

월요일 오후: hey there!   how's it going?   i'd like to say that it's been a long time since i wrote a journal entry, but i know that i wrote one on 2005년01월13일.   that was an unfinished entry though.   i haven't had a chance to give you a thorough update on my life and to document my life in a long time.   i hope i don't "lose" last week from my life.   perhaps knowing that i lost some of my 2005 beno journal has indeed discouraged me a bit from writing more journal entries right now.   well, hey; more than anything, i've just been so busy with work that i haven't had time to write journal entries.   i worked a rigorous 12-hour day on thursday, hoping that i wouldn't work too late on friday, so that the beautiful kaela hwang n' i could take off to tahoe.   as expected, i missed taekwondo sparring practice on thursday evening.   last week, i started the week out well, getting a decent amount of exercise.   as the week progressed, i ended up not getting as much exercise.   well, i don't think i got any exercise on thursday or friday.   work's been getting busier, and i'm committed to taking my career more seriously this year, right?   right.   i had some unpleasant evenings last week, like that one night that kaela kept watching t.v. programs that i hated.   i don't know what that was all about.   on thursday night, kaela and i watched king kong   it was a long movie.   it was a decent movie.   in a way, i think between the two big winter blockbusters, i preferred king kong over memoirs of a geisha.   kaela and i surprisingly still have not watched the chronicles of narnia: the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe.   the week before last, we kept saying we would go watch it but instead sat on the couch, watching random t.v. programs.   i don't like t.v. that much.   "kill your television."

kaela and i drove up to tahoe on friday night, south lake tahoe.   we fought rush hour traffic, leaving the bay area.   in a way, we might as well have just left later.   we at in-n-out in pleasanton on our way up.   the burger joint was full of loud teenagers from foothill high school.   i discussed with kaela how i could sense that these kids' worst fear was of "not fitting in."   it's so true, isn't it?   i could sense the awkwardness of late adolescence and teenagedom.   these kids looked rich though.   i don't know if that makes matters worse or better.   honestly, i grew up amongst relatively wealthy kids.   was it harder?   well, i have nothing to compare it to... except that when i went to berkeley for college, i think the average wealthiness of my social circle did honestly drop.   i make absolutely no judgement from that, i.e. i don't believe you can assign value to a person based upon his/her parents' wealth.   anyway, was it harder to grow up amongst wealthy kids (or at least kids of wealthy parents)?   well, yeah, you feel the pressure to wear nice clothes and maybe might wish that you had a nicer car or could go on nice vacations like your classmates.   for the most part, i had nice clothes.   i got to drive a decent, hand-me-down car.   yes, my parents provided well for me; but i hope i wasn't spoiled.

anyway, i digress!   the road was clear on the way to south lake tahoe.   at a roadside gas mart, kaela and i ran into michelle kim whom we know from the ucmap / berkeley taekwondo.   i run into her in random places.   it's interesting.   as i was browsing through an aisle of the store, i hear her asking, "beno?"   i was surprised.   kaela and i rolled into the embassy suites parking lot around midnight and checked in.   the national brotherhood of skiers (nbs) was there for a big event.   the nbs is a very interesting group.   you should check out their website: http://www.nbs.org/.   it is a group that encourages wintersports amongst minorities.   as they seem to have been founded by african-americans, they seem to be focused mostly on african-americans.   that's really cool.   i've always enjoyed seeing more racial diversity on the slopes.   i keep saying that skateboarding is one of the sports with the most asian-american professionals, yet snowboarding (as it is today) has so few.   most asian pro snowboarders are japanese people in japan.   i did see an ad in a snowboarding magazine once featuring a female pro snowboarder named yulin.   anyway, when kaela and i got to the embassy suites, music was booming from the nbs party.   kaela and i went up to our suite and got settled in for our short, short stay.   (we only rented the room for one night.)   i find it interesting that since we have a nice house with a nice shower, a nice tempurpedic bed, and dish network t.v.; i'm much less excited by hotel rooms.   usually, they only have cable with a few channels, a decent bed (hopefully even king size), and a decent, clean shower.   who would've thought my life would turned out this way? "can i have it like that?   you got it like that.   can i have it like that?   you got it like that."   well, a suite in the middle of the city of south lake tahoe on martin luther king jr. weekend is not cheap.   thus, i only wanted to stay one night.   it wasn't the best planned snowtrip.   it was for kaela's school, in case you didn't know.   [later] at the embassy suites, we ate a huge buffet breakfast with eggs, potatoes, fruit, and very fattening breakfast meats!   i believe the bacon might have been less fattening than the sausage.   i managed to squeeze quite a bit of fat out of the sausage.   kaela and i ate breakfast relatively fast.   then we checked out of our suite, put some things in my subaru forester, and went in search of a shuttle bus to bring us from the heavenly gondola to the heavenly california base.   that was a litttle bit more confusing than anticipated.   you see, one can easily jump onto the gondola in the middle of the city and ride up to heavenly's mid-mountain.   however, we needed to meet up with kaela's classmates to buy our college group discount tickets.   eventually, we got on the right shuttle.

we got a slightly late start to the day on the slopes.   we rode a little with kaela's classmates.   one couple was a norwegian couple with decades of skiing experience.   they rode telemark skis and were two of the few people that i've eer witness ride them well.   in my opinion, telemark skiing is like backcountry snowboarding in that many people love the image of doing these things, while few are actually good at them.   thus, i often see backcountry snowboarders and telemarkers sitting frustrated, stuck in powder with their full backpacks.   when i see them, i wonder how they could possibly be having fun.   anyway, these two were good at it, so i looked forward to riding alongside them.   we also rode with these two other guys: one of kaela's classmates and his childhood friend who grew up with him in monterey.   i was surprised to find out that these two asian-american guys grew up in monterey.   well, after our first real run, we lost these two.   kaela and i ended up not riding too long before the snow got so heavy that kaela convinced me that we should head to the front side.   to do that, we rode down heavenly's famous "face" run.   i've done this supposedly "double black diamond" run several times before.   it's a good workout.   the face was crowded on saturday, full of people struggling to get down.   you might think i say that with resent, mocking them; but no... it is a tough run.   i got quite a workout weaving around those moguls.   honestly, i don't fall much but i did fall a couple of times on the face.   well, we got down to the bottom, and kaela wanted to break for lunch in the overpopulated cafeteria.   after waiting a while to find a table and even waiting to enter the cafeteria area (to buy food), i decided with kaela that i would go up and ride for the rest of the afternoon, while kaela would call it a day.   at that point, i headed straight for the baby terrain park (off of groove and patsy's, if you know heavenly geography).   i had a few good runs, riding plenty of rails and boxes.   i now feel decently comfortable riding all sorts of bent, crooked, sloped, and rainbow rails and boxes; but i gotta confess that i still only ride them 50/50 and don't yet do frontside or backside slides.   anyway,it was fun.   the snow came and went, came and went.   just before 3:30 pm i called it a day and headed back down the face to find kaela.   this time, it took me only about eight minutes to get down, but i ended up unknowingly veering off to the blue square (intermediate) world cup run at the bottom instead of completing the mogul run.   well, it's much more pleasant to ride world cup than the moguls; but the moguls are a good workout.   i have seen very few skiers ride moguls well and almost no snowboarders.   it was actually nice to see some skiers on saturday ride the moguls well. [unfinished entry]

well, after a decent day on the slopes (decent for me, so-so for the beautiful kaela hwang, i.e. she didn't appreciate the blizzard), we started to exit heavenly.   the line for the shuttle back to the gondola (near the hotels; we parked at the embassy suites) was very, very long; at least 0.25 mile long, i'd say.   we waited and waited.   luckily, yes, we made progress in the line.   [later] however, the line was still too slow.   eventually, we decided to hike back to the car.   we discovered that we could snowboard down the cabin-lined streets.   we hopped on our boards.   wow, it was quite the experience of a lifetime!   it was like skateboarding.   i was snowboarding past cars and houses!   this was very cool.   however, in the end, i looked at my base (of my snowboard).   ugh! i'll be doing some base repair.   i was so sad to see how much i had scratched up my board!

수요일 밤, still at work:
• "8 o'clock is the new 5 o'clock."
• "working 5 to 9, what a way to make a living!"

wow, where do i resume with updating you?   it's pretty much impossible to stay on track with updating.   marginal benefits... i don't think i'm getting a satisfactory return on investment with my journal entries!

[later] on monday night, the beautiful kaela hwang n' i went to grace and steve's house to give a belated first birthday present to nolan.   originally, i thought i'd bring kaela to dinner and a movie afterwards; but she got a call on her cell phone about some private chiropractic lessons.   instead; we drove home; picked up my laptop and sooni; drove through the jack in the box drive-thru to get some greasy, fattening dinner; and then drove to fremont for kaela's private class.   i worked on my company work as i waited, then was used as a prop for the lessons.   well, even though it hardly the night i planned, i guess i came out okay.

tuesday night, i went to taekwondo practice by myself.   originally, i was supposed to rush down to oakridge mall to meet up with some old high school friends for dinner at p.f. chang's there; but when i called after practice, they deemed that i was too late to join them in any effective manner.   instead, i dined with duk at 옛날 짜장 yeitnal jjajang, where i ate the 짜장면과 짬뽕 국물 jjajangmyuhngwa jjambbong googmool (jjajangmyuhn/jiajiangmine with jjambong/chamamien soup on the side).   it was quite a bit of food, so i took home leftover 짜장면.   duk suggested that i join him, yuna, sara, and other friends for snowboarding on saturday.   well, since kaela will be at yet another chiropractic seminar; maybe if i finish my housechores by saturday, then i'll join them.   i also need to do base repair to my snowboard.

목요일 점심: today is the beautiful kaela hwang's and my 30th wedding monthversary.   that's a good thing.   i'm very happy to be married to her.

this year is progressingly fast as expected.   as i typed today's date as 2006년01월19일, i imagined what it will be like to type 2006년12월19일 or something like that.   well, soon enough, that's what i'll be doing.

tahoe snow report
for 2006년01월19일
thanks to yahoo!

resort	new	base
alpine meadows	12	48~111
boreal	12	80~120
dodge ridge	7	31~95
heavenly	8	101~125
northstar	16	45~107
sierra	0	63~135
squaw valley	10	42~126
sugar bowl	12	66~100
kirkwood	6	106~200
homewood	16	60~136

last night, i was supposed to clean the bathrooms, and tonight i was supposed to do base repair on my snowboard and kaela's and give them hot waxes.   last night, kaela said she's free tonight, so i should take her out for our monthversary. thus, instead, last night, i did base repair on our snowboards and hot waxed them.   tonight, i'll take kaela out to dinner.   the housechores? they'll have to wait till sunday.   i guess i'll go snowboarding with duk's gang on saturday while kaelas off at yet another of her neverending chiropractic seminars.   last nite, after killing my back doing all that snowboard maintenance, i marinated some 매운 닭고기 maeoon dalkgogi (spicy chicken meat) for tomorrow's grx t3 south couples bible study small group potluck.

[later] 오후: don't forget to check out the santa clara farmers market sometime.   it's every saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. (http://www.ci.santa-clara.ca.us/events/farmers_market.html)

duk says that we're probably going to boreal on saturday.   i know he said that a little apologetically, but i actually don't mind boreal.   it's underrated and relatively cheap, as i told him.   also, it's relatively close and accessible.   as we're going to boreal, i hope to have more of a freestyle day.   kaela won't be as disappointed about missing a day on the slopes once she hears that we're going to boreal and not somewhere that she really likes, like alpine meadows.   let's see; this saturday will bring my total days on the slopes this year to... five?   the day at kirkwood by myself; the day at snow swummit with kaela; the day at kirkwood with kaela; duk, walter, and his friends; the day at heavenly with kaela and her classmates; and then now boreal with duk and his gang... yes, five.   well, although this season started late, perhaps it's not too unrealistic of me to hope to achieve a double digit number of days on the slopes.   the lowest number in recent years was eight.   it's strange that i don't snowboard with my coworkers anymore.   i wonder why i don't get to hang out with them anymore.   well, sometimes i wonder if i get ostracized because i act like such an old fart and also probably talk too big about myself and snowboarding.   yeah, i realize i should shut up about that.

the city of santa clara has a slogan or motto: "ht²: high tech, human touch."   i like that slogan.   uh, i'm confused by this page: http://www.ci.santa-clara.ca.us/city_gov/city_gov_aac_script.html.   what is meant by the line "4 people in costume behind the mayor - father serra, farmer, 50s housewife, high tech 'bunny'"???   is father serra a catholic priest?   who's the "high tech 'bunny'"???   okay, maybe i added that exponent format there; i.e, maybe the slogan is actually "ht2" not "ht²."   "santa clara is an all america city."   oh, i always that that the line was "santa clara is an all american city," but i was wrong.   actually, it's an "all-america city."   you can buy a tee shirt at the city store that says so.

while i was in the gym during my lunchbreak (i've gone every day this week during lunch), i received numerous text message alerts from yahoo! regarding new snowfall in tahoe.   i should update my table!

northern californian
snow report
for 2006년01월19일
thanks to yahoo!

resort	new	base
alpine meadows	22	74~160
boreal	0	74~160
dodge ridge	16	36~100
heavenly	12	107~137
northstar	21	50~113
sierra	16	63~143
squaw valley	24	54~142
sugar bowl	20	70~106
kirkwood	18	106~216
homewood	18	71~155

i changed "tahoe" to "northern californian" because dodge ridge is not in tahoe and kirkwood really isn't either.   i barely understand why i have homewood included in my yahoo! snow report since we're so unlikely to go to this so-called "hidden gem," since it's so inaccessible and dinky.   one of kaela's old high school friends said it's her favorite tahoe resort; but well... i don't think she's a tahoe area expert.

each day this week, i worked out in the company gym during lunch and then bought cafeteria food to eat for lunch, right?   i think so.   i'm getting very sick of the cafeteria's food.

[later] 저녁: did i mention that i'm thinking of buying the lg gsa 5163d external dvd writer?   check ou the cnet.com page for it: http://reviews.cnet.com/LG_GSA_5163D_Super_Multi_DVD_RW_R_double_layer_DVD_RAM_drive_Hi_Speed_USB_IEEE_1394_FireWire/4014-3212_7-31296883.html?tag=ob_210&orderby=210&sort=asc.   the best price cnet has for me is $94.11 (including tax and shipping) from pchardware4u.com.   yeah, the merchant worries me a little.   the name sure sounds cheesy.   anyway, this external dvd writer has usb 2.0 as well as ieee-1394 firewire.   that's cool.   what else?   it can uses a wide variety of formats/media.

[later] 밤: just an ad: valentines day 5% off coupon at buy.com for the music, music downloads, and dvds stores - valid feb 1 thru feb 14   actually, that's a very useful coupon.

금요일 오후: from ernest kuo's xanga: "A man left for work one Friday afternoon.   But it was payday, so instead of going home, he stayed out the entire weekend partying with the boys and spending his entire paycheck!   When he finally appeared at home on Sunday night, he was confronted by his angry wife and was barraged for nearly two hours with a tirade befitting his actions.   Finally his wife stopped the nagging and said to him, 'How would you like it if you didn't see me for two or three days?'   He replied, 'That would be fine with me.   Monday went by and he didn't see his wife.   Tuesday and Wednesday came and went with the same results.   But on Thursday, the swelling went down just enough where he could see her a little out of the corner of his left eye."

yesterday was kaela hwang's and my 2.5 wedding anniversary, as i mentioned yesterday.   earlier in the week, i had assumed she'd be studying or off at one of her numerous chiropractic club meetings as usual, but on wednesday night, as i mentioned, she said i could take her out to dinner.   thus, i modified my plans for the week.   on thursday, i made reservations at tarragon, a nice "mediterranian" restaurant on downtown sunnyvale's historic murphy ave.   i had heard my sister say something nice about this restaurant before.   i made the reservation for 8:00 pm because kaela said she would go to the gym in the early evening, and i had tons of work as usual anyway.   well, as 8:00 pm approached, kaela said she was going to go make photocopies for her school stuff.   *sigh* i quickly tried to push the reservation back to 9:00 pm.   why was it easier years ago to take kaela out for a dinner date on a weeknight?   back in berkeley, we did it all the time.   sure, in a way, i miss those days.   anyway, i was very glad that such a nice restaurant as tarragon is so close to our house.   when we arrived, there was a cool jazz band playing.   the hostess said something like "where have you been?   we've been waiting for you!"   both kaela and i apologized profusely.   then the woman handed us a microphone and asked, "you want to sing?"   ha ha ha! i had been a bit suspicious!   it turned out that that woman was not the real hostess but the singer for the jazz band.   she continued into singing "route 66," which i like because of the famous depeche mode cover.   the real hostess arrived and did gently tease us about being late and then seated us.

it was a bit stressful getting us to this dinner, especially with this one stoplight in sunnyvale that just refused to turn green for me; so i tried to escape reality and enjoy the dinner and music.   kaela asked me if she should order the fettucine with chicken or the prawns risotto.   from my knowing her so well, i recommended that she go with the prawns.   i just figured she might find the chicken too dry for her taste.   me, i chose the braised american kobe beef pot roast with soft polenta and winter vegetables.   what is "american kobe beef"???   well, i don't know, but i sure didn't mind not paying a fortune to have a slice of cow labeled "kobe beef." &bsp; honestly, the food was very reasonably priced for such a nice restaurant!   kaela said we should split a salad and chose the winter spinach salad which had a good vinaigrette, some kind of bleu cheese, some sliced almonds, and some dried cranberries.   sure, it wasn't the most original salad i've seen but still good.   then i tried to pick a wine.   wow, what a situation!   the tarragon wine list is very interesting, as i noticed some wines were quite expensive, while others were relatively cheap.   i concluded that the restaurant chooses split its wines into expensive ones and cheap ones and not leave much of a middle ground.   i saw a 1997 italian pinot grigio for $18!   wow, i had to jump on that, just to try a more vintage wine, as we usually get pretty young ones.   well, after we finished our salad without wine, the waiter came back to report that the restaurant had no more of that wine.   i could understand at that price.   thus, i picked this so-so sounding 1998 mirassou riesling for $26, not as good of a deal; but hey,w e like rieslings.   well, later, when our entrées arrived, the waiter said, "you're going to hate me, but we didn't have that wine, so i brought you another one.   it's a much better wine, and i'll give it to you for the same price."   it was a 1999 french white bordeaux.   wow, it was really sweet in the style of some of the gewurztraminers we often drink.   we didn't know that white bordeaux could be so gewurztraminerish.   *shrug* yeah, i totally accepted the wine.   later, i saw on the dessert wine menu that that wine sold for $49 at dessert time.   however, i also noticed that the mirrasou riesling price jumped to something like $36 on the dessert wine menu; so i don't know what to make of that.   anyway, we ate our delicious dinner with our delicious wine.   i drank too much.   i kept telling kaela that i must have drank 3/4 of the bottle.   we learned years ago that it's better to leave leftover wine that to force ourselves to drink all of it.   after all, somebody's got to drive home eventually, right?   that person would not be me that night.   sometime around dessert time, i placed the keys on the table by kaela.   anyway, for dessert we had this vanilla crême brulée.   i told kaela that before i got together with her, i hadn't ever eaten crême brulée.   this one was good but tasted so fattening, so we chose not to finish it.   we drank lots of decaf coffee though.   i think i looked drunk, so the waiters kept wanting to give me more coffee.   anyway, i wasn't driving.

well, this morning, duk text messaged me that yuna had hurt her back, so tomorrow's daytrip to tahoe is off.   *sigh* some of my coworkers invited me to a cabin trip to northstar this weekend, but they had asked me too late.   i received a voicemail last night.   i don't know.   i could try to join them for saturday at northstar; but, at this point, i'm leaning towards just staying at home tomorrow and doing housechores.   if you remember, kaela has "yet another of her many" chiropractic seminars tomorrow all day, "from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm," as she put it.   *sigh* well, hey! hearing that, it made perfect sense for me to head to the slopes tomorrow.   however... *shrug* i don't know if maybe by tomorrow's daytrip's being cancelled, god's telling me that "two wrongs don't make a right."   you know how it is with me: i realize that in today's "post sex & the city" america, women have been brainwashed to believe that career is the ultimate god and things like home and family are totally worthless.   it's true that women believe that, and supermike knows this as well.   anyway, i know that my attempt to escape the house and take off to tahoe, in a way, was revenge for kaela's committing to this 14-hour seminar; and i know revenge is just absolutely wrong.   i don't know.   was it really revenge or just love for snowboarding?   *shrug*

well, yesterday evening, sometime around when kaela told me she'd be late because of her photocopying session for school, she said she signed up to go to washington, d.c. for spring break for her school.   of course, she said i "could" go; but really!   first off, i, as a working guy, don't get spring break; and secondly, *sigh* i hate feeling like the only time i travel is to tag along to kaela's school events.   why don't i just take off to do something else during that time?!   my vacation days are precious and few.   however, she did point out that i could see fahad if i go to washington, d.c.; and yeah, he is a good friend and has been one for so many years; so i guess i'll think about going to d.c.   we have these southwest vouchers to use anyway.   actually, for years, i've been wanting to see new york city.   well, it's not that we'll get to do that, but well... i suppose i mention that only because that's finally an example of my wanting to travel.   as i've said many times before, compared to other people my age, i don't really have much desire to travel.

a few days ago, kaela and i watched trekkies on t.v., a documentary about those infamous star trek fanatics.   me, i like star trek plenty but am hardly a trekkie.   well, when i was in third grade, i was on a recreational youth soccer team called "the trekkies," but i had no clue what the name meant until my dad told me and then i later saw our banner which had a felt u.s.s. enterprise nc-1701 on it, the widely recognized profile view.   i suppose if i were a trekkie, i might travel around the country or world to attend star trek conventions; but no, i am not and do not.   yes, i would travel for snowboarding, taekwondo, or djing.

in my most recent yesasia order, i received a cool compilation album that has the awesome mc몽 (mc mong) and 옥주현 (ok juhyun) track "홈런" ("home run").   it's actually "mc몽 (mc mong) featuring 옥주현 (ok juhyun)."   this song, in its chorus, features 옥주현 ok juhyun's borrowing of the melody from the 1980s when in rome hit "the promise."   dude, i love it!   that is so cool, so relevant, so appropriate for today's scene!   you do know who 옥주현 ok juhyun is, right?   if not, you obviously need to hang out at bronx's junkyard more!   옥주현 ok juhyun was and is one of the four members of the famous, korean pop princess quatro 핑클 fin.k.l.   the name "fin.k.l." is an acronym for "fine killing liberty."   what that means, no one will ever know.   anyway, back when the group started in the late 1990s when the pop princesses were all in the late teens, 옥주현 ok juhyun was always known as "the chubby one."   by american standards she was very "normal"; but yes, by korean standards, she was a little "chubby."   later, she had her late blossoming and became a blue jeans model, like a new millennium, korean version of the 1980s brooke shields, right?   right.   (i suppose she was the only fin.k.l. "princess" tall enough to be a real "model," right?   aren't supermodles supposed to be really tall like tyra banks?)   then she more recently gained a reputation as a fit yoga afficianado.   anyway, "홈런" ("home run") is a super-awesome track.   you must check it out.   i like it in the same way that i like the 에픽하이 epik high featuring 박혜경 park hyeikyung track "함께 해요" ("hamkkei haeyo").   these are both awesome tracks that feature smooth rapping by guys and beautiful melodies by girls.   i've noticed, in both american and korean pop music, many more credits for so-and-so "featuring" so-and-so.   yes, the american hip-hop scene really drove this; but i believe this has become a more popular arrangement due to the death of the album, which arose from the popularity of online delivery of single digital tracks.

"home run" is also an important trail at northstar.   it helps you get to your car at the end of a full day of snowboarding.

[later] by the way, last night, as we approached the restaurant, which has a pretty nice exterior, kaela said, "oh, we have a coupon for this place."   oh, i hadn't realized that.   i guess i wish we had that coupon with us last night.   oh yeah, as i was signing my credit card receipt for the restaurant, i was too tipsy to add right and forgot to carry the one.   well, i saw my bill this morning, and the restaurant gladly made the correction.

[later] 밤 10:35 pm: well, we're home now from the potluck.   yeah, we ended the night early.   we could've gone to watch a movie tonight; but kaela says she has to wake up earlier for her seminar.   me? originally i would've wanted to wake up early for snowboarding, but now? now, i don't know what to do tomorrow.   housechores?   it's one of those days that i wish i had a skateboard to do something like snowboarding while not leaving the silicon valley.

툐오일 아침, 9:45 am: well, "frickin' a," as kids seem to still say these days unless i'm wrong; this morning, i went ahead and did what i've said for a long time now that i'd do: i went ahead and purchased a skateboard online.   i bought it from boardtactics.com.

here are the specs:
deck:	minilogo 146 ki11 7.75x31.475 navy blue
truck:	bullet silver 127
wheels:	bullet 54mm
risers:	independent 1/8"
grip:	jessup
hardware:	ironhorse wonder 1"

i'll look totally foolish as a 30 year-old on a skateboard, but whatever.   here's to being a "free spirit"!

it's awful, but i might be spending a bit of money today.   sometime today, i'll go to fry's to check out a sony external dvd writer.   if it's as good as the lg, i might have to buy it.   the price is just ok and requires a crappy rebate.   fry's is very dishonest with their rebates, so i'd basically be throwing money away on that, right?

[later] 오후 2:39 pm: this morning, i opened the front door and saw the drizzle and mist.   i was expecting a sunnier day.   in any case, i put sooni's raincoat on her and drove us out to the santa clara farmers market.   there, i bought $4 of grapes at $1.50 a pound.   however, first, i bought this gift checks coupon book from this woman selling them supposedly to benefit some missing children's fund.   the book cost $10.   oh yeah, before i walked to the farmers market from the car, i went to the post office to buy some 1¢ stamps.   the u.s. post office is one place where a penny can still buy you something.   well, i couldn't find any pennies in my coin wallet for once; so i inserted a nickel into the machine and purchased five 1¢ stamps, which makes no sense since the recent postage increase was 2cent;.  (i really needed to buy an even number of 1¢ stamps.)

after the farmers market, i took "the scenic route" through much of western central san josé to get sooni and me to my mom's house, where i picked up my old uc berkeley diploma, an extra pair of land's end slippers, the old wool overcoat that i "inherited" from my dad (whether he knows it or not), two or three bananas, and a bottle of water.   i then hurried back to our house to eat lunch with the beautiful kaela hwang during her break from that seminar.

since, then, i've been home, just ripping cds and stuff.   you see, i received quite a bit of new music lately from yesasia and buy.com.   (please use my links!)

recently purchased cd albums:
• from yesasia:
• no. 1 club 가요 리믹스
• no. 1 drama best - 韓流 history
• 메로 드라마 - 드라마 주제곡 모음집
• 에픽하이 - 3집 swan songs
• 채연 - 3집
• from buy.com:
• delirious? - the mission bell
• tobymac - renovating diverse city

on a side note, do you know who is the "in" thing right now?   without doubt it's daniel dae kim of abc's hit television series lost.   wow, this korean actor has made it quite far in the american scene (for what it's worth)!   i heard he made some lame magazine's list of most beautiful people or sexiest men or whatever and won a golden globe.   is that right?   if so; wow, that's cool.

of course, people have been saying for the past few years, in years since peter park's bronx's junkyard opened its online doors, that korean pop culture is the "in" thing.   thus, for years, i personally have been warning whowever would care to listen to me or read my words in the korean community not to let korean pop culture necessarily be the "in" thing.   you understand why, right?   just think how japanese culture pretty much became the "in" thing amongst the asian-american and asian-asian crowd for a decade or two.   do koreans really want their culture exploited and milked for a couple of decades at most and then tossed aside for the next "big thing"?   i would think not.   at the same time, fortunately, korea has always been "the hermit kingdom," unlike japan; so there is hope that koreans won't necessarily sell out their pop culture the way, i hate to say, the japanese did.   heh, yeah, those are some rather harsh but only brutally honest words.

being of taiwanese heritage, i can say that the taiwanese people have a special bond with japanese culture that goes beyond pop culture of the past two decades.   it goes beyond japanime, d.d.r., sushi bars, and import rally cars.   often, people have said the taiwanese culture shares more with japanese culture than chinese culture.   as mandarin's the official language of the country (i guess), that's a hard sell; but it shouldn't be.

now let's get back for a second to discussing korean pop culture.   for the next few minutes i want to discuss the phenomenon of 장윤정 jang yoonjung that has pervaded for the past year or so.   in case you don't know, 장윤정 jang yoonjung is a young singer who sings "트로즈 trot" music.   it's a bit comical to me.   basically, this is the korean pop music industry's biggest practical joke yet.   basically, a bunch of "record" company execs (executives) sat around a plush boardroom and said, "hey, let's find a girl, a girl to sing.   if she's cute enough, we can make boys listen to whatever kind of crappy music we want to sell!   this is great!"   in case you don't know, "트로트 trot" music is a type of outdated, outmoded korean pop music.   i wouldn't shy from calling it "korean mariachi."   it uses lots of accordian timbres and has lots of "cha cha cha."   if you ever want to hear someone go off on 트로트 trot music, just ask kaela what she thinks of it.   this is grandmother music!   oh, i'm sorry... 할머니 halmuhni music!   for once, korean grandparents and korean or korean-american grandkids are listening to the same music.   장윤정 jang yoonjung appears on oldies live music shows in a lineup of singers thrice her age as well as modern pop music shows mixed in with buffed out guys in ripped jeans and vixen gals in bikini tops.   it's quite a riot.   yeah, 장윤정 herself is in her early twenties.   i admit, she's a decent looking girl, and her music can be somewhat catchy, especially since it's played so much and promoted so much.   her first hit was "어머나 uhmuhna" translated as "oh my!" or "oh me, oh my!" or something to that effect.   her next hit was "짱자라 jjangjara," where the name is more of an onomatopoeia.   i said 트로트 trot music has lots of "cha cha cha," but it actually has more "짱짱짱 jjang jjang jjang."   now, she currently has a hit called "꽃 (ggot)" (the title means "flower").   this song is a ballad, a form that has always been more of a middle ground, i.e. a wider variety of people with dissimilar musical tastes can together tolerate ballads.   you can learn more about 장윤정 jang yoon at her official website: www.jangyoonjeong.com.   of course, you'll need to be able to read and understand korean.   whether you can do those things or not, a couple of good links to follow to learn about these kinds of things would be this yesasia link directly to 장윤정 jang yoonjung's works as well as the perennial www.bunkyard.com.   i don't think bronx's junkyard has as much coverage of her because she isn't a "finklses" girl nor does she typically prance around stage in a bikini.   heh, just kidding... i don't want my fellow bjunkies to take offense by that remark.   i think the reason people don't talk much about 장윤정 jang yoonjung on bronx's is simply because people there don't tend to listen to 할머니 halmuni music!

ok, it's now 4:32 pm, and i believe that i should go check out fry's.   tonight, i should do some work work and some housework.

밤, still in my cubicle: it's late.   i should go home.   anyway, today i managed to squeeze a couple of things into my busy day, two very disparate things: 1) i researched mutual funds, and 2) i assembled a skateboard.

목요일 오후: i actually wanted to share this yahoo! news article with you yesterday but didn't get around to it: "intel makes first chip at tiny new scale."   this news i pretty important for my industry.   i've been hearing about 45 nanometer this, 45 nanometer that for a long time; and now it's apparently all set to go as a reality.   cool.   i really want to see electronics shrink down again.   i hate how cell phones have grown in physical size over the past couple of years.   oh, wow!   check out this other yahoo! news article i found just now: "dell boss says open to using amd chips."   wow, lots of news in the semiconductor industry, eh?   exciting?   i personally think it's relatively exciting.

일요일 아침, 9:39 am: wow, the month is ending, and i can soon revert to benospelling, if i choose, (and not violate my new year's resolution).   actually, come to think of it, i have now fulfilled many of my new year's resolutions!   1) i bought a skateboard (and rode it).   2) i bought a mutual fund.   3) i've been writing beno journal entries in normal, american english.   anything else?   i believe i have been taking better care of my career, but that's subjective and not measurable.   i suppose if i get a nice raise or (less likely) a promotion of any sort; that would be a metric.   i have yet to fix my desktop computer's soundcard, and i should.

well, it's almost a month since the solar new year, but i suppose today is the lunar new year.   that's cool.   as asians, we should take note of that.   it's the year of the dog!   that brings me to my recount of an exciting little adventure in the hwang household this weekend.

frankie and sooni

no, we didn't acquire a second doggy, no.   that would be crazy.   ok, we did however have a second dog for less than 24 hours.   on friday, i came home for lunch in order to clean up the house a little during my lunchbreak for the night's grx t3 south couples bible study.   yes, we had about 16 people at our house for the "small group" event.   our house honestly isn't as luxurious or as big as some of the other couples' houses, but we wanted to have people over at least once.   the house was probably cleaner back during thanksgiving last year, but it thankfully wasn't at its messiest.   the beautiful kaela hwang n' i tried our best to clean the house and keep it clean despite the fact that we both have been very busy lately.   kaela has been very busy with school, and i have been very busy with work.   anyway, on my way home, i almost hit a runaway beagle!   i slowed down to a stop and opened my door.   the beagle approached me.   when i asked it to hop in, it ran off.   later, when i got to our garage, it came into our garage, which meant it ran fast and decently far from where i saw it earlier.   i closed the garage door to trap the loose doggy.   it ran out thus triggering the optical safety switch that shuts down the garage door motor.   i took out a piece of jamaican beef jerky.   it ran back.   then it smelled sooni through the crack at the bottom of the kitchen door.   i closed the garage door, and it was now safely off the streets.   well, at lunch, i put the beagle with sooni in the backyard.   of course, they had their fair share of posturing.   the real doggy experts knows that real doggies aren't just about panting with stupid, brainless smiles on their faces; but rather things get politically right away.   the beagle wasn't the most submissive doggy, and we know sooni wants to be dominant.   well, the eventually settled down.   i ate some lefotver whole foods food that kaela ditched in our fridge for lunch.   i cleaned.   i left them back there in the yard when i returned to work.   later, i sent kaela a text message about the lost doggy.   when she came home, she saw it.   honestly, the sight of the two of them together was very cute.   they would both sit with wagging tails in front of our french doors, eagerly waiting for us to open the door.   eventually, they would realize that we weren't going to let them in, and then they'd go lie down nearby.   it was very cute.   really, sooni's not an aggressive doggy.   froo-froo, kick-me dog owners simply freak out when she acts... well... like a dog.   she's all into doggy politics.   to see her sit side by side with another dog really touched our hearts!

well, in the evening, we had the bible study group over.   i suppose i'll talk about that later.   we kept the doggies outside.   if it were just sooni, we would have gladly let her hang out with the humans.   however, we knew having sooni and the beagle in the house would be hectic.   actually, at the end of the night, we let them in; and yes, it was a riot!   the two dogs ran around the house.   this beagles was not well mannered, as kaela pointed out.   it kept wanting to jump on the couch, not just because it was obviously used to lying on the couch but it knew it needed elevation to rival sooni's size in the whole political scene!   keep in mind that froo-froo, kick me doggies relish being picked up and held up high so that they can exercise undue political dominance over other doggies.   humans should not mess with doggy politics in that way.   by the way, the beagle was an unaltered male, which means it had its "twig and berries" or "beans and frank" intact.   unaltered doggies are generally not as well behaved.   i'm often sad about altering sooni because i wish she could have babies, but the benefits don't seem to outweigh the price.   i wish we could simply clone her.   (황우석 교수님... professor hwang woosuk...)

after our friends all left, we considered letting both the beagle and sooni sleep inside.   sooni does sleep inside every night because that's what good dog owners let their doggies do.   modern doggy experts know that the doggy should be "part of the family," obviously not the leader of the family, but simply part of it; i guess its lowest rung.   in the end i put both doggies outside because the beagle was just too untrained, and we had no basis to trust him.   feeling bad for him, i put sooni outside to keep him company.   as kaela and i tried to sleep, the beagle bayed and howled.   ugh!   i sandwiched my head between the pillow and the (pillow) sham!   i worried the neighbors would think it was sooni and complain.   however, sooni's quiet.   in fact, she only spoke up to shut the beagle up.   when the beagle would howl, she would emit a short, annoyed "gruff!" to tell her yardmate to shut up.   it was so funny.   oh yeah, because it's winter, we left the back garage door open for the doggies to access a covered room.   the beagle looked cold without a double coat like that which sooni sports.   eventually, the howling moved from our yard to the garage, and it got quiet.

in the morning, i discovered that the beagle and sooni both entered the garage and the beagle somehow managed to trap them in their by accidentally shutting the door.   i realize that beagles are not smart and much less intelligent than jindo dogs.   wow!   it was such a contrast.   sooni can open doors when she wants to, and this dog ends up accdientally trapping the both of them in the garage.   it was cute to find them both in the garage in the morning.   sooni really kept the beagle in check.   on its own, it probably would have chewed up our shoes, but sooni regulated.

well, in the early morning before heading off to habitat for humanity, i wanted to post more "dog found" posters.   i had posted some the night before but didn't finish since i had to come home to help host the bible study.   as i approached a lightpost to post my first sign of the morning, i saw it occupied by a "lost dog" poster.   i found the situation a bit ridiculous: why was it that every lightpost that i hadn't posted a "dog found" sign on had the "lost dog" poster?!   anyway, as i was already walking both the beagle and sooni, i brought them over the house and knocked.   no answer.   i knocked more, but still no answer.   i tried to leave the beagle in its backyard, but it refused to stay.   i had left my cell phone in the bedroom so i returned home with the two dogs.   it was quite a joy to walk both dogs at once!   i felt like cesar milan! heh heh...   well, i called the first of three phone numbers on the poster and an adolescent girl answered.   i returned "frankie" to the little girl.   she said there was a reward, but i told her that sooni used to escape all the time, that i understood their situation, and the reward wasn't necessary.   then i left and walked sooni around, taking back the leash and collar i had put on frankie.   i started walking one way but turned around to start collecting "dog found" posters.   as i walked past the house, i saw frankie in the window, watching us.

i went to habitat for humanity yesterday.   we didn't get a whole lot done, but it's always great to work there.

in the evening, kaela and i went to grace and steve's house for a lunar new year dinner with my dad.   we stopped by five paw bakery first to get some free treats.   after dinner, kaela and i watched fun with dick and jane.

화요일 오후, tuesday afternoon: i neglected to mention in previous entries that on thursday night (last week), the beautiful kaela hwang n' i took duk and his girlfriend yuna out to dinner at cascal the great latin-american tapas restaurant on mountain view's castro st.   we enjoyed a variety of tapas, their seafood paella (with black squid ink), a pitcher of sangria, and a plate of asado (grilled meat).   wow, what an excellent dinner.   i wanted to treat duk and yuna to dinner for all the times they dogsitted sooni.   they're great.   that was my third time at cascal.   each time has been great.

last week, i spent much of my time cleaning up the house.   despite that, last week was a relatively exciting week.   otherwise, my life is always decently exciting... at least to me.   i don't know if i need to mention that work has been busy, but it has been very busy.   last week, i tried to get some exercise during lunchbreaks at my company gym but i didn't get to go as often as i had the week before.   so far this week, i haven't gotten any real exercise.   last week was exciting because i got my skateboard.   i got to ride it a few times.   i got to ride with my brother-in-law steve and my nephew mason.   well, mason doesn't ride a skateboard yet but a three-wheel scooter.   still it was fun to ride with them on the sidewalk outside my mom's house.   i hadn't ridden those sidewalks in many years, so that evening brought me back some fifteen years!   last week was exciting, as i mentioned, because we found a beagle on friday but returned him on saturday morning.   last week was exciting because we hosted our bible study group on friday night.   other couples in our group have bigger, more luxurious, and cleaner homes.   however, kaela and i wanted to share our space with them for at least one evening.   we actually wanted to do this back at the end of autumn, like soon after thanksgiving; but the opportunity held out until now, giving us ample time to mess the house back up after thanksgiving.   our house was cleaner at thanksgiving.   well, as i put it to kaela, i'm glad no one made fun of our humble dwelling.   we love our house.   we thank god for it.

i can't believe how little i've gone snowboarding this year.   i'm glad i made the most of my day at heavenly that last time we went with kaela's classmates.   i'm glad i spent a decent amount of time riding rails and the like.   i'm a bit upset that all sorts of random activities keep popping up that prevent me from going snowboarding more.   already, i make a rule not to go snowboarding on sunday in order to go to church.   however, now, lots of church activities are popping up on saturdays.   i'm afraid my next day on the slopes won't be until presidents day!   perhaps at that point i can go on monday and then again on the following saturday.   we'll see.   i'm supposed to plan a weekend trip for our bible study group.   i guess i'd better jump on that.   i shouldn't let myself get so depressed over not being able to go right now that i forget to plan this end of march / beginning of april trip.   yeah, since i plan to help out with the church pack-up on saturday of this week, i hope i can go snowboarding on the saturday after presidents day as well as on presidents day.   that would be cool.   well, at least i have my skateboard now.   i can participate in some boardsport while stuck in the bay area.   (it is funny to say that i'm "stuck" in the bay area because the bay area is a wonderful paradise.)

of course, i still feel a little self-conscious about being a 30 year-old man on a skateboard, while most other skateboarders are in their teens.   last week, i saw webpages that talked about recent activities of all the famous pro skateboarders from my youth.   many of them are still skateboarding and doing it well!   i saw a webpage that had many pictures from a recent "masters" competition at a southern californian skatepark.   all these 30-something veteran pro skateboarders ripped it up!   i read about christian hosoi.   my first skateboard was a christian hosoi pro model.   i read about spencer fujimoto.   okay, he's not an old guy; rather, he's younger than me.   he probably doesn't remember, but i skateboarded with him on a few occasions in the almaden valley, sometimes at our high school leland high school.   he hung out with salman agah, another pro skateboarder at our school.   i remember running into the two of them at showgi, a korean sushi/teppan restaurant in almaden that had a good lunch buffet back in the days.   anyway, it's crazy how he turned into a bigtime pro skateboarder.   i'm glad he seems to have managed to avoid getting into some kind of really drug-filled life.   at least, it seems that way.   i read about other pro skateboarders that ended up being total druggies.   that's a bit sad.   it's like being a rockstar, of course.   yeah, unfortunately, tony hawk's been divorced twice.   san josé's steve caballero's been divorced and has a daughter named kayla.   well, why is it that pro skateboarders are treated more like rockstars than like pro athletes even though they are pro athletes?   in my opinion, they should get n.f.l. treatment.

n.h.s., inc.: my dad likes to joke that when i was a kid i always bought n.h.s. skateboard products like my christian hosoi deck, independent trucks, and santa cruz wheels.   he likes to joke that i always bought n.h.s. skateboards as a kid and then now buy n.h.s. snowboards.   that's true: the two decks that i have owned have both been santa cruz decks.   now, on my new skateboard, i put on bullet trucks and wheels and independent risers.   bullet is the cheap line of n.h.s. / santa cruz products.   actually, bullet was originally just a line of santa cruz wheels; but now it seems to be more of a spin-off brand.   thus i'm still buying n.h.s. products.   that is funny.   however, for my deck, i opted to save a few bucks and bought a mini-logo deck.   i researched the company and felt they make a good product and sell it for a decent price.   later, this week, i discovered that mini-logo is made by powell peralta; it's their cheap brand.   powell peralta is probably n.h.s.'s biggest rival in the skateboard industry.   in the snowboard industry you have burton as the big name.   i think powell is like the burton of skateboarding.   back in the 1980s, both tony hawk and steve caballero were on powell peralta's pro team, which was then called the bones brigade.   this is the first time i owned a powell peralta skateboard product.   the deck seems to be fine.   i like my skateboard and hope to ride it more.

[later] 저녁: you have heard read me say mention in previous recent journal entries that, as the month is now ending, i'll soon have the option of reverting to my benospelling habit as opposed to writing in plain american english.   i mentioned before that i wondered if my current use of plain american english would trigger more hits from search engines.   i also wondered if my use of plain american english would affect the google ads on the archive page.   well, so far, the google ads i get all relate to southern california and the film industry because my first entry of the year talked all about being in southern california and also referenced an interesting article about asian-american cinematography.   *sigh* i wish the ads would change.

today for lunch, i picked up kaela from home, and we ate at thai chili on halford and el camino real.   the food was too spicy for kaela, so she ordered a thai ice tea.   later, since the food was still too spicy, we ordered a cocounut ice cream with sticky rice dessert.   we used this "buy one get one free" coupon from the gift checks book i bought at the santa clara farmers market a couple of weeks ago.   did i mention going to the farmers market a couple of saturdays ago while kaela was at her chiropractic seminar?   that day, i went to the farmers market and then to almaden valley to pick up my uc berkeley diploma from my mom's house just because i noticed that kaela put up her uc berkeley diplomas on the wall of our computer room.

수요일 아침: ahhh, i can write all the benospelling i want now.   woohoo!   what will be my first benospelling wurd?   heh heh... :-) 1 month w/o benospelling down n' 1 new yr's resolution completed.   2day's big silly valley tech/biz news's that google's stock (goog) finally took a tumble.   i have many friends that werk @ google, so i don't rejoice in this; but it is interesting news.   i do wish that 17 months 'go, i had bought ~$100 goog stock n' also wish i could've dumped tons'f goog stock yesterday.   it's funny cos i was looking @ goog stock yesterday just cos i've been researching the stock market a li'l more these days w/ renewed interest in investing.   i don't think i'll be investing in individual stocks netime 2 soon.   more likely, i'll just be buying mutual funds 4 a while.   neway, i was indeed looking @ goog stock yetserday n' imagining how i could've quadrupled my investment.   imagine if i had invested $10,000 n' gotten back $40,000.   even after taxes, wouldn't that buy me a new car? *shrug* maybe u can read this forbes.com article about google: "reading google's tea leaves."   google still has 1 kick@$$ cafeteria!   according to this article, google's 2 secretive 'bout its future.   yah, maybe so.   it cms that everything's sooo top sekret there.   however, all 'round this greater tech industry, that's sort'f the case.   would now be a good time to buy goog stock?   *shrug* i don't have that kind'f $$$.   right???   it takes $$$ to make $$$.

[later] fun with dick and jane was a fun movie.   jim carrey is still a funny guy even if i find that his humour has had the tendency to border on annoying in the past.   while watching the trailers, i observed a trend 2wards movies 'bout young families, ppl like my sista grace n' her husband steve.   wow, the industry cms to c a market in the maturing gen.x, eh?

[later] last nite dubyah had some big speech, n' i guess that's also big news 2day.   well, i guess it was some beginning'f the yr speech, but i don't think he sed nething 2 important, just ur typikal rhetoric.

on the kntv nbc 11 morning news, this 1 funny guy mike inouye has been giving traffik reports each morning 4 the past few months.   he's a really funny guy n' cmed to be gaining a good deal'f popularity as he got his own segment on show or sumpthin' called sumpthin' like "where in the bay area is mike inouye."   neway, he disappeared 4 the last month or so, n' i worried that he left, but i heard the news team mention his name now n' then.   apparently, he n' his wife gave birth to a baby son named mason.   he returned this morn, n' the news team chatted it up 'bout his new son.

[later] 오후: a while 'go, i stumbled upon this kewl site that tells u nutritional information about many restaurants: "dotti's weight loss zone" (http://www.dwlz.com/index.html).   can u believe that the rubio's carnitas street taco is so much healthier than their fish taco?   in fact, the carnitas street taco appears to be healthier than the chicken street taco!

rubio's baja grill - nutritional info

menu item	kcals	fat (g)	fibre (g)	carbs (g)
3 fish tacos	1130	29	10	90
3 carnitas street tacos	640	25	6	59
3 chicken street tacos	640	22	6	57
3 carne asada street tacos	600	29	6	58

thus it appears that carne asada street tacos trumps the others.

ooh, let's now check out in.n.out!

in.n.out - nutritional info

menu item	kcals	fat (g)	fibre (g)	carbs (g)
hamburger w/ onion	390	19	3	39
hamburger w/ onion w/ mustard n' ketchup instead'f spread	310	10	3	41
hamburger w/ onion protein style	240	17	3	11
ch.burger w/ onion	480	27	3	39
ch.burger w/ onion w/ mustard n' ketchup instead'f spread	400	18	3	41
ch.burger w/ onion protein style	330	25	3	11
2x2 w/ onion	670	41	3	39
2x2 w/ onion w/ mustard n' ketchup instead'f spread	590	32	3	41
2x2 w/ onion protein style	520	39	3	11
french fries	400	18	2	54

so apparently, protein style's a good idea... however, it's messy, n' the bun tastes 2 good. *sigh*   notice that the special sauce's quite the culprit!

valentines day 5% off coupon at buy.com for the music, music downloads, and dvds atores - valid feb 1 thru feb 14

목요일 아침: when i looked up "groundhog day" on a korean.english diktionary, i end up w/ "성촉절 suhngchokjuhl."   it's groundhog's day, i guess.   happy groundhog's day.   i need an extension on the snowboarding season; so, yes, i want "winter" to last as long as possible.   man, it's crazy that i spent so much time base reparing n' waxing our boards after our last day on the slopes, n' now we haven't returned to the slopes since.

[later] 오후: check out this article on nbc11.com: "CHP Busts Man Riding With Dummy."   pretty funny, huh?

yesterday, i felt i was coming down w/ a cold.   i was so exhausted after a long werkday.   when i got home, man... i just went straight to bed.   i didn't care that i was going to be @ ~800p.   i slept until the beautiful kaela hwang finally came home.   she woke me up momentarily n' made me eat some kind'f "holistik" medicine n' drink some lemon tea.   then i took a shower n' went rt back to sleep, skipping dinner.   this morn, i aktually did feel better.   whereas yesterday, i had a sore throat; i didn't so much.   i hope i've successfuly defeated this cold, but i've been wrong b4.   it's funny cos on sun, steve n' grace thought mason was gettin' sick, n' i was reminded'f how all'f us were sick earlier in this winter.   i wondered @ that pt if we were all done being sick or not.

[later] 밤, 958p: how r u?   i werked late, then came home n' cooked some 우동 oodong 4 dinner.   the beautiful kaela hwang came home w/ a headache, so she was on the couch watching tv.   i cooked.   we watched this nbc olympic preview thing the whole evening.   yah, it's sort'f getting me pumped a li'l to watch the olympiks.   well, the only events i really care 'bout r the snowboarding 1s, i guess.   i dunno... others r ok.   i guess figure skating's really popular, but i don't care that much 'bout it.   i 'member 1 nite prob'ly a decade 'go now when toby n' i were @ my mom's house in san jo, n' wwe watched this campbell soup figure skating championship where michelle kwan became really famous.   rt off, we both thought she was kind'f cocky; but whatever.   while watching all these clips'f olympik athletes i get sad, thinking 'bout how i'll never be an olympian.   sure, i have hobbies etc., n' i guess i'm ok @ some'f them; i'll never have an olympik medal.   maybe the prob's that i was so unathletik as a kid, n' pretty much all'f these olympians became superstar athletes when they were kids.   it does just go to show what a shame it is that asian parents always just push their kids to study, totally neglekting things like sports.   sucks... but oh well... i hope i don't try to live out my unfulfilled dream thru my own future kids n' push'em 2 hard.

on the slopes, i ride a santa cruz gian simmen pro model.   gian simmen is a swiss snowboarder who won a gold medal in 1998.   he's riding 4 switzerland 'gain in torina this month.   he's only 29, a yr younger than me.

[later] 1041p: in an e.mail to roland, i told him 'bout how these days, i do things on a snowboard that i only dreamed'f doing on a skateboard as a kid, like riding various rails n' catching decent air.   however, now that i'm picking back up skateboarding, i don't expect to do those things on a skateboard.   there just isn't the safety'f decently soft snow underneath.

[later] 1110p: dude, 4 a good laff, go to video.google.com n' type in "curry-n-rice girl."   it's a desi (south asian) parody'f gwen stefani's "hollaback girl."   it's pretty funny.   of course, every1 knows 'bout the "asian backstreet boys" or "asian backdorm boys" from china.   yah, they're pretty funny.   [later] 1127p: cr@p, i just typed in "berkeley" n' saw a berkeley taekwondo demo team video clip!   *sigh* wow... *sigh*

금요일 아침: "tgif"?   this wk flew by.   it's now feb; it's been feb 4 a few days now.   i tried to wake up earlier this morn but didn't really.   i told myself last nite that there'd be no advantage to waking up late 2day.   i don't have 2 much'f a nitelife these days, so i might as well wake up earlier.   in this day n' age, sadly, most young ppl who stay up late prob'ly do so just to be online or to play video games.   this is the digital age, man.   as much as i am indeed a hi.tech guy, i like to do active things: i wanna get out, get exercise, snowboard, skateboard, whatever.   i don't wanna just be online all day, all nite.   un4tunately, i didn't do much aktive last nite, just watched tv n' "surfed" the web.   why do they call it "web surfing" neway?   how is it nething like real surfing?   i guess it's like how a surfer needs to wait in the water n' decide when to take a wave n' when not to.   a web surfer browses the web n' decides when to stick w/ a website n' when not to.   is that rt? *shrug* neway, last nite i told myself that 2nite, i don't have much to stay up late 4.   do i?   i figure 2nite we'll go to our couples bible study n' then just come home n' sleep, rt?   otherwise, we could go watch a movie afterward; i dunno.   in ne case, i don't c ne benefit these days in shifting my sleep pattern ne later.   it's better if i wake up early n' go to bed early than wake up late n' go to bed late.   oh yah, i s'ppose since our dish netwerk is off rt now, while ken renegotiates our contrakt, there's really no reason to stay up late to watch good, korean tv or nething.   there's nuthin' to stay up late 4.

this morn, while i was walking sooni, a couple'f skateboarding teenage boys passed us on the street, n' sooni got all riled up 'bout them.   in the past she didn't like harley.type motorcycles or skateboards.   i assume it's cos'f the noise.   when i got my new skateboard n' rode it 4 the 1st time, i was reminded how noisy skateboards r.   however, on sun, on our way to my mom's house, i kept pace w/ a harleyish cycle on (highway) 85 n' let sooni stick her head out'f the window.   she didn't mind it.   later, that evening, i took her w/ me as i skateboarded w/ steve n' mason.   she didn't mind it.   i've gotta take her skateboarding more often; that's 4 sure.

here's an (mildly) interesting article: "Quiet hybrids pose an 'invisible' risk."   i 'member when i 1st started werkin' 4 the ol' start.up back in sf, my hiring manager had just had (his wife had just given birth to) twin gurls.   he was worried 'bout how the nice sf marina neighbourhood that he lived in had elektric buses which r rather quiet n' that kids might not hear them in then get run over.   how's my car? *shrug* i know b4 i got my current car, i'd read in consumer reports that 1 drawback was its cabin noise.   i don't think that means so much that the engine is loud but that the wind noise is loud when we're driving on the highway.   the beautiful kaela hwang n' i noticed this 1 day; i guess 'twas on our way home from tahoe on our last trip.

here's 'nother mercurynews.com article: "Woman eats 26 grilled cheese sandwiches."   the "100-pound woman" was sonya thomas.   isn't that the asian.am woman who wins eating contests?   i'm guessing she's like a korean adoptee or sumpthin' from the name.   here's her website: http://sonyatheblackwidow.com/.   oh, i c, she's a hapa daughter'f a caucasian.amerikan air force sergeant stationed in korea n' a korean woman.   i c.   what's interesting is that after this grilled cheese contest, she had to rush back by train to andrew air force base in maryland to make her shift as manager @ burger king.   really?   u'd think as a semi.celebrity, she could quit that job, rt? *shrug*

[later] n' that topik sort'f brings me back to my discussion'f the (winter) olympiks from yesterday.   i was pting out to kaela last nite that most winter olympik games/events r not team, point sports.   the only 1 i can think'f is hockey.   they're mostly either racing, individual, or style events.   i dunno how curling is evaluated, but i think it's by distance, rt? *shrug*   yah, boardercross is now in the olympiks, n' that's kewl.   i wish there were more boardercross runs to ride in tahoe.   the 1 i've ridden the most is on smokey @ sierra@tahoe, n' it's not that demanding.   i'd like more competition.style boardercross runs in tahoe!   u know?   i really wanna push myself, to c how i'd do on whatever the real competitors race on.   would i rather be an olympik snowboarder or an olympik taekwondoist?   well, shoot... i think it'd be less dangerous 4 me to be an olympik snowboarder.   sure, i prob'ly wouldn't win, but i'd have less'f a chance'f gettin' knocked da #@¢% out, u know?   in the past there'd been debate over whether to bring skateboarding 2wards the olympiks.   i definitely think that's the direktion it ought to go, while others wanna keep it a renegade hobby.   imho, that attitude would make it more'f a loser aktivity.   u know tho' that olympik snowboarding isn't like x.games snowboarding, rt?   x.games snowboarding is much flashier.   i guess i have more respekt 4 x.games snowboarding than olympik snowboarding.   in a similar fashion, many taekwondoists have more respekt 4 the takewondo world championships than 4 the olympik taekwondo championships; didju know that?   the olympiks differ from worlds in that the weight classes r kind'f skewed, n' some ppl'd say that kind'f puts asian countries @ a disadvantage. *shrug* i dunno.   the did that to get more countries involved, i guess; but still korea n' taiwan dominate, w/ the u.s. winning 1nce in a while as well.   never 4get the issue tho' 'f how there r so few asian.ams on the u.s. nat'l taekwondo n' olympik taekwondo teams, which makes li'l sense as taekwondo originates from korea.   it just goes to show 'gain what a shame it is that asian parents only push their kids to study n' don't care 'nuff 'bout things like sports.

so... now that the olympik winter games r back, we've got the issue'f apolo anton ohno v. korean 김동성 kim dongsung 'gain (in the speedskating sport).   i think some militant asian.ams might totally side w/ the korean competitor out'f "asian pride"; but that aktually doesn't make 2 much sense cos they'd be neglekting the fakt that apolo's also asian.   he's japanese; his last name just looks a li'l not japanese cos'f the chosen romanisation.   i know his dad yuki ohno's japanese, n' he was raised only by his dad in washington; but i'm not sure if his mom jerrie lee's asian or caucasian as that's an ambiguous name, rt?   i wonder why his dad's name is yuki, as that cms like a woman's name.   i'm guessing it's short 4 sumpthin' longer.   back in 2002, when the ohno incident was big news, i wondered if the age ol' korean.japanese disrespekt 4 each other thingy made matters worse. *shrug*   sure, discussions'f ethnic background r often taboo in amerikan society; but last nite the nbc olympik feature pted out that this 1 word.record holding speedskater's afrikan.amerikan.   it's rather paradoxical, rt? that asian.ams r expekted to shut up 'bout their racial heritage while afrikan.amerikans r expekted to be proud'f theirs?   well, it's black history month, n' that's kewl.   dude, if ne'f our future kids were to grow up to be the 1st asian.am olympik snowboarder, i'd be heck'a proud; but i guess it ought to happen sooner than that.

[later] 오후: earlier this wk, some1 @ my office sent out an e.mail w/ a link to an article 'bout some1 who used to werk here who passed 'way.   i clicked on the link n' read the article.   wow! this guy had lived a really full life n' accomplished sooo much.   dude, u've gotta check this out: k, 1st, this guy was a decorated oficer in the u.s. army n' fought courageously in panama n' operation desert storm.   then we went to stanfurd to get a master's degree in some kind'f ieor (industrial engineering operations research) type program.   then, he werked as a manager @ my company.   then he retired n' moved to florida.   then, he joined the key west police dept.   get this: he died @ the age'f 41 while jogging.   while talkin' to my cowerker, we guessed he passed 'way'f a heart attack, but i don't think the article sez what he died'f.   neway, dude... he was only 41!   however, he was able to accomplish sooo much!   i can't believe he'd already retired!   i guess he werked @ our company during the big tech boom'f the turn'f the millennium as he retired in 2001.   i dunno; he werked @ my company 4 @ most 6 yrs, as he got out'f the army in 1995; n' that's assuming he went to stanfurd while werkin' @ my company.   as he was born in 1964, he was ~37 when he retired.   he had a 12.yr.old son.   thus, i guess he had his son when he was 29.   wow, this guy did 'lot.   as we used to say int he late 1990s, "mad props."   here's the article: "In Memoriam: Detective John Piskator" (http://www.keywestcity.com/police/news/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=%20595).

u know... sumpthin' else i realised last nite is this: if i were to google up ne'f my cowerkers, i'd find all these akademic papers, awards, patents...   if i google up myself? *sigh* well, i get all sorts'f goofy stuff like my own webpage.   the only somewhat admirable thing that comes up is a reference on my masters program advising prof's website.   her page mentions my masters project.   i did notice a couple'f nites 'go that kaela had taken my berkeley diploma n' put it on the wall'f our 'puter room.   it's in a frame that s.mike gave me a long time 'go; but the glass frame's chipped.   i was hesitant to put the diploma up since bringing it over from my mom's house cos'f that ugly chip.   well, it's up; up on the wall.   [later] yah, i guess i have a bsme (bachelor's degree) n' an msme (master's degree).   however, i don't have a ph.d or an mba.   if i had a ph.d., i'd really have a "published werk."   i aktually do have a published werk on taekwondo folklore in the uc martial arts program monograph.   [a li'l later] however, i can't even cm to google that up. :-/

do u also ever feel unaccomplished?   1'f my good friends in our couples bible study group tried to reassure me that he thinks i've done so much in my life.   i told him how i have low self esteem 'bout my career that i guess arose from the hard time i had in my early days in berkeley engrng.

토요일 아침, 758a: this morn, i went out skateboarding w/ sooni, n' it felt really good.   i'm very happy i bought this skateboard.   sure, maybe it sounds so frickin' foolish 4 a 30.yr.old to be out on a skateboard, but it makes me happy, takes my mind off'f stress, n' lets me be happier 4 other ppl.   i think skateboarding's a realy blessing from god, i tell u.   if u ask me, it's a posi+ive outlet 4 my energy.   it's just 2 bad that i don't i can't ride 4 as long as i could as a kid.   it's not that i had more endurance back then; i'm much more fit now.   i think there was just a young ambition that i had that, that many kids have.   also, my back gets sore now. heh... old man probs...   neway, it's fun.   i just wish i hads friends to ride w/. :-(.

[later] 939a: i've now rebuilt my beno journal, 2006 edition archive.   check it out.   i know i've lost some entries due to the accidental deletion, but most'f it is there, so i'm happy.   now, i'm going to our church grx to help pack the church to move.   we're "going mobile" as we're leaving our current rented location.   we want to buy a place but haven't found 1 yet.

oh! b4 i take off, here's a cute pic'f sooni n' frankie from our 2 dog nite:

일요일 아침, 915a: 4 the past few yrs, i've been used to waking up early on wknds to go snowboarding.   recently, i've been waking up early 4 skateboarding.   why?   i don't need to drive to tahoe to go skateboarding, whereas 4 snowboarding i do.   so what's up?   well, i don't want ppl to watch me skateboarding cos i'm a 30.yr.old man on a skateboard, n' i'm not daewon song!   usually, if u c an ol' man like me on a skateboard, it's cos he's a pro, rt?   well, i'm not a pro.   i want to skate where no1 can c me.   it's a li'l pathetic, huh?   the cynical benocritic'd insult me w/ such filth as, "man, beno u'r pathetic.   u want to skateboard in private like it's m@sturb@tion or sumpthin'.   u suck!"   man, why do u have to say such raunchy things, eh?   well, u know what?   it's not just that i want to skate in private, but also i want safe streets.   i wake up early n' ride on the streets when there're no cars.   2day as well as a wk 'go, i drove out to an industrial neighbourhood'f the silly valley n' rode on the streets 'round silly valley companies like my own.   there r no li'l punk kids to tease me @ 700a on a sunday outside'f amd, intel, n' applied materials; n' there r also only a few cars.   i don't skate in the parking lots'f these companies cos i don't want security guards or cops confronting me.   instead i stay on the sidwalk n' street.   it'd aktually be safer to be in the parking lots, but oh well.   since i stay on the streets n' sidewalks, i stay mobile.   i just keep on moving.   that gets a li'l tiring, so it's like some kind'f endurance werkout.   it's strange that i ride my streetstyle board instead'f a more com4table longboard since i'm not doing tricks or nething; but longboards r more expen$ive neway.   2day, i tried ollieing.   it's shameful to say, but i can't even ollie up a curb yet.   i can ollie n' get off the ground like an inch, so that's a start.   man, when i was 15, i used to ollie up curbs all the time.   it's crazy, the things i could do when i was 15 but can't do now; yet it's so much more overwhelming the things i can do now that i couldn't do then... n' i'm talkin' 'bout physikal things as well, not just like engineering things!   as i was saying, i'm doing stuff on a snowboard that i only dreamed'f doing on a skateboard.   i get so much more air on a snowboard n' ride rails n' stuff.   well, i used to ride small, small rails on a skateboard.   i dunno, man.   i'm not invincible tho'.   2day, when i was tired, i somehow fell off my board, n' i guess that was my 1st real spill.   i wasn't hurt or nething (as i rolled out'f the fall the way i'd learned in martial arts training), but it was a reality check.   as wheels r smaller these days, it's easier to get stuck on a pebble or in a sidewalk crack.   neway... i still want to keep skateboarding, man.

it's funny cos 2day's the 5th.   it's the b.day'f my childhood best friend jeff picard who used to skateboard w/ me.   yah, u don't 4get dates like that.   yah, i dunno where he is, n' i wonder if he's still skateboarding.   he e.mailed me a few yrs 'go.   he told me he was studying graphic arts or sumpthin' @ san josé state university.   back then, me?   i wasn't skateboarding but was 'least snowboaridng hard.   other than that, i was doing taekwondo full.on n' maybe getting 2 much into the young, asian yuppie scene.   it was, in a way, an un4tunate continuation from when i had started drifting 'way from him in hi.skool when i left the skateboarding crowd to hang more w/ the hard.studying, asian church crowd.   i mean, it's hard 4 me to regret things in life cos god makes everything happen 4 a reason.   if it wasn't 4 my hangin' out w/ the hard.studying, asian church crowd, maybe i wouldn't have been "saved."   then 'gain, back in hi.skool, i had this 1 skateboardin' friend that also played guitar w/ me; n' he was a caucasian dude that went to a korean church.   neway back when my childhood best friend last e.mailed me, i was living in berkeley.   that was kewl, i guess.   it's funny tho' how these 2 crowds've been sort'f on opposite sides'f my life, huh?   neway, i wonder where he is.   if i found him 2day, i'd say happy 31st b.day, i guess.

aktually, yesterday, i killed some time @ the sunnyvale borders n' was reading giant robot.   this magazine's kind'f dedicated to asian n' asian.am pop culture, but this issue had 2 articles 'bout asian skateboarders: 1) daewon song, n' 2) some 1980s asian.am skateboarder named tim hugh.   i really liked what daewon song had to say in his interview.   i'm glad he's an asian.am semi.celeb that doesn't "sell.out" his culture but addresses it.   it's not like he's some militant "azn" gangsta type or nething; but i'm just saying that he didn't say sumpthin' like that cheesy thing kristi yamaguchi sed when she was asked 'bout how it felt to be an asian.am olympik figure skater or whatever.   she totally denounced her heritage.   that was pretty shafeul, if u ask me.   dude, as i sed, i hate how asian.ams r expekted to denounce their culture, while like afrikan.ams or chicano.ams r allowed to embrace n' celebrate theirs.   it's very messed up.   neway, daewon song sed that like skateboarding's 1 sport where asians have a chance to dominate n' that's true.   he mentioned skateboarding, figure skating, n' tennis.   yah, that's true.   daewon song's like my age.

hey, didju ever c that "awful weatherman" video?   u can find it on ebaumsworld.   is that real?   i saw 1st saw it like 1~2 yrs 'go.   it's 'pparently from an ohio university tv broadcast.   it's really funny.   i wonder if my sista's cn it.   i'll e.mail it to her sometime n' ask her if she thinks it's real.

dude, even tho' i got to skateboard early in the morn yesterday n' 2day, i still really miss snowboarding this season.   i must go snowboarding asap!   some'f my cowerkers went 2day, i think.   they purposely went on super bowl sun to avoid crowds.   dude, i personally couldn't care less 'bout the super bowl.

neway, dude, i've gotta bust outta here n' go to church now.   the beautiful kaela hwang?   she's @ yet 'nother'f her chiropraktic seminars.   frick, every wknd, rt?   i need to go off snowboarding on my own more this season. [later] 저녁:

2day
• went to church, grx's 2nd service (1030a, not 1015a as i thought)
• pastor dave chae addressed how 2 many ppl say they're to bizzy to help their fellow ppl etc.
• a great line: no one's impressed w/ ur busyness except u!   that's so true.
• we have a new "couples" pastor: ali hassan.   his wife's karen.   i'm happy our church isn't trying to be exclusively asian.
• went to lunch w/ my mom @ 청기와 chunggiwa: 제육 떡보쌈 과 은대구 양념 구이
• went home to pick up sooni d' flip thru the dog lover's companion to the bay area
• brought sooni to los gatos creek park n' walked 4 a while.
• skateboarded w/ sooni in an industrial neighbourhood near the park
• now, i'm @ kaela's office watching internet videos w/ her.   she's s'pposed to be studying.   that's why she ditched us.   however, she was watching internet videos when i got here.

as u know, i'm so not into ballsports n' am thus fine w/ missing the super bowl rt now.   somehow, i'm instinktively attrakted only to boardsports n' martial arts.   unlike other neo.yuppies, i'm not so into "outdoor" sports.   my snowboarding roots r in skateboarding.   many other bay area neo.yuppies' snowboarding roots come from mtn biking or hiking.   i've never cared as much 4 those but would surely participate if given the chance.   same w/ golf.   while other bay area neo.yuppies r into rock.climbing, i'm not.   last wk, my private skateboarding brought me to the parking lot'f a rock.climbing gym.   rt now, kaela's watching parkour (free.running) videos.   my guess is that the term "parkour"'s a british misspelling'f "par couer" (by heart), is it?   neway, these parkour videos make me look @ rock climbing diff'ly.   man, parkour looks kewl.   it's sort'f combines skateboarding n' martial arts then takes 'way the board n' contakt w/ the opponent.   others'd liken it to gymnastiks.

[later] 732p: this morning, while trying to ride up onto curbs a couple'f times, i scratched the bottom of my new board.   on our last trip to heavenly, when kaela n' i snowboarded down those residential streets, i scratched up the base'f my snowboard n' was a bit sad 'bout that but did some ptex base repair the next wk (back.breaking werk!).   on the drive home from tahoe, i was telling kaela how most skateboard tricks mess up the skateboard in the process, 1 way or 'nother.   think 'bout it: most skateboard tricks involve sliding on some part'f the skateboard, thus wearing it down n' scratching it.   well, cos i know that; i knew not to worry 'bout scratching my new skateboard deck this morn.   after all, that's 1 reason i chose a mini.logo deck, 1 w/o graphics.   i was happy tho' to get a blue deck, as i like the colour blue.   [later] 751p: neway, i realise that i can keep my deck scratchless n' new.   in a way, it's like us humans.   it's impossible 4 us to be sinless.   thus salvation n' admission to heaven only comes thru acceptance'f the sinless jesus christ's death on the cross as atonement.   'nother thing i realise is this: a pro skateboarder creates a werk'f beauty w/ his skateboarding, but in the process his skateboard gets scratched.   yah, we r god's skateboard.   god creates beauty, n' we can be part'f that.   however, in the process; yah, we'll get scratched up... but that's ok.

801p: our house's getting messy 'gain, man.   this really sucks.

2006년01월25일: sooni, rt after my skateboard parts arrived

oh yah, i guess the cat's out'f the bag that kaela's li'l sista's getting married.   u can't n' shouldn't keep that kind'f stuff sekretive 2 long; it's just not healthy.   neway, i kept telling kaela that the next time her parents call, it'd be cos they found out.   well, she finally got that call.

last nite, we were @ our friend's b.day party.

월요일 오후: "it's just another manic monday.   i wish it were sunday cause that's my fun day, my 'i don't have to run' day.   it's just another manic monday." ~ the bangles, "manic monday"   have i mentioned dean gray's american edit?   roland told me 'bout this awesome internet.based album a few wks 'go.   it's an album that remixes green day's american idiot album, inserting samples from various pop n' rock songs as well as from politicians and movies etc.   it's really kewl.   i wish i had the time n' talent to do that, man.   yah, i guess i just haven't really applied myself 2wards finding 15 mins'f fame via djing.   could i do nething that kewl, achieve nething that kewl? *shrug*   neway, 1 song, "whatername," uses the vocals from the bangles song "manic monday."   it's an awesome track.   u know what i just thought'f that's barely interesting?   when the bangles got popular w/ hits like "manic monday," "eternal flame," "walk like an egyptian," and "hazy shade of winter"; skateboarding was going thru its 1980s popularity phase.   that's a li'l interesting to me just cos i've picked back up skateboarding, as u all know by now.   dude, that all happened when i was in middle skool!   *sigh* crazy.   all this 1980s nostalgia's quite crazy, eh?   i haven't been to the mall in a few wks, but i know i've cn more 1980s retro fashion in the past yr, all that lacoste n' le tigré stuff.   dude, when r gotcha, t&c surf co., n' z. cavaricci gonna make their comebacks?   the cyclical nature'f it all, isn't it crazy?   in the 1980s, we had a retro 1950s trend n' a retro 1960s trend, rt?   movies like back to the future got us into the 1950s trend n' all those vietnam war shows n' movies got us into the 1960s trend.   it's all crazy, ain't it?   neway, man; i don't have time to discuss fashion n' pop culture rt now.   what am i thinking?!   i think i've just been feeling a bit isolated since i haven't gotten 2 much personal e.mail in recent wks.

[later] 저녁, 아직도 회사에서: well, i listened to the dean gray album all the way thru yet 'gain this afternoon while werkin'.   i really like it.   that "whatsername" song, if u don't know, turns into a duet btwn billie joe armstrong n' susanna hoffs.   it's great; it's like a musical.   it's like the buffy the vampire slayer musical, rt?   since spike's kind'f a billie joe type, rt?   well, i just wikied up green day.   don't 4get, i was @ a green day / raggedy anns (the donnas) concert w/ phil rt up in the front row back in 1993.   the show was almost empty, n' i had my foot on the stage, while i listened.   that was just like a wk b4 they "broke," man.   i'll keep repeating that like al bundy boasts having played hi skool futbol, n' u know it!   neway, i was reading the wikipedia entry 'bout them.   so "green day" literally means a day spent smoking mariju@na, eh?   gee, i have less respekt 4 them already, i'm sorry to say.   (keep in mind how i prefer to call myself a political progressive rather than a "liberal" cos i believe that the gov't should take care'f its ppl, yet i don't believe in some other so.called "liberal' causes like legalisation'f mariju@na, etc.)   neway, the album's pretty kewl n' hopefully u've heard 'bout it n' can dl it b4 it's gone.

so obviously, v.day's coming up.   how do u like that?   some ppl like v.day, some ppl hate it, n' some r indiff to it.   in genl, i'm ok w/ v.day.   i guess it's a bit'f an effort to go out n' buy a v.day present so soon after christmas.   true, that's a li'l ridiculous.

밤, 1136p: 2nite, after werk, i went to valley fair to look 4 gifts.   i hadn't been to the mall in a few wks.   it felt great to walk 'round in the mall.   i've sed b4 that i like going to the mall.   i stopped by safeway b4 going home.   i bought some salsa, some wheat thins (3 diff healthier types: 100% whole wheat, 5.grain, n' reduced fat), 2 things'f blueberry lite yogurt, some post great grains cereal, some clorox toilet bowl cleaner, some apple juice, ... what else? i 4get.   then i came home n' ate some sausages that the beautiful kaela hwang bought from whole fuds a while 'go.   i grilled 2 louisiana hot links w/ some royal trumpet shrooms n' some red peppers.   i'm worried that the sausages were rotten cos they were so old.   i'm not sure; my stomach might feel funny.

화요일, 1228a: dude, i'm stoked.   i just found out that pro skateboarder christian hosoi's now a christian.   kewl! [later] 아침, 회사에서: dude, i'd like to try to find christian hosoi's e.mail or mailing address n' let him know that i think it's kewl he's following jesus now.   yah, i'd read he'd gone to chino prison 4 drug possession charges a few yrs 'go.   however, dude... that's all in the past, n' the lord 4gives thru jesus.   [later] dude... i didn't find his e.mail or mailing address, but i found his freakin' fon nombre!!!   dude, he's a pastor @ "the sanctuary" church in huntington beach!   awesome.   shoot, well, it's always hard 4 me to call up some1 i don't really know, but i guess i do have the church's mailing address: the sanctuary church h.b., p.o. box 344; huntington beach, ca 92648.   dude, their head pastor was also a pro skater b4.   man, that's awesome.   u know, over the past couple'f wks, i've wondered more why our church doesn't have a boardsports ministry while it has a basketball ministry n' softball team.   dude, i'm gonna contakt our church's staff n' let'em know that if they're up 4 having a boardsports ministry, i'm totally in.

[later] 오후: during my lunchbrk 2day, i went to the werk.com gym n' did some precor n' stretching.   then i ate a veggie burger n' fruit salad @ the werk.com cafeteria.   i sat w/ a cowerker, n' we talked 'bout various things.   it was good to have social interaktion in the werkplace, man.   2 often, i don't converse much w/ cowerkers.

수요일 아침: last nite, i skipped taekwondo praktice to meet up w/ ken, grace, gordon, meredith, billy, n' alan @ the oakridge mall bj's brewery.   i ate a roast beef dip sandwich, which is really a french dip sandiwch, but i know all these "conservative" warmongers in our country have stirred up so much anti.français sentiment that we don't use proper terms like french dip n' french fries nemore but have these lame b@st@rdised terms.   it's stoopid, but what're we to do?   viva la france!   the table also shared some chicken strips n' bruschetta appetizer, a chocochip pizookie dessert, n' 1 pitcher'f stout n' 1 pitcher'f blonde.   dude, i had only like 1.75 glasses'f bier; but in the end, i had to have ken drive my car to his house where i sat 'round 4 a while b4 i drove home.   better safe than sorry neway.   maybe 'twas a bad idea to have 2 diff kinds'f bier?   i would'a thought it was a good idea that we had the stout 1st n' then the blonde later cos i would think the stout'd have more alkohol than the blonde. *shrug*   neway, they were both decently tasty biers.   i have tho' honestly had better stouts.   it wasn't gross or nething; but i've had better... where?   hrm... i 4get... maybe i even like guiness better than this stout. *shrug* where else have i had a stout recently?   was it maybe that i had a stout the last time we went to gordon biersch in downton san jo b4 christmas?   was that aktually t.giving wknd or sumpthin'?   i 'member that the beautiful kaela hwang n' i went to view christmas in the park that nite.   ah... san joséana!!!

2nite, i'm mtg up w/ tim fong.   he's a guy that sort'f likes to discuss san joséana w/ me since he also grew up in the area.   er, or 'least i'm assuming he doesn't mind my discussing san joséana w/ him.   *shrug*   we're mtg up @ the cherry orchard borders.

[later] last nite, i was thinkin' 'bout how i sed that i really like the dean gray "whatsername" track cos it's a beautiful duet btwn billie joe armstrong n' susanna hoffs.   i'm sure many ppl disagree w/ me, saying that the combination'f lyrics don't make sense.   how do the lyrics from "manic monday" fit into "whatsername"?   well, plz allow me to answer that. :-)   yeah, honestly, i believe it's an absolutely beautiful combination: u have billie joe armstrong's pouring his heart out 'bout a lost love, while susanna hoffs whines 'bout waking up 4 werk.   imagine a guy who's been totally crushed n' demolished by a gurl, while the gurl's off w/o a single care 'bout what she's done to the guy... she's totally moved on, n' she's not thinkin' @ all 'bout the guy's feelings, she's only concerned 'bout getting to werk n' if her bed's made etc.   to him, it's the end'f the world; to her, "it's just another manic monday."   if u ask me, it's such beautiful werk'f art that it almost brought tears to my eyes as i listened to it in my car on the way down to blossom valley!   it's just cos guys r 2 sensitive, while gurls r 2 insensitive.   that may sound like a misogynistik statement; but no, i'm not a misogynist.   rather, my view on women's more'f a "can't live w/ 'em, can't live w/o 'em" kind'f view.   i guess i've often been a sucker 4 duets.   after all, the other song i'm totally diggin' these days is definitely the mc 몽 / 옥주현 (mc mong / ok juhyun) track "home run" (the song that uses the melody from when in rome's 1980s hit "the promise).   dude, that song rocks.   also, 'nother song that i've liked in recent months's that honey family track w/ 박혜경 (park hyekyung) "함께 해요 (hamkkei haeyo)."   it's 1'f my ringtones on my fon.   in decades past, i've enjoyed the jesus and mary chain duet w/ mazzy star's hope sandoval "sometimes always."   augh, that's a cute song.   4 ur info, 'nother memorable track from the jesus and mary chain is "head on," n' 'nother memorable track from mazzy star is "fade into you."   another duet that sort'f comes from that era ('least from that era'f my life) is kicking giant's "she's real."   i think u can hear kicking giant's musik in the asian.am film "yellow," rt?

since i ate so much last nite, i'm glad that i went jogging yesterday morn n' this morn w/ sooni.   i also werked out in the gym yesterday n' mon during my lunchbrk.   [slightly later] aktually, i think tues morn was the 1st time i went jogging this whole yr!   i told kaela this morn that it was as if i had made a new yr's resolution not to go jogging or not to get fit or to get unfit. *shrug*   neway, she was unamused, saying that i should've woken her up 4 her class.   (as u c, to her; it was "just another manic wednesday.")   however, she had her alarm set 4 a later time, so i figured that she wanted to sleep in just a li'l; n' also i just kept waking up thru.out the nite cos 1) alkohol does that to u, n' 2) sooni kept waking me up by either tapping the bed by my face or by tapping on the boombox nearby on the floor.   i later found out she was trying to wake me up cos she had absolutely no h₂o to drink.   she had taken this makeshift tupperware h₂o bowl (that we had put in her kennel (cage/crate) while her normal porcelain 1's in the dishwasher) out'f her kennel n' put it on the floor to show us that she had no h₂o.   that was very cute.   however, pet hydration is a serious issue!   stay hydrated n' keep ur pet hydrated!   oh, i just realised that i didn't eat brkfast 2day.   originally, i was planning to eat the leftover 0.5'f my french dip sandiwch 4 brkfast, but i ended up deciding not to.   i didn't wanna just stuff my face cos my stomach had expanded from eating so much the nite b4.   i guess i ate a few wheat thins, while packing some to go.

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[later] 오후: 점심에 회사의 체육관에서 운동했어요.   그때 회사의 카페테리아에서 샀는 샐러드 와 어제밤의 남은 샌드위치를 먹었어요.   배 불렸어요.   during my lunch brk, i werked out @ the werk.com gym.   then i ate a salad that i bought from the werk.com cafeteria n' last nite's leftover sandwich.   i'm full.   @ the gym 2day, i didn't do ne precor or stairmaster.   instead, i lifted weights, stretched n' did sort'f plyometric n' agility exercises; i.e. i did squat jumps n' then 360° turn jumps (both frontside n' backside).   yah, these days i'm telling myself to be less shy 'bout doing "less than normal" or "not quite normal" exercises in the werk.com gym.   i don't care if ppl think i'm weird that i'm jumping all over the place n' doing side stretch kicks or side kick stretches.   whatever, man... @ least i can!   it's good 4 my health n' fitness, n' i feel better doing stuff that i like n' feel better knowing i can do stuff that i like.   frick, not every1 loves basketball.   i don't love basketball.   i'm a boardsports athlete n' a martial artist.

someday, i'd like to get more into surfing to complete the snow, skate, surf triad.   yesterday, in the morn, i saw on nbc 11 news that the mavericks surf competition was going on in 0.5 moon bay.   kewl.   check ou the sj mercury news article: "Surprise winner at Mavericks: FIRST TIME INTERNATIONAL OUTSIDER WINS" by kim vo n' ken mclaughlin.   i 1st heard 'bout mavericks from that dokumentary 'bout "big wave riders" that talked 'bout mark foo's death there.   oh, from the article, i've learned now that the famous surfer named "flea" isn't flea from the 1980s~1990s~2000s pop funk rock grp the red hot chili peppers.   oh, ok.   oh, man... the article sez that there were no major injuries but that "a 39-year-old Redwood City woman and her 9-year-old son were taken to Stanford Hospital after some rocks on the cliff dislodged and crashed down on them as they watched the contest. . .   The woman, who was transported to the hospital by helicopter, suffered a severe back injury, O'Keefe said. The boy was treated for minor head injuries. Their names were not immediately released."   thus it's safer to surf in the surf contest than to watch it?

[later]

• i've always thought i value friends n' friendships.
• i wonder if i'm less social than i used to be or if i'm more anti.social than i used to be.   (perhaps the 2 differ.)

universalgear.com

[later] last nite, i skipped taekwondo praktice to go out w/ my ol' friends.   kaela called it a much needed night out 4 me, n' she's rt.   u know, i just don't get 'nuff human interaktion these days.   yeah, i do talk to cowerkers a li'l, n' i need to more.   however, sometimes i also just think engineering can be a more social career than it seems to be.   in the past, i'd been shy 'bout conversing w/ cowerkers, but i've been trying to shake that.   part'f it had been due to how i always cm to be so much younger than my cowerkers, but *shrug*... 1) the age gap is slowly closing as i get older, n' 2) i just shouldn't care.   i don't think it's that i'd been 2 "stuck.up" to socialise w/ older cowerkers but that i'd just been shy.   however, i know that ppl who r shy r often perceived by others as being stuck.up.   me, i really haven't ever considered myself shy @ all; but *shrug* have i been?   that's a question.   neway, yah... i went out last nite w/ my ol' hi skool friends, ditching taekwondo praktice.   u know, in a way i chose 1 social setting over 'nother; but in 'nother way, i chose the more social'f the 2.   ever since the establishment'f the cal taekwondo party crew, i'd always considered taekwondo to be an extremely social aktivity 4 me.   4 so long, it was where i found most'f my friends n' where i maintained most'f my friendships.   however, i'm sort'f embarrassed to admit that in my current taekwondo environment, i sometimes feel a bit awkward cos i'm so old.   that's quite a contrast from the imediately previous discussion, eh?   well, i share the common bond'f taekwondo but sometimes get lost in the conversation when it switches to college life or worse yet high school life.   this surprises me cos i've always considered myself very immature, not just youthful but flat out immature.   who knew i could feel lost in a discussion via feeling 2 old?

피터 팬의 비애 (the sorrow'f peter pan): imagine being like peter pan n' thus 4ever young.   does peter pan ever feel like he doesn't fit in w/ all the kids he hangs out w/?   even tho' the kids perceive him on the outside as just 1'f them; inside, peter knows he's much older.   thus, does that make him feel awkward?   no, he doesn't want to grow up; and thus he should be happy that he never does.   however, does he ever feel weird that he can't help not wanting to grow up?   does he feel weird that he just knows so much more than the kids he hangs out w/?   they're discovering new things every day; but so many'f those things r such old news to peter.   he could be a total know.it.all to the kids he hangs out w/, but then he wouldn't fit in w/ them.   what does he think'f the people who were 1nce kids w/ him but have since grown up?   those kids grew up, got nice jobs, n' bought lexii (plural'f lexus).   no, he doesn't want a lexus; but does he feel weird that he doesn't?   un4tunately, i'm not literate 'nuff to have read peter pan, but i did watch robin williams's hook.

would i want to be a kid 'gain?   in addition watching to hook, i have watched movies like big, in which an adult takes on the form'f a youth.   last nite, @ ken's house, i saw our ol' hi skool senior class picture, leland hi skool class'f 1993.   funny, 4 that pic, i stood next to my ol' best friend jeff that i mentioned in sunday's entry "waking up early 4 skateboarding", 2006년02월05일.   in those days, i hadn't been hangin' out w/ him so much, un4tunately, prob'ly due to the "track" system (ap n' honours classes) as well as all my fast track extra.curricular aktivities like musik, cultural clubs, akademic clubs, n' church.   however, since he had been my best friend 4 most'f my childhoold; i'm glad i was fotographed next to him 4 that class pic.   it's funny cos i had crazy, dyed, deep red hair, n' he had dyed black hair.   neway, cing that pic was quite sumpthin'.   i saw all these faces that i barely recognised, ppl whose names sometimes escaped me.   i couldn't believe how much fashion has changed, especially 4 the ladies.   i could barely pick out ne females that didn't look dated, i.e. outmoded.   u know what tho'?   in a way i hope none'f them regret that 2day.   after all, u should look a li'l dated in ur hi skool pic cos that was a time'f life when u should've gone w/ the hippest trends @ the time, rt?   well, shoot... honestly, when i saw myself in the pic, i didn't look dated or outmoded.   i obviously didn't look like myself 2day, being that i was much heavier/fatter then.   however, i didn't look trendy; i just looked like some alternaculture misfit/punk.   do i regret that? heck no!   maybe i'm even immature 'nuf 2day to say i'm proud'f that.   if i could run 'round 2day w/ long, dyed purple hair but not be all fat like i was back then; would i?   heh, good question.   however, most likely not.   kaela sed b4 that she's very happy that i used to be like that in the past but is also happy that, in a way, i got it out'f my system.

[later] 저녁, 아직도 회사에서: i'm embarrassed to say this, but i'm still infatuated w/ the dean gray american edit internet album.   maybe roland'll be proud to hear that, since he was the 1 that pted me in its gen'l direktion.   no, more than that, i think he just plain sent me a link to dl it.   (ppl r just obsessed w/ jokes 'bout "in [such and such's] general direction" these days cos'f some unknown interest in role playing games, which apparently sometimes use that term.)   here's a comparison'f the track listings 4 the green day album versus the dean gray album.

trk#	green day american idiot enhanced	green day american idiot	dean gray american edit
01	american idiot	american idiot	american jesus
02	jesus of suburbia	jesus of suburbia: jesus of suburbia / city of the damned / idon't care/ dearly beloved	dr. who on holiday
03	city of the damned	holiday	boulevard of broken songs
04	i don't care	boulevard of broken dreams	the bad homecoming waiting
05	dearly beloved	are we the waiting	st. jimmy the prankster
06	tales of another broken home	st. jimmy	novocaine rhapsody
07	holiday	give me novacaine	impossible rebel
08	boulevard of broken dreams	she's a rebel	ashanti's letterbomb
09	are we waiting	extraordinary girl	greenday massacre
10	st. jimmy	letterbomb	whatsername (susanna hoffs)
11	give me novacaine	wake me up when september ends	boulevard of broken songs (dance mix 05)
12	she's a rebel	homecoming: the death of st. jimmy / east 12th st. / nobody likes you / rock and roll girlfriend
13	extraordinary girl	whatsername
14	letterbomb
15	wake me up when september ends
16	the death of st. jimmy
17	east 12th st.
18	nobody likes you
19	rock and roll girlfriend
20	we're coming home again
21	whatsername

[later] sometime last wk or so, when i wasted an evening watching stoopid google videos, i saw this 1 produktion by an asian college kid.   it was this artsy slideshowish piece 'bout (i can only guess) a gurlfriend who dumped him.   it just had repeated, flashing images'f him n' his gurlfriend w/ like broken lines separating them.   it also had pictures'f what i can only guess r prob'ly memorable places 4 the couple.   i couldn't tell which country this all took place.   i saw english signs, but it certainly didn't look like the usa.   neway, the film was set to "boulevard of broken dreams," n' was titled "i walk alone."   it's not the absolute kewlest thing i've ever cn, but it's slightly interesting.

[later] 밤, 아직도 회사에서: ah, i knew it!   the male vocals that get matched up w/ those from "boulevard of broken dreams" to make the duet in "boulevard of broken songs" r those'f oasis!   i knew it.   they're from oasis's "wonderwall."   uhm, do i have that album (cd)?

man, i'm not look 4 pity or nething, but it's sad how many times a day i check my inbox n' don't find ne personal e.mail.   even sadder is when i'm disapopinted in not even finding spam.

밤, 1126p: so i just got back from hangin' w/ tim fong @ borders.   kaela also came cos she sed she'd study.   we talked 'bout martial arts, n' they got me more inspired to do more martial arts.   i had some flashbacks to a time when i spent more time practicing taekwondo.   i also wonder, tho', how i can apply some'f the martial arts priniciples we discussed to snowboarding.

목요일 아침: 저의 손가락 끝들이 아파요.   my fingertips hurt.   they're dried n' cracked open.   yes, i've been using lotion; but somehow this morn, i found them split open.   this is not unusual 4 me, un4tunately.   this happens all 2 often.   however, 2day, it's even a bit painful to type.   this morn, i didn't go jogging.   instead, i sort'f slept in n' sort'f watched katie couric n' matt lauer banter in torino 'bout the winter olympik games.   c, yesterday morn, the beautiful kaela hwang got upset @ me 4 waking up early to jog but not waking her up.   2day, in a way, i played it safe by not getting out'f bed b4 her. *shrug* neway, while lying in bed, i pondered going to taekwondo sparring praktice 2nite n' thus skipping out on both jogging n' my lunchtime werkout.   (i have had days where i jogged in the morn, werked out @ the werk.com gym @ lunch, n' then went to taekwondo praktice in the evening.)   i thought maybe my ol' college roommate friend vince would have lunch w/ me 2day; but when i got into my office 2day, i got his e.mail that he'd like to skedule 4 2morrow instead.   ok.   well, i went to the werk.com gym to werkout during lunch.   after doing some leg lifts (lying on my back on the sit.up bench, holding the sit.up leg support thingy n' lowering n' raising my legs 2gether to the middle, left, n' rt) n' some biceps curls; i hopped on an open stairmaster.   instead'f puttint it on a fast setting.   i left it on a modest setting, @ which i could exercise w/o holding the rails.   while exercising, i concentrated on proper breathing.   it was a decent werkout.   neway, i resolved to go to the gym on next monday, n' just go out onto the shaded patio n' full.on praktice taekwondo... maybe i'll just do basic kicks, maybe i'll do 품새 poomsae.   i was inspired by talkin' 'bout martial arts w/ tim last nite, u know?   i've prevented myself from prakticing taekwondo 4 2 long now.   since moving back down to the sobay, i haven't praktice taekwondo nearly as much as i used to.   instead, i do more gym werkouts.   however, i realised 2day, "man, what i really like to do as far as physical aktivities r boardsports n' taekwondo!   when the heck did i get sucked into the whole gym fitness thing?   i'm not richard simmons.   i should just do the things i like.   @ the root'f it all, i should be the man god intended me to be.   last wk, a guy told me i should go play basketball w/ his grp.   i sed, 'yah, i'm horrible @ ballsports.'   he responded, 'no, don't worry; we just mess around n' play.   no 1's that great.'   well, what i was really trying to say n' what i should've sed is, 'i don't like ballsports.'   they just don't interest me."   every day, guys play basketball outside'f the werk.com gym.   why shouldn't i just find my shady spot on the patio n' do what i like.

30 going on 13: the other day, when i was skateboarding w/ sooni in the industrial neighbourhood outside'f the los gatos creek park, i came upon an intersektion where a middle.aged husband n' wife were getting out'f their silver beamer.   the wife had just put on rollerblades.   @ that instant, i thought, "wpw, isn't this funny?   maybe some ppl think that it's immature'f me, a 30.yr.old engr, to be out on a skateboard; but i'm really no more immature than this late 30s woman on her rollerblades.   we're both being a li'l bit youthful, i guess.   after all, i 'member being 12 yrs old in the late 1980s when i would ride a skateboard n' other kids would ride rollerblades."

last nite, out'f curiosity, i looked up on friendster ppl in the area over age 25 that skateboard.   urg, the results were pretty bleak.   i found plenty'f ppl; but these ppl listed like 20 hobbies each, so i knew like maybe only 1 or 2'f them really skateboard.   most'f them just put "skateboarding" on there 4 some unknown reason.   on my friendster profile, i just have "taekwondo, snowboarding, n' djing" as my hobbies.   yah, those r my core hobbies, my core competencies as far as extra.curricular aktivities.   also, online last nite, i wikied up "parkour."   yah, parkour's pretty kewl; but i don't think i'll ever add it to my list'f aktivities.   others have noted its relations to both skateboarding n' martial arts as well as gymnastiks.

go skate or go home: in the recent giant robot interview w/ daewon song that i read, daewon mentions that so many ppl 2day like skateboarding fashion but don't skate.   that's sooo true.   just think'f all the ppl who wear element t.shirts or dc skate shoes, etc.   it's pretty crazy.   back when i was a skateboardin' kid in the 1980s, the meanies in the grp would've got all'f these ppl poseurs.   however, wow! it's so accepted 2day.

[later] 1048p: dude, i'm watching the funniest video on video.google.com!!!   i got to it from bronx's junkyard.   search 4 "yellow fever."   dont worry, it's not as offensive in ne way as u might think.   ah, it is filmed @ ucsd!  i thought saw.   when i saw the library, that was a giveaway.   oh, if typing "yellow fever" into the search box cms to weird, try "wang fu productions" or aktually "wong fu productions."   again, it's really not as offensive as u might think; rather, it's a lighthearted look @ race.gender issues; very lighthearted.

금요일 아침: i wikied up some protestant denominations such as "evangelical covenant church" and "methodism,"   1 interesting fakt i learned is "The United Methodist Church allows for a wide range of theological and political beliefs.   For example, Republican President George W. Bush is a member.   Vice President Dick Cheney attends the United Methodist Church (though he is not a member).   Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are both members of the United Methodist Church."   i'd known 4 a li'l while that our church grx's evangelical covenant denomination was aktually established by swedish immigrants. *shrug* semi.interesting fakt...   altho' our church doesn't have female pastors, the denomination'll ordain female pastors.   i agree w/ that.   i've been somewhat curious 'bout the diffs btwn diff denominations 4 a while now.

last nite, i went to taekwondo sparring praktice n' got a bit banged up.   i need to spar more in order not to feel so banged up.   lemme tell u: the more u spar, the less those incidental knee clashes n' bashed arms hurt.   it's good to tuffen up!   after praktice, i came home n' ate a leftover quizno's sandwich that the beautiful kaela hwang had left in the fridge a few days 'go.   after i finished that small sandwich, i ate 2 many tortilla chips w/ salsa.

[later] 오후: yet more salsa - i met up w/ vince @ sunnyvale's cherry orchard strip mall.   we ate @ chipotle.   we each ate a barbacoa (braised, pulled beef) w/ black beans n' s'pposedly hot salsa; but we also shared an order'f 4 crispy chicken tacos.   mmmm... 'twas a pretty good meal, eatin' so much.   honestly, i was a li'l disappointed w/ some'f the fud @ chipotle, but the shear quantity that we ordered still satisfied me.   that was only my 2nd time @ chipotle.   the 1st time was in washington, d.c. when kaela n' i were there as part'f the martial arts demonstration team at the smithsonian institute's silk roads folklife festival in the summer'f 2002.   that time, i was so disappointed that a joint called "chipotle" served surprisingly mild n' somewhat bland fud.   as much as i want to like chipotle 4 its spicy name, i experienced the same feeling 2day.   don't get me wrong; the fud was fresh n' 'f decent quality; but it just didn't have the spiciness or spice i need.   i was happy to lunch w/ vince.   it's great to have just a casual lunch w/ a friend now n' then.

i found a link on tim fong's xanga to this interesting piece'f prose: "The Theory of Counterinsurgency in Six Easy Paragraphs" By William Christie; January 31, 2006.   that's great prose.

[later] 저녁, 아직도 직장에서: here's the wikipedia entry 4 chocolate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate.

[later] 밤, 831p: it's fri nite, n' i'm home typing on my laptop while sooni n' kaela both sleep.   it's only 831p!   kaela's tired, i know.   she studied late last nite n' went to skool early this morn.   i have absolutely [i]no[/i] clue what time she got home last nite.   however, since i skipped jogging this morning, i got to c her in the morn as she rushed to class.   neway...

discussion'f wong fu productions' obviously kick@$$ movie yellow fever: i'd like to share an excerpt from my recent post on bronx's junkyard forums:

Originally Posted by K-1:
Great video! Funny as f$#k! but I gotta say, that dilemma only applies to west coast asians.

yah, west coast asian.am culture certainly differs from east coast asian.am culture, no doubt!   well, as far as this "dilemma," i've gotta say that i notice so much more'f the 1980s~200s pacific rim phenomenon on the west coast than on the east coast.   the east coast is stilil more influenced by europe than asia.   here, on the west coast, yah, most ppl (asian or not) r influenced by asian culture, if not 4 ne other reason, 'least 4 bizness.   over here, so much bizness is btwn the u.s. n' asia.... take silicon valley's semiconduktor industry 4 example!   so many'f these employees either travel to asia or deal w/ asian customers who come over here.   thus, these ppl ('gain whether asian or not) pick up 'least a li'l asian culture, whether they like it or not... 4 example, yah... u get the white dudes that sure know how to say "ni hao ma."   heh, but it's more than that... like, u know, u get lots'f non.asians who r into asian pop culture (movies, music, anime, drama, fashion) n' definitely asian fud.   like, in cali, u definitely notice not just the caucasians pickin' up on asian culture but also the latino.chicano community.   dude, in gen'l, they're really into 1) pho w/ sri racha sauce, 2) kimchi ramyuhn, 3) japanime.based culture.   oh... n' martial arts of course!

furthermore, i know east coast asian.ams tend to stay w/in their ethnic community more so than west coast asian.ams... west coast asian.ams believe much more in the idea'f pan.asian.am ethnic identity, etc.   well... that's even more so in norcal than in socal.   the way my wife (benogurl) put it, in socal, u have more recent immigrants.   the language barrier keeps them w/in their ethnicity.   however, up in norcal, u have more asian immigrants that came here after college etc. (to a great extent to find jobs in the hi tech industries here), n' thus they n' their children end up mingling w/ ppl'f other asian ethnicities more.

...

also, there's sumpthin' else i wanna say 'bout this film.   well, maybe 2 things:

1) it's a great example'f filmakers' using the internet 4 distribution.

2) it's a great example'f how asian.am cinema has moved from an alternaculture realm to a more "mainstream" world.   what do i mean by that? well, have u been to asian.am film festivals?!   well, consider this: the recent hit better luck tomorrow, yah, that movie portrays well very typical cali asian.am kids.   however, that movie differs much from most asian.am movies in asian.am film fests in earlier yrs.   u c, in earlier yrs, most asian.am films were always made by the alternaculture types.   they weren't just asian.am films, they were distinktively indie films.   the films had indie rock tunes 4 soundtracks.   the charakters were more often rockers, bikers, punks, skaters, goths, hippies, intellekts/intellektuals, beatniks.   otherwise, consider this even more extreme example... that such a great percentage'f asian.am films in those asian.am film fests in the old days were gay films!   i was always annoyed by that... not cos i'm that homophobic or that i don't respekt gays... rather it's cos honestly, so few (in the big pikture) asians r gays, so why were so many asian.am films 'bout gay asians?!   it's cos gay asians were the asians who were out making movies while the heteros 'mongst us were going to engring n' bizness n' med skool!   however, times have changed.   sure, maybe it's to the chagrin'f some gay asians, but i feel modern asian.am cinema better portrays the lives'f well... "average" asian.ams.

[later] 952p: an ad - alibris

a li'l earlier, i went out to $hop 4 kaela's v.day present.   i discovered that what i want to get her is much more expen$ive in stores than it is online.   i don't htink it's worth buying it in a store just to have it by 2morrow.   after all, we're going to a really nice re$taurant 2morrow nite 4 dinner.   i've already told her it's a restaurant français n' that it's very nice.   since she doesn't read my journal nemore, i'm just gonna go 'head n' blab out where it is: it's chez tj in mtn view.   hopefully, that nice dinner'll make up 4 the tardiness'f the present. :-?   neway, after i gave up on buying the gift 2nite, i wanted to skateboard, so i gave myself the excuse'f needing to go to the bank n' skateboarded to the bank n' back to my car.   2nite, i was worried that i'm getting a cold cos my throat felt a li'l funny.   4 dinner... man... 4 dinner i ate trail mix, a slice'f white chedder cheese, n' then a slice'f whole fuds bread w/ some laffin' cow cheese (la vache qui rit fromage) n' a microwaved turkey ball park frank.   dude, that sounds like seriously bachelor fud, eh?   well, aktually, it tasted rather français to me... uh, ou peut.être il est juste mon imagination!   (or maybe it's just my imagination.)   in my mind, i pretended it was more'f a hot brie n' ham sandwich, u know?   sandwich au brie chaud et jambon!!!

i'm not a balla. - even tho' i'm not into basketball, i'm very happy that my alma mater cal berkeley beat stanfurd in men's basketball last nite.   kewl!

월요일 아침: "it's just another manic monday."   last nite, i stayed up 2late watching the 2006 winter olympik games on nbc 11.   i guess shaun white's the big winner, the only 1'f the hi profile u.s. athletes to have a success story.   i mean, michelle kwan dropped out due to an injury (n' i'm aktually really sad 'bout that even tho' i sed in an earlier entry that toby n' i thought she was really cocky the 1st time we saw her on tv), bode miller didn't place, neither did daron rahlves.   apollo anton ohno?   wipeout.   man, i feel bad 4 him 2.   like, sure i knew korea totally owns that sport, n' i'm all 4 that; but i would've like to c him 'least get to go to the finals.   i guess ... [interrupted]

plz use my link when u buy wedding presents etc.: link to macy's wedding n' gift registry

[later] 오후: 2day@werk.com, i moved cubicles.   now i'm farther from the entrance/exit n' rt next to my manager.   [later] cos'f the move, i didn't go to the gym 2day, so i didn't boldy praktice taekwondo like i sed i would.   yah, to be honest, i was already rethinking that.   after all, ppl from the main office bldg would be able to c me out there.   u know, yah, i'd be a li'l embarrased 'bout prakticing taekwondo w/ ppl watching me; but i've gotta remind myself that there's a diff btwn me n' ppl who really do make fools'f themselves prakticing martial arts in publik, n' that is that i aktually know what the heck i'm doing.   i mean, heck! i was a demo team leader; i specialise in doing taekwondo in publik!   what the heck, u know?   [later] 저녁: during my lunchbrk, i went downstairs to the werk.com cafeteria n' ate w/ a cowerker, maybe an effort to be more social, u know?   i had this mahi.mahi burger w/ fruit salad.

this past wknd was valentines wknd:

• 02월10일, 금
• i had lunch w/ vince @ sunnyvale's cherry orchard chipotle.
• we each ate a barbacoa braised, pulled beef burrito w/ the "not as hot as it was s'pposed to be" salsa n' split an order'f 4 chicken crispy tacos.
• oh, i already toldju 'bout all this.
• i came home n' the beautiful kaela hwang was asleep...
• i already toldju all this.
• 02��11일, 토
• woke up early n' skateboarded w/ sooni 'round the neighbourhood.
• i think parents n' kids @ the hi skool thought i was weird or maybe even a loser to be a 30.yr.old guy on a skateboard.   whatever.
• brought a tired sooni home.
• drove off to habitat 4 humanity but pulled over in the middle'f silicon valley (silly valley) to skateboard some more on my own.
• gettin' my ollie back: i realised what i needed to do diff'ly in orer to ollie.   u c, i'd read on a web page that, when u ollie, u've gotta jump 4ward.   yah, i guess so.   i guess when i was a kid, it came naturally, but i'd 4gotten what it felt like to jump 4ward in order to catch up w/ my board n' then go 4wards just a li'l more in order to push the board down in the middle'f the ollie.   ah; it all made sense.
• i went to habitat 4 humanity n' werked hard 4 a full day.
• we ate lunch @ baja fresh.   thus i had 2 corporate taqueria lunches in a row.
• man, that day @ habitat 4 humanity exhausted me!   our grp hammered n' hammered n' hammered.
• i showered, kaela came home from her chiropraktice board review in hayward, n' we went out to dinner @ chez tj, an extravagant, contemporary restaurant français on villa st. off'f castro st. in mtn view.
• kaela's order:
• baby octopus: fresh hearts'f palm, perserved lemon, berbere
• bay scallops n' sweet shrimp: vanilla.butter, wood ear shrooms, chard
• slow poached beef tenderloin: local shrooms, pearl barley, oxtail consomme
• bay leaf crême brulée: pear sorbet, hazelnuts
• decaf french roast café
• beno's order:
• chilled carrot soup: dungeness crab, sea urchin roe, lime
• spanish mackerel: poulpe "linguine," red lentil, cumin
• declinasion'f duck: huckleberries, red cabbage, roibus
• warm chocolate soup: roasted bananas, chestnut ice cream
• decaf french roast café
• wine: 2004 kabinett riesling, dr. loosen villa woolf, germany
• amuse bouche: avocado custard w/ salmon roe (ikura)
• sherbet: sweet apple gelatin
• we had a 630p reservation n' were thus in the 1st'f 2 seatings 4 the nite.   we finished early n' went home.   we were 2 dressed up to go watch a movie.
• as a v.day present, kaela gave me the latest depeche mode cd (the enhanced version w/ dvd) n' tix to go watch depeche mode live @ the shoreline amphitheatre on april 27!   wow!   i told her w/ my picking back up skateboarding n' then going to a depeche mode concert, it's really like i'm in hi skool 'gain!   this is kewl tho'.
• 02월12일, 일
• kaela went to her chiropraktic board review in hayward.
• i went to church, the 900a (earliest'f 3) services @ grx; met up w/ my mom there.
• after church, my mom n' i went to duk kyung's restaurant: sushi boat town in south san jo (south san josé).   i had a ¢oupon book ¢oupon, n' duk gave us the hookups as well.   'twas awesome!   i had a good lunch w/ my mom.
• 'twas a beautifully sunny day.   i'd told my mom that i'd go home n' clean; but i really wanted to stay out to enjoy the weather.   i discovered a song that was very appropriate 4 the day.   u should call it the theme song 4 yesterday.   epik high's "ride."
• i behaved n' went home n' did chores: laundry, vacuuming the house n' my car...
• then i took sooni out to buy some much needed gas @ costco.
• then i took her skateboarding 'round some silly valley office bldgs.   yah, it was a bizzier street so ppl so a 30.yr.old man riding a skateboard w/ a silly doggy.   whate'er, man!   let'em say what they wanna say.
• then i took sooni to pet fud express to buy her some yummy chummies.   she's better 'round other doggies now.   kaela n' i believe it's all cos'f her 1 day n' 1 nite w/ frankie.
• i went home.   kaela had some leftover enchiladas from chevy's.   we ate that n' some soggy salad.

"ride" by 에픽하이 epik high feat. l.wan

[song] baby~ baby baby baby~
너를 타는게 참 좋아 baby
baby~ baby baby baby~
너와 달리는게 좋아 baby~

[tablo]
일과도 끝나고 떠나 보고파도
그 좁은 차도위로 where you gonna go?
tablo skateboard타고
brake도 없다고 거리위로 큰파도
가슴은 두근두근 주변 사람은 수근수근
내 발밑에 뜬 근두운
작은 꿈을 꾸는 나 맘이 편해져 when i'm with ya
같은 곳을 향해 사랑의 평행선을 그리자
rail slidin' kick flipin' grindin'
난 상관없어 저 규칙의 사이렌
내 멋대로 살아요 내 천사는 그의 날개를 발목에 달았죠

[song]
baby~ baby baby baby~
너를 타는게 참 좋아 baby
baby~ baby baby baby~
너와 달리는게 좋아 baby~

[bridge]
i wanna ride with you my baby~
(on ma skateboard, on ma scooter, in ma car)
epik high mithra, tukutz, tablo!

[mithra 진]
오늘도 달려 나의 스쿠터는 바람속을 갈라
속도는 좀 느리다해도 외관은 달라
마치 탱크와도 같은 강인함속에
나와는 착 달라붙는 호흡 만족해
꽉 막힌 이 도시를 누비며 달려 어느 곳이든
부르릉 엔진 소리는 불빛의 눈이 모이는
도로의 흐름을 타고 외쳐 날 보라고
타 보라고 이 뒷자리의 주인을 찾노라고
난 원해 이 도시 새벽 공기를 가르며
두 팔로 날 안으며 바람 속에 둘만 남는 것
남은 건 남들의 쓴 시선을 다 받는 것
모두 웃어 넘길 그녀란 보석을 찾는 것

[song]
baby~ baby baby baby~
너를 타는게 참 좋아 baby
baby~ baby baby baby~
너와 달리는게 좋아 baby~

[bridge]
i wanna ride with you my baby~
(on ma skateboard, on ma scooter, in ma car)
epik high mithra, tukutz, tablo!

dude, that was the theme song 4 sunday.   i took sooni 4 a "ride" on my skateboard n' a ride in my car!

키노황@cheztj.com, kenohwang@cheztj.com

수요일 아침: in the end, last nite, i skipped taekwondo praktice.   i rushed home n' was gonna change (clothes) n' pick up sooni 4 taekwondo praktice; but then the beautiful kaela hwang came home.   that surprised me.   i thought she was just gonna study all nite as usual.   well, she sed she wanted to go out 4 a v.day dinner.   of course, i'd already taken her out to (mtn view's / mountain view's) chez tj (on villa st. off'f castro st.) on sat nite 4 an opulent meal.   however, she sed this 1'd be her treat.   we tried to find a restaurant in my gift checks ¢oupon book that didn't have a "no holidays" restriktion, since most merchants'd prob'ly be sneaky n' call v.day a holiday even tho' it obviously really isn't.   we 1st headed back out to mtn view, thinking we'd hit up some place called asian fusion café.   however, they were, to our surprise, closed on v.day evening.   whah?   r they just plain not very smart???   what kind'f restaurant closes on v.day evening?!   neway, we gave up on the gift checks book n' ended up @ a li'l, unpretentious joint called "pasta?".   btw, check out this online article 'bout the "gift checks, inc." company: "No discounting the success of this coupon book business".   until recently, i kept getting "gift checks" n' "entertainment book" mixed up.   when i was a kid, my mom'd sometimes buy these ¢oupon books.   i think the 1s she'd buy were "gift checks" books.

neway, after all this delay, we decided to visit "pasta?".   we 4tunately found a decent parking spot in a publik lot 'cross castro st. from the restaurant's hi profile location.   we walked in the cool, brisk, chilly february nite air.   in the past couple'f wks, the bay area has experienced abnormally warm weather in feb.   can u believe that they monterey area had 84 °f weather some day in the past couple'f wks?   that's amazing!   4 some reason, monterey was warmer than the bay area proper.   i dunno why, but there must be a logical, meteorological explanation.   as we approached the restaurant's entrance, i recognised a distant cowerker'f mine, n' she recognised me, so we waved hi.   it's funny cos kaela n' i'd also cn her @ santana row 1nce, which makes her 1'f very few cowerkers that i've cn out in publik.   i always wonder where my cowerkers hang out cos it's an absolutely huge company but i rarely c ne cowerkers in places where i frequent. *shrug* i wonder if many'f them just stay @ home n' don't go out.   neway, kaela n' i got seated @ 1'f the tightly spaced couple's tables.   kaela n' i figured they must've broken up dual tables originally set 4 4 into numerous 2.person tables 4 v.day, which in turn greatly reduced the space btwn tables.   having been sf area local in the past; i.e. since we used to hang out in sf all the time when we lived in berkeley; we were used to this tight table arrangement.   in sf, where land is obviously extremely precious, many successful n' critically acclaimed restaurants occupy small properties n' thus have tight space btwn tables.   also, i guess in sf, restaurants usually hardly "family establishments" but better fit 4 raomantik "couple's dinners," so having many "couple's tables" tightly spaced makes more sense. *shrug* neway, we sat down @ our table.   u know, i'm glad that encyclopedia brown books taught me as a kid how to properly sit @ at table as a lady n' gentleman couple, i.e. i, as a gentleman, know where to let my lady sit relative to the architecture'f the restaurant.   dude, i realise that so many guys these days don't know how to be gentlemen, but whatever, man.

@ "pasta?", we shared a insalata spinacci, which had plenty'f bacon.   kaela ordered some kind'f spaghetti tutti di mare.   i had this overpri¢ed (n' not worth it) fusilli con salciccia.   kaela had a glass'f pinot grigio w/ her meal, n' i had a glass'f "house" chianti.   'twas great to be out on v.day evening.   we decided not to have coffee or dessert @ the restaurant but instead head over to ne'f the numerous nearby boba cafés.   'twas very cold outside, so we hurried over to the nearby tapioca express that we spotted earlier from the parking lot.   we wanted hot drinks.   kaela tried out the hot barley milk tea w/ taro balls (which were cubes), n' i tried out their hot peanut soup.   we found it interesting what kind'f grps we saw out n' 'bout on v.day nite: couples, dates, friends...   kaela sed that it's ok 4 2 single gurls to go out sort'f to console each other on v.day nite but asked if it's ok 4 2 guys to do the same.   *shrug* i guess so.   i tried to think back to v.days past, when i was single. *shrug* i recalled 1 v.day in berkeley; i guess v.day 1999, when i went out w/ a grp'f guys from the cal taekwondo p. crew (party crew) but ended up mtg up w/ a co.ed group also from our taekwondo grp.   i recalled that was the nite i met several'f our friends like romy, young, n' tiffany.   after we finished our drinks, we went home.

[later] 저녁: during my lunchbrk, i went to the werk.com gym.   i lifted some weights n' then did my jumping plyometrik exercises.   i guess i'm gettin' ready 4 snowboarding this wknd.   i also did crunches n' reverse situps or back situps.   my back's felt pretty ok lately; but i worry that snowboarding n' (more so) driving'll strain my back this wknd.

화요일 오후: recently, i had a thought re: my journal - is it more important 4 me to dokument n' record my thoughts or my aktions???   is it more important 4 me to have plenty'f these weekend updates n' "what i ate 4 lunch" details, or is it more important 4 me to have long schpiels n' monologues re: asian.am culture, etc.?   *sigh* i guess diff ppl have diff kinds'f blogs: some talk 'bout all the fun things they do w/ their friends over the wknd.   others talk 'bout religion n' politiks n' don't mention much 'bout their personal lives.   what kind'f online journal should the beno journal be?   *shrug*

this was a pretty packed presidents day wknd.   i'm happy i aktually got mon off.   my company doesn't give out many holidays.   i guess i miss how the 1st company i werked 4 (ebmud had a 9.80 werk skedule, paid overtime, n' plenty'f holidays.   neway, i've been saying lately how on wknds, i hafta decide whether to be a skateboarder or a snowboarder.   on sat, i snowboarded.   on sun, i skateboarded.   on mon, i snowboarded.   pretty crazy, eh?

• 02월16일, 목 (thrus)
• werk as usual
• werk.com gym werkout @ lunch as usual
• cooked some refrigerator pack 짜장면 jjajangmyuhn in the morn to bring 4 lunch instead'f buying werk.com cafeteria fud.
• rushed home a li'l early (not early but simply "on time") to go watch cirque du soleil w/ the beautiful kaela hwang.
• met up w/ her classmate friend sna n' his gf ponya, went to dinner @ minato sushi in sj j.town.   (kaela ordered tempura udon, i ordered oyako donburi, n' we shared a minato roll.)
• we watched cirque.   i liked the bed trampoline akt, the chickens, n' the general silliness'f it all.
• 02월17일, 금 (fri)
• werk as usual
• during my lunchbrk, instead'f werkin' out @ the gym as usual, i took my car in 4 an oil change @ the santa clara precision tune auto care on east el camino real.
• ate a burger king salad while waitin' 4 my car.
• the shop sez i need to change out my timing belts n' radiator hoses.
• in the evening, (i wondered if we were gonna help judge the us taekwondo akademy 심사 belt tests but didn't) i took kaela out to dinner @ dusita, a surprisingly nice thai restaurant on el camino near san tomas.   we had a bogo (buy 1 get 1 free) entré ¢oupon from my gift checks ¢oupon book.
• potak soup
• shrimp pad see ew
• lemon basa (they were out'f seabass but offered a "white fish" called "basa.")
• 음료 beverages: thai ice tea 4 kaela n' a 11.5 oz bottle'f singha thai bier 4 me.
• we went home n' finally watched the 동감 donggam ("ditto") dvd that kaela's li'l bro jay gave us 4 christmas 2004.
• 02월18일, 토 (sat)
• woke up early 4 snowboarding: i was s'pposed to meet up w/ mark, grace, n' kaz @ kaz's house @ 530a; n' kaz was s'pposed to drive us up to sugar bowl in his pathfinder.   however, his pathfinder started to make a funny noise, so we switched to my car.   that would've been the 1st time in yrs where i went to tahoe 4 snowboarding but wasn't the driver!
• on the way up, we stopped by the burger king in cordelia to get brkfast.   u c, i received some burger king ¢oupon book in the mail a while 'go; so that's why i ate so much burger king .   i had the enormous brkfast sandwich.   i blotted much grease out'f that thing.
• chain control on the 80, but i have subaru all wheel drive on my 1999 forester s.
• well, on the slopes, i met up w/ matt (the kid that always beats me up @ taekwondo these days) n' snowboarded w/ him the whole day w/o ne fud, h₂o, or pee breaks!!!   dude, i'msure the last time i did that was w/ s.mike in the real s.mike days, rt?   crazy, dehydration made my muscles cramp up.   matt sed i needed to 1) put his friends in their places by showing them my snowboarding skillz, n' 2) teach him some things.   since he was so eager to ride w/ me, i couldn't refuse n' went w/o those breaks.   i finished the day by regrouping w/ my passengers @ the terrain park.   we had lots'f fun, n' every1 caught air.   however, i was more into riding rails than jumps cos the powder was slowing me down 2 much to get good air.   i think i ride rails better now; i hope so.   the sun shone thru 1nce in a while; but it snowed 4 a good while, n' mostly it was just plain cold.
• on our drive back, we stopped in sakramento to eat @ chili's.   i had the classic fajitas (steak n' chicken), a side salad w/ hunny moutarde dressing, n' blackberry ice tea.
• oh yah, kaela went to yet 'nother'f her chiropraktic seminars, n' that's why i went w/o her.   when i got home, she still wasn't home.
• 02월19일, 일 (sun)
• i woke up early n' skateboarded in the heart'f silicon valley, 'round my company n' other semiconduktor industry companies.
• to my surprise, kaela n' i made it to the 900a service @ our church grx.   i guess she was motivated cos we were set to meet her classmate friends rachel n' ken 4 lunch.
• b4 lunch but after service; rachel, ken, my mom, kaela, n' i went to costco.   we bought our kirkwood 2pac (2.pack) tix.
• then rachel, ken, kaela, n' i went to lunch @ 청기와 chunggiwa (blue stones), 1'f our favourite local korean joints.   we ordered 버섯 불고기 buhsuht boolgogi, 해물 전골 haemool juhngol, n' 해물 파전 haemool pajuhn.
• after lunch, kaela n' i went to sports basement to buy some hand/toe warmers then set out w/ sooni to look 4 snow.   'twas a bunch'f fruitless driving.   we tried to drive up to mt. hamilton; but 1) a sign sed the rd was closed, n' 2) i took a wrong turn n' got spit back 'way from the mtn neway.   (we drove thru 1'f san jo's few remaining "scary" neighbourhoods.   however, this area has really cleaned up,)   then, i took hwy 17 to look 4 snow in the santa cruz mtns.   crazy; i must've looked crazy w/ my snowboard still atop my car.   we found no snow, n' i turned 'round @ scotts valley.   i then drove us to whole fuds.   i let kaela go in n' gro¢ery $hop, while i took sooni 4 a walk, then skateboarded w/ her 'round the block.   i thought kaela'd be done by then; but i tied sooni outside n' went in.   she talked 4 a very, very, very long time w/ some 4mer classmate'f hers, this dude that talked 'bout how he was getting divorced n' all.
• we went home, n' i washed a ton'f dishes while kaela cooked pasta.
• my college program cowerkers called me, n' we made plans 4 snowboarding @ kirkwood; i was stoked that they were finally gonna snowboard w/ me this season.   in case u haven't noticed, i feel really unpopular these days.
• as usual these days, i went to sleep early.
• 02월20일, 월 (mon) - 대통령의 날
• we woke up 4 snowboarding.   kaela still woke up late, but i'm just glad she woke up.
• we picked up my cowerkers n' headed up to kirkwood, stopping by the downtown stockton mcyukyuk's 4 a sausage mcmuffin brkfast.   many homeless ppl n' daywerkers hang out there.   kaela sadly lost 1'f her wool mittens there. :-(
• chain control on the 88, but my forester was waved thru as usual.   plenty'f traffik tho'.   i'm sure the local yokels out there just get on the rd n' clog up traffik to pi$$ off bay area visitors.   kirkwood wants to expand (n' they definitely should), but locals r protesting it.
• we snowboarded a full day.   kaela n' i started out heading 2wards the side w/ sunrise.   we boarded there 4 a while n' ate a really cr@ppy lunch on that side.   then we made our way back to the original side (timber creek).   we boarded the terrain park @ the end.   yah, i had plenty'f fun riding rails n' catching air.   kaela caught lots'f air 2 n' had fun.   we didn't get to board w/ my cowerkers tho'.   i think they figure they can't keep up w/ us.   it was a sunshiney day.
• on the drive back, we stopped 'gain @ that mcyukyuk's to look 4 kaela's mitten, but it was lost 4 good.   kaela n' i ate some junk fud there: a spicy chicken sandwich meal n' a double ch.burger.
• i dropped kaela off 4 her chiropraktic tutoring lesson in fremont then drove my cowerkers back to santa clara.
• when i got home, i was exhausted.   i showered.   sooni barked 'bout noises outside, n' i saw a group'f teens on the sidewalk, hangin' out in the dark.   it looked like they were up to no good.   i heard them shaking spray paint cans.   i recognised them as a bunch'f white bmx biker kids that i'd cn @ a house down the street.   were they up to no good?   well, my having been a skateboard kid, i didn't wanna be quick to judge.   i went outside n' brought the garbage can in from the street, letting them know that i knew that they were there but nuthin' else.   i realised tho' that ppl might mistake me 4 a teenager myself maybe... i mean, i'm sure i don't look that young, but if u c m riding down the street on a skateboard, "30 yr.old engr" prob'ly isn't ur 1st thought.
• later, i dozed off, n' kaela woke me up, telling me to pick her up from her classmate's place in north park.

sometime last yr or so, i told duk to join mypoints.com to earn free stuff just 4 reading e.mail ads.   he joined it, n' i think he likes it.   i've earned 'lot'f free stuff from them over the yrs.   i get pts if i refer u, so lemme know if i can send u an invitation.

수요일 아침: w/ presidents day on mon, this wk's flying by.   even crazier; feb, as a short month, 's almost over.   it's still cold n' 'specially briskly chilly n' frosty in the morn.   (@ wendy's hamburgers, u can get a frosty n' chili.   it wouldn't be a really healthy meal, but u can do that.)   the cold weather, both here in the bay area n' up in tahoe, has cracked my fingertips open.   it hurts my rt pinky finger to type as the crack on that finger is right on the tip or pad.   i s'ppose i ought to bandage that tip up.

smartbargains: cuisinart smartpower premier blender cbt-500fr - $ale pri¢e $39.98 (retail $54.99)

[later] 오후: yesterday afternoon, the beautiful kaela hwang called me from 한국 마켓 hangook market.   she was gro¢ery $hopping.   i commented that our house had no fud.   that's strange tho' cos i did go to the rivermark $afeway last wk, didn't i?   was that not on wed nite a wk 'go? *shrug*   neway, she bought lots'f gro¢erie$ n' then went home.   after my long werkday, i went home to grab my stuff n' rush to taekwondo praktice.   of course, i would've liked kaela to join me: but instead, she stayed home to study (no surprise).   well, she also cooked dinner, so that was very nice.   i went to praktice, had a really relaxed/chill praktice, n' then came home.   i didn't get 2 much'f a werkout.   however, i wasted much time just chatting w/ guys.   matt sed he wants to get a freebord.   he sed that when he noticed my skateboard in my trunk.   a freebord's a skateboard that s'pposed to ride very much like a snowboard.   yah, that'd be fun; but... *shrug* hrm, do u think i should get 1? heh... it's ok.   they're s'pposed to be good 4 downhill riding.   s'pposedly u can carve n' stuff.   matt sed there's lots'f videos online.   i'll hafta check'em out.

neway, when i got home, i was happy to c that kaela had cooked us dinner. :-) i was very eager to eat.   this made me very happy.   kaela doesn't do this much, 'specially not nemore; but she not only cooked dinner but told me she vacuumed the house earlier.   well, as expekted, i found kaela in our bedrm watching the winter olympiks in there cos our living room tv doesn't get ne reception rt now cos we rn't getting dish netwerk @ the moment.   well, kaela loaded up a tray full'f fud to bring over to the bedrm, so we could sit on the floor n' watch the olympiks.   she made some mapo tofu kind'f dish that looked so delicious as well as some kind'f 찌개 jjigae... sumpthin' w/ lots'f 해물 haemool.   she loaded the tray w/ a big bowl'f the tofu n' then put 2 bowls'f healthy rice on there.   then she put a pot'f tea n' the whole pot'f 찌개 jjigae (stew/soup).   she walked off w/ the tray 2wards the bedrm n' asked me to bring some cups.   oh yah, she also put a couple'f plastik containers'f 반찬 banchan on there.   as i reached into the cabinet 4 the cups, i heard a loud, loud, loud crash n' breaking porcelain. <:-o :'(   oh no!!!! she had run into the vacuum cleaner that she left out in the hallway from earlier n' everything fell!!!   there was red 찌개 all over our beautiful walls, on our beautiful vettriano painting, n' even on the ceiling!!!   it was awful!!!   we were both very sad.   kaela had werked so hard to cook us a nice dinner, n' now it was pretty much all gone.   i spent a long time cleaning up the mess.   i ate the li'l bit'f remaining tofu w/ a li'l bit'f the remaining healthy rice.

we watched some olympik women's figure skating.   i was impressed w/ what i saw.   it was very easy 4 me to fall asleep after the olympiks show was over.   i could barely stay 'wake 4 the news n' the beginning'f leno.   these days, i sleep early n' wake up early.   however, i've developed a bad habit'f waking up @ 600a only to sit in the bed 4 1~1.5 hrs watching the nbc 11 news n' the today show.   sure, it's nice to keep up on current events, but i ought to get my @$$ to werk even earlier, despite the fakt that i'm pretty much the 1st 1 in my grp to get there each day.   luckily, i have an easy commute.

last nite, sooni barked cos our neighbours' kid had some loud friends over or sumpthin'.   it was like on mon nite when i heard those loud, white bmx kids out on the sidewalk, sounding like they were up to no good n' ready to graffiti w/ spray paint.   i let sooni out into the backyard cos @ 1st, i wondered if there were kids breaking into our backyard.   then i realised that the sound was coming from outside our neighbours' house, n' that it was their kid n' his friends.   dude, when did the kids in my neighbourhood become so rowdy?   this morn, i saw cigarette packs on the street in fron of my house.   annoyed, i kicked them 2wards our neighbours' house.   i talk to the dad now n' then.   he's a really nice guy, a house painter.   the mom's talked to me 1nce.   i guess she's shy; so she only talked to me 1nce to confirm that the power was out on the whole street 1 day a long while 'go.   the son?   he's like 1~2 yrs out'f hi skool.   i've never talked to him; but i'd be willing to.   the neighbourhood hi skool cms to have some kind' f "ski week" this wk cos i don't c cars parked out on the street by the skool.   i feel so awkward that i can sometimes be mistaken 4 a teenage punk on my skateboard, yet @ nite i must resemble a grouchy, cranky senior, old man.   i s'ppose some ppl'd say i ought to mature n' akt like the 30.sumpthin' neo.yuppie i'm s'pposed to be.   however, *sigh* that's just not me, man.

[later] "see the stars.   they're shining bright.   everything's alright tonight." - from depeche mode's "never let me down again"   while listening to "nothing's impossible" from depeche mode's current playing the angel album, i'm reminded'f those lines from their ol', monumental music for the masses album.   however, i'd always been mistaken, under the impression that the line was "see thes stars.   they're shining bright, shining bright for me tonight."   *shrug* of course, the smashing pumpkins had an awesome cover'f that tune in the 1990s.   isn't their an album'f depeche mode covers on which the cure does a depeche mode cover???   depeche mode (n' maybe also smashing pumpkins) fanatiks sometimes acronymise "never let me down again" as "nlmda," similar to how trekkies acronymise "the next generation" as "tng."   this new "playing the angel" album leaves us in awe w/ how it blends sounds from d.mod's past w/ new sounds.   wow!   @ times, i feel like i could be listening to b.sides from music for the masses or else from songs of faith and devotion.   of course, i've yet to hear a new depeche mode song that is 2 reminiscent'f speak n' spell, which's their 1st album.   wow, imagine if they had a song similar to "boys say go" or "pretty boy" in this post black celebration era.   yah, i think if u take d.mod pre.1986 n' juxtapose it w/ d.mod post.1986, u'll find plenty'f contrast.   aktually, i guess few ppl know what d.mod was like pre. catching up 'cept 4 "just can't get enough."   wow.   u ppl don't know what d.mod was like under the influence'f erasure's vincent clarke, eh?   ooh, man... u guys have 'lot to learn.   i wish i could teach a berkeley de.cal musik appreciation class re: d.mod.   uhm, in case u didn't figure it out, "d.mod" was an appreviation 4 "depeche mode," that some ppl used in the late 1980s.   back then, alt rock (alternative rock) was called modern rock n' usually abbreviated as "mod."   in a way, the poppiest that d.mod's been since the black celebration era is their violator album.   some'f those songs were quite poppy.   of course, "but not tonight," which is 1'f my all time favourite songs, from black celebration, 's an obvious exception.   it was featured on the soundtrack to some kind'f teenybopper movie.   i think 'twas a british movie.   later, scott weiland from the stone temple pilots covered it 4 not another teenage movie's soundtrack.   that cover, however, took it from it's parodoxically chipper form into a more somber mode, sumpthin' ppl've come to expekt more'f d.mod themselves, rt?

"Americans work more, seem to accomplish less: study" - y! news article by ellen wulfhorst.

월요일 아침: do u guys know the christian author max lucado?   a long time 'go, our ol' church gave me a copy of his book when god whispers your name as a graduation present from grad skool.   honestly, i hadn't gotten 'round to reading it.   however, yesterday, while i was waiting 4 nelson @ valley fair, i went into borders express n' decided to check out their limited selektion'f religious books, their christian books in particular.   max lucado's li'l book it's not about me caught my eye because the li'l hardcover book looked invitingly short, not some verbose beast that'd throw me into slumber.   i flipped thru it's not about me n' found it interesting.   however, yah, i guess i already have max lucado's when god whispers your name, so i'll try to read it now.   neway, cos i saw max's book, i went to his website http://www.maxlucado.com.   i read his piece 'bout god n' war, which he apparently wrote in 2003 when dubyah's ridiculous war on iraq began.   well, altho' i was disappointed to find his writing to be all 2 much in the typikal "i'm a christian conservative n' thus must support the republikan president (altho' i never supported demokratik clinton)" style, i'm open.minded n' objektive 'nuff to find wisdom in it nonetheless.   in this piece, max quotes c.s. lewis:

"does loving your enemy mean not punishing him?   no, for loving myself does not mean that i ought not to subject myself to punishment - even death.   if you had committed a murder, the right christian thing to do would be to give yourself up to the police and be hanged.   it is, therefore, in my opinion, perfectly right for a christian judge to sentence a man to death or a christian soldier to kill an enemy.   i always have thought so, ever since i became a christian, and long before the war, and i still think so now that we are at peace.   it is no good quoting 'thou shalt not kill.'   there are two greek words: the ordinary word to kill and the word to murder.   and when christ quotes that commandment he uses the murder one in all three accounts, matthew, mark, and luke.   and i am told there is the same distinction in hebrew.   all killing is not murder any more than all sexual intercourse is adultery.   when soldiers came to st. john the baptist asking what to do, he never remotely suggested that they ought to leave the army: nor did christ when he met a roman sergeant-major - what they called a centurion.   the idea of the knight - the christian in arms for the defence of a good cause - is one of the great christian ideas.   war is a dreadful thing, and i can respect an honest pacifist, thought i think he is entirely mistaken."

[later] dude, i'm on such a trip reading the website 4 the evangelical covenant church's magazine the covenant companion.   dude, the articles r so wise n' talk 'bout important, "relevant" issues!

[later] 오후: i went out in the rain to meet the beautiful kaela hwang in milpitas @ some strange chinese restaurant called zhao's hot pot that has "i love you little sheep" and "i'm hungry little sheep" writtn on the windows.   when she invited me onver the fon to join her there, she called the restaurant "i love you little sheep."   neway, she ordered the neuromien (beef stewe noodles) w/ wide noodles 4 herself n' the spicy hot pot noodles 4 me.   i got there just b4 the fud arrived.   my dish was a li'l weird w/ tons'f healthy animal parts/organs.   it only weirded me out a li'l cos i'm asian 'nuff to eat organs n' parts, no biggie.   i enjoyed the intestines n' tripe fine.   the liver pieces were a li'l strong in flavour n' the blood (선지) was more solid than what i was used to eating in 해장국 haejanggook.   i had had such a frustrating morning @ werk that i was very glad to drive thru the rain to eat animal parts.   kaela doesn't know how much i appreciated having lunch w/ her just now.   these r the kind'f mon morns that can really crush a man!   i refuse to gripe 'bout werk on my journal cos i value my job.

[later] "stupid, sexy flanders": sometimes i wonder if i'm 2 much'f a ned flanders.   sure i'm all wrapped up in church aktivities like ned flanders, but let's not consider that 2 much'f a bad thing.   however, sometimes, if u ask me, fladers has a hard time accepting his salvation thru jesus christ's crucifixion and worries 2 much 'bout legalistiks or buying his salvation thru deeds or aktions or behaviour.   i shouldn't be like that.   am i sometimes 2 much'f a goody.goody?   well, that's not my main concern 'bout being 2 much like ned flanders, tho'.   ned flanders bottles up his anger n' is just all grins n' chuckles n' "hi diddly ho there, neighborino" all the time, rt?   do i just bottle up my anger all the time?   seriously, i'm trying not to be a passive aggressive.   i'm also trying not to be a doormat.   in some episdoes, u c that ned's aktually very fit, very buff, n' very athletik.   yah, i wouldn't mind being those things.

now, where did i leave off updating u on my life?   i guess i left off w/ last wed.   lessee, on last tues nite, kaela tried so hard to cook us a wonderful dinner but ended up spilling it all on the hallway floor.   *sigh* that was sad. :-( wed nite, i think i cooked us dinner, didn't i?   or no?   hrm, maybe i'm thinkin' 'bout fri nite.   hrm, wed nite... i think i just ate leftovers by myself.   i ate leftovers from the wk's b4's dinner @ minato sushi as well as the previous sun's lunch @ 청기와 chunggiwa.   1 day last wk, i don't 'member which, i ate a sandwich 4 lunch from the werk.com cafeteria n' 'nother day i ate a salad from the werk.com cafeteria.   on thurs nite, after taekwondo sparring praktice, a bunch'f us went to eat @ 옛날 짜장 yeitnal jjajang.   'twas a fun nite, n' i enjoyed socialising w/ the taekwondo guys.   kaela also came out w/ us.   i ate 쇠고기 볶음빱, which comes w/ a side'f 짜장 jjajang n' a side'f 짬뽕 국물 jjambbong gookmool.   'twas a great dinner, but i really should cut back on my eating!   lately, i've just let loose, let go; but i shouldn't.   on fri, i had free werk.com pizza (not very good) 4 lunch during some lunchtime seminar.   in the evening, after werk n' b4 going to grx t3 south couples small group by myself, i cooked some 우동 oodong @ home 4 kaela n' me.   that was decently tasty.   on my way home from small group, i stopped by the homestead, santa clara safeway to buy some gro¢eries such as organik 오렌지 쥬스 oreinji jyooseu, black olive hummus, honey ham, honey turkey, n' bananas.   @ safeway, there was this grp'f somewhat rowdy hi skool kids.   the guys were trying to look all the gangstaish, n' the gurls were basikally wearing nuthin' more than l!ngerie, walkin' 'round the store (like, some kind'f silk nightgownish, short dresses w/ garter belts... seriously/honestly, i didn't get a good look).   sure, it's all got this "shock value," n' the gurls were attrakting attention by dressing like that.   however, i heard these 2 safeway employee guys talkin'.   i'm sure the 1st guy sed sumpthin' like, "dude, look @ that."   i heard the other guy reply, "dude, i'm not gonna look @ that.   they're just kids.   what am i gonna do?"   i know what he means.   i knew what he meant.   like, sure these gurls r attrakting attention by showing flesh; but really, 'f what interest is that to me?   sure, i'm a guy, a hetero guy; but like... still, that's not'f interest to me, so i'm not gonna stop n' stare n' encourage that kind'f nonsense.   that brings me to a somewhat related topik: as i'm a guy, yah, if a pretty gurl walks by, in all honesty, yah, i might notice that the gurl is pretty.   however, there's no reason 4 me to dwell on it.   i'm a married man; n' in fakt, i've married a woman that u all know i believe is the most beautiful woman in the world.   i know other beauty exists in this world; but well... so it does.   what more would i say 'bout that, u know?   it's good that beauty exists in this world; n' if u ask me, we should all try to make this world a more beautiful place. "there he goes 'gain, that ned flanders!"

on sat morn after kaela left 4 her weekend chiropraktic class (she basikally has been going to chiropraktic classes 7 days a week these days), i took sooni 4 a jog 'round the neighbourhood.   then i drove to church (grx) n' skateboarded 'round that area 4 a while.   on sat, i started noticing sunnyvale police watching me so closely when i'm on my skateboard.   wow, this is such a life lesson 4 me: if ppl view me as a 30 yr.old asian.am engr, the cops won't watch me like this.   however, when ppl view me as some punk, counterculture skateboarder, the cops r watching my every move.   i noticed this - if i just roll by n' skateboard as if i'm doing it 4 transportation, it's not as bad as if i cm to be lingering in 1 spot trying to do tricks etc.   in dog.training, we have a phrase "four on the floor," which means that a well.behaved doggy has all 4 paws on the floor, thus he's not jumpin' all over the place or humpin' legs or nething.   well, it cms that "four on the floor" applies to skateboarders 2.   cops'll tolerate skateboarders better if we're just rolling on all 4.   if they c wheels leave the ground, then they'll suspekt that we're out to grind up precious architecture.   "skate and destroy" used to be a motto.   i'm slowly getting my ollie back, but i noticed on sat that i'm now wearing an ollie hole in my vintage style reebok sneakers.   altho' kaela cms to detest those shoes, i like'em; so i guess i'll go to designer shoe warehouse (dsw) n' buy a ¢heap pair'f skateboarding shoes sometime soon.   on sat morn, i werked @ grx, packing up stuff n' moving stuff out to p.o.d.s. (portable on demand storage).   it was good exercise.   'twas a dangerously sunny day.   i don't want skin cancer.   after moving stuff, i thought i'd go to cityteam ministries to help out w/ the bbq there to help feed hungry ppl.   well... i got lost on the way n' never made it.   instead, i went to the great mall to look 4 b.day persents.   i didn't find ne presents but ate a somewhat unhealthy lunch there @ some chinese or vietnamese owned japanese fast fud stand in the fud ct.   the fud was mediocre n' overpri¢ed.   i bought some huge combo meal cos it came w/ a free soda; but that was cos i didn't realise how big the combo meal was.   had i known, i would've bought sumpthin' smaller n' ¢heaper.   i had a yakitori skewer, some beef teriyaki, some steamed white rice, 2 만두 mandoo (gyoza), some chow mein, n' some steamed veggies .   i ate my lunch, trying to eat slowly 4 better health.   then i strolled 'round the mall but found no good gifts.   i noticed that abercrummy n' b!t¢h has decided to make a strong presence @ the great mall to funnel loose change out'f kids while pushing their racist, white suprema¢i$t agenda.   i also noticed lots'f asian.owned n' operated novelty stores that reminded me'f taiwanese nite markets.   not finding nething, i left the mall but walked into home depot to look 4 a ¢heap, small adjustable wrench to keep in my car 4 snowboard n' skateboard maintenance.   eh, they were out, so i wasted my time but $aved $$$.   the 6" adjustable wrench was $9.99.   dude, @ that pri¢ i might as well buy a specialised skateboard maintenance tool, sumpthin' like what used to be called a "skate key."   eventually, i'll need to clean n' lubricate my bearings.

well, kaela n' i were s'pposed to take grace n' ken out 4 their b.days on sat nite, but they cancelled on us n' reskeduled 4 sun nite.   after i came home from the great mall (it was hot outside!) i rested on the couch n' felt like i was really "taking a sabbath" 4 1nce.   god wants us to take a sabbath 1nce in a while.   i surfed the web 4 clips'f olympik snowboarding n' also 4 skateboarding videos.   wow, daewon song's amazing.   @ nite, i took kaela to dinner @ khanh's the contemporary vietnamese restaurant by valley fair.   then we went to amc mercado 20 to watch the pink panther.

[later] wow, i just found some lost journal entries from last dec: 2005년12월14일~16일.

화요일 아침: i had a very frustrating day @ werk yesterday.   @ the start of the day, in the morn, i had to interakt w/ this particuluar person who has absolutely no ppl skills or tact.   i, of course, won't say who it is or whether he even is a co.werker or or just some1 i hafta interakt w/.   interakting w/ this guy reminds me'f interakting w/ a certain dysfunktional roommate i used to have, some1 who also completely lacked ppl skills or tact.   ppl like these do n' say mean things just cos they can.   sure, they're totally entitled to; it's a free world, there's freedom'f speech; n' their harsh wurds r s'pposedly even helpful cos they're s'pposedly so honest n' candid n' such good feedback or whatnot.   however, in the end these r just lame excuses 4 lack'f charakter, excuses to be mean just cos perhaps ppl've been mean to these ppl in their pasts, so they want to lash out @ whomever they can n' @ whomever cms to be a nice 'nuff guy to take their verbal n' emotional abuse.   r these viktims just nice ppl?   they obviously r trying to be nice ppl but these awful charakters try their patience, i'll say.   these nasty ppl r obsessed w/ legalistiks but ignore justice.   it's a mad world, i tell ya.   all this passive aggression in various forms n' the awful thought that u've either gotta be passive aggressive or else a total outrt, explict @$$hole.   yah, u could put it that way: if u call the ppl who rn't like these guys "pushovers," then obviously, these ppl r flat out @$$holes.

neway... just dealing w/ the cr@p i had to put up w/ yesterday morn seriously "ruined" my day.   it was a stormily, dreary day.   however, altho' my day was "quote/unquote ruined," lemme tell u: 'twas just what i needed.   god does everything 4 a purpose.   the hilites'f my day yesterday were when i drove out to milpitas to have lunch w/ the beautiful kaela hwang n' when i drove out to her skool @ nite to pick her up to get boba @ fantasia@rivermark.   the dung i had to smell all day helped me cherish n' savour the happy time i had w/ kaela.   uhm... did that come out bad/poorly?   well, don't take it the wrong way.   let's instead say, it "put things into perspektive."   u won't find ulitmate glory in werk; n', yah, u won't find ultimate glory in ne person either.   however, yesterday, i knew kaela was such a blessing to me from god.

[a few mins later] i just read an e.mail from philip huang that he concluded w/ "My dad once told me it's not good to date something on 2/28, so I'll send this right off."   really?!   well, i've already dated this journal entry as "2006.02.28."   would this have nething to do w/ the 228 massacre'f taiwanese ppl by r.o.c. chinese? *shrug*

[later] the great divide: yesterday, i was talkin' 'bout christian author max lucado n' his maxlucado.com website.   yah, i realise that, altho' i share religious beliefs w/ many'f these prominent christian authors, i don't share their politikal views.   heck, max lucado even has a short composition on his page that is titled "8/30/04: prayer from the republican national convention"!   a few wks 'go, i was @ costco, n' i spotted a book w/ some cute laborador retrievers on the cover.   it turned out to be a book by max lucado, a new book titled the cure for the common life: living in your sweet spot.   i started to browse thru the book n' found it mostly pleasant 'cept 4 a passage that sed sumpthin' like: 'if there were no sin in the world, certain professions would cease to exist such as pro$tituion, casino and nightclub management...'   as a dj who wouldn't mind djing @ a niteclub just cos i love musik, i hate to read stuff like that, sumpthin' that equates niteclubs n' clubbing w/ evil.   that's awful.   neway, i still find wisdom in the max lucado's writing even tho' i don't share politiks or social interests w/ him.

this reminds me'f how i know many asian.am churchgoers that would describe themselves as "conservative christians" n' who vote striktly republikan yet also enjoy being "cool" asians n' thus r into nba basketball n' the mtv hip hop scene or else into altrock n' hollywood.   now, these ppl consider certain aktors, athletes, musicians, or celebrities as their heroes, ppl they look up to.   however, do they really think 50 cent, kanye west, n' kobe bryant voted 4 the repbulikan administration that consciously allowed the demolition'f new orleans?   *shrug* maybe these celebs all feared senator kerry's $200k/yr schpiel as they obviously find themselves in a hi income bracket now.   however, nah, i'm sure not all rich celebs've sold out.   i c 1s that stick to their priniciples.   neway, so i've wondered how some'f these "cool" asian, "christian conservative" republikans reconciles the gap btwn their hip.hop, rock n' roll, hollywoodland n' their politiks?   lemme emphasize that this isn't just a "christian conservative" thing, i also know non.christian, "cool" asians n' non.asians that r fans'f obviously politkally progressive musicians n' celebs yet cling to conservative politiks.   it's just that i'm talkin' 'bout what i've cn in my subculture.   i wonder if these ppl think "oh, bono's a musikal mastermind, but he's a li'l wobbly in the head when it comes to politiks."   is that what they say?   *shrug* that makes me wonder if there exists politikal conservatives who love michael moore as a filmmaker. *shrug* yah, i bet these ppl exist.   well, if u look up to some1 or respekt some1 4 his/her talent, it doesn't mean u hafta absorb all his/her beliefs n' lifestyle.   after all, i think erasure's andy bell's a talented singer, but i don't share his s3xual orientation.   on the flipside, i can listen to my pastor quote dr. james dobson from focus on the family as a great christian man w/ good things to say, but i don't like the kind'f bigotry that his approach to varied s3xual orientations cms to inspire.

the cover story'f last wk's silicon valley metro was "does god love gays?", an article 'bout a christian, lesbian filmmaker.   it's a somewhat interesting article.

[later] use ¢oupon ¢ode CCAAFF @ ccs (boardsports gear) to get free shipping on orders over $90.

4 lunch, i paid $12 to join in the division potluck.   sure, the fud wasn't quite worth the exorbitant $12 price, n' i wished i had volunteered to bring a dish instead'f paying $12, but i was happy to have a chance finally to socialise in a relaxed atmosphere w/ some'f my cowerkers.

apple 'puters ads:
- ipod hi.fi home stereo system w/ free $hipping
- mac mini w/ intel core

[later] 밤, 1052p: 2day, i ate plenty @ the werk.com potluck.   there was lots'f pilipino/pinoy n' indian fud.   after werk, kaela n' i went to taekwondo praktice.   that made me happy.   then we got boba from the cupertino fantasia.   then we came home n' ate some 찐만두 jjinmandoo.

수요일 저녁: i found this on my cousin naomi's xanga: "A higher power: U.S. snowboarder Clark finds her victory elsewhere" by yi.wyn yen.   (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/writers/02/13/clark.pipe/)   wow, so olympik snowboarder kelly clark's a christian.   that inspires me more to start some kind'f boardsports ministry @ our church.   "Though she was unable to capitalize on another Olympic medal, Clark takes comfort in her new identity as a Christian."

목요일 아침: check out this web page: http://www.urbanonramps.com/rc/nbc_profile.html.   here's a snippet: "Carlos Santana is one person for whom NBC's strategy made the difference.   A warm greeting, hot coffee and soothing music before church began, and a relevant sermon arrested Santana on his first visit.   'I had a feeling that this was my home,' Santana says.   Feelings aren't everything, but they are a great start.   Santana not only committed hismelf and his family to NBC, he brought cousins and in-laws, too.   He drew them with a simple yet compelling reason: 'NBC is good soil.'"   it's funny that lately i cm to be listing off names'f famous n' semi.famous ppl who share my religion/faith.   it's as if i'm providing references or showing off endorsements or sumpthin'.   i hope i'm not giving the wrong impression, etc.   i've talked 'bout christian hosoi, kelly clark, n' now carlos santana, rt?   i still wanna send a letter to pastor hosoi someday to let him know that what he's doing's so awesome.

i still haven't had a chance to buy some skateboarding shoes.   in case i haven't mentioned it, the reason i want skateboarding shoes to wear instead'f just my ol' sneakers is cos i'm starting to wear an ollie hole in my left shoe.   when u ollie, u drag the outside'f ur left foot up, across the deck's griptape.   that's like sandpapering down ur shoe.   i'm trying to find time to go out to designer shoe warehouse (dsw) on stevens crk blvd to $hop 4 a pair'f skateboarding shoes, but i just never have time cos my werk sucks up so much'f my time.   i don't have free time nemore.   this is such the typical silicon valley (engr) story, huh?   i get into werk b4 the sun fully rises n' leave way after it has set.   i don't have time to visit stores, run errands, do gro¢ery $hopping, yarwerk, nuthin'!   is this ne way to live life?!   the semiconduktor manu equipment industry's vicious, so we werk hard.   competing 'gainst engrs from india n' china, i guess, is vicious; so we werk hard.   i don't wanna be such a werker bee or werker ant tho'.   i wanna feel that my ability to innovate gives me an advantage.   i have opposable thumbs.

neway, back to the issue'f the skateboarding shoes: i know costco sells a pair'f very plain, prob'ly rather outdated dc brand skateboarding shoes 4 like $39.95 or so.   i've pondered buying those since costco's nearby n' accessible.   it's such a tragedy that i can't even make it out to the shoe store tho'.   the costco dc shoes r white, n' i typically don't wear white shoes or socks.   when'll i ever find time to break 'way from the worn out werk routine to visit a shoe store only to throw 'way my $$$?

[later] about.com article: top 10 skateboard shoes

b4 i write nething else, i need to thank the beautiful kaela hwang 4 stopping by my gbook n' filling it out.   'tis 'bout time i answered the questions myself n' changed them 'gain 4 my guests.

[later] she werks hard 4 her $$$, so hard 4 it, bunny: a few entries 'go, i mentioned a y! news article: "Americans work more, seem to accomplish less: study" (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060222/hl_nm/life_work_dc).   i knew that article'd be a hit w/ the blogger crowd. :-) check out the google results 4 "americans work more, seem to accomplish less": http://www.google.co.kr/search?hl=ko&q=americans+work+more%2C+seem+to+accomplish+less&lr=.   of course, web searches r dynamik (they change over time); but as'f 2day, i get lots'f blog hits w/ that search.   personally, i like the article n' find the statements found w/in to hold very true:

• "Most U.S. workers say they feel rushed on the job, but they are getting less accomplished than a decade ago. . ."
• lessee, what was i doing a decade 'go?   1996?   well, i didn't have a job a decade 'go, did i?   i was simply a full time student, rt?   however, including my 1st engineering co.op job, i have almost been in the amerikan werkforce as an engr 4 almost a decade!   back then, we had e.mail n' some internet access.   however, it wasn't 2 uncommon not to have internet access, n' we had much less to view n' visit on the internet.   of course, i was already writing my online journal, yah.   a decade 'go, cellfons were much less prominent, but pagers abounded.
• "The biggest culprit is the technology that was supposed to make work quicker and easier. . ."
• i am pro.teknology, n' i don't think i agree w/ that statement.   well, i think it's a li'l true but not 100%.
• "'We never concentrate on one task anymore.   You take a little chip out of it, and then you're on to the next thing,' Challenger said on Wednesday.   'It's harder to feel like you're accomplishing something.'"
• ok, yah; i totally agree w/ that.   i think that it isn't so much that we use multi.tasking 'puters to goof off while werking as that multi.tasking werk.related tasks is slowing is down a bunch.
• "The average time spent on a computer at work was almost 16 hours a week last year, compared with 9.5 hours a decade ago. . ."
• dude, as an engr; i spent much more than 16 hrs/wk on the 'puter... more like 16 hrs/day!   almost, but not quite...
• "Sixty percent of workers say they always or frequently feel rushed, but those who feel extremely or very productive dropped to 51 percent from 83 percent in 1994. . ."
• heck yah, i feel rushed.
• "[new technology] just increases the expectations that people have for your production. . .   Even if productivity increases, it's constantly outpaced by those expectations. . ."
• yah, maybe... ppl tell u to get their tasks done rt 'way more often now cos they know u can multi.task w/ windows (or whatever other oses ppl r using).
• "Companies that are flexible with workers' time and give workers the most control over their tasks tend to fare better against the sea of rising expectations. . ."
• hrm, really?   well, that's a very useful fakt!
• "Businesses that have moved to 24-hour operations, bosses who micro-manage and longer commutes all add to the problem, they said, while downsizing leaves fewer workers doing the work of those who left."
• that's the most important statement in the article.   let's repeat it in bold!
• "Businesses that have moved to 24-hour operations, bosses who micro-manage and longer commutes all add to the problem, they said, while downsizing leaves fewer workers doing the work of those who left."
• dude, i'm so blessed w/ a short commute.
• "Finally, there's a trend among companies to measure job performance like never before. . .   There's a sense that no matter how much I do, it's never enough. . ."
• that's the last sentence.

[later] thurs nite's fight club: i think 2nite i'll go to taekwondo sparring praktice.   when i started out this wk, i believed i'd skip this thurs's taekwondo sparring praktice to do base repair on my santa cruz gian simmen pro model x152 snowboard.   on our last trip out to kirkwood on presidents day, i made 1 decent scratch on my board's base.   i'm not 2 sure how it happened, but i have a theory: @ 1 pt, i wanted to take a jump off a li'l tree stump, so i did.   i think maybe that tree stump was aktually a rock.   upes.   since that day, i bought some ptex candles from a seller on ebay.   i've received my 10 ptex candles.   i could do base repair, but i figure this: base repair would require a base clean n' rewax.   i'd be up 4 doing base repair, but i'm not so sure i'm up 4 spending like 3 hrs doing a hot wax.   that's how long it cms to take me.   i just did a hot wax n' base repair 2 days 'go, i.e. 2 days on the slopes 'go, i.e. i did base repair n' a hot wax after our heavenly trip, where we snowboarded the streets.   then i rode 1 day @ sugar bowl n' 1 day @ kirkwood.   i dunno if i'm ready 4 'nother hot wax so soon.   sure, they say the pros start each day w/ a freshly waxed board, but i don't have that kind'f time or $$$.   btw, i saw snow on the east side (east san jo / east san jose / east san josé) hills this morn while walking sooni.   she's a cute, well.behaved doggy!   well, 2nite, i think i'll just go to taekwondo sparring praktice (altho' my lower back's a li'l sore from sleeping wrong).   u c, it's 큰 사범님 keun sabuhmnim / 검도 사범님 guhmdo sabuhmnim's last chance to c us b4 he moves back to korea.   it's so sad n' so sudden.   u know who'll miss him sooo much?   sooni!   큰 사범 keun sabuhm so often took sooni 4 walks while we prakticed taekwondo.   the 2'f them share a special bond.   if only sooni understood that 2nite'll be the last time she'll c him.   we taekwondo students plan to take 큰 사범님 keun sabuhmnim out to dinner after praktice 2nite.   now, i'd pondered skippin praktice to do base repair on my snowboard n' then joining 4 dinner; but then i realised that i'd miss the whole pt.   i've gotta give sooni n' 큰 사범님 keun sabuhmnim 1 last evening to spend 2gether on a nice walk.   *sigh* it's very sad.   however, yah; i'll go n' let li'l kids beat (up) on me 4 sooni's sake. heh heh.   duk kyung suggested that we take him out to dinner @ 고향산천 gohyangsanchun, the deliteful, homestyle joint on homestead near kiely in the strip mall that has safeway, longs drugs, armadillo willy's, stan's donuts, jei learning center, dasaprakash, quizno's n' either a ross or marshalls (i 4get which).   they make good 전골 juhngol type dishes.

i'm gonna need to buy some snowboard base cleaner sometime soon.   aktually, i think i'm out.   i'll need to $hop 'round.

금요일 아침: tgif?   "하느님, 감사합니다.   오늘은 금요일이군요."   i guess so.   i paid my car insurance yesterday, 자동차 보험.   2morrow, while the beautiful kaela hwang goes to (yet 'nother) chiropraktic board exam review class all day, i'll take some cowerkers up to tahoe 4 snowboarding.   we'll probl'y go to sugar bowl cos i've been politicking 4 it, campaigning 4 it.   originally, they planned to go to squaw, but i think i've convinced them to go to sugar bowl instead.   my ¢heape$t pri¢ on a sugar bowl tic's $37, while my ¢heape$t pri¢ on a squaw tic's $56.   expen$ive stuff, eh?   yah, snowboarding's not ¢heap.   i have expen$ive hobbies.   however, lemme say 1nce 'gain that i don't make snowboarding a luxurious aktivity: it's just drive up, get some mcyukyuk's drive.thru on the way up, snowboard all day, drive home, get some in.n.out on the way home.   sure, sometimes i splurge, n' we go to like chili's or a sactown (aktually rancho cordova) korean restaurant on the way back.   however, dude, it's totally not 'bout après ski soirées, tahoe luxury hotel casinos, spa massages, or horse.dran sleigh rides 4 me, no.   it's just like how other guys go n' play basketball on wknds.   i don't play basketball.   instead, i go snowboarding.

beno's 2005~06 snowboarding season lift tix di$counts

resort	regular	holiday	werk	tahoe card	costco	safeway	lowest
alpine meadows	$41.00	$49.00	-	$39.00	-	-	$39.00
bear mountain	$62.00	$62.00	-	-	-	-	$62.00
bear valley	$46.00	$46.00	$42.23	$39.00	-	-	$39.00
boreal	$38.00	$38.00	-	$34.00	-	-	$34.00
diamond peak	$46.00	$46.00	$39.14	$37.00	$63.99	-	$37.00
homewood	$45.00	$48.00	$37.08	$33.00	-	-	$33.00
kirkwood	$62.00	$65.00	$54.59	$53.00	$48.00	-	$48.00
mountain high	$53.00	$53.00	-	-	-	-	$53.00
northstar	$63.00	$66.00	$56.58	-	-	$52.00	$52.00
sierra@tahoe	$59.00	$62.00	$56.58	-	-	$39.00	$39.00
snow summit	$62.00	$62.00	-	-	-	-	$62.00
squaw valley	$65.00	$65.00	$58.71	$56.00	-	-	$56.00
sugar bowl	$46.00	$59.00	$41.64	$37.00	-	-	$37.00

i need to reduce/minimise ¢o$t$ on lift tix cos i do try to spend 'least 10 days on the slopes each sesaon.   10 × $37~56 = $370~560.   crazy, huh?   furthermore, some seasons, i go upwards'f 20 times, so 20   $37~$56 = $740~1120!!!   worse, that's per person, while i also pay 4 kaela when she comes, rt?   well, obviously, 4 the season where i hit the slopes 21 days, the ~$300 double whammy pass was quite a good deal.   *sigh* maybe next yr, i'll consider the sugarwood pass, but if i can get my hands on 'least 1 tahoe 6pac (like 2pac shakur; 6.pack), then maybe that/those'd be the best deal. *shrug* after all, i try not to limit myself to just 1 or 2 snow resorts.   i hate that term "snow resort" or "ski resort."   they rn't resorts, just parks.   the best term'd be "스노우보드장 snowboardjang," but sadly that'll never catch on.

[later] 오후: i went to werk w/ some cowerkers from a grp i werked w/ back when i was a co.op (intern).   we went to garcia's taqueria in sunnyvale on fair oaks @ el camino real.   i ate a "regular" (no guac, no sour cream, no cheese) barbacoa (bbq beef) burrito.   dude, that thing was so stuffed w/ meat!

[later] radio free europe: i found out yesterday from the santa clara weekly that the whole city of santa clara has free wi.fi from metrofi.   crazy, huh?   should i cancel our stoopid y! dsl acct?   well, the catch's that u got banner ads on all ur sites.   it's not the end'f the world tho'. *shrug*

[later] i need to buy some snowboard base cleaner.   i realise that a long time 'go, when i 1st started to do my own hot waxes, i used goo gone to clean our snowboard bases b4 hot waxing.   now i've learnd that maybe goo gone's 2 harsh'f a chemical 4 use as a snowboard base cleaner.   recently, i've been using some base cleaner that kaela picked up 4 me 1tym @ the copeland sports in valley fair mall.   oh, coincidentally, i think she's @ valley fair mall rt now.   i wish i were.   from wikipedia, i've learned that copeland sports is based in cali: 775 fiero lane, suite 200; san luis obispo, ca 93401.   they have branches in cali, oregon, utah, n' nevada.   "with athletics, golf, boardshop, outdoor, fitness, women's, and cycle departments, it tought iteslf as 'seven performance shops in one.'"   the copleand in valley fair is big, but the ol' 1 in berkeley (replaced by some holistik pharmacy) was dinky.

i realised that on a freebord, u can't really grind (like do a 50.50 grind) cos'f the center pair'f wheels.   i saw some european video where these guys built a special rail w/ a gap in the middle, so they could grind, while the center wheels poked thru the gap.   they didn't do 2 well but kept falling.   1 can railslide/boardslide on a freebord but not really grind.

[later] 1142p: went to t3s bible study mtg.   now i'd best go to sleep to wake up early to drive to tahoe.

월요일 아침: 즐거운 월요일 happy monday.   i had a bit'f a snowboarding "accident" on the slopes'f sugar bowl on saturday, so my back's really sore.   i'll hopefully get 'round to telling u the whole macho story later.   this morn, i found a kewl link to a kewl story on tim fong's xanga: "Forget the white-bread '80s MTV. Now MTV Chi and other outlets cater to Asian Americans" by jeff chang of can't stop, won't stop (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/24/DDGA2HCOD818.DTL).   this article mentions an mtv.asia show called d.tour.   have u ever heard'f that?   i hadn't.   here's a link: mtv.asia d.tour (http://www.mtvasia.com/Onair/Shows/D-Tour/index.html).   it's apparently a reality show that takes a bunch'f latin.american n' asian "supermodels" n' puts them on a roadtrip.   hrm, i can't imagine that not being a big hit w/ the bronx's junkyard crowd.   dude, have u ever heard'f the rock grp putnam hall?!   here's their website: http://www.putnamhallmusic.com/(http://www.putnamhallmusic.com/)   dude, we should check out their stuff, man.   frickin' a; the lead guitarist / vocalist lillard's bio(graphy) sez he's from "university frickin high."   dude, that's the irvine skool that gave hi skool diplomas to a whole mess'f my friends, perhaps most notably philip huang, esq.   so s'pposedly mtv's taking note'f the young asian.am market.   well, we'll c.   here's a question to ponder: is it rt that mtv's asian.am pursuits segregate by ethnicity, or should they take a more pan.asian.am approach?   that's a great question, if i don't say so myself. ha ha ha.   i've always been more'f a proponent'f the pan.asian.am ethnic identity, but i face quite a bit'f opposition n' have learned that u can't necessarily force sumpthin' to go, u know?   [later] i think it's great that "jin da mc" has become such an asian.am hero.   2 bad "mainstream" amerika didn't receive him as well.   if u ask me, it just goes to show how racist amerika still is, in gen'l.   oh well.

[later] on fi nite, i went to our grx t3s mtg.   1'f the wives in our group mentioned that she found my journal from a google of our church's name (or nickname / abbreviation) "grx".   she sed she sometimes reads my journal when she's bored.   i s'ppose it's sometimes funny when ppl i know "confess" that they read my journal cos sometimes they sound like they're worried that i'll be mad or sumpthin'.   otherwise, maybe they think i'll be embarassed.   well, honestly, sometimes i might be a li'l embarassed or maybe flattered... *shrug* i'm not sure.   however, i've always sed that my journal is an open letter to my friends n' family.   consider it more like a mass e.mail w/o the spam faktor.   don't consider it a secret diary!   it's not.   does it cm like i'm 2 "candid" or "frank" here?   :-/ *shrug* perhaps sometimes i am; i'm not sure.   i s'ppose i 2 often simply "think aloud" here.   neway, the friend who sed she read my journal also mentioned that she found mostly xangas, blogs, etc. when she googled up "grx," n' i replied that it's great to c such proof that the church has touched so many lives so intimately.   i really meant that.

well, on sat morn, i woke up early to take my cowerkers up the 80 to sugar bowl.   the morning commute was just a li'l rough but has been worse on other days.   we stopped by the fairfield mcyukyuk's to get some brkfast.   we didn't really hit traffik till the mtns where there was some holdup cos'f chain check 4 the big rigs.   it had dumped (snowed) earlier, but the roads were clear 4 us.   we fit 5 ppl into my subaru forester.   un4tunately, i had to use the bathrm so badly, while i was stuck in traffik.   i tried to use a gas station's bathrm, 1 stop 'way from norden (where sugar bowl is), but the line was waaay 2 long.   i held it n' stopped @ gas station @ the norden exit.   that bathrm was occupied 4 a long time, so both i n' 1'f my passengers chose to do the natural thing instead.   when we arrived @ sugar bowl, i hstily took a parkign spot on the mt. disney / village lodge / gondola side, which later turned out to be a bit'f a mistake.   on my last trip to sugar bowl, i'd parked on the mt. judah side, which would've been better.   neway, sugar bowl was superpowdery.   sure, that's s'pposed to be a good thing; but i prefer groomed black diamond runs.   neway, i rode plenty'f powder n' moguls the whole day.   the beautiful kaela hwang would be glad she wasn't riding w/ me.   on my last run'f the day... whoo!   i made a bad decision!   going "off.piste" as i had done on an earlier run, into dangerous, cliff territory, as i had done on an earlier run, i 1st got stuck in deep, deep powder 4 'least 10 mins.   my board's totally not a powder board but really more'f a park/pipe board.   when i finally swam my way out'f the powder, i boarded a while thru moguls only to find myself in front of sugar bowl's most beautiful n' probably most dangerous, rocky cliff , this narrow, ice squeeze btwn 2 rocks on the "two sisters" double black diamond area.   whoa!   i saw all the "skull n' crossbones" danger n' liability signs.   i sat 4 a few minutes n' honestly just prayed to god.   lemme tell u: i knew i was gonna get hurt but that it was just a matter'f minimising the damage.   eventually, i started down the dangerous but short descent.   getting nervous, i turned onto my back edge.   yah, i know i should never use edges on ice, but it's un4tunately still my instinkt to try to use my edge to slow myself down when i'm in danger.... it's like braking in ur car on an icy road.   don't do it.   well, my edge wasn't doing ne good n' i was building up speed.   luckily, i slid in btwn the 2 dangerous rocks ok.   then, all'f the sudden i was free.falling.   shoot! cos'f the steep, steep slope, i didn't know that the ice, snow, n' land all disappeared.   i fell like 4~5 feet off this cliff n' landed on my butt, luckily on powder.   my torso folded 4ward, n' i heard some loud cracks from my spine.   i the impakt had knocked my goggles down from my helmet, n' i found them 'round my neck, filled w/ snow.   well, i was thankful to be alive.   honestly, i was also thankful that barely ne1 had cn me fall.   i mean, if i was incapcitated, i would've been glad that ppl could've called 4 help.   however, being as vain as i un4tunately am, i guess i was glad no 1 saw me fall.   neway, i still had to get down the mtn, so i got back on my board n' weaved thru moguls n' finished the run n' made it back to the bottom to meet up w/ my cowerkers.   i was exhausted.   on our way home, we stopped @ the auburn marie callendar's 4 dinner.   my coweker shark helped drive.

on sun, i woke up early but not as early as usual.   i walked sooni n' did laundry b4 church.   .. . [interrupted]

some plumbing tips i found online:
• Good morning Nate, I've never seen a shower drain that had a screen that was located under the chrome strainer so I don't think that's your problem.   Every blockage that I have cleared in a shower has been caused by a buildup of hair mixed with grease from the soap.   I'm going to give you several options. One easy and the other "surefire".   I don't use nor do I recomend using harsh chemicals to clear a drain.   Having said that, tonight pour 1/2 gallon of bleach down the drain and let it set overnight.   Next morning flush it out with 2 large pans of boiling water.   The bleach will loosen the clog up and make it slippery.   The boiling water, (and this is important) will melt the grease and allow the clog to flush out into the main.
  If that don't do it, you can do it the way I clear all my clogs.   Purchase a plumbers snake and run it down the drain, past the trap and out untill the clog clears.   TIP: To know when I've cleared the clog and if it's plugged solid I run some water in the shower pan just enough to bring it to the top of the drain.   Then when the clog clears the water goes "whoosh" and you know you've got it.   Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply.   Tom
• http://experts.about.com/q/Plumbing-Home-1735/clogged-shower-drain.htm
• Good morning Gail, I take it the toilet's flushing OK.   What's happened here is that the plunger acted like a piston pump and pulled water out of your toilet bowl.
  Most clogs in bathrooms are a combination hair mixed with grease.   Your shower branch (drain pipe) has to be snaked out from the shower drain to clear the clog.   Let me show you how.   First remove the strainer, (TIP: put the screws in the soap dish.   They will be hard to replace if they go down the drain.)   Now work your snake past the trap and 6 or 7 feet beyond.   When you pull the snake back it should have the hair that was clogging your shower on the auger tip.   Now pour 1/4 gallon of bleach down in the trap and let it set over night.   Next morning pour a few pans of boiling down the shower to flush out what's left and make your drain smell nice.   Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. Tom
  • http://experts.about.com/q/Plumbing-Home-1735/CLogged-Shower-toilet.htm

수요일 아침: i never got to finish talkin' 'bout this past wknd.   this wk so far has had its ups n' downs, no doubt.   yesterday was yet 'nother 'xtremely frustrating day, yet i had the blessing'f having lunch w/ a good, ol' friend.   recently, it cms that bad situations have forced or else allowed me to savour the precious moments in life.   n'est.ce pas?

wow, the stock market cms to have taken a tumble this morn. *shrug*

well, on sun, i went to church @ grx (of course).   in case i didn't mention it, grx congregated @ the santa clara marriott instead'f our ol' kifer location, from which we've now moved.   'twas a very chilly sunday, n' when i arrived @ the hotel, i found duk, yuna, n' my mom werking the parking crew in the lot.   i was happy to be @ service pretty much on time.   i sat next to pastor ali's family, but i don't think he saw me.   i met his son tho'.   after service, i went w/ my mom to the milpitas 99 (ranch) strip mall ("for 100, we try harder") to eat lunch.   originally, we were gonna go to ay chung, but then my mom remember that she wanted to try maruichi ramen house.   we went to eat there, but it wasn't open yet, so we browsed thru the incense.stenched m.v. trading co. restaurant supply store.   @ 1130a, we returned to the restaurant to find it filling up fast.   my mom told me to order the maruichi special ramen (apparently the king arthur's supreme combo pizza'f maruichi ramen, u know?).   it was good, but i had to spend a bit'f time pulling the fat off the 삼겹살 samgyuhbsal / baconish meat.   i enjoyed the wood ear shrooms n' the cod roe.   after lunch, my mom n' i strolled 'round the strip mall.   the beautiful kaela hwang called me while my mom n' i were @ shengkee bakery.   she was coming over from her skool.   she told me to feed her.   well, when kaela arrived, my mom left.   i took kaela to pepper lunch, a japanese steak.oriented, grilled fuds restaurant.   it's quite interesting, n' my mom n' i noticed earlier that it's aktually not 2 expen$ive or nething.   she ate this grilled beef noodle dish.   it was really tasty.   just to be a decent patron'f the restaurant, i ordered some kind'f shrimp tempura salad handroll that had a generous 'mount'f mayo.   (it's spelt "mayonnaise.")   after kaela's lunch, we thought 'bout getting some boba drinks @ fantasia there, but i didn't have my frequent drinker card cos i removed it from my coin wallet 4 snowboarding.   (u c, i use my coin wallet as my primary wallet when i snowboard.)   thus, we went home 1st.   then we set out 4 the cupertino fantasia, 1st stopping @ the bizzy sunnyvale costco 4 gas in kaela's kia sportage.   then i took us on a detour, requesting to $hop 4 skateboarding shoes @ designer shoe warehouse (dsw) on stevens creek.   after that, we swung by the bank 4 me to depo$it some $$$ then went to the santana row fantasia.   we got some boba drinks there, but the café was full, so kaela couldn't study there.   we went to check out borders, which was also full.   kaela suggested we go to her private study spot in valley fair; but then, as we walked back to her car, we saw that spaces were opening up @ fantasia, so we sat there.   while sittin' in fantasia, i got a distress call from duk, who'd gotten into a bad car accident.   i took kaela's kia to pick him up from the body shop near willow glen.   then, i picked up kaela from fantasia n' brought every1 home.   i wasn't very hungry, but kaela n' i ate some frozen dinner stuffed green peppers 4 dinner as we watched the 2nd to last episode'f kbs's 웨딩 (wedding), starring 장나라 jang nara, 류시원 ryu shiwon, n' 명세빈 myung seibin.   (the last'f the 4 major chars is played by 이현우 lee hyunwoo, but i don't think he's as popular as the others.)   we have 1 more episode to watch.   i realise i haven't been talkin' 'bout k.dramas (korean dramas) lately, but i still really like'em!

mon was a very rainy day.   during my lunchbrk, i 1st tried to buy a plumber's snake from the local osh, but they didn't have the optimal diameter/length combo.   wow, these things r long... 25~50 ft.   then i went home to eat a ham n' hummus sandwich n' vacuum.   it felt good to get housewerk done during my lunchbrk.   i haven't done that in a long time as i've been using my lunchbrks to get exercise.   4 dinner, i cooked some 칼국수 kalgooksoo from a refrigerated pack.   i added lots'f 오댕 odaeng, 버섯 buhsuht (shrooms), n' various other things.   it was delicious.

social lunch:yesterday, i was s'pposed to have lunch w/ vince, but he cancelled.   thus, instead, i had lunch w/ ken @ st. john's.   honestly, i thought he'd tell me that grace n' he r having a baby; but no.   they're still gonna be like kaela n' i n' not have a kid 4 a while.   altho' i always detested the idea'f not having kids till later in life, i now understand all 2 well how this happens.   dude, as much as i'd like to blame it all just on kaela's skool; seriously, i'm not ready as far as my career, etc.   it is all just 2 scary, man.   neway, ken n' i each had a tri.tip sandwich n' shared some bier.battered onion rings over talk'f career situations n' vakation plans, etc.   ken werks 4 himself, n' i werk 4 a giant corporation, so we have much to compare n' contrast.

last ntie, 4 dinner, i cooked some beanie.weenie, using some sausages that kaela n' i bought @ costco a long time 'go.   it was decently tasty.   i had a loooong werkday n' sadly missed taekwondo praktice.

never forget #40: pat tillman was a leland hi skool alum like myself.   we all now know that he was killed by u.s. friendly fire in afghanistan, n' this fakt was covered up by the u.s. gov't.   there's gonna be a 4.2 mile "pat's run" in almaden valley (my ol "home" neighbourhood), over by leland hi skool on sunday, april 30, 2006 @ 800a.   the ¢0$t to enter's $25.   hrm, i'll consider doing this just to stay healthy, but i'd hafta hurry to make it to church, huh?   well, shoot; if i were to do this run, i'd hafta go to the 1100a service instead'f the 915a service.   eh, we'll c.   i'm really not that much'f a runner, but i always wanna do sumpthin' good 4 my health, n' i figure maybe it'd be fun 4 sooni.

[later] so like others, i'm trying to break the code on ernest's xanga to figure out what's going on in his life.   sumpthin's happening, but i can't tell if it's re: relationship, taekwondo, werk, religion, gov't conspiracy, space aliens... *shrug*   yah, i got a semi.cryptik e.mail from some1 who must be somehow tied in to ernest.   it was written in misspelled pager code, so being the owner'f the world's #1 pager code site, i was able to figure it out fast.   however, that msg only deepened the mystery.   the repeated phrase "together as one" may have sumpthin' do do w/ the sender'f that e.mail.   hrm...   what 'bout the all this "unity" n' "breath" stuff?!   i worried 4 a sec that he'd gotten addikted to inhalant narcotics n' joked that he's werkin' 4 the north korean gov't.

i want to erase all the mp3s off my 'puter n' put on new 1s.   i've been backing up data onto dvd thanks to my sony external dvd burner.

체리 필터 아니면 자우림 cherry filter or jaurim: btwn this 2 grrl.fronted power rock / altrock / quasi.punk korean bands, which is better?   plz compare n' contrast!   also, 4 extra credit, plz compare these bands to both similar j.pop/j.rock bands n' amerikan bands.   [later] (uhm, does this sound like sumpthin' antonia'd write 'bout?)

shoot, every time i put a table into my journal, my avantgo version'f my journal on my pa1mone pda gets skrewed up... the 4matting, that is.   (i dunno how to punctuate properly that last sentence.)   do u prefer fries or onion rings?   kaela sez that onion rings r healthier cos'f the onions.   [later] i brought leftover beanie.weenie 4 lunch n' also packed some 4 kaela.   when i opened my lunch, i wondered why there were bug eggs in my beanie.weenie but realised soon that they were flax seeds that kaela'd added.

[later] 밤, 901p: 'twas a_long_day@werk.com.   i had many mtgs in the pm, from 200~700p.   *sigh* 5 hrs'f mtgs.   how r u?   be sure to sign my gbook!   i sed i'd answer the questions, but i still haven't; i know.   i'm watching this no. 1 발라드 3집 dvd that comes w/ the compilation cd album.   ah, i miss watching kpop videos more often.   rt now, it's 이승철의 "긴 하루" lee seungchuhl's "gin haru" (long day).   *sigh* what a pretty song; sure sappy in that 1970s ballad way; but very pretty, if u ask me.

"긴 하루" - 이승철

뒤척이며 잠에서 깨면
문득 그대가 없다는 생각에
내 머리 맡에 걸어놓은 그대의 사진보며
이렇게 또 하루 시작되네요

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편안하길 바란다군요
나의 편안함은 바로 그대죠

끝인가요 후회만 남은 사랑
처음으로 돌아 갈 순 없나요
뒤돌아 봐요 휘청거리는 내 인생을
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모두 가져 갈 순 없나요
편안하길 바란다군요
나의 편안함은 바로 그대죠

다 받기만을 바래왔었던 난
그대 소중함을 이제야 알죠

끝인가요 후회만 남은 사랑
처음으로 돌아 갈 순 없나요
뒤돌아 봐요 휘청거리는 내 인생을
가눌 수 없는 내 마음 도
모두 가져 갈 순 없나요
긴 하룰 보내 야겠죠
끝도 없는 외로움을 숨기며
끝도 없는 외로움을 숨기며
긴 하루를 보내요

"long day" - lee seungchul
tossing in my sleep, i wake up.
suddenly, realising you're not there,
i put up and look at your picture
as another day surely begins.

is this the end?   can't i turn around
this love that is now only regret?
try to turn around.
my heart can't control my messed up life.
can i not bring back everything?
i really wish for peace.
my heartache is really you.

(repeat)

now i know that you're the most precious thing
to me who gets everything i want.

is this the end?   can't i turn around
this love that is now only regret?
try to turn around.
my heart can't control my messed up life.
can i not bring back everything?
it has to be a long day.
hiding the endless loneliness,
hiding the endless loneliness,
i spend a long day.

name: 황명록 beno hwang
e.mail: beno at ocf dot berkeley dot edu
homepage: http://www.benomix.com
can u read benospelling? (yes, no, i sometimes get confused.) yes
new yr's resolutions? 1. buy a skateboard (more importantly, ride 1). [done]   2) buy mutual funds. [done]   3) take better care'f my career. [in progress]   oh yah, 4) write the beno journal 4 1 month in "plain" english (no benospelling). [done]   5) make more friends to fill the time spent w/o kaela. [*shrug* dunno the status'f this...]   6) fix my desktop 'puter 4 djing. [uh oh! better jump on this!]   7) eliminate detrimental confucian sentiments. [sort'f going]   8. write less text per entry. [uh, not going that great, i guess.]
new yr's preditkions? a li'l 2late 4 that, now that it's march!   i predikt dubya's ratings will fall lower.   i predikt the semiconduktor industry'll have a good yr.   i predikt steve westly'll win the 2006 cali gubernatorial elektion.   i could be wrong 'bout that, but arnold's definitely out.
will u do sumpthin' 4 valentine's day? yah, we did.   we went to chez tj.
what's sumpthin' u eat/drink that other ppl don't like to? intestines n' tripe
what do u say when u can't remember some1's name? "hey, how's it goin'?"

ok, now it's ur turn, if u haven't done it yet.

[later] 밤, 1039p: so when i finally came home from werk 2nite, i cooked spam pasta sauce n' ravioli.   it was rather tasty.   *sigh* i eat 2 much n' exercise 2 li'l.   i did dishes b4 i cooked.   i've gotta do what i can to clean up this dump, man.

oh yah, here's a bad graphic'f the cliff i fell off'f @ sugar bowl on sat.   yah, that area's double black diamond.

here's a pic from last thurs nite @ 고향산천 gohyangsanchun (hometown mountain stream):

목요일 아침: just trying not to burn out, man...   employers should understand the benefits'f letting their employees maintain a good werk.life balance, as they call it.   *sigh* hey, have u ever cn the live person re.enactment of the simpsons opening credits???   check out the clip on youtube or else try this link: http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/03/04/simpsons-opening-sequence-done-with-live-actors/.   it's pretty awesome.

*sigh* in a way, i just can't wait to get start w/ the wknd.   how's my back?   well, i iced it 4 a long time last nite.   i guess i pretty much fell asleep on an ice pack.   i feel much better this morn cos'f that, i guess.   yah, i think i feel much better.   i'm not like dying or nething.   it was never that bad, but the injury was significant from a chiropractic standpt, i guess.   i think it has been a great case study 4 the beautiful kaela hwang.   i knew she'd like it.   hot cold hot cold... that's my treatment; give it cold pack @ nite n' use the seat warmer in the car whenever i'm driving.   w/ many injuries, i hear it's good to do hot cold hot cold.   the cold reduces swelling n' the hot promotes healing.   nest.ce pas?   *shrug*   this wknd, what do i wanna do?   i've told myself that i'll stay off the slopes this wknd.   i ought to get a li'l skateboarding in, but we'll c.   oh yah... on sun, when i bought my skateboarding shoes, i bought a pair'f world industries shoes on super clearance sale @ dsw 4 $22.   that was quite a deal.   ideally, i wanted dc shoes, but eh! it's not like i'm that serious 'bout skateboarding!   i just want sumpthin' that won't get ollie holes.   last nite, i spent a long time on the fon w/ phil, n' he emphasized that hobbies shouldn't require so much investment in gear.   yah, i know... but when u want to be good, u want to be properly equipped.   [later] my werk.com laptop's been having lots'f probs.   i'd better clear off all my personal files n' submit it to the i.t. crew.   this morn, i packed my lunch n' then accidentally left it @ home.

[later] 오후: continuing this wk's horrible, awful trend'f unfitness, i didn't werkout in the werk.com gym @ lunch 2day but instead made a trip to the very nearby costco.   i saw a cowerker there n' sed hi.   i bought a flat'f kirkland unenvironmental bottled h₂o 4 the beautiful kaela hwang; some not.2.healthy jerky treats 4 sooni; thankfully some healthy, organik oatmeal; n' some marginally healthy odwalla 오렌지 쥬스 oreinji jyooseu.   odwalla juice is a de¢ent deal @ ¢0$+¢0.   we're having rather dry, windy yet sunny weather rt now.   i guess 'twas like this yesterday as well, but it's been getting a li'l chillier.   they say we might get snow in the valley on sat.   i hope so.

on my way 2 the ¢a$h register @ costco, i saw that the dc skateboarding shoes r now $20.33, but i saw only big n' small sizes.   i might've been able to find my avg size buried in the back. *shrug* neway, i usually don't wear white shoes or socks.   [later] 저녁: i still haven't worn my world industries shoes n' haven't gone skateboarding since i bought them.   if u 'member, i sed i didn't really like world industries much as a boardsports company these days, but eh... i just wanted some ¢heap shoes.

here's a buy.com coupon: 5% off your buy.com purchase: valid in our music, music downloads, and dvds stores.* - exp 3/31

[later] 밤, 1120p: after a long_day@werk.com, i went to this chinese restaurant called cheff lee on tasman n' lawrence in sunnyvale to meet kaela.   we only chose that restaurant cos i had a coupon 4 it.   also, it was a good location btwn my werk n' her skool.   i got there n' waited 4 almost an hr.   then kaela finally showed up.   it cmed to us that we so rarely eat chinese fud these days.   we ordered orange chicken n' string beans w/ beef.   it's not the most authentic or greatest chinese restaurant 'round, but it was fud.   in some ways, the restaurant cmed not to get 2 much asian clientele even tho' a big grp'f korean gentlemen were leaving as we entered.   they set the table w/ forks n' no chopsticks.   i felt that the restaurant tried harder to impress us cos we're asian. *shrug* [later] *sigh* i did more werk @ home 2nite.   i need to do well @ werk.

금요일 아침: this morn, as i walked sooni, i saw snow on the east n' west mountains!   awesome!   as i drove north on lawrence expwy to werk, while on the overpass by costco, i got a good view'f the decently thick snow on the eastern mtns, not just mt. ham, but also the foothills n' those hills over by milpitas n' fremont.   ugh, i must drive up to the snow!!!   i hope ppl r taking good pix'f this snow.   it's amazing, sumpthin' really amazing!   i tried to google up some pix'f "san jose snow" but didn't find nething good.   i did find this odd page: san jose's oldest snowball (http://www.oldestsnowball.com/).   hrm, this page cms to have decent san jose snow pix: "snow in san jose" (http://homepage.mac.com/rbarline/PhotoAlbum9.html).   snow's great, i tell u.   snow snow snow!   *sigh* what if i ran 'way from this silicon valley engineer's life n' became a total snowboard bum.   *sigh* yah, i wish i could be a pro.snowboarder.   *sigh* what a far.fetched, kiddie dream, eh?   that sure sounds like sumpthin' a stoopid, li'l kid'd say; yet i'm a 30 yr.old man saying that. :-/ obviously, sometimes, i just wanna "bust out'f my life."   it's that "despite all my rage, i'm still just a rat in a cage"^* thing.

ad: so i hear march's dummies month @ amazon: for dummies books @ amazon   buy 2 for dummies books, get 1 free n' get a $5 rebate on each'f the 2 books u pay 4.   not a bad deal, huh?

konsumerisme in amerika: (i figured the extraneous "e" @ the end'f "konsumerisme"'d make it look a li'l more euro in the 1980s red flag "russian radio" fashion.)   i hear ppl talkin' 'bout giant external hard drive's, n' that makes me want 1 a li'l.   sure, i recently bought an external dvd burner.   thankfully, i aktually made $$$ on that pur¢ha$e cos i used my ¢redit ¢ard rewards pts to buy it n' then also got a rebate.   however, that's konsumerisme nonetheless, rt?

[later] wow, singer/aktor 임창정 lim changjung n' aktress 김현두 kim hyunjoo got married?   u can c a short article n' some pix on y!: http://kr.news.yahoo.com/bestclick/shellview2.html?articleid=2006031018523431670.

^* "bullet with butterfly wings" - the smashing pumpkins... wow, what a kewl song title!   wow, what a kewl band name! "dude, someone's still living in the nineties!""

토요일 오후, 143p: lemme just cut n' paste the e.mail i just sent out to sum up what's going on... 제목:   east bay bound
보낸 사람:   비노 황 beno hwang
날짜:   2006-3-11, Sat, 1:42 pm
받는 사람:   toby, roland, n' phil (e.mails hidden 4 sekurity)
우선순위:   보통
환경 설정:   전체 헤더 보기 | 인쇄용 보기 | Bounce

hi toby, roland, n' philip:

wow, i did so much already 2day: i jogged w/ sooni.   then i took sooni to the saratoga mountains to play in the snow. then i bathed sooni.   then i took sooni to get kaela [the beautiful kaela hwang] 4 her lunchbrk, n' we ate @ a diner burger joint.   now, i'm headed to the east bay?!   wow!

kaela's seminar goes till 1000p 2nite, so i won't feel as bad staying out late.   oh yah, ken cancelled his korean bar trip 2nite, so... yah, i can stay out later, as i'm saying.   i'll save my werk stuff 4 2morrow.   procrastination? *shrug*

uh oh, i left my fon in the car as i ran in to type out this e.mail... oh, n' go pee... n' drop off sooni.   i hear it beeping in the car, so i must've missed a call.   i didn't shower last nite n' still haven't showered.   oh well. i'm grungeman 2day!

~beno

pix from our snow excursion to follow soon!   check back often! :-)

http://www.shortText.com/xw81

월요일 아침: monday, monday...   the weekend's over, n' most'f the snow on the san joseacute; mountains has melted or washed 'way (cos'f rain).   4 1 wknd, the sobay mtns were a winter wonderland.   this past wknd was magical.   i still haven't posted up pix'f sooni n' me in the snow; but i shall soon.   it's just that i'm in the process'f clearing all my personal files off my werk.com laptop in case i gotta get a new 1 or whatever.   it's a bit'f a messy task.   man, 'twas a fun wknd, i've gotta say, n' 'twas also surprisingly produktive n' relaxing/refreshing.   can u believe that?!   yes, 'twas!

• 03.10, 금
• werk... lots'f werk... in fakt, a bit'f a stressful_day@werk.com; had a big mtg, which had some nice snacks...
• grx t3s couples bible study small group movie nite
• 1 couple was in charge'f pickin' up a big, family.size togo's #9 pastrami sandwich.   the rest'f us were to bring some drinks or other snacks.
• since i was stuck_late@werk.com, i drove from werk to the movie nite w/o stopping by home.   however, i went to albertsons to pick up some drinks 4 the movie nite n' then some other gro¢eries.   i overshot the host couples' home's freeway exit on 101 on purpose to exit @ blossom hill rd / monterey rd by my mom's office to go to albertsn's.   aktually, i wasn't sure if i was gonna go to evil wal*mart or albertsons but ended up @ albertsons.   i bought some "simply orange" 오렌지 쥬스 oreinji jyooseu, some 8th continent fat.free soy milk, some cholesterol.free (i think) egg substitute, some albertsons brand grape.nuts... nething else?   i 4get.
• then i returned up (north) on 101 just an exit or so to the host couple's house.   they have a beautiful house on a hill.   personally, tho' i prefer living in a more cnetral location like where the beautiful kaela hwang n' i currently live.   the turnout 4 the movie nite was surprisingly small as many ppl cancelled @ the last min.   as i didn't have access to my e.mail all afternoon, i didn't know.
• we watched timeline.   we picked that over lost in translation cos i'd cn last in translation.   honestly, i was a li'l disappointed w/ lost in translation but maybe only cos it was so hyped up as an oscar winner.   i snacked on microwaved popcorn.   i've been eating 2 much lately.   i was pleasantly surprised by timeline.   i think the casting'f paul walker in the lead role worried me b4, making me think it'd be an mtvish the fast n' the furious on horses or sumpthin'.   i didn't realise 'twas a michael chricton book, but as i watched the movie i totally sensed 'twas based on a book cos the movie just so obviously ached to tell details that were left out in the movie.   the host husband made some chocolate.dipped mangoes, strawberries , n' bananas !
• after the movie n' after eating some choco.dipped fruit, i carefully drove home in the rain.
• 03.11, 토
• woke up early but not as early as i wished.
• jogged w/ sooni 'round the neighbourhood, waving hi to some woman in this old.ladies' hair salon.   she always waves hi.
• kaela had some chiropraktic seminar.
• i quickly drove sooni n' me up big basin way in saratoga to visit the snow.   we had plenty'f fun.   the park ranger kindly kicked us out but also took a pic 4 us, which i'll soon post.   he was very nice 'bout it.   dogs rn't allowed in the park up there.   sooni got very dirty.   it was cold but the sun came out now n' then.
• i drove back down into the valley n' took sooni to pet fud express 4 a wash.   the nice ¢a$hier woman there let me wash sooni 4 free, telling me to give her a token next time.   usually, i have rubber gloves, a rubber brush, n' stuff w/ me but not this time.   i took off much'f her shedding fur.   the whole time, i had to go pee so badly, so rt after the wash, i used the bathrm, leaving sooni's leash hanging out the bathrm door.   it was an odd situation cos this mobile pet vaccination clinic was setup rt outside the bathrm, so well... like... yah, that's weird.   sooni's so well.behaved tho'. :-) then i bought sooni some ymmmy chummies, n' we left.   she loves yummy chummies.
• after that, i picked kaela up 4 her lunchbrk, n' we ate @ taxi's diner in the mercado.   the restaurant's better than i'd remembered.   i chose it cos it has outdoor seating n' a buy 1 get 1 free ¢oupon in the gift checks book.   in the end, cos'f the cold weather, we ate inside, n' left sooni tied to a chair outside.   she was very well.behaved!   i ate a mushroom swiss burger, n' kaela had a grilled chicken baked potato.   we shared a large order'f onion rings.   un4tunately, i've taken a liking 'gain to red meat, 2 much'f a likng.   i've gotta cut back on my intake'f red meat, if u ask me! *sigh* the meal was great.   an employee came 'round n' distributed sweepstakes cards.   i won a buy 1 get 1 free ¢oupon, n' kaela won a medium pepsi.   i guess we're going back sometime.   next time, i'll order 1'f their nice vegetaian or grilled fish sandwiches.   i recalled that the 1st time i visited taxi's i had a grilled fish sandwich.   that was in early 2000, @ the ol' oakridge mall location.   @ the restaurant, kaela saw her classmate w/ her husband.
• i dropped off kaela @ the techmart bldg 4 her seminar, then dropped off sooni @ home.
• then, i drove up to the east bay.   @ 1st, i 4got roland's n' toby n' betty's christmas presents, so i had to return from fremont, pick 'em up, n' go back up!   crazy, huh?   neway, i saw that 880 was a parking lot, so on my 2nd trip up, i used 680 to 580 to 13.
• i drove thru the city'f berkeley to get to roland's condo.   i parked n' used the restroom @ his place.   roland was watching cal (mens) basketball on tv when i got to his place.   dude, cal bears rock!   shoot, i just read online that they lost that game to ucla. :-(
• i drove roland n' me up to the lawrence hall'f science's parking lot to get a good view'f the beautiful bay area on such a beautiful day.   ah, 'twas magnificsent!   i took some pix.
• i was curious 'bout bay st. emeryville, so i drove us down to that.   wow, i drove up, down, up, dwon on sat!   lots'f elevation change! :-)   well, bay st. emeryville's nice, not as ritzy as santana row n' w/o as much nice "hanging out" spots.   it's really crowded, n' they charge 4 parking ($1 4 0~4 hrs).   it's still kewl n' hip tho'.
• after that, roland n' i ate @ some chinese fud joint in the emeryville publik market.   the fud was just ok, but i was glad to get an affordable meal, u know?
• then we picked up toby from beckett's (a pub in berkeley) n' found phil w/ his ol' friend mike @ the oasis (an afghani restaurant).   the bunch'f us guys went to what used to be mel's diner but is now "the original burger" owned by some asian dude w/ short hair named mike.   that's how the waiter described him, so that's all i know.   i had green tea aisukuriimu n' decaf coffee.   oh yah, it's funny that the desi/indian aisukuriimu joint near our house has a sign written in bad korean that seys they have green tea aisukuriimu.
.   'twas most excellent (to use a 1980s keanu term) to hang w/ these guys in berkeley.
• after i dropped roland off, i drove home in the rain, stopping by a shell station in union city to use the bathrm n' buy a li'l bit'f overpri¢ed gas.
• 03.12, 일
• to my utmost, pleasant surprise, kaela came w/ me to church, so we went to the early service.
• afterwards, we tried to get a quick lunch, so i could go to the church town hall mtg, but a series'f wrong turns n' not.so.good traffik led us to a prolonged lunch @ the cheesecake faktory in valley fair mall.   'twas so great to spend time w/ kaela tho'.   i had this "incredible eggplant sandiwch," n' kaela had this frençch country salad.   the waitress kind'f pressured us to order drinks, so kaela got a iced mango smoothie, n' i got a tropical fruit smoothie.   i hate when servers pressure u to order more, but i knew the restaurant was crowded, n' thus we were occupying valuable seats.
• after lunch, we strolled thru valley fair.   luckily, i didn't buy nething.   phew.
• then we went home.   'twas hard not to fall asleep; but i guess i succeeded.   i pulled weeds out in front'f the house w/ sooni tied.out in front.   i figured i'd best do some yardwerk while it wasn't raining.
• later, i made a 2nd strip out 4 the day:
• santa clara costco to buy gas... from afar, saw mike yee there w/ his family.
• milpitas mccarthy ranch's evil wal*mart to buy some men's nivea facial cleanser 4 myself n' some aveeno calamine creame 4 kaela
• sunnyvale's orchard supply to buy a plumbers snake 4 our shower drain n' a made.in.china 4" adjustable wrench to keep in my car 4 snowboard/skateboard stuff.   man, amerikan tools r 2 much more expen$ive than chinese 1s. *sigh* hand tools were 20% off n' the weekend was a no sales tax wknd.
• trader joe's: i'd parked in the trader joe's lot n' walked over to osh.   @ tj's, i bought some blueberries, some flax seed tortilla chips, some tiger's milk bars, some anti.oxidant trail mix, some frozen burritos, n' this pack'f frozen naan that i was embarrassed to buy in front'f desis.
• upon my return home, i used the plumber's snake to unclog the shower drain.
• then i did dishes n' cooked some 칼국수 kalgooksoo 4 dinner.
• kaela n' i watched the final episode'f kbs's drama 웨딩 wedding, n' i then fell asleep soon after a shower.   i'm glad i went to bed early last nite.

this morn, i woke up early to take out the trash n' burn pix from my laptop to dvd.

ad: $10 off $75 @ footlocker march ~ april 2006 - use promotion code: LKS163M7

[later] 오후: a return to fitness? - i hope so.   during my lunchbrk 2day, i werked out in the werk.com gym.   ah, doesn't that feel good?   yes, it does.   i lifted just a li'l, then did precor (elliptical trainer) 4 20 mins, then stretched n' did abwerk 4 a while.   i've had back probs lately, so it felt good to do some core area stretching exercises.   this is my self.prognosed, self.diagnosed, self.prescribed physical therapy.   diy.   *sigh* ppl've sed that's how healthcare n' dental care has become, rt?   self.medication, etc.   well, heh... that's not a topik 4 me to discuss.   kaela'll talk 'bout it w/ u, but i won't.   after my werkout n' shower, i microwaved leftover chinese fud from chef lee's on thurs nite.   the leftover orange chicken sure tasted unhealthy: all that fried breading.   oh well...   i've gotta watch my fat n' sodium intake, u know.   i feel out'f shape from my wk'f inaktivity last wk.

on sat, while driving, i aimed my camerafon @ myself n' recorded a video diary'f sorts.   maybe someday i'll share it w/ u, maybe i won't.   however, i basical just gave a narrative rundown'f what i'd done on sat up until that pt in the afternoon.   that's what i do here in text.   i watched myself in the video.   how do i sound?   do i really talk like a calisurferboy?   back in hi skool, i 1nce had a substitute princeton review instruktor from harvard.   as soon as we started conversing, he was literally taken aback, n' he sed i had such a strong cali4nian accent.   that comment surprised me so much.   he then explained that he was so used to boston n' bostonian accents.   i asked him what a cali4nian accent is, n' he sed it was like surferish n' all.   oh, ok.   well, i guess i have a thick cali4nian accent.   do u think i do?

no hip hip hip hip hip, no hippie chick: over a decade 'go, a eurodance femme duo called soho made a r&bish, grooveish, club dance track called "hippie chick."   the song used a sample'f the beginning of the smiths' popular hit "how soon is now?" as its essential substrate.   i later learned that the widely recognised sound in that smiths clip was generated by smiths guitarist johnny marr's rhythymically oscillating the volume knob'f his guitar.   "got no flowers for your gun, no hippie chick.   won't make love to change your mind, no hippie chick." - some lyrics from soho's song "hippie chick"   i always figured the song was 'bout a situation where a casting direktor or musik producer is rejekting a female applicant cos she's 2 much'f a "hippie."   *shrug*   i'm not sure.   neway, when i was doing my 1st engineering co.op, @ ebmud, during my undergrad college yrs; a cowerker/mentor/friend'f mine there explained the diff btwn beatniks n' hippies.   he sed altho' beatniks n' hippies r both kind'f political n' "liberal," beatniks r smart whereas hippies rn't.   lately, as i find myself feeling @ home @ whole fuds, trader joe's, n' in berkeley, i worry that i'm 2 much hippie n' not 'nuff beatnik, under those definitions.   am i this free spirit that's a rebel w/o a cause or brain?!   i hope not.   i'd rather 'least be an eco.hunk! ha ha ha.   (simpsons joke/reference...)   when i told kaela last nite that i enjoy being @ places like @ whole fuds n' trader joe's cos they're environments that make me feel like i can be who i am; she laffed.   'pparently, i'm already 2 ordinary n' can fit in in ne middle.class, suburban supermarket.   it's like when ned flanders tries to freak out maude by not trimming his moustache, but maude just sez he's "ol "silly.billy" ned:

Maude:   Where have you been, Neddy?
Ned:   In the bathroom ... not trimming my moustache!   What do you think?   Do I remind you of troubled troubadour David Crosby?
Maude:   No. You remind me of silly-billy Ned Flanders!
[Maude and the kids laugh]
Ned   Would a "silly-billy" sit like this?
[pulls up a chair and sits in it backward, causing his back to emit a cracking noise]
Maude:   Rod, call Dr. Stein.
plz visit http://www.snpp.com/episodes/AABF06 4 the full transcript.

밤, 1058p: i need to eat less red meat!!!   2nite, i went to the burger pit... the original burger pit on blossom hill rd. near the split @ kooser.   u know, the burger pit that used to be on camden ave @ almaden expwy was 1'f the 1st places i ate in san josé when i was a li'l kid.   when my parents bought the house in which i grew up, they bought it from some realtor @ van vleck realty, which was rt by that burger pit.   [later] 1121p: shoot, my 'puter keeps crashing n' locking up.   argh, neway... b4 i run out'f time, plz lemme share w/ u 2 youtube videos:

• daewon song - skateboarding front kick board break (http://youtube.com/watch?v=cDjM7PxXNZw)
• almost - round 3: mullen vs. daewon (http://youtube.com/watch?v=UWbgrGS2lzk)

수요일 아침: what a bizzy wk! *sigh* i'm getting thrashed, man.   hey, u wanna check out sumpthin' kewl?   check out dilbert comics in korean n' english: http://www.ecomix.co.kr/comic/detail.php?uid=5564.   딜버트! 딜버트 만화... 한국어, 영어도... what an kewl way to learn korean!   i have a grx t3s couples small group core group meeting tonight at 비원 biwon (secret garden).   last nite, i was @ the burger pit.   2morrow, i have a li'l get 2gether w/ ol' friends from community connektions this past summer, which includes 1 friend who's also a cowerker.   all these social meals @ restaurants, man; i've gotta watch what i eat!   bizness lunch type meals can be really dangerous!   *sigh* i'm so freakin' bizzy this wk that it's harder than usual to get exercise, but i must!   i must stay healthy.   dude, i've gotta lay off the red meat!   2day, i packed a turkey n' spinacci bagel sandwich w/ hummus 4 lunch.   i also made 1 4 the beautiful kaela hwang's lunch.   she laffed that i made such "amerikan" fud 4 lunch.   is it really?   sure it's not like i've packed us som 김치 찌개 kimchi jjigae 4 lunch, but 'least it's not burgers n' hot dogs.   neway, dude, society needs to update its definition'f "amerikan fud."   hot dogs n' burgers?   that's not the extent'f amerikan fud!   amerikan fud is what amerikans eat, n' what do amerikans eat?   they eat menudo (on sabado n' domingo), lumpia, naan, 빔밥 kimbap, chow fun, falafels, mousaka, lau lau, piroshkis...   dude, subvert the dominant paradigm!   ha ha ha ha...   *sigh* what's w/ this wannabe "hippie engr" stuff?!   just cos i graduated from cal?   btw, 4 a while now, i've been wanting to start a "keep santa clara weird" campaign.   in case u don't know, that'd be a variant'f the popular "keep santa cruz weird" campaign, a movement to maintain support for street musicians in santa cruz.   would ppl laff 2 hard?   really, it's not as bad as having a "keep saratoga weird" or "keep almaden valley weird" campaign!   imagine "keep mill valley weird," "keep naperville weird," "keep fountain valley weird," etc.   a long time 'go, i heard'f sociopolitical concern in sf (san francisco) 'bout how housing has gotten so inaffordable that the artists n' musicians that create san franciscan culture can't live there nemore, only lawyers n' doktors, n' biznessppl.   also, citizens voiced concerns that service werkers couldn't afford to live there.

[later] 오후: ok, i went to the werk.com gym during lunch.   phew.   i've gotta get back into a good fitness routine n' eventually, i've gotta get back in shape in gen'l.   yah, if i ever get fat 'gain, i'll wish i were in the shape i am now, but... *sigh* i still wish i were in better shape than i am now.   it's bad that i've been 2 scare to weight myself or take a body fat measurement.   i'm eating my bag lunch.   it's healthier than a cafeteria lunch but prob'ly 2 big in portions.

[later] march madness: so rt now, every1's excited 'bout the ncaa mens basketball tourney.   me, i don't really care 'bout it 'cept 4 cal's participation or whatever.   i'll be happy if cal wins; but, other than that, i don't care. jocks n' cheerleaders: a couple'f wks 'go there was this video clip that was all over the news, a clip'f this southern illinois university cheerleader that was on the top'f a human pyramid during a basketball game but wasn't caught upon her dismount.   her team totally messed up n' she fell on her head or sumpthin'... from really high.   the video was particularly interesting cos she kept cheering even as she was carried 'way in a stretcher w/ her neck restrained.   from her last name, it looksl ike this gurl is some part 'least japanese.   her last name was like yamaoka or sumpthin'.   'nother cheerleader who made the news in the past couple'f wks was teri hatcher.   'pparently, she grew up not 2 far from where we live, in sunnyvale.   she helped convikt a child molester by sharing that that uncle had molested her as a kid as well.   dude, last nite, @ the branham lane safeway (near 85), i saw toby dawson on a frosted sugar flakes box w/ tony the tiger.   dude! that should be a collektor's item!   check out this link: http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/IDF/ATH/606722.html.   "He has been given the unique honour of being featured on the box of Frosted Flakes Cereal, along with the box he is also to be racing Tony the Tiger down a hill on a nationally screened advertisement.   'I've done the yogurt lids before, but this will be my first cereal box.   It's the ultimate (exposure) and everything, but at the same time, you get all of your buddies giving you a hard time on Email.   I haven't seen (the commercial) yet, but I'm sure Tony the Tiger gets put in there somewhere.' (vaildaily.com 17/11/05)"

[later] 저녁... 하지만 아직도 퇴근하지 않았어요: yesterday, i mentioned the almost skatebaording video.   u can buy it from via my amazon link - almost round three dvd (2004).   neway... lemme tell u, a few wks 'go, i was watching this vans shoe company skateboarding dvd that came free w/ the order in which i got all my skateboard parts back in uh... feb? jan? *shrug*   (i think 'twas feb.)   in the video, a bunch'f young, pro skateboarders get flown to china to skate 'round cities there n' get filmed 4 the video.   it bothered me, tho', how these kids akted like such punks n' showed such disrespekt.   it bothers me that this kind'f attitude pervades skateboarding n' skateboard culture.   i think things can be better.   i hate how so much'f extreme sports culture revolves 'round mtv's jack@$$ show.   skateboarding kids need better role models.   u know that?   i mean, shoot, of course skateboarding's always had this bad boy image, but some1 ought to teach these young men that they can have their bad boy image n' yet not be so unintelligent.   san josé has an artistik culture that developed w/ strong influence from skateboarding.   just check out the metro article.   i found the almost< round three video to be unlike the vans video cos it was artistik n' well.produced.   it just cmed more mature... in a good way.

[later] 밤, 1057p: i went to 비원 w/ the core group.   i ate 회덮밥 hweduhpbap.

목요일 아팀: 2morrow's st. patrick's day.   hrm, does st. patrick = san pedro?   peter = pedro, rt?   does patrick = peter?   *shrug*   petrified... peter = rock.   patrick?   *shrug* last sat, when i was @ bay st. emeryville w/ our good friend roland, we went into old navy.   old navy was selling all this st. patrick's day clothing.   they made such a big deal'f it.   the blue n' green colour scheme aktually looked very nice.   i've thought 4 a while that that's gonna be the next big thing, which'll replace the now almost cliché n' trite brown n' blue colour scheme.   yah, that was last christmas season's colour scheme.   yah, it's almost out the door, but i'm aktually sportin' that colour scheme 2day, wearing my brown cardigan, blue jeans, n' a blue shirt.   oh, n' my belt's both brown n' blue!   my shoes n' overcoat r both black, so i'm not completely matching.   when i saw all that st. patrick's day clothing, i reminded roland'f how a few yrs 'go, old navy sold a bunch'f 4'f july clothing in a similar fashion: the t.shirts r just $5.   dude, i'm sure next wk, the t.shirts'll be like $2.50, rt?

i s'ppose it's good that i fell asleep relatively early last nite.   i couldn't stay 'wake thru the 1100p news on nbc 11.   did i?   i feel like i did c some'f leno last nite, did i? *shrug*   i had a dream this morn 'bout going to some state or ant'l park, where i drove my subaru forester thru some deep h₂o n' then was lifted out'f the h₂o onto some bridge.   like that was how ppl routinely visited the park.   d'ya wanna analyse my dream?   a couple'f nites 'go, i didn't sleep well @ all cos the beautiful kaela hwang was studying in bed n' then later sooni kept waking me up.   i figured that she wanted to be let out into the backyard to relieve herself, so i eventually got out'f bed n' let her out.   cos'f all that, i woke up kind'f late yesterday.   however, 2day, i woke up early n' brought sooni out 4 a nice jog.   i need to jog more as i just plain need to exercise more.

[later] 오후: i wonder if this web page is ne good: "bible spiritual gifts tests (60 questions)".   maybe u should take the test... if u'r a christian, like me.   i dunno how good or accurate the test is, but... *shrug*

@ lunch, kaela came to pick me up n' then we met w/ some grxers @ athena grill on space park @ scott.   it was a fun lunch gathering'f christian, asian.am young professionals in the area.   i think there was like 8'f us.   i'd been to athena grill 'least 1nce in the past n' knew it'd be crowded n' crowded mostly w/ ppl from my company.   i was rt.   i sed i didn't want beef cos i've been eating so much red meat lately; but, when put on the spot @ the order counter, i ordered the arnáki pita, which is a lamb sandwich.   upes.   kaela had the grilled eggplant standwich.   the fud was good.   personally, i prefer yiasoo over athena grill; but athena ain't bad, i guess.   wow, it was sooo crowded w/ ppl from my company!

[later] yesterday (i think 'twas yesterday), i started to discuss the almost round three video n' how i found it such a better werk than the vans video.   i gotta say, that kinda hurts to say cos the vans video does have steve caballero 4 a very short while, n' steve caballero rocks.   however, it's just these new, young kids that r such jerks that make the whole thing cm kind'f lame n' immature.   as i was saying yesterday, i like the almost video much better.   u know, 1 thing that makes the almost video rock's that it has kewl musik.   it has that "my favourite game" song.   whose song is that, sheryl crowe?   oh, no... i didn't think so; it's the cadrigans.   yah, i thought 'twas some1 more 'long those lines.   4 a sec, i was gonna guess garbage, but it just doesn't sound dark 'nuff.   neway, get this the almost video has the cure's "why can't i be you?"   dude, that's a song i prob'ly put into my own lame skateboarding videos i made in 9th grade.   awesome!   dude, watching rodney mullen, i just kept thinking how kewl it is that he's still doing the same "freestyle skateboarding" tricks he did in the 1980s but adpated 4 streetstyle.   dude, that's so kewl.   [aterl] neway, the use'f the cardigans n' the cure makes that video so classy, man!   also, the video has cute animation.   i 'member now the cardigans' "favourite game" video: it's the 1 where the gurl's driving fast down the highway w/o stering, 4cing every1 to swerve off the road to miss her.   s'pposedly, that video stirred up some contreversy 4 inspiring kids to try that out.   it's an artistik video.   this afternoon, i'm listening to a live "bootleg" cure cd.   i bet this "bootleg" import cd's worth a good amount now, but i dunno.   it's prob'ly some kind'f collektors item.

2nite, i might do some korean gro¢ery $hopping @ either 갤러리아 플라자 galleria plaza in santa clara or 한국 마켓 hangook market in sunnyvale.   [later] 저녁: after that, i'll go home, maybe eat dinner 1st, n' then do some base cleaning, base repair, n' hot wax.   it's "beno's snowboard shop" in the garage 'gain 2nite.   [later] yah, un4tunately, it looks like i'm skipping taekwondo sparring praktice 2nite.   i guess i'm glad i 'least jogged this morn.

[later] keep in mind that i have coined 3 important phrases here:
- "keep santa clara weird."
- "san joséana"
- "silicon valley: america's real heartland."
if i owned either a café or a cable company in santa clara, the slogan could be "keep santa clara wired."   perhaps, that'd be funnier n/or more clever in the original city'f santa cruz: "keep santa cruz wired."   man, if only i could run my own radio station...   heh heh, that thought just came from my thinking just now 'bout making a list'f my favourite songs @ the moment.   i used to do stuff like that when i was a kid, make lists'f my favourite songs, etc.   aktually, when i was a kid, i was really into reading the musik charts, like what the top 100 singles were, what the top 100 albums were, etc.   [later] so which korean gro¢eryshould i patronise 2nite?

[later] 밤, 907p: after getting out'f werk much later than desired, i went to big! lots to buy sooni some dingo brand chews.   then i went to the bank to depo$it a ¢he¢k, then to 한국 마켓 hangook market to gro¢ery $hop.   then, i came home n' cooked packaged 짬뽕 jjambbong.   now, it's raining really hard outside, which is crazy cos it didn't rain all day!   i haven't started werking on my snowboard, which is bad.   i need to.   i do love the sound'f rain.

[later] 1129p: so when did the term "manual" develop???   a manual is what we called a "wheelie" as kids.   i heard "manual" 1st as a skateboard kid almost 2 decades 'go, but i discovered recently that mountain bikers also use it.

2day, 4 lunch, the beautiful kaela hwang picked me up from my office n' we met some'f my cowerkers from the division/dept i werked w/ during my co.op @ kabab n' curry off'f el camino real: halal indian buffet, $8/person.

토요일 오후, 314p: i feel like i'm wasting the day 'way.   this morn, i took sooni n' went skateboarding 'round my neighbourhood.   i always feel self.conscious 'bout that: like, if the neighbours c me skateboarding, what'll they think?   however, after thinkin' 'bout it 2day; i told myself i really can't worry 'bout what ppl say 'bout me, cos well, heck, they'll always find sumpthin' to rag on me 4: unkept yard, messy house, 2 asian... whatever, man.   it's ironik, but i'll say this, "i'm not in middle skool nemore, so i don't need to worry 'bout fitting in n' all that cr@p."   i had fun skateboarding w/ sooni, but it's just cruising.   it cms like i might as well have a long board 4 this kind'f riding.   it's not like i get to try tricks or nething w/ sooni.   the most fun i have is dropping off curbs, so well... that's pretty pathetik.   [a li'l later] 336p: well, i came back from skateboarding n' then woke the beautiful kaela hwang up 4 her nat'l chiropraktic board exam (2day n' 2morrow).   a 누나 noona (older sista figure) in our couples small grp instrukted me to give kaela a massage b4 her exam, so when kaela asked me last nite n' this morn, i complied.   then kaela asked me to take her to hobees 4 brkfast, so i did.   i was so worried that we'd be so late to hobees that we'd hafta wait 4 a table.   i frantically searched 4 my wedding band but couldn't find it.   i'd taken it off last nite when i got home cos i wanted to praktice some ollieing in the garage, as i've been doing thru.out the wk.   i took off the ring cos 1tym, a while 'go, i fell 1nce while skating out on the sidewalk n' scratched the ring a li'l.   well, we took off to hobees, n' i didn't have my ring.   we had a nice brkfast.   kaela had chicken apple sausage scrambled eggs, n' i had uh... this "shamrock" scramble.   the shamrock scramble had chicken, green onions, black olives, salsa fresca, n' other things.   i had hash browns w/ it instead'f their famous coffee cake, which's also very good.   kaela n' i enjoyed their decaf coffee.   after brkfast, i dropped kaela off @ her skool 4 her test n' then parked nearby to skateboard a li'l.   i skated thru north park, this new urbanist apartment neighbourhood, n' then past some silicon valley companies, including my company's suppliers, customers, n' competitors.   i saw sekurity guards eyeing me.   after just skatin' 'round 4 a good while, i came home.   since then, yah, i feel like i've been wasting 'way... or 'least wasting time.   i cleaned the house a li'l n' quickly found my ring inside a small, wicker basket.   it must've fallen out'f my jeans pocket as i folded them up to hang.   un4tunately, that happens more often than it should.   i cleaned up some more n' took some junk items out'f the backyard n' side yard to put on the curb 4 santa clara's annual dump day.   what i really need to do is go get a haircut!

practical unigraphics nx3: modeling, drafting, and assemblies
machinery's handbook, 27th edition

일요일 저녁, 524p: 2day's the beautiful kaela hwang's n' my 32nd wedding monthversary.   march... then april'll be 33rd, may'll be 34th, june'll be 35th, n' july'll be 3rd anniversary.   since kaela's taking her finals this wk, after 2day completing her 2.day nat'l board exams; i assumed she wouldn't wanna do nething 2nite, but when she came home from her test she told me to take her out 4 our monthversary, so i guess we shall.   we'll c.   now, she fell asleep.

2day, i went to church.   afterwards, i met w/ a couple 'bout djing their wedding in sept.   it looks like i'll be djing 3 weddings this yr... 'least 3 weddings.   i don't mind doing more.   in fakt, i think i'll buy my own sound gear this yr.   it's well 'bout time that i bought my own gear.   i realised a while 'go that the recent i hadn't bought ne yet's cos i didn't have a house.   now i have a house (to store the stuff), so i might as well buy the stuff.   neway, after that, i met up w/ my mom, n' we went to lunch @ darda in the milpitas 99 ranch mall on barber ln.   darda's the muslim chinese restaurant out there.   yah, i'm definitely not muslim but ate lunch @ muslim restaurants on fri n' sun.   funny, huh?   neway, it's good fud.   well, after that, after strolling n' browsing thru stores w/ my mom; i went to bed, bath, & beyond to $hop 'round 4 home stuff... mostly accessories... since i realise that i do pretty much all the housewerk 'round here... i mean, since i do pretty much all'f the housewerk 'round here, i figured i might as well go buy some junk to help me do the housewerk.   i mean, i wondered if i should've waited 4 a time to go to b,b, & b w/ kaela; but eh! i figured since i'm the 1 using this junk; i might as well just go.   it's a li'l odd to be a guy by himself @ b,b, & b.   it's mostly married couples 2gether or else 'least wives by themselves.   it's rarely husbands by themselves... 4 that, u'd hafta go to orchards (orchard supply hardware) or the home depot.   neway, i've found myself in that situation many times b4 neway... no biggie; whatever.   i had a bunch'f b,b, & b ¢oupons.   i learned 2day that u can use as many ¢oupons as u want @ 1tym n' that the ¢oupons never expire.   that's kewl.   i used to $5 off $15 ¢oupons, buying $29.96 worth'f stuff n' getting $10 off.   kewl.   i bought a laundry hamper (just a plain, ol' white, molded plastik 1 cos it was the only 1 made in the u.s.a. n' not china), a dryer lint cleaning brush, an egg thermal timer (u drop the platik egg into the boiling h₂o w/ the eggs n' watch it change colours), n' 1 boo.boo buddy.   what's a boo.boo buddy?   dude, it's very cute, so u gotta check it out.   it's an ice pack.   however, this 1 that i bought is in the shape'f the face'f a pet doggy.   check out www.mybooboobuddy.com   it's very cute.   when i got home, i saw that it's made in the republik'f korea.   yah, that figures.   it's very cute.   if u want to buy boo.boo buddies, u can click on my amazon link here: boo boo buddy 12.pac (but not the pet animal shaped 1s).   kaela's always telling me to ice my injuries.   i figure this'll make that easier.   @ b,b, & b; i saw a painting that i'd cn a yr or 2 'go that i like.   sure, it's a only a canvas reproduktion'f some art deco cliché (in the eyes'f some real art person), but i like it.   i dunno the name'f the painting or the painter; but, yah, it's this "art deco" (i guess) piece w/ a man n' a woman driving a convertible car... well, it's up close, so all u c's the man, the woman, n' a steering wheel.   i like it.   to me, it's very romantik.

that's funny... cos i was thinkin' 2day sometime 'bout how, in hi skool, i had certain ideals... i believed that having a car n' a gurlfriend really made u a man, u know?   i guess i was thinkin' 'bout how i lent my elektric guitar to al liu n' he never gave it back.   yah, while watching the worship band play @ grx, i thought 'bout my guitar.   al sed he'd buy me a new guitar; but i told him a while 'go to wait until i had a house.   well, i now i have had a house 4 a couple'f yrs.   i haven't cn him since... or have i?   yah, i must've... cos i 'member telling him that kaela n' i go to grx now.   yah, i think so.   neway... i was thinkin' 'bout how al liu took a long time to get his driver license.   he didn't get it until we were both in college @ cal.   yah, 2 me, having a car n' a gurlfriend made me a man.   however, well, shoot... we all know that's not necessarily true.   *sigh* when i got to college, i met lots'f guys who hadn't yet had their 1st gf.   man, me? i totally emphasized that in hi skool; i really wanted a gf, n' eventually i did.   well, whatever, man.

i'm gonna do a google image search to c if i can find that painting or info on it; but i doubt i shall.   i haven't found nething yet.   however, thinkin' bout the vettriano canvas repro that we have (dance me to the end of love) n' how i also like his singing butler etc. i googled up "vettriano" n' @ the portland gallery's website (http://www.portlandgallery.com).   i hadn't realised that vettrian has painted some racy (s3xy) stuff.   oh, ok.

the mutt: how to skateboard and not kill yourself by rodney mullen

oh yah, so that painting was $79.99, but w/ the 20% off ¢oupon, it would've been lik $70.   *sigh* maybe someday.   it was the last 1 left n' was sort'f hidden.

dude, i'm reading some'f rodney mullen's autobiography in the link above.   man, he's a really interesting guy!   wow, how come some'f the pro skateboarders from the 1980s r now such good role modles yet some'f the young twits that r pros now r just such jerks?   i'll prob'ly buy a used copy'f his book.   u know, whenever i buy a book n' start it, i so rarely finish it... uh, lemme rephrase that: i so rarely finish the books that i buy n' start reading.   it sucks; but heck, i still think this book's worth buying... 'least buying a used copy 4 goodness sake.   heck, i'd buy a new copy, but i'm just not loaded.   dude, kaela should find it interesting that steve caballero has some extreme scoliosis that permanently tilts his head to the left n' that rodney mullen was born w/ extremely pigeon.toed feet.   his acct'f wearing "torture" boots reminds me'f the beginning'f forrest gump.   dude, i've gotta read this book.   [later] 643p: dude, have checked out the site www.skatelegends.com?   well, considering u'r prob'ly not a skateboarder or as into skateboarding as i am, prob'ly not, huh? *sigh* well, u should check it out!

well, it's 644p, n' kaela's still asleep.   i dunno if we're going out 2nite or not.

월요일 점심: it's mon n' back to the stress n' hekticness.   last nite, i took the beautiful kaela hwang to hawg's seafud bar in downtown san josé for our 32nd monthversary dinner.   downtown san jo continues to get nicer n' make san jo more'f a cosmopolitan city.   in ne case, we had a nice dinner, n' i got use a restaurant.com dining certificate to pay 4 a good chunk'f our bill.   [later] 오후: kaela swung by my office to pick me up, n' i got us lunch @ 명동 순두부집 myungdong soondubujip: 버섯 순두부 (찌개) buhsuht soondubu (jjigae) 4 kaela n' 섞어 순두부 sukkuh soondubu 4 me.   it was great as usual.   this morn, when i woke up it wasn't raining, but i'd heard that it'd rain later.   i woke up early, took out the trash, took sooni 4 a nice walk, etc.   later, while i was in the office, kaela called me n' mentioned that it'd been raining a good amt.   wow, sooni should be very glad that she got a walk while she could.

[later] so last nite, what did we eat?   well, we started off w/ a 0.5 dzn raw oysters on the 0.5 shell.   we had some martinis: the french martini 4 kaela n' the hypnotini 4 me.   then kaela had the cioppino, n' i had the paella.   when our entrées arrived, we were done w/ our martinis, n' the waitress asked if we wanted nething else to drink.   i asked 4 a hefeweizen, n' so did kaela.   i wished we'd just shared 1.   i drank mine, but kaela didn't really drink hers, so i pretty much drank it 4 her.   i was really full, n' when i drink more alchool, it induces me to eat more, attempting to keep sober.   it's bad.   i was so stuffed, but i figured we could share a blueberry cheesecake n' have some decaf.   it was all good.   in the end, i still gave the car keys to kaela.   when we got home, i was so itchy.   i hate having this alcohol allergy.   i get red n' itchy. *sigh*   on fri nite, i skipped dinner.   on sat, i skipped lunch.   on sun, i ate 3 full meals.   i ate 'lot on sun.

my right leg's sore from my skateboard crusiin' on saturday.   my gastrocnemius's sore.   also, the inside'f my thigh...   this weekend was beautifully sunny but not hot.   i can hardly believe that i wasn't in taheo, snowboarding!   >:-(   i spent a good 'mount'f time this wknd doing housechores.   i cleaned up the house a li'l, still barely making a dent.   i mowed the backyard lawn yesterday.   i moved some junk onto the curb 4 santa clara's annual dump day (which's more like dump week).   i sold off a dresser to a lucky craig's list buyer, just $10.   i'm glad i sold it off tho'.   it's like trading sumpthin' i can't use 4 a free lunch, u know?   i've gotta do this more often!   [later] i just realised sumpthin' interesting: i tend to buy on ebay stores but sell on craig's list.   funny, huh?

[later] 밤, 1149p: i stayed_late@werk.com.   i drove home in the rain n' ate leftover 짬뽕 jjambbong.   i need to get some exercise. *sigh*

화요일 아침: 봄이 시작했어요.   spring started.   however, the eastern hills r capped w/ snow this morn.   "my frickin' goodness, it's alpine meadows up there," i sed to myself during my morning commute as i rolled over the portion of lawrence expressway that passes over the train tracks by costco.   wow, that's like ned flanders's diddly iddly talk, huh?

[later] 오후: during my lunchbrk, i had a decent werkout in the werk.com gym.   ah, i hadn't exercised in so long, so it felt very good.   4 lunch, i ate 2 trader joe's chicken, rice, n' bean burritos.   maybe that wasn't the healthiest lunch.   s'pposedly, 'twas low in fat; but i felt it had 2 much na⁺.

the sf international asian amerikan film festival is going on rt now.   check out their website: http://www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org/.   the movie i think i most want to c from the festival is only the brave, a movie 'bout japanese.amerikan soldiers in ww2.   it has big stars: jason scott lee of the famous bruce lee biography dragon n' tamlyn tomita, who of course a long time 'go was the cute japanese gurl that ralph machio had the hots 4 in the karate kid, part ii.   ha ha ha, those descriptions prob'ly sound rather silly; but *sigh* u know how it is in the asian.am film world: those credits make them pretty big stars...   well, no... it makes them "legends".   u know, asian.am film's much better now than it was in the 1980s.   i like it so much better now.   it's funny how some things get bettwr w/ time.   movies like better luck tomorrow n' harold n' kumar go to white castle r so much better than 1980s movies like double happiness n' my beautiful laundrette^*.   no doubt.

[later] oh, 2day's 1'f those 60% off restaurant.com days enter code "87539".   u can get a $25 dining certificate 4 $4.

[later] u know, i think i have some very valuable cds in my collektion.   however, i wrote my name on most'f my cds w/ a black permanent marker.   if i ever wanted to ¢:a$h out, i'd hafta somehow remove my name from all those cds, rt?   i have some rare stuff: limited editions, imports, box sets, promo only stuff...   just think, my depeche mode black celebration cd's a uk import, while my cure wish cd's a japanese import.   i think i have some german imports in there as well, but i 4get.   yah, it's crazy.   *sigh* someday, i'd love to dig thru my ol' cds n' relive memories fromt he 1990s.   just now, i ripped my new order in order cd into my 'puter.   had u even heard'f that album?   it's not common.   wtf?   i just froogled it up n' found 1 place selling it 4 $60.18, n' 'nother guy ebay storesing it 4 $3.95!   dude, i could make ~$55 just like that!   "i've got the brains.   you've got the looks.   let's make lots of money."^**

[later] 밤, 1118p: after werk 2nite, i went to taekwondo praktice.   dennis led a good werkout.   afterwards, i hung 'round n' chitchatted w/ the guys n' then took sooni to fantasia, where i got myself a almond milk tea w/ boba.   some ppl came up to pet sooni, etc.; n' this couple was training their bulldog mix to behave well 'round other doggies w/ sooni.   sooni growled n' lunged a li'l, n' that dog barked n' lunged a lot.   i'm glad sooni's better than she used to be, but maybe i should've disciplined her a li'l more when she lunged n' growled.   however, it was only cos the other dog was doing the same.   that couple were new dog owners, n' i 'member well the feeling.   after that, i came home n' cooked some well... some kind'f 만두국 mandoogook w/ these shark's fin 만두 mandoo n' some 오댕 odaeng n' lots'f 야채 yachae (veggies).   i'm glad 'twas a lower na⁺ meal than those packaged noodles.

한류 hanryu: selling out the hermit kingdom?: 2nite, @ the cupertino 99 mall (where the cupertino fantasia is), i noticed that silver wing chinese restaurant's being replaced by 한국 두부 hangook dubu.   that corner'f the mall now has 2 korean biznesses: that 순두부집 soondubujip n' that pinky winky women's clothing store, which has nice things but is waaay overpri¢ed.   *sigh* u c, sobay korean.amerikan merchants know that the lokal taiwanese n' chinese amerikans r sooo into korean culture just like their counterparts in the muthaland (asia).   i know it's snobby'f me to say this, but i've sed it b4 n' still think that what's big in taiwan is then big in hk n' china n' then the rest'f continental asia.   (japan, they're just sort'f on their own.)   neway, these korean.amerikanmerchants r capitalising off'f the whole "한류 hanryu/halryu/hanliu" trend that has grown so more huger than when it was just a few ppl on bronx's junkyard forums, etc.   what do i make'f this?   personally, i embrace pan.asian.amerikan ethnicity n' love to c fellowship 'mongst the asian ethnicities.   i hate how certain asian communities, mostly on the east coast n' to a lesser extent down in socal, refuse to coalesce to support a united asian.amerikan community, which is what we asian.ams need in order to achieve the level'f respekt (equality) we deserve in this nation.   u don't c this kind'f intraracial bickering amongst afrikan.ams or latino.chicano.ams.   @ the same time, i still as always warn korean n' korean.ams not to resort to selling out their culture 4 short.term gain, whether financial or social or whatever.   it's a delicate balance, man.   i hate cing punk@$$, 이세 2세 isei korean.ams go 'round being all exclusive n' shunning asian.am peers'f other ethnicities, shouting korea pride this n' that.   dude, i'm so sick'f that.   i've cn way 2 much'f that in my time, u kidding me?   neway, i still just say, "be careful."   hey, u should check out the rather decent article on wikipedia 'bout 한류 hanryu/halryu/hanliu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanryu.   yah, that article also mentions the backlash 'gainst 한류 halryu.   by "backlash," they're talkin' 'bout the chinese, vietnamese, etc. parents who hate that their kids watch k.dramas, n' cmingly 4go their own ethnic identity to idolise specifically korean pop culture.   well, hey... u know what?   that's pretty silly but @ the same time not totally silly.   i'll tell u this, just as the article sez, asians n' asian.ams love korean pop culture cos it is well developed but is more relevant than "western" pop culture.   that's totally true, n' i've been saying it 4 ages.   i related so much better to k.dramas n' than stoopid amerikan tv shows.   sure, i'm an amerikan, yes; but amerikan media is so racist n' only focuses on black n' white culture n' ignores asian culture etc.; so, yah, asian.ams like me can't relate to the stuff they put on tv here.   we sure can't.   neway, i was sort'f surprised that the "criticism" sektion'f the article that talks 'bout vietnam threatening to ban k.dramas to protekt its own culture doesn't talk 'bout backlash by koreans who oppose it, like those certain punk@$$ 이세 isei korean.ams that i mentioned earlier.   i read in the article that "some chinese brides have even chosen to wear korean hanbok in their wedding pictures."   whah? really?!   wow, if so, that's pretty extreme.   i gotta admit that w/ this whole 한류 halryu thing; yah, my having a korean wife n' korean doggy n' doing taekwondo n' being able to communicate in korean n' all must cm pretty darn hip n' trendy.   :-/ eh, i dunno, man; i tell u; i don't wanna ¢heapen the korean culture.   frick, it's a country, n' they have a rt to have an identity.   well, *shrug* maybe sumpthin' good'll come out'f all this neway.   maybe this is the thing that'll promote asian pan.ethnicity. *shrug* could it be?   u know, i think 1 thing to watch out 4 is if amerikan media tries to capitalise off'f all this.   yah, in a way, i think that's where the japanese went wrong.   in a way, well... heh, i'll surely offend many in saying this; but yah... i think the japanese were 2 quick to sell off their culture to amerikan media, huh?   i s'ppose 한류 halryu is still primarily an asian/asian.am thing, eh?   neway, dude... it's now 1155p.   i s'ppose it's gettin' late, n' that's the 1 thing that'll stop me b4 i offend even more ppl. ha ha ha!   dude, this is 1 offensive entry!

^* that's british, not amerikan!   ok, then we'll compare it to bend it like beckham, which is still 1'f those "why can't my parents accept my white bf?" stories.   i'm sorry, but there r many more asian.am issues than that!   however, so many'f those stories end up on the screen just like how a disproportionate 'mount'f g@y asian.am films end up on the screen.   in a way, as i sed, it might just be a reflektion 'pon the type'f ppl who end up making movies, which isn't a good x.sektion'f society.

^** "opportunities" by the pet shop boys

수요일 아침: 2nite'll be my last nite in the bay area 4 a while.   the beautiful kaela hwang n' i'll be in dc this wknd, while duk n' sooni protekt our house from ne weirdos who might aktually read my journal just to figure out when they can break into our house.   yah'll 1 n/or the other'll rip u to shreds.   i want to keep going to be early n' sleeping early this wk in order to get my sleep skedule ready 4 the back n' forth time zone changes.   however, un4tunately, last nite, i found myself staying up late. *sigh* oh yah, cos i stayed up late, i had the chance to shrink some digipix to share w/ u! :-) i'll be uploading a whole mess'f pix that i can finally share w/ u!   just wait a sec.   by the end'f this entry, i'll hopefully have those pix up on my journal.

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[later] 밤, 948p: what a long day @ werk. *sigh* really... it was crazy n' so exhausting.   4 lunch, i ate this turkey n' laffing cow cheese w/ spinacci sandwich on naan that i made 4 lunch.   it was delicious, but i ate an identical sandwich 4 brkfast.   i should've just given 1 to kaela.   what was i thinking?   well, if i had done that, what would i've eaten 4 lunch? *shrug* what a hektic day.   when i finally left werk, i tried to go to $1.75 ¢leaners to pick up some overdue dry cleaning, but it had just closed.   that pi$$ed me off so much, the fakt that i was trapped @ werk so late that i couldn't pick up my dry ¢leaning.   i was so mad.   why is it that i always hafta werk such long hrs that i can't enjoy my life.   i can't even get necessary stuff done!   i was so mad.   i went to pepboys n' bought some new windshield wiper blade refills in order to take out my anger.   *sigh* it's sad, but that's what i did cos i was mad.   then i went to albertsons n' bought some salsa, some granola bar thingies, n' some fat.free egg substitute.   *sigh* that's rage 4 u, eh?   i came home.   i ate some strange noodle leftovers that kaela left on the counter n' then the remnants'f last nite's 만두국 mandoogook that kaela had eaten most'f.   i watched an episode'f kbs's 드라마 시티, a sad story.   last nite, i watched an episode'f kbs's 부부 크리닉: 사랑과 전쟁

[later] 1052p: is it not 'bout time 4 pix?

• 2006년03월10일, 금: beno, after walking sooni on a wet fri morn
• 2006년03월10일, 토
• beno in the south bay snow:
• sooni n' beno in the south bay snow, take 1:
• sooni n' beno in the south bay snow, take 1:
• while kindly asking us to leave, the park ranger offered to take this pic 4 us
• kaela@taxishamburgers.com:
• keno n' sooni outside'f taxi's hamburgers:
• rolo n' beno in front of a great view of berkeley:
• 2006년03월10일, 금: beno on dia de san patricio

i really ought to be packing my big green backpack!

목요일 아침: it's thurs but feels like fri cos i'm flying out this evening.   i 1st fly out from sjc to lax, then take a redeye from lax to iad (dulles).   2morrow morn, hopefully, fahad'll pick me up from dulles @ ~630a.   he sed he had fud poisoning yesterday, so he's warned me that he might not be able to pick me up but sez he prob'ly still can.   wow, i feel like i'm just ditching werk (i'm taking a vakation day 2morrow) n' hangin' out in the city, 'cept "the city" means washington, dc n' not sf or san jo in this case.   it's funny: 1tym, a long time 'go, this hr cowerker @ my company told our batch'f new recruits, "nobody calls it frisco or san francisco.   they call it 'the city.'"   whah?   no, i don't call it "the city"!   i call it "sf" most'f the time.   neway, she was an austin transplant, whereas i've grown up in the silly valley / bay area.   neway... i hope this wknd'll be fun in washington, dc.   my main goal's to hang out w/ my ol' buddy fahad, n' that's all.   the beautiful kaela hwang finishes her last final 4 the 0.25 in a few mins.   then it's the start'f her 1.wk spring brk.   it's aktually quite messed up that she's using her 1.wk spring brk to do more chiropraktic stuff.   this 0.25, she's totally buried herself in chiropraktic stuff n' hasn't spent time w/ me, n' now she's still not spending time w/ me over her spring brk.   yah, it's really messed up.   however, i'll just make the best'f this bad situation n' make it a good thing by making it a chance to hang out w/ fahad.   seriously, that's a good thing.

i didn't get 'round to packing till this morn.   however, the brevity'f this trip (fri, sat, san) made it an easier task.   i was pretty tired last nite, yet i still didn't go to sleep all that early, which is awful.   i guess i stayed up, uploading pix to my website n' to flickr, etc.   i watched some korean musik videos on youtube.com after watching 드라맘 시티 on kbs.co.kr.   in a way, i guess, i was just wasting time.   however, watching korean musik videos n' k.dramas should also be considered a culturally edifying aktivity.   it's good to learn langauges, rt?   i don't have subtitles when i watch these k.dramas on kbs.co.kr.   however, 1 can only learn so much by watching since u don't praktice speaking while watching.   that's why musik was always such a good tool 4 my korean language edukation cos i end up trying to sing the songs, n' that's better praktice than just listening to dialogue.   last nite, i fell asleep b4 kaela came home.   that has become very common.   i stayed up late 2.   whatever...

2nite, i fly out'f sjc mineta aeroprot @ 700p.   i've gotta 4ce myself to leave my office @ ~400p n' not let msyelf get imprisoned late as usual.   the fakt that i was prevented from picking up my dry cleaning last nite was unacceptable.

[a li'l bit later] 오후: i'll have a couple'f hrs to kill in lax, which is much better than trying to run from gate to gate there.   dude, lax... well, sucks.   i've missed a flight 1nce cos'f how the int'l gates r so far from the domestik gates.   'member?   on my travel back from taiwan last spring, i missed my southwest aerolines flight from lax to sjc mineta.   while i'm in lax, i should try to find that pet accessories store that sells "i (hreat) squirrels" doggy bandanas.   it'll be overpri¢ed, but it's cute.

[later] logitech wireless headphones for mp3?   dude, i wish!   otherwise, bluelake technologies bt450rx bluetooth headphones?   yeah, rt...   the greens cookbook by deborah madison?   hey, that's kewl.   greens in sf's fort mason's an awesome vegetarian restaurant!   ...altho' a bit expen$ive.

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[later] 저녁: well, i'm home now, n' i've gotta get ready to go to the aeroport soon.   4 lunch 2day, i ate a salad from the salad bar @ the werk.com cafeteria.

일요일 오후, 448p est / 148p pst: i'm aboard american aerolines flight 4225, service from iad dullles to ord o'hare.   the plane's an small embraer jet like the 1 i rode on thurs evening from sjc mineta to lax bradley aeroport.   i'm returning to the bay area.   what a fun time it has been in dc, hangin' w/ fahad n' wendy.   dc's a beautiful, urban, cosmopolitan city.   [later] 507p est / 207p pst: i was interrupted by the take off.   i'm enjoying the nice view'f lush virginia.   upes, now we're above the clouds.   well, how was the wknd?   'twas a lot'f good fud, which's sort'f funny cos dc isn't necessarily famous 4 great fud altho' most ppl'd assume some level'f competency in the restaurants n' chefs in the u.s. national capital, eh?   well, the places we went didn't disappoint.   lessee, where did i eat?

places @ which i ate:
• 금요일 점심: some li'l korean sushi joint near fahad's office, near the nat'l mall...   i had the tuna lover's special, while fahad had the salmon lover's special: each had a 0.5 dzn roll (maki) pcs, 2 pcs'f nigiri, n' 1 extra delicious hand roll (temaki).   the fish etc. was good, but the nori (김 kim or gim) was a bit soggy.
• 금요일 저녁: così...   i had the chicken pesto melt n' some fahad's tomato/basil pizza (1 slice).   i told fahad n' wendy how i enoyed my 1 n' only visit to valley fair's ephemeral così this past christmas $hopping $eason rt b4 it closed down.   così's very commonplace 4 east coast residents but a rare treat 4 a visitor like me from cali4nia's bay area.   their flat bread rocks!
• 토요일 점심: chef geoff's...   a decently luxurious meal...   'least 4 a lower middle class bloke like me, scraping by on my measly in¢come...   the beautiful kaela hwang had this chicken satay salad w/ coconut vinaigrette, while i had the southern fish fry: deep fried tilapia w/ hush puppies n' s'pposedly spicy but not spicy dipping mayo.
• 토요일 오후 간식: i had a nf chai latte @ $tarbuck$ n' a couple'f bites'f some kind'f mint brownie.
• 토요일 저녁: pizza paradiso near georgetown...   wow, this local favourite amazed kaela n' me w/ its bier selektion!   kaela had a lite wheat bier, while i had some kind'f north coast imperial russian stout.   man, that was an excellent stout!   the table shared 1 large (12") funghi pizza n' 1 uh... bartolli? ... it had 2 (chicken) eggs (계란) on it as well as some tobiko/caviar.   kaela n' i also shared btwn us some kind salad w/ a li'l bit'f anchovies n' olives.   no room 4 dessert...
• 일요일 점심: the american grill @ l'enfant plaza hotel...   some successful chiropraktor n/or prof bought lunch 4 the group.   feeling a li'l undeserving, i opted 4 the ¢heape$t item: a honey.roasted turkey sandwich w/ kitchen.made potato chips ("chips" in the amerikkkan sense, otherwise "crisps" in the true, proper british sense).   kaela ordered the rather pri¢y crab cake sandwich on baked brioche, which she misread as "brie" n' later likened to a hamburger bun.   in a smart move, she traded her french fries 4 a caesar salad.
• 일요일 오후 간식: a nf mocha @ bread n' chocolate as well as some'f a chai latte mousse that i split w/ kaela, ultra unhealthy but cute.   @ this unbelievably inefficient but friendly café, i pur¢hased a chicken caesar wrap ($5.95) to go 4 the homebound commute.   all the workers l there spoke in a non.english language.   were they ethiopian? jamaican? *shrug*

603p est / 503p cst/ 303p pst: on the flights this wknd, i rediscovered the lycopene filled goodness n' na⁺ filled badness'f tomato juice.   maybe it's cos i saw a korean 아저씨 ajuhssi w/ a lycomato $hopping bag w/ some familiar, comely faces, which i later realised belonged to the members'f baby v.o.x.; subliminal mkting?

places i visited:
• 금요일 아침: nat'l art gallery: dada n' cézanne exhibits (amongst others)
• 금요일 오후: natural n' amerikan history museums...   the natural history never fails to amuse, especially w/ its displays n' dioramas'f cute fuzzies.
• 토요일 오후: cherry blossom trees n' ww2 memorial...   we watched a cute squirrel feast on cherry buds.

reading that list, i realise that i didn't hit up 2 many significant spots, but this trip was 'bout ppl not places.   i'm so happy that kaela n' i got to spend time w/ wendy n' fahad.

on this trip as well my previous dc trip, i observed how asian.pacific culture matters so much less on the east coast.   european culture's more emphasized.

628p est / 528p cst / 338p pst: did i get sunburn on the rt side'f my neck, or did i accidentally scratch myself w/ some s#arp piece'f dry skin?   i'm now flying over some kind'f refineries.   where r we?

[later] 801p est / 701p cst / 501 pst, @ o'hare: sloane tanen, going for bronze...

[later] 828p cst / 628p pst, on board an amerikan aerolines md80 bound 4 sjc from ord.   i can't believe this plane has no musik or movies!   i'll hafta run down my pa1mone tungsten t5 battery by playing mp3s.   i have a great seat: on the aisle w/ a empty gap next to me, near the bathrm.

[later] 1026p cst / 826p pst: i'm in the air, but my flight was signifikantly delayed cos'f a safety issue.

월요일 아침: i come back from taking 1 friday off from werk n' find 22 e.mails in my inbox.   perhaps, i should say, "good grief."   man...   wow, well, here's monday.   mundane monday? *shrug* manic monday?   it was a li'l hard to wake up this morn, which u might find interesting since i should have jet lead n' not jet lag.   i should've found it easier to wake up this morn, rt?   well, my plane came in really late, n' the flight was already a late flight.   as always, 'twas a li'l strange gettin' back into the groove, gettin' back into my normal routine.   after not driving 4 only 3 days, it felt a li'l weird to be driving to werk this morn.   last nite, duk picked me up from the aeroport w/ sooni.   i've gotta admit that sooni wasn't as happy to c me as she was when the beautiful kaela hwang picked me up from the aeroport after my short taiwan trip in the spring'f 2005 4 my grandfather's funeral.   wow, that time sooni was sooo happy to c me.   this time, she was like, "eh! *shrug*"   i think she has 'lot'f fun w/ duk.   i won't get jealous.   duk took her running @ de anza w/ ben n' tired her out so much that he took her leash off, n' she was 2 tired to keep running!   wow, duk must've shown sooni a really good time!   well, duk picked me up from sjc mineta aeroport in my subaru forester.   then, he drove himself to the lawrence / el caminio real $tarbu¢k$, where he met up w/ his gf yuna, n' then i drove sooni n' myself back home.   'twas pretty late.   i pretty much just showered n' went to bed.   in the early morn, sooni woke me up w/ an arf.   i later discovered she had arfed cos some1 had stolen bottles out'f our recycling bin.   ah, oh yah, last nite, after coming home, i had to take out the recycling n' the trash.   neway, i don't really care 2 much that our bottles were stolen from our bin.   it's lost revenue 4 our city, which sucks.   however, i'm glad they're getting recycled 1 way or 'nother.

u gotta check out 2day's fox trot comic.   keep in mind that i read only 2 comics on a daily basis: fox trot n' the boondocks.   http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/20060327/cx_ft_uc/ft20060327   dude, squaw valley s'pposedly has 329 inches'f snow rt now.   *sigh* i wish i were on the slopes.   "i'd rather be snowboarding."   (that's what my fron license plate holder sez.)   [later] i wanna share w/ u an e.mail conversation i had w/ my cowerker friend:

to: beno hwang
subject: disappointed

beno,

really disappointed man.. wanted to go to sierra this weekend.. but havent
got a single positive response.. i had sent ti to like 25 ppl.. hmmm..
i'll find someone and just go i guess. haha.. oh well..

cheers
[cowerker friend]

to: [cowerker friend]
subject: re: disappointed

wow, people aren't snowboarders this season, eh?   you know, i blame it all
on the late start to the season.   people like you and me are just trying
to make up for lost time, but others can't keep up with that kind of
schedule and have also been demotivated by not starting earlier this
season, you know?   i wanted to hit the slopes this saturday, but i have
this referee seminar to attend for the taekwondo tournament in berkeley
that i'm helping out with on saturday, april 15.   i'm going up to sierra
with a group from my church on april 7.   i guess i'll aim for april 22 as
well, but i have some baby shower to attend on april 29.   *sigh* yah,
don't say the snow season's over cos it's not.   it's now time to use those
late season deals n' buy cheap tix off'f craig's list!   it's weird.   this
season has turned out to be quite awful despite mother nature trying to
make it up to us with these late winter / early spring storms.   it's as if
we're just telling her, "too little, too late, lady!"

~beno

[later] 오후: during my lunchbrk, i werked out in the werk.com gym.   then, i returned to my office/cube n' microwaved some scrambled eggs w/ spinacci, shrooms, garlic, 파 pa (green onions), n' salsa that i cooked up this morn.   aktually, they rn't real eggs but "better than eggs" or sumpthin' like that, some generik albertsons egg substitute.   i bought a carton'f that stuff the last time i went to albertsons last wk.   when was that? *shrug* wednesday evening?   'twas that nite when i was upset 'bout being so trapped @ my office that i couldn't even pick up our dry cleaning in time.   neway, i cooked those eggs.   i started out cookin' 'em 4 brkfast but then decided to have some healthy, organik oatmeal 4 brkfast n' save the egss 4 lunch.   i packed them in an ol' tupperware.   i hope 'twas healthy 'nuff'f a lunch.   i've gotta remind myself not to overeat.   i ate 2 much this past wknd.

yeah, i am disappointed re: not going up to tahoe 'nuff this season.   during this season, i was sure, this season'd be better than the 2003~2004 season, in which i only spent 8 days on the slopes.   wow, this season may turn out worse.   the 2003~2004 season ended early cos'f sooni.   this season started late cos'f weather.

[later] i'm still not a balla: this wknd i watched more "college hoops" than i have in a very long time.   march madness is strong this yr.   i'm very surprised that i watched non.cal games: george mason v. wichita state, washington huskies v. u conn huskies, georgetown v. florida, ... the big news's how underdog george mason has made it into the final 4.   @ this pt, who would i want to win?   either ucla cos'f west coast, cali4nian, uc spirit or george mason just cos most ppl r prob'ly cheering 4 this underdog.   i guess i'm basically saying i don't care 'bout florida or lsu, which's true.

[later] since kaela's still in dc, last wk, i planned a grx t3 south men's nite out 4 myself.   i made a (if i don't say so myself) clever evite; but only 1 guy can make it.   i'd like to show u the evite, but i don't think it's possible.

[later] i received my rebecca st. james if i had one chance to tell you something used cd in the mail yesterday (or on saturday, i guess).   check out the wikipedia article on her: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_St._James.   not knowing nething 'bout this australian.born tennesee resident, i assumed she was older; but she was born in 1977.

밤 1034p: so i went out to dinner w/ just 1'f my t3 south bruthas.   we went to giovanni's pizza on lawrence expwy.   wow, the spaghetti n' pizza were pretty darn good.   we shared a small rustica pizza n' an order'f spaghetti w/ meatballs.   i overate.

화요일 점심: so lemme tell u; the biggest issue/prob during my recent (washington) dc trip was battery life!   1st off, i'd accidentally 4gotten the charger 4 my motorola v710 cellfon.   altho' i did pack the charger 4 my pa1mone tungsten t5, i didn't bring it with me to the museums etc. n' couldn't find an outlet aboard the planes.   the fakt that the planes didn't have outlets really sucked.   747s have outlets in the bathrms.... 'least the 1s i've been on.   dude, the md80 i flew from ord (o.hare) to sjc mineta was so outdated!   i can hardly believe it didn't have a music system or movies!   even the 737 i rode from lax to iad (dulles) had that stuff.   furthermore, the 737 let me plug in my own headfons instead'f requiring proprietary plugs.   'twas strange tho' to ride such a small plane such a a long distance.   neway, battery life'f portable elektroniks is a very hot issue these days!   i've cn handcrack generator cellfon chargers 4 sale.   that's a great idea.   i've also cn universal, modular chargers.   that's 'nother great idea.   u know, they ought to combine the 2!   i s'ppose i ought to add that to the list'f proudkts i ought to invent.   how 'bout a bicycle fon charger?   like, in the car, u have a car fon charger; so i ought to invent a bicycle fon charger that runs off a generator hooked up to ur wheel or whatever.   heh... or regenerative braking on a bike?   ha ha ha.

[later] an issue that hasn't been discussed much lately: cellfon radiation... check out: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-5020355.html.   it appears that motorola fons r quite bad on the sar chart.   also, it appears there r no strong correlations by signal (multiplexing) standard; such as cdma, tdma, gsm, etc.   altho' i do like the idea'f smartfons, i can't get 1 until they come out w/ 1 that can do korean 한글 hangeul input.   i'm worried the treo 700w sort'f signals the end'f palm os.

[later] 저녁: wait, does daylite saving time start this wknd?!

ad: timelife.com: "LKAC43" 4 15% off $60+ or "LKDD22" 4 free shippping on $50+ (expires 2006.04.30)

슈요일 아침: i know all 2 well now 'bout truya sushi's all u can eat sushi dinner 4 $19.95.   man, 'twas delicious, but i overate.   last nite, after taekwondo praktice, a bunch'f us went out to truya sushi w/ our friend paul n' his friends from uc irvine.   well, the all.u.can.eat dinner comes w/ whatever "creative" rolls u request or else whatever chef scott wants to give u, if u have no preference.   i gotta say that it was a li'l sneaky to make the 1st plates heaping piles'f cali rolls w/ some cucumber rolls (kappa maki).   that was a bit sneaky since it's a ¢heap way to fill us up.   however, 1nce paul's friend ray started requesting fancy rolls... wow, we got good stuff!   wow, the macadamia roll?   unh, i wish we hadn't saved that 4 last!

[later]the beautiful kaela hwang returns 2nite @ 1014p @ sjc mineta instead'f oak (oakland aeroport).   it has been raining here in the bay area.   last nite, late @ nite, when i was in bed; i heard rain pouring down upon our house.   most'f yesterday, i think it just sprinkled or lightly rained.   this morn, i took sooni 4 a walk in the rain.   originally, i'd planned ro jog w/ her.   u c, last nite, @ truya sushi, i left her makeshift h₂o dish n' a refilled bottle'f filtered h₂o on the ground outside'f the sushi joint.   i considered jogging back out n' picking them up, if they're still there.   u c, the makeshift h₂o dish was a nice takeout container from ay chung noodle house.   kaela got it some time ago.   it's just a disposable, plastic container but nicer than ur usual takeout container, almost like tupperware.   un4tunately, @ this pt, i believe it's prob'ly lost. *sigh*   neway, dude, during my lunchbrk, i should go get a haircut @ the closest vietnamese hair cutting shop (dude, all the hair cutting shops 'round here r vietnamese 'cept 4 the supercuts kind'f places) n' then get some fud.   hrm, originally, i thought i'd go hit up our friend julie's subway sandwiches cos it's close to that hair cutting shop (it's not really a barber shop, but "hair salon" sounds frickin' gurly!) but then realised that it's close but might require me to walk in the rain unless the rain subsides.   i dunno if it's raining rt now or not.

[lat]er] 점심: i thought it'd be a good idea to go get a haircut during my lunchbrk.   uhm, the lady @ the ahir place misunderstood me.   she gave me a total buzz cut!   i look like i'm going into the military!!!!   when u next c me, don't be 2 suprrised.   i'm warning u now.   [later] i haven't had a haircut this short since the summer'f 1998 when toby cut my hair n' sent me off to taiwan n' hk, lookin' like a fresh army recruit.

[later] 4 my dj bizness, i'm currently needing to juggle a few diff "accounts."   it's good to have bizness this yr, as 'twas good to have bizness last yr.   i've gotta ramp up the effort n' also $hop 4 speakers n' amp.

[later] shoot, we might be in 'nother finan¢ial ¢ri$i$. :-( i just "ran the calculations."   it appears that we'll come out short this month cos'f property tax.   we need to file our in¢ome taxe$ asap to get our refund.   otherwise, i'll need to borrow $$$ from someone.

[later] 져녁: here's a napoleon dynamite passage to in honour'f my new do (courtesy'f imdb.com

Napoleon Dynamite: Why do you got your hood on like that?
Pedro: Well, when I came home from school my head started to get really hot.   So I drank some cold water, but it didn't do nothing.   So I laid in the bathtub for a while, but then I realized that it was my hair that was making my head hot.   So I went into my kitchen and I shaved it all off.   I don't want anyone to see.
Napoleon Dynamite: I know what you mean.

[later] 밤, 834p; still@werk.com: i wonder if i should go werkout in the werk.com gym.   kaela's plane gets in ~1015p.   duk, his bro chan, julie, n' others r gonna go to 노래방 noraebang 2nite.   i wanna go.

목요일 오후: recently, wks fly by.   my taking last fri off contributes to that.   since coming home, i've just been catching up.   i hate how i can't really take a vakation 'round here.   rather, when i get back n' b4 i leave, i totally make up 4 the time i take off... n' then some!   it's so not fair!   neway.... :-/

[a li'l later] late last nite, the beautiful kaela hwang returned from washington, dc.   i werked really late then went to werkout @ the werk.com gym 4 a short while.   then, i went home, picked up sooni, n' drove thru the taco bell drive.thru on my way to sjc mineta aeroport to pick kaela up from her 1014p arrival.   as i was so bizzy w/ werk, i aktually didn't get to the aeroport till after 1030p or so.   neway, i gave her classmate ian a ride home.   then kaela n' i met up w/ duk, his bro chan, duk's gf yuna, n' julie @ 장모집 jangmojip 4 a late dinner.   oh yah, the taco bell?   i ate 1 "spicy" chicken soft taco then saved the "spicy" chicken burrito 4 later.   while eating the taco, i realised sumpthin': 1nce 'gain, i'd lost my sense'f taste cos'f my wasabi binge @ truya sushi on tues nite!   yah, yesterday morn, i made fresh coffee @ my office, but it tasted so weak to me, like h₂o.   then, i ate a subway sandwich from julie's ol' korean subway by the ella hair salaon that sent me off looking like a fresh military recruit.   it's all by st. john's, the place where s3xually frustrated, male engrs gather in the silly valley to watch sports n' drink bier over burgers.   also near that area's the korean.ownded/operated mission city deli, which i've visited only 1nce.   neway, after my werkout, i ate some candied almonds, which didn't taste sweet to me @ all.   then i ate some keebler p'nut butter n' choco cookie, n' it also taste so not sweet.   as i ate the taco, it totally dawned 'pon me.   uhm, does this passage sound a li'l 2 "valley gurlish" or 'least 2 "californian"? *shrug*

neway, @ 장모집, i exercised my taste buds by trying to eat spicier stuff.   well, we ate 양념 통닭 yangnyuhm tongdalk, 감자탕 gamjatang, n' 골뱅이 무침 golbaengi moochim (@ <- 달뱅이... 골뱅이?).   oh yah, we tied sooni outside, n' she looked fine; but no... she chewed thru her ol' blue leash n' ran off to sniff n' stuff.   i called her back, n' she came over rt 'way, which was good.   then we let her sit inside the restaurant by the door n' eat 되지뼈 dwaeji bbyuh (pork bones).   after eating, kaela n' i rushed back w/ duk to our house to sort out some snowboarding tix.   we gave him 2 free northstar tix n' helped him firgure out the tahoe card tic situation.   then, kaela n' sooni stayed home, but the rest'f us went to 노래방 noraebang @ el camino ktv.   wow, i felt so aktive @ nite, as if it were back in 2000년 'gain or sumpthin'.

[later] 밤, 1125p: man, it's fun to go 노래방 noraebang w/ koreans, not to play favourites or nething; but i loved being able to sing all sorts'f korean songs w/o boring others, etc., u know?   neway, 2nite, after coming home from werk very late, i brought kaela out to dinner @ the blue mango, which is rapidly catching up to krung thai's popularity 'mongst san joséans.   it's become quite the hip contemporary thai joint.   we had the ripe mango salad, which tasted more like green mango to me, but kaela sed it wasn't sour like green mango.   then we had this special pad thai that was like a pad thai paella.   it had all sorts'f fancy seafuds.   we also had this chili basil lamb n' some brown rice.   kaela had thai ice tea, n' i had thai ice coffee.   u know, we were stuffed but went to fantasia 4 hot boba drinks afterwards just to fill up our frequent drinkers club card.   now, we have a free drink to use up by saturday.

월요일 아침: on the 1st werkday of daylite saving time, i'm having not the best day but trying to make it better.   this wknd, we had a short respite from the rain on saturday, n' i milked it 4 what it was worth.   on fri, oh... shoot, man, i haven't toldju 'bout this???   augh, ok; i guess, in a way, 'lot has happened this wknd. *sigh*

poop doggy dogg: sooni's housetrained, very housetrained.   under normal circumstances, she would absolutely never go poop in the house.   on wed nite, if u 'member, the beautiful kaela hwang took sooni w/ us to meet up w/ duk, his bro chan, duk's gf yuna, n' julie @ 장모집 jangmojip 4 a late dinner after i picked kaela up from the sjc mineta aeroport.   neway, the nice 누나 noona waitress there gave sooni some 돼지 벼 dwaeji byuh pork bones.   she even gave us some to go.   well, over the next day, we fed her 2 many 돼지 벼 dwaeji byuh.   on fri, my mom dropped sumpthin' off @ our house, so i pondered going home to fetch it.   however, i was so bizzy w/ werk.   i was very bizzy w/ werk, as usual.   well, when kaela came home from spending the day in sonoma, "shadowing" a chiropractor there; she discovered that sooni had chewed up our beautiful french doors that open to our backyard.   she had done that in the past but has been good over the past year.   kaela was on the phone with me when she arrived at home.   she said, "i hope she didn't poop in the house."   then she gasped.   u c, sooni had had a very, very, very severe stomachache apparently!   she considers it such a bad sin to poop in the house, that she'd rather get in trouble 4 chewing on the door, in an attempt to chew her way out, than poop in the house.   well, she had tried chewing on the door but eventually couldn't hold in her diarrhea.   she ended up letting it out, most likely very unhappily.   well, when i heard 'bout this, i aborted my trip to safeway on my evening commute n' instead came home n' cleaned up the mess.   kaela had gone to our room 4 a nap.   i cleaned everything up n' woke her up to rush to our grx t3s couples bible study.   i couldn't skip cos i was leading the guys.   i was very happy that kaela could join us 4 1nce.   the host couple was so nice; they warmed up some chicken n' rice 4 us to eat since we didn't get dinner or even much lunch.   4 my lunch that fri, i ate a li'l bit'f leftovers from blue mango thai restaurant from thurs nite.   well, we had a pretty good bible study.   then, kaela n' i, on our way home, still a bit hungry, pulled into 고향산천 gohyang sanchun to eat some 알찌개 aljjigae (fish egg stew).   we happily watched some korean tv as we ate.   we saw the end'f an episode'f 천국의 계단 chungookuy gyeidan ("stairway to heavean") n' then an episode'f a show called 진실 게임 jinshil game, where celebrity judges tried to guess which gurls were real n' which were hi skool boys dressed in drag.   yah, honestly, stuff like this isn't very typical 4 korean tv.   after our late nite dinner, we tried to gro¢ery $hop @ the nearby safeway, but 'twas closed.

on sat, i woke up much later. . . [later] ...much later than i wanted to.   i wanted to wake up early n' exercise, etc.   maybe i would've jogged w/ sooni.   maybe i would've taken her out on skateboard.   in ne case, i didn't do either.   instead, i slept in.   kaela went off to yet 'nother'f her chiropraktic seminars.   then, eventually, i got my butt out the door n' on the road to berkeley.   i must've eaten some oatmeal 4 breakfast b4 i left.   'twas a clear day in the sobay / silly valley.   'twas also a beautifully clear day up in berkeley.   however, 4 some strange reason, the southeast bay (fremont, san leandro, san lorenzo, hayward, union city, newark, etc.) was a bit rainy.   in case u don't know, it's been very rainy in the bay area these past couple'f months.   i feel like this is how it must be in oregon or washington, i.e. the pacific northwest.   i drove swiftly up 880 but luckily spotted a chp on the lefthand shoulder n' slowed down.   phew.   i was late to the ref seminar.   i thought i'd be early if nething; but i'd woken up so late.   i swung by the bank in berkeley, which also slowed me down.   i parked in a city.run pay lot btwn durant n' channing by unit 3.   i rode my skatebaord over to the rsf.   it felt nice to ride my skateboard in berkeley cos i felt so free to do so!   i felt like a free.spirited grad student not confined by yuppie standards.   i saw norman n' sally n' the norman n' susan's kids on my way to the martial arts room in the rsf.   i couldn't believe how big carolanne (carol ann?)n' tj have gotten!   i really wished i'd gotten to berkeley early n' participated in the sat morn class.   the ref seminar was very informative, n' chuck tweedy's always a great ref instructor.   he's really experienced.   as expekted, i got to talk to ol' friends n' meet some'f the new kids.   i got really hungry during the seminar.   after the seminar, i couldn't find friends to eat w/ but i got on my board n' rode 2wards telly (telegraph ave).   on my way, i ran into some'f our friends that were @ the seminar; so i went to lunch w/ them @ blake's.   i had a portabello club sandwich n' ice tea.   'twas very fun.   i skateboarded 'round a couple'f blocks b4 returning to the pay lot to drive off.   i saw other guys crusiing on skateboards, n' i thought that was kewl.   later, after i paid my $9 4 parking n' started heading home but then turned 'round to go meet up w/ phil; i realised that if i had skated just a couple'f blocks further, i would've been near the ol' 510 skateboard shop, where a bunch'f real hardcore skaters were hangin' out.   they would've thought i was such a poseur.   whatever, man.

well, phil was out @ the 4th street $hopping area @ some special book event of some sort.   i ended up meeting up w/ him @ cody's books out there, which is much "cleaner" than the 1 on telly.   we talked in cody's then walked to a nearby art studio, then to the hear music store (which existed b4 the $tarbu¢ks deal), n' then to some gourmet gro¢ery store.   i told phil that i had to get home to mow the lawn, so we only hung out 4 'bout an hr.   then i did just as i sed i would do: i drove home n' mowed the lawn.

this 1.day break from rain was my 1 chance to mow the lawn.   [later] kaela went gro¢ery $hopping @ the rivermark safeway after her seminar.   when she came home, she cooked some vegetarian pasta n' made some caesar salad lite from a bag.   i recommended putting black grapes in the salad, so we did.   we ate 'lot n' then ate dessert: some uh... leftover cheesecake from t.giving.   gross, eh?   during dinner we watched an episode'f kbs's 드라맘 시티 drama city.   then, all'f the sudden, i exclaimed sumpthin' n' that kind'f started kaela.   i realised that we needed to use our free boba drink card @ fantasia that nite.   well, we brought sooni w/ us over to the wolfe rd, cupertino fantasia.   we got 1 almost free taro milk w/ boba n' sat outside in the cold n' ate/drank it.   i was really cold, but kaela had her down jacket on.   'specially cos'f the old, old cheesecake we ate; i was already full'f sugar n' didn't need this drink; but well... i had to use up the card.   we'd werked so hard to earn that drink.

on sun morn, 'gain, i woke up later than i'd wanted to.   kaela went to her. . . [later, 저녁, still@werk.com] kaela went to the 2nd part'f her chiropraktic seminar.   i went to church.   a visiting pastor david choi from chicago gave a sermon on transformation.   i notice that asian.am visiting pastors r often really revved up to speak to a large, 2nd gen asian.am crowd.   our church isn't s'pposed to be an asian or asian.am church; it just happens to have mostly asian.ams in the congregation; but we're diversifying; believe it or not.   after church, my mom n' i ate @ ramen halu on saratoga ave near stevens creek.   wow, that was good ramen.   maybe w/ pizza n' ramen, i'm not a harsh 'nuff critic, u think?   well, personally, i liked ramen halu better than maruichi... i think.   i like ryowa better than maruichi as well... i think.   back in the day, i used to like katana.ya.   [unfinished entry]

화요일 아침: here's an interesting link - "multitudes" @ spikesworld (http://spikesworld.spike-jamie.com/ana/multitudes.html).   a flock of seagulls, a string of ponies, a sounder of swine, a knot of toads, etc.   another important, funny link (u've prob'ly cn this 1 by now) - http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/.   i didn't finish yesterday's wknd update.   where did i leave off?   i think i left off w/ lunch on sunday.

well, when my mom n' i got to ramen halu, 'twasn't yet open; so we browsed thru the indian gro¢ery market next door.   i noticed that they have frozen naan n' roti that looks very similar to the frozen naan @ trader joe's.   oh, ok; then maybe i don't feel sooo lame 4 buying the trader joe's frozen naan.   if u 'member, i felt quite silly buying the trader joe's frozen naan in front'f many desi $hoppers, u know?   however, i bet the trader joe's stuff is made by 1'f the companies that also sells @ the indian gro¢ery market, but the trader joe's stuff is just repackaged, u know?   is it ¢heaper or more expen$ive @ trader joe's?   now that's the question.   when i flew amerikan aerolines last wk, the in.flight magazine had a cover article on some famous indian aktress that is breaking into mainstream, english films.   neway, ramen halu opened @ 1130a, n' as my mom was paying 4 some ginger n' an avocado (i 4get if she bought nething else); we saw a decently long line start outside'f the ramen shop.   thus, my mom sent me out to stand in line.   the doors opened after a few mins; n' a older, japanese woman told us all to come in.   on our way in, my mom noticed the "cash only" sign.   upes, we were in trouble cos neither'f us had much ¢a$h.   the japanese woman seated us @ a table along w/ this young, asian couple.   we had to share a table cos the restaurant was that crowded.   crazy, huh?   the hostess was so casual 'bout it 2, as if it was sooo typical there to share tables.   well, it prob'ly is.   ramen is the latest craze in japanese fud, i guess.   like, in the 1980s, it was sushi; now, it's ramen; i guess.   aktually, in the 1980s sushi bars as well as teppanyaki joints were hot, huh?   how 'bout robata grills?   :-/ they'll have their day someday.   back in the 1980s, didn't sizzler feature some kind'f hibachi chicken?   well, i know they had their malibu chicken.   do u 'member that?   dude, neway... i had my mom order me the ramen special set a while i took off to the bank to get us some ¢a$h.   i hurried there n' back.   just when i returned, our fud came.   the ramen came w/ some kind'f mayonaisse.rich crab salad thingy n' a bowl'f white rice.   sure, the white rice was just excess carb/starch; but i enjoyed mixing it w/ the crab salad thingy n' in the ramen soup.   the ramen broth's known to be a bit salty, n' i think i heard the guy in the couple @ our table ask 4 low salt.   my mom sed she ordered ours as lo.na⁺.   it tasted plenty salty.   the ramen was pretty good, as i sed.   yah, i liked it.   in fakt, it was really good; just a li'l salty; i guess.

well, after lunch, i hurried back 2wards our neighbourhood n' went to costco to buy a flat'f kirkland h₂o, some freshies doggy dental chews, n' some dried blueberries.   i should've also bought some glucosamine but 4got.   'twas pretty crowded of course.   as i loaded up my car, this funny li'l desi gurl in the back'f her mom's car talked to me thru her opened window.   she must've been like 3 or 4.   she was riding in a child seat.   she was very vocal n' friendly 4 such a young kid.
li'l gurl: hi!!!!
beno: [loading up the trunk'f my subaru] hi! :-)
li'l gurl: you've got a lot of stuff.
beno: oh, yah.   i have some water, something for my dog, and some blueberries.
li'l gurl: [a little confused, looking at the gym bag n' taekwondo bag in my trunk] are you going somewhere?
beno: [misunderstanding question n' pushing cart over to the cart repository] yah, i guess i gotta go now. [i return to my car.]
li'l gurl: are you moving?
beno: [again, misunderstanding the question] yah, i guess i've gotta go... [noticing that the li'l gurl's mom's car is blocking my car] but i guess i can't go.
li'l gurl: yah, my mom's on the phone right now.
eventually, the mom moves her car to pull into a parking space, n' i leave.

i brought the gro¢eries home, then looked up direktions online 4 the bible study small group "core" team mtg @ our friends' new house in west san josé on campbell ave, near westgate.   i waited 4 the beautiful kaela hwang from her seminar so we could drive 2gether, but she didn't come home; so i took off.   i got to our friends' house n' hung out there.   later, kaela called me n' joined us.   she'd picked up some sushi from mitsuwa market 4 her lunch on the way.   i'm soon going to be taking on more n' more responsibilities over our bible study small group.   honestly, it could be a bit daunting; but i have faith in god.   i feel inadequate, but his grace is enough.   i feel unworthy, but god uses the weak to lead the strong.

after the small group "core" mtg, kaela n' i went to the nearby trader joe's.   aktually, kaela got in my car, n' i drove us over in the rain.   we bought various gro¢eries n' a tiramisu torte to bring over to phil's place in the oakland hills 4 dinner.   yah, on sat afternoon/evening, as i left berkeley's ultra.yuppie 4th steet area, phil invited us to dinner @ his place.   well, i'd been wanting to shop @ tj's 4 a while now, hoping to get some blueberry juice n' some antioxidant trail mix.   ... [later] @ tj's, we bought those things n' more.   i do like blueberries.   perhaps, blueberries'll be the trendy fud this yr, yah? *shrug*   r white teas n' beets still hot? *shrug* u tell me.   well, (after i drove kaela back to her car) kaela n' i drove home to drop off gro¢eries.   we wanted to bring sooni w/ us to phil's place; but he's renting a room in a shared house, n' he sez the landlord has some animal allergies.   phil really likes that kind'f living arrangement, sharing a rented house w/ others.   personally, i prefer to have my own place or else 'least know my roommates b4 moving in.   well, then 'gain, i didn't know my last berkeley roommate all that well b4 i asked him to move in w/ me.   @ 1st i thought he was ok; but, as u know, we later had probs.   *sigh*

it was raining a quite steadily as we departed the silly valley 4 berkeley.   i enjoyed taking the carpool interchange from 237 to 880.   aw, man! i just realised that i missed the chance on sun nite to take the new carpool interchange from 880 to 237 (on our way back).   well, 880 was a parking lot cos'f an accident, so i exited on dixon landing rd, heading 4 680.   i got onto 680, but 'twas also a parking lot.   accidents cos'f the rain, u know?   well, luckily, the 680 accident was rt after the pt where i got on.   however, i decided 680 was 2 much'f a detour in the rain; so i got off on 238 mission blvd, n' took that all the way up to hayward, where 238 turns into foothill blvd.   neway, i took 238, 580 to 13.   4 phil's place, i got off @ joaquin miller n' drove into the hills.   it reminded me a li'l'f when we used to go to brandie's ol' place.   wow, phil lives in a very interesting house!

upon toby's direktions over the fon, i drove my subaru into a mud driveway (great use of subaru all.wheel drive).   then kaela walked in the not.so.cold rain up a bunch'f windy stairs.   the not quite tropical yet not.2.cold but humid feel reminded us both'f our honeymoon trip in the korean countryside.   we enjoyed that.   well, we got to the top'f the stairs n' entered a really quaint house w/ plenty'f artistik paintings on its wall.   we sat down @ the dinner table w/ toby, betty, phil's hi skool classmate mike, mike's gf margaret, n' phil's law skool classmate michelle.   phil cooked up a storm.   i opened up a boony amber ale to be like toby.   ...

resort closing dates (from snowbomb.com)
• diamond peak - april 16
• boreal - april 16
• homewood - april 23
• northstar - april 23
• bear valley - april 23
• mt. rose - april 23
• sierra - april 24
• kirkwood - april 30
• sugar bowl - april 30
• heavenly - tbd
• alpine meadows - tbd
• squaw valley - may 29

[later] 1006p: ugh, when am i gonna finish this dagnabbed, darn, diddly wknd update?!   hey, is march madness over yet?   who's the winner?   george mason maybe? *shrug* well, on sun evening, we went to phil's house.   'tis a nice house.   phil cooked all sorts'f nice things.   'twas a really classy affair, i tell u.   well, i drove us home in the rain.

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on mon, 'twas raining.   i put sooni's raincoat n' her in the morn n' took her 4 a quick walk.   i wish i could've jogged w/ her.   i came home 4 lunch n' cooked some refrigerator.pack 잠뽕 jjambbong.   @ dinnertime, after i came home from werk late as usual, i made some quesadillas 4 kaela n' me.   we ate them n' ate leftover soup noodles.   u c, kaela also had soup noodles 4 lunch.   she went to that taiwanese or chinese ramen / 칼국수 kalgooksoo place.   she had bought that unagi kalgooksoo.   then we went out to the mercado amc 20 to watch a movie.   we ended up watching failure to launch.   it was ok.   dude, kathy bates was definitely the star!   her per4mance was the hi.lite'f the movie!

2day, 'twas raining hard in the morn, so i couldn't even take sooni 4 a walk.   sure, i would've loved to jog. *sigh* neway, i went to werk.   @ lunch, i had a quick werkout in the werk.com gym n' then went home to eat this southwest salad from a bag.   after werk, i went to taekwondo praktice.   i had a good werkout.   i'm glad sooni got to get out'f the house 4 a li'l.   afterwards, sooni n' i came home, n' kaela steamed some 만두 mandoo.

cold.blooded killers: oh yah, on my way home, i ran over a rat!   i didn't think i'd hit it; but then i heard a squeek!   i made a couple'f u.turns, pulled over.   i got sooni out'f the car to investigate.   she sniffed @ the lifeless body n' then quickly snatched it up in her mouth!   i had her bbringt to the sidewalk.   then we just left it there.   when i got home, i discovered rat blood on sooni's legs n' my pant legs.S

화요일 아침:   lemme share w/ u an excerpt from somebody else's blog:

Meanwhile, I'm having a lot of fun listening to Air America (AM 1150).   Yeah...   it is the liberal version of conservative talk radio, but at least they broach subjects that conventional media won't cover.   An ooh, it totally gets my goat that Tom DeLay compared himself to Jesus Christ in his resignation speech.   I don't think money laundering, fraud, and accepting bribes compares to...   oh, I don't know, dying for the sins of the world.   All I can say is, I'm a Christian and I am ashamed that so many Christians are blind and think that the Republicans follow Christian morals and Democrats are Satan-worshippers.   All I can say is, sure they may ban abortion and gay marriage, but they'll also tax you out of the middle-class, ship your jobs to China, take away your health insurance and tell you to just get a savings account, play with the lives of millions of soldiers and lie about the reasons to send them to war, etc, etc.   So yeah, while you're living in your cardboard box dying of preventable disease and your sons are getting killed abroad, you can comfort yourself with the notion that hey, at least poor people in the South can't abort their unwanted pregnancies and gay people can't legally get married.   All is right in the world.

these days, i stay up 2late reading rodney mullen's autobiography: the mutt: how to skateboard and not kill yourself.   i find it very interseting.   rodney mullen's 1'f the inventors'f modern street skateboarding.   however, he's not ur stereotypical rockstar punk slacker.   rather, he grew up being a total nerd n' geek.   he started as freestyle skateboarder n' was on the forefront'f that from almost its beginning till its very end.   (u c, freestyle skateboarding is diff from modern streetstyle skateboarding.)   he cms to be a really good guy, pretty humble, considering all that he's accomplished.   he's also apparently a total christian, n' that's kewl.   he's the kind'f guy 'bout which i'd say, "man, i wish there were more guys like him as role models 4 young skateboarders these days instead'f those mtv jack@$$ guys."   not cos i'm pointing fingers; but just in case u didn't know, some'f the jack@$$ show stars r bam margera (brandon cole margera) n' "raab himself" (chris raab).

[later] 저녁, 아직도 직장에서: i didn't werkout in the gym @ lunch but bought a chef salad n' ate it in my cube while werking hard.   the sky cleared up this afternoon.   i brought an umbrella w/ me this morn.. i mean, i used an umbrella to walk from my car to my office.   however, it looks like i won't need it when i walk back to my car.

목요일 아침: yesterday evening, i came home from werk later than i wanted but was glad that the sun was still kind'f up when i left the office.   i guess since in recent wks, the skies been pretty consistently overcast, i hadn't realised how much longer days've gotten.   now, it's daylite saving time, n' the sun is still up when i finally leave the office despite my long, long werkhrs.   well, i went home n' mowed the backyard lawn.   i could barely believe how fast the grass had grown back since the last time i mowed it.   last sat, i mowed the front lawn.   a couple'f wks b4 that; b4 our washington, dc trip, i guess; i'd mowed the backyard lawn.   the beautiful kaela hwang came home while i was mowing the lawn.   she'd tried to call me, but i hadn't heard my fon cos i was mowing.   @ 1 pt, sooni came trotting over to me as if to let me know that kaela'd come home, but i sort'f brushed her off.   later, i saw that i had a v.mail on my fon.   i checked it, n' 'twas kaela letting me know she was home.   i saw thru the window blinds that lites were on inside the house.   well, i came in after putting 'way the mower.   while kaela started to make dinner, i washed the dishes.   while doing those things, we decided to hurry out the door to watch a movie.   we packed our dinner to go: a packaged salad w/ some grilled mushrooms n' sweet peppers n' white cheddar n' a quesadilla.   we got to the theatre 'round 836p.   luckily, we'd gotten a good parking spot.   what movie did we want to watch/ *shrug* well, we'd watched failure to launch on mon.   i sort'f wanted to watch v for vendetta despite its mixed reviews n' its absolutely horrible review from bernard huang.   kaela mentioned she kind'f wanted to watch basic instinct 2.   i hadn't n' still haven't watched the 1st 1, but i was a li'l curious.   well, we decided to watch ice age 2: the meltdown.   we brought our fud into the theatre, n' i also received 3 ¢oupons 4 free small popcorns.   well, i used only 2'f them.   we ate quite a bit ni that movie.   well, the movie was decently good (tho' not super.spektacular or nething).   i can barely 'member what the 1st 1 was 'bout.   the sloth's always hilarious, john leguizamo.   i'm sure i'm not the only 1 that felt the movie kind'f deals w/ racial issues.

well, the 840p show let out 'round 1020p.   we went straight home.   these days, i've been staying up 2late.   . . . [unfinished entry]

월요일 오후: i haven't been updating my journal much lately.   however, i'm still fighting hard, either 4 ur sake or mine, to avoid becoming 1'f those 1ce.a.month blog writers.   i want to update @ some decent frequency yet know i can't let my life revolve 'round updating my stoopid journal.   i'd like to have more'f a foto.based journal, but that just doesn't cm to be werking.   neway, what's up?   i always like it if u sign my gbook.   me? i'm sick w/ a cold.   i caught it from my passengers on this past wknd's (tahoe) snow trip.

where did i leave off updating?   yah, on wed nite, we watched ice age 2.   on thurs nite, i had 서울 곰탕 seoul gomtang w/ taekwondo ppl.   during my lunchbrk on thurs, i went to the bank to depo$it checks 4 the beautiful kaela hwang cos she took off from the bay area on thurs to do chiropraktic stuff @ the sea otter classic bike races in monterey.   on fri, i came home early from werk to drive up to tahoe 4 the grx t3s couples bible study small grp snow trip (april 7~8).   even tho' we were s'pposed to leave @ 330p, my car didn't leave till ~600p cos kaela had some doktor's apptmnt.   it's funny tho'; cos'f the rush hr traffik that held up the other car, our car ended up reaching the "cabin" not 2 long after the 1st car.   my car stopped in pleasanton to eat in.n.out burgers.   we were there 4 quite a while, but it was heck'a fun, if u ask me.   instead'f gettin' my usual animal style burger, i had a 2×meat w/ ketchup n' mustard instead'f special sauce.   i'd read online that that's healthier, i.e. ketchup n' mustard's healthier than special sauce.   well, to put it more accurately, ketchup n' mustard is (r) less unhealthy than special sauce.   neway, it was really fun hangin' out @ in.n.out w/ the other couple, which we drove.   i dunno why, but it made me feel youthful, like i was in college 'gain.   the other couple's 'bout the same age as us.   in fakt, the husband n' wife were both born in 1975년 like me, which made kaela the baby'f the group.   lessee... somewhere in sacto (i think) we stopped to use the bathrm @ a gas station.   there, kaela also had me buy her a sierra mist n' some really overpri¢ed tictacs.   . . . [unfinished entry]

목요일 오후: i haven't updated in ages n' am totally behind.   however, simply tell urself that i'm 2 bizzy living life to dokument it.

the depeche mode concert is coming up on april 27.   here's the playlist i'm predikting based upon data on depechemode.com:

main show
1. intro
2. a pain that i'm used to
3. john the revelator
4. a question of time
5. policy of truth
6. precious
7. walking in my shoes
8. suffer well
9. home
10. i want it all
11. the sinner in me
12. i feel you
13. behind the wheel
14. world in my eyes
15. personal jesus
16. enjoy the silence

encore
17. just can't get enough
18. everything counts

second encore
19. never let me down again
20. goodnight lovers

some other songs that they might play r (in order'f probability):
1. damaged people
2. somebody
3. shake the disease
4. macro
5. a question of lust
6. leave in silence

[later] 저녁: aktually, some other songs that i aktually wouldn't mind hearing them play include: "strangelove" n' "shake the disease."   u know, 1 song'f theirs that is rather interesting is "master and servant" cos it's a song obviously 'bout bd$m but came out when they had such a backstreet boys image.   funny to think, huh?

[later] 밤 1051p: so last wknd, we went snowboarding w/ our grx t3s couples bible study small group.   there were 7'f us (an odd nombre cos 1 pregnant wife skipped out).   we drove up on fri nite.   my car stopped @ a p.town (pleasanton) in.n.out 4 dinner, n' i had a 2×meat w/ ketchup n' mustard instead'f special sauce.   hrm, i feel like i'm repeating myself.   i've sed this b4, huh? [later] yes, i did.   i wrote some 'bout fri nite but was interrupted.

well, when we got to the "cabin" @ lakeland village in the city'f south lake tahoe, the beautiful kaela hwang were very pleased to find that our friend had scored us a nice townhome.   i'd been in the exakt same model but in north tahoe in king's beach a long time 'go... on the sbty (south bay taiwanese youth) snowtrip, the very 1st time i snowboarded in 1992.   i think i was think i went back to that king's beach complex 1 more time later in life, perhaps on that trip that combined ucmap taekwondo ppl w/ dragonboat ppl n' toby.   however, i think that time we had a bigger unit.   neway... it was a nice "cabin' 4 1 nite.   in the morn, we had our complimentary continental brkfast in the main bldg'f that complex.   we got a later start to the morn than i wanted.

tahoe was not very crowded.   as i was telling my cowerker friend, i guess bay areans have given up on the snow season this yr.   the late start just made ppl give up.   well, we snowboarded @ sierra.   my grp, which was kaela, me, n' 2 husbands, mostly rode terrain parks n' only a few downhill slopes the whole day.   as 4 downhill, the black diamond run clipper was pretty good.   neway, i rode rails most'f the day.   the snow was slow n' the rails r looong there.   i guess since its the end'f the season, the resort folks figure we've all had 'nuf praktice, so they've made the rails really long.   wherever the rails weren't long, they'd combine 2, 1 rt after 'nother.   also, they were angled upwards, to give u lift as u finished, but that slows u down.   neway, many times, i didn't have 'nuff speed to finish the long rails, so i had to jump off the sides.   4 some reason, i kept smacking myself on my left butt cheek almost every time i went off the side.   maybe 'twas cos i didsp; 'twasn't have 'nuff speed, rt?   *shrug* neway, my left butt cheek really hurt afterwards.   *sigh* i felt rather humbled cos'f that.   my previous trip, which was to sugar bowl, humbled me cos'f all the powder runs.   *sigh* i guess i feel pretty humbled rt now.   worse, the rails scratched up my board's base a bit, so i'll be doing base repair soon.   *sigh*   neway, on our way home, i led us off the mather field exit in rancho cordova to folsom blvd, where we went to 한밭 곰탕 hanbat gomtang.   i ordered 순대 soondae.   'twas a great dinner.   then we drove home.

on sun, kaela n' i went to church.   i'm glad we could go 2gether.   then, we met up w/ my mom @ vallco's dynasty restaurant 4 dim sum.   mmmm...   'twas good.   then, we went w/ my mom to stanfurd mall.   u know, stanfurd mall's pretty kewl cos they let doggies in almost everywhere.   however, stanfurd still sucks cos ppl cm pretty elitist n' all.   i bought some raw almonds n' some dried blueberries @ some fancy schmancy gourmet grocery store.   i didn't buy nething else, rt?   yah, i'm trying to $ave a l li'l $$$ n' haven't been buying much clothes lately, huh?   eh, it's ok.   however, sometimes i think 'bout how wearing nice clothes does make me feel good; i've gotta admit.

i thought phil was gonna visit that nite, but i'd misread his e.mail.   rather, he was coming mon nite.   uh, what did we eat 4 dinner?   i think kaela cooked some kalgooksoo, while i did some housechores or sumpthin', rt?   i know kaela n' i went to orchard supply hardware sometime b4 dinner.

on mon, 'twas back to werk.   during my lunchbrk, i hurried over to the county office to submit a check 4 our property tax.   then i came home to eat soup n' salad 4 lunch.   i was feeling pretty sick w/ a cold n' had my sore left butt cheek.     that evening, phil came.   he walked sooni w/ me, n' then we went to the santa clara costco to get gas.   then we met up w/ kaela @ 청기와 chunggiwa 4 dinner: 해물 파전 (반) haemool pajuhn (0.5 order), 닭 갈비, 해물 낙지 전골.   'twas a lot'f fud, a lot'f frickin' good fud!   ah, delicious!

on tues, i went to werk.   hrm, what else?   i guess i ate leftover 닭 갈비 dalk galbi w/ some trader joe's instant thai rice noodles 4 lunch.   i went to taekwondo praktice after werk n' that really reenergised me.   dinner?   i cooked up some 군 만두 goon mandoo n' edamame 4 kaela n' me.   wed?   on wed, i had lunch @ saravana bhavan w/ vince.   i had the most awesome south indian dish: dried fruit rava dosa.   dude, u've gotta try this!   it's delicious n' prob'ly pretty healthy.   we've had pretty wet weather lately.   on wed nite, afer werk, i jogged w/ sooni.   then, kaela n' i went to ay chung 4 dinner, where i ordered pai goo fan (pork chop rice) but got ji tsueh fan (chicken thigh rice) which was much more like ji pai fan (chicken chop rice).   dude, it was delicious!!!   kaela got the squid stew bean noodle soup (bean noodle, not soup w/ bean).   we also shared a uh ah jien (oyster pancake).   we had some squishees 2: almond 4 me n' kiwi 4 kaela.   after our awesome taiwanese feast, we gro¢ery $hopped 4 a long time @ the rivermark safeway.   i can't believer our bill went over $100!   we stocked up, i guess.   i commented to kaela how the rivermark safeway shows such a dichotomy btwn the ultra.yuppie patrons n' the super.werking.class employees.

2day, i brought a ham sandwich 4 lunch.   2nite, kaela cooked some kind'f 오진어 매운탕 ojinguh maeoontang n' some 모듬전 modeum juhn (호박, 두부, 스펨) (hobak, dubu, spam) n' some shrooms.   man, 'twas delicious n' i gobbled it up.   we watched this dvd, 말죽거리 잔혹사 / maljookguhri janhoksa.   oh yah, on tues nite, we finally watched 어린 신부 / uhrin shinboo.

2day's maundy thurs.   2morrow's good fri.   sun's easter.   sat's the 37th annual uc open.

월요일 점심: yesterday was easter, the most important day'f the yr.   the day b4 that was the 37th annual uc open taekwondo tournament.   taxes r due 2day.   crazy, huh?   i submitted our taxes late last nite.   we really could've n' should've finished'em 'lot earlier.   it's been raining rather constantly over the past couple'f months, but it's s'pposed to end this wk.   days've been getting longer, n' i'd like to enjoy the evening sun.

[later] 오후: during my lunchbrk, i went home n' carved up the leftover bone.in ham that my mom sent us home w/ yesterday afternoon.   yesterday afternoon, after our easter brunch @ my mom's house, the beautiful kaela hwang watched thank you for smoking @ the pruneyard camera 7.   student tix there r only $7.   that's kewl.

on fri, kaela n' i had a big lunch @ the mtn view amber india's buffet.   we met up w/ her 4mer classmate n' her husband.   in the afternoon, kaela drove up to berkeley.   after werk, i went home, sold off a sugar bowl / kirkwood lift tic to my cowerker, n' then caught a ride up to berkeley w/ our friend kaz.   we battled traffik up the 880.   we barely got there in time 4 kaz to weigh in 4 the uc open.   i parked his car in an excellent spot, while he ran in to weigh.in.   after parking the car, i went into the haas pavilion n' talked to roland n' others that i saw.   ah, it felt good to be back in berkeley.   altho' my days in ucmap were obviously pretty stressful @ times, i still feel like those were, in other ways, simpler times.

wikipedia articles
• bagel
• pretzel
• hot cross bun
• dduk (redirekts to "mochi")
• moon cake
• freestyle skateboarding tricks
• grabs (skateboarding)
• grinds (skateboarding)
• dark slide
• hard flip

kaela n' i went to dinner w/ linda n' roland @ the bay st. emeryville p.f. chang's.   'twas a great dinner.   our ol' friend rob was also there earlier but had to go home to his wife as our seating was taking so long.   i hadn't realised it so much @ the time, but 'twas 1000p b4 we got seated.   we ate chicken lettuce wraps, some kind'f crispy shrimp, orange peel chicken, n' some kind'f s'pposedly spicy string beans.   i had a kirin ichiban biiru.   kaela had some kind'f chateau ste. michelle riesling, but she ended up w/ a stomachache.   she aktually had the day off from skool.   'twas "spring holiday" 4 her.   man, i wish i had a "spring holiday."   frickin' a; 'twas good fri, n' i as a christian ought to have been able to take some time off to reflekt, etc., rt?   [later] neway, we spent fri nite @ roland's.

next yr, easter's on april 8; i.e. april 8, 2007, 2007년04월08일.

on sat, roland drove me over to the tournament early in the morn.   'twas like 700a when we arrived.   kaela didn't drive over till much later.   she sed 'twas really relaxing to wake up late etc.   [later, 저녁이지만 아직도 직장에서] well, i judged 품새 poomsase n' then reffed sparring the whole day.   it was 'lot'f werk n' @ times tuff yet fun.   we got fed steve's bbq n' joshuya 4 lunch.   i tried my best to be a good ref.   i have a decent 'mount'f experience, but i think i've got much to improve still.   i really look up to chuck tweedy as a ref.   he really knows what he's doing.   i think he's sed b4 that, as a ref, it's better to make a mistake than to be a cheater, n' i don't cheat.   while center reffing, i sometimes zone out from watching from pts n' just watch 4 cheating, etc.   some players r tuff cheats tho', i realise.   some r great @ akting.   4 some, it's like they've prakticed cheating in order to make it subtle.   i mean, i guess i know some ppl praktice cheating n' cheating subtly.   i really enjoyed reffing 4 matches where the competitors were good sports.   man, watching the men's sr. featherweight finals?   both ben n' bobby were such good sports.   dude, i'd give'em both some kind'f good sportsmanship award, if i could.   ben's from our skool u.s. taekwondo academy, n' bobby's from cal; so, of course, i have reasons to want either side to win; but man... i'm just so glad i don't hafta feel stressed or nething cos they're both such good sports.   really, the match could've gone either way.   the stingy judges aktually left it as 0-0 @ the end'f the 3 rounds, so the match went into sudden death.   bobby happened to score the 1st pt, but i think ben got him back rt after.   still, it was sudden death.   u know, a while 'go, some1 suggested that i set up 4 u.s. taekwondo to visit berkeley's praktice 1 nite.   man, i sure hope i can arrange that someday.   i'd like the guys @ us taekwondo to feel good 'bout berkeley.   4 some reason, they always get matched up @ tournaments, n' i don't want them to feel ne kind'f bad rivalry or nething.   4 how often, us taekwondo gets matched up w/ cal, the ppl @ cal must know us taekwondo academy, rt?   i think so.

neway, after the tournament started winding down n' wrapping up, our group from the sobay packed our stuff up n' headed out.   we stopped by 고려 숱불집 koryo sootbooljip on the way home.   'twas a really delicious dinner full'f meat cooked over wooden charcoal: 갈비, 불고기, 매운 닭구이, 돼지 불고기, 가자미 구이, 해물 파전, 떡만두 국, 잡채... (galbi, boolgogi, maewoon dalkgui, dwaeji boolgogi, gajami gui, haemool pajuhn, dduhk mandoo gook, japchae...)   the service wasn't great tho', as kaela pted out; n' was prob'ly cos we didn't order that much, considering how many ppl we were.   we didn't score ne freebies, n' that's unusual there.

on sun, kaela had a hard time waking up, so we were quite late to easter service, but i'm just glad we were there.   i'm glad 1'f kaela's classmate friends came to grx 4 her 1st time.   i dunno how her spiritual life is etc., but i hope being @ grx on sun 4 easter service benefitted her.   well, after chatting w/ kaela's classmate friends n' some'f our other friends, we rushed down (theto my mom's house.   altho' 'twas dry in santa clara, as we drove south, it got really rainy.   originally, i'd hoped to skateboard w/ steve n' mason like the last time we got 2gether; but i s'ppose the rain prevented that.   nolan's growing.   we ate 'lot.   my mom prepared quite the feast: salad w/ mandarin oranges n' grape (heirloom?) tomatoes, mint lamb shank w/ string beans, cinnamon glazed ham, asparagus, seasoned white potatoes, biscuits, hot cross buns, fruit tart...   we had this nice coppola black label cabernet sauvignon.

we were 2late to join kaela's classmate friends 4 take the lead @ amc meercado @ 150p, so we tried to watch rfriends with money @ cinéarts santana row @ 345p, but we were 2late 4 that as well; so we aimed 4 thank you for smoking there @ 430p.   we stopped by the ghetto rite aid on blossom hill n' almaden on the way.   well, since cinéarts doesn't take credit card, n' we didn't have ne ¢a$h, we drove from there to the pruneyard's camera 7 to watch thank you for smoking.

[later] 밤 1149p: after the movie, kaela n' i came home, n' the rest'f the nite was pretty blah.

2nite, i came home from werk, ate some salad w/ some fake (soy) chicken strips.   i was pretty lazy n' thus blah the whole nite.   in a way i feel a li'l burnt out.   oh wait!   no, b4 i ate dinner, i did yardwerk!   i mowed the lawn n' pulled a bunch'f weeds.   i was happy that the moist soil made it easier to pull weeds.   hopefully, this wk, i'll get 'round to fertilising the lawn n' maybe spraying some herbicide on the remaining weeds n' maybe spray some sunscreen on the japanese maples.

화요일 아침: "growing up" by 고호경 ko hokyung - 2 b.days'f important friends recently passed: duk on easter sun, april 16; n' julie, yesterday, on april 17.   happy b.day, u2; even tho' u don't read this n' won't read this.   생일 축하해.   "i feel you" by depeche mode - my teeth feel crooked 2day.   man, if i had $$$, dude, i think i'd get braces 'gain.   i know several adults w/ braces.   however, i don't have $$$.   then 'gain, i only have several more decades b4 my earthly body's returned to the ground n' i join my maker in heaven, rt?   my left hip feels arthritic.   [later] cos i've been gorging n' feasting on meat, meat, meat, n' leftover ham; i feel quite fat rt now.   i need exercise.   perhaps, i should've taken sooni 4 a jog last nite afte mowing the lawn n' pulling weeds.   she would've enjoyed it.

a li'l while 'go, i got a call 'bout a job opportunity in orange county.   i let the guy know that i'm not really looking 4 werk rt now, n' he let me off the fon pretty quickly.   i dunno; should i be looking 4 new job opps?   dude, lemme tell u: ppl r switching jobs like crazy rt now!   i dunno what it is, but yah...   well, i don't wanna move down to orange county.   i'm not looking to leave my current job, but man... imagine if i were to leave this vicious industry n' do sumpthin' like really "fun."   what if i could have a good career in sumpthin' related to musik or taekwondo.   or what if i could get an engineering job in the skateboard or snowboard industry?   what if i were to werk 4 a start.up 'gain, 1 where i could bring sooni to werk?   what if i were to werk 4 a colourfully"fun" company where they feed u well n' let u skateboard from bldg to bldg?

[later] how r u?   wouldju care to sign my gbook n' share?

[later] after doing yardwerk, last nite was a really lazy nite.   i feel like i could've been so much more produktive, gotten so much more done.   it looks like i'll be hitting the slopes 'gain on sat w/ friends from our t3s couples bible study.   as i mentioned b4, i scratched up the base'f my board last time, so i was thinking that i'd do some base repair last nite, but i didn't.   i dunno if it was cos i was lazy or if it was cos i'm smart, but i told myself that i'd ride on sat w/ the scratches on the base n' then do base repair later.   after all, i might get more scratches on sat, rt?   however, i figure that if i'm riding more downhill (as opposed to terrain park), then it'll be more important to have a smooth base.   the beautiful kaela hwang isn't coming w/ us on sat, n' she would've been my main playpal in the terrain park.   since she's not coming, i don't expekt to spend more time in the terrain parks.   in fakt, i guess all the others r skiers.   i hope to get more days on the slopes b4 all the snow melts.   s'pposedly boreal's closed now, which sucks cos i really wanna ride their s'pposedly "all.mtn" terrain park.   yah, i checked; boreal's closed.   northstar's hosting a collegiate nat'l snowboarding tournament on sun: http://www.cstv.com/thecollegiatenationals/sports/c-sboard/cn-c-sboard-body.html.   that's kewl.   i wish i'd been good 'nuff @ snowboarding during college to participate in sumpthin' like this.   kaela sed b4 that i'm passionate 'bout my hobbies, n' i guess i am.   @ times (in the past), i considered taekwondo not to be a hobby but a 2nd career.   now? *shrug* it does look more like a hobby, but... *shrug* [later] djing's a 2nd career.

[later] 점심, 회사의 제육관에서: i was reading a newsweek article 'bout "web 2.0," myspace, flickr, etc.   i started to get depressed, comparing my career to those'f the 30.yr.old billionaire ceos.   now, as i stretch, gwen stefani sings "rich girl" on my pa1m0ne t5.

[later] 저녁이지만, 아직도 직장에서: it's funny; in the silly valley, i think i c (in a way) 2 kinds'f engrs: 1) old dinosaurs that r bitter over repeated layoffs n' that fear being replaced by fresh college hires or outsourced labour; n' then 2) young, fired up, bright.eyed "freshmen" who r (in a way) bringing us back to the early 1980s or the late 1990s... not sure which.   there's a big diff btwn the early 1980s n' the late 1990s.   however, both were prosperous times.   funny, huh?   i think in the early 1980s, we had ppl getting rich by just being greedy; while in the late 1990s, we had a combination'f ppl getting rich from technolical innovation n' the ppl getting temporarily rich from not.so.good ideas.   well, aktually, in the early 1980s, ppl were also getting rich off'f technological innovation, but were they startup types or big corporations?   well, come to think'f it, u had both, rt?   i dunno... in a way, i just associate the early 1980s w/ greedy reaganomics, while the late 1990s cmed like more'f time 4 free.spirits w/ good morals to shine a li'l.   didn't it cm like ppl were more socially, environmentally, n' morally responsible in the late 1990s?

[later] during my lunchbrk 2day, i werked out really quickly in the werk.com gym.   then i bought a medium salad bar salad n' a small fruit salad @ the werk.com cafeteria.   i ate by myself in the shade in the outdoor courtyard/atrium, b4 going in to a class.

wow, stocks did well 2day.   eh, i won't get 2 optimistik cos stocks go up then go down.   how's the snow?

snow report, 2006년04월18일
• alpine meadows: 146~266
• boreal: closed
• dodge ridge: 116~178
• stoopid, lame heavenly: 175~206
• northstar@tahoe: 72~160
• sierra@tahoe: 116~269
• squaw valley: 290~290 (i doubt that lower nombre's correkt!)
• sugar bowl: 132~278
• kirkwood: 200~325 (woohoo!)
• homewood: 118~230 (as if i'd go there...)

수요일 아침: 2day's the beautiful kaela hwang's n' my 33rd wedding monthversary.   i'd take her out 2nite, but i hafta attend this sjsu college'f engrng (college of engineering) awards banquet as a delegate from my company, who's totally sponsoring the event.   it's @ the fairmont hotel in san jo, n' i've gotta wear a suit.   i chose the steak option 4 dinner.   i'm expekting a tasty dinner.   after all, it's the fairmont!   maybe i can take kaela out 2morrow nite? *shrug* well, "homelife" is nicer these days cos kaela admits that this 0.25 isn't as bad/bizzy as last 0.25.   however, she's still going to some seminar this wknd n' next.   i'll go snowboarding this sat, but next sat i have a baby shower to attend.   i've gotta create some kind'f salad 4 that.   dude, it's a beautifully sunny day 2day, announcing that spring is in full bloom, etc.   heh, it's almost a month late!   i'd like to go out 4 lunch 2day, if i have time.   *sigh* un4tunately, i have some mtg early this afternoon, so i worry.   also, why should i eat 2 big'f a lunch when i'll s'pposedly be having such an awesome dinner, rt?   this morn, i ate a sandwich w/ a slice sara lee whole grain bread stuffed w/ leftover easter ham n' some kind'f tasty mustard that kaela brought home as leftovers from somewhere... perhaps quiznos?   i ate that sandiwch n' later ate some non.fat cottage cheese w/ blueberries.

[later] uh oh! the snow's melting!

snow report, 2006년04월19일 (compared to yesterday, 2006년04월18일)
• alpine meadows: 143~282, previously 146~266
• boreal: closed :-( i really wish i could've hit up boreal 'least 1nce this season.
• dodge ridge: 108~168, previously 116~178 ... i hardly care.
• stoopid, lame heavenly:: 175~206, previously 175~206... ok, no change, but heavenly still less than ideal.
• northstar@tahoe: 72~180, previously 72~160... did i just misread yesterday's report?
• sierra@tahoe: 116~269, previously 116~269... as we'll prob'ly return to sierra on sat, i've gotta keep my eye on this 1.
• squaw valley: 290~290, previously 290~290... they've gotta learn to use that lower limit.   they'd die as mechanical engrs w/ no sense'f tolerances or precision.
• sugar bowl: 132~276, previously 132~278
• kirkwood: 200~325, previously 200~325... hold steady, kirkwood!   i'll eventually return this season.
• homewood: 118~230, previously 118~230... yeah, i really don't care.

the price'f oil's rather hi rt now.   the ¢o$t'f gas @ the pump's quite hi.   i really ought to buy a bike asap.   furhtermore, i ought to be allowed to ride my skateboard 'round 4 transportation.   the ¢heape$t gas in the area's the coleman ave, $anta ¢lara ¢0$+¢0 @ $2.759/gal.   that's ¢heaper than ar¢o.   i hope that pri¢e is rt.   oh yah, i'm getting this info from sanjosegasprices.com.   let's try to buy local grown produce n' locallly made produkts.   seriously... let's @ least try.   u know, i want to get a bike to $ave $$$ on ga$, but i feel a li'l funny cos as a snowboarder n' sort'f a skateboarder, i really prefer to travel sideways.   humans r the only animal that can travel sideways, as dogs n' cows walk on all 4s n' don't ride skateboards.   we r thus superior beings.   crabs travel sidewas.   nuts.   what other animals travel sideways?

last nite, i came home from werk n' then fertilised the lawn.   i brought sooni outside to hang out while i did that.   then, i pulled some weeds.   wait, no... i pulled weeds on mon but not yesterday.   i did however spray herbicide on some weeds.   sure, i'd like to have a more organik yard, but these dandelions just fight 2 hard to stay 'live.   it's hard to pull 'em out.   i'd rather be snowboarding.

kaela n' i went to taekwondo praktice, where we kicked paddles.   mark n' i discussed plans to teach a 10.wk adult beginner class this summer.   yah, we're looking 4 students.   the class'll $cent;o$t just $200 4 10 wks, including 도복 dobok (uniform).   it'll be every tues evening @ 600p, but i'll look into expanding those times 4 more days each wk.   i'd like to give my students more praktice.   if absolutely necessary, maybe i'll hold some kind'f office hrs in a nearby park on sat morns or sumpthin'.   i'd hate to praktice in publik, but *shrug* if i hafta, i'll hafta.   i don't feel i'm good @ teaching kids but think i'm pretty good @ teaching adults.

[later] 오후: wow, my manager took our grp out to lunch @ masala oven indian buffet cos 1'f the contraktors from india is leaving our grp @ the end'f the wk.   it's funny cos 2 out'f 3 times i've been there now, i felt like i was really rushed as i was eating n' that i couldn't enjoy the fud as well cos i was rushed.   i realise that this is cos this restaurant's so close to my office, n' thus ppl choose to go there when we don't have much time.   as i did the 1st time iw as there, i ended up letting all the flavours mix on my plate, n' well... i guess 1 could say, "it all mixes in the stomach neway."   however, yah... i think i could've enjoyed my fud better if the desi chinese fud didn't mix w/ the butter chicken etc.   'twas nice to've been fed lunch 2day, knowing that i'll also be fed dinner @ the sjsu college'f engrng (college of engineering) awards banquet: steak.   [later] man, i'll really need to exercise asap.   however, it looks like a group'f my cowerkers from the ol' recent college hire program r doing lunch @ athena grill 2morrow, so that'd mean that i can't werkout in the werk.com gym on thurs.   also, i'm mtg up w/ a couple 4 whom i'm djing their wedding on fri during lunch, so no fri werk.com gym werkout.   maybe i'll get to jog 2morrow morn w/ sooni b4 werk, but man... these days i don't do that very often.   i've gotta start waking up earlier.   sat, i'm s'pposed to take some friends from our couples bible study small grp to tahoe 4 snowboarding/skiing.   in this grp, i'll be the only snowboarder.   :-/ i'm reconsidering base reparing n' waxing my board cos it'll be more downhill n' less freestyle than last time.

[later] 밤, 1054p: i went to the sjsu college'f engrng (college of engineering) awards banquet.   it's the 60th anniversary'f the sjsu college'f engrng (college of engineering).   u know, 2day, my manger took our grp out to lunch @ masala oven, as i sed.   on the walk back from his car to our offices, he asked if me n' this other guy ever thought 'bout getting our ph.ds.   hrm... i would usually say no, n' i guess i did say no.   however, after thinking 'bout it n' going to this akademic funktion, i'd say that i wish i could go get my ph.d.   realistically, i can't; but... i dunno... then 'gain, it's just 1'f those "the grass is greener on the other side'f the fence" things; how, whenever i'm in skool, i wish i were in the industry n', whenever i'm in the industry, i wish i were in skool.   the "keynote speaker"'f the nite was dr. moira gunn'f npr's tech nation n' biotech nation shows.   she made a pretty good speech.   the fud was pretty good, n' they had wine n' champagne.

목요일 아침: "Asians surpass mark at UC: WHITE ADMISSIONS FALL TO SECOND PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME"   [later] 2day's 2006년04월20일.   marijuana fanatiks have this fascination w/ the nombre "420."   it's usually verbalised as "four twenty."   me, i've honestly never used marijuana n' am a bit opposed to it etc.   some might call me a hypocrite cos i'm ok w/ alcoholik beverages but am opposed to marijuana n' ecstacy etc.   well, drinks like wine n' bier; they're still like fud, u know?   i oppose alcohol abuse... just not alcohol consumption. [later] i'm ok w/ that.

[later] crying over lost ¢hange: last nite, the beautiful kaela hwang booked us a room in napa over mutha's day wknd 4 our friend jin's wedding.   yah, she n' her fiancé ben r getting married in napa the day b4 mutha's day this yr.   neway, she booked our hotel rm thru priceline but didn't use my link.   hotels in napa, especially in spring, are heck'a expen$ive, n' we could've gotten a $20 kickback off'f my link!   we could've $aved $20!   listen, ppl... if u ever use priceline, plz use my link.   if u tell me u used my link, i'll even try to refund u the commission i made as long as i can confirm that the click registered n' that i'm getting paid.   (also, maybe i'll need to keep a li'l'f it in case they tax me!)   *sigh* i was a bit distraught over the lost $20.   it never feels good to lose $$$.   that was an easy $20.   well, whatever... $20...   it's just $20.   well, when u or i / we pur¢ha$e wedding gifts this yr, plz use my the registry@macy's link!   yes, plz, plz, plz.   it's such easy $$$.   i hate thinking that u or i r/am missing out on free $$$!   sure, it's small, chump ¢hange sometimes; but a li'l here n' a li'l there can add up.   as the wisemen of depeche mode sing: "everything counts in large amounts."

[later] 오후: kaela n' i went to a late lunch w/ my cowerker friend james.   we ate 'gain @ athena grill (1505 space park dr; santa clara, ca 95054; phone: 408.567.9144, fax: 408.567.9977), which is packed w/ engrs from my company every lunch hr.   we found out that james's mom's a senator in taiwan.   he didn't really know much 'bout her or her werk, which we found amusing; but he sed she was w/ "the first party."   @ 1st, i assumed he meant the kmt, but later, when i went to the website that he gave me www.ccmei.org, i found out she's w/ the orange people first party, which is a reunificationist, anti.independence party.   i told him that my family's always been pro.independence, etc. n' left it @ that.   4 lunch, i had a lamb souvlaki sandwich, n' kaela had the moussaka.   crazy, we'll prob'ly go out to dinner as well, to celebrate our 33rd monthversary.

[later] 오후, 420p: oh, man! by coincidence, it's 420p on 420 day rt now.   i bet a lot of potheads r smoking out rt now!   neway, i wanted to mention that i saw the updated resort closing dates on snowbomb.com:

lake tahoe / norcal area resort closing dates (from snowbomb)
• boreal - april 16 ... already closed! :-(
• homewood - april 23
• bear valley - april 23 ... don't really care...
• dodge ridge - april 23 ... don't really care...
• diamond peak - april 23 ... really don't care...
• northstar - april 23 ... nuts! didn't get to hit this place up @ all this season!
• mt. rose - april 23 ... don't really care...
• heavenly - april 23 ... really don't care...
• sierra - april 24 ... sad... :-(
• sugar bowl - april 30 ... nuts!
• kirkwood - april 30 ... aw, man!
• alpine - may 21 ... ooh, must squeeze in a trip!
• squaw - may 29 ... maybe...
• mammoth - july 5 ... uh, not likely...

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 작장에서: long skirt, short skirt, mini skirt... micro mini skirt's the best: we all know that the phenomenon that skirt lengths get longer during bad economic times and shorter during good economic times is pretty much a irrefutable law.   from the newsweek article i was reading earlier this week while at the werk.com (read "company" in benospelling) gym, i realised that sometimes the chicness of geekiness increases during good economic times and decreases during bad economic times.   in the early 1980s, pac man and kraftwerk were rad.   in the late 1990s, pets.com and g.g. d'agostino were niiiice "money."   however, obviously, during the early 1990s, we were all about lo-fi, grunge, and gangsta rap.   our economy and our fashion are both affeected by technology.

월요일 아침: i'd like to share w/ u 1'f my favourite passage from the bible:

luke 7:36~50
jesus anointed by a sinful woman
³⁶now one of the pharisees invited jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the pharisee's house and reclined at the table.   ³⁷when a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that jesus was eating at the pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.   then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
³⁹when the pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "if this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is?that she is a sinner."

⁴⁰jesus answered him, "simon, i have something to tell you."

"tell me, teacher," he said.

⁴¹"two men owed money to a certain moneylender.   one owed him five hundred denarii^*, and the other fifty.   ⁴²neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both.   now which of them will love him more?"

⁴³simon replied, "i suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."   "you have judged correctly," jesus said.

⁴⁴then he turned toward the woman and said to simon, "do you see this woman?   i came into your house.   you did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

⁴⁵you did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time i entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.   ⁴⁶you did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.   ⁴⁷therefore, i tell you, her many sins have been forgiven?for she loved much.   but he who has been forgiven little loves little."

⁴⁸then jesus said to her, "your sins are forgiven."

⁴⁹the other guests began to say among themselves, "who is this who even forgives sins?"

⁵⁰jesus said to the woman, "your faith has saved you; go in peace."

footnotes:
^*luke 7:41 a denarius was a coin worth about a day's wages.

mnm (michelle), thanks 4 signing my gbook!   i'm glad u'r liking grx sf: acts ii n' the dance ministry.   heh, that's so kewl.   as u know, i really like grx 4 its being a church that really tries to live out the gospel, the true ways'f jesus, n' provide an open, nonjudgemental, caring place to experience god's love n' well, hey... live the lives that god's given us, u know?   kewl; i hope to watch u the next time i c the dance ministry.

well, 'twas a very bizzy wknd 4 the beautiful kaela hwang n' me.   well, u know what?   'twas a really expen$ive wknd 4 me.   [a li'l later] ok, what did we do?   *shrug* where did i leave off updating u?

• 목, 04월20일
• 점심: lunch w/ kaela n' my cowerker james @ athena grill... oh yah, i talked 'bout this already.
• 저녁: came home n' pulled weeds in the front yard w/ kaela.   in a way, we're such awful yuppies cos we pull weeds n' do other yardwerk in nice clothes cos we sometimes don't bother to change b4 we do stuff like that cos we're 2 bizzy.   u know?   like on some sundays, i'll be wearing the clothes i wore to church still when i go mow the lawn.   luckily, our church isn't a very formal place, so that's not too bad, but i must look a li'l 2 yuppie when i'm like wearing an armani sweater n' trimming bushes.   yah, it's not quite the life'f the real suburbanite, who really knows how to take care'f a yard, etc.
• i took kaela out 4 dinner to celebrate our 33rd monthversary.   i wasn't sure where to take care, thinking we could either try 1'f those sort'f chic n' sort'f trendy japanese japanese restaurants on el camino real (not korean sushi) or take sooni w/ us to somewhere w/ outdoor dining.   these japanese places r the kind that do the kaiseki dinner menus.   i guess that's gonna be the next big thing.   like, sushi, i guess, is rather commonplace now, 'specially to japanese ppl in the area.   thus, now asians, when they want real japanese fud, cm to go 4 those kaiseki dinners, eh?   *shrug* neway, we tried to hit up tanto, but they were 2 full, so instead, we drove off to mtn view n' ended up @ amici's east coast pizzeria.   uh, quite a contrast, eh?
• @ amici's east coast pizzeria, we shared a spinacci salad n' then a medium greek isle pizza.   'twas quite filling, that combination.   both kaela n' i usually prefer chicago style pizza, but this new york pizza was great.   oh, we also each had a li'l wine:   kaela had a pinot grigio, n' i had a sangiovese.
• afterwards, we bummed 'round the $tarbu¢ks next door n' shared a grande soy green tea latte.
• 금, 04월21일
• i met w/ a couple 'bout djing their wedding.   i met up w/ them @ the sunnyvale fry's electronics's café.   @ fry's, i bought a 100 pack spindle'f tdk cdrs cos i cm to be out'f cdrs.   aktually, dude, i should start trying to use cdrws now n' then, huh?
• i had an awesome lunch w/ kaela @ the sunnyvale una mas on lawrence expwy.   we had a butternut squash quesadilla, a cup'f tortilla soup, a chicken taco, n' a chicharonnes taco.   wow, 'twas really good.
• in the evening, we picked up grace ("mark n' grace" grace) to go to our grx t3s couples small group bible study.   mark'd join her later, after our u.s. taekwondo akademy promotional exam, which i s'ppose kaela n' i were skipping.   the 3'f us ate dinner @ ramen halu on saratoga ave near stevens creek blvd.   the ramen was pretty good, but i liked the dish that i had the 1st time (w/ my mom a few wks 'go) better.
• 토, 04월22일
• snowboarding@sugarbowl.com w/ our friend gregory n' susan.   'twas just me n' the couple.   kaela had a seminar.   the drive up was swift.   i made it up in ~3 hrs, which i haven't done in a long time cos there's usually more traffik in this day n' age.   then 'gain, we left pretty much @ 600a, whereas, in recent trips, i've left a li'l tardily.
• [later] we stopped @ the mcyjkyuk's in cordelia 4 brkfast.   i ordered off the $1 menu instead'f gettin' a "value meal," got a sausage mcmuffin (no egg), a sausage breakfast burrito, n' a small coffee (decaf).   the coffee was decently good.
• the snow conditions @ sugar bowl: wet, sticky snow; old, crusty powder...   the weather was ok, but foggy @ times n' w/ a few snow/hail flurries.   the sticky snow was crazy!   sometimes, i'd be totally cruising fine, n' then all'f the sudden, the snow'd just grab me as if i had slammed on the braakes in a car.   the stickiness'f the sticky snow was very strong!
• we boarded w/o a break 4 lunch, h₂o, or bathrm!   dude, i think every time i went to sugar bowl this season, it's been like that, huh?   the 1st time this season, 'twas like that.   however, i guess the 2nd time, i took 1 h₂o/pee break.   i didn't buy ne fud @ sugar bowl this yr.   that's fine; i don't recall their having ne spektacular fud.   i think alpine meadows, sierra, northstar, n' squaw have better fud.   some'f the worst fud i've had @ snow parks was @ kirkwood!   dude, they almost just should not have a license to sell fud!
• neway, i got to ride in the 0.5 pipe n' in the terrain park.   in fakt, i had some good times in the park.   i got to continue my streak'f riding lots'f rails.   i got to catch some decent air, considering how slow the snow was.   there was this fun li'l cone.type hip w/ an upside.down trash can to bonk.   those r fun.   u jump over the trash can n' bonk ur board on it.   i do c this trend'f putting inclined rails, so u can slide the rail n' then catch air off'f it.   it's kewl, but u need extra speed.   in that case, yah... i s'ppose it can be harder.   that's what messed me up on my previous trip @ sierra: i couldn't get 'nuff speed to finish riding those inclined rails.   [later] i mostly rode downhill/freeride on sat neway... not as much freestyle but a li'l... or a li'l more than li'l... prob'ly just 'nuff.   i guess the time b4, i rode more freestyle than freeride/downhill; so i needed to balance it out.   i had a good time.   i think we all had a good time!
• on our way home, we stopped in auburn to eat @ sum's mongolian bbq.   man, 'twas good to eat n' drink h₂o after all that!   i had lots'f meat n' lots'f hot sauce (sriracha).   we were so stuffed afterwards!
• 1 more stop b4 home was the $tarbu¢ks in cordelia.   i ordered a tall decaf/nf cappuccino n' received a tall, double nf/decaf cappuccino (extra shot'f decaf espresso).   that was fine.
• dude, when i got home, i fell asleep quite fast after my shower!   kaela did come home from her seminar till late.   in the morn n' @ nite, i let sooni run into the garage to greet our friends.   i'm glad she doesn't run off like she used to.   her recall's better now.
• 일, 04월23일
• i woke up early to skateboard w/ sooni.   i was out the door b4 700a.   i rode pretty far.   i had a good time n' want to skateboard more.   it's fun.   yah... like our friend matt, maybe i'd like to get a freebord someday to get more'f that snowboard feel, but 4 now my streetstyle board's more than fine!   i was happy to discover that 1'f the streets by my house has a nice gentle decline, so when i skate back home, i get to relax n' cruise a li'l.   that was fun.   i gotta find out which streets r smoother than the others.
• kaela n' i were a bit late to church (grx), which was @ foothill covenant in los altos instead'f @ the marriott.   we drove thru a really nice, suburban neighbourhood.   the church's near mountain view high school.   our congregation, combine w/ foothill's, really filled up that li'l sanctuary!   i heard the 2nd service was overflowing out the doors!
• after chuch, kaela n' i went w/ my mom to 명동순두부집 myungdong soondubujip.   i'm glad we got to show her santa clara's best 순두부집 soondubujip.   i find 명동 myungdong to be better than 소공도 sogongdo.   i had my usual 섞어 순두부 찌개... 아주 맵게... (suhkkuh soondubu... ajoo maebgei)...   yum, yum!
• after lunch, kaela n' i went to valley fair n' $pent lots'f $$$: we bought a wedding present 4 a friend, a b.day present 4 'nother, then a pair'f pants 4 each'f us @ club monoco.   i've been badly needing another pair'f dress pants, n' i found a very versatile pair @ club monoco, altho' i had to pay full pri¢e.   sometimes, u just gotta make the investment... even in fashion, u know?   who knows? maybe this pair'f pants'll land me a promotion or a raise! (someday...)   we browed thru lots'f stuff in copelands but didn't buy nething there.   i guess we enjoy sporting goods stores.   i enjoy browsing thru casual clothes but know i shouldn't buy nemore'f'em 4 now.   if nething, i need more dress clothes 4 going out n' going to weddings, etc.   @ the s#arper image, kaela n' i rested on the massage chairs 4 quite a while.   i noticed that other ppl stayed on those chairs 4 quite a while.   i'm usually quite shy 'bout staying on 1 2 long, u know?
• well, after valley fair, we quickly stopped by home n' then went to the milpitas 24 hour fitness 4 a 500p apptmnt w/ a friend'f a friend'f kaela.   well, we bought into that $pe¢ial $799/3yrs ($49/yr after) deal.   we have all club access (up to "sport" level).   many'f our friends've gotten the same deal recently.   it's the best deal u can find these days.   i'm glad we bought the memberhips thru a friend'f a friend'f kaela cos that dude made it relatively painless, no pressure.   i guess we all knew we had to be nice to each other since kaela has to c her friend @ skool all the time.   well, i $pent plenty'f $$$ there!   the process took a while tho' cos'f 'puter probs.   we were there 4 like 2 hrs.
• then we met w/ our friends mark n' grace @ the rivermark piatti 4 dinner.   i took every1 out to dinner cos'f mark's (not so) recent b.day (very belated) n' grace's new job (which she starts 2day).   kaela n' i shared this asparagus n' beet salad, n' then kaela had some kind'f tutte di mare type linguine, n ' i had this shrimp parpadelle.   also, kaela had a glass'f pinot grigio, n' i had a widnmer hefeweizen.
• after that, kaela n' i went gro¢ery $hopping @ safeway@rivermark.
• then we went home.   we were s'pposed to werkout late @ nite @ our new gym but didn't.   i'd been up so early after all.   furthermore, i'd skateboarded 'lot w/ sooni in the early morn; i even came home saoked in sweat.

[later] 오후: how r u neway?   as mnm did, u2 can sign my gbook.   well, i should change the qs (questions) asap.   i still don't have a comment box thingy.   i did apply 4 an enetations acct or whatever.

[less than a min later, i think] i hope, as'f this wknd, i'm resuming my habit'f waking up early.   up until our dc trip, i was waking up early.   this morn, there was a turbo kick boxing class that i considered attending... @ 600a.

[later] 아직도 오후: 4 werk, i had to drive out to an area'f east san jo that historically has not been a nice neighbourhood.   some parts still look "scary," like the multiple trailer parks i saw.   however, mixed 'mongst the trailer parks n' 4.plexes were some brand new townhomes.   interesting, huh?   in gen'l, east san jo really cleaned up during the .com boom.   [later] traffik was pretty frustrating out there tho'.   traffik on the east side reminds me a bit'f socal.

[later] 밤 1145p: i experienced my 1st 24 hr fitness werkout: i werked out 4 3 hrs!!!   from 730p to 1030p!   i started w/ the turbo kickboxing, then i stretched, then i lifted, then i stretched, then i did some elliptical trainer, then i stretched.   the turbo kickboxing (tkb) class was pretty fun.   mark's grace was s'pposed to be there but wasn't.   aktually, when i got to the gym @ 730p... man, i gotta admit: it did look like a total meat market!   it was pretty scary... or *shrug* i dunno how i should put it.   i mean... yah, there were lots'f gurls in skimpy clothes n' full makeup n' guys grunting n' flexing...   lots'f 20sumpthin', singles types, mostly east asian.   it made me think: wow, yah, i s'ppose a person can find an attraktive mate @ the gym... but, as ppl've sed b4... it's rather superficial... n' well... if i'm saying that, it must be true cos i think some ppl think i'm superficial or 'least vain... i'd hate to think that ppl think i'm superficial... i feel a li'l less bad if ppl think i'm vain... but it's still bad.   neway... whoa, i werked out 4 a long time.   'twas cos i was waiting 4 kaela to join me, n' she eventually did.   then i went home n' ate week.old leftover ham n' some strawberries .

화요일 아침: i'm pretty excited 'bout being back in a fitness club (헬스 클럽).   i've been looking over the club fitness class schedules.   i'm gonna try to attend more'f these turbo kick box (tkb) classes.   last nite was fun.   i like how it's a li'l bit martial arts but also a li'l bit dance, in a way.   i'd like to check out these hip hop dance fitness classes 2!   un4tunately, the only 1 i c coincides w/ 1'f the turbo kick box classes.   oh well.   hey, don't 4get that mark n' i r gonna be teaching a 10 wk, adult beginner taekwondo class @ u.s. taekwondo akademy this summer!!!   i think the class begins the 1st wk'f june.   we'll 'least meet every thurs evening @ 600p.   however, i'd like to expand on that time...   i mean, i'd like to meet 'least 2ice a wk if not more.   dude, i feel charged in that i feel i'm on the rd [to getting back into shape. . . unfinished entry]

수요일 아침: 1 more day till the depeche mode concert.   i wish i weren't so bizzy w/ werk n' that i had the time i had when i was a kid to get fully excited 'bout this.   i mean, yah, i am excited, but man... back when i was a kid, i had time to get really excited, u know? *sigh* it makes u question why we ever grew up, eh?   yesterday, the beautiful kaela hwang told me that she dropped her nice sony vaio laptop n' the monitor's got a prob. *sigh* i'm sure it'll ¢o$t like $500 or more to fix.   it sucks that w/ so many things, u pay sooo much to get them fixed.   i hate that!   it's kapitalisme/consumerism @ its worst.   companies just want u to keep buying new things n' never getting ur existing things fixed.   it sucks!   it's unenvironmental!   it's frustrating that she keeps breaking n' losing things.   it makes me think we should buy only the most rugged elektronics 4 her.   then 'gain, there's a prob w/ elektronics 2day: there's not 'nuff mechanical engineering in them... so produkts rn't built rugged 'nuff n' they rn't serviceable 'nuff etc.   sucks, sucks, $u¢k$.   kaela lost her ipod mini back in washington, dc.   she hadn't owned it 4 very long.

2nite, i hope to hit up the 730p turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e. arques 24 hr fitness aktive.   i could instead go to the 700p turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the fremont ave 24 hr fitness sport; but i doubt i'll get out'f werk in time 4 that.   i dunno...   i like the idea'f going to more fitness classes now that i'm @ 24 hr fitness.   i think they'll help keep exercise fun.   also, i think they'll help me werkout @ a good pace.   2 often, when i werkout on my own, i'm inefficient or lazy.   i realised on mon nite @ 24 hr fitness, that over the past few months, while only werking out @ my werk.com gym, i'd been werking out amongst ppl who just rn't as fit as the ppl i was 'round @ 24 hr fitness.   the atmosephere @ this club, from what i saw on mon nite, is a li'l interesting.   like @ the capitol expwy bally that kaela n' i used to go to, it was a bit'f an asian or latino meat market, w/ lots'f ppl who looked like they were single ppl there just to meet/watch other single ppl.   @ the hamilton ave bally, we saw more serious athletes n' fitness types.   on mon nite, i saw sort'f a combination'f the 2: a lot'f fit single ppl who looked like they were just there to watch other fit single ppl.   however, later in the nite, i saw more'f the out'f shape ppl come in.   it's kind'f interesting.   it's like there r shifts.   earlier in the evening, many'f those folks looked like the young single ppl i c @ grx.   kaela n' i saw 1 guy who was aktually wearing a grx t.shirt, but i was very sure many, many more'f those young, asian ppl were grx regulars.   i know that, in a good n' not as good way, grx has a rep as being a place 4 young, single asians.   however, i hope the fakt that i'm leading a couples small grp sort'f balances that out, u know?

[later] argh, my 'puter froze, so i restartd it (hard reset) n' lost a bit'f text here.   neway... it wasn't much.

last nite, i went w/ sooni to taekwondo praktice, but kaela didn't come.   lemme emphasize 'gain that mark n' i r teaching a adult beginners class, starting in june!   plz come n/or tell ur friends to come.   it's s'pposed to be $200 4 10 wks, including 도복 dobok (uniform).

10.day santa clara weather 4cast (from weather.com)
• 오늘 (수요일), 04월 26일: 52~68°f
• 내일 (목요일), 04월 27일: 54~76°f
• 모레 (금요일), 04월 28일: 57~76°f
• 토요일, 04월 29일: 57~76°f
• 일요일, 04월 30일: 58~79°f
• 월요일, 05월 01일: 60~81°f
• 화요일, 05월 02일: 57~79°f
• 수요일, 05월 03일: 54~73°f
• 목요일, 05월 04일: 53~70°f
• 금요일, 05월 05일: 52~68°f

kaela n' i've been watching the mbc drama 내사랑 팥쥐 (nae sarang patzzi) (my love patzzi) (starring 장나라jang nara) on dvd, thanks to roland.   it's a bit'f an older miniseries but of course still fun.   it reminds me'f the kbs miniseries loving you (starring 김유진 kim yoojin [eugene kim]'f s.e.s.).   "유치하게 yoochihagei" = "childish, juvenile."

[later] man's best friend: u know, i wish i could express to u in wurds the joys'f dog ownership.   i'm happy when i come home n' sooni's so happy to c me.   i think almost all dog owners experience this.   dogs r very social animals, as they say.   sooni's a great dog.

[later] 오후: its depeche mode wk here @ the beno journal.   here r some lyrics to commemorate 2morrow's concert:

"precious" by depeche mode

precious and fragile things
need special handling
my god what have we done to you?

we always try to share
the tenderest of care
now look what we have put you through

things get damaged
things get broken
i thought we'd manage
but words left unspoken
left us so brittle
there was so little left to give

angels with silver wings
shouldn't know suffering
i wish i could take the pain for you

if god has a master plan
that only he understands
i hope it's your eyes he's seeing through

things get damaged
things get broken
i thought we'd manage
but words left unspoken
left us so brittle
there was so little left to give

i pray you learn to trust
have faith in both of us
and keep room in your hearts for two

things get damaged
things get broken
i thought we'd manage
but words left unspoken
left us so brittle
there was so little left to give

during my lunchbrk, i went to a spin class @ the nearby 24 hr fitness.   it's really close to my office.   it felt great.   afterwards, i picked up a 6" coldcut sandwich meal to go from the nearby korean subway, where julie used to werk.   [later] in that same area is the haircutting place that took off all my hair.   i do badly need 'nother haircut asap.   i need to set a deadline, when if i don't get a haircut from kaela by that date, i'll just pay 4 1.

[later] beno the revelator: the depeche mode track "john the revelator" from their most recent playing the angel album criticises the modern day christian church.   check out this mildly interesting online article: http://www.stillspeaking.com/arts/music/110705.html on some somewhat interesting site called "god is still speaking" (http://www.stillspeaking.com/default.htm) put up by the "united church of christ," some group i don't know much 'bout.   is it a good group? bad group? i dunno.   (i can't tell if they're either a "seeker friendly" church or a cult.   *shrug* i hope they're just a good grp.)   i church that belongs to this denomination is fccb in berkeley.   from the pic on their website, i recognise their bldg.   it's that bldg that looks like a train station.   i think they're a legitamate church, yes.   neway... how do i as a christian feel 'bout lines like "he's stealing a god from the israelites, stealing a god from a muslim too"?   well, i do agree that it's funny how ppl'f 1 religious grp can be so antogonistik 'gainst ppl'f 'nother relgious grp, when well... some'd think we'd get 'long better cos 'least we're not atheists!   rt?!   "there is only one god, through and through" is the next line in the song.   well, if i were to say, 'aw, it doesn't matter what religion u choose, they're all the same,' most christians'd label me as way 2 liberal n' maybe think i'm some kind'f gnostik or sumpthin', n' i'm not a gnostik... nor am i an agnostik.   i did buy n' started reading anne lamott's plan b: further thoughts on faith.   as much as i hate the term "liberal christian" cos it's so inaccurate, i guess most ppl'd call anne lamott a "liberal christian" cos she does go to a christian church n' does write 'bout the christian faith, but i think she sed she attends a church w/ a lesbian pastor n' she talks 'bout native amerikan religions, etc.   am i kewl w/ that?   well, personally, yah, i'm kewl w/ that.   i don't c her book in berean, the christian bookstore; so i can only assume that many christians rn't kewl w/ that.   oh well...   neway, i have a religion.   i believe in the christian bible.   as u know, 1'f my best friends from college is an indian muslim.   @ times, he's been more'f a muslim n' @ times, he's been really against his family's traditional faith.   however, in the end, he cms to have decided to go w/ it.   he still 'least goes thru the motions, n' i suspekt he really does believe in his family's religion.   sure, as a christian, i wish he also believed in my christian bible, but... *shrug* in the end, should i hate his religion more than the absence'f religion or even satanism?   should i hate atheism?   i dunno; i s'ppose the answer i'd come to from my berkeleyism is that i don't need to hate ne belief system.   ok... well, that, in a way 's an empty statement, cos i could easily plug in "dislike" 4 "hate," n' then i would no longer be "hatin'" but just disliking, n' there ain't nuthin wrong w/ disliking, rt?   "playa hatahs" get a bad rap in hip hop songs, but u never hear much criticism'f "player dislikers," rt? :-p yah, u know? i feel like in recent decades christians r always being pitted 'gainst some media.created opponent.   what's the opposite'f christianity?   sometimes the media sez it's political liberalism.   sometimes the media sez it's homo$exuality.   sometimes the media sez it's commuism.   sometimes, the media sez it's islam.   sometimes, the media sez it's satanism.   sometimes, the media sez it's atheism.   sometimes, the media sez it's judaism.   perhaps, growing up asian.am, the opposite'f christianity's buddhism.   after all, "santa doesn't leave presents under the bodhi tree!" (plz visit http://www.snpp.com/episodes/DABF02 immediately if u don't know 'bout "she of little faith," simpsons episode dabf02!)   when i was in hi skool, i went w/ the leland hi skool amnesty int'l student chapter to watch the oakland interfaith gospel choir sing.   i think they sang @ de anza college's flint center, but i 4get.   well, neway... i'll tell u this: in a way, i guess i feel a li'l more "akin" to "the israelite and a muslim too" cos in a way we worship a god.   sumpthin' i say 'bout relgion is "u've gotta putchur chips somewhere."   "reach out and touch faith"^*:   it's been said that "it's called faith cos u can't c it w/ ur eyes."   it takes faith to be a christian, a satanist, a muslim... n', if u ask me, it takes faith to be an atheist!   how does the athesit "know" god doesn't exist?   it takes faith... n' well, can i say 'lot is @ stake in that bet?   there's a somewhat trite bumper sticker that reads, "if you're living like there's no god, you'd better be right."   it's trite but true.   i guess modern american christianity's obsession w/ finding an antichristianity lies in exposing false prophets.   i'm sure many christians'd say that i spew false prophecy cos'f my tolerance, but i insist that i don't.   @ some pt, yah, u' just have to put ur chips down somewhere n' take a stand.   an ol' friend sam whom i haven't cn in almost a decade who was my intervarsity christian fellowship small group leader called himself a "fundamentalist" but not in the way the media uses the term.   he sed was a "fundamentalist" cos he sticks only to the basic truths presented in the bible, not the political b.s. that the media or politicians have added.

^* that's a line from depeche mode's "personal jesus."

목요일 아침: 2nite's the depeche mode concert!   last nite, while surfing the web n' also sony connect online digital musik store, i found sumpthin' interesting: color theory - color theory presents depeche mode   it's a tribute album to depeche mode.   i wouldn't mind getting that album... i think.  also, i wouldn't mind having for the masses: an album of depeche mode songs.   that album has the cure's cover'f depeche mode's "world in my eyes."   did i ever dl that mp3?   that album's from 1998!   i noticed that the color theory cover/tribute album has many tracks from depeche mode's black celebration.   as dreary n' dark as that sounds, that's 1'f my favourite depeche mode albums!   color theory even includes a cover'f "but not tonight," which, as i've sed b4, is definitely 1'f my favourite depeche mode tracks.   i believe the most covered depeche mode track is "enjoy the silence," which incidentally is their all time highest ranking single.   i didn't realise that.   i wonder what i thought that would be.   i s'ppose it makes sense.   otherwise, i guess i would've picked "strangelove" or "just can't get enough" from their vince clarke days.   also "everything counts" should be up there, rt?   "the turning point of a career in korea being insincere. . ." (a line from depeche mode's "everything counts") heh, that's funny, that line... it could really apply to the semiconduktor industry, so man... it must speak volumes n' resound in the valley, eh?   i mean, since korea has such a big hi.tech industry n' all... n' obviously many silly valley werkers gotta do bizness w/ korea.   also, i find that line funny cos... well, yah... since i'm so submersed in korean culture like... that line could refer to like some korean celebrity aktor or sumpthin', u know?   i 4get, but i can imagine that in the video, @ that pt in the song, they have a clip'f a white man shaking hands w/ some asian men in bizness suits.   neway, the most covered (remade by others) depeche mode song's "enjoy the silence."   last nite, i found several "enjoy the silence" covers on sony connect.   that doesn't include that mars & mystre track that is basical an "enjoy the silence" cover but w/ a slightly modified name.   i believe the title's "the silence" or sumpthin'.   well, i found 2 "r&b" covers'f "enjoy the silence, both sung by female jazz divas... sort'f like norah jones.   funny, huh?   well, even more interesting is how 1'f these covers, which is by some gurl named janti, was released on 2006년05월25일!!!   that was this wk!!!!   that's very important cos 2nite's the depeche mode concert in mtn view @ the shoreline amphitheatre; n' furthermore, 2nite's concert is the 1st show'f the 3rd leg'f their playing the angel tour!   that's significant (in small amts).   it's just that, there prob'ly is more hype over depeche mode rt now than usual.

simply an ad: césar milan

last nite, both the beautiful kaela hwang n' i attended the turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e. arques 24 hr fitness.   i'm glad that i'm surviving these tkb classes very well.   i get a good werkout, but i'm not like dying.   oh yah! yesterday, i did both a spin class during lunch n' the tkb class in the evening.   i'm happy 'bout that.   i need to keep this up!   well, shoot; i have no plans to visit the gym 2day or 2nite.

just an ad: kbs's 웨딩 wedding starring 장나라 jang nara n' 류시원 ryu shiwon

[later] 오후: there's this thing (should i say "program"?) called recording the angel, where this particular british company's getting recording from all the depeche mode concerts on this 3rd (n' final?) leg'f the current tour (touring the angel) n' releasing/selling cds n' digital files.   they say it's the ultimate souvenir, n' i've gotta say i concur to a good amt despite the steep, steep pri¢es.   the cd ¢o$t$ $38, n' the set'f digital files ¢o$tS $20!   that's rather steep, eh?   however, they call 'em "limited edition."   i'm considering buying the digital files.   i'd like the cd, but that pri¢e is just 2 much!

@ lunch, i went to sweet tomatoes w/ my ol' roomate n' good friend vince.   it's great that vince n' i meet up 4 lunch every so often now that he werks in the sobay.   the weather was really nice n' we ate out on the covered patio.   we beat the lunch crowd, n' it got really crowded as we ate.   what nice weather!   i still worry that it'll be cold @ the shoreline amphitheatre 2nite, so i'm aktually wearing a thermal undershirt under my black (kenny cole, embroidered) dress shirt n' gray/grey t.shirt.   i'm dressing in kind'f dark colours to be a depeche mode fan, u know?

[later, 2006.04.28] i should mention that i did back in the 1990s buy the imported single'f the "walking in my shoes" cover by some continental european group called diesel christ.

그요일 아침: "friday i'm in love," a famous song by the cure...   last nite was the depeche mode concert @ the shoreline amphitheatre, the 1st show'f the 3rd (n' final?) leg'f their current touring the angel 2005/2006 tour.   'twas a really exciting nite.   i don't go to rock concerts as often as i used to, back in my early days'f college.   i hurried home from werk.   b4 i left, i tried to call the beautiful kaela hwang, but she didn't answer.   when i got home, she wasn't home, so i tried to go to the bank.   @ 1'f my banks, my atm card was rejekted.   it's been like that 4 a while, i 4got, but i dunno why.   b4, i just assumed it was a temporary thing, but i'll need to look further into this.   then i went to 'nother bank n' withdrew $40 in ¢a$h in case i wanted to buy a (ripoff) concert souvenir (or 2) or refreshments.   then i headed back home, hopefully to meet kaela.   however, just b4 i got home, she called me back n' told me to fetch us some dinner cos she was still on her way home.   i headed out to el pollo loco to use a gift checks ¢oupon to buy 1 big burrito n' get 1 free.   'twas a really good deal!   i bought 1 ultimate grilled burrito ($4.49) n' got 1 twice grilled burrito ($4.99) 4 free.   the ¢a$hier didn't take my ¢oupon 'way, so i can use it 'gain.   what a great deal!   well, i brought the fud home, n' kaela had just gotten home.   we let sooni in from the back yard ("backyard"?) n' ditched her in the house, as we drove off in a rush to mtn view (mountain view).   on the drive, we ate the twice grilled burrito, (messy).   traffik up (the) 101n wasn't 2 bad, n' i was happy to use the carpool lane.

as we approached the shoreline amphitheatre, after passing all sorts'f corporate offices, i was reminded'f the amphitheatre's beautifully natural setting.   wow! it smelled so nice!   it took a while to get parking in the grassy, dusty lot.   each'f our assigned seating tix s'pposedly included a $4 parking fee, but i think ne1 could park in the lot 4 free, so i guess our $4 fee was more like a donation to some kind'f "gen'l parking fund," sumpthin' like a tax, u know?   that's such an aeroline thing to do, but i guess i'm glad we had parking n' realise i would've been grumbling if there'd been an attendant demanding $4 in ¢a$h.   'twas pretty exciting, walking thru the beautiful parking field to the amphitheatre.

kaela n' i noticed that depeche mode fans certainly r a special breed.   most ppl were our age or older, looked very professional, looked very college.edukated, looked alternative but classy.   that ain't ur typical rock band fan description, eh?   however, there was always sumpthin' a li'l uppercrustily highbrow 'bout depeche mode's eurochicness!

[later] 오후: well, kaela n' i got to the concert in time.   we got to enjoy the festivity'f the amphitheatre.   it's like disneyland 4 rockin' adults.   they have all sorts'f only mildly overpri¢ed fud n' beverages (after spending the season on the slopes, i realise that fud can be more overpri¢ed, altho' it shouldn't), souvenir stands, promotion booths, n' (quasi telegraph ave) jewelry stands.   i was interested in buying a depeche mode messenger bag ($40), but they were sold out.   instead, i bought kaela a nice, fitted ringer tee (black w/ white ringer n' white "mr. feathers" logo) n' a army green tour (more masculine) t.shirt 4 myself.   yah, of course, they were both overpri¢ed, but they're fun, n' i enjoyed feeling like a kid 'gain.   i haven't really cn ne'f these things 4 ¢heaper on ebay.   after briefly checking out the 1st opening act group "she wants revenge," we walked out'f the seating area back to the festivities area.   i bought us a kona brewing co. longboard lager n' saw our friend allen tang w/ his gf.   we went back in to watch the 2nd opening act "scissor sisters," a total 1980s style band.   wow, it was like being in a time warp, as their sound n' look were so authentically 1980s!   wow.   they were just ok, tho'... i enjoyed the flashback but wouldn't say they're all that great.   they sounded like a band i'd hear in the background @ a bar in tahoe.   i don't mean that as 2 much'f a putdown.   they were ok, just not great.

well, kaela n' i took a few bathrm breaks b4 depeche mode came on stage.   wow, what an awesome show.   i'd read in pro sound n' lighting industry zines (magazines) that the show'd be visually stunning, and wow... it was!   the special effekts (or whate'er u call'em) were so much better than well... i think... ne other concert i've been to!   it was like the cirque du soleil of elektronic lighting equipment!

[later] the setlist?   u can find that on "home" - depeche-mode.com:

2006.04.27 depeche mode touring the angel, shoreline amphitheatre, mountain view, ca, usa setlist:
main set:
00 intro
01 "a pain that i'm used to"
02 "a question of time"
03 "suffer well"
04 "precious"
05 "walking in my shoes"
06 "stripped"
07 "home"
08 "in your room"
09 "nothing's impossible"
10 "i feel you"
11 "behind the wheel"
12 "world in my eyes"
13 "personal jesus"
14 "enjoy the silence"
encore:
15 "shake the disease" (piano, "acoustic")
16 "photographic"
17 "never let me down again"

i knew the lyrics to most'f the songs, n' it's more fun that way.   i expekted a 2nd encore from the dokumentation'f their recent shows, but we only got 1.   maybe that's due to the 2 opening acts (instead'f 1, i think).   well, 'twas a big mass exodus from the amphitheatre to the parking lot, but the exit from the parking lot was honestly less painful than i expekted.   apparently, the amphitheatre management is smart 'nuff to know how to layout some good exit routes to disperse the crowd.   that's kewl.

2day, i had a harder time waking up than i expekted.   i walked sooni.   i went to werk.   i wanted to go to the turbo kick box (tkb) class @ lunch @ the nearby 24 hr fitness, but my cowerker asked me to have lunch w/ him, so i totally accepted cos it's nice to have friends @ werk.   he n' i talk 'bout martial arts n' have a bit in common since we're both alumni'f both berkeley n' sjsu.

월요일 아침: monday monday...   this wknd, i attended 2 potlucks.   4 both, i cooked.   happy 1st'f may, eh?   can u believe it's may already?!   b4 u know it, it'll be summer.   days r long now, but they'll get shorter after june 21.   we need to enjoy the sunlite while we can.   i don't like to be in the sun cos'f the damage the sun does to 1's skin, but i want to be outside when the sun's up.   2day, i woke up early, took out the trash, went to the arques 24 hr fitness to take a turbo kick box (tkb) class, came home n' jogged w/ sooni, n' then went to werk.   the turbo kick box class was very small, which is understandable cos it was @ 600a!   most'f the ppl were the "trying to get into shape" type.   i felt a li'l odd being there, doing everything in full intensity, etc.   the instruktor was in great shape; but she sed she got winded from talking while doing the exercises, n' i felt like maybe she was trying harder than usual cos i was there n' trying hard.

fri evening, the beautiful kaela hwang n' i went to dinner @ 비원 biwon w/ the core leaders'f our grx t3s couples bible study small group.   kaela n' i ordered 깡풍새우 kkangpoong saewoo n' 삼선 짜장면 samsuhn jjajangmyuhn.   the fud was ok, but i feel like i've had better... even there.   after dinner n' our short mtg, our grp walked over to café aroma, which changed owners n' name (to sumpthin' else).   kaela n' i shared a 과일 빙수 gwail bingsoo w/ blueberry frozen yogurt.   after that, kaela n' i went to the sunnyvale, el camino real safeway to buy some ingredients 4 the salad i was planning to make 4 saturday's (the next day's) baby shower potluck.   i made asparagus beet salad w/ chevre (goat's milk) cheese n' citrus vinaigrette.   it turned out quite well.

on sat morn, i skateboarded w/ sooni, which's pretty much always fun.   we rode over to the caltrans station n' 'round that area n' back.   skateboarding rocks, n' ne1 who thinks a 30 yr.old man doesn't belong on a skateboard can go suck rocks, man.   ...n' that's a fakt.   then i came home n' later went to the e. fremont ave 24 hr fitness, where i lifted weights n' did stairmaster.   i saw pastor steve there n' talked to him a li'l.   i was honestly a li'l disappointed w/ the e. fremont ave 24 hr fitness cos i thought it'd be worlds better than the e. arques 1 cos the fremont 1's a "sport" while the arques 1's an "active."   however... i didn't find it ne better.   [later, 오후] i benchpressed n' did other free weight lifts as well as a few machine lifts and did stairmaster.   oh, i sort'f sed this already.   neway... after stretching, after showering, after i completed this whole swift werkout, i rushed home to make my salad.   it turned out really well, which made me happy.   the potluck baby shower was awesome.   dude, i ate sooo much.   i hung out 4 a while then drove home in the heat.

1nce i got home, i had my options: i fancied taking sooni 4 'nother walk n' then a bath @ pet fud express.   however, i 1st went out to costco to buy 1) 3 pairs'f amc gold movie vounchers, 2) a flat'f kirkland unenvironmental bottled h₂o, 3) naturemade triple flex glucosamine, 4) freshies teeth cleaning chews 4 sooni, 5) frozen chicken thighs to make into marinated 매운 닭구이 maeoon dalkgui 4 ken's potluck.   i drove home in the heat.   i marinated chicken, washed the bbq grill outside, n' started washing dishes.   then kaela called n' sed she was coming home.   she sed she would go w/ me to wash sooni n' complained 'bout her broken laptop.   i washed dishes, while she drove home.   then she got home n' went straight to sleep.   i never took sooni 4 her bath cos i didn't want kaela to say i ditched her.   in the end, the sun went down, n' i hadn't accomplished 2 much more -- other than hangin' out online @ bronx's junkyard forums, watching this silly, amateur but decently funny asian.am film on youtube called this ain't straight, n' reading a few psychology today articles especially 1 'bout self.perception'f beauty.   i was a bit sleepy from waking up so early to skateboard @ a time w/ less ppl n' sun out.   the prob w/ skateboarding w/ sooni's that it's just cruising n' i don't get to try out stuff like ollieing etc.   however, so far, it's still fun just to cruise.   i love rolling down a gently sloped, smooth street w/o cars.   maybe 'round 900p, i woke kaela up 4 her dinner: leftover asparagus beet salad w/ chevre cheese n' citrus vinaigrette n' some amy's organic spinach pizza w/ a couple'f bottles'f sierra nevada unfiltered wheat bier.   the rest'f the nite was relatively uneventful as we were both pretty tired from waking up decently early.   u c, kaela was @ a seminar that started in the morn.

on sun, i woke up early 'gain to skateboard w/ sooni.   yah, i'm glad i got to skate w/ her 2 days in a row, this wknd.   i do believe i'm eliminating her fear'f skateboards, which sooo many doggies have.   have u never cn césar milan on the national geographic channel w/ his dog whisperer show?   many doggies on that show get scared'f skateboards n' then try to bite ppl (often kids) on skateboards.   dude, i do not want sooni to do that, so i'm doing this 4 the greater good.   w/ the soaring, ridi¢ulou$ pri¢e of ga$, we all should be skateboarding.   neway, i skated w/ sooni n' then came home.   i was happy that kaela woke up ok.   we went to church, which was @ the santa clara hyatt instead'f the santa clara marriott.   both kaela n' i r familiar w/ that hotel, which is attached to the santa clara convention center.   however, the route from the parking strukture to the makeshift sanktuary still felt like a maze to us, as we wandered thru hallways past kidzone (daycare / sunday skool) rooms.   we missed the opening worship set but arrived as pastor steve was making announcements.   the guest speaker was darryl brumfield from new song covenant church, our sister church down in socal.   he's a very dynamik speaker.   @ 1st, i was worried that he was talking 2 fast 4 some ppl not as familiar w/ our faith; but in the end, i found it to be a really great sermon, totally suitable 4 every1 in the audience.   i wanted to hang out n' chat w/ friends longer, but we had to hurry to ken n' grace's potluck.

we stopped by home to pick up the coleman "roadtrip," portable bbq grill n' the marinated chicken.   then we hurried off to ken n' grace's new house / townhome but stopped by the santa clara publik library 1st 4 kaela to return a couple'f cute, korean kids' books that she had checked out a while 'go.   w/in 10 mins'f our arrival @ the potluck, i had the grill fired up n' meat cooked.   crazy!   ken n' several'f the other guys were thoroughly impressed w/ the equipment.   in a way, i myself was a bit surprised... pleasantly surprised.   i cooked my 매운 닭구이 maeoon dalkgui, some hot dogs, n' some thick hamburgers.   wow, it all turned out great.   we also ate egg rolls; some deep fried, dimsum style shrimp balls; some kewl, asian chicken salad; some potato salad; some kewl asian tapioca dessert... mmm, 'twas all pretty good, n' i ate 2 much.   i had a couple'f cervezas, but i dunno why they weren't cold.   . . . [interrupted]

[later] 밤: yah, so kaela stepped 'way from the potluck 4 a while to make cards @ our friends susan n' gregory's house.   later, she came back.   we chatted w/ grace n' ken n' 'nother couple frank n' connie.   eventually, we left.   i drove us to 갤러리아 마켓 galleria market.   i let kaela study n' eat dinner in the deli area while i shopped.   she ordered some 볶음밥 bokkeumbap (fried rice).   after paying 4 the gro¢eries rt b4 the store closed, i joined kaela n' bought a 부부빙수 booboobingsoo (couple's shaved ice) 4 the 2'f us.   dude, it rocked.   then we went home.   then kaela cut my hair.

this morn, i woke up early, took out the trash, went to that turbo kick box (tkb) class, jogged w/ sooni, got dressed, n' went to werk.   during my lunchbrk, i came home n' cooked 녹차 라면 nokcha ramyuhn, but barely had time to eat ne'f it! :-( lunchbrks r 2 short!   after werk, i went to my 2nd turbo kick box (tkb) class'f the day.   then i lifted a li'l bit'f weights.   i showered n' came home to eat more'f that 녹차 라면 nokcha ramyuhn that i cooked earlier.   i wanted to do more 2nite like clean up the house, etc.; but i'm so tired.   i'm signed up to cook @ our office's cinco de mayo potluc this fri.   i'm considering telling them i'll just cough up the $10 4 lunch instead.   u c, i had the choice'f paying $10 or cooking, so i sed i'd cook; but *shrug* i dunno.

수요일 저녁 (아직도 직장에서): yesterday, i didn't go to the gym.   during lunch, i went to trader joe's, dropped gro¢eries off @ home, n' then returned to werk.   i ate a trader joe's roast beef n' cheddar on ciabatta sandwich n' drank a trader joe's protein shake on my drive home to drop off the gro¢eries.   [on a totally unrelated note, i just learned that a calabaza is a type'f pumpkinish squash.]   i bought some bagged, baby spinacci; some sprouted wheat bread; some organik, crunchy peanut butter; some protein crunch cereal, a couple'f promax protein bars, some anti.oxidant trek mix...   after werk, i rushed home just to pick up sooni to bring her to taekwondo praktice.   after praktice, a handful'f us ate dinner @ 옛날 짜장 yeitnal jjajang (santa clara), where the darnedest thing happened: when we arrived @ 옛날 짜장 yeitnal jjajang, the only other customers/patrons was a table full'f older, korean 아저씨 ajuhssi.   our party sat down, n' i enjoyed my 닭고기 볶음밥.   the nice waiter gave us some free (서비스) 군반두 goonmandoo.   2ward the end'f our meal, the 어저씨들 ajuhssideul left.   then 1'f them sticks his head in n' yells over to us, "순이 맞요?" ("sooni matjyo?" isn't this sooni?")   i responsed, "네" or "DP" of course, but the whole table was shocked n' silenced...   whuh?! then ben (i think) sed, "wow, you're dog's a celebrity!"   yah... how did this 아저씨 ajuhssi know sooni?! [later] 밤 1101p: well, in aktuality, the 아저씨 ajuhssi might've read her tag or heard me call her sooni, but i dunno... he sounded more like he just plain knew her name already.   yah, she spends 'lot'f time hangin' out outside'f korean biznesses along el camino real.   often, an 아저씨 ajuhssi or 아줌마 ajoomm asks 4 her name.   then that 아저씨 ajuhssi or 아줌마 ajoomma hangs out w/ sooni n' talks to all sorts'f passersby or bystanders, n' well... yah, it's very possible that many ppl more than i realise know sooni by name.

well, this morn, i woke up later than i wanted to, mostly cos i stayed up late last nite werking on the u.s. taekwondo akademy.   i werke don laundry n' dishes n' walked sooni n' ate some brkfast.   i didn't get into the office really early or nething.   during my lunchbrk, i went to the nearby 24 hr fitness to take a 24cycle (spin) class.   it's decently fun.   i worry that i can't commit this kind'f time each wk 4ever, but i'd like to keep this up 4 as long as possible.   as i sed b4, i'm liking these 24 hr fitness classes cos it helps keep me motivated to exercise.   i've become a big believer in group exercise all'f the sudden.   i showered n' returned to werk, where i ate a sandwich that i brought 4 lunch.   i werked really hard 2day, but a somewhat uncom4table discussion w/ someone @ werk @ the end'f the day really "ruined" my day.   i left pretty frustrated n' headed back to the nearby 24 hr fitness to lift n' take the wed evening turbo kick box class.   dude, i've been going to lots'f turbo kick box classes!   i wanted to cook 떡볶이 dduhkbokki 2nite, but i was 2 hungry n' tired so just ate some random vegetarian odds n' ends from the freezer.   dude, my legs feel like i need some potassium.

*sigh* these days, i'm werking several jobs, it cms: 1) engineer, 2) homemaker, 3) taekwondo instruktor, 4) bible study leader, 5) professional dj...   it can be a li'l daunting... but well... think 'bout it this way: snowboarding season's winding down, so i have a li'l more time, rt?   also, our bible study'll be on vakation thru the summer, n' that's when i'll be teaching taekwondo.   beno: engineer, dj, taekwondoist, snowboarder, homeowner, dogowner, husband, bible study leader, christian, skateboarder, online journaller/blogger...   i hope i'm not spreading myself 2 thin.   i don't thinK i am.   i think i have things in control.

[a li'l later] so as'f this wk or last wk or whenever, it looks like we'll be voting 4 phil angelides 4 cali4nia governor, eh?   i guess so.

[later] in a way, i still really badly wanna get a bike cos'f the ridiculously hi pri¢e'f gas these days; but, on the other hand, i don't want a bike cos i want my skateboard to be my transportation alternative.

목요일 아침: rt now, u can get free $hipping on ur yesasia order'f $25 or more.   that's a great deal.   do it to it.   last nite, i tried to go to sleep earlier but still saw the end'f leno i think.   was it last nite that jewel was on?   jewel rocks.   was it last nite or the nite b4? *shrug* it's all a blur.   neway, last nite, i fell asleep b4 the beautiful kaela hwang came home.   i think that's 'least 2 nites in a row.   this morn, 'round 530a, i awoke to kaela's taking a shower.   when she got out, i asked her if she was just getting in or getting ready to go out.   she answered, "both."   well, aktually, she took a 2 hr nap or so b4 leaving.   i woke up this morn @ an ok time, but it still took me 4ever to get out the door to werk cos i had to do housewerk such as bringing in the laundry n' had to walk sooni, etc.   i wish i could get into werk earlier.   then 'gain, even if i get in earlier, i can't necessarily leave early.   it's a vicious industry.

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how r u doing?   jerin yu, thanks 4 signing my gbook.   yup, the only page i really update here (un4tunately) is this page.   [later] others, plz sign the gbook, altho' i really need to change out the questions.

movies to watch? american dreamz, mission: impossible iii (even tho' i guess some ppl say they're boycotting it cos'f tom cruise?), united 93...   i feel like i haven't watched a really good movie in a long time.   if we had dish netwerk rt now, i'd watch more movies.   oh, our taekwondo friend dennis sed lucky number s7evin is good, but i don't know much 'bout it other than that lucy liu's in it.

so yah, i've been doing lots'f turbo kick box (tkb) @ the gym.   it's fun.   some funny movies that cm absolutely useless relative to real martial arts r the "jenga" n' the "wheel."   it's all fun to do tho'.   it's really like dancing combined w/ martial arts.

[later] 오후: during my lunchbrk, i walked to the nearby sports basement to post our taekwondo class flyer up on their bulletin board.   i also browsed thru their selektion'f gym shirts n' skateboarding helmets.   then i walked back, bought a yogurt fruit parfait from the werk.com cafeteria, n' ate it.   this morn, i brought a turkey sandwich n' put it in the breakrm fridge.   even tho' we've already posted our class ad on cyberspace, there's sumpthin' special 'bout posting up the 1st print ad.

금요일 아침: when the beautiful kaela hwang n' i 1st started going out, she told me to buy ups stock.   that was 1'f the best stock pur¢ha$e$ i ever made... in fakt, prob'ly the best.   i only wish i had bought more.   *sigh* i should've poured my life $avings into ups stock @ the time.

last nite, after werk, i swung by home, unsuccessfully tried to wake up kaela, picked up sooni, n' went to taekwondo sparring praktice.   it was fun, even tho' i got decently clobbered.   i wish i could be a better sparrer.   i used to be.   i'm pretty excited 'bout taekwondo these days.   i'm excited 'bout the adult beginners class that mark n' i'll be teaching this summer.   u know, i need to make a new mix cd or a couple'f'em or several'f'em... 4 use in our classes.   dude, i need to do that soon.   dude, i need to get my 'puter setup 'gain to record mixes!

neway, last nite, after praktice, we ate all.u.can.eat 차돌백이 chadolbaegi @ 청기와 chunggiwa.   the lady (아줌마 아니면 누나??? ajoomma or else noona? cos she must not be that much older than me) was really escited to c sooni, n' she started talking to me in korea, saying that sooni's gotten fatter... i felt bad that i didn't understand her.   u c, i feel really bad n' maybe discouraged or sumpthin' when i can't communicate well in korean.   i answered in korean after she asked 'gain in english.   i try not to give up, as u c.   [later, 오후] after stuffing ourselves totally silly, we hung out @ the restaurant n' chatted.   we stayed till the restaurant closed n' then moved the conversation outside.   when we finally left, ~1115p, kaela n' i had to swing by mark n' grace's to pick up some things that she left in their car cos they picked her up from home, while i was getting dressed after praktice.

2day was our office's cinco de mayo party.   i had a decent 'mount'f fatt'ning mexicano fud.   during a game'f lotteria, i won a $25 bed bath & beyond gift card!   woohoo!   i picked my lotteria card cos it had a pic'f a canteloupe melon on it, n' that was the square that won me the $25.   awesome.   i was aktually the 2nd winner n' got the 2nd pick'f prizes.   the 1st winner picked the $25 best buy gift card.   aktually, if i had won 1st, i'd still've picked the bed bath & beyond gift card.   i'm such a frickin' homemaker.   later, i bit into a cold quesadilla, n' a whole bunch'f liquid fat squirted out into my mouth.   eeeeewwww!

oh yah, this morn, i woke up early w/ a slight stomach ache from all the 차돌백이 chadolbaegi that i ate last nite.   i ended up going to the arques 24 hr fitness, lifting a li'l, n' then taking the 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class.   wow, this was the least intensive turbo kick box class i've been to yet.   it was, of course, still fun.   i really like waking up early 4 these classes cos it reminds me'f the 1 wk i spent @ 용인 대학교 yong.in daehakkyo... 'cept the martial arts training there was much more intense, of course.   it's only similar cos there n' in this case, i had to wake up early to exercise.   i like it.

i wonder why my sparring's so bad these days.   i know my footwerk needs werk.   what else?   i feel slow, but i think there's more to it than that.

토요일 오후, 103p: i'm waiting @ the santa clara convention center 4 the beautiful kaela hwang to get a lunchbrk from her chiropraktic/chiropractik seminar.   earlier, i was s'pposed to judge/ref @ this cheesy, cheesy "tiger claw ultimate internationals" martial arts tournament.   it was quite everything that martial arts in amerika doesn't need to be, here in the bay area, california, along the pacific rim.   it was such a karate kid, "trekkie convention"^* bastaradisation'f asian martial arts.   apparently, the taekwondo or "korean style" events ended long b4 ben n' i arrived to officiate.   the guys who did show up on time, only judged 2 품새 poomsae.   wow, 4 1nce, i'm just killing time, doing like absolutely nuthin' on a saturday.   dude, when i teach our summer taekwondo class, i'm gonna make sure it's classy.   i must sound like a martial arts snob.

[later] 저녁, 542p: now, i'm "just chillin'" in my own backyard, on the patio, on a lawn chair, enjoying this hip but overrated concept'f "outdoor living," taking a brief respite from yardwerk.   i mowed the front lawn (after retrieving my loaned out elektic mower from our next door neighbours) and pulled weeds.   immediately prior to these gardening aktivies, i was werkihg out @ the arques 24 hr fitness, lifting weights.   kaela had her lunchbrk @ ~120p, n' we ate @ the mercado's tomatina (some gargonzola n' spinacci pizza 4 me [$8.95] n' chicken/artichoke fettucine 4 kaela [$9.25] n' a bottomless, raspberry ice tea [$2.25?]), got a tall decaf coffee from $tarbu¢k$ 4 kaela, n' bought an $8 4.pak'f olive body soap from tj maxx home goods.   after i dropped kaela back off @ her chiropraktic seminar, i bought expen$ive gas @ ¢o$t¢o; which, to my dismay, required an eternity'f waiting (in human terms).

^* no offense, trekkies; but u know what i mean...

화요일 아침: i haven't updated in a while.   i have some entries stored on my 'puter, that i haven't yet uploaded.   i guess i have much updating to do.   i s'ppose i'll start w/ 금요일 (fri), 2006년05월05월, cinco de mayo.

• 금, 05월05일
• cinco de mayo office party: it was called a "potluck," but pretty much all the fud was just catered.   ppl don't cook 'round here, i guess.   it's hard to get engineers to cook, eh?   i ate some cheese intensive fuds.   i played lotteria (like bingo) n' won a $25 bed, bath, & beyond gift card.   that was awesome.
• i came home from werk @ a somewhat reasanoble hour.   i met up w/ the beautiful kaela hwang @ 갤러리아 마켓 galleria market 4 dinner.   i ate 육게장 yookgyeijang, n' kaela had 갈비탕 galbitang.   it was a pleasant quick bite.   i bought a large bag'f 호도 과자 hodo gwaja ("walnut cookies") to bring to the grx t3 south couples small group bible study mtg.
• i went to the couples bible study mtg by myself, w/o kaela.   we continued our study'f the gospel'f mark.   i let our friends there know 'bout the adult beginner taekwondo class that mark n' i r teaching.   i hung 'round a li'l after the study.
• 토, 05월06일
• i woke up much later than i wanted to.   i guess i was a bit exhausted from the werkwk n' the decent 'mount'f exercise i got last wk.
• kaela had her "ak" (applied kinesiology) seminar @ the techmart bldg, n' i was s'pposed to go ref @ some cheesy, cheesy tiger claw "ultimate internationals" martial arts tournament next door @ the santa clara convention center.   kaela woke up late.   i dropped her off @ her seminar n' then drove over to west san josé to pick up our friend ben n' drive him over to the tournament.   on the way, we stopped @ the korean subway off'f lawrence expwy, where our friend julie used to werk.   ben had to buy some sandwiches 4 our friends, who were already @ the tournament n' hungry.   he bought each'f them a 12" coldcult combo.   these days, i usually just eat 6" sandwiches w/ chips.
• perhaps u read in my earlier, 05월06일 entry "abomination" 'bout how cheesy this tournament was.   i think the least tastelss portion was the wushu part.   the karate kumite part was pretty tasteless.   students from kaela's skool palmer west chiropraktic college were there to provide care to competitors, but i wish they had skipped this event n' instead gone to the uc open last month.   that's a much better run n' classier tournament.   well, there wasn't ne werk 4 me to do @ this tournament, so i just enjoyed the free coffee n' my free but oversized polo shirt.
• after a while, i went to lunch @ tomatina w/ kaela.   i ate some kind'f gargonzola n' spinacci pizza, while she had this chicken n' artichoke fettuccine.
• after i dropped kaela back off, i went to get gas @ ¢o$t¢o, which took 4ever.
• after that, i went to lift weights @ the arques 24 hr fitness.   it was pretty empty on a sat afternoon, but the weight area had some serious meat heads.
• i went home, mowed both the front n' back yard lawns n' pulled weeds.   then i prepared ingredients 4 making 떡볶이 dduhkbokki.
• kaela finished her seminar, so i picked her up, n' we went to watch m:i:iii (mission: impossible iii) @ amc mercado 20.   we each had a large jamba juice during the movie n' had a free small popcorn.   the movie was pretty good.   so, it features maggie q, who is apparently daniel henney's gf.   in case u rn't a teenage gurl w/ a passion 4 boy toy heart throbs, lemme explain to u that daniel henney is a korean hapa aktor that all the gurls r all gah gah 4.   maggie q's also a hapa, but i guess she's like 0.5 chinese or sumpthin'.   she's really elegant n' pretty.   i guess she's more'f a model than an aktress.   apparently, maggie q : gen y cops :: jaymee ong : gen x cops   kaela n' i were both glad to c such an asian aktress play a role w/o the typical exotic accent.   i recommend the movie.   i give it my thumb up.   we watched the 745p showing.
• afterwards, we just went home, rt?
• 일, 05월07일
• i woke up early n' skated (skateboarded) w/ sooni.   i hope she's gettin' 'nuff exercise cos ppl've commented that she's getting fat. :-(   as i've sed b4, it's fun to cruise on my board w/ sooni. *sigh* i wish i could take her on the slopes, snowboarding, w/ me; so i guess this is the next best thing, eh?
• kaela had a 2nd day to her chiropraktic seminar.   it was 'gain in the techmart bldg rt next to the santa clara convention center.   grx had its sunday services @ the santa clara convention center, thus kaela n' i spent 2 day sin a row in the techmart bldg n' the santa clara convention center respectively.   kaela woke up late but wanted to carpool, so i waited 4 her.   i dropped her off but was pretty late 4 1st service (915a).   instead, i decided to go to 2nd service (1116a).   i killed time, talking to friends.   then i helped friends out w/ kidzone.   the kids @ our church r sooo cute.   they're all so cute.   why is that?   like, honestly, kids i c outside'f church rn't always so cute.
• pastor dave gave the sermon, starting a new series called "in the beginning" w/ the 1st sermon'f the series being on creation.   'twas an awesome sermon.
• after the service, i hung out n' chatted w/ friends.   i talked 4 a while w/ dennis.   kaela n' i 1st met dennis thru mark.   he also went to cal when we were there n' was mark's hi skool classmate.   a couple'f yrs 'go dennis n' mark bought a house thru kaela.   dennis used to be really aktive in wushu @ berkeley.
• kaela's seminar got out early cos the instruktor sed he was gonna buy a round'f drinks 4 his students @ the hotel bar.   the hyatt hotel's attached to the santa clara convention center, so kaela instead just joined up w/ me @ that pt.   she had plans to meet w/ our church's gem ministry, which supports disabled (differently abled) children.   they were s'pposed to meet @ the rivermark red robin burger joint.
• kaela n' i went there, n' we were the 1st'f the grp.   i saw some gurls i recognised from church n' asked 1 if shew as there 4 "gem."   she looked almost offended n' didn't know what gem is.   later, i realised that that group'f gurls was from our college ministry n' that i recognised them cos they were duk's friends.   the gurl i talked to just had that "don't assume u know me just cos we're both asian" look on her face, but oh well... i'll excuse that.
• i ate red robin's monster burger.   it was a really good, meaty burger.   however, i ordered it "well done," since kaela insists that i do that w/ all burgers; n' i think it was a li'l burnt.   kaela ordered this cripsy chicken strips salad, n' it was also really tasty.   i enjoyed the steak fries that came w/ my burger.   so, we met jiyoung, thersa, n' jackie.   i was so amazed w/ their passion 4 helping ppl/children 4 jesus.   dude, it's so awsome.   when i meet ppl like this in our church, i just think how honoured n' almost proud i am to be associated w/ such ppl... i dunno if that's how i should feel, but it is.   i told these nice ladies to join our adult beginner taekwondo class.   i hope they do.   we've definitely stirred up good interest in our class @ our church!
• after this, kaela n' i headed out to the milpitas 99 ranch mall to meet up w/ a couple 4 whom i'll prob'ly dj a wedding 4 in september.   the dj bizness'll keep me quite bizzy this yr!
• [later] after that, kaela n' i went to the orchard supply on el camino real @ lawrence bought a $649.99 patio set 4 $599.99.   w/ tax, it was back to normal pri¢e... minus 50¢.   it's a nice patio set, altho' obviously overpri¢ed.   i guess i could live w/o it, but kaela cmed to want it so badly, so i bought it 4 us.   nuts.   it is brown coloured aluminum w/ marble table top n' copper firepit.
• well, i had to lug the unassembled kit home, making 2 trips to pick up 2 big boxes.   while kaela took off to study w/ her friend, i stayed @ home n' assembled patio furniture 4 the next 3 hrs!
• then, i went inside n' cooked dinner: 떡볶이 dduhkbokki.   it's tuff doing all the manual labour as well as all the housekeeping, but oh well...   i also had to clean up all the packaging n' take out the trash.
• 월 (어제), 05월08일
• i woke up early n' attended the 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the arques 24 hr fitness.   it was a small class.
• i showered, went home, n' walked sooni.   i packed myself some leftover 떡볶이 dduhkbokki 4 lunch.
• [later] @ lunch, kaela called me up n' sed she could have lunch w/ me, so we tried out a new korean restaurant called 토방 tobang @ benton n' kiely. [later] kaela ordered 해물 돌솥 비빔밥 haemool dolsot bibimbap, n' i ordered the 돼지 불고기 (dwaeji bulgogi) bento.   the fud n' service were great, prob'ly better than normal cos it's a new restaurant.
• [later] i left werk @ a reasonable time in order to take kaela to ¢o$t¢o to buy fud 4 some chiropraktic skool trip to sacrmento 2day.   i guess this is some legislative thing.   neway, yah... i took her there, n' her classmate friend phil helped pick up fud.
• then, kaela n' i went to the 730p 24 hr fitness arques turbo kick box (tkb) class.   the mon, 730p class is the most intense out'f all'f'em.
• then, kaela n' i went to albertsons to buy some more gro¢eries to cook some 순두부 soondubu.   somehow, we 4got to buy more eggs, which we need.
• we went home.   kaela cooked 순두부 soondubu, while i washed dishes n' laundry.
• 화 (오늘), 05월09일
• this morn, i took sooni 4 her walk.   i hope she's getting 'nuff exercise.
• during lunch, i microwaved my leftover 떡볶이 dduhkbokki n' ate outside in the atrium.   a cowerker from the ol' college program joined me.
• 2nite, i plan to go to taekwondo praktice.

[later] this wknd, kaela n' i'll be in napa 4 my hi skool n' college friend jin's wedding.   it's 2 bad that it's mutha's day wknd.   i missed mutha's day last yr cos i was in taiwan 4 my grandfather's funeral.   oh yah, i'm being sent to denver, colorado 4 a company conference the wk b4 memorial wknd.   crazy, huh?S

수요일 밤, 1154p: this'll be a 5 min entry.   2day, i werked freakin'/frickin' hard.   4 lunch, i had this roat beef n' eggplant/zucchini/pepper panini @ the werk.com cafeteria.   after my long werkday, i rushed, rushed, rushed over to the arques 24 hr fitness to take "will"'s turbo kick box (tkb) class.   mark's grace was there (finally).   i didn't have as much energy 2day but pushed myself hard.   i showered, hurried home to give some guy a big cardboard box from the patio furniture... craigslist... free stuff... then the beautiful kaela hwang came home n' suggested that we take sooni n' go to an outdoor restaurant 4 dinner.   it was almost 1000p by then, but we managed to go to sino in santana row n' have an excellent dinner!!!   mongolian bbq lamb in shao bing (sesame bread), spicy red dragon prawns, crispy kumquat chicken, brown rice, bier (widmer hef 4 kaela, kirin 4 me).   wow, what an awesome dinner!   'twas surprisingly hard tho' to find a restaurant open after 1000p, altho' bars were all bustling so hard!   we noticed the whole "man josé" phenomenon as most'f the ppl out n' 'bout were guys...   so yah, the silly valley sure is seriously lacking in women!   wow!   it's totally, 100% true. *sigh* gotta start importing them socal gurls, man.

월요일 아침: i feel like it's been ages since i've updated cos plenty'f mildly interesting (depending on who u r) stuff has happened, i think.   i dunno.   i guess i've done lots'f "living the good life" kind'f stuff.   i feel guilty that i've lived it up so much lately.   however, i s'ppose if i'm gonna live such an extravagant (extravagance is relative) life, then i might as well dokument it all here.   it makes the guilt more worth it.   does that make sense?   :-? guilt's a bad thing.   aktually, as a christian, i shouldn't feel guilty when i live the good life like this.   rather, i should feel blessed.   i should really, deeply feel blessed n' then share the love.   i mean, share god's love.   it's all fine n' dandy to say "share the love," "share the love."   "share the love" can be an aeroline ad campaign slogan.   however, what i really need to do is share god's love.

[later] ok, well, shall i just proceed w/ the update?

• 수 (wed), 05월10일
• werked hard @ werk.com.
• went to will's turbo kick box (tkb) class after werk @ arques 24 hr fitness, saw grace (mark's grace) there.
• came home, gave 'way a big box (from the patio furniture that the beautiful kaela hwang "charmed" me into buying) to a lucky recipient from craigslist.
• 'twas a beautifully warm nite, n' kaela wanted me to take her out to dinner, so we grabbed sooni n' took her to santana row (i feel like i've told this story already!) n' dined outside @ sino.   "stop me, oh ho ho, stop me.   stop me if you think that you've heard this one before." - the smiths)
• yummy mongolian lamb in shao bing (sesame bread)
• red dragon shrimp or sumpthin'
• crispy kumquat chicken
• kirin biiru 4 me n' widmer hefeweizen bier 4 kaela.
• santana row was mad crowded n/or heck'a crowded n/or crowded to the max... on a wed nite?   kewl!   it was a warm nite n' ppl were dressed 4 warm weather.   we let sooni run 'round the doggy park by herself 4 a li'l.
• 목 (thurs), 05월11일
• werked hard @ werk.com
• during lunch, went to 24cycle (spin) class @ arques 24 hr fitness.   the instruktor shirin had a weird selektion'f musik that included pink floyd n' a whole bunch'f sound clips from movies.   very confusing...
• after werk, i hurried to taekwondo sparring praktice.   i had a fun, fun werkout n' feel like i've got more endurance from werking out better lately. :-)
• after praktice, i picked up kaela from home, n' the grp ate dinner @ 만두랑 칼국수 mandoorang kalgooksoo, near our house, where the 아줌마 ajoomma n' 어저씨 ajuhssi let sooni come in.   i had 만두 칼국수 mandoo kalgooksoo, an obvious choice.
• 금 (fri), 05월12일
• in the morn, i overslept n' missed janice k's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class, but @ lunch, i went to janice w's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the arques 24 hourr fitness.
• after werk, i tried to get kaela n' me out'f the house asap to head up to napa, but it still took 4ever.
• we drove thru sf (san francisco) on our way up to napa.   s'pposedly it's faster to drive up the east bay / east shore, but i missed the city lites'f sf.   we tried to eat @ that pan.asian noodle house on van ness cos kaela sed she had a stomachache.   however, after we parked outside'f the culinary institue, we took a wrong turn while walking to the restaurant.   it was very cold in sf, altho' 'twas very warm in the silly valley / sobay.   instead of prolonging our walk in the cold, we chose to rush into sushi hana, a korean sushi joint.   we ordered 2 much.   i guess i got ambitious.   we had all these topped, special rolls, which were all just cali rolls w/ stuff on top.   that's aktually pretty easy to make; but the pri¢es weren't bad, so whatever.   we had this baked lobster roll, this spicy scallop roll, n' uh... this other baked roll.   we also had this tofu salad, which was pleasantly huge.   we were eating decently late, i guess.
• kaela n' i realised we had 4gotten our shoes 4 the wedding.
• i think we rolled into the napa marriott hotel 'round 1130p.
• 토 (sat), 05월13일
• we woke up later than i'd wanted to.   honestly, i wanted to go hit the hotel gym early in the morn or maybe go swimming.
• we went to the napa outlet mall 4 me to buy a somewhat extraneous pair'f black dress shoes.   i found a decent deal on a pair @ cole haan... made in india n' not china.   i figure this pair's a bit dressier than ne other shoes i have, so it sort'f serves its own purpose.
• ken n' grace met up w/ us @ the outlet mall, n' we ate in the fud ct.   kaela n' i just had some chinese fast fud: green/string beans w/ chicken n' chow mien.
• we returned to our hotel to change.   kaela looked very nice.
• the wedding was decently hot n' in the sun but not as hot as ours n' definitely not as hot as ken n' grace's.
• 'twas very kewl to hang w/ a few ol' friends.   i dunno why; but they really made me feel com4table, as if i were 'mongst ol' friends.... n' i was.  
• they served really good wine.   i really enjoyed the bug juice muscat (moscato d'asti)!   ken wanted to have a bier w/ me, but i couldn't drink nething other than this bug juice, not even the fetzer gewurztraminer.   honestly, it has a very, very low alcohol content (i think), so i wasn't like a drunk alky or nething.
• the wedding didn't really have real dancing (no dj), so the party kind'f ended early.
• 일 (sun), 05월14일 (어머니의 날)
• kaela n' i woke up much later than i would've wanted to.   if it'd been up to me, i/we would've woken up n' hit the gym in the early morn.   kaela woke up 4 a while n' tried to book a massage apptmnt, but the spa was full; so she went back to sleep.
• well, by noon or so, we'd finally packed up n' were headed over to meet ken n' grace @ bayleaf 4 lunch... or as it turned out... mutha's day brunch.   dude, i felt so frickin' hedonistik enjoying such an extravagant brunch w/ my beautiful wife n' great friends w/o our moms!   i felt sooo bad!   every1 else there was w/ their moms or w/ a mom, not us.   'twas a buffet brunch, n' the owner made omelettes himself.   i enjoyed the tuna (sushi/maki) rolls, the hummous... what variety!   'twas like a potluck where all the invitees were great chefs!   our group hung out 4 a while to enjoy the restaurant, but ken's allergies were killing him.
• ken n' grace went home, but kaela n' i headed out to the wineries.   altho' we originally planend on hittin' up 'bout 2, we only went to 1: peju.   we enjoyed the free tasting n' bought 1 bottle'f their provence wine.   that's all.   we tried to visit the winery 4merly known as niebaum coppola, but they charge a whopping $25 to enter.
• i drove us back south.   i took a weird detour: 29 to 12 to 80 to 680 to 780 to 80 to berkeley   i figured i had to show kaela the pleasantness'f the hip, yuppie 4th street area.   i figured we could get some gelato or sumpthin' @ sketch.   well, we got some earl grey tea gelato n' some straus yogurt.   then we went on some crazy $100+ $pending $pree @ the crate n' barrel outlet: bought towels, more towels, napkins, placemats, citronella candles, freezer bier mugs...   then we went into uh... dangit... i 4get the name... some overpri¢ed, ritzy doggy store, where there were filming a commercial.   we bought sooni a bag'f overpri¢ed alaskan bear treats.
.
• well, kaela n' i killed a good hr or so there in berkeley.   then i drove us home.   wow, what a beautiful day!
• when we got home, i unloaded the car then went to the rivermark safeway to buy gro¢eries... 'specially stuff 4 dinner.
• i came home n' bbqed some wild rockfish fillets n' served 'em w/ salsa, hummous, n' whole grain tostitos... outside on our new outdoor dining set.
• then i drove out to duk's place to help duk get a loander cell fon from ken.
• then i came home, did dishes, etc.
• 월 (mon, 오늘), 05월15일
• i overslept n' missed may's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e. arques 24 hr fitness.
• i walked sooni, packed bagel sandwich 4 lunch.
• @ lunch, i lifted weights in the werk.com gym 4 the 1st time in a long time.
• in the afternoon, i had to drive out in the spring heat to visit a supplier.
• 2nite, i plan to attend sach's 730p turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e. arques 24 hr fitness.

[later] 밤 1012p: there's a website www.myheritage.com that's a li'l like faceanalyzer.com.   u upload a pic n' then it tells u which celebrity u look like.   this is what it told me:
#1 김병현 byung-hyun kim (who's that?! *shrug*) 63%
#2 wu yi (some old lady... *shrug*) 60%
#3 edward norton (fight club ne1???) 59%
#4 monica seles 55%
#5 nikola tesla ("tess... tess... tess... tess... tesla girls! tesla girls!   i'm in love tesla girls..." o.m.d., i.e. orchestral maneuvers in the dark, a 1980s eurosynthpop group) 55%
#6 janie tienphosuwan (must be some young thai aktress) 53%
#7 jet li (yah, only when i'm kickin' butt! ha ha ha!) 52%
#8 andy lau (yah, that's what faceanalyzer.com sed, but they have a smaller selektion'f asian celebs.) 52%
#9 박찬욱 park chan-wook (how come his name gets written in english in the right order?) 51%
#10 edward said (who????)51%

ok, kim byung-hyun is a mlb baseball play who currently plays 4 the colorado rockies.   (in a way, that rocks.)   wu yi is some chinese politician or whatever.   janie tienphosuwan is a thai aktress... or 'least a model.   edward said's uhm, a palestinian... uh... i 4get...playwrite? screenwriter?

ok, i ran it 'gain w/ a diff pic.   this time i got a bunch'f gurls... why?!

now, i tried it w/ 1'f kaela's pix.   this is who she got:
#1 vivian leigh 67%
#2 janie tienphosuwan 67%
#3 손예진 son yeijin 64%
#4 sammi cheng 61%
#5 shannen doherty 61%
#6 deborah kerr 60%
#7 greta garbo 60%
#8 김희선 kim heesun 60%
#9 이영애 lee youngae 60%
#10 howard hughes 59%

aktually, she look smost like 김희선 kim heesun.

[later] 1144p: what the heck?! i just saw on upn44 an ad... they're remaking 시월애 shiwuhlae (il mare) as an amerikan movie w/ keanu reeves!   dude, they're always doing that!   taking an asian movie n' putting in amerikan aktors.   i've definitely got mixed feelings 'bout this!   i heard they're making an amerikan version'f 엽기적인 그녀 yuhbgijuhkin geunyuh (my sassy girl).

ok, i ran 'nother'f kaela's pix... i think it's from the same nite.   this is what she got:
#1 최지우 choi jiwoo 71% (wow, that's a pretty nice match, considering choi jiwoo's international stardom!)
#2 julia roberts 70% (oh, ditto what i sed above.)
#3 김희선 kim heesun 70% (ditto)
#4 권보아 boa 63% (ditto)
#5 송혜교 song hyeigyo 63% (ditto)
#6 jada pinkett smith 62% (she's underrated.)
#7 emmy rossum 62% (who?! oh, she's an aktress; 10 yrs younger.)
#8 이영애 lee youngae 62%
#9 maggie cheung 61%
#10 woranuch wongsawn 60% (another thai, rt? *shrug*)

wow, she managed to get all females this time n' a majority'f koreans

myheritage.com

밤 1206a: ok, in yesterday's entry, which i just concluded, i ended all hyped up 'bout myheritage.com.     dude, it's the biggest thing since faceanalyzer.com!   1'f my pix elicited the following responses:
#1 김병현 byung-hyun kim 63%
#2 wu yi 60%
#3 edward norton 59%
#4 monica seles 55%
#5 nikola tesla 55%
#6 janie tienphosuwan 53%
#7 jet li 52%
#8 andy lau 52%
#9 박찬욱 park chan-wook 51%
#10 edward said 51%

then 1'f the beautiful kaela hwang's pix from our most recent v.day dinner @ chez tj got these answers:
#1 vivian leigh 67%
#2 janie tienphosuwan 67%
#3 손예진 son yeijin 64%
#4 sammi cheng 61%
#5 shannen doherty 61%
#6 deborah kerr 60%
#7 greta garbo 60%
#8 김희선 kim heesun 60%
#9 이영애 lee youngae 60%
#10 howard hughes 59%

'nother kaelapic from the same nite got these responses:
#1 최지우 choi jiwoo 71%
#2 julia roberts 70%
#3 김희선 kim heesun 70%
#4 권보아 boa 63%
#5 송혜교 song hyeigyo 63%
#6 jada pinkett smith 62%
#7 emmy rossum 62%
#8 이영애 lee youngae 62%
#9 maggie cheung 61%
#10 woranuch wongsawn 60%

just now, i put in this pic...

... n' got these prob'ly rather accurate results:
#1 송혜교 song hyeigyo 73%
#2 권보아 boa 73%
#3 김희선 kim heesun 71%
#4 권보아 boa 63%
#5 송혜교 song hyeigyo 63%
#6 maggie cheung 67%
#7 zhang ziyi 64%
#8 janie tienphosuwan 63%
#9 lucy liu 63%
#10 mai kuraki 63%
#11 namie amuro 62%
#12 최지우 choi jiwoo 62%

what? they gave her 12 answers w/ that pic!   12 relatively babe.a.licious answers, so i guess it's nice to hear that my wife looks like those particular celebs.

ok, i tried 'nother kaelapic n' got these results:
#1 김희선 kim heesun 73% (aktually, this is 1 pic where i think she doesn't look like 김희선 kim heesun... if she s'pposedly looks like 김희선 kim heesun here then, i guess she must. ha ha.)
#2 madeleine stowe 70% (it's crazy how some historical aktresses can look soooo contemporary!   timeless looks, i guess.)
#3 sammi cheng 67%
#4 maggie cheung 66%
#5 송혜교 song hyeigyo 63%
#6 maggie cheung 67%
#7 tyra banks 62% (whoa, really? ok.)
#8 iris chang 62% (aktually some'f iris chang's pix look like kaela's mom!)
#9 julianne moore 61%
#10 bebe neuwirth 61%
#11 bipasha basu 62% (i've gotta admit: she's really pretty.)
#12 mai kuraki 62%

ok, this well.known kaelapic...
kaela give you two...
... returned these results
#1 송혜교 song hyeigyo 74%
#2 김희선 kim heesun 74%
#3 maggie cheung 72%
#4 mai kuraki 71%
#5 최지우 choi jiwoo 70%
#6 woranuch wongsawn 70%
#7 sammi cheng 70%
#8 권보아 boa 68%
#9 손예진 son yeijin 68%
#10 bunko kanazawa 67%

dude, it's hilarious!!! i input this 1 beautiful pic'f kaela n' wendy (fahad's wife) (kaela n' wendy @ wendy n' fahad's indian wedding ceremony), n' it sed kaela looks like some famous indian bollywood aktress, n' wendy looks like 송혜교 song hyeigyo.   it's funny cos wendy's wearing indian clothes in the pic.

[later] 오후: *sigh* what a day, eh?   i've of course been werking.   during my lunchbrk, i lifted weights n' ran a li'l on the treadmill in our werk.com gym.   then, i ate a chicken n' beef burrito fromt he werk.com cafeteria, ate it @ my desk while werking.   [later] i s'ppse, assume, n' hope i'll go to taekwondo praktice 2nite.   i wanted to jog this morn w/ sooni but woke up 2 late (that's a cure song).

last nite, b4 i got addikted to myheritage.com, after werk, i went to the e arques 24 hour fitness to take sach's turbo kick box (tkb) class, where i met up w/ mark's grace.   after showering, i went to albertson's to buy lox (smoked salmon) bits ($2.99), n' also bought 2 avocado's 4 $1.99 each.   after that, i left my car in that parking lot n' hopped on my skateboard to skate to the bank to depo$it a bunch'f ¢a$h.   then i skated over to 한국 마켓 hangook market to post up an adult beginner taekwondo summer class flyer.   then i skated back to my car n' drove home, where i ate some refrigerator bag 짜장면 jjajangmyuhn w/ some 단무지 danmooji.   then i got hooked on myheritage.com 4 the rest'f the nite.

[later] dude, the recent cure album has very cute artwerk.

수요일 아침: *sigh* it's be whirlwind and flash... is that the saying? *shrug*   oh , i just googleed it up, n' the real quote from the sonic youth album cover is "I stole my sister's boyfriend.   It was all whirlwind.   Heat, and flash.   Within a week we killed my parents and hit the road." if u know that quote, i dunno whether to say u'r kewl or just stuck in the 1990s, worse yet, the early 1990s.   r u?   otherwise, might u be stuck in the early 2000s?   well, i'll tell u what: last nite, i went out 4 a late, late dinner after taekwondo praktice w/ our current taekwondo crew, n' it sure was a reminiscent flashback to my ol' cal taekwondo p. crew (party crew) days.   *sigh* *sigh* (that's 2 sighs!)   youth, energy, n' exuberance...   perhaps that's what my friends have to offer me.   heh, aktually our friend ernest in our crew; he's a li'l older than me, but he cms really young.   in some ways, i might cm young; but in others i might cm old.   i'm 30, n' i'm gonna turn 31 this yr.   while i'm off relearning to skateboard, other guys my age r teaching their 8 yr old sons to skateboard.   i've gotta say that 4 quite some time now, i've pondered writing a letter here in my journal; a letter to my future kids apologising 4 how i'll be so old when they grow up, whereas their peers may have much younger dads, who'll be able to do so many more kewl things than what i'll be able to do by then.   therein lies a question: in doing all these youthful things n' living still a youthful life, might i be extending my youth?   otherwise, am i wasting my youth, or rather what li'l i have left'f it?   cowerkers treat me like i'm so young since i'm just barely 2 yrs out'f grad skool, but they don't realise that i'm 30.

so what did i do yesterday?   well, i walked sooni in the morn (as opposed to 2day, where i didn't walk sooni since i ran out'f time, which is very sad).   i werked hard all day, of course.   during lunch, i werked out in the werk.com gym n' then ate a burrito from the werk.com cafeteria.   ("stop me, oh ho ho, stop me.   stop me if you think that you've heard this one before." - the smiths)   after werk, i rushed home, grabbed sooni n' went to taekwondo praktice, where we prakticed 품새 poomsae n' kicked paddles/bags.   after praktice, most ppl stuck 'round to praktice 4 this particular upcoming de anza college demo on may 23 @ noon.   if u'r in the area, u really should go watch the demo.   i was happy n' maybe even pleasantly surprised to c that the demo looks very good.   i don't mean to say that i have such low expektations'f my friends or nething, but rather they just really look amazingly good.   well, while they prakticed, since i can't be in the demo cos i'll be in denver 4 my company's internal conference, i took sooni 4 a decent walk on skateboard.   i think we almost got run over 2ice!   ppl drive crazily @ nite.   u know, almost getting run over 2ice reminds me that, in a way, cars su¢k.   we should all ride skateboards instead.   neway, i skated 'round w/ sooni n' rode back to the 도장 dojang, where i waited a while longer n' watched the praktice.   afterwards, we ate dinner @ 서울 곰탕 seoul gomtang.

y! news article: "Internet addiction can harm lives, marriages "   honestly, marriages (n' other committed relationships) take werk.   i believe, often, young couples try to ignore this fakt, taking on a "it's not cool to care" attitude, which is indeed a very youthful - altho' not always beneficial - attitude.   i admit that i often take on the "it's not cool to care" attitude 'bout many things.   furthermore, i admit that in doing so, i'm being insensitive n' immature.   in some ways, we as a society need to promote a "it's cool to care" attitude.   i 'member that when the beautiful kaela hwang n' i started going to the couples bible study @ our ol' church (산호세 제의 교회), we found it to be sort'f like marriage counseling (altho' we wouldn't really know).   in a sense, that honestly is good.   u know what?   it's ok to care.   to make an effort to "work on your marriage," doesn't mean that u'r marriage is failing.   there's nuthin' wrong w/ preventative maintenance.

i am indeed flying out to denver myself on next mon morn n' returning next fri noon.   it's 4 a company internal conference.   in a way, i could've gotten out'f this; but also, in a way, i purposely didn't try to get out'f this cos 1) it'll be a great experience, very beneficial to my career, n' 2) i honestly do feel not good that kaela's always going off on trips n' whatever 4 her skool n' career, so it's 'bout time i sed "screw it," n' took off 4 a far 'way place 4 the sake'f my career.   that's awful, but... *shrug* kaela n' i were s'pposed to go to her classmate's wedding in oregon @ the end'f june.   i just found out yesterday that it's on a fri.   in that case, i really can't go cos i've gotta make more'f an effort to save my vakation days.   dude, i'd love to take a 2.week vakation next yr, in the winter, to both taiwan n' korea.   dude, that'd be so dope!   i don't get 'lot'f vakation time tho', so i've gotta make a real effort to save what li'l i get.   neway, kaela bought plane tix n's going to oregon by herself, not just 4 her classmate's wedding but 4 yet 'nother chiropraktic seminar.   i don't like it, but i guess i hafta put up w/ it.   i haven't been to oregon in ages, but kaela went a fwe yrs 'go when she was looking into going to naturopathic medical skool or whatever.   i'm glad she went to chiropraktic skool instead cos naturopathic medical skool is inherently racist cos it obviously has the attitude'f "traditional asian medicine is not valid unless it is prakticed by white ppl."

last nite, i showed kaela a bug bite that i got on sun.   cos'f the marks on the skin on my wrist that resembled erythema migrans, kaela was scared that i had lyme disease.   earlier, i'd shown it to ernest n' his gf, n' his gf thought it looked like just a mosquito bite cos'f the swelling.   well, 2day, the erythemaish marks r gone, so i really do believe it's not lyme disease.

well, as i read the wikipedia article on the great korean movie 시월애 shiwuhlae (oktober love), which is better known in the non.korea community as il mare (italian 4 "the sea") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_Mare, i've confirmed that the new, upcoming keanu reeves movie the lakehouse is indeed an amerikan remake'f this 2000년 korean classic, which stars the ever popular 전지현 juhn jihyun; who's per4mance in 엽기적인 그녀 yuhbgijuhkin geunyuh (better known in the non.korea community as my sassy girl) made her the fantasy'f asian.amerikan boys who just want a korean gurl to slap'em 'round a bit n' say, "죽으래?!" ("jookeurae?!", translated as "you want to die?!").   u know, they ought to have a berkeley decal class on feminism in korean cinema.   dude, that'd be a dope class!   heck yah!   definitely, 엽기적인 그녀 yuhbgijuhkin geunyuh / my sassy girl'd hafta be part'f that course!   think 'bout asian movies that were remade w/ a non.asian cast: shall we dance?, eat drink man woman, ringu, n' now 시월애 shiwuhlae / il mare.   is it just that amerikans r so racist that they can't bear to watch asian ppl on the silver screen?   yah, i guess... but keanu's technically hapa as he's part pacific islander (hawaiian, rt?).   i find it humourous that the lakehouse'll star keanu reeves n' sandra bullock... wow, a speed reunion!   the remake'f eat drink man woman w/ an all chicano.latino cast (tortilla soup) doesn't necessarily leave a bad taste in 1's mouth; but (i imagine) the other more "mainstream" remakes might.   also consider the remake'f the french film la femme nikita as the amerikan point of no return.   speaking'f cinema français, audrey tautou'f amelie fame's gonna be in the da vinci code, which opens on fri, eh?

overeating: i was so full after last nite's late, late dinner.   i ate 해장국 haejanggook.   since i was on the fon w/ kaela, trying to get her to come over, the other guys had to order 4 me, n' they ended up getting me 선지없는것 suhnji uhbtneunguht (w/o cooked blood).   i aktually don't mind 선지 suhnji in my 해장국 haejanggook.   the owners @ 서울 곰탕 seoul gomtang love 순이 sooni n' call me "순이 아빠 sooni abba" (sooni's dad).   this morn, i had a big frickin' brkfast: 1 full bowl'f nature's path organik optimum power cereal w/ organik nf milk n' then a toasted bagel w/ tofutti soy cream cheese, lox, n' capers.   yesterday, i ate a toasted bagel w/ tofutti soy cream cheese, lox, n' capers 4 brkfast as i walked sooni.   this morn, i didn't walk sooni but ate that huge brkfast.   2day, kaela's taking (what she called) a "personal day," n' skipping classes to study 4 midterms or whatever.   we'll have lunch 2gether @ noon, but i dunno if i'll be hungry yet.

[잠시후에, later] 일직 오후: kaela came w/ sooni to pick me up in her 2000 kia sportage ex.   we went to the sunnyvale pasta pomodoro.   we had a pleasant lunch, but the hostess had to ask us against her will to have us tie sooni out by the entrance to the patio cos she sed the health dept won't let us have animals on the enclosed patio.   she was very nice 'bout it, so i don't hold ne grudge 'gainst her but that rule stinks.   i've found a cause to protest 4.   dude, we must protest 4 dogowners' rights.   we must fight!   dogs should be allowed in every bizness, especially hypoallergenic products shops. :-)   dude, we must fight!   we must fight!   we must fight!   neway, kaela ordered the melanzane pasta w/ fettuccine instead'f whatever they usually give... w/ salad... n' i had the pollo panini w/ soup.

[later] 50% off @ restaurant.com - enter code 53357.

2nite, i'll go to will's turbo kick box (tkb) class, which'll be taught by may instead, @ the e arques 24 hour fitness.   [later] then later, i'll go hang w/ my friend tim fong @ the cupertinio fantasia.

[later] 4 the longest time, kaela n' i kept hearing this 1 particular song, 'specially while waiting 4 movies @ amc movie theatres.   as a dj, i've been ashamed to admit that i didn't know the song.   well, i finally broke this da vinci code (ha ha, cheesy pop culture allusion that doesn't even werk!):

"brighter than sunshine" by aqualung

i never understood before
i never knew what love was for
my heart was broke, my head was sore
what a feeling

tied up in ancient history
i didnt believe in destiny
i look up you're standing next to me
what a feeling

what a feeling in my soul
love burns brighter than sunshine
brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall, i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly you're mine
suddenly you're mine
and it's brighter than sunshine

i never saw it happening
i'd given up and given in
i just couldn't take the hurt again
what a feeling

i didn't have the strength to fight
suddenly you seemed so right
me and you
what a feeling love burns brighter than sunshine
it's brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall, i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly you're mine
suddenly you're mine

it's brighter than the sun
it's brighter than the sun
it's brighter than the sun, sun, shine.

love will remain a mystery
but give me your hand and you will see
your heart is keeping time with me

what a feeling in my soul
love burns brighter than sunshine
it's brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall, i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly you're mine
suddenly you're mine

i got a feeling in my soul ...

aqualung's a person, a guy.   he's real name's matt hales, n' he's an english singer, born in jan'f 1972 in london.   [later] i've gotta pick up a bunhc'f musik 4 the upcoming dj season, the upcoming wedding season, the upcoming wedding dj season.   i've also gotta buy my speakers, amp, n' wireless microfon(s).   *sigh* man, i'm gonna need to $pend a bit'f $$$, only to recuperate it in the fall, huh?   scary.   i recently dropped a load'f $$$ on our 24 hour fitness memberships, i guess.   my ¢redit ¢ard bill looks enormous this month.   oh yah, i s'ppose i've totally given up on snowboarding this sat n' thus pretty much'm done this season unless i somehow find ppl who wanna go to squaw on memorial day.   i figure i'd better dedicate sat to sorting out my dj bizness.   i'm scared tho'.   ppl'll try to get me to do other stuff like housewerk n' yardwerk.   both do need to be done, but i need to straighten out my dj stuff, need it more!

토요일 아침, 911a: in a way i ought to be in tahoe rt now instead'f writing this journal entry, but it's ok.   yesterday was the beautiful kaela hwang's n' my 34th wedding monthversary... n' what better way to celebrate than to lead bible study 2gether? :-) seriously! i feel that really captures the essence'f our grx t3 south couples bible study, where "t3" stand 4 "it takes 3," i.e. wife, husband, n' god.   we believe that if each spouse (or each'f the 2 in the relationship'f it's not a marriage) draws closer to god, then they'll draw closer to each other.   thus, i think this was a great way to spend our monthversary!   neway, yah, we went n' lead bible study, n' that was fun.   then, afterwards, since we hadn't yet eaten dinner, kaela n' i went out 4 a very late dinner @ the new 쥬쥬비 jujubee korean 호프 hof on el camino real in santa clara.   this hof took the place'f 난다랑 nandarang, which was a great hof.   we had 감자탕 gamjatang n' hite 맥주 maekjoo.   i thought it was kind'f odd to be eating a midnite dinner while every1 else 'round us was just there to drink.   eh, no biggie.   the fud was pretty good.   the staff kept apologising 4 how bizzy the place was etc.   well, that's great 4 them.

yesterday morn, i dragged my butt out'f bed to attend janice k's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hour fitness.   i was a bit sore from sparring @ taekwondo praktice the nite b4, n' i was just plain groggy from waking up early.   luckily, janice k's class's prob'ly the easiest'f all the 1s i've been to... n' i've guess i've been to classes w/ each'f the local instruktors, huh?   sach, will, may, janice k, n' janice w.   i think that's it, rt?   sach's is my favourite cos it's the highest intensity, the most advanced.   it's crowded tho'.   it's on mon nites @ 730p.   neway, i did that on fri morn, then came home n' uh... oh, no.   rather, i didn't go straight home but went to albertsons to buy some gro¢eries instead.   u c, my cowerker eric was hosting a lunchtime bbq @ his new townhome in mtn view in the whisman station neighbourhood.   i figured i'd buy a fruit plate or whatever to bring.   neway, i bought a small dish'f sliced fruit, a small basket'f raspberries, a can'f sliced beets (i wanted whole beets, but they only had pickled 1s'f those, n' i didn't want that), n' some whole grain bagels to go w/ the soy cream cheese, lox, n' capers we've got.   i've been eating lots'f whole grain bagels w/ tofutti soy cream cheese, bits, n' capers.   then, i prob'ly walked sooni, rt?   rt.   then i went to werk, werked hard.   oh, i'd left my fruit @ home, so i pondered going out to buy 'nother 1 on my way to the bbq.   however, this 1 nice cowerker gave me a tin'f chocolates, 2 much 4 me or even me n' kaela to finish, so i brought chocolates to the bbq instead.   my cowerker has a nice, brand new townhome.   i didn't ask how much it was.   he has 2 doggies, but he didn't bring'em out.   neway, i ate 1 hot dog n' 1 hamburger.   most ppl ate 1 hot dog n' 1 hamburger... oh, not hamburger but cheese burger.   he made the think kind'f patties that stay pink in the middle.   well, 'twas a fun bbq.   'twas really nice'f him to host it.

well, after werk, i hurried to get the bible study all ready.   i had to meet w/ our friends susan n' gregory really quickly to pick up this 1 visual prop thingy.   then i went home to meet up w/ kaela who'd just come from may's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e fremont ave 24 hour fitness.   i made kaela a lox bagel as a snack n' a soy corndog 4 myself, n' then we were off.

i guess i didn't recap thurs, did i?   what did i do on thurs?   well, on wed nite, i did go to may's tubo kick box (tkb) class @ the e fremont 24 hour fitness... no, the e arques 24 hour fitness.   then, i came home n' quickly ate sumpthin', didn't i?   oh yah, kaela microwaved some frozen beef stew, n' we ate that n'... sumpthin' else?   uhm, i 4get.   i prob'ly ate some coldcut lunchmeat.   then i hurried off to hang w/ our friend tim fong @ the cupertino fantasia.   i figured we could hang out inside cos i didn't have sooni, but the fantasia closed rt after we ordered, so we had to sit outside. 'twas a bit cold.

[later] skatepark beno: neway, u know... this mon, i had quite an experience.   dude, i skated (skateboarded) in a skatepark 4 the very 1st time in my life!   dude, it was so fun!!!   well, i woke up early.   honestly, i felt a li'l bit groggy from the 맥주 maekjoo last nite... maybe a li'l dehydrated.   neway, i put on some jeans, a t.shirt, a hoodie, my skate shoes... i drove myself (un4tunately sans [w/o] sooni cos i knew the park doesn't allow her kind]) over to sunnyvale's fair oaks park   i was hoping 4 a completly empty park but saw 'least 2 guys there along w/ a cleaning guy.   well, i sat in the car, nervous 'bout whether to enter or not.   finally, i found the balls just to put on my hawaiian surf sumpthin' trucker cap, grab my board, n' walk up to the park.   still, i was a bit nervous so i 1st looked in thru the chain link fence.   well, i knew there was no turning back now that i'd walked up to the park w/ my board in my hand.   i went in.   the cleaning guy sed, "good morning."   feeling inconfident, i just muttered a "what's up."   he was a nice guy, n' i should've given him a more proper "good morning."   i saw that there were just 2 skaters there a li'l chicano.lookin' kid n' a taller kid... who turned out to be an asian man who's most likely older than me.   i was a bit nervous.   the bowls looked bigger than i'd expekted.   still, they weren't that big, so i dunno what i'd expekted.   i rolled in via a shallow ramp n' started some slow, low carves.   after a while, i got the hang'f backside carves but would sometimes get caught on frontside carves.   i 4ced myself to praktice more frontside carves.   well, i skated 4 an hr straight, just carving.   i never 1nce reached the metal coping on the top'f the bowl or caught ne air; i just carved.   the 2 guys there obviously new i was a beginner but gave me 'nuff respekt.   the li'l kid came up to talk to me.   he was nice.   cos he was nice, i knew he was really good.   he didn't hafta akt like a punk cos he earned his respekt thru executing sick tricks.   he was really polite.   later, i saw the older, asian dude post up some signs.   when i went to read it, it was advertising some kind'f fundraiser, a "send donny to skate camp" fundraiser.   that's kewl.   later, i found out that kid was donny.   yah, this li'l kid has potential.   i saw him catch big air n' execute some nice grabs 'long w/ 'em.   man... i do that stuff on a snowboard but i can't do it on a skateboard... not yet.   well, more guys came in, n' lo n' behold! dude, perhaps li'l donny n' i were like the youngest guys there!   i couldn't believe it: lots'f older guys were coming in an early sat morn.   i guess we all think alike - we don't wanna come in the afternoon n' get laffed @ by li'l kids.   however, these guys were quite a bit better than me.   they weren't super pros or nething... i mean, dude... i bet some'f them had 'least been sponsored in the past, but they weren't like superstar pros.   they were nice guys.   i didn't talk much to ne1, but they didn't give me cr@p or nething.   when we'd ride 2 close to each other, they'd apologise n' all.   they were good guys.   wow! i really liked being there.   'twas hard to convince myself to leave.   a couple'f younger guys on bmx bikes came.   s'pposedly bikes r prohibited in the park, but they rode, n' we all respekted each other.   @ 1 pt, i finally took a brk, n' the bmx guys rode the whole park 4 a while b4 i re.entered the bowls.   i did feel @ that pt that maybe these guys wanted more space n' that maybe i was hogging the park.   eventually, after like 1.5 hrs, i got out'f the bowl n' just hung out, watched, tried ollies n' stuff.   then i finally left.   i'm just glad i left uninjured n' had a good time.

i came home n' showered.   i ate a bowl'f nature's path optimum power cereal.   other than that n' being oline 4 the past hr or so, i haven't done much 2day.   i'm pondering taking kaela out 4 a more proper 34th monthversary dinner.

[later] 오후, 239p: i washed sooni.   i dropped kaela off @ bed, bath, & beyond; n' then drove 'cross the street to wash sooni @ bet fud express.   kaela went w/ her friend rachel after that ot a female bridale shoewr.   kaela bought some food or drinks from safeway as a contribution to the potluck.   neway; since she found out that guys rn't allowed; she felt bad n' bought me some fusionish, sushi.ish spring rolls from safeway 4 my lunch.   i took the fud n' the sobe green tea w/ me n' sooni to santana row n' ate it there, where i ran into my cowerker friends jason n' steve along w/ their friend yi-lin or i-lin or i-ling... not sure.   then i went to the guitar showcase consignment shop to look @ dj speakers n' amp.   [i] didn't buy nehting yet but need to soon.

수요일 오후: heh, i haven't updated in a long time... or a relatively long time.   it's been all whirlwind n' flash (is that the rt phrase?), n' now i've been in denver 4 the past couple'f days.   crazy, eh?   well, to some that ain't crazy @ all; but, 4 me, as some1 who so rarely travels n' so rarely leaves the beautiful state'f cali4nia.   @ 1st, i thought this was gonna be the longest time i've been 'part from the beautiful kaela hwang but then 'membered the time she stayed in socal to plan her hi skool reunion while i returned to werk in the silly valley on mon morn n' returned to socal on fri evening.   this is just 'bout that long, rt?   i left on mon morn n'll return on fri afternoon.   ah, i guess this is technically a li'l shorter!   neway, this is indeed the longest time i've been 'way from sooni, rt? *shrug* rt?   i think so.   when i called kaela yesterday, she told me that sooni really misses me, that when kaela drove my 1999 subaru forester s into our garage, sooni ran up to the door that connects the kitchen to the garage, looked 4 me there; n' then, when she didn't find me in the garage, ran to the bedrm to look 4 me there.   <:-( that's quite sad.   *sigh* 'member: i've sed b4 that every1 ought to know the love'f a doggy cos doggies really love ppl, 'specially their owners, 'specially when they're'f loyal, loyal breeds like 진돗개 jindotgae n' not'f a "$lutty" breed like, well... golden retrievers n' pomeranians... not that those r bad doggies, but they do have a reputation 4 loving every1, which isn't always a bad thing, rt?

heh, on sun b4 i left, kaela n' i took my mom out to lunch @ the nieman.marcus café 4 a belated mutha's day.   well, when we pulled into our parking spot, the pickup truck next to us had some big doggy in its bed.   i walked up to it n' put my face up to its face n' it licked me rt on the lips!   heh, i thought that was a bit 4ward, n' kaela laffed, saying that all dogs love me.   *sigh* eh, not really, i'm no césar milan n' no ian dunbar n' no patricia mcconnell!   neway... yah, i left off updating on sat.

on sat evening, i brought kaela out 4 our 34th monthversary dinner @ tanto japanese restaurant (1063 el camino real; sunnyvale, ca 94085).   we had a bunch'f small plates, like japanese tapas. :-)   aktually, on sat, while i was hanging out @ santana row w/ sooni, while kaela was off @ a baby bridal shower, i ran into my cowerker friends steve n' jason n' (i guess) steve's friend from cal.   neway, i was telling them 'bout tanto n' 'bout these kaiseki japanese restaurants.... well, i told jason (who's korean) how i find the wurd "kaiseki" funny cos it sounds like "개새끼 gaesaekki," which u prob'ly knows pretty much translates to "son'f a b!t¢h."   *sigh* neway, yah... on sat nite, i took kaela out to dinner @ tanto.   we had a bunch'f small plates.   we saw the peju provence wine we like so much, which we bought when we were in napa last wknd (last, last wknd?); but we resisted buying it since there was a 100% markup.   i mean... we bought the bottle in napa 4 $22, n' they were selling it @ tanto 4 $40!   we just drank hot 보리차 boricha (barley tea).   the restaurant ain't ¢heap, but it's fancier in cuisine than ur typical japanese restaurant, more'f an authentik japanese dining experience than ur usual korean sushi joint (which'f course is what most'f the other japanese restaurants in the bay area r, which isn't a bad thing).   what did we eat?   uhm, we had some kakki ponzu, some wakame salad, some kurobota tamagotoji, uhm... n' sumpthin' else... what was it?!   uhm, *sigh* what was it?   i bet 'twas sumpthin' seafudish.   *sigh* neway! well, after dinner we went to watch over the hedge @ the mercado amc 20.   while in the theatre, we also ate a large ben & jerry's dublin mudslide aisukuriimu served in a waffle bowl.   man, i 4got to use my 10% off keychain tag.   argh!   dude, the movie was hilarious!!!

on sun morn, i woke up early n' returned to the sunnyvale skate park 4 a quick sesh.   man, it's so much fun riding the bowls there.   ah... this is the stuff i wanted to do as a kid but couldn't.   i had lots'f fun.   i talked to this 1 dude there, this older english(?) dude... some guy that looked asian but talked w/ a british accent n' was riding a sector nine longboard in the bowl, while wearing a cycling helmet, full pads, n' suspenders.   yah, not ur typical sk8terboi.   he was also much older than me n' drove off in a ford taurus stationwagon.   i'm still just carvin' the bowl n' not riding the coping or catching air.   that's fine 4 now.   i'll take it slow n' safe.   i don't wanna get hurt.   well, i cut the session short n' returned home to cook kaela some omelettes b4 church.   grx met @ the palo alto crowne plaza cabana hotel instead'f our usual santa clara marriott this time cos'f the family life conference, which was @ the marriott.   pastor ali hasan gave a great sermon 'bout the creation'f man in god's own image, how we've gotta respekt other ppl as we're all created in god's own image.   ali's a kewl guy.   then afterwards, kaela n' i took my mom out 4 her belated mutha's day lunch.   'twas a good fud.   dude, i've been eating 2 much good fud lately!   @ the nieman.marcus caf´, kaela had this crabcake salad, n' i had the french dip sandwich, which they called sumpthin' else (i 4get), prob'ly cos'f republikkkans that might frequent such a ritzy place.   my mom ordered this citrus "souflée" salad, which was pretty interesting.   we browsed 'round stanfurd mall there.   the last time we were there, i didn't get so much'f the icky, snobby stanfurd feeling i usually get when i'm there.   this time, i did.   stanfurd ppl r so snobby (in gen'l).   i've gotta add the "in gen'l" cos i'm gonna be emceeing the stanfurd taekwondo open championships on june 3 n' know that 'least the taekwondo ppl there r kewl.   maybe not quite as kewl as the berkeley takewondo ppl; but hey... that's hard. heh heh... just kidding.   neway, yah, i did sense quite a bit'f snobbiness @ the stanfurd mall.   dude, have u ever been inside williams sonoma home?   not the usual kitchen store, but the home store...   dude, it's frickin' expen$ive!   *shakes head*

on sun afternoon, kaela n' i were s'pposed to go to the gym, the milpitas 24 hour fitness; but kaela fell asleep.   on sun nite, our friend jason lee (not the pro skateboarder turned aktor) but our filmmaking friend.   he talked 'lot 'bout taiwanese politiks over dinner @ 쥬쥬비 jujubee, the new korean 호프 hof that replaced 난다랑 nandarang.   we ate 부대 찌개 budae jjigae, 통닭 tongdalk, n' 김치전 kimchijuhn; 2 much fud!!!!   yah, jason's politiks r aktually quite diff from mine, when it comes to both taiwan n' amerikkka. *shrug* u know, i'm all 4 taiwan's independence as an autonomous nation, but jason thinks the taiwan independence movement's racist.   *sigh* also, he sez he's more'f a republikan, but u know i'm a quite a demokrat.   oh well. ... [unfinished entry]

밤 1050p (mtn time; denver, co): i think the myheritage.com celebrity matching face analyser has gotten less n' less accurate.   i used to get pretty understandable results; but lately, i've been getting really wack results.   i think they've added more celebs, but hrm... sumpthin's totally skrewed up.   oh well; 'twas fun while it lasted.

*sigh* i dunno where i left off updating n' what i missed.   well, hrm... what happened on last thurs nite?   that's a wk 'go now.   uhm, i went to taekwondo sparring praktice as expekted, then came home n' ate some salad.   what has happened since sun?   well, on sun evening (as i sed, the beautiful kaela hwang n' i went to 쥬쥬비 jujubee w/ jason lee.   that was our 2nd time there that wknd, as we'd been there on fri nite.   jason crashed @ our house that nite.   in the morn, kaela drove me to the sjc mineta aeroport in her jammies/pjs/pajamas.   on thurs or so... uh... was it thurs?   i think 'twas thurs... on thurs, kaela tried to bring her 2000 kia sportage ex to 애이스 자동차 정비 ace jadongcha juhngbi ace auto repair.   she wanted some 60k service n' her rear window n' driver side sun visor fixed.   her rear rt window stopped rolling up.   neway, the nice 아저씨 ajuhssi there couldn't fix it that day cos he needed to order parts, but he did tell us that his son learns taekwondo @ our 도장 u.s. taekwondo akademy.   lessee... on mon, kaela dropped me off @ the aeroport, n' she dropped her car off 4 service later.   on mon, i flew from sjc mineta aeroport to phoenix n' then from phoenix to denver.   the bus driver drove us thru both slums n' nice areas to get to our adam's mark hotel.   on wed nite, i had a nice opening reception 4 our company's internal conference.   i ate lots.   then i went to the hotel gym.

on tues, i went to seminars all day.   i ate hotel fud 4 brkfast n' lunch.   then, @ dinner, i got to go to tamayo, a modern mexican.fusion restaurant rt here in denver.   i've learnt that, altho' colorado isn't cali, denver has some hip neighbourhoods.   i knew that denver was a li'l important in the beatnik era.   @ tamayo, i ate this nice mexican dumpling soup, in which the dumpling was like 만두 mandoo or maybe like ravioli.   'twas delicious but creamily fattn'ning.   i had this pipian de puerco, which was delicioso or whatever but small.   4 dessert, we each had this delicious turnover w/ toasted coconut aisukuriimu.   altho' a tour bus dropped us off @ the restaurant, our grp walked back after dinner.   i went to the gym on wed morn, rt?   rt.   i guess i was 2 full to use the gym on tues nite.   on wed, i went to seminars all day, ate hotel fud, n' then @ nite, our company went to coor's stadium, the home'f the colorado rockies.   we ate lots'f fud n' threw baseballs (my best speed was 41 mph), hit wiffle balls w/ wiffle bats, rock climbed (i guess i did pretty well), ... 'twas pretty fun.   on thurs, we went to some presentations in the morn.   then in the afternoon, my grp went to lookout mountain park n' hiked.   it was fun, but i wish we could've hiked longer.   oh yah, on wed nite, my grp walked from the baseball stadium to the ritzy part'f denver (the end'f 16th st) b4 returning to our hotel.   1 cowerker really wanted to stop by a bar to have a shot'f jagermeister, so we entertained him.   oh, 2day's thurs.   heh... 2morrow, i fly home.   a bus picks me up @ 545a. :-o crazy, huh/ 'tis 1114p rt now. :-(   2nite, we had an awards banquet, but i was a li'l late to that cos i had to shower after the hike.   i had to sit w/ strangers, but that's ok.   i ate a salad, some boeuf, some salmon, n' this cheesecakeish dessert.   oh, @ lunch, i had this "boxed lunch," a pesto chicken sandwich n' some cole slaw.   the lunch also came w/ chips n' a cookie but i've saved those.

*sigh* well, it appears that i've survived this relatively long time w/o kaela n' this longest time w/o sooni.   i fly back 2morrow, arriving @ noon.   kaela n' i r going w/ some friends to menara on fri evening.   on sat, we'll help out @ the american open international takewondo championships @ chabot college.   i hope also to hit the sunnyvale skate park this wknd.   mon's memorial day n' also the last day that squaw valley's open 4 snowboarding this season.   dude, i wish but doubt.   i've gotta $ave $$$.   'least the skate park's free.

oh yah, earlier this wk, spending nites 'lone, i got addikted to the palm os version'f the silly strategik, role.playing game (rpg) ultima iii.   yah, *sigh* in some ways, i am a geek. :-/   neway, after my palm crashed n' lost my data, i'm refusing to play 'gain 4 now.   yah, un4tunately, i've quite a history'f getting addikted to fantasy role.playing games. >:-( geeky, huh?

금요일 우후 111p: i've been back in the silly valley 4 'bout an hr now, sitting in the mineta sjc aeroport, waiting 4 the beautiful kaela hwang to pick me up eventually.   i landed @ 1154a, but i guess she sed she had class till 100p.   i still can't reach her by fon tho'. :-( @ 1st, i didn't mind waiting; but, now, i just getting that "just plain ditched" feeling.   i guess i'm still 2 lazy to try to take a bus back to our house or sumpthin'.   as often's the case when i travel, i'm running out'f battery on my clunker motorola v710.   last sun, my mom showed us her brand new pink motorola razr.   yah, it's a decently kewl fon n' undoubtedly hip.   it was quite the fashion rage this past christmas, rt?   as fashionable as an i.pod... which reminds me... i apparently won an i.pod shuffle in a drawing yesterday but have yet to claim it.   i dunno what size i.pod shuffle either.   :-/ maybe i did know @ some pt over the past couple'f days but 4got. *shrug* maybe i'll give it to kaela, or else maybe i'll sell it off on craigslist. *shrug* i've been a li'l hungry n' eager 4 lunch.   we're having dinner w/ friends @ menara moroccan restaurant @ 630p, n' that's relatively early 4 us, just cos we always eat so late.   yah... in a way, i don't like how we've gotta werk such late hrs here. ... dude, there's sumpthin' wrong w/ my fon as i'm not receiving incoming calls just voicemail notifikations. >:-( i'm gonna power cycle it.   in case u don't know that's just a fancy way'f saying, "i'm gonna turn it off n' back on."   earlier, i also couldn't dial.in on my palm tungsten t5 via bluetooth.   it's good to stay connekted.   wow, i can't believe this wk flew by like that.   crazy crazy.   i was in denver all wk, n' now i'm here, back home.   neway, kaela left me a v.mail @ 118p, saying she just got out'f class n' was leaving to pick me up. :-/

토요일 아침, 918a: this morn, i got out'f the house 'round 700a, skated @ the sunnyvale skate park 4 'bout an hr, mowed the lawn, sprayed "cloud cover" on the japanese maples, pulled weeds...   i'm happy i skated this morn, but i feel bad that i don't skate w/ sooni nemore.   i should.   she needs more exercise.   hey! do u know 'bout this: http://www.blogsrating.com/the-beno-journal.html.   i have a rating'f 6.87.   i assume that's out'f 10, rt?   yah, in a way, i wish i had higher ratings, but eh! whatever.   who cares?!   what would it take to get higher ratings?   i c that the highest rating blog belongs to a (cantonese) chinese.amerikan, fremont resident named sunny wan: alpha-male.org

just an ad: frontier aerolines has pix'f cute fuzzies on the tails'f their aeroplanes.

[later] 밤 1043p: while waiting 4 the beautiful kaela hwang to pick me up from the sjc mineta aeroport yesterday afternoon, i picked up the current issue'f the silicon valley metro, which features an article "jesus: unplugged".   check i out.   2 bad the silicon valley metro always has plenty'f typos n' misspellings.

일요일 밤 1102p: cherry pit removers   2day, we went to seabright beach.   also, 2day, i dropped tons n' tons'f $$$ to buy my pro dj speakers n' amp!   crazy, crazy! yamaha s112v 12" 2.way speakers (1 pair), crown clx602 350w amp, some speaker stands, n' some speaker cables.   crazy!   aktually, i could've gone w/ bigger, 15" speakers 4 a li'l less; but i need mobility.   i wanted to buy these yamaha speakers cos they're made in the u.s.a., whereas so many other models r made in china.   the beautiful kaela hwang visited the guitar center yesterday afternoon, then i returned early this morn, after skating in sunnyvale skate park 4 a while, to make my big, big pur¢ha$e.   yesterday morn, yah, i skated @ sunnyvale skate park.   then, kaela n' i went to church, of course.   then we took my mom out 4 her 60th b.day lunch @ dynasty chinese restaurant in vallco.   i was happy that i felt that kaela n' i didn't really overeat 2 bad, altho' it's really easy to do that @ dimsum, especially when the fud's so yummy.   in the evening, we went over to our friend mary ann's house 4 dinner.   did i talk 'bout how on fri nite we went to dinner @ menara moroccan restaurant w/ our friends eric n' hannah (n' their baby jack) n' then mary ann n' her bro richard?   neway, 'twas really fun.   we had the menara "fantasy" dinner.   later, kaela n' i watched the da vinci code @ amc mercado 20.   it's a good movie.   no, i don't believe that the stuff in the movie's true; but eh; whatever.

화요일 아침: this wknd, i skateboarded @ the sunnyvale skate park 3 mornings in a row.   that was fun.   on a totally unrelated note, this morn, i woke up w/ a totally injured left ankle.   i dunno if i slept on it bad, if the beautiful kaela hwang slept on my ankle bad, if i injured it slightly while running on the sand @ seabright beach... *shrug*   i'm confused, but i know it hurt really bad.   cos'f that, i couldn't walk sooni this morn.   i didn't get to werk early cos kaela had to tape up my ankle.   i also took some advil.   i very rarely take medication.

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 직장에서: i guess i 4got to mention a few things 'bout this past memorial day wknd.   after kaela picked me up from the aeroport w/ sooni in my forester, we went to eat lunch @ 만두랑 칼국수 mandoorang kalgooksoo on el camino real.   i ordered 해물 칼국수 haemool kalgooksoo n' an order'f 매운 만두 maeoon mandoo, which wasn't very spicy.   kaela had the 웰빙 칼국수 well.being kalgooksoo.   after that, we picked up her kia from 애이스 자둥차 정비 ace jadongcha jungbi.   later, we went out to dinner @ meanra, as i sed.   on sat nite, after eating @ 한성 갈비 hansung kalbi 4 dinner after the american open taekwondo tournament @ chabot college in hayward, kaela n' i went to santana row.   we'd brought sooni to the tournament as well as to the jacklin road, milpitas 24 hour fitness earlier in the day; so we dropped her off @ home b4 dinner; n' she didn't accompany us to santana row.   kaela n' i had some drinks from fantasia there.   on sun, after my mom's 60th b.day lunch, kaela n' i returned to santana row to buy some produce @ their farmers market.   'gain, we were sans sooni; i.e. we didn't have sooni w/ us.   on sun, @ church, kaela n' i shared a krispy kreme jelly doughnut n' drank some $tarbu¢ks espresso roast decaf coffee.   on mon morn, after i skatedboarded @ the sunnyvale skate park, i went to the guitar center memorial day sale to drop a whole buttload'f $$$ to invest in my pro dj speakers n' amp.   they gave 'way free krispy kreme doughnuts n' $tarbu¢ks coffee.   they had no decaf, so i drank the only kind'f coffee they had... sumpthin' labeled "smooth."   what kind'f doughnut did i eat?   i ate a plain, sugared doughnut.   i wiped off much'f the excessive sugar.   when i got home w/ the goods, kaela cooked us some flaxseed pancakes w/ blueberries.   honestly, that made me happy.   then, later in the morn, kaela also cut my hair.   that also made me happy.   then we finally left the house 4 the beach to meet w/ our u.s. taekwondo akademy friends.   we had to stop by the gilroy guitar center 1st tho' cos the san jo (stevens creek blvd) guitar center only had 1 yamaha s112v 12" speaker to give me.   i needed to pick up the other 1.   i got lost 4 a while cos 152 east's not the same thing as gettin' off (the) 101 on 152 west n' heading east!   finally, i picked up my speaker, while kaela took sooni to hunt 4 lizards.   sooni also found a snake.   on our way out'f gilroy to santa cruz, i got a li'l confused n/or lost but not really.   neway, i needed to go pee, n' duk called me to pick up some fud; so i returned to the south valley mall (which isn't a nice mall) where guitar center is n' went to the mcyukyuk's there to pick up 20 hamburgers n' 15 small bags'f fries.   also, i got kaela n' me 1 happy meal each.   on sat, on our way to the american open taekwondo tournament, kaela n' i stopped by the mccarthy ranch mcyukyuk's to get happy meals.   kaela likes these build.a.bear happy meals, 'specially the martial arts bunny.   we drove 152 west to santa cruz.   it's a windy road w/ slow drivers who don't know how to drive in the mountains.   on our way to seabright beach, i missed a turn n' sat in bad, bad traffik in front'f the santa cruz beach boardwalk.   man, santa cruz was hecka crowded!

수요일 아침: can u believe that may's almost over?   it's almost june.   days'll continue to get longer only until june 21.   then summer starts n' days'll only get shorter.   isn't that weird?   dude, don'tchu feel like we've gotta go outside n' enjoy daylite?   of course, we should stay out'f the harmful uv rays'f the sun.   skin cancer's not fun.   also, don'tchu think sun exposure ages ur skin?   that's what i've observed.

[later] u know how last wk, i kept saying my trip to denver was the longest time i went w/o sooni?   that's very much not true cos sooni wasn't w/ us in hawaii last fall!   what i really should've sed is that this was the longest time that the beautiful kaela hwang spent alone w/ sooni.   it wasn't 'bout me but her, i guess.   i've always sed that i'm 2 egocentric.

didn't i fall asleep reltaively early last nite.   i awoke rather early this morn but went back to sleep.   kaela prob'ly made it rather on time to her 740a class.   me, i didn't get to werk as early as i hoped cos i went n' walked sooni 4 a decently long time.   i wanted to give her a good walk 2day 4 1nce in a long time.   she pooped 2ice; she pooped big 2ice.   i worry 'bout all the mosquitos i c by the creek.   i don't like'em.

2morrow, our adult beginner taekwondo class starts.   wow, this wk, i'll be teaching taekwondo (on thurs nite) n' then leading bible study on fri nite.   on sat, i'm s'pposed to mc @ the stanfurd open taekwondo tournament, but i haven't yet gotten much details from ernest.   i've got lots'f dj stuff to werk on as well 4 the upcoming weddings.   the 1st wedding's coming up in like 2 wks.   [later] 4 my dj/musik stuff, i wonder if i should buy an external hd sometime. *sigh* expenidures, u know?

[later] 오후: dude, b4 i went to denver, i went to albertsons n' bought 1 tube'f aquafresh tartar control toothpaste (nuthin' fancy) cos it came w/ 3 free sony connect downloads.   @ the time, those aquafresh tubes were $1 each.   dude, that's a really good deal cos u pay $1 4 a tube'f toothpaste n' then get 3 99¢ downloads; so u're like making $2 off'f this.   i should've bought more!   u'r allowed up to 10'f these deals, man.

[later] 왼쪽 sinister left side: yesterday, my left ankle was sooo messed up in the early morn; but by 1000a, it was ok.   last nite, i discovered that my left knee was all bruised up.   i dunno how i bruised it, but kaela sed she 'membered that i banged it on some furniture somewhere but couldn't 'member where.   i don't 'member.   2day, my left elbow's sore.   hrm, i get this kind'f sore elbow when i mess it up weightlifting, most often bench pressing.   i need to maintain muscle mass but don't wanna injure my joints.

[later] i need to organise my musik n' my pix.   i should be sure to compile like a cd or dvd'f all my favourite pix.   i haven't printed out digipix in a long time.   yesterday, sandy (toby's wife betty's sister; who werks @ my company) stopped by my cube to say hi.   she pted out that i don't have pix up.   yah, i used to have pix up in my old cubicle, but when i moved i never put them back up.   part'f it's cos i werk w/ some ppl r that r so "bizness only," that they make me feel silly 4 having personal items in my cube.   u know what, tho'?   they're wrong; flat out wrong.   most'f my other cowerkers have plenty'f pix'f their families up, u know?   why torture myself? *sigh* i'm so sick'f abnegation 4 abnegation's sake.

[later] sony connect has some kewl "exclusive" tracks.   aktually, they have a decent selektion'f ccm (contemporary christian musik).   a while 'go, we had that guest speaker @ grx.   i think his name was jaeson ma.   his 1st name, i think was spelled like that, which is funny cos it looks kind'f korean that way, but he's cantonese chinese.amerikan.   @ the same time, maybe that spelling just looks plain more asian. *shrug* neway... he sed he briefly had a job w/ sony musik, werking w/ christian musik.   i wonder if he might've werked 4 connect.... *shrug* well, *shrug* maybe sony just plain does a lot'f ccm.   neway, hrm... what r some tracks that i'd like to download?   there's this femmes fatales tekno album that's a connect "exclusive," which i wouldn't mind, tho' it's $9.99 4 14 tracks.   what else?   heh, it's kind'f embarassing, but i do like lots'f kelly clarkson's musik, so i'm thinking'f dling her 2 tracks from her sony connect set.   i think barlowgirl's interesting n' heard'f'em cos'f a rebecca st. james album; but i dunno if i like their songs 'nuff to buy'em. *shrug* "tell me all your thoughts on god cause i'd really like to meet her and ask her, 'why we're who we are?'   tell me all your thoughts on god cause i'm on my way to see her, so tell me am i very far am i very far now, am i very far now, am i very far now?"   'member that throwback to the mid 1990s???   there's a connect set version.   i knew already that there's a connect set version'f aqualung's "brighter than sunshine."

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 직장에서: i bought a bunch'f sony connect tracks, mostly 4 djing weddings.   well, i don't know this company, but winkflash.com has 100 free 4" × 6" prints w/ the coupon code: GM85RS36.

목요일 오후: can u believe it's june now n' that our adult taekwondo beginners class @ u.s. taekwondo akademy begins 2nite?!   it's not overly sunny 2day, as far as i can c from my distant view'f the window from my cube.   i guess i had a closer view'f the outside during lunch, when i went downstairs to the cafeteria n' bought an beef enchilada plate.   i've been pretty bizzy, been werking hard in my cubicle, n' drowning out noise w/ musik i recently bought on sony connect.

here's an important message that i'm 4warding on to the gen'l publik from my ol' family friend n' friend during my days @ berkeley rosalyne shieh:

Hi everyone,

I am writing because I need your help.   As you may know, my father has been living and working in Taiwan for some time.   Until recently he was a Deputy Minister at the National Science Council.   About a week ago, he was arrested on suspicion of political corruption, bribery and embezzlement.   I know that he is not guilty and has done nothing wrong.   My father has been very open with the investigation.   They have seized his personal and business financial documents and have searched his apartment.   Even though they admit that they have not found any evidence of wrongdoing on his part, they are holding him without bail and he is not allowed to communicate with any friends or family.   We haven't spoken with him since his arrest a week ago and we have very little information about his personal state, except we know that he has spent some time in a holding cell without a bed, forced to sleep on the floor, and is not even allowed to wear his own clothing.   This shows a blatant disregard for due process and is in violation of his human and civil rights.   While he is not a US citizen, my mother, my brother and I are, and we are trying to bring this case to the awareness of our congressional representatives in hopes of showing those in Taiwan that international eyes are upon them and we will not tolerate this.   We have also been in contact with Amnesty International and they will hopefully be monitoring this situation.

We have set up a website at www.supportching.com for more details, information, etc.   Please take a look at it.

I am asking you to please contact your representatives and senators to voice your concern about this matter.   If you can, please email, write letters and follow up with a phone call.   I realize that as my father is no longer a US citizen, they may be at a loss as to how they can help, but I urge you to insist that they try to make it known to any representatives of Taiwan that they are aware of this and that they have been contacted by concerned members of their constituency.   Please write, email, call and visit your congresspersons.   It would be great if you can find the time to do so this week while congress is out of session as your congressional representatives should be at their home offices, but of course, any help at any time is well appreciated.

Please let me know (or email supportching@gmail.com) if you do and also pass along the name of your congress person as we will be following up starting next week with each congress member who has been contacted.
Please email or call me (714.xxx.xxxx) with any questions, suggestions, or if you can help in any way.
Please forward this email to others who might be able to help.

I really appreciate your time. Thank you very much.

I hope everyone is doing well.
Sincerely,
Rosalyne

[later] last nite, our friend dr. eric johnson came to visit us.   he's moving up here 4 werk.   i went to turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hour fitness after werk, then met up w/ eric @ our house.   i drove him out to santana row, n' we ate a late dinner @ straits café:.   we were both a li'l amazed @ how lively the place was on a wed nite.   wow!   later, the beautiful kaela hwang joined us, after her late personal training werkout @ the jacklin rd milpitas 24 hour fitness.   i ordered the hokkien bee hoon n' a couple pints'f stella artois.   later, kaela ordered some green curry dish that i recommended.   eric had this kewl chicken dish that had some kind'f asian polenta.   the fud was all really good.   'twas good to hang out w/ eric.   after our late, late dinner, i drove eric 'round some neighbourhoods'f west san jose, campbell, santa clara, n' sunnyvale.   i stayed up 2late last nite.   eric crashed @ our place.

this morn, i got to werk a li'l early.   i listend to this femme fatale digital album that i bought from sony connect.   it's kewl techno musik, but i chuckled to myself as i realised that this musik sounds a lot like what i hear @ express when i accompany kaela, $hopping.   ha ha ha!

[later] 금요일 오후: well, i'm in the middle'f quite a hektic end'f the wk.   i taught our 1st u.s. taekwondo akademy adult beginners class last nite, went to sparring praktice (w/ the beautiful kaela hwang 4 1nce), ate dinner w/ the taekwondo crew @ 양평 해장국 yangpyuhng haejanggook...   this morn, i decided to sleep in n' miss janice's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hr fitness.   i don't wanna crash 2nite while leading grx t3 south couples bible study.   2morrow, i've gotta wake up early, sacrifice my saturday skateboarding session @ the sunnyvale skate park n' go to stanfurd to mc the annual stanfurd open taekwondo tournament.   on sun morn, i've gotta sacrifice 'nother skateboarding session @ the sunnyvale skate park to go setup kidzone 4 grx @ the santa clara marriott.   crazy, huh? [later] our friend mark sez i'm trying to "out-kaela" kaela cos she's always talkin' 'bout how bizzy she is, etc.   *shrug* u know... it's just that w/ god, all things r possible.   it's only cos'f him that i can even attempt to get all this $#!+ done.   praise god.

월요일 오후: i haven't had time to keep a proper journal lately.   *shrug* i 'member well when 1'f the pastors @ grx sed that only u r impressed by how busy u r.   that's true.   many'f us, in this day n' age, in these industries, in these regions, tell our friends, "oh, man! i'm so bussy.   i don't have time this week to hang out."   2 often, ppl do indeed cm to say this in an attempt to validate themselves, in essence, saying, "hey, i'm an important person.   i've got important things to do."   however, yah... the pastor who sed that (i 4get which) was very rt.   we're not impressed.   i mean, heck; we might say, "oh, wow.   u'r so bizzy; u must be an important person," etc.   however, deep down... that fades fast.   last nite, i picked up some cds @ streetlights along the campbell / san josé "bascom circuit."   'mongst these discs is the david crowder band's sunsets & sushi.   it's a pretty kewl album.

[later] it was only recently, when i brought duk to ken's house that i learned 'bout air 1 radio.

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 징장에서: *sigh* i know i'm trying to accomplish 'lot these days.   some ppl might think i'm crazy.   i'm still trying to make ppl/friends a hi priority in my life.   well, aktually... i want to make god's werk my ultimate priority in life, n' i hope i'm sticking to his plan. *shrug*   yah, i'm bizzy...   i werk.   i have lots'f pressure @ werk.   i worry 'bout not getting a raise this yr.   i worry 'bout how ppl perceive me @ werk.   yah, i worry.   i try to do a good_job@werk.com   i try to look past negative energy here.   i'm gonna take this online seminar 'bout "dealing with difficult people."   i've looked thru some'f the course material.

[later] 2morrow's the cali state primary elektion.   honestly, i'm lost on picking a gubernatorial race candidate: westley or angelides?!   i like that westley has werked in the sort'f tech industry, being from ebay n' all.   also, he cms to have more appeal n' might care more 4 the asian.am community cos his wife cms to be asian, rt?   angelides on the other hand has all the important endorsements.   he cms to be a really smart guy n' has a good, progressive vision.   i just worry ppl'll c him as 'nother gray davis, thinking he's 2 nerdy... like, he does kind'f look like whatshisname... the dad from american pie.

수요일 아침: i didn't get 'round to posting an entry yesterday, which was 2006년06월06일, aka 06.06.06.   well, the world didn't end yesterday.   i've been so bizzy lately.   this morn, i wanted to wake up super.early but couldn't.   honestly, i wanted to wake up early, hurry up n' walk sooni, n' then sneak off to the sunnyvale skateboard park 4 a quick pre.werk session.   however, that didn't happen @ all.   instead, i groggily fell in n' out'f sleep.   then the beautiful kaela hwang came in from an all.niter.   i guess she was studying in her office.   i ate some albertsons brand cereal w/ some blueberries.   i let kaela pull on my ankle.   uh, u c my ankle's been hurting, n' so i wanted kaela do some chiropraktic stuff to it.   my ankle hurts, not from taekwondo or skateboarding, but from wearing running shoes to turbo kick box (tkb) class.   i need to weawr crosstrainers instead.   however, my 1nce beautiful new balance crosstrainers r now all beat up n' falling 'part, so i've been opting to wear my newer adidas running shoes to turbo kick box (tkb) instead.   those shoes r 2 grippy n' put 2 much strain on my ankles.   it's all nice to try to buck ¢on$umeri$m n' say that athletik performance isn't affekted by footwear.   i definitely wouldn't buy into that ol' 1980s nike ad slogan 'bout how "it's the shoes."   hwoever, man.... to some extent, u've gotta have the rt equipment 4 the game.   skateboarding shoes offer increased safety.   crosstrainers as well increase safety.   if i had a decent pair'f crosstrainers, maybe i wouldn't be straining my ankle so much.   otherwise, man... we ought to do turbo kick box (tkb) barefoot!   i praktice taekwondo barefoot fine!   yah, honestly, i think turbo kick box'd be better barefoot, but shoot... i'm sure they require shoes, saying it's a safety thing.

a while 'go, i asked our friend ernest to order 4 me from vision usa an adidas brand, size 5 black belt w/ embroidery, "황명록" (hwang myungrok) on 1 side n' "머클리 대학교" (buhkeulri daehakkyo) on the other.   @ the stanfurd tournament, i ran into sophia.   ernest had told me that sophia now werks 4 vision usa.   i confirmed that w/ her, n' she immediately asked, "ok, whadya want?", knowing that every1 wants to order stuff from her, hoping to get "hook up" di$¢out.   i told her 'bout how i wanted that embroidered black belt to replace the 1 i lost.   i sed that i'd e.mail her the graphics soon.   i still hven't done that but should.   @ the tournament, i also ran into our ol' friend charles chang, who now also werks 4 vision usa.   i saw him werking the vision usa foto area.   i spotted him on my way to the restroom, but he didn't cm to recognise me.   while peeing, i thought to myself, "shoot, that guy's charles, rt?   if not, i'm gonna bring him over to the 'puter n' show him a pic'f charles online to show him how much he looks like charles."   well, on my way back to the announcer's stand (my werkspot 4 the day), i heard some1 call my name.   alas, 'twas charles.   neway, i still hope to buy that embroidered belt whether it comes via sophia or ernest.   however, it's funny cos i experienced a phenomenon this past saturday.   yah, i was werking 4 stanfurd, the skool that by age old tradition is my alma mater'f berkeley's arch rival.   in taekwondo, stanfurd n' berkeley dont' have so much a tradition'f rivalry but more a tradition'f comradery.   in reality, iowa state universty is berkeley's arch rival in collegiate taekwondo.   neway, dude! i'm totally straying from the pt... the pt is that i did talk n' hang out w/ the berkeley constituency a li'l, 'specially in the morn.   i did talk to the likes'f roland, sophia, coleen, jacky, wei, roanna,... however, there were also many students whom, yes, i had met b4, but no, i didn't know very well.   in anticipating attending n' helping out @ the stanfurd spring open taekwondo tournament, i was kind'f hoping to be reunited w/ cal taekwondo while there.   however, i've gotta admit that i felt like there was some certain common bond missing.   as i was explaining to our good friend phil, 'twas like many ppl cmed to know me kind'f from hearsay, maybe knew that i used to be the demo team captain etc. in the past.   however, they didn't really know me, not 'nuff to really converse w/ me.   i had thought maybe i'd hafta decide whether to hang out w/ the berkeley crew, hang out w/ the u.s. taekwondo akademy crew, or (the best idea) to try to combine the 2.   however, honestly, @ the end'f the tournament, i realised that i felt like i didn't really "fit in" w/ the berkeley crew nemore.   maybe i'm like ron salvador, who's a bit older than me n' left berkeley b4 i did n' now's part'f stanfurd taekwondo.   i didn't c him go n' talk to berkeley ppl @ all.   aktually, the whole time that i was announcing 4 the tournament, i was stationed rt next to 'nother person who was 1nce a part'f berkeley taekwondo, alex.   [a li'l later] in ne case, i aktually, do hope to get reacquainted w/ cal taekwondo.   i hope to get to know better the younger generation.   someday...   @ the same time, i'm finding that we're developing quite a taekwondo p.crew down here w/ u.s. taekwondo akademy.   our skool's gotten pretty social.   we go to eat after praktices 'lot n' talk more n' more 'bout more stuff, becoming closer friends n' all.   i noticed yesterday that 1'f our new black belt friends jennfier already wewars a "u.s. taekwondo academy" belt.   yah, i wondered if i ought to be wearing 1 as well insetad'f a berkeley belt.   *sigh* i don't wanna get into all the messy politiks'f taekwondo.   however, yah... as my rank comes from berkeley, i honestly'd still rather wear the berkeley belt.

[later] 저녁... 아니... 밤, 921p: *sigh* what a day, man.   well, i werked all day.   i had lunch w/ a cowerker @ 길목 gilmok.   yesterday, i had lunch w/ my cowerker/grx friend connie @ sushi o sushi.   cos i patronised 길목 gilmok's neighbour yesterday n' 양평 해장국 yangpyuhng haejanggook (their other neighbour) last thurs nite, i felt that i needed to return to 길목 gilmok 2day, especially to let the 어저씨 ajuhssi n' 아줌마 ajoomma there know that i'm not mad @ them 4 the bug in kaela's 낸면 naengmyuhn last time (on memorial day).   like, it's not like it's good that there was a bug in her 냉면 naengmyuhn, but i know 'twas a 1tym thing, n' 'twon't happen 'gain.   i ordered 졸면 jjolmyuhn.   my order took a long time.   it finally arrived, n' i started eating it.   soon, the 아저씨 ajuhssi ran over w/ 'nother bowl'f 쫄면 jjolmyuhn, saying that my 1st bowl was the wrong order cos it wasn't spicy 'nuff.   he sed i'm a regular n' that he knows i like my fud spicy.   man, what a nice guy!   i ended up eating the new bowl n' taking the 1st bowl home.   that was very nice'f him.

after werk, i went to will's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hour fitness.   i tried to werkout hard.   @ the end'f the werkout, i was stretching n' noticed brown marks by my left knee on my werkout pants.   shoot!   i had cut myself!   i guess i had plopped down hard on my knee earlier n' cut my knee on a rivet on my pants.   *sigh* cos'f adrenaline, i didn't feel a thing.   well, i showered quickly, expekting to meet up w/ our good friend phil.   however, as i left the gym, i checked my v.mail (voicemail) n' learned that phil'd cancelled 2nite's sobay trip 4 an unexplained reason.   well, i returned home n' ate the leftover 쫄면 jjolmyuhn.   it's a nice warm nite.   *sigh* evenings fly by so fast.   shoot, i was gonna go out to either guitar showcase or guitar center 2nite to pick up a stereo rca to xlr cable 4 my dj equipment.   shoot, it's prob'ly 2late now, eh?

[later] 945p *sigh* wow, the evning flies by.   *sigh* i've got lots'f stuff to do.   i've got lots'f dj stuff to do.   i wonder if i ought to have a "life coach" to help me prioritise my life.   *shrug* well, i should pray 'bout this, u know?   crazy crazy, man.   lots'f stuff to juggle.   i feel pressure, yah.   i'm kind'f glad i don't watch much tv now, i guess.   tv can really waste ur time.   i should avoid watching 2 much youtube.com as well.   youtube.com's the new tv, in a way.

[later] 951p: i just had a thought - 1 thing i hate 'bout vakations n' travel is that it trows off ur werkout routine.   isn't crazy i think like that?   *shrug* c?   that's why i don't travel much.   am i such a creature'f routine?   *shrug* well, when i travel, i like to have aktive vakations w/ lots'f exercise. *sigh* i don't have time/$$$ to travel neway. :-/ well, i'll be going to vegas next month 4 kaela's sister jeanna's wedding.   yah, as i've sed b4; personally, i don't love vegas; but, eh, i'll make the most'f it.   i know there're fun things to do there.   the idea that it's "sin city" doesn't appeal to me, but *shrug*... it's not that i'm just such a frickin' righteous man... it's more like, i don't like the idea'f just overeating, being pampered 4 the rt pri¢e, n' not exercising. heh...

ok, so what else's up?   yesterday, i turned in kaela's n' my absentee voter ballots.   i dunno who kaela picked 4 the demokratic gubernatorial candidate, but i picked... suspense?   i picked steve westly...   crazy, huh?   well, i figured he was the 1 to beat arnold schwarzeneggar cos he has more charisma, in my book.   neway, phil angelides won, n' that's fine.   honestly, it wasn't like "picking the lesser'f 2 poisons."   rather, i felt both were great but had to choose 1.

last nite, i went to taekwondo praktice n' also lead w/ mark an open werkout that turned more into a normal class.   i'm glad i have enthusiastik, kewl students.   i guess i feel good that i've gotten more involved 'gain in taekwondo.

목요일 아침: *sigh* each day, i want to wake up earlier but don't.   *sigh* it sucks; but i'm wondering if it's cos i'm exercising more now, so my body wants more rest. *shrug* man, i like almost slept 8 hrs last nite.   sure, that's how much u'r s'pposed to get, but really... 'mongst ppl like me, that's unheard'f!   like, i went to sleep 'round 1130p last nite, n' i tried to wake up @ like 600a but kept going back to sleep (snoozing) until like 740a.   that's awful.

[later] 오후: well, how r u?   what's up w/ u these days?   i'm trying to keep in touch w/ friends, u know?

그요일 아침: "it's friday, i'm in love":   i recently pur¢a$ed @ streetlight records on the bascom circuit the 50 first dates soundtrack that has a bunchf islandish covers'f mostly 9180s n' 1990s modern rock / altrock favourites.   dude, those covers rock.   1'f the covers's'f the cure's "friday i'm in love."   it, of course, rocks.   so what's been up?   i s'ppose i've been trying to stay active.

taekwondo: last nite, i rushed out'f werk, picked up sooni, picked up my 도복 dobok top, n' rushed to the u.s. taekwondo akademy adult beginners class that mark n' i teach.   we started late, n' i didn't get as much done as i'd hoped, so i dragged my students out onto the walkway by the parking lot after class n' continued to teach.   then mark n' i went in 4 black belt sparring praktice.   dude, it's awful!   i accidentally kicked 1'f our best female sparrers flat out in the groin! :-( i feel horrible!   she's really good, so i didn't take as many precautions to hold back or nething.   seriously, she's good.   however, of course, i outweigh her by 'lot, so i knocked her over a couple'f times w/ push kicks, which isn't a really grand technique or nething, just sheer weight.   i didn't mean to, but... well, it's mostly cos i, myself, am not that confident 'gain yet w/ my sparring, so i just sort'f reakted w/ an "oh shoot" n' a quick cut/push kick those 2 times.   then we clashed knees a couple'f times, which threw off our games (both'f us).   then @ the very end, i saw her coming in, so i threw a left, counter back kick.   i did hold back cos w/ that kick i even hold back on the guys in praktice, reserving a full strength, full speed kick only 4 (if it ever were to happen 'gain) a competition.   still, even a held back / pulled counter back kick can be pretty bad.   i thought i kicked her under her 호구 hogoo in the stomach.   later, after the match, she was doubled over.   later, i found out i'd kicked her flat out in the crotch. *sigh* really bad!   after that match, i was up 'gainst 1'f our best competitors n' just plain 1'f the best competitors i know these days, matt.   i was thinking, "dang, now i'll get a beating in return."   after praktice, we went to 길목 gilmok, where i ate 김치 돌솥밥 kimchi dolsotbap.   thus, i went to 길목 gilmok 2 days in a row.   the others @ our skool r upset w/ the 아저씨 ajuhssi there cos'f the beautiful kaela hwang's bug in her 냉면 naengmyuhn incident; but i dunno... i think both kaela n' i've 4given them; so i've been trying to patronise them more this week.   길목 gilmok has a really good relationship w/ our church grx, so i wanna support them.   not only that, they have good fud.   well, i'm on the topik'f coed sports 2day.   on that note, i'll mention that most'f my adult beginners taekwondo class is female.   isn't that interseting?   i'd been telling the guys @ u.s. taekwondo akademy 4 a long time that what our skool needs is more females.   well, i hope we're bringing up a new generation.   c, @ ucmap, in cal, we alwyas had a good nombre'f women.   that was always kewl.   it keeps the class social; n' in fakt, it really makes some guys train harder cos they don't wanna look bad in front'f the gurls.   either they wanna look good in front'f the gurls or 'least they don't wanna look bad in front'f the gurls.   honestly! it's a big help.   on their own, if guys turn taekwondo into such a barbaric, paramilitary aktivity, it's 2 easy to get discouraged or bored.   however, if u bring in women, then it turns into a more normal aktivity that u don't mind doing so many hrs a day, every day a wk!

skateboarding: this morn, i kind'f wanted to go to janice's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hour fitness.   kaela came home late last nite but had to leave early to skool 4 a test or sumpthin' n' told me to make sure she woke up.   she also sed she'd bring sooni to skool 2day.   that was great cos, then, i didn't hafta walk her (sooni).   i bet she needed to poop this morning (sooni).   well, since kaela n' sooni were out the door b4 700a, dude! i took off to the sunnyvale skate park, no doubt! (jn' no diggity, to reel us back into the 1990s...)   i found the usual older morning crew.   i like these guys.   they're mellow.   they're nice.   i should talk to them more.   i'm kind'f shy w/ them, but that obviously might come off as stuck up.   well, i skated 4 a whiel, then... to keep this "coed sports" theme going, lemme tell u: a gurl came to skate.   this is the 2nd time i've cn this @ the sunnyvale skate park.   transworld magazine praises sunnyvale skate park 4 the laid back, nice attitude, the nice architekture'f the park, n' the fakt that there r gurl skaters.   last time, the gurl that showed up was more'f a skate betty, just there to cheer on her man but had a skateboard in her hand n' dressed like she came rt out'f a avril lavigne video.   this time, this asian chick skater really ripped the bowls!   she was outskating many'f the guys there.   pretty durn good, man.   as 4 me, 2day, i continued my werk from my previous day in the skate park n' tried to ride the coping more w/ variable results, meaning mostly bad results.   usually i get 1 truck on the coping, get my board stuck, n' then step off n' run/stumble down the bank/tranny/transition.   i gotta say, i did manage to pull off a sketchy backside 5.0 grind @ 1 pt, but it's barely worth mentioning.

2day, i'm skipping the other friday janice's noontime turbo kick box (tkb) class to go to lunch w/ my cowerkers @ krung thai (#1).   2nite, i'll be going to the grx t3 south bbq, which wraps up our 0.25.   i guess we'll be taking a brk 4 the summer n' then shall resume in the fall as 2 groups instead'f 1.   we're "multiplying."   wow, it's weekend soon.   it's gonna be the wknd soon.   the wknd'll start soon.   how'll this wknd be?   well, i hope to hit the sunnyvale skate park each morn: sat n' sun.   i guess i worry a li'l 'bout my increased sun exposure w/ all this skating.   i guess it'd be nice to have an indoor skate park.   the silicon valley used to have an indoor skate park, which was the vans skate park in the great mall, but that closed down.   i s'ppose it's cos most ppl'd rather skate 4 free instead'f paying to skate.   i know i would.   unless theere were sumpthin' that good 'bout the pay skate park.   mostly, i want a skate park where a 30 yr old guy can skate w/o kids laffin' @ him.

btw, all sports should be coed.   well... i dunno if taekwondo tournaments need coed matches or nething... but it's good to train in a coed environment.   as u know, i don't play futbol, basketball, or baseball.   if i were to play like softball, i'd prefer it to be in a coed enivironment.   often, ppl play coed, recreational volleyball, i s'ppose.   our friend gordon met his lovely wife (n' mutha'f his twin boys) meredith, playing ice hockey.   snowboarding's a coed aktivity.

[later] "art rock": 1 tune i really like off the 50 first dates o.s.t. (original soundtrack) is the cover'f the tune "slave to love."   now, is that a bryan ferry or roxy music song?   or is it "roxy music featuring bryan ferry"?   neway, it's an ol' new wave (funny, "old new") tune that i immediately recognised.   when i read the wikipedia articles 'bout bryan ferry n' roxy music, i think 'bout the talking heads.   hrm... do these groups have sumpthin' in common?   consider: roxy music, the talking heads, the velvet underground.   r these all related?   r these groups the forefathers'f new wave n' "modern rock"? *shrug*   [later] oh yah, david bowie!   how does he fit into this?   also, how 'bout iggy pop?   didn't he have a group called "iggy and the stooges"?   i dunno... where does this pre new wave genre end n' punk begin?   like, i would shy 'way from lumping the sex pistols n' the ramones into here, w/o doubt.   altho' they obviously had a big part in shaping "modern rock" altho' not so much "new wave."

[later] 오후: i went to lunch @ krung thai, ate chicken tofu khee mao.

me forsaking
heart is breaking
i let go of what i've held so tight
freedom's mine now
for the taking
i move in faith, not by sight
let your will be done

heh, so the benocritic bags on me cos 1 sec i'm talkin' 'bout all this 1970s classic altrock, n' then the next i'm quoting christian, kelly clarksonesque bubblegum pop, eh?   ha ha.   eh, whate'er, man.   i'm just a versatile guy.

[later] yah, i totally dig rebecca st. james's musik these days.   i also dig the tunes'f the david crowder band.   u've gotta check out the remix'f their song "no one like you" on sunsets & sushi.   it's pretty well done in retro 1980s style, the "thanksgiving mix."   pretty kewl.

skating in the streets makes my wheels durty.   skating in the skate park makes my wheels clean.

241albums@connect.com

화요일 아침: i didn't know that tuesdays r 2.4.1 album days @ sony connect.com.   that's not a bad deal.   i should be an album 2day sometime. *shrug*

수요일 아침: i've gotta 'member to go to longs drugs to buy some neutrogena spf 55 oil free sunblock.   i have a $1 off ¢oupon, n' it's on $ale.   this morn, i was planning to hit the sunnyvale skate park b4 werk; but, after taking sooni 4 a walk, it got kind'f late, so i instead opted to go to werk early.   this past wknd, i was @ the sunnyvale skate park on sat.   u know how i mentioned that on fri i saw 1 gurl skater.   well, on sat, i saw that there was 1 mom skater.   do u 'member how i met this kid named donny on my 1st visit to the skate park.   well, his mom 'pparently (sort'f) skates.   she sed she used to be able to carve up the bowls, but she now just cms to roll 'round on the outside'f the bowls on the flat ground.   neway, i really like the nice, friendly atmosphere @ the sunnyvale skate park.

this past sun afternoon, i shelled out even more dough on dj equipment: i bought a case 4 my new crown 602 amp n' a shure wireless mic system.   crazy!

[later] this morn, while walking sooni, i wondered, "do u 'member?   is endor (in star wars a moon or a planet?"   i'm sure a quick wiki(pedia) search'll answer my question!   oh yah, ok... endor is a planet; but, just as i thought, the place where the ewoks live... that's a moon'f endor!   plz check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_moon_of_Endor.   i mean... only if u'r geeky 'nuff... (if it's 2 geeky 4 u, just let it go.)

[later] 오후: ok, now that it's afternoon; here's 'nother geeky wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilbert

2day, the beautiful kaela hwang picked me up 4 lunch, n' we ate @ crazy buffet just cos we found a ¢oupon 4 it in the silicon valley metro.   i'd heard from my my bro.in.law (my sister's husband) steve that crazy buffet's gotten into trouble 4 hiring illegal immigrants n' stuff like that.   well, i figured we could go there 1nce w/o ne harm, rt?

[later] 4 our u.s. taekwondo akademy adult beginners class, i asked all the students to introduce themselves to each other over an e.mail distribution list.   since my co.instruktor mark introduced himself, i figured i should also introduce myself.   this is what i wrote:

hi class,

i should participate as well in this round of introductions since some of you only know me from class and maybe my blurb in the flyer.   i’m your instructor beno hwang.   my full name is bernard lloyd hwang, but most cool people call me “beno.” it’s a name my high school friend gave me, and it stuck.   it’s more universal, in that some people can’t pronounce “bernard.” a long time ago, someone said that whenever our taekwondo master in the past at berkeley would call out “bernard,” my friends would ask each other, “who’s ‘boner?’”   yeah, some people can’t pronounce that name too well, so “beno” is fine.

unlike some of the other skilled black belts at our school, i actually didn’t start my taekwondo education until age 18.   i hope that’s inspiration for you adults that you can achieve some degree of proficiency in taekwondo without having practiced it since birth.   my opinion is that one can’t understand too well certain concepts and philosophies until he/she has reached some level of maturity.   at the same time, i studied music since the age of three and can understand the benefits of having practiced fundamental basics from an early age, since i’ve observed how my musical education differed from that of adults.

well, i live in santa clara, in a house, with my wife kaela, and our dog sooni; both whom you’ve all met.   during the day, i work as a mechanical engineer for applied materials.   on weekends, i work as a mobile dj, mostly just doing weddings nowadays.   my nontaekwondo, extra-curricular activities include snowboarding, skateboarding, watching korean dramas, and eating spicy food.   i’ve been snowboarding for fourteen years and usually make it to the slopes at least ten times a season.   because of this past snow season’s brevity, i picked up an old hobby from my high school days and try to hit the sunnyvale skate park a couple of times each weekend that i’m not in tahoe.   (oh yeah, keep in mind that i was 50 pounds heavier before college.   once, in high school, i cracked my skateboard deck when i jumped up onto a planter.)   i’m really horrible at ball sports and prefer boardsports and other activities that focus more on core or lower body muscles and overall agility.   at 24 hour fitness i regularly attend turbo kick box classes.   they’re no replacement for real martial arts classes but add extra cardio and punching.   i’m a christian and hang out at a church called grx along with many others from our class and taekwondo school.   i definitely invite others to join us.

from this class, i hope to get good practice at teaching taekwondo basics.   we instructors learn as much as, if not more than, you.   teaching gives me a chance to get extra exercise.   also, i definitely hope to expand the social network of u.s. taekwondo academy.   i’ve definitely made great friends through taekwondo and believe that you will as well.

that reminds me: we should plan some social events very soon (in addition to our fourth of july beach trip).   we should try to have a beginners class dinner some night.   please start discussing which night would be best for you.   i imagine we’d prefer to go out after one of our practices, either tuesday or thursday night.   a tuesday night would allow the instructors to attend the sparring class after teaching the thursday night class.   however, if students don’t mind waiting through the sparring class, then it’s not an issue.

i’ve compiled everyone else’s introductions below.   i’ll include our assistant instructors on this e-mail and give them a chance to introduce themselves and talk about what they hope to get out of our class.   (i suppose i’m also including assistant assistant instructors and various black belts who seem to come around now and then to offer encouraging words.)   also, i know i agnes’s e-mail wrong in the original e-mail, so i’ve corrected it now, and she’ll finally have a chance to introduce herself.

~beno

[later] 밤, 1142p: after werk (i werked a very long day, starting early n' staying late), i went to will's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hour fitness.   i stretched n' lifted a li'l after.   then i showered n' went home, where kaela n' i just ate microwaved pizza n' white castle sliders 4 dinner.   crazy, huh?   i've been werking on dj stuff the rest'f the nite.   *sigh* lots'f werk to do...

목요일 아침: this morn, the beautiful kaela hwang n' i both woke up a li'l earlier, which is great.   kaela went off to her final, but me? i rushed w/ sooni's walk in order to get a good hr in @ the sunnyvale skate park b4 werk.   i still wanted to get to werk early cos 2nite i'll be teaching taekwondo, so i've gotta leave @ a decent hr.   i wondered what to weawr 2day, considering i'd go skating b4 werk.   quickly, i threw on some blue jeans, a grey t.shirt n' then a black button up over the grey t.shirt.   i figured, i could shed the button up n' put on a jacket while skating n' then trade back 4 werk.   (btw, my skate shoes r grey.)   neway, when i took sooni 4 her walk, i had to pick a hat to put on, since i always wear a hat when i take sooni 4 her walks since i wanna protekt myself from the sun's evil rays.   i 1st grabbed my blue cal engineering hat but realised it clashed w/ my clothes.   i then grabbed my white applied materials hat, but it didn't match either.   i finally settled on my black amd opteron 64 n' departed w/ sooni 4 our walk.   i'd realised this b4 but was well reminded 'gain this morning that, "shoot, i sure have a nerdy selektion'f hats!" just think: cal engineering, applied materials, amd opteron 64... man, i'm the quintessential silicon valley nerd!!!   well, when i skate, i wear some hawaiian surfware co. or sumpthin' hat that i bought 4 ¢heap in kona last oktober.   pretty soon tho', i'll wear a helmet.   yah, this past sat, while waiting to pick up kaela from her seminar to go to lunch @ the milpitas pasta pomodoro, i went to sports basement w/ sooni n' bought myself a pro.tec classic (basic) skateboarding helmet 4 ¢heap.   'twas $25 - 10%n cos'f my 24 hour fitness membership.   not bad!   also, on sat evening, when i went to help my mom babysit nolan n' mason w/ sooni, i picked up my ol' rector skateboarding knee pads.   dude, i also happily saw that my ol' skateboard decks r still in the garage.   u know, they're worth a lot'f $$$ now!   collektors'll buy my ol' skateboard decks 4 a good pri¢e!   i saw i have my original team hosoi christian hosoi pro model.   kewl!   christian hosoi's a hero'f mine, u know? his becoming a pastor n' all...   cing that ol' deck inspired me to bid on a christian hosoi vintage hammerhead skates patch on ebay.   the guy set the buy it now pri¢e as $45 or sumpthin'! crazy, huh?   however, i was the only bidder, so i picked it up r $9.99 + $2.99 s& h.   where'll i stick it? *shrug* i considered sticking the black patch on my amd opteron 64 hat over the amd opteron 64 logo; but... *sigh* that'd be sad.   that hat's nerdy, n' i shouldn't force it to be nething else.   i dunno.   maybe i'll sew it onto a hoodie or sumpthin'.

this morn, i went to the sunnyvale skate park.   when i got there, there were just these 2 chicano guys that i've cn there b4.   always, 1 guy skates (n' skates decently well), while the other just watches. *shrug* well, not 2 long after i arrived, they left.   then, i was alone 4 a while, just skatin' the bowls.   then, this 1 old skool skater dude came.   (uh, i feel kind'f awkward @ this pt in writing cos i pted out the 2 guys earlier were chicano.   must i pt out that this guy n' his friend clint r caucasian guys?)   neway, the ol' skool skater dude, who pulled up in a construktion company truck, pulled me aside n' gave me some pointers.   he sed when i turn @ the coping, i tend to throw my rear shoulder back.   then, my board goes forward, but my body gets left behind, and i end up stepping off my board.   true.   he sed i should think 'bout leading w/ my front elbow.   hrm...   so i started trying that.   oh yah, he also encouraged me to take the banks @ more'f an angle, i think.   yah, u know what?   i know 'xaktly where my tendency to throw my rear shoulder back @ the top'f the banks comes from!   it's from snowboarding!!!   in snowboarding, i can do that, n' my board'll slide into a nice carve or whate'er, u know? (more likely a slide on ice in the more probable case'f riding in the 0.5pipe...)   hrm... it's funny tho'... in snowboarding, i ride 0.5pipe better front side; but in skateboarding i ride 0.5pipe better backside.   why is that?!

well, 2day i had 1 near miss n' 1 fall.   1st, i 1nce caught a li'l air, coming out'f the bowl n' my board did kind'f a backside disaster n' my body flew back into the board, but i was able to run it out on my feet.   later, in the popular shallow bowl, upong reentry from a backside grind (i guess), i let my board slip out from under me n' i fell on my back.   that was the worst fall i've had yet in the skate park.   i banged my left elbow.   i wondered if it was bleeding.   i skated out the shock n' even rode the bowl 1 more time just to stay loose.   later, i rode over to the curb that borders the bowl area'f the park n' sat down n' took off my hurley pullover.   yah, i'd acquired an abrasion on my left elbow, not a bad 1 or nething, just a li'l 1.   in the past, i'd gotten some bad road rash from falling while street skating.   luckily, the skate park surface is nice n' smooth.   however, the sheer impakt'f the fall managed to pull my skin apart a li'l, i guess.   well, i have a helmet now.   i have knee pads.   i have dakine wrist guards from snowboarding.   i don't typically weawr those while snowboarding... they don't fit 2 well inside my mittens, i guess.   i'll try to start to wear those while skating.   i've just gotta buy some elbow pads.   what size? *shrug* hrm...i don't think sports basement sells elbow pads, do they?   across from the skate park, there's fishbanks skate shop, which i've yet to patronise.   i've never entered it.   i've been to copeland's boardshop of course inside copeland sports in valley fair.   i've gone there to look @ snowboarding stuff but've shyed 'way from the skateboarding stuff cos i usually feel like such a yuppie wheh i $hop @ valley fair n' don't feel i fit in w/ the teenagers that hang out in the skateboarding sektion.   i guess that's why i also avoid pacific sunwear n' hot topic, even tho' i admire their boardsports inspired, youthful couture/fashion.   when i was a kid, i used to be able to buy some skateboarding supplies @ pacific sunwear (pacsun).   well, where should i go to buy some elbow pads.   also, if i get all padded up, then i should probably wear shorts n' short sleeves to skate, huh? *shrug* my knees n' elbows'll get all sweatty.

dude... all this talk 'bout skateboarding... u prob'ly think i'm so immature.   i can't emphasize 'nuff: when i go to the sunnyvale skate park ('least @ the hrs that i go), i'm often the youngest guy in the park!   skateboarding's the new golf! 'least in the silicon valley...   keep in mind: san josé has a long history'f skateboarding culture!

just an ad: plz use my restaurant.com affiliate link to buy a local restauranat gift certificate @ a di$¢ount pri¢e (b4 they kick me out'f the affiliate program).

so where should i buy some elbow pads?   online? (like from ccs?)   then 'gain, i ought to try'em on b4 i buy'em.   *sigh* :-/ dude, this wk, i've got so much dj stuff to attend to; i prob'ly shouldn't spend 2 much time on skateboarding!   dj stuff n' taekwondo; i've gotta focus on those 2 things.

local restaurants w/ outdoor dining ('ccording to opentable.com): 19 market (vietnamese), habana cuba, left bank santana row, mccormick & schmick's (seafud), paragon, spiedo, thea mediterranean cuisine, yankee pier santana row, birk's (santa clara), junnoon (indian in palo alto), quattro @ the 4 seasons hotel (italian in palo alto), cascal (latin tapas in mtn view), crimson ("american" in los gatos), forbes mill steakhouse (los gatos), manresa (français en los gatos [les chats]), fontana's italian (cupertino)...

[later] 오후: so i drove out to cupertino this afternoon to have lunch w/ kaela n' (her classmate friend) rachel @ this relatively new restaurant called hc dumpling house, which replaced the place that was called "stone house" (i believe).   we had 1 order'f the hc special juicy dumplings, 1 order'f the shrimp n' chives dumplings, and 1 order'f "french beans w/ chili sauce.   the fud was pretty good.   i s'ppose we ordered just 'nuff; not 2 li'l, not 2 much.   i get pretty bored when kaela's w/ a chiropraktic skool friend n' just talks non.stop chiropraktics.   well, after lunch, i hurred back to the office.

yesterday or the nite b4 (i 4get), i pur¢hased (oh yah, tues nite) on sony connect.com an album: smallville, volume 2: metropolis mix.   u c, i needed to pick up this 1 particular track lifehouse "you and me" 4 the wedding i'm djing on sun.   it was only available on 2 albums, both'f which required a full album pur¢ha$e: now that's what i call music 21 (or was it 20? i 4get.) n' this 1 smallville, volume 2: metropolis mix.   dude, i don't believe i've ever watched a single, full episode'f smallville, but i like this soundtrack.   it does contain the popular, somewhat recent depeche mode track "precious."   yah, of course i already had that.   yah, that was the prob w/ both'f these albums: 4 each, i already have some'f the tracks.   however, i figured i'd try sumpthin' diff n' buy the smallville cd.   yah, i like the musik.   it's a li'l alternative n' cms decently hip.   it has a cover version'f chris isaak's "wicked game" by the kind'f hard rock / heavy metalish band h.i.m., which is somehow related to the skateboarding world via bam margera'f mtv j@ck@$$ fame.   yah, i've sed in the past that pro skaters like bam margera... i don't consider them as good'f an influence on the skateboarding community as fellas like christian hosoi, rodney mullen, ray barbee, lance mountain...   neway, i aktually like this h.i.m. track.   i'm sure fans'f this kind'f musik consider this particular track to be a sellout mainstreamification'f the band.   whate'er.

[later] so 2nite, our u.s. taekwondo akademy friend matt's s'pposed to eat an in.n.out 10×10 w/ us as a witness to this challenge.   heh, the idea's so fun... to watch a skinny, young guy wolf down an incredibly insane amt'f fud in a short amt'f time.   kewl!   it's sumpthin' fun that makes me feel youthful.

*sigh* how come i have so much more guts to do crazy stuff on a snowboard than a skateboard?   i have so much more confidence on a snowboard than on a skateboard.   hrm, i wonder how i'd fare w/ some kind'f skateboard w/ bindings in the park. :-? sometimes i c kids catch nice air out'f the bowls n' do nice grabs like stalefishes n' fresh fishes etc., n' i think 'bout how, yah, i could that on a snowboard... just not so far on a skateboard.

[later] a few days 'go, i did this free trial membership to emusic.com.   i downloaded 25 free mp3 tracks.   i thought i could just sign up 'gain w/ a new e.mail, so i didn't really think 2 much 'bout my track selektion.   it turns out that they link accts to credit cards, so i can't sign up 'gain just by using a diff e.mail, but i guess it's ok.   i'll just continue to use sony connect.com instead.   neway, 1 track that i dled was a live recording'f ray charles's "america, the beautiful."   i 'membered that a yr 'go or so, i heard an npr piece, an editorialish piece, where the speaker pleaded that ray charles's version'f "america, the beautiful" is the most patriotik song in this country.   the speaker was very good, so i was a bit moved by his/her wurds.   (i 4get if it was a man or woman.)   well, heck; the 4th'f july's comin' up soon.   4jx2006...

^* geekiness n' nerdiness r 2 diff things, so heaven knows that i've got issues w/ some'f the semantiks in this journal entry.   geekiness.ne.nerdiness ... geekiness n' nerdiness r 2 very diff things.

금요일 아침: photoworks.com coupon code 4 free double prints: C663-38-5113-31.

툐오일 아침, 1105a: this morn, my mom's grx small group (bible study) sent 3 delegates to do 3 hrs'f yardwerk 4 the beautiful kaela hwang n' me cos we pur¢ha$ed this 3 hr gardening package @ the grx christmas banquet in this auktion to raise funds 4 cityteam ministries.   they finished the werk in 2 hrs, so i didn't make'em stay 3.   they pulled out bushes, trimmed our 3 potato trees, trimmed trees n' hedges in our backyard.   pulled weeds in our side n' front yard, n' planted 2 dwarf citrus trees.   kewl!

kaela didn't wake up n' hasn't yet cn their good job.   last nite, we went to a graduation party 4 mark's grace, n' so we were out kind'f late n' all.   originally, b4 that, we were s'pposed to help out @ the u.s. taekwondo akademy 심사 shimsa belt promotional test, but we didn't.   i felt horrible, but i was so stuck @ werk late.   instead, we went to santana row to buy some gifts.   on our way to the party, we swung by the burger king drive thru to pick up 2 jr. whoppers n' a medium raspberry ice tea.

yesterday (금), @ lunch, kaela n' i hit up grand indian buffet off'f lawrence expwy, near arques, near my werk, 4 lunch.   i ate 'lot, so i wasn't hungry @ dinner time.

do u also read blogs'f friends that don't know that u read their blogs?   our friend bun mentioned on his xanga that he doesn't like clichés, n' i've gotta totally agree.   he mentioned he tried not to speak "christianese" @ some christian mtg.   i know what he means!   like, i try to avoid using 2 many trite phrases like "walk with god," "spiritual walk," "qt," on fire for god," etc.   i think there exist more "plain english" ways'f saying some'f these things.   sometimes tho', we christians wanna say sumpthin' n' emphasize the importance'f god in the sentence.   yah, i believe there r still less overused ways'f doing this.

2morrow evening, i dj a wedding reception @ the san ramon community center.   i s'ppose pretty much this whole wknd's devoted to that.   un4tunately, i prob'ly won't have time to skate this wknd.

[later] 1227p (kaela's stil asleep): just an ad - ccs   'nother ad - boardtactics

[later] 오후 130p: i'm the only 1 stirrin' in this house.   kaela's still sleeping in bed.   sooni's still sleeping on the patio.   can u believe the females in this house?   they haven't moved an inch since this morn!

월요일 아침: whoa, what a wknd!   well, most'f my wknd was devoted to djing yesterday evening's wedding reception.   'twas 'nother fun, pleasant wedding reception.   the bridge, groom, wedding party, family members, etc. were all nice n' friendly.   i got to use my new eqwuipment.   that was fun.   wow, the stuff's loud n' powerful n' rocks.   'twas kewl.

[later] 오후: during lunch, i went to the sunnyvale trader joe's.   i bought some gro¢eries n' lunch.   4 lunch, i bought a sandwich n' a protein drink.   i ate plenty'f protein but un4tunately 2 much fat!   i bought some promax protein bars, some sesame honey cashews, some special trail mix (cherries, almonds, n' pistachios), some s'pposedly spicy flaxseed tortilla chips (w/ 2 much fat content)...   yah, the theme 4 this $hopping trip was "hi protein w/o much consideration 4 fat conetent," un4tunately.   the sandwich i chose was this italian muffolato (sp?) muffuletta sandwich... it had a bunch'f meat n' cheese n' reminded me'f those cuban medianoche sandwiches.   *sigh* i've gotta reduce the fat in my diet!

some currently popular songs:
• gnarls barkley - "crazy"
• shakira - "hips don't lie - bamboo"
• black eyed peas - "gone going"
• black eyed peas - "pump it"
• chamillionaire - "ridin'"
• chris brown feat. juelz santana - "run it!"
• rihanna - "sos"
• sean paul - "temperature"
• james blunt - "you're beautiful"
• aqualung - "brighter than sunshine"
• the pussycat dolls - "beep"
• beyoncé - "check on it"
• ciara - "oh"
• gwen stefani - "crash"
• gorillaz - "feel good inc."

this morn, i did wake up, take out the trash, n' go to may's turbo kick box class at the e arques sunnyvale 24 hour fitness.   'twas a small class, n' it was funny cos @ the end'f the class, during the stretching, every1 else left, n' 'twas just the instruktor n' me.   isn't weird to teach a 1 person class, 'specially w/ a microfon?

2day's, the the beautiful kaela hwang's n' my 35th wedding monthversary.   i figure we should celebrate on wednesday evening instead tho' cos it'll be the longest day'f the yr, the summer soltice.   to me, the summer solstice's a really important day.   i wanna be outside in the evening, when the sun goes down on that day.   i s'ppose the de fakto start'f summer's memorial day.   that already came n' passed, eh?   last wk, many hi skools in the area had their graduations.   in a way, that's the start'f summer.   kaela's short, 3.wk summer brk started this wknd.

화요일 아침: here's an article 'bout "helmet n' pads law" @ the sunnyvale skate park: "Nature of skateboarding is risk", by lee gordon, published in the sun, some sunnyvale local paper.

[later] so what's up?   how r u?   i'd love to hear from u.   send me an e.mail or sumpthin'.   i'm trying to stay in touch w/ friends.

yesterday, was the beautiful kaela hwang's n' my 35th wedding monthversary.   after werk, we went to sach's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the sunnyvale e arques 24 hour fitness.   we both got really sweatty.   after class, some gurl approached us n' asked if we did wushu.   of course, we sed no but that we do taekwondo.   apparently she did wushu @ cal while we were there; but, since i had no clue who she was, i guess she must've not been that much into it.   i showered @ the gym; but kaela went home to shower.   then we went out 4 dinner.   we tried to find a place @ santana row to eat, but lo n' behold, most places close @ 900p or so on a mon nite.   pizza antica was open but had no available tables 4 us outside.   oh yah, we had sooni w/ us.   u c, every restaurant was aktually bustling @ ~1000p but were just refusing to seat more ppl.   that's pretty #@¢%ed up.   kaela n' i both thought 'bout how korean restauarants, if u show up late, they'll still seat u cos, hey, it's just 'nother chance to do bizness!   that makes perfekt sense.   however, "amerikan" restaurants have set bizness hrs.   dude, obviously, it's just bad amerikan werk ethics.   dude, there's a chance 4 the restaurant to make $$$!   however, werkers r lazy n' just wanna go home.   skrew that!   after finding no available seats, we headed back to santa clara n' ate dinner @ 고향 산천 gohyang sanchun.   we @ 닭갈비 dalkgalbi.   oh yah, i told kaela that i'd take her out 4 a proper monthversary dinner on wed nite, the summer solstice!   [aterl] 2day, the sun s'pposedly rose @ 548a n'll set @ 832p, according to weather.com.   2morrow?   weather.com gives the same sunrise n' sunset times.   oh, ok.   well, after 2morrow, days only get shorter till december 21.   that's a bit depressing'f a thought!   this morn, i noticed that the sun was up early.   my alarm went off @ 510a, n' i saw that the sky was already brightening up. *sigh* life...   in the summer b4 i started college, after i finished hi skool, i took a short trip to the uk (to scottland n' england).   i saw that the sun set very late in scotland in the summer.   that was pretty kewl.   according to weather.com, the sun'll set @ 1003p in edinburgh, uk 2nite.   s'pposedly the sun rose @ 426a there.   however, it's raining 2day in edinburgh.   was it the summer btwn 7th n' 8th grade when my dad took my sister n' me to alaska?   i think so.   in anchorage, ak; according to weather.com; the sun rose 2day @ 421a n'll set @ 1142p.   2morrow, the sun'll rise @ the same time n' then set @ 1143p.   in fairbanks, ak, the sun rises @ 257a 2morrow n' sets @ 1248a.   *sigh* i sure as heck don't travel much... not these days.   heh, i was just in denver last month (4 werk).

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last nite, after our turbo kick box (tkb) class, i told kaela that, after last sun, i thought i wouldn't hafta listen to wedding music (i.e. wedding reception musik) 4 a while but that sach played frank sinatra's "the way you look tonight" during our cooldown n' stretching.   *sigh*   well, seriously, now that this recent wedding came n' went, i can focus more on the musik that i personally like: korean 가요 gayo (kpop), ccm (contemporary christian music), tekno, eurosynthpop...   @ recent weddings, i haven't gotten to play much tekno, mostly just hip hop.   i've had to alter my mixing style cos'f that.   w/ tekno, i used to use more beatmixing.   now, i've gotta use more stutter effekts n' quick cuts.   cos'f that, i've been pondering upgrading my cd turntables to 1s that can really scratch.   via kaz, who's dad used to be the ceo'f denon, i have hookups on denon produkts.   altho' i've liked pioneer 4 the past decade or so, maybe it's ok to switch to denon if i get the highest hi end stuff. *shrug* dns-1000?   is that the hi end model; i 4get.   ah, ok... dns1000 used to be the hi end model, but now it's dns3500... or "dn-s3500..."   oh cr@p, no!   they have the dn-s5000!   neway, i wonder how much i can sell off my current pioneer cdj-5000ii setup 4 on craiglist.   i really need to upgrade my mixer as well.   rt now, it's an ol' gemini that ken n' nelson gave me 4 my b.day many yrs 'go... wow... 'bout a decade 'go.   dude, i ought to get more back into djing.   i should record 'nother mix album... maybe i ought to record 1 last mix album on my current pioneer setup n' then upgrade n' record yet 'nother album.   that would be dope n/or tight.

오후: 오늘 점심때, 캐이라랑 청기와에서 먹었어요.   2day, during my lunchbrk, i met up w/ kaela @ 청기와 chunggiwa to eat.   kaela had 얼무 물 냉면 yuhlmoo mool naengmyuhn, n' i had 비빔냉면 bibimnaengmyuhn.   both dishes came off the lunch $pe¢ial menu, so each was $7.95.   i guess, now that the weather has warmed up a bit, it's a good time to eat 냉면 naengmyuhn.   wow, summer officially begins on wed.   i s'ppose it's also time to have bbqs.   man, we've gotta clean up our house.   i need to clean up our 'puter room so that i can store my dj equipment.   i need to put it 'way.   so... kaela's laptop has been broken 4 the past month or so.   the lcd screen's backlite stopped werking after she dropped it.   i guess the best idea @ this pt is aktually to buy a new laptop n' sell her old 1 off on craigslist.   i'm sure lots'f elektrical engrs'd be willing to solder back a wire or 2 in order to get a ¢heap laptop, rt?

u know, last thurs, our taekwondo friend matt was s'pposed to eat that in.n.out 10×10 burger w/ us as his witnesses.   however, he didn't go thru w/ it; rather, he was a no show that nite!   instead a few'f us went to eat dinner @ the lokal pho hoa, where we ran into our friend julie.

[later] *sigh* man, imagine if i upgraded my pair'f cd turntables n' also upgraded my mixer... imagine if i got a pair'f denon dn-s5000s n' a denon mixer... dude...   man, lately, it's as if i've been so into $pending $$$.   it sounds like i want to buy all this dj stuff, n' i've also been into buying skateboarding stuff...   luckily, i haven't gotten 2 many urges to buy snowboarding stuff... skateboarding gear's expen$ive but nto as expen$ive as snowboarding gear.   taekwondo? i haven't been $pending $$$ on taekwondo stuff... altho' i've been trying to buy a new embroidered belt n' an extra pair'f 도복 dobok pants 4 the extra 도복 dobok top that 심 사범님 shim sabuhmnim gave me.

수요일 아침: how many more month's till my 31st b.day?   wow, just 2!   *sigh* crazy; can't be 30 4ever, eh?   shoot, i can't believe this day's flying by.   it's the 1st day'f summer.   it's strange or 'least interesting that the term "1st day'f summer" doesn't sound quite as catchy as "1st day'f spring," i.e. ppl cm to respond better to hearing "the 1st day'f spring" than to heearing "the 1st day'f summer."   i guess ppl feel that winter's so cold n' depressing n' that spring brings w/ it warmth n' com4t/comfort.   summer?   well, i like summer.   i believe it's my favourite seaon, if i hafta pick a favourite season.   then 'gain, it's not my favourite season cos there's no snowboarding. :-/   well, in gen'l, i like summer n' winter better than fall n' spring cos fall n' spring typi cally have more spiders.   i hate spiders.   i'd like to get me some pro.tec park elbow pads, which r s'pposed to fit under ur clothes.   those'd be nice. $19.95 @ tactics.com?

[later] 오후: during lunch, the beautiful kaela hwang n' i went to costco.   i filled up my subaru forester w/ 87 oktane gas @ $2.989/gal.   the pri¢e'f gas has been falling a li'l lately, which is nice.   i had a polish sausage n' soda combo 4 lunch, n' kaela had a slice'f combo pizza.   we bought some fruit, some joint juice, n' some freshies 4 sooni.   oh, n' kaela threw in some shumai.   oh yah, we also bought some salad.

this morn, i wanted to wake up early, walk sooni, n' then hit the skate park.   however, i needed to wake kaela up to go teach vbs 4 our church grx.   well, it took 4ever to wake her up; n' when i did, she sed she had a sore throat n' wasn't gonna go. *sigh* what a hard start to the day.   i 'least wish i'd hit the gym or jogged w/ sooni in that case.   normally, i'd go to will's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hour fitness in sunnyvale; but 2nite i guess i'll take kaela (n' sooni?) out to dinner @ an outdoor restaurant to celebrate our recent 35th monthversary n' the summer solstice.

목요일 오흐: i have a link to sony connect™.   i need to use it from now on.   i'm trying to buy some skateboarding elbow pads.   i'm interested in the pro.tec park elbow pads, black, medium.   i went to fishbanks 2day 4 the 1st time.   it was a li'l disappointing; a small store w/ limited stock.   they only had a pair'f bullet elbow pads in size large.   i don't mind bullet, as it's santa cruz's low.end line; but i really wanna get the park pads cos they're s'pposedly thin but effektive.

[later] just an ad: dr. soy

last nite, 4 our 35th monthversary n' 4 the summer solstice, i took the beautiful kaela hwang (n' sooni) out to dinner @ the village cali4nia bistro n' wine bar in santana row.   we had a really nice dinner.   we started out w/ this totally delicious local shroom crêpe n' a field greens salad w/ house "green goddess" dressing, yellow raisins, n' toasted almonds.   then kaela had this sea bass w/ mashed potatoes instead'f cocounut peanut fried rice, n' i had this catfish mole.   oh shoot, r the leftovers still in our backpack?!   kaela didn't have ne wine, but just cos we were @ a "wine bar," i ordered 1 glass'f 2005 banyan gewurztraminer.

금요일 아침: yesterday morn, i dropped off the beautiful kaela hwang @ the sjc mineta aeroport 4 her flight to portland (pdx) aeroport.   she's in oregon this wknd 4 her classmate friend's wedding 2day as well as some chiropraktic seminar this wknd.   after i dropped her off w/ sooni, i took sooni to the old town santa clara neighbourhood (which i guess they officially call "the business district") near santa clara u[niversity], n' we skated (skateboarded).   i hadn't "streetskated" in a while, i.e. i haven't skated outside'f the sunnyvale skate park in a while.   it's always fun to skate neway.   yesterday, i had a very_bizzy_day@werk.com.   mtg after mtg after mtg...   after werk, i rushed home to pick up sooni n' my 호구 hogu n' rushed off to teach class.   it's hard/impossible to get there on time.   we had a good class as always, n' then i stuck 'round to spar as usual... i.e. i stayed 4 the black belt class, the sparring class, which was fun.   duk sed i looked more confident in my sparring these days.   i hope so, but *shrug* i dunno... heh heh... afterwards, we ahd a bomb@$$ (good) meal @ 청기와 chunggiwa.

this morn, i skated w/ sooni 'round our neighbourhood n' then went off to the sunnyvale skate park b4 werk.   i wore my helmet, knee pads, n' wrist gaurds 2day, n' i'm glad cos i fell 1nce.   [later] 오후: @ the skate park, i talked to that english guy mike, who started 'bout the same time i did.   he's making much better progress than i am cos he comes to the park more consistently.   he asked if i'd been coming to the park since the last time i saw him, n' i sed, maybe just 1nce or 2ice.   i think he sed sumpthin' like, "oh, ok," such that it showed that he felt that i haven't made much progress, but i'm sure he didn't mean to put it that way.   he's a nice guy.   most ppl there r nice guys.   well, heh... i guess some r nice gurls.   yah, that asian gurl who really rips up the park showed up 'gain this morn.   it doesn't bother me that there're gurls who r better than me.   i'm not that kind'f male chauvenistik guy.

*sigh* so korea lost the game v. switzerland. :-( u know... korean soccer/futbol fans r the best, so it's a real shame.   they're much livlier than fans 4 most other countries.   it's really 2 bad.

so this wknd, i'm w/o kaela.   what'll i do?   well, this morn, i went to the skate park.   hoefully, i can go 'gain 2nite after werk, but i dunno.   the english guy mike mentioned that it's a bit hektic in the evenings rt b4 the park closes.   well, originally, i'd hoped to hit up the park 4 a li'l n' then trek over to valley fair to check out elbow pads @ copeland sports n' buy b.day presents.   i dunno; we'll c.   i'd like to hit up the park 2morrow as well as on sun morn b4 church.   2morrow, i'm s'pposed to do 2 church aktivities: training 4 some red cross emergency preparedness event n' cityteam ministries bbq.   *sigh* i want to make it to both, but the times overlap.   i dunno what to do.   hrm, if copeland doesn't have the pro.tec park elbow pads, then should i try go skate in west gate?   i think the almaden go skate still exists.

[a li'l later] oh yah, 2day, during lunch, i went to the noontime turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the e arques 24 hour fitness.   this teacher's much diff from the others.   i know she's trying hard to come up w/ fresh mat'l n' deviate from the routine, which has its strong pts, i guess.   however, ppl do get a bit confused in the process.   neway, i think i got a good werkout.   she tried to give more real martial arts instruction 2day, explaining how to do a front kick n' side kick.   it's extremely funny since i'm also teaching that @ the moment to my u.s. taekwondo akademy class.   after class n' showering, i went to get a burrito to go from the nearby una mas.   i got a chicken grilled fajita burrito.   it was really good; very filling.   i purposely bought a big lunch in case i hit the skate park after werk n' don't get to eat dinner till late.   i s'ppose 2nite, i'll just eat leftover fud 4 dinner.   i didn't eat much'f a brkfast this morn.

[a li'l later] last nite after praktice n' after dinner @ 청기와 chunggiwa, i went home n' did some very minior maintenance on my skateboard.   i took of the wheels n' wiped off the bearings.   then i gave my boadr a wheel rotation, as if it were a car.   i dunno if that'll do it ne good or not.   well, if u think 'bout it the back wheels spend more time no the ground than the front.   i noticed that i aktually have independent brand bearings.   i thought my bearings were just bullet brand, but no.   independent is a better name brand even tho' bullet n' independent r both part'f nhs, inc. like santa cruz.   neway, what's more important than the brand'f my bearings is that they r aktually serviceable.   originally, i thought they were the permanently sealed, unserviceable type that i had back when i was a kid.   back then, we'd be happy w/ gmn german bearings cos they were s'pposedly better than nmb bearings.   if ne1 had swiss bearings, he must've been a really spoiled kid.   (oh, man; don't mention the suisse rt now!)

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 작장에 있어요: earlier, i 'membered that theere r lot more skate shops in the area besides fishbanks, copeland, n' go skate.   i'd 4gotten 'bout ohana on stevens crk blvd.   also, a quick local.google.com search reminded me'f circle.a skateboards over by my grad skool alma mater sjsu.   apparently, there's a skate works in mountain view as well as 1 on blossom hill rd in san jo.   i'm pretty sure there's some li'l shop in sunnyvale on el camino real by the recently rennovated safeway, but i don't know its name.   dude, it sure is a shame that tri.city sold out, i.e. sold its valuable real estate in fremont n' closed shop.   they were a great snowboard shop, n' i'm sure their skate shop was decent.   upon returning from hawaii this fall, i liked the sound'f ohana boardshop's name.   however, after looking @ their website, i c that they're more into wakeboarding than the boardsports that i personally like.   basical, i like snowboarding n' skateboarding n' also respekt n' am curious 'bout surfing after having gone 1nce.   i like "extereme sports," but there r definitely 1s i prefer over others.   4 example, i'm not much into ne'f the motorised extreme sports, i.e. motocross, snowmobiling, wakeboarding... i'm not so much into the biking extreme sports, i.e. bmx, freestyle bmx, n' mtn biking.   out'f those 3, i'm most curious 'bout mtn biking, but... *shrug* mostly i'd like a bike 4 everyday trnasportation, i s'ppose.   u know, the sunnyvale skate park attrakts 'lot'f bmx bikers during the off times that i go.   the bikers r often punks.   u c, aktually bikes r prohibited in the skate park.   thus the bikers that do. show up r the outlaw type, rt?   however, i feel al i'l bad 4 them; since we skaters (ha ha, it's funny 4 me finally to say sumpthin' like "we skaters") r always saying "skateboarding is not a crime" cos'f all the anti.skateboarding laws; but then what 'bout these bikers?   i sympathise w/ them.   s'pposedly, when the bikers come, i can call the cops n' have them kicked out, but i don't.   neway, back to the topik'f the variety'f "extreme sports..."   dude, street luge... who does street luge?!   i'm sure it's a very expen$ive sport/hobby; n' where do u find a place to ride?!

[later] u know, @ the wedding i djed on sun, the couple's 1st dance was to the counting crows' "accidentally in love" from the shrek 2 o.s.t.   dude, their swing dancing was so kewl, n' their routine was really cute.

[later] i just realised that i'm so blessed to live where i do.   after all, not every1 who wants to can go to the skate park b4 werk.   so many ppl have long commutes in the morn n' in the evening.

월요일 오후: this past wknd, the beautiful kaela hwang was off in oregon n' left me @ home w/ sooni.   she went off to a chiropraktic seminar n' also to her classmate friend's wedding on the beach in oregon.   originally, i was gonna go w/ her cos'f the wedding, i thought the wedding was on sun n' wrote it down in my pa1mone tungsten t5 (pda) as so.   later, kaela told me the wedding would be on fri.   ugh, well, shoot! i'm already taking a fri off to travel to vegas 4 kaela's sister jeanna's wedding in a couple'f wks.   i can't take off so many vakation hrs cos it's so frustrating that i can't ever cm to save up 4 a real vakation!   i rarely really get to do ne fun travelling/traveling.   i'm sick'f taking fridays off 4 li'l things like weddings!   u know why?   i lose 8 hrs'f vakation time, but i still werk those 8 hrs during the remaining 4 days'f the wk.   it's sooo unfair, but that's how it is in this vicious industry.   basical ly, if i wanna really use vakation time, i've gotta take 'least 1 wk off @ a time.   do u get it?   it's as if there's a pri¢ 4 buying sumpthin' but it gets ¢heaper as u buy more, rt?   it's like paying a ¢0$+¢0 (costco) membership fee.   yah, taking 1 day off as a vakation day means taking an unpaid vakation.   neway, since i'd found out that the wedding was aktually on fri n' not sun, i didn't go.   even if i'd flown to oregon on fri nite, i wouldn't've had fun just waiting 'round 4 kaela during her seminar.   do u realise how sick i am'f taggin' 'long w/ her to chiropraktic stuff?

in particular i don't like this series'f seminars that she's taking cos from the stuff she tells me she learns there, it's just a bunch'f b.s. by some self.proclaimed health guru.   u know the type, rt?   i 'member cing books by these kinds'f health gurus back in the 1980s.   i think this kind'f health gurus was big in the 1970s.   i 'member my mom had some book by some guy like this... well, maybe some1 who wasn't quite as bad... but he like talks 'bout how to wipe ur frickin' butt in the book.   it's like, dude... i can handle that by myself; i don't need u to tell me how to do that.   these guys r always like eat this, eat that... eat whatever i like... cos whatever i like must be the perfekt diet.   i don't mind when ppl suggest questioning conventional medicine.   heaven knows i've got my issues w/ conventional medicine n' pill popping!   however, when ppl just pull $#!+ out'f their @$$3$, saying u should only eat meat all the time n' never wear sunscreen... dude, that's such b.s.   i mean, heck! i'd love to eat meat all day, but veggies rn't poison ('cept 4 the poisonous 1s n' 1s covered in pesticide).   it's like i obviously know guys like jerome n' andy who love to eat meat all the time but 'least they don't hold frickin' expen$ive seminars where they preach that carnivorism's the only way to stay alive. geez!   i mean... we've all cn the the whole protein diet thing come n' go, n' we all do understand the benefits now'f having some protein in our diet as well as even some fat.   we're past the whole snackwells misconception n' know that we've gotta watch our sugar intake as well as our fat intake.   w/ the whole organik fuds industry getting exploited to bits n' b@$t@rdised, yah, we know to choose our produce more carefully.   anti.oxidants? love 'em.   good cholesterol? all over it.   maybe if some1 sez that eating a salad'll kill me, i ought to give'em 1'f those "well, u've gotta go some time" responses that rib.gobblin', sausage.muchin' carnies usually spit out.

dude, i'm all 4 alternative medicine cos i hate pill.poppin'; but i also hate the exploitation'f alternative medicine.   knowing this, phil 1nce showed me a pamphlet by this caucasian "eater medicine" doktor in the peninsula that stated, "eastern medicine is only effective when practiced by a westerner."   wtf?!   do u get it, guys? that's exaktly the reason i abhor all these naturopathic medicine skools: they r such a slap in the face to asian tradition.   a few months 'go, i was @ whole fuds (aka whole paycheck) w/ kaela when she ran into her classmate who's a li'l bit ahead'f her in skool n' was apparently getting divorced from his wife.   he just went on n' on 'bout all these various produkts to buy n' how live culture benefit all the bakteria in ur body from ur mouth down to ur "v@gina."   dude, the #@&cnet;ker obviously just wanted to c if u could get 'way w/ saying v@gina to my wife in front'f me.   if i didn't love god so much, i would've kicked his froofy @$$ rt there! (j/k.... sort'f!)

alternative health n' culture, u know?   i'm all 4 it, but as somewhat'f an insider also c how lame it can all be @ times.   open up the the silicon valley metro ne given wk n' notice the abundance'f ads 4 martial arts n' yoga skools.   it's as if every woman in the bay area goes to a yoga class, n' every man to a martial arts skool.   it must be true.   we must have the highest nombre'f martial arts skools per capita!   if there were a civil war that was fought hand to hand, ur state'd better be on our side! ha ha ha...   then 'gain, @ ne given moment, we must be the region w/ the most yogis w/ gerbils shoved up their @$$3$.   can't win battles that way, huh?

transitioning... this sat morn, while i was @ the sunnyvale skate park, i did c this 1 david carradine, middle aged, graying haired, caucasian man w/ this chinese "tao" t.shirt; most likely a big fan'f the sf asian art museum.   he was a very fit guy, n' i wish most guys his age were that fit n' could rip up the park like him.   yah, he was skating much better than me.   most ppl there do... @ this pt.   still, props to him...   (do kids still say "props"?   i doubt it, but "eprops" is a xanga term.   i s'ppose that might mean "props" has transitioned out'f hip hop lingo into nerd lingo.   it would hardly be the 1st time that that happened.)   i skated @ the sunnyvale skate park on fri morn, sat morn, sat evening, n' sun morn.   on sat, i spent a total'f 6 hrs @ the skate park btwn 3 hrs in the morn n' 3 hrs in the evening.   by sat, i was completely com4table w/ rolling in from ne'f the curved walls but not yet com4table w/ droping in over the coping.   by the end'f my sun morn sesh, w/ the help'f my skatepal, the english dude mike, i was com4table w/ dropping on over the coping @ the top'f the shallowest portion'f the bowl that still had coping.   on my 1st try, i fell.   it wasn't bad, n' mike encouragingly pted out that it wasn't that bad'f a fall.   on my 2nd try, i dropped in ok but had to put my wrist guard covered hand down on the ground 4 a moment.   from my 3rd try on, i was dropping in pretty well.   i guess, from how i so easily drop in on a snowboarding 0.5 pipe, there was sumpthin' very familiar 'bout the feeling'f dropping in.   i can't emphasize 'nuff how much it surprises me that i can do all sorts'f stuff on a snowboard that i can't do on a skateboard.   i c guys pull big stalefish airs out'f the big bowl n' think 'bout how i can do that on a snowboard ne given winter day... but somehow not on a skateboard.   i can't even jump out'f the bowl.   part'f the reason 4 that's cos i don't pump well.   that's aktually also a prob i have in the snowboard 0.5pipe; yah, i don't pump well.   (pumping's the akt'f crouching down, popping up, n' shifting 1's own weight while riding up n' down vertical walls in order to build up speed.   there's that recent black eyed peas song "pump it."   it's rather popular but doesn't cm to be 'bout skateboarding @ all.   that popular song "vans" by the wolfpack mentions steve caballero n' tony hawk.   i think i'd read 'bout the song b4 in the silicon valley metro but just recently heard it on wild 94.9.   i'm really happy that this wknd i started dropping in over coping.

i saw such diversity @ the sunnyvale skate park this swknd.   yah, i saw that david carradine guy on sat morn.   @ the same time, i saw this big mormon (lds) family come n' all (including 1 daughter) skate the park 'cept the mom who was in a wheelchair n' was taking care'f some chinese crested dog..   living near a mormon church, i had several mormon friends while growing up.   i don't mean ne disrpekt to them when i say that this family looked like a stereotypical mormon family.   i gotta say, the middle aged dad was a really fit guy, like a dad who'd be really helpful on a boy scout camping trip.   dude, also, on sat evening, i saw sumpthin' pretty interseting: i've mentioned that the park gets more than it's fair share'f gurl skaters, but this 1 particular woman who showed up wasn't ur typical avril lavigne video extra, but walked in all timidly, looking like she came from yoga class (no pads or nething) n' started stretching like a dancer.   the she proceeded to rip the big bowl up 4 a quick session, follwed by a quick session in the small bowl, n' then picked her car keys up from the bench n' took off.   what?!   basically, ('gain i don't mean ne disrespekt), she didn't appearr like typical skater grrrrl but more like a librarian.   u know... i mention all these observations 'bout the diversity'f the skate park not to diss these ppl but in praise.   we don't all hafta be the typical skate punks in order to ride/skate.   while i've mentioned cing fit, athletik guys in their middle ages ripping up the park; maybe i haven't emphasized 'nuff how many older, santa claus men i've cn come into the park n' rip it up better than i can.   it's crazy!   i wish u'd come n' witness the relateively harmonious diversity @ the sunnyvale skate park.   n' then there's that 1 30.sumpthin', relunktantly (neo)yuppie, bible study leadin' asian man who shows up every so often....

transitioning...   'member how the transworld skateboarding magazine (apparently, the socal equivalent to norcal's thrasher magazine) sed that some'f the sunnyvale skate park's advantages include gurl skaters n' mellow attitude?   these park ratings also includes a measure'f "how likely you'll get beat up."   4 the sunnyvale skate park, it sez "you've got to be blowin' it pretty bad."   i think @ times this wknd, i kind'f pushed that line.   whereas the morn crowd's mostly older n' is very friendly, the later crowd aktually does have more teens'f which some can be minor punks.   there were times that i was skateing n' 1'f'em almost ran into me, so we had to both step off our boards, etc. 1'f these guys, he sed sumpthin' like, "watch out, you might break your cell phone!"   @ 1st, i thought he might've been trying to taunt me, so i just laughed it off.   however, later, i started thinking that maybe he was just giving a sincere suggestion.   aktually, usually i leave my fon in the backpack in which i carry my pads.   however, on sat evening, i brought sooni w/ me to the park after washing her.   cing all the kids w/o pads n' helmet, i aktually felt 2 self.conscious to pad up; so i rode sans helmet n' pads n' kept my wallet, pa1mone tungsten t5, keys, etc. in my pockets.   i kept my cell phone on my belt.   @ 1 pt, it fell off, n' i had to scramble to pick it up.   i think that annoyed ppl.   1tym in the recent past, my cellfon fell off w/o my knowledge, n' some1 just kindly put it on a bench where most ppl hang out.   later, i saw this 1 particular european looking dude rippin' up the park while talking on his motorola v710 (same fon as mine).   *shrug* dude, i can pull off decent airs on a snowboard while talkin' on the phone... on a skateboard, no... not now.

화요일 아침: here's what i posted on the bronx's junkyard forums just now, this morn:

i saw the fast and the furious: tokyo drift late last nite.   i liked it much more than i expekted.   i think justin lin did a great job w/ making this movie n' minimising the cheese.   this genre'f movie hasta have some level'f cheese, but he kept it to a minimum n' made it as classy as possible.   like, the asian ppl n' culture were realistik... not just a bunch'f cliche stereotypes.   neway, this morn, i just realised sumpthin'... justin lin made this a continuation'f better luck tomorrow!!!! it was subtle, but i figured it out.   (spoiler warning) u know how han sez tokyo's his mexico?   that's cos he's running 'way from the trouble he got into @ the end'f better luck tomorrow!!!   also, 'member the kind'f cars han liked in better luck tomorrow?!?!   he liked amerikan muscle cars.   also, didju notice jason tobin as virgil?   yah, his charakter (if u check the credits) is aktually named virgil!   it all makes sense now.

last nite, the beautiful kaela hwang watched the fast and the furious: tokyo drift @ the amc mercado 20.   [later] that was after going to our grx t3 south couples bible study core mtg.   the term "core" refers to the leadership body.   4 dinner, kaela n' i stopped by the trader joe's near our friends' house n' bought a couple'f frozen dinners to bring over n' microwave: chicken masala n' tofu pad thai.   we also bought some sliced papaya.   we also bought some manga juice smoothie thingy.

in yesterday's entry, i never really finished talkin' 'bout this past wknd cos i got so caught up w/ my rant on the exploitation'f alternative medicine etc.   well, on sat morn, after the sunnyvale skate park, i went late to the amerikan red cross office in north san jo to take some taining class 4 the emergency preparedness day @ the santa clara county fairgrounds on july 22.   i got there late, thinking the training started @ 1045a, but it started @ 1000a.   i felt pretty lost.   i volunteered 4 this cos'f our church grx, but most'f the volunteers simply came fromt he general kommunite in the area.   after that, i rushed over to cityteam ministries in east san jo to volunteer @ their sat bbq.   i helped cook burgers 4 homeless guests.   i was reminded'f the diversity'f the homeless population.   some ppl looked like they hadn't had a home in a long time; others look like they were more recently homeless.   i noticed that they converse 'bout which homeless shelters to hit up, like they sort'f critique them etc.   dude, i wonder if there's a judy's book, citysearch, or epinions site 4 homeless shelters n' kitchens.   yah, i know some ppl'd label these homeless ppl as freeloaders, but... *shrug* i dunno; in a case like this, why not just reserve judgement, throw a bbq, hand out some free burgers, n' share god's love, u know?   must we always be on some republikan political 'bout self.suffiency n' tuff love?   how many frickin' times have we heard the "teach a man to fish" line only as an excuse?   being there, like... i thought 'bout how to make the guests feel not uncom4table.   i didn't wanna akt as if i thought i was better than them in ne way.   i really wanted to be a humble servant 4 an hr or 2.   it was my 1st time volunteering @ this bbq, so i was a li'l unsure'f what to do.   neway, i met some'f the fellow volunteers 'least... a bunch'f us, mostly from grx went to lunch @ pho nam off'f lawrence expwy after the bbq since we didn't get to eat nething @ the bbq.   'twas fun.   after that, i browsed quickly thru the tj maxx @ the mercado n' then went home, rested, n' then took sooni 4 a bath @ pet fud express.   after that, i wanted to go skate 'gain.   i thought 'bout dropping sooni off @ home but didn't.   i took her w/ me to the sunnyvale skate park.

i got to the skate park 'round *shrug* 600p?   the park was crowded, so i walked sooni 'round the rest'f sunnyvale's fair oaks park 1st, hoping the crowd'd die down, but it didn't.   thus, i tied sooni out to the chain link fence n' hopped on my board, joining a crowd younger than my usual morning crew.   as i mentioned yesterday, i didn't bother padding up cos the park was full'f young kids w/o pads or helmets.   i didn't wanna stick out, knowning i wouldn't be the guy pulling big airs neway.   i mean, since i'm doing pretty mellow skating, ppl'd think i'm the least needing'f pads n' helmet. *shrug* yah, it's kind'f immature'f me.   instead, i ought to set a good example n' pad up, but it's not like i've earned the respket'f these kids or nething.   sooni got into a scuffle w/ some stoopid, li'l kick me doggy that some li'l gurl had running 'round off leash; but other than that, she was very good.   maybe this has completely cured her ol' fear'f skateboards.   she'd gotten mostly over that a long time 'go now; but she used to be afraid'f skateboards.   lot'f kids pet her.

[later] so this wknd, i was rereading that article in the evangelical covenant church denomination's monthly magazine the covenant companion from 2006년02월 (february 2006) titled "future or fad", an article by scot mcknight 'bout this recent trend'f the emerging church.   it's a pretty good article.   'member, there was also a recent article, last month, in the the silicon valley metro 'bout an emerging church in santa cruz.   well, the metro article was a li'l diff from the covenant companion article, but both were good.   i 'member that the metro article talked 'bout how the emerging church movement is diff from the evangelical movement in that emerging church ppl r post. modern wherease evangelicals r modern... uhm, they were saying that "modern" christians r the 1s that sort'f target fixing the wrongs'f the ol' skool traditional christians 'gainst the unchurched, whereas "post.omdern" christians r trying to minister to those whom r have never even heard'f christianity cos'f the wiping away'f christianity from the country in the past few decades or whate'er... i mean... like, whereas "modern" christians might be good @ explaining the truth'f the gospel to some1 who's hates christians cos his gay brutha killed himself after being persecuted by traditional christians; the post.modernists might be good @ explaining the gospel to the generation'f amerikans n/or immigrants that just never heard'f jesus cos the nation just isn't as "christian" as it used to be, 4 better or worse. i dunno... i think i'm doing a bad job'f explaining this... most likely cos i don't understand it well.   neway... both the covenant companion article n' the metro article talked 'bout how the evangelical movement was more concerned w/ big gatherings (perhaps like vineyard warehouse services or billy graham revivals), whereas the emerging church movement's more concerned w/ small groups.   *shrug* is that true?   i think both articles also say the emerging church movement is more outwardly focused whereas the evangelical movement was more inwardly focused.   yah, i can kind'f imagine that.   they're saying that emerging church ppl don't view church as some kind'f "special club."   the church also is not a place, the church is everywhere.   i like to think that.   i dunno if u've noticed or not, but lately, i've been trying to distance myself from the whole system'f the christian pedigree.   i've totally noticed that 'mongst asian.am churches; the asian.am christian pedigree.   ppl ask, "where's your home church?", "what fellowship did you attend @ whatever big name university u went to?", "what hip but solid asian.am church do you currently hang out at?", "have you been to any big name christian conferences lately?"   yah, i'm trying to distance myself from that.   honestly, if i tell some1 fromt he asian.am christian community that i belong to grx, they're often pretty impressed.   "oh, you're like a cool asian, huh?"   no! that's not the pt, man!   i don't go to grx cos it's a gathering'f hip yet christian, youngish asian.am yuppies!   i go there cos, wow! it's a multicultural gathering'f christians that "do life" 2gether, live n' serve in the real world, n' have experienced god's loving grace.   sure, i think many ppl in the asian.am, yuppie christian community'd approve well'f where i go to church, where i werk, where i went to skool, etc.   just as bad as it is to flaunt ur worldly career résumé, it's bad to flaunt ur church résumé, 'specially if u'r not applying 4 a church staff position but just trying to gather compliments.   :-/ i'm sure those complimeents make u feel less guilty 'bout the times u don't honour god our father... but really, the only thing that cancels ur sins is christ's blood.   that's 'nuff.   u don't need the approval'f the mortals 'round u, not necesasrily.   pastor steve lo sed sumpthin' really good on sun during his sermon.   he asked sumpthin' like, "why do you work at a job you hate just to earn money to buy things you don't want just to impress people you don't even like?!"   fudge, doesn't that hit so close to home 4 u as well?

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 직장에서: this morn, i wanted to wake up early n' hit up the sunnyvale skate park.   cos we went out 4 that late movie last nite, i ended up stumbling out'f bed 'round 700a instead'f my usual 530a.   i woke up really sore from yesterday morn's turbo kick box (tkb) class.   did i even tell u 'bout that class?!   u c, the usual instruktor (may) wasn't there but instead a substitute, a diff chinese (i think) gurl.   'twas a really small class, maybe 4 ppl.   when the instruktor noticed that i was trying hard n' doing real punches, kicks, etc.; she figuerd i was up 4 harder challenges, n' she kept making me squat lower n' lower.   man, i did so many squats... low squats!   neway, i woke up sore... cos'f the time n' cos'f my soreness, i gave up on the idea'f hittin' up the skate park n' instead ate brkfast n' took sooni 4 a walk.   sometime during or rt after my walk, i realised that 2day's tues, so the sunnyvale skate park's s'pposedly closed 4 maintenance from 700~900a.   neway, while on my walk w/ sooni, i saw this 1 particular chinese woman that i've cn b4.   in the past, i've cn her walking her welsh corgis (those pointy.eared dogs w/ the short, short legs).   neway, i saw her 'gain 2day, but u know what?!   she didn't just have 1 dog - her corgis, but she had 2 doggies - her corgis n' a sooni dog!!!   dude, 'twas a 백구 진돗개 baekgoo jindotgae just like sooni!   it looked just like sooni!   the woman saw sooni n' me n' started walking away from us.   i think she was flat out embarassed cos she'd copied us n' got a jindo just like ours!   i went her direktion.   the corgis tried to stare down sooni.   it'd also tried in the past.   then the sooni dog stared @ sooni, n' sooni stared back.   i'm sure they both were thinking, "hey, that dog looks like me!"   sooni n' i never caught up to them.

[later] 밤, 1141p: after werk, [i] picked up kaela n' sooni, went to taekwondo praktice, taught the extra werkout class 4 the white belts, n' then went to 길목 gilmok w/ the white belts 4 dinner.   'twas fun.   i ordered 갈비찜 galbijjim, n' kaela had 장터국수 jangtuhgooksoo. (i think that's what it's called, rt?)

금요일 아침: happy b.day, roland.   this morn, i woke up early but not as early as i wanted to.   i went to the sunnyvale skate park n' rode as i did yesterday.   i've been mostly aiming to keep prakticing dropping in on vert.   i still can't pump 'nuff to keep riding the 0.5 pipe, but i try.   i still can only carve well n' grind backside n' not frontside.   i've toldju: it's really weird cos i'm the opposite w/ a snowboard.   *sigh* i really need to learn to pump better.   @ the end'f my session 2day, i fell on a frontside carve n' landed a bit on my hip.   rt now, i've got a ziplock bag'f ice on it.   i'd like to skate 'gain 2morrow cos i guess i can't skate on sun cos i've gotta help set up kidzone @ church (grx), then we've got a lunch to go to n' then a b.day party.   crazy, huh?   dude, the next few days r gonna have lots'f "bad 4 me" fud!!!   it's awful!   bbq after bbq after bbq... meat, meat, meat.   i've gotta get lots'f exercise to werk off all the calories n' fat.   dude, think 'bout all the bad cholesterol! <:-o aaaaaaah!   oh well... <:-/   last nite, i saw myself in the mirror, n' i feel i look ok as far as physical fitness; but i dunno.   last nite, @ sparring praktice, i cm to have hyperextended my elbow.   otherwise, i should do some more like bench press kind'f lifting this wknd.   did i mention on mon how i had to do all those squats in the turbo kick box (tkb) class (@ the sunnyvale east arques 24 hour fitness)?   i think so.   so my legs were aktually sore 4 a few days.   that's unusual.

월요일 아침: i didn't update over the wknd, n' i guess 'twas a decently packed wknd; thus i think i need to switch into outline 4mat:

• 목요일, 06월29일
• in the morn, b4 werk, i went to the sunnyvale skate park, didn't i?
• 점심 (lunchtime): the beautiful kaela hwang picked me up in her kia sportage w/ sooni, n' we ate @ athena grill on space park in santa clara.   that place is always full'f ppl from my company.   while kaela waited outside @ a table w/ sooni, i ordered her a portabello shroom sandwich n' 4 me a gyros sandwich, just to compare n' contrast w/ those from yiasoo.   honestly, i like yiasoo better, in gen'l; but this place is much closer.
• in the early evening, i had to go straight from werk to 태권도장 the taekwondojang to teach our white belts n' then do sparring praktice.   kaela n' sooni met me there.   after praktice, kaela n' i went out w/ ernest n' tiffany to sushi o sushi.
• we watched 1'f the last episodes'f the famous korean drama 대장금 daejanggeum.   kaela's been following it much more closely than i have, but i miss korean tv.
• 금요일, 06월30일
• in the morn, b4 werk, i went to the sunnyvale skate park.   i fell on my hip; but it wasn't 2 bad.
• during lunchtime, i went to the turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques 24 hour fitness.   we had a substitute teacher.   her name was like barani or sumpthin'.   it was an ok werkout, n' i wanted to push myself a li'l, figuring i wouldn't get much exercise over the wknd but would eat plenty.
• after werk, kaela n i went to valley fair to do some b.day present $hopping.   i wanted to $hop 'round more 4 my own stuff, but we didn't.   i think kaela'd gone to valley fair a few times last wk, so she wasn't so eager to $hop.   me, on the otherhand; i wanted to $hop but didn't get the chance.   oh well.
• we ate a huge feast'f a dinner @ the cheesecake faktory.
• tamale corn cakes (3 pieces, $8.50 or so?)
• vietnamese shrimp spring rolls (3 or 4 pieces $8.50 or so?)
• thai spicy steak salad (just plain huge! $13.95 or so?)
• some fruity ice tea 4 kaela n' a hefeweizen 4 me
• we considered going out to a movie but then decided instead to head over to blockbuster to rent some movies cos i had a printed out online ¢oupon.   we rented 4 movies cos there was also a 3 movies 4 $9.99 deal 4 the 4jx2006 wknd.
• eight below
• walk the line
• the chronicles of narnia: the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe
• 중독 joongdok / addicted (한국 영화 korean movie)
• we sort'f watched eight below, but i was so sleepytired that i fell asleep almost rt 'way.
• 토요일, 07월01일
• in the early morn, i went to the sunnyvale skate park n' had a good time.
• this wk, i've beeen prakticing dropping in on vert.
• 'twas fun, of course.   i rode the shallow 0.5pipe area a bit.   there, i can manage to pump myself back up to the coping 1nce or maybe even 2ice after dropping in.   there's this 1 older skate guru type; this asian guy name dave... sort'f a 형 hyung to the younger skaters.   he's a really nice guy n' a posi+ive role model type.   he was telling me that i'm pretty much pulling off backside smith grinds.   i guess i sometimes do manage to do it.   i should werk on those.   do u know what a smith grind is?   it's grinding on the back truck, while letting the front end of ur board hang down to the side.
• [dude, it's now 2006년07월05일, 수요일: i'm starting to 4get the past wknd]
• i skated a while, n' as i was leaving i saw that mormon family entering.
• well, on sat; roland visited us from berkeley/albany.
• 1st off, the 3'f us went to 한국 마켓 hangook market to do some gro¢ery $hopping.
• while kaela cooked lunch 4 us (roland's b.day lunch), roland n' i watched eight below on my laptop outside on the patio.   ah, outdoor living!   eight below was a really kewl movie!
• kaela cooked up a feast: 김밥 kimbap, 미역국 miyuhkgook (b.day soup), sashimi...   what a feast!   we also ate some delicious 떡 dduhk that we bought from 한국 마켓 hangook market.
• after lunch, we went to planet granite to do some indoor rock climbing.   we took a belaying class 1st.   it was all very fun.   i could only climb like 5.7 or 5.8 walls.   i like clmibing fast n' then coming down.   my favourite part is coming down.   i'm aktually not all that motivated to try harder walls; i just want to climb fast n' come down.   i was explaining to kaela recently how that's like snowboarding 4 me: i don't necessarily need to do "harder" runs w/ moguls n' deep powder; i'd rather get a nice groomed black diamond n' bullet down.   i was telling roland how it scared me that i liked rock climbing so much.   i don't necessarily wanna get addikted cos it's not ¢heap.   i think it ¢o$ts $17/day @ planet granite.   well, that's ¢heaper than a snowboarding lift tic; much ¢heaper.   *sigh* going to the skate park's also ¢heaper than buying a lift tic; since it's plain free.
• neay, after clmbing, we went to dinner @ 쥬쥬비 jujubee.   we ate 감자탕 gamjatang, 골뱅이 무침 golbaengi moochim, n' 통닭 tongdalk.
• then we went back to our house, took a walk w/ sooni to blockbuster to return eight below n' watched walk the line   'twas a pretty good movie, but it's not like i was ever a great fan'f johnny ¢a$h.   in hi skool, i really liked social distortion's cover of "ring of fire."   i miss that song.
• 일요일 (어제), 07월02일
• i woke up somewhat early, skipped the skate park, n' went to grx's mobile chuch site @ the santa clara marriott to help set up kidzone.
• then i returned home to try unsuccessfully to wake up kaela.
• i ended up going to church by myself.
• later, i picked up kaela n' we met up w/ our friends jane n' darien 4 a brunch double date @ ihop on great amerika parkway.   i had some really tasty harvest grain pancakes ($6.99), but the ham slice that i added as a side was a major ripoff @ $2.99!   i'm djing jane n' darien's wedding in oktober.   during our brunch, i confirmed w/ jane that i was indeed her tayl (taiwanese.amerikan youth leadership) camp counselor a long time 'go.   funny.
• after brunch, kaela n' i stopped by home to pick up sooni n' then went to the sports basement to make a $hopping list 4 2nite's (07월05일) "$hopping party."   we picked out some bikes.
• then we dropped sooni off @ home n' went to our friends maryann n' topher's house 4 topher's b.day bbq.   ah, lots'f good fud n' lots'f pregnant couples!   2wards the end'f the nite we noticed that the crowd'd separated into pregnant couples n' non.pregnant couples.   neway, we had a good time.
• hrm, what happened after kaela n' i came home?   i don't 'member.
• 월요일 (오늘), 07월03일
• i woke up early, took out the trash, n' then went late to may's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques 24 hour fitness in sunnyvale.
• then i went to werk.   @ lunchtime, i went home 4 lunch to eat some really tasty leftovers.   it was quite an extravagant lunch'f leftovers.
• the office was relatively quiet n' empty cos most ppl took the day off.
• @ dinner time, kaela cooked some pasta.
• we watched 중독 joongdok / addicted, which was honestly just ok.   u wanna hear sumpthin' kind'f funny/interesting.   i aktually kind'f fell asleep during the "love" scene.   *shrug* yah, u'd think most ppl'd stay awak to watch a steamy $3x scene, but yah... i honestly kind'f dozed off.   since i wake up early to exercise (or skate) or do church stuff, it's hard 4 me to stay up.
• 월요일, (4jx2006) 07월04일
• well, originally, i wantd to hit up the sunnyvale skate park 4 a 4jx2006 morning sesh, but i didn't.   not only did i worry 'bout the weekly maintenance closure (which prob'ly didn't happen on the holiday), but i just couldn't wake up.   i slept in till 700a, which is really "sleeping in" 4 me these days!
• well, we packed up our car n' headed 2 seacliff state beach in aptos, ca just south'f santa cruz.   i'd marinated some 매운닭 maeoon dalk n' some 닭똥집 dalkddongjip.
• wow, what a fun day w/ our taekwondo friends in the sun.   2 much sun!   kaela got burnt badly!   we played volleyball n' soccer.   i rarely play team sports, so it was a slightly refreshing change from my normal routine.   we ate so much!   it was a decently well executed beach trip!
• after kaela n' i came home, unpacked, n' showered; we tried to watch the chronicles of narnia: the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe but couldn't stay awake.   we'll try again 2nite.
• 월요일, 07월05일
• well, i woke up somewhat on time n' hit up the sunnyvale skate park.

• sneeze = 재채기 jaechaegi
• cough = 기침 gichim
• to blow 1's nose = 코풀다 kopoolda

수요일 아침: so we'll be in vegas this wknd 4 jeanna's wedding.   she made this itinerary 4 us, which is kind'f optional; but it includes a bunch'f buffets.   dude, after this past few days, i really shouldn't be eating so much.   i dunno, man.   i've found some 24 hour fitness locations in las vegas.   i just wonder which 1's the closest 4 us.   i really ought to pack gym stuff, rt?   dude, it's gonna be soooo hot.   i'm not looking 4ward to the heat.   as i've sed time n' time 'gain; i'm not a huge fan'f vegas in gen'l.   it just cms so... not in tune w/ my ethiks... not like i'm such a holy man or nething, but that i think a person ought 'least to try.   neway... as i've also sed over n' over 'gain, i'll try to have fun this wknd.   i'll eat, but i'd surely like to get exercise.   *sigh* it's gonna be hot.   i don't normally wear shorts, but i'm considering buy a pair'f shorts @ the sports basement 2nite.   [later] did i ever get to talk 'bout the sports basement $hopping party 2nite?   well, a few wks 'go, when i bought my skateboarding helmet, i dropped my bizness card into a bucket (aktually an artillery shell) 4 a drawing.   apparently, i "won" a "shopping party" 4 my friends: free chips, dip, bier, n' soda along w/ a 20% off di$¢ount on everything in the store.   kaela n' i plan to buy bikes.   we have like 25 friends, mostly cowerkers, coming.   hopefully, it'll be fun.   i'm missing will's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques 24 hour fitness 4 this.   i'll prob'ly miss next wk's class to cook dinner 4 our friends joanie n' mike who just had a baby boy named riley.   the wk after that's kaela's n' my 3rd wedding anniversary.   wow, that's like a whole month w/o will's tkb class. ha ha.   *sigh* i guess i still hope to stay in shape by going to the other tkb classes, doing real taekwondo, n' skating (skateboarding).   when'll my elbow pads get here?

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 직장에 있어요: 2morrow evening, duk'll give us a ride to the aeroport n' then watch our house n' sooni.   [later] 2day, @ the sunnyvale skate park, i had a thought: maybe, in order to pump better n' thus get higher out'f the bowl, i need to approach the coping @ more'f an angle n' still come back down straight.   maybe that'll help me.   maybe approaching the transition @ straight on is slowing me down.   i guess that has been my problem w/ backside turns on snowboard 0.5pipes.   in snowbaording or while snowboarding, in 0.5pipes, i can do ok w/ my frontside turns n' airs, while i often get stuck, lose speed, etc. on my backside turn.   it's odd tho' that my 1st taste'f vertical air was a backside air off a 0.25pipe @ squaw.   i just bombed down the slope @ the end'f a terrain park, i went up the 0.25pipe, caught air, n' just instinktively did my 180 to re.enter.   i just did what i'd always cn in videos, u know?   my re.entry was ok 'cept i didn't keep my board upright 'nuff.   i think that's a common mistake.   i kind'f came down 2 flat, on my tail.   however, i rode it out fine.   uhm, i think on a skateboard, if ne1 were to do that, they'd have a hard time recovering n'd prob'ly bail.

토요일 아침: 2day's the beautiful kaela hwang's sister jeanna's wedding.   kaela n' i've been in vegas since thurs nite.   i'd never really loved vegas cos'f the whole "sin city" thing n' just how i gen'lly hate resort towns cos'f the inequity/iniquity n' stratifikation'f ppl groups.   however, i'm having more fun on this trip than on our previous trip.   yesterday, we had a good werkout @ the north las vegas 24 hour fitness.   i was on the precor 4 an hr.   i hadn't done that in a while.   my likes were kind'f gelatinous afterwards; i.e. they sort'f felt like jelly.   last nite, kaela n' i had an delicious dinner @ alizé on the top'f the palms hotel casino.   wow, that was the best dinner i'd ever had in vegas!   the fud in vegas, if u ask me, isn't up to par w/ sf; but alizé was good altho' pri¢y.   we've been driving 'round in pt cruisers... i.e. we had 1 the 1st day n' got a better 1 now... yah, the car rental situation was a li'l messy, so we had to switch cars; but we got a better 1.   last nite... heh... this is almost a "what happens in vegas stays in vegas" thing... last nite, we watched cirque du soleil zumanity.   uhm, it was very awkward!   that's the best wurd to describe it: awkward.   as much as i usually enjoy cirque du soleil shows, this 1 was more like: "well, the show's not as good, so we'll throw in some naked gurls to make up 4 it."   dude, obviously, the scantily clad men part is just plain g@y!   like, guys n' gurls enjoy the form'f the female body, but only g@y men really dig looking @ the male body.   they might as well cut all that stuff out, if u ask me.   neway, it's a really awkward show, but i guess it was an experience.   kaela picked out those tix, n' she sed afterwards that it was as if she brought me to a $trip ¢lub... 'cept that the women there were aktual gymnasts n' dancers n' not just floozies w/ fake b00bs.   true... there were still impressive acrobatiks n' stuff.

ok, i'll give more details later; but here are some pix from last nite (no, not from the show!):

4 our 3rd anniversary, kaela gave me a replacement black belt 4 the 1 i lost a while back (maybe a yr 'go or so; maybe 2).

here's kaela @ aliz´ on top'f the palms hotel casino; home'f the

kaela saw this garfield pooky bear, so i had to get it 4 her @ the new york new york gift shop.

wow, i've posted so few pix this yr!   sorry.

neway, congratulations to jeanna n' robert.   jeanna n' robert, 2day's ur day.

일요일 밤, 951p; on southwest aerolines flt 709 from da 702 to da 408, i.e. from las vegas to san jo: dude, i'm exhausted!   this morn, i werked out @ the north las vegas 24 hour fitness on craig rd, near mlk blvd.   the beautiful kaela hwang n' i were up a bit late last nite w/ jay, jeanna, n' robert.   ah, it sure is in interesting to expand the "in law" netwerk.   we were @ quark's bar in the las vegas hilton n' then in the honeymoon suite @ the luxor.   2day; we took kaela's parents out to dim sum @ red8; visited several hotels - wynn, treasure island (ti), n' the venetian; filled up gas in our rented red pt cruiser @ the mlk blvd costco; n' $hopped, $hopped, $hopped @ the las vegas premium outlets.

월요일 아침: monday, monday... muhndae, muhndae... i'm back in the silly valley.   this is home.   i feel i owe a big recap'f the wknd.   the beautiful kaela hwang n' i were in vegas this past wknd; but now kaela's back in skool, n' i'm back @ werk.   'twas 3 days in vegas... 3 days n' 4 nites... a relatively short vakation, but somehow a very effektive vakation.   i dunno why.   well... gee, maybe it's cos we had a rather luxurious vakation where we $pent lots'f $$$.   :-/ it's a li'l disconcerting 4 me to experience that $$$ can sort'f buy me happiness (temporary happiness); but shoot... everything happens 4 a reason, so maybe 'twas just the the time 4 that. *shrug* we ate lots'f good fud, watched a vegas show, attended a wedding, saw lots'f hotels, $hopped... yesterday, kaela'd pted out that i was long overdue 4 some new clothes, even new underwear.   several yrs 'go, i bought new clothes all the time.   i feel that i was more hip back then.   recently, i've kept in touch w/ knowledge'f the latest fashion but hesitated to buy a lot'f new clothes.   i've been trying to be less vain, i guess.   perhaps, i've been trying to be less materiali$tik. *shrug* i guess i'd been hearing stories'f my guy friends' wearing the same clothes since middle skool n' starting to thinking that was sumpthin' i ought to try to do... i mean, i can't go back in time to get clothes from middle skool, but... heh, i guess i mean, i'd try to wear the same clothes 4 as long as possible.   i guess several yrs back, i chucked out all the clothes from when i was heavyset.   then, since i haven't really gained or lost 2 much weight in the past several yrs, i'd slowed down my buying'f new clothes.   i dunno; in some ways, i don't need to be really trendy.   rather, in some ways, i'd prefer to define my own timeless style.   ("timeless" is a song by the group sg wannabe.)   u know what i'm sayin'?   nah whadahm shayin'?   what is my style?!   *shrug* in some ways i'm into the whole "metro" kenny cole, br, club monoco thing; but in other ways, i'm into the whole skater/slacker, funky chic look cos i "came'f age" thru the early 1990s grunge era, rt?   during college, i had a phase where i experimented w/ the whole big designer logo, sort'f hip hop look; but i don't think that's me.   i've often liked the whole skate fashion thing; but i've been trying to tell myself to some extent that i don't need to buy into the skate fashion industry thing just cos i've started skating 'gain.

[later] 오후: bike to werk - during my lunchbrk, i drove my 1999 subaru forester back home, dropped it off, ate some salad w/ some veggie bite thingies, n' rode my (new) bike back to my office.   dude, it took me only as long as driving to get back to my office!   i hadn't realised just how much'f my commute time is spent waiting @ red lites!   wow, who knew?!   i thought i was pushing it, just giving myself 15 mins to get back to werk, but shoot... i made it w/ time to spare.   not bad!   maybe i need to bike to werk every day that i don't go to the skate park b4 werk.   is that a good idea? *shrug*

• 07년05일, 수요일
• sunnyvale skate park in the morn b4 werk, rt?
• 4 lunch, kaela cooked lasagne from skratch!!!   'twas delicious!   she crumbled omaha steak burger patties 4 the ground meat.
• sports basement $hopping party
• in order not to appear like "the typical asian," i got to the store rt on time instead'f fashionably late, on "standard asian time (ak s.a.t.)."   i didn't expekt this, but almost every1 who came was asian, so maybe it was important not to look like "the typical asian."   most'f the ppl who came were my cowerkers, but i really didn't think it'd be almost only my asian cowerkers.   i felt pretty self.conscious 'bout having such a racially homogeneous group as my "party," but whate'er, man.   i shouldn't be ashamed'f my race or nething or purposely avoid making asian friends, which i sort'f did back in my freshman yr @ cal.   i mean, sure, it's good to be an open minded guy that doesn't discriminate, but 1 also shouldn't discriminate 'gainst his/her own race.   that does happen, prob'ly 2 often.
• neway, kaela n' i $pent like $1300!   crazy!   we bought bikes, bike accessories, exercise clothes 4 kaela, a nice nalgene h₂o bottle 4 kaela, $15 binoculars, new balance crosstrainer shoes 4 kaela...   i wanted to buy some fitness clothes but didn't find ne i liked.   also, i wanted to buy some nice, brown o.neil beach shorts that i saw b4; but they were all sold out'f'em.   i guess most'f the $$$ was $pent on the bikes, which were $440 each n' the bike accessories.   well, i hope to make the $$$ back w/ gas $avings!
• it took a while 4 kaela n' i to get our bikes home cos i could only fit 1 in my car @ a time.   i may need to buy a bike rack someday.
• we ate leftover lasagne, but i fell asleep as we watched the chronicles of narnia: the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe.   i really wanted to stay 'wake n' watch it, but i fell asleep. nuts!   i'm totally not a nite person nemore!
• i started to pack 4 our vegas trip but didn't finish till rt b4 we left, of course.
• 07년06일, 목요일
• sure, i would've liked to hit up the sunnyvale skate park b4 werk but didn't.
• instead, i rode my bike over to blockbuster to return the dvds.
• @ lunch, kaela was gonna make beef stroganoff, but i suggested that she save her energy.   she had 2 much going on.   instead, we ate more leftover lasagne.
• i left werk @ a decent time n' rushed home.
• duk drove us to the sjc mineta aeroport.   kaela n' i ate (shared) a whopper meal from the aeroport burger king. it was mostly just a snack, not quite 'nuff 4 a full dinner.
• we picked up our rental car, an off white (pearl) pt cruiser n' drove off in search 4 fud.   we ended up @ an ihop (international house'f pancakes), where kaela had a crispy chicken salad w/ 오렌지 쥬스 oreinji jyooseu n' i had some big turkey stack sandwich w/ seasoned fries n' an iced tea.   lately, i've been drinking lots'f iced teas n' "arnold palmers" (50% iced tea, 50% lemonade).
• we eventually found our way to the house that we rented.   wow, it was in a bit'f a scary neighbourhood but w/in a gated community.   i surely didn't feel that it was a really secure house, altho' it was a decently nice house.
• it was warm, n' there were lots'f bugs out.
• 07년07일, 금요일
• being the explorer.type, adventurous guy i am; i got up early n' drove in search'f some bottled h₂o n' breakfast fud.   i ended up @ a von's on craig road near mlk blvd in north las vegas.   i bought a couple'f big things'f bottled h₂o (overkill), 2 bags'f bagels (overkill but bogo), activia yogurt, some cherries, n' some peaches.   b4 returning to our house, i explored just a li'l n' discovered a 24 hour fitness on craig road.
• in the afternoon, kaela n' i went to that 24 hour fitness to werkout.   i was on the precor thing (w/ the arms) 4 an hr.   'twas a good werkout.   i also lifted n' werked on my abs.   it'd been 2 long since i last lifted.
• after our werkout, we headed back to the house to shower up n' change 4 dinner n' the show.
• we had a bizzy skedule, n' we made it to everything only cos god's great.   dinner @ alizé @ 600p (we got there @ 640p or so); trade in the rental car by 900p @ the aeroport; back to new york, new york b4 1030p 4 zumanity.   crazy!
• dinner was delicious altho' pri¢ey.   kaela started w/ a baked phyllo dough anjou pear salad n' then had sea bass.   me, i started w/ kobe beef carpaccio n' then had duck.   we shared a chocolate ganache 4 dessert that tasted more like soufflé than ganache.   we passed on wine n' just had 2 bottles'f overpri¢ed evian h₂o.   i'm glad we didn't have wine since we had to hurry all over vegas.
• after the show, we strolled thru new york, new york, out, down the street, n' thru the bellagio.
• kaela's parents n' bro arrived @ the house while we were out.
• 07년08일, 토요일
• kaela n' i skipped the family brunch @ the pharaoh's pheast in luxor.   the table that the family got wasn't big enuf to fit us, n' we didn't feel like going over to that buffet if we couldn't even sit w/ the family.   instead, we pulled into a marie callender's n' had a great brkfast 4 ¢heaper.   kaela had some kind'f cheesy hash browns, n' i had meatloaf n' eggs w/ a huge blueberry muffin.   we both had decaf coffee.   oh yah, the nite b4, w/ our dessert, we also had decaf coffee.   both times, the coffee was good, better than what i drink in the office.
• after that, i guess we went to von's to get some laundry detergent (just a 75¢ trial size, single use pack) n' went back to the house.
• we got ready 4 the wedding, jeanna n' robert's wedding in the chapel @ the luxor.   kaela n' i got to the wedding late, n' the ceremony was hecka short!   we barely caught it.
• the wedding reception dinner was @ ricardo's, ktity corner from the marie callender's, where we broke fast that very morn.   ricardo's's sort'f like el torito.   the dinner was served buffet style.   kaela n' i ordered a freakin' $6 cerveza (canned tecate) that we didn't even finish cos they later came out w/ margaritas.
• after dinner, kaela n' i drove cousin peter to his hotel n' then jay w/ us back to the house, n' we hung out there 4 a while b4 heading out to quark's bar in the hilton.   heh, it's a pretty interesting place, n' definitely a safe haven 4 geeks in vegas, a place where geeks won't get beat up or even wedgied! ha ha.   'member? i used to watch star trek all the time, mostly tng n' voyager.   i never really got into ds9 n' totally don't watch enterprise.   we ought to watch to support the korean.amerikan aktress from san josé, but somehow the show just isn't appealing.
• well, after having some weak/lite, fruity cocktail @ quark's n' sharing chili n' chips, we headed over to the luxor to hang out in the honeymoon suite.
• kaela n' i drove over w/ jay, but we really should've driven jeanna n' robert w/ us.   instead, we ended up waiting 4 the couple 4 a long time, while they rode the monorail.   we hung out @ the suite, but i felt bad 4 keeping the newlyweds up.   it's just that that was the very 1st time that we met the groom.
• 07년09일, 일요일
• i wanted to wake up earlier.   when i finally got up i went back to the 24 hour fitness to werkout.   i lifted wts 4 'bout an hr, n' that's it.   i figured we had to go to 'nother family brunch @ the flamingo, but we ended up not going.
• we had to "check out"'f the rental house by 1100a; but there was really no check out procedure.   we ended up leaving by 1100a, heading out to the wynn hotel.   jay, kaela, n' i took kaela n' jay's parents out to dimsum @ red8, an overpri¢ed but delicious contemporary chinese restaurant.   it's s'pposed to be southeast asian, but i feel it's really just chinese.   i noticed that 2'f the waitresses that served us had korean names on their nametags (jung n' miyeon) but necessarily didn't really look distinctly korean altho' they might've sounded it a li'l... i just mention this cos it's kind'f funny to have kaela's parents talking to these korean 아줌마 ajoomma in straight up english when they might've been able to speak in korean, but... *shrug* it looked like the employees had a strikt english only policy or sumpthin'.   never 4get that las vegas = los angeles - asians.   seriously!   i did mention that already in this entry, didn't i?
• we walked from wynn to the fashion show mall to treasure island (ti) to the venetian n' back.
• after kaela's family left 4 socal, kaela n' i 1st went to fill up on gas @ ¢0$+¢0 @ $2.839/gal n' then $hopped 4 a long time @ the las vegas premium outlets.   we ran late there n' grabbed a subway (12") tuscan chicken sandwich meal to go 4 dinner.   we returned our car n' boarded our plane. we'd thought we'd be late, but the plane was just a li'l late.
• duk picked us up from the sjc mineta aeroport n' told us 'bout how he brought sooni to petco n' she got into a li'l altercation w/ a li'l beaglish dog.
• duk came over n' finished watching munich.   as kaela n' i didn't c it from the start, we were pretty lost.   i didn't understand it @ all.
• 07년10일, 월요일
• i went to may's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques 24 hour fitness.   'twas a small class.
• i walked sooni n' drove to werk.
• @ lunch, i drove home, ate some salad n' rode my bike back to werk.
• just b4 730p, i left werk, hoping to hit up sach's 730p turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques 24 hour fitness in sunnyvale but discovered that i had a flat back tire!!!   instead, i walked my bike over to the sports basement n' got the inner tube changed out.   the guy there was really nice, but they really should've given me my inner tube 4 free since i'd just bought the bike days 'go.   oh well...
• i thought 'bout hitting up the fremont ave 24 hour fitness in sunnyvale 4 just a simple werkout but decided instead to go home to take care'f the house.
• i cooked some 녹차 라면 nokcha ramyuhn 4 dinner n' watched an episode'f the popular korean celebrity gameshow x-man on youtube.
• kaela came home from werking out @ the fremont ave 24 hour fitness.   i was tired n' fell asleep.

(2006년07월11일) 2day i wanted to wake up early n' try to hit up the sunnyvale skate park b4 werk but didn't.   instead, i walked sooni n' biked to werk.   i came home 4 lunch by bike n'll go back by bike, i guess.

목요일 아침: yesterday, on my busride into sf 4 semicon west, i saw the aftermath'f this hi speed police chase: http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_193145735.html.   apparently, a 60.yr.old man got into an accident n' tried to flee the scene, n' then he tried to run over a police officer n' hit a police officer w/ his side mirror.   then he got on the freeway ([the] 101) n' took off.   wow.

well, i'm very glad i went to semicon west 2006.   i hate how some ppl think that if i'm not @ my desk, chained to my cubicle that i'm not werking.   this was very produktive n' useful 4 my job.   i got a free lunch from a certain sensor company thanks to 1'f my cwoerkers who also graduated from sjsu.   he told me 'bout the free lunch n' we went to it.   it was just in 1'f the conference rooms @ the moscone center's south hall.   the sales rep there remembered me from a projekt i briefly werked on a looong time 'go.   good memory.   i'd honestly almost 4gotten him but i quickly 'membered.   ah, the semiconduktor industry... it's quite interesting, eh?

well, i'd wanted to hit up the sunnyvale skate park yesterday b4 werk but didn't wake up nearly early 'nuff.   u c, on tues nite, i stayed up late sewing this "hosoi hammerhead sktbrds" patch onto this new military green adidas warm up jacket i bought @ the las vegas adidas outlet 4 very ¢heap.   dude, have i toldju? army green is the new black.   well, teknically, army green's the new brown n' blue!   u nah whadahm shayin'!   brown n' blue was all the rage last christmas n'll still survive thru 'least this yr.   however, army green's where it's now @.   earlier this yr, in spring, dark green n' navy blue showed good promise.   is that panning out, or was that just 4 dia de san patricio? *shrug*   on our recent $hopping trip @ the las vegas premium outlets, i tried to avoid buying blue clothes cos i know i have an overabundance'f blue clothes, which partly stems from my hailing from skools that feature blue as part'f their skool colours (i.e. bret harte middle skool, leland hi skool, uc berkeley, n' sjsu) n' partly cos blue's 4 boyz.   this yr, @ semicon, my company provided the complimentary lanyards 4 the name badges.   apparently we chose sort'f almost neon green or maybe more'f a spring green.   yah, neon colours'f been fighting hard to make a comeback in the past few yrs.   they've made some ground but haven't totally stormed the fortress.   sure, the upcoming miami vice movie w/ gong li in a questionably trashy role might give it an extra push.   we'll hafta just wait n' c.

neway, dude... all this talk 'bout "fashion n' couture."   i used to be much more fashionable; but @ this pt, i'm just pulling cr@p out'f random cavities.   whate'er!

yesterday, after riding the bus back from semicon west, i went home n' got ready to buy some dinner to give to our friends joanie n' mike who recently brought into the world their son riley.   i used truya sushi's deliversushi.com page to order'em some beef teriyaki n' sushi.   i hope they enjoyed it.   just as i was leaving on my own to pick up the sushi, the beautiful kaela hwang finally pulled into our driveway.   i'd waited n' waited 4 her n' felt bad that we'd promised to bring mike n' joanie dinner but were being so late 'bout it.   how could we keep these new parents hungrily waiting?!   neway, we picked up the sushi, delivered it, chatted, met riley, n' then left the couple to eat.   since we'd been @ truya, i knew kaela'd be in the mood 4 sushi, so i took her out to dinner @ michi sushi, the korean sushi place on winchester blvd, somewhat'f a san josé tradition, which was new to us.   i think it always makes "best of" lists in the local indie papers.   we had 1 fire dragon roll, 1 pookie roll, n' 1 spicy jelly belly roll.   i ate plenty'f wasabi.

then we drove home n' got our bikes ready 4 a nite ride.   i had to install lites on our bikes.   we rode over to the cupertino fantasia n' shared a jenjoo naicha, the classik; the original pearl milk tea. 'twas fun to ride our new bikes.   i told kaela 'bout what i'd recently read online 'bout bicycle safety, how we shouldn't necessarily always ride all the way to the rt'f the bike lane n' let cars push us 'round cos it's not necessarily the safest thing to do.   un4tunately, on our way back from fantasia, i'd 4gotten to roll up my left pant leg n' ripped the leg'f the pair'f beige courderoys that i really like.

this morn, i hit up the sunnyvale skate park.   this middle age man there (i think he's the guy who sed he was 49) gave me a good tip 'bout staying low n' turning w/ my front shoulder.   this tip helped me pump much better n' i managed to hit the coping in the shallow bowl multiple times in a row.   it's great!   wow, bizzy/aktive life... skateboarding in the morn, teaching taekwondo @ nite... last nite, bike riding... a few wks 'go now, rock climbing.... dude, i realised yesterday that i'd picked up quite a few aktive hobbies this yr.   like, well... i really liked rock climbing, but i prob'ly can't afford to go 2 often.   it's expen$ive n' rips up my hands, which r already often cracked from dryness.   [a li'l later] as for biking, i consider it more just transportation than a real hobby.   like, i can't really call driving a "hobby."   i'm pretty sure i'm "in 4 the long haul" as far as skateboarding.   i really enjoi it.   man, yesterday, i started thinkin' 'bout how i can't wait 4 snowboarding season to resume.   heh, i ought just to enjoi summer while it's here!

[later] 오후: during my lunchbrk, my_group@werk.com ate lunch @ grand indian buffet.   we each only made 1 trip to the buffet n' then 1 more 4 dessert.   usually, i make 'least 2 trips to the buffet.   i worry tho' that i'm getting out'f shape these days.   a couple'f months 'go, when kaela n' i'd just joined 24 hour fitness, i was going to turbo kick box (tkb) classes 2ice on mon, 1nce on wed, n' up to 2ice on fri.   also, i was going to 24cycle class on thurs.   i was also still going to taekwondo on tues n' thurs nites n' the sunnyvale skate park on wknds.   wow, sunnyvale = fitness 4 me cos both the 24 hour fitness gyms that i visit r in sunnyvale, our 태권도장 taekwondojang u.s. taekwondo akademy is in sunnyvale, n' the sunnyvale skate park's obviously in sunnyvale.   i werk in sunnyvale n' thus the werk.com gym i use more often's in sunnyvale.   am i gettin' 'nuff exercise these days?   nowadays i teach the taekwondo class, i skate now n' then, i ride my bike now n' then, n' i still go to turbo kick box (tkb) classes now n' then.

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[later] 밤, 1136p: after werk, i rushed home, picked up sooni, n' went to teach my taekwondo class n' then went to sparring class.   4 dinner, i ate some random stuff.   i feel like i need to lose a li'l weight tho'.

well, since some1 @ bronx's junkyard forums requested that i post up more pix'f kaela's n' my dinner @ alizé, so i shrank some more pix.   i might as well post'em here as well:

kaela n' her baked anjou pear

beno n' his kobe beef carpaccio

kaela n' her seabass

beno n' his duck

chocolate fondant/ganache n' decaf coffee

금요일 아침: i can't believe that i didn't wake up this morn to hit up the sunnyvale skate park.   that does not make me happy.   i didn't even stay up really late last nite.   i dunno why i ended up sleeping so late.   i know the beautiful kaela hwang n' i fell asleep in very crooked positions last nite, so maybe that reduced the quality'f our slumbers.   furthermore, maybe my body was a li'l tired from prakticing taekwondo in this sort'f hot weather.   also, i feel like i'm coming down w/ a cold or sumpthin'.   my nose was a li'l congested 2day, n' i coughed up a li'l bit'f nasty stuff in the morn.   my throat feels a li'l weird.   i don't necessarily feel really relaxed.   i've always noticed that the left side'f my body usually suffers more ailments n' injuries than my right side.   however, these past couple'f days, i've been battling tendonitis in my rt thumb that arose from carrying 2 many $hopping bags on sun afternoon/evening n' bad wrist probs on my rt wrist, which comes from office werk / mousing as well as from prakticing self defense thingies in taekwondo class on tues.

[later] last nite, on the nbc 11 news, [interrupted, later] i heard that gas'll reach $4/gal by the end'f this summer.   i dunno if they were talkin' 'bout just sf or the entire bay area or what.   neway, i'm glad that i bought us our bikes... transportation, u know?

dude, i really need some noise cancelling headfons.   >:-( some ppl r so disrespektful n' talk so loudly in their cubicles. argh!   i wonder if i should just wear earplugs or what.   it's sooo 1) distrakting n' 2) annoying.

[later] 2nite, i'm s'pposed to take duk n' yuna out to dinner 4 all their soonisitting.   also, kaela mentioned that she'd like to watch a movie.   which movie?   out'f what's playing @ amc mercado 20... cars, pirates of the caribbean: dead man's chest (altho' we didn't watch the 1st 1 but should've!), x.men: the last stand (despite luke warm reviews from friends), click (appealing to the [neo]yuppie crowd), the devil wears prada (a movie that kaela really wants to watch n' i don't mind watching; the obvious chick flick choice), the lake house (should i support this imitation'f 시월애 shiwuhlae / il mare or boycott it?), nacho libre (the obvious "guy" flick choice), superman returns (prob'ly the most popular movie out rt now), you, me, and dupree (the obvious romantik comedy, date flick choice).

funny...
• chick flick = the devil wears prada
• guy flick = nacho libre
• date flick = you, me, and dupree

well, i guess this wknd's kaela's n' my 3rd wedding anniversary wknd.   to celebrate, 2morrow, we'll go to the hayes mansion in east san jo to do some spa resort package dealio... like couples massage, dinner, etc.   we'll aktually stay overnite even tho' the facility's in san jo.   kind'f weird, but oh well...   i dunno if u 'member, but 4 last christmas, kaela used her ¢redit ¢ard rewards program to give me a spafinder.com gift certificate.   well, we're ¢a$hing in the gift certificate to celebrate our anniversary.   i feel bad that this sounds kind'f cheesy, that i've done better anniversary celebrations in the past 2 yrs (0.5 moon bay ritz carlton 4 our 1st, monterey / hearst castle 4 our 2nd); but i told kaela that we really need to $ave up $$$ n' vakation time to take a real vakation someday.   ideally i'd like to take a trip to both taiwan n' korea this winter, but... *shrug* i dunno, man...   we've also gotta someday travel to europa.   when'll that ever happen?   if i ever get to take kaela to europe, tho'; we'll need to $pend a lot'f $$$ cos i can't let her stay in ¢heap lodging.   she'll freak out.   i went to england n' scotland in 1993, so i know that facilities in europe can often be older than those in the u.s. n' aktually europe doesn't cm as clean as most places we go in the u.s.   so, when we finally go to europe, i've gotta shell out big bu¢k$ n' make sure i got nice lodging 4 us. *sigh* man, other ppl get to travel so much.   me? not really.   *sigh* i just hope to do more snowboarding this upcoming season than last. *sigh* then 'gain gas is so expen$ive now. grrr! the sunnyvale skate park is still free.   someday, i ought to strap my skateboard to my piper gear boardsports backpack n' ride my bike over to the sunnyvale skate park n' ride 4 a while n' bike home.   that'd be kewl.   1 awful thing 'bout biking tho's that i can't bring sooni.   well, i saw in a doggy magazine some device, a metal bar, that helps keep ur dog safe as he/she runs alongside ur bike.   i 'member 'twas overpri¢ed.   what if i got sooni some kind'f trailer to ride in?   ha ha... dunno man. just an ad (4 july anniversary couples): $ave up to 70% during frederick's ('f hollywood) semi.annual ¢learan¢e

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월요일 오후: it's a "save the air day," n' i rode me bike to werk.   well, i drove in the morn n' rode back from home during/after lunch.   the day started kind'f frastratingly cos i woke up 2late 4 may's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class.   i haven't missed her monday morn class in ages.   well, i then decided instead to hit up the sunnyvale skate park, but by the time i did some chores, packed up, walked sooni, n' got out'f the house; it was 2late.

[later] if i wanna change the wallpaper on my motorola v710, the size'f the pic should be 176 × 220 pixels, rt?

[later[ 저녁 이지만 아직도 직장에서: this past wknd, the beautiful kaela hwang n' i celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary by spending most'f the wknd @ the hayes mansion, which is a historic resort that is aktually just here in san josé.   i know it might not sound like much; but 1) it's a nice place n' 2) i'm trying to save $$$ n' vakation time 4 us to take a nicer, longer vakation 2gether someday.   it wasn't a really ¢heap wknd or nething.   it was still a nice wknd 4 the most part.

on fri nite, kaela n' i took duk n' yuna out to a nice dinner to reward them 4 taking care'f sooni so much, espcially last wknd while we were in vegas 4 kaela's sister's wedding.   we took'em to kampai house in sunnyvale, a chic fusion sushi place that looks like it's "straight outta santana row."   it's a really nice.looking place, n' the sushi's good 2.   it's really expen$ive tho', perhaps a bit overpri¢ed.   honestly, i enjoy taking my younger friends out to dinner cos i c that they appreciate it.   like, honestly, i can go to dinner w/ some other more, "peer" friends, n' we might go to a really nice restaurant, n' they'll be so unimpressed, etc.   ti's not that i'm trying to show off either that i'm so ri¢h or that i'm just so worldly wise... i just like cing my friends happy.   i wish i had more $$$, so i could take my friends out more often.   "givin' ends to my friends, and it feels stupendous..." - the notorious b.i.g. in his hit song "big poppa"   this past wknd, cos i was in such luxurious places, i had to tip 'lot.   i don't love tipping.   however, i try to tip well.   i hate how ppl assume asians tip poorly.   it's as if i tip well in order to get revenge.   i tip w/ a vengeance. that must sound a li'l stoopid, eh?   *sigh* however... *sigh* i dunno... i mean, it's a bad situation.   after all, that's why i really don't like the tipping system.   it's a bad system, as supermike sed back in college.   i dunno if he still believes that or what; but yah, i think it's a bad system, but i un4tunately follow it.   is there perhaps some spiritual justifikation 4 my trying to tip well?   maybe... maybe it's a "turn the other cheek" thing. *shrug* i dunno.   i really dunno.   on the other hand, it reminds me yet 'gain'f how wise pastor steve lo @ grx asked us, "why do you work so hard at a job you hate to buy things you don't want to impress people you don't even like?"   well... i guess the flip side'f that is that we ought to try to like every1... or no?   *shrug* we definitely don't need every1 to like us.   we shan't be ppl pleasers, no doubt.   however... like, u know my recent $hopping $pree @ the las vegas premium outlets?   well, altho' i'd respekted how some'f my christian guy friends had taught themselves to be so not vain n' could wear the same clothes since middle skool, etc.; i also realised after the $hopping $pree that maybe god rhad called 'pon me to go on that $hopping $pree.   heh, i'm sure ppl scoff @ that.   however, no... i 'member this 1 christianesque chain letter that talked 'bout being nice to others; it mentioned wearing nice perfume cos u should let every1 smell u @ ur best or sumpthin'.   i can can feel that, i.e. i can sort'f understand how that can be.   if i dress my worst all the time, it's almost like i'm disrespekting ppl 'round me, saying they're not worth my getting dressed up, etc.   thus, if i bother to wear nice clothes n' buy nice clothes, maybe i'm showing love n' even god's love by wearing nicer clothes to be 'round certain ppl. *shrug* maybe... maybe not.   also, tho'... i think it's even more probable that god has called me to be amongst maybe a certain crowd, n' maybe i do need to dress to a certain level'f niceness to minister to that crowd. *shrug* maybe, maybe not; but maybe more propable than my earlier statement.   neway, dude... luxurious life, etc.   this kind'f life is getting expen$ive.... is that what gwen stefani sez?

수요일 아침: 1 song i really like these days is relient k's "high of 75."   dude, it rocks.

2day's the beautiful kaela hwang's n' my 3rd wedding anniversary.   [later] yah, as i was saying earlier, we sort'f celebrated this past wknd.   [later] on sat morn, after i skated (skateboarded) @ the sunnyvale skate park 4 a while, i came home n' cooked omelettes (or scramble) 4 kaela n' me.   i wanted to do sumpthin' nice, but maybe that was a mistake.   we had to rush, rush, rush to our massage therapy n' facials apptmnt @ the hayes mansion's being spa.   *sigh* we were late, n' well, like the massage therapist that took care'f me was fine, but the woman who took care'f kaela was sort'f a b!+¢h.   she was so pushy n' kept whining 'bout how we were late n' stuff.   yah, she kind'f p!$$ed us off.   well, we were @ the health spa from 1030a till like 300p or so.   i guess 'twas decently relaxing 4 me.   there was a wedding @ the hayes mansion that day.   from our hotel room's balcony, we could watch the wedding.   we saw part'f it.   it looked like a decently nice wedding.   then @ 600p, we went down to orlo's restaurant to enjoy the dinner that came w/ our "romance package."   i think the dinner was the most satisfying part'f the wknd... or 'least it was prob'ly the part that best surpassed expektations.   the spa disappointed kaela, altho' i was fine w/ it.   i guess the room was really nice 2.   the hotel gave us a bottle'f champagne n' some choco.dipped strawberries .   [later] on sun morn, we exercised in the resort's gym.   then we showered n' left.   we had lunch @ the joy luck place casual side.   we shared some pork n' preserved egg jook n' some beef w/ enoki brasied noodles.   oh yah, what was our dinner @ orlo's?   well, we each had the house salad, which is much more beautiful than it sounds.   then kaela had some ahi tuna, n' i had this steak churrasco.   then we each had the apple tart 4 dessert.   'twas a prix fixe menu, n' we had no choice on the dessert.   i had this meritage wine, n' kaela had a pinot grigio.

[later] 4 dinner on sun, kaela cooked her variation on beef stroganoff, while i went to buy some steer manure @ orchard supply.   we ate out on the patio on that warm nite.   on mon, i missed my 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class w/ may @ the east arques sunnyvale 24 hour fitness cos i woke up late.   i tried to drive off to the sunnyvale skate park b4 werk but realised it was a bit late 4 a prew.erk skate session.   i realised tho' that i'd 4gotten my i.d. badge.   when, i got to the office, i couldn't go in yet cos it was 2 early n' the sekurity guard wasn't there to let me in n' give me a temporary badge.   i just sat down n' waited thinking what i schmuck i was 4 not just hittin' up the sunnyvale skate park instead'f sittin' there on that black leather couch in the lobby.   when i finally got into my office, into my cube; i found out the netwerk was down.   argh! how unproduktive!   seriously, i might as well've been @ the sunnyvale skate park in the morn!   well, @ lunch, i drove home, did some laundry (aktually, i 1st stopped by big! lots to buy some cr@ppy laundry detergent w/ bleach alternative, which i only thought i neeeded but didn't), ate leftover noodles 4 lunch, put out laundry, n' rode my bike back to werk.   after werk, i rode my bike over to the east arques sunnyvale 24 hour fitness to attend sach's turbo kick box (tkb) class.   luckily, i didn't have a flat tire this wk.   i went to the class; i saw mark's grace there. . . [unfinished entry]

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목요일 오후: so i really wanna get the relient k album mmhmm; but it's from 2004, so i'm sure i can find a used copy 4 ¢heaper somewhere.   as i was saying yesterday, i like the song "high of 75."   u prob'ly noticed that this past yr or so, i've listened to a li'l less korean musik *(kpop / 한국 가요).   it's not that i don't like it as much as i used to but cos lately yesasia hasn't been selling a good selektion'f musik.   i've been wanting to place an order 4 cds from them 4 a long time now, but i simply haven't found enuf cds worth buying to put 2gether an order. *sigh* what's up, man?! what happened to the glorious days'f compilation cds like ivy megamix n' club dj 가요?!?!   rt now, i'm listening to the black eyed peas' "gone going."   it's got a nice feelgood msg like some'f their other songs.   it's like... it's not quite spiritual but just feelgood in an oprah winfrey way.

yesterdasy eveining, kaela n' i went $hopping @ valley fair mall 4 b.day presents 4 our friends.   dude, sooo many july b.days!!!   i'm sure that i've mentioned b4 that my ¢redit ¢ard bill spikes in june/july.   sometimes it's cos'f our wedding anniversary celebration, but... *shrug* maybe part'f it's cos'f all these b.days.   does it ever cm to u that u give out more b.day presents than u receive?   do u care?   i don't care.   should i care?   nah.   dude, my b.day's comin' up... isn't it funny?   i could keep track'f if all the ppl that i give b.day presents to in june/july give me a b.day present in august, huh?   whatever, man!   it's good to "give from the heart."   give cos u want to not cos u wanna get sumpthin' back.   better yet, simply give out'f love 4 god n' from god's love.

oh yah, back to the topik'f musik... i 4got to mention sumpthin' moderately important: next mon(day) eve(ning) our good friend roland's bringing the beautiful kaela hwang n' me to the jason mraz acoustik concert @ villa montalvo as a 3rd wedding anniversary present.   as a singer.songwriter type, jason mraz sings folksy rock from virginia.   i guess he's a less wussy version'f john mayer, eh? ha ha.   it's not that i'm totally baggin' on john mayer, but he's sooo like "the freshman guy in the dorm who pretends to be ultra senstive n' plays guitar for gurls to get in their pants."   i mean, hey... i'm not baggin' on him.   neway, jason mraz is a li'l more'f a rocker than that, it cms.   even tho'... i recently pur¢entha$ed his live album on sony connect™.   it's a live album n' has cheering in btwn each song.   i believe @ 1 pt in the cheering, a woman screams, "take off your pants!!!"   ha ha ha!   i believe i've heard that @ concerts b4.   well, i've never ever been on stage djing, doing a taekwondo demo, or whatnot n' have a crowd cheering n' cheering w/ a woman screaming "take off your pants!"   however, i guess that's fine.   i like my pants.   guys, u know how ur wife might watch a movie w/ u n' c a guy bring a gurl flowers or say sumpthin' really wittily romantik n' then say to u, "you never do things like that for me."   shouldn't i tell kaela, "you never scream, 'take off your pants' to me anymore."   i just wonder how often yoyo ma gets that @ his concerts.   n'f those times, i wonder how often he obliges.   wow, just imagine how that woman can tell her kids someday that she's the 1 on that cd screaming, "take off your pants!"

i just now gave this journal entry the title'f "trousers rolled."   do u understand that allusion?   it's to the t.s. eliot 1917 poem "the love song of j. alfred prufrock," which was always a favourite'f mine.   take care not to confuse t.s. eliot w/ either c.s. lewis or j.r.r. tolkien.   also, 'least make some effort not to confuse him w/ dj jazzy jeff ('f dj jazzy jeff n' the fresh prince fame ["the fresh prince" = will smith]).   along the same lines, don't confuse him w/ j.j. fad ('f "supersonic" breakdancing musik fame).   [later, after rereading the poem, which i posted a looong time 'go on my site] why've i always liked this poem?   it's a li'l depressing, a li'l humourous.   i dunno.   in a way, i feel it talks 'bout what it's like to be a guy... a guy who aktually thinks 'bout life n' isn't just a meathead.

[later] hawk nelson's "everything you ever wanted" from the smile its the end of the world album; that's a kewl song!

last nite, after $hopping, kaela n' i had our relatively modest 3rd anniversary dinner.   on kaela's whim, we went to the elephant bar in campbell on hamilton.   we hadn't been to 1'f these kinds'f restaurants in a while (like chili's, applebee's, etc.).   we were really hugnry n' started out w/ some blended drinks n' their soy ginger calamari.   then, kaela had some kind'f jambalaya, n' i had a 0.5 rack'f kona baby back ribs.   it was a good dinner.   we dropped off mason's n' grace's (belated) b.day presents @ their house.   then we went home.   man, kaela fell asleep on the ride home; but me? it was 2 hot to sleep.   i had a hard time sleeping last nite as i've had a few times in the past wk or so.   it's 2 hot!   this morn, i wanted to hit up the sunnyvale skate park, but i couldn't wake up.   crazy.   instead, i took sooni 4 a short walk after eating some cereal.   then i rushed off to werk.   thursdays r hard cos i've gotta leave early to go teach the adult beginner (white belt) class @ u.s. taekwondo akademy.   2day, during lunch, i went to ¢0$+¢0 to fill up on 87 oktane gas @ $2.99/gal.   gas is freakin'/frickin' expen$ive these days, n' i hear it's gonna get worse.   we all need to bike to werk, eh?   dude, i'd love to bike to the sunnyvale skate park in the morn, skate, n' then bike to werk from there; but then i'd have nowhere to hide my skateboard 1nce i got to my office.   un4tunately, while it might be ok to bring in a bag'f golf clubs into the office, ppl'd prob'ly think i'm 2 immature if i brought my skateboard into the office. *sigh*

jessie nelson's "everyday," that's a nice song... oh yah, i'm listening to air1 online rt now.

[later]as'f last nite, kaela n' i've been married 4 3 yrs.   u prob'ly know that; but didju realise that we've been 2gether as a couple 4 6.5 yrs?   kaela pted that out last nite, n' i hadn't really thought 'bout that.   wow.   that's more than 2ice as long as i'd been w/ ne other gf, u know?   i'd like to say that having been 2gether this long guarantees that we'll be 2gether 4ever.   tho' we shall be 2gether 4ever, it's not just cos we've just been 2gether this long; no.   well, what i mean to say is that well, a marriage/relationship does take effort, so we shouldn't get complacent.   furthermore, or marriage needs to be a holy thing, n' we've gotta 'member to maintain a "god.centred" marriage.   neway... it does honestly make me happy to think that kaela n' i've been 2gether 4 6.5 yrs.   i'm very 1) 4tunate (fortunate), 2) lucky, 3) blessed.   do u 'member the ol' toad the wet sprocket song "i will not take these things for granted"?   well, i shan't; i shall not take these things 4 granted.

another kewl song: stellar kart's "me and jesus" from the album we can't stand sitting   [later] 'nother kewl song: switchfoot's "we are one tonight" from their nothing is sound album [later] 'nother kewl song: jars of clay's "liquid" from their self.titled album.

금요일 1234a: well, b4 i lose my chance, please lemme post some pix up from last wknd, when the beautiful kaela hwang n' i celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary @ san josé's hayes mansion:

kaela n' i in our room @ the hayes mansion b4 dinner

dessert: apple tart @ orlo's @ the hayes mansion

kaela plays w/ her fud (that's the apple tart crust!)

keno hwang in front'f a vintage yellow camaro

keno hwang in front'f the hayes mansion @ dusk

kaela by herself in front'f the hayes mansion @ dusk

beno w/ a special needs kitty... it had some kind'f neurological disorder: it couldn't focus its eyes n' couldn't stop moving its feet.

kaela w/ the centerpiece from a table from the cocktail hr 4 the wedding that was @ the hayes mansion that day

keno hwang on the balcony'f their room @ the hayes mansion

ok, plz lemme post 1 more pic that's aktually from much earlier... i hope this doesn't confuse u!

this pic's from jin lee's wedding way back in may... 'member? napa.   it's keno hwang n' grace n' ken lee.   i'd never gotten 'round to posting it.

[later] 금요일 아침: i was looking 4 lyrics to relient k's "high of 75."   i googled up a few wurds that i 'membered from the song.   1'f the 1st pages that popped up was a myspace page 4 some l3$b!@n gurl in minnesota.   i didn't find the lyrics, but she had some nice song playing on her page: tegan and sara's "take me anywhere."   i'd never heard'f it.   prob'ly some indie band.   yah, it's kind'f funny cos contemporary christian musik (ccm) fans might classify relient k as "christian rock" or sumpthin', but other ppl classify it as "indie rock," n' that's both true n' kewl.   neway, dude; here r the lyrics:

relient k - "high of 75"

we were talkin' together
i said "what's up with this weather?"
don't know whether or not
how sad i just got
was of my own volition
or if i'm just missin' the sun

and tomorrow i know
will be rainy at best
and the forecast, i know
is that i'll be depressed
but i'll wait outside
hoping that i'll catch sight of the sun

because on and off
the clouds have fought
for control over the sky
and lately the weather
has been so bi-polar and
consequently so have i

but now i'm sunny with a high of 75
since you took my heavy heart and made it light
and it's funny how you find you enjoy your life
when you're happy to be alive

and the temperature is freezing
and then after dark
there's a cold front sweeping
in over my heart
and we might break up
if i don't wake up to the sun

because on and off
the clouds have fought
for control over the sky
and lately the weather
has been so bi-polar and
consequently so have i

but now i'm sunny with a high of 75
since you took my heavy heart and made it light
and it's funny how you find you enjoy your life
when you're happy to be alive

sunny with a high of 75
since you took my heavy heart and made it light
and it's funny how you find you enjoy your life
when you're happy to be alive

when i checked out relientk.com just now, i 'membered that relient k has a song called "who i am hates who i've been."   here's their wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relient_k.

last nite, on bronx's junkyard forums, i read a thread that hyun started in "general chat," which asked what's hot these days in kpop since he feels out'f the scene n' cos he feels that he hasn't heard ne good kpop dance tunes lately.   dude!!! i told him that i couldn't agree more... like, (just as i was saying yesterday in yesterday's entry) as much as i really like korean musik / kpop; it just hasn't been all that inspring 4 me as a dj lately!!!   like, i mostly hear tunes that rn't very dancey... there hasn't been a good dance album in a looong time!   where's 이정현 lee junghyun?   where's 엄정화 uhm junghwa?   where's 김현정 kim hyunjung?   like... i think koyotae had a more recent album, but like... i dunno, man... there hasn't been nething really hot from these danceish artists in a long time!   dude, d'ya 'member when 이정현 lee junghyun's "magic to go to my star" album came out?   dude, that rocked!   as i was saying yesterday, what happened to the good ol' days'f ivy megamix cds?!   like, lately, it's fun to watch these kpop pop musik per4mances or ballad videos... but dance musik... where?!   like, 1'f the last albums i really enjoyed was epik high's swan songs.

[later] u know how, well, most rock groups have a reputation'f drugs, $3x, n' all sort's ill behaviour?   well, like... how does a musik group explicitly known as being christian behave?   n' how do they behave when they tour w/ nonchristian groups?   like, i saw that

[later] 'nother song i like: aaron shust's "my savior god" from his album "anything worth saying"

[later] 오후/저녁: ha ha, the newsboys' song "breakfast" from their album take me to your leader is really funny.   "they don't serve breakfast in hell."

일요일 밤: it's been kind'f a stressful wknd 4 me.   it's like i've had some fun, but it's hard to say that the stressful times haven't outweighed the fun times.   like, i've sort'f had fun, but 'twas all stressful fun.   hey, r ne'f u like me in that fun can often be stressful?   4 example, if i'm out doing sumpthin' s'pposedly fun, but it ¢o$ts 'lot'f $$$; sometimes, i stress over the $$$ i'v $pent while i'm s'pposedly having fun.   i guess that's how i felt in vegas on our 1st trip n' how i've felt on many trips, n' that has really eaten 'way @ whatever fun i was having. *sigh* is this like a psychological prob?   do i need therapy or counseling 'bout this?   *shrug* well, i dunno; personally, i think that instead'f therapy n' counseling, i prefer to find help in well... hopefully prayer, but otherwise friends... talking to friends... however, that's 2 often a shortcoming i've had, that i place 2 much faith in human beings, while nuthin' n' no 1 is 100% reliable 'cept 4 god, u know?   it's that whole machines of loving grace thing yet 'gain.   like, this wknd, there were 'lot'f celebrations 4 our friends, n' i wanted to celebrate 4 my friends; but it was like, honestly, it was a li'l bit'f an effort to do all this celebrating.   well, uhm... i guess it's mostly cos'f this: u c, on fri evening, the beautiful kaela hwang couldn't find her wedding band, n' she thinks some1 might've stolen it out'f her gym bag @ the gym.   i dunno; it's all really stressful.   however, we had celebrations to attend: 1st'f our friend darien had his b.day on fri nite.   on sat morn/afternoon, kaela's skool friend rachel had a b.day.   on sat nite, our friend jane had a 2nd bachelorette party.   i'm not very fond'f the idea'f bachelorette parties since i don't really do bachelor parties in the traditional sense, n' it's that whole 2 wrongs don't make a rt thing yet 'gain.

[a li'l later] 943p: neway, darien's b.day was @ loft bar n' bistro in downtown san jo.   cos kaela n' i were looking 4 kaela's wedding band @ home, in her car, n' @ 24 hour fitness; we were really late, showing up ~1.5 hrs late.   however, the group had just finished ordering when we got there, n' it turned out that 1 guy came later than us (but didn't eat).   we didn't get to meet all'f jane n' darien's friends, but they cmed like good, nice ppl.   we met a few'f'em.   the dinner was very delicious.   4 darien's large b.day party, his fianc¢e jane organised the party w/ a special party menu, where we had a choice'f soup or salad, then steak or salmon (or chicken, which no 1 picked), n' then a dessert.   both kaela n' i started w/ the chop salad... or i c they call it the "loft wedge salad."   then, i had the griled marinated flank steadk, n' kaela had the grilled salmon w/ pesto sauce.   4 dessert, i picked the sabayon berries, n' kaela picked the cheesecake.   i had a hefeweizen bier w/ my dinner, n' kaela had iced tea.   neway, heh... those r the details'f our fud.   we gave darien this golf club themed bbq grilling set, on which the grilling tools' handles look like golf club handles.   yah, we picked it up @ copeland sports.   we'd cn it there b4 n' thought it'd be perfekt 4 him. [unfinished entry]

수요일 아침: dude, life's been a bit hektic lately, so i haven't had time to give y'all an update (to throw in a texan term 4 no reason). [later] running 'round, running 'round... still haven't found the beautiful kaela hwang's wedding band, which is really bad.

[later] 저녁이지만 아직도 직장에: *sigh* in a way life's bizzy, n' i haven't had time to update.   in a way, i wanna say 'lot has happened, but then some ppl might say nuthin's happened.   u know... last, last sunday afternoon, i dropped kaela off @ le boulanger in cupertino 4 her to werk on a skool presentation w/ her classmate friend rachel, while i went to wash sooni @ pet fud express n' also buy her a buttload'f goodies w/ a 20% off ¢oupon.   after washing sooni i came back to c kaela.   i saw this chinese gurl n' guy on the boulevard or island'f stevens crk blvd, rt in the middle'f moderate traffik.   it looked like the gurl was going to jump into the traffik n' kill herself, but the guy was holding her back.   i stuck 'round to c what was going on 4 a li'l while.   i saw the gurl lunge out a li'l, but the guy pulled her back, n' some car honked.   i dunno; it kind'f also looked like the gurl wanted to scare her bf but wasn't really gonna kill herself.   i noticed that the cali mill plaza housing n' $hopping area had some kind'f sheriff's station, so i was gonna go in n' tell them; but i couldn't find the office.   i either couldn't find the office, or else no 1 was in the office.   i then proceeded to le boulanger to c kaela.   after a while, i decided to head over to target to switch out mason's b.day present cos kaela got a li'l excited 'bout how fast mason's growing n' bout a really big size that i figured was really 2 big 4 him.   neway, on my way back to my car 2 things happened: 1st some korean gurl stopped me to ask me if she could borrow my fon to make a quick local call.   i agreed.   then, a sheriff's deputy stopped me to ask me about the chinese gurl who was gonna jump into the street.   he took down my account n' my info.   i noticed the chinese gurl was in the sheriff's deputy's car n' that the bf was sittin' on the curb'f the parking lot.   then the sheriff's deputy asked me if the gurl i had just been talking to had cn the incident.   i didn't know n' told him that i didn't know her n' that she had just stopped to borrow my fon.   however, it dawned on me that, wow... imagine if i didn't realise that all 3'f those ppl were aktually connekted or sumpthin', n' i'd just gotten involved in some criminal situation or sumpthin'.   neway... i don't think that was the case, n' i never heard back from the sheriff's deputy even tho' i gave him my cell nombre in case he needed to reach me.   neway, that was just an interesting incident.

so... what's been going on this wk?   well, hrm... this past wknd?   yah, as i mentioned in an early entry; it was kind'f "stressful fun."   don't get me wrong; i really enjoyed hangin' w/ friends this wknd, but i'm just sayin' that deep inside, i was worrying n' stressing while having a good time.   fri was 1 b.day party, n' sat was 'nother.   we watched pirates of the caribbean 2: dead man's chest after eating sushi @ yoyo sushi.   oh yah... in the early morn, i hit the sunnyvale skate park, which was most likely the most relaxing part'f my wknd.   then, i drove back home, put my bike in my car, n' drove my car to the santa clara precision tune auto care, where i dropped it off 4 the premium plus oil change n' replacement'f timing belts.   yah, that's not ¢heap.   i got my bike out'f the car n' rode over to the santa clara farmers market where i bought some plums n' some overpri¢ed spinach naan n' chicken tikka masala ('twas $10 4 the naan n' masala).   then i rode home.   kaela went out to safeway to buy some random groceries n' a whole mess'f powerbars to distribute @ the b.day party as health.conscious party favours.   pretty clever'f her, eh?   i dunno; me, i really liked her idea.   she was in safeway n' talking to me on her new motorola handsfree kit, which she only bought cos she thought she'd lost her logitech 1 but didn't.   i couldn't hear her very well cos the motorola handsfree kit isn't very good.   she sed she wanted to give out powerbars cos it's better than giving out candy, which every1 always does, she sed.   i misheard her n' that she sed "panties."   @ that pt, i assumed, she was talkin' 'bout the bachelorette party n' that she was maybe buying powerbars to give to the bride.to.be. *shrug* yah, i was a li'l confused.   neway, kaela came home, n' then i headed out to the bank to depo$it a whole mess'f ¢a$h that i'd collekted on fri nite cos i carded the total bill @ loft bar n' bistro 4 the b.day party.   kaela told me to stop by big! lots n' buy a tiara 4 rachel, the b.day gurl (kaela's classmate friend).   i did all that; i rode my bike to the bank n' big! lots.   i was riding my bike @ hi noon on the hottest day 'round here in a loooong time.   yah, i came home really sweatty, so i insisted on taking a shower b4 headin' off to yoyo sushi.   kaela drove us to the mercado (the shopping centre w/ the sushi joint n' the movie theatre).   we had a decent lunch, didn't overeat.   we had a good cake from coldstone.   i felt kind'f sad 4 1'f kaela's classmate friends who didn't eat ne sushi but just some special natural fud bar cos she's on a diet.   i felt bad 4 her, but i think she really is losing weight.   she also, of course, skipped out on the delicious aisukuriimu cake that she bought n' brought herself.   yah, i felt a li'l bad.   well, pirates was a decent movie; but since kaela n' i hadn't watched the 1st 1... dude, we were sooo confused.   oh yah, rt b4 the movie started, i had to have kaela drive me over to precision tune auto care to pick up my car.   i had to wait ~10 mins 4 the dude there to install 1 last belt, which he was s'pposed to have already installed.   then i picked kaela back up from home, n' we rushed to the theatre.   yah, i missed a li'l'f the beginning'f the movie.   also, i was really tired from all my aktivity, so i've gotta admit that i almost fell asleep during certain parts'f the movie.   neway, after the movie, i guess kaela n' i went home.   it was really hot.   we had a li'l time b4 kaela had to go off to the bachelorette party.

i drove kaela over to mark n' grace's apartment.   it was nice to sit in the path'f the aircon (air conditioner).   the bride.2.be jane showed up w/ 2 friends, n' they went to dinner @ chili's; while mark n' i went to dinner @ denny's.   i ordered the sliders meal, which was s'pposed to come w/ onion rings.   the waitress brought it out w/ french fries.   aktually, i'd explicitly sed i wanted it w/ onion rings even tho' the menu sed it comes w/ onion rings unless u specify that u want fries.   neway, the waitress put up a big fight (surprisingly), but i sed it was ok only after she sed sorry.   like, i wasn't being a d!¢k or an @$$hole 'bout it... i just didn't like that she was lying 'bout 2 things: 1) that the menu sez the meal comes w/ fries n' not onion rings n' 2) that i hadn't sed i wanted onion rings.   neway... i figured that since she sed sorry, i was obligated to forgive her.   neway, mark n' i had a decent meal n' had a chance to discuss guy stuff as 2 husbands, etc.   later, we went back to mark n' grace's house.   our friend agnes (who's our taekwondo student) showed up, n' the gurls started their pre.party.   mark n' i'd plan to watch m. night shyamalan's lady in the water @ 1000p @ the mercado, but the gurls were taking 2 long w/ their pre.partying.   we then decided to go to the 1045p showing.   mark n' i dropped the gurls off @ mtn view's castro st's buddha lounge.   then we went off to our movie.

목요일n아침, 744a: i should be @ the sunnyvale skate park rt now but am not.   instead, i'm sitting in my subaru forester in the parking lot'f the mcyukyuk's, waiting 4 the beautiful kaela hwang 4 brkfast.   i dunno how we ended up @ this idea 'cept that we don't have much fud @ home n' badly need to go gro¢ery $hopping.   maybe we're quite due 4 a ¢o$t¢o trip.   i'm quite frustrated that i haven't yet hit the sunnyvale skate park this wk.   it's quite upsetting, so infuriating!

[later] 821a: i'm in my office now.   neway, i still haven't finished my wknd recap, n' it's thurs.   mark n' i went to watch lady in the water.   it's not scary.   it's like watching x.files.   [a li'l later] so unbeknownst to us b4hand, the story's based upon a fake korean folklore.   it involves these water nymphs, these doggies or wolves, these monkeys, n' an eagle.   yah, the involvement'f animals is like real korean folklore.   neway, after the movie we headed back over to mtn view's castro st to try to pick up the gurls from the buddha lounge, but they didn't wanna leave.   yah, they were behaving pretty badly, but whate'er.   'twas their nite out n' all.   mark n' i just sat outside the club like a couple'f losers who couldn't get in, while the gurls went back in to dance the very last 30 mins'f the nite.   we continued talkin' 'bout life, relationships, etc.   we watched lots'f drunk ppl wobble up n' down the street.   it was a li'l humourous.   finally, our women wobbled out'f the club, n' we went home.

the next morn, i went to church @ grx, which was @ the santa clara convention center.   pastor andy fitzgerald gave a great sermon 'bout 2'f noah's sons who took care'f him when he passed out drunk n' the 1 son who just went off n' told the others that his dad was drunk n' did nuthin' to help him.   'twas quite relevant... much more so than other ppl prob'ly realised.   i mean, yah; last nite, mark n' i were watching all these drunk ppl, n' well... yah, we shouldn't laff 2 hard @ drunk ppl, in a way... i mean... i dunno; if u'r friend gets drunk, u should help'im out.   if u'r wife gets drunk, u've gotta take care'f her.   *sigh* me, i know i've evolved into quite the insensitive guy, n' it's a major prob.   i dunno what it is, i.e. i dunno how it happened.   was my dad insensitive in raising me?   maybe i need sensitiveity training'f some sort. *shrug*

well, after church, my mom n' i ordered 회덮밥 hweduhpbab n' 짬뽕 jjambbong @ 비원 biwuhn (biwon, secret garden).   i called kaela; or else she called me.   she hadn't woken up 4 church, so i had to go w/o her.   also, she didn't wake up 4 her study grp.   my mom n' i packed up the 짬뽕 jjambbong, n' i brought it home to kaela.   she refused to eat it tho' cos she sed it was 2 spicy 4 her upset stomach.   well, she went back to sleep, n' then i had to go back out into the heat to meet up w/ a couple to discuss djing their wedding in oktober @ villa montalvo'f all places.

i met up w/ the betrothed couple in mtn view @ verde café.   that was funny cos i'd just been there the nite b4.... i mean, i'd just been in mtn view in the castro neighbourhood the nite b4.   wow, 'twas so hot!   i was embarrassed that my arms were dripping w/ sweat 4 almost the whole time i was talking w/ the couple.   after the mtg, i swung by 한국 마켓 hangook market to buy kaela some packaged 전복 죽 juhnbok jook (abalone porridge), which was very expen$ive @ $3.99 a pop (4 a li'l chef boy.r.dee meal.in.a.minute sized single serving).   crazy!   i bought 3'f'em.   kaela also wanted 김치 gimchi/kimchi n' other 반찬 banchan, but the 반찬 banchan bar was cleaned out.   i had to buy some packaged 김치 kimchi that looked very not fresh.   i bought some fresh 떡 dduhk (rice cake) tho'.   i went home.   i warmed up the 전복 죽 juhnbok jook 4 kaela, but she refused to eat it.   earlier, i'd cut up a really nice plum 4 her, but she'd refused to eat that 2.   i cleaned the house, tidying up the mess.   uc, we skeduled a maid service to come in this wednesday (yesterday), so we needed to try to pick up our clutter.   i werked hard to pick up junk.   i moved my new dj speakers into the 'puter room all nice.   it was sooo hot, so i turned on the aircon (air conditioner).   dude, i don't wanna c this month's energy bill!   when it got a li'l cooler in the evening, kaela n' i sat outside n' ate the 짬뽕 jjambbong.

on mon morn, i went to may's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques 24 hour fitness in sunnyvale.   usually, when i go to that, i come back home to walk sooni n' wake up kaela; but this wk, i had to go straight to werk afterward.   u c, 2morrow's the end'f the fiscal 0.25, n' also on mon nite, roland took us out to the jason mraz concert @ villa montalvo; so i needed to leave early.   *sigh* man, i'm so mad that i didn't get to hit up the sunnyvale skate park all wk!   neway, on mon, what happened?   hrm... i ate lunch outside, in my werk.com courtyard/atrium.   i sat w/ a cowerker n' watched the mutha duck w/ her 9 ducklings.   dude, they're very cute.   1 duckling kept wanting to catch yellow jackets.   how cute!   i wouldn't want it to get stung tho'.   i ate 2 neimann ranch burgers cos that was the spe¢ial 4 the day: 2 4 the pri¢e'f 1.   crazy!   dude, i've been eating horribly this wk!   hopefully, this sat, i'll bring more ¢a$h to the $anta ¢lara farmers market n' buy more fruits n' veggies.   dude, i've barely eaten ne veggies this wk!!!   well, we met up w/ roland n' samantha @ west valley college, where villa montalvo runs a shuttle service 4 their concerts.   we took roland n' samantha to le boulanger in the el paseo $hopping ¢enter 'cross from westgate mall.   originally, we were gonna hit up noah's bagels, but they rn't open 4 dinner.   kaela ordered this shrimp salad melt 0.5 sandwich w/ a salad, n' i ordered a reuben sandwich w/ less dressing, which was still 'lot.   well, we went to the concert.   'twas quite kewl to be back @ villa montalvo; brought back so many good memories.   'twas really romantik, n' jason mraz sang this 1 song that he wrote 4 his "sister's first marriage," which was a great song 4 our 3rd anniversary, if u ask me.   'twas like listening to a singer @ a café.   heh, is jason mraz like the male version'f jewel?!   i like jewel.   she rocks.   the audience was more female than male, n' jason mraz himself joked 'lot 'bout that.   he obviously realises that he has a very female fan base.   i was aktually 'least a li'l surprised that the crowd had so many asians.   i dunno; i just figure not sooo many asians go out to rock concerts, but i guess i was wrong.   yah, i guess every concert i go to 'round her has lots'f other asians: like the erasure concert, the depeche mode concert...   dude, the erasure concert back in uh... 2003? that had sooo many asians.   i figured andy bell n' vince clarke must've felt like they were playing a concert in japan or sumpthin'.   rt b4 the concert, kaela sent me out to buy bier fromt he concession stand, so i bought 1 heineken premium lite n' 1 budweiser selekt.   b4 that nite, i'd never tried either.   well, i had a good time.

on tues morn, i rode my bike to werk.   i ate a couple'f tacos in the courtyard 4 lunch but didn't c the ducklings.   i had tons'f mtgs.   then after werk, i rode home, put sooni in the car, n' went to taekwondo praktice.   after praktice, i taught our white belt class w/ mark n' ben.   then i went home n' cleaned a li'l more.

on wed, i wanted to hit up the sunnyvale skate park but didn't.   i gave sooni a decent walk.   i've been trying to give her better, longer walks these days to make up 4 "being a bad dad" in recent wks; that is, i'd been shortchanging her walks in order to go to the gym or to the sunnyvale skate park.   also, the whole wknd, she didn't get a walk, rt?   we were just so rushed w/ this n' that; n' also 'twas so hot!   when i got back home from the walk, kaela was mad @ me cos she sed she had some 740a class n' that i hadn't woken her up.   frick, i should've just gotten up early, told her to wake up, n' then gone off to the sunnyvale skate park instead.   i dunno, man.   obviously, we both wanted to get out'f the house earlier.   well, i had this lunchtime class thingy, where i ate 3 slices'f pizza w/o veggies.   then i went home n' werked on my laptop on werk.com stuff, while the maids cleaned.   wow, i got so much done, werking from home!   frickin' a!   wow!   i was sooo produktive.   i guess, on the typikal day, i waste lots'f energy, blocking out the noise that a nearby cowerker makes.   i dunno, man.   well, the maids did a good job, but i summed it up to kaela in a cellfon txt msg that our house looked "very clean but still cluttered."   it's true.   she needs to donate n' store her clothes.   she has sooo many clothes.   i'm glad she does, but they're 2 often just all over the place.   the maids made the bed all nice.   4 a short while, earlier this yr, i'd been making the bed every morn.   still, they made it nicely.

after werk, yesterday, (n' i werked decently late) i drove home n' then hopped on my bike to ride over to the nearby house'f couple from church.   there, pastor ali led a couples ministry leaders mtg, n' we ate all this good fud from armadillo willy's like ribs, bbqed chicken, bbqed beef, bbqed pork, sausage... dude, 'twas delicious but not healthy 4 me.   well, 'twas a good mtg, n' then i went home.   i pondered getting kaela n' going to safeway@rivermark to buy some fruits n' veggies but decided 'twas 2 late n' that i wanted to sleep early to wake up early to hit up the sunnyvale skate park.   however, in the end i still didn't hit up the sunnyvale skate park, so i'm absolutely furious.

[later] finally cooling down - last nite, 'twas much cooler than it's been in recent days.   this wknd was such a heat wave!   each day, mongst the next few, 'll get a li'l cooler: 2day, 83°f; 2morrow, 83°f; sat, 79°f (finally under 80°f!); n' sun, 76°f...   wow, talk 'bout relient k's "high of 75"!!! *sigh* i've gotta make it out to rasputin's or streetlight to search 4 that relient k 2004 album mmhmm. *sigh* it's now 2006.   in fakt, 2006's 0.5way over!   crazy!

y! news article: "Ice-cold watermelon is less nutritious"

[later] u know how i aktually like kelly clarkson's musik even tho' i know it's pretty teenybopperish n' all?   on sat, @ yoyo sushi, i noticed that they were playing a kelly clarkson song, while the tv on mute was palying a ford commecial w/ her in it.   funny, huh?

[later] 2nite, i'll go to teach our white belt taekwondo class, then do sparring praktice, n' then go out to dinner w/ 윤사범님 yoon sabuhmnim (john yoon), n' then eric johnson's gonna come over to be our houseguest 4 the nite as he moves into a new apt this wknd.   what's gonna happen this wknd?   well, shoot; i miss having relaxing wknds, when kaela n' i can make field trips w/ sooni.   'member those days? i do.   nowadays, we waste wknds: kaela'll say she needs to study all wknd, but whether she aktually does or not... sometimes she does, sometimes we just waste the wknd 'way.   [later] don't get me wrong: i don't resent kaela or nething.   however, i do miss how we used to be able to go out to sf or up to berkeley on like almost ne given wknd day.   i miss making those field trips.   it's summer now, n' sooni needs to have her field trips!   *sigh* i feel like we need to do things like this while we're still young; while we're still hangin' onto our youth.   someday, we'll have kids, n' we won't be able to get out'f the house so easily.   i mean, already it's harder to get out'f the house w/ sooni, in that we've gotta pack up her backpack'f stuff; but it's not as bad as trying to get out'f the house w/ a baby n' a diaper bag, rt?   last nite, @ the couples ministry leaders mtg, we talked 'lot 'bout how there r sooo many young parents @ our church.   yah, altho' kaela n' i have prolonged our childlessness; we do hope eventually to have kids; we really do.   sometimes, we cm like those $3x & the city yuppie types that simply hate kids, but i don't think we r n' know i'm not.   i do wanna eventually have kids; no doubt.   it's just a bit scary; also w/o doubt.

[later] wow, jars of clay's "dead man (carry me)" has such a retro.1980s, new wave sound!   pretty kewl.   [later] dude, so there's this kewl group called superchick.   the leader'f the group is max hsu.   he djs 4 the group n' plays keyboards.   funny, huh, that if there's a dj n' an asian in the group, it's most likely that the dj is asian.   well, they're a kewl group, so check'em out.   stellar kart; they've got that pop.punk sound.   maybe someday, we'll have a term like "soft punk" similar to how we have the term "soft rock."   dude, i just heard a really good quote.   maybe u've heard it b4: in reference to what it takes to get into heaven, "how good is good enough?   we don't need to answer that question because good people don't go to heaven; forgiven people go to heaven."

[later] 오후: so during my lunchbrk, i werked out in the werk.com gym, lifting weights.   man, i hadn't lifted weights in a long time n' hadn't werked out in the werk.com gym in an even longer time.   i felt like i couldn't lift as much. :-( that's bad.   maybe i need to resume weightlifting werkouts.   w/ all the taekwondo, turbo kick box (tkb), n' skateboarding; i'd sacrificed weightlifting.   i dunno...   well, after my werkout n' shower, i went to the werk.com cafeteria n' got some salad from the salad bar.   man, slim pickin's!   there was barely nething left.   i pondered buying instead some spicy tuna rolls 4 $3.45, but i didn't think it'd fill me up; n' i also needed some veggies in my diet badly!   i needed some fruits n' veggies.   i'd had a bad diet 4 the past few meals: egg mcmuffin, ribs etc., pizza, leftover reuben sandwich, tacos, reuben sandwich, 2 burgers...   crazy!   i really needed som veggies.

*sigh* i can hardly believe that july's coming to an end.   already, by the time we came back from vegas, i could easily tell that days were getting shorter.   in vegas, days were shorter cos'f geography, i.e. vegas is southeast'f us here in the bay area, in the silly valley.   the silikon valley is amerika's real heartland!

funny... on mon, we went to the jason mraz concert.   jason mraz's from virginia.   lately, i've been listening to many ccm (contemporary christian musik) artists, n' so many'f them r from sort'f "odd" places like the south, the midwest, the northwest... i expekt musicians to mostly come out'f good ol' cali4nia or else new york... or... *shrug* i know seattle had the big grunge era, n' i guess the smashing pumpkins came out'f chicago or sumpthin', rt?   just think: where do my favourite amerikan musicians hail from???   well, which amerikan artists do i like?   i like gwen stefani n' no doubt; n' they're (of course) from orange county.   i mentioned jewel earlier; n' she's from san diego n' alaska, rt?.   i used to be more into groups like r.e.m., n' r.e.m.'s from athens, georgia.   bay area groups? well, obviously, i wish the jenny thing were still 2gether, n' i haven't heard from matt easton in a while; but maybe i'm just not looking/listening hard 'nuff.   they're from good ol' berkeley.   speaking'f which, i'd sure like to check out more'f putnam hall's musik.   there's a good, wholesome cali4nian bunch, rt? *shrug* green day; obviously, they're from hercules / the east bay.

화요일 아침: 2day's 241tue@connect™.com.   didju know they have a lena park (박정현 park junghyun) cd single 4 $ale there?   wow.   fall in love, it's called.   'tas released 2006년07월01일, but the copyrt date dez 2005년, so i'm a li[' confused.   2day's my bro.in.law (my sister grace's husband) steve's b.day.   happy b.day, dude.   it's been a long time since i've updated... well, no; i've gone longer, but i shouldn't aim 4 that.

[later] 오후: 2day, the beautiful kaela hwang had a day off from skool, so she came to my office during lunch.   i got her a vistor's badge n' showed her the 9 ducklings in the atrium.   then she drove me to the $1⁷⁵ ($1.75 dry) cleaners, which is now the $2.50 cleaners 'cept that i had a ¢oupon that made it the $1.50 cleaners.   dude, those ¢oupons r now pre¢iou$.   i need a car wash n' a haircut.   services that u pay 4, u know?   'cept i'm hoping that kaela'll cut my hair 4 me 4 free.   i could wash my own car, but i think i'll pay 4 a car wash sometime soon.   i haven't washed my car since winter.   i feel bad 'bout that.   i dunno whether to get just an exterior wash or an exterior n' interior wash.   *sigh* man... it's awful that i've been $pending so much $$$ lately.

so where did i leave off updatin' u?   *shrug* last thurs, eh?   well, on last thurs, what did i eat 4 lunch?   i believe that i got a bowl'f salad bar salad @ the werk.com cafeteria.   after werk, i went to teach our white belt class @ u.s. taekwondo akademy. . . . [unfinished entry]

수요일 아침: mornings when i try to go to the sunnyvale skate park but end up not being able to go really p!$$ me off big time.   2day was 1'f those morns.   i don't sleep in much these days.   rather, 4 the most part i have 2 kinds'f morns: 1's where i wake up early n' hit up the sunnyvale skate park n' 1's where i wake up early hafta do lots'f housechores n' the like n' then end up not making it to the sunnyvale skate park.   as u know, the latter p!$$es me off big time, while the former makes me quite happy.   is it not a simple request?   i just wanna hit up the sunnyvale skate park n' get a li'l skateboarding in b4 werk.   it's free.   it hurts no 1.   why not?   simple pleasures, u know?   i'm not asking 4 a riches beyond my imagination.   i'm not asking 4 an expen$ive, designer suit or an italian sportscar.   i just wanna skate. *sigh*

yesterday i went to the sunnyvale skate park.   on last fri, i went as well, rt?   yah, i did.   yesterday, i was talking to my buddy over there, mike; n' he advised that i praktice rolling over the coping in the small bowl, the li'l 0.5pipe area.   he sed that if i get used to rolling over the coping, then i'll get closer to doing axle stalls.   these days, i mostly do a bunch'f backside rear axle grinds, short grinds.   i've been trying a li'l to carve frontside on the walls n' to roll back down fakie now n' then.   *sigh* i'd like to be able to do some rock to fakies soon.   n' hey... i'd love to be able to catch some air someday.   dude, the things i can do on a snowboard... why can't i do them yet on a skateboard?   heh, i'm trying to be shaun white, as u all know.

neway, dude, as i looked @ the clock on my way out'f the house this morn; i realised that i needed to grab my "casual" shoes n' not my skateboarding shoes.   'twas like 740a or sumpthin'.   *sigh* i try to be @ the sunnyvale skate park by like 715a or else just 4get it... ideally, i need to be there b4 700a.   i hear it pretty much opens @ 630a.

on fri, this adolescent boy was talkin' to my buddy mike n' me.   he asked mike how old he is.   mike answered, "45"; n' the kid responded, "whoa! you don't look a day over 17!" or sumpthin' like that.   seriously!   i knew mike was older, but i thought he was @ most 35.   it's crazy how the sunnyvale skate park attrakts the older crowd in the morn.   i like it.

what if i could just skate, do taekwondo, go snowboarding in the winter, n' do dj stuff all the time? *sigh*

baby blogs - whadya think'f'em?   i have sooo many friends who r either having babies this yr or else just recently had babies... or both!!!   some r already going 4 round 2 so soon.   amazing.   think: britney spears (born 1981) has a kid n' is 'bout to have a 2nd: what is it she sings? "hit me baby, one more time"?   apparently, the aktual, official title'f that song is "...baby one more time," n' that's exaktly what's happening, eh?   didju know that last summer, michelle branch (born 1983) had a baby w/ her husband who's her bass player?!   on sat, while we were hangin' in berkeley w/ our good friends eric johnson n' roland, the beautiful kaela hwang attributed the recent surge in baby stores to the recent trend in big name stars having babies, which has made it so trendy to have babies.   true?   *shrug* in a way, maybe it's a much needed backlash to the whole $ex & the city nonsense. *shrug*   neway, i was asking 'bout baby blogs...   my ol' hi skool friend jerin n' his wife wami have a kewl blog, but he recently turned his baby blog into more'f a spinoff, giving his baby son taisei his own blog n' reserving the couple's blog 4 adult aktivities.

me, i really want to have kids someday.   heck, it's like a dream'f mine, i guess.   like, yah, i really wanna have kids someday.   however, @ the moment, really... it's still not time.   really, it's not.   like, in past yrs, i wanted more than kaela to have kids sooner than later.   perhaps, i still do.   however... i mean, shoot; if it's not gonna happen soon, u know what?   i can't force it!   i really can't.   u know, god makes everything happen 4 a reason.   if he put me in a situation where i have a stressed out wife living as an eternal student who can't raise kids cos she's in skool, even that happens 4 a reason.   kaela's skool, our finances... those r the 2 main reasons we're not yet having kids, i guess.   also, heck... i'm just plain 2 scared... which is not necessarily justified.   in society 2day, we're obviously 2 accepting n' compromising 'bout fear, huh?   "i'm 2 scared" is a bad excuse.   i mean, heck! 1 could be "2 scared" to go to college, yet we wouldn't take that as an excuse not to go to college.   sometimes, u just gotta have faith.. n' it's not always a warm, fuzzy thing; sometimes it's more serious.   :-/ just a few months 'go, i was still 2 scared to drop in on vert in the sunnyvale skate park.   now i'm dropping in fine.   the difference was simply getting over my fear.   i felt really accomplished after getting the hang'f dropping in.

*sigh* if i didn't go to the sunnyvale skate park 2day, why didn't i ride my bike to werk?   i dunno... i really don't know.   'twas a frustrating morn.

so what's been going on?   i didn't finish my update yesterday.   what's been up?   well, on thurs... hrm... we went to 청기와 chunggiwa 4 dinner after praktice.   'twas yet 'nother good all.u.can eat meat dinner.   then our friend eric johnson came to meet us there as he flew in from colorado 4 werk.   he was 'bout to move into his new apt in fremont but didn't yet have the key, so kaela n' i hosted him on thurs nite.   on fri morn, i woke up early n' hit up the sunnyvale skate park.   @ lunchtime, i went to the sunnyvale east arques 24 hour fitness to attend janice wright's turbo kick box (tkb) class.   then, after werk, i met up w/ kaela n' attended the turbo kick box (tkb) class at the sunnyvale fremont ave 24 hour fitness.   the usual instruktor there is may, but we had a sub who was barani from the moorpark 24 hour fitness.   her classes r really confusing.   i'd just eaten a bunch'f pizza @ my office.   *sigh* then 4 dinner, kaela n' i brought sooni out w/ us to mtn view's castro.   we ate @ vaso azzurro.   what did we order? isalata avocadro, polenta con funghi portobello (extraneous; good but 2 much fatt'ning cheese), fettucine azzurro 4 kaela, coq au vin 4 me, moretti italine birra 4 me, n' pinot grigio vino 4 kaela. *sigh* well, we ate dinner... then?   i don't think we did nething else.   it was a late dinner; we just went home.

on sat, i slept in 4 the 1st time in ages.   i wanted to hit up the skate park; but then 'gain, i also knew there was a skate contest there that day.   i wanted to go to watch the skate context but also wanted to avoid the skate park cos i prob'ly couldn't get much skating in cos the placed'be crowded b4 the contest.   *sigh* i wish i could've gone to the contest.   i bet i would've cn several pro skateboarders there... like, not competing, but i might've been able to get an autograph or sumpthin'... i 1nce had an autographed poster'f steve caballero from when i met him @ the san josé snow expo; but i bet my mom threw it 'way. ... wow, didju read that wikipedia article on steve caballero?   he recently got married 4 a 2nd time   it also sez he's a "pentecostal christian."   interesting.   i wonder if he goes to church 'round here. *shrug* neway... when i finally woke up, what did i do?   i 4get... i prob'ly did lots'f laundry.   we did lots'f laundry last wknd.   eventually, we made it out the door n' went to the santa clara farmers market, where i walked sooni 'round the outskirts, while kaela bought a bunch'f fruits, veggies, eggs, n' bread.   we also got some drinks from a nearby café afterwards.   then we brought sooni to the santa clara petco to use a $2 ¢oupon we had.   then we visited 하나 hana dvd to pick up the last disc'f 대장금 daejanggeum n' then the entire series'f 내 이름은 삼순 nae ireumeun samsoon.   while we were in the dvd store, i tied sooni up to this lightweight sign that was outside the door   oh, she was sooo well.behaved 4 a while.   then i looked over 'gain n' she was gone.   some not.that.nice, white couple came draggin' sooni n' the sign back saying that she ran off into the "middle of the street" w/ the sign.   i think she must've cn an ill.behaved doggy in the parking lot n' instiktively ran over to discipline the bad dog... which isn't her job, but oh well. [later] i guess we ate some leftovers fromt he nite b4 4 lunch.   then, we got ready to go up to the east bay.   we 1st visited eric's new apt in fremont.   then we cruised up to albany to meet up w/ roland.   wow, i guess the day flew by.   we hung out 4 a short while in roland's condo.   we watched a li'l bit'f mtv's final fu on tivo.   then we headed to northside berkeley.   while talkin' on the fon w/ toby last nite, i realised that we didn't visit the campus @ all this trip; which is pretty odd 4 me.   i usually wanna drive by the campus every time i visit berkeley.   in some ways, i really miss berkeley, as u prob'ly gathered.   i talk 'bout berkeley 'lot; i know.   in some ways it's as if i'm "homesick" 4 berkeley.   @ the same time, like kaela, i prefer the warmer weather down here in the sobay.   also, i do enjoy living close to my family, i guess.   of course, i really like going to grx down here.   seriously, i care 'bout living near my friends n' things like a good church n' a good taekwondojang, etc.   i wouldn't ever just pack up n' move to a diff region just cos some company offered me $$$ n' a job.   i just say this cos kaela, much to my extreme chagrin, always asks these mean hypothetical questions'f stuff like "what if i can't make it [as a chiropraktor] in this area?   what if we had to move to...?" n' she always throws in some "gosh awful" place that i would never wanna live.   u know... like super boonies places where u'll never get asian fud.   dude, i can't do that.   i dunno... i mean, heck... if god himself really asked me to move somewhere, i guess i would... but i wouldn't move to some awful place just 4 a career, whatever that's worth.   job titles n' akademic degrees... man, what is it all worth in the end, huh?

금요일 아침: since i hit the sunnyvale skate park early this morn, 2day is a good morn.   as i sed b4, i have 2 kinds'f morns: skatebardoing morns n' bad morns.   that's not entirely true cos on mon morns, i hafta go to may's 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the sunnyvale east arques 24 hour fitness, n' well... that's that.

i've gotta 'member to go to to get some free pix using some ¢oupon ¢odes i got off'f ben's roommate's spoofee.com site: c594-38-5104-11, c622-38-5144-71, c696-38-5163-11.

2day's our friend jane's wedding; this evening.   i'm gonna hafta "sneak" out'f werk eawrly to make it to los altos methodist church in time. . . . [unfinished entry]

grx facilitators retreat

토요일 저녁, 609p: i'm @ the pt bonita ymca in sausalito 4 the 2006 grx facilitators retreat.   it's an enriching, edifying retreat n' a beautiful location.   dude, it's sooooo beautiful!

월요일 아침: 오늘이 순이의 5번째 생일이예요.   2day's sooni's 5th b.day.   that means she's 35 in dog yrs.   she's now older than the beautiful kaela hwang n' me.   she's more like my sister n' steve's age than our age.   3 b.day's in a row, sooni's 35th, kaela's 30th, n' then my 31st.   crazy.

well, i wonder if'll i'll have some lost days on my journal.   i never finished updating u 'bout last wk... or was it the wk b4?!   i dunno.   i had a bizzy wknd, so well... shoot... i dunno if i'll ever finish updating u 'bout the wk b4... or even this wknd.

[later] 오후: so... what r some things i'd like 4 my b.day? well, u really don't hafta get me nething.   however... well, these r some some things i guess i simply wish i could get 4 my b.day: a nice pda stylus pen w/ multiple inks n' a pda stylus (the pda stylus part is the important part; otherwise, i have plenty'f pens, n' don't need ne more!), a cute auto sunshade (mashimaro, gomu, etc.), korean drama dvds (shows that i'd like), skateboard n' snowboad gear (but i might be kind'f particular on brands; so...), something like an external usb soundcard (or whatever) that'd help me record my dj mixing, ... nething else? *shrug* i dunno.   i bought some military green cargo pants @ old navy yesterday using the 20% friends & family di$¢ount card that tiffany gave me.   i wanted to buy more, but dude... i was in such a hurry.   i didn't even try on the pants.   'twas like, "grab whatever u can w/in 2 mins n' jam out'f there."   i just bought those pants n' 1 bandana 4 sooni, 4 her b.day.   dude... i prob'ly would've bought 'lot more; but, man, i've been in such a hurry this whole wknd.   i mean, dude... yah, i realise that i try to do 2 much in life; i know... i really do.   in fakt, i realise that i might have an overcommitment prob.   i've got a lot on my plate rt now; n' things won't ease up 4 a while.   lemme list out the aktivities i'm doing these days... my "extracurriculars."

beno's current extracurriculars:
• djing many weddings
• volunteered to dj n' help plan "unstoppable" parties 4 grx
• facilitating t3 light couples small group @ grx
• teaching taekwondo @ u.s. taekwondo akademy
• prakticing taekwondo @ u.s. taekwondo akademy
• attending 24 hour fitness turbo kick box (tkb) classes
• skateboarding ~2 times a wk @ the sunnyvale skate park
• taking care'f sooni
• taking care'f the house n' yard
• writing this journal, which i don't even know if many more than 2 or 3 ppl read (quality not quantity?)
• being a mod @ bronx's junkyard forums
• well, when the snow starts falling; i'll resume snowboarding...
• what else???

many'f these extracurricular aktivities involve leadership, i guess: grx t3 light, grx unstoppable (i'm a li'l worried w/ what i'm getting into w/ volunteering 4 this, but... *shrug* it should be ok, rt?), teaching taekwondo @u.s. taekwondo akademy, modding @ bronx's junkyard...   oh yah, this morning, the 24 hour fitness turbo kick box (tkb) instruktor may asked if i wanted to be a turbo kick box (tkb) instruktor.   whoa... yah, i appreciated that she asked; i was even a bit flattered.   however, dude, i don't have time; n' that's what i told her.   however, she sed that since i cm to be committed to coming to classes so regularly, being an instruktor wouldn't be much more'f a time commitment. *sigh* nah, not yet neway.   besides the time constraint, tho'; there's also the question'f taekwondo politiks.   to me, it'd be kind'f unkosher to teach @ 24 hour fitness while also teaching n' prakticing @ u.s. taekwondo akademy.   already, i almost get stressed out 'bout politiks involved w/ my going to u.s. taekwondo akademy but insisting on holding a degree rank from ucmap.   i've gotta sort that out.   yah, it's obvious that i'm long overdue to test 4 my 3단 3rd dan... but since some'f the upper ranks @ ucmap prevented me from testing b4 kaela n' i left berkeley, i dunno when it'll ever be praktical 4 me to test @ ucmap ever 'gain.   *sigh* i figure that someday, i'll ask dr. min if he wants me only to test @ ucmap, or if it's ok if i test @ u.s. taekwondo akademy... someday.

so this past wknd: 1) jane's wedding, 2) grx facilitators retreat @ beautiful pt bonita in sausalito, n' 3) the kims of comedy @ the san josé improv.   those were the big 3 events; but i had many aktivities in btwn!   i was rushing from 1 place to 'nother... n', to make matters worse, the "check engine" lite on my subaru forester is now on n' won't turn off.   sometime sooner rather than later, i'll hafta bring my care into ace 자동차 정비 jadongcha juhngbi n' speak in korea n' get my car fixed 4 ¢heap.   i can trust the guy there.   i used to trust precision tune auto care on el camino real in santa clara; but now i don't.   they ripped me off the last time i was there; n' mark sed the 1 on w. san carlos ripped him off b4.   they went from my good list to my bad list really fast!

2day, during lunch, i got my car washed @ tan's touchless car wash in santa clara on el camino real btwn flora vista n' nobili.   they didn't an ok job.   i had to pay $19.95 - $4 ¢oupon + $2 tip.   i appreciated their effort in getting out all the sooni fur.   it wasn't a perfekt job; but it wasn't bad.   maybe the place was still 2 crowded 4 a perfekt job.   kaela reminded me a li'l while 'go that i should only get my car washed when the car wash place isn't bizzy.   that's true.   it wasn't totally mad bizzy; but it was a li'l bizzy.   they did ok neway.   yah, the santa clara lozano's car wash is ¢heaper; but i didn't wanna drive so far during my lunchbrk, n' i wanted to try out tan's.   it's ok.   in the past, kaela sed lozano's did so much better'f a job than tan's.   these days, i feel lozano's isn't as good as it used to be; which may be only cos i go @ bizzier times than i used to.   yah, neway... since i felt lozano's isn't as good as it used to be, i wanted to try out tan's.

so... where did i leave off my update?! . . . [unfinished entry]

화요일 아침: as i didn't make it to the sunnyvale skate park this morn... u know what i say 'bout morns when i don't make it to the skate park... i have 2 kinds'f morns: 1s where i hit up the sunnyvale skate parks n' bad morns.   2day, i woke up late.   i s'ppose 'twas good that i slept in as 'twas much needed rest after this hektic wknd.   the beautiful kaela hwang gets mad @ me if i don't wake her up 4 skool n' prefers that i spend my morns waking her up instead'f getting other things done.   she wants me to stick around in the morn.   yesterday, i went to may's 24 hour fitness turbo kick box (tkb) class, rt?   when i returned, kaela was up, in the kitchen, n' just 'bout ready to leave.   i was a li'l surprised cos she usually wakes up n' leaves a li'l later than that on mons.   i mean, that's her typical skedule.   upon my return home, she asked where i'd been.   i was surprised cos i thought she knew by now that my mon routine's to go to the 600a turbo kick box (tkb) class.   neway... *sigh* 2day? i didn't wake up to skate.   i woke up very late relative to when i usually get up.   ppl don't know, but i'm usually up 4 several hrs b4 going to werk.   i'm not a guy who rushes out'f bed n' off to werk in a big, frantik hurry.   i think most ppl r like that, but i'm not... 'least not nemore.   a few yrs 'go, i was.   during those big cal taekwondo p.crew days, i was.   now? no.   i'm more'f a morn person now.   i can wake up early, do a bunch'f house chores, walk sooni, get exercise, go skate...   well, 2day, i didn't skate; so i meant to ride my bike to werk since i hadn't in so long.   well, shoot!   i discovered i had a flat tire!   argh!   as i sed... i have 2 kinds'f morns: 1's where i hit up the sunnyvale skate park n' bad 1s.

[later] 오후: during my lunchbrk, i went out to target to buy a bike pump (a floor bike pump).   i also bought a self.sealing inner tube.   i dunno if this is a good 1 or not.   i worry it's not.   *sigh* i also bought this kit, this pack'f bike accessories that includes: a compact, hand pump, a primitive bike 'puter, a water bottle w/ clip, a cr@ppy@$$ lock that i won't use.   i worry tho' that this stuff is really $#!++y.   it's just made in china, ¢heap stuff.   i dunno.   i paid $19.99 4 it.   the packaging claims that it's a $39.99 value.   i dunno, man.   i'm considering going back n' returning that.   i also bought a pack'f "salty & sweet almond" granola bars.   i ate 1 in the car.   it wasn't all that great.   well, i drove back to my office n' bought a lunch from the werk.com cafeteria.   it was some kind'f pot roast w/ corn meal mush, "cowboy" bread (corn bread), roasted potatoes, green beans w/ bacon...   the pot roast was dry.   the best part'f it was the corn meal mush, which is polenta.   that was why i bought it, n' that was the best part.   the potatoes were good 2.

[later] 져녁이지만 아직도 작장에있어요: *sigh* what a day!   i'm quite pooped, quite thrashed.   i can hardly believe i didn't get to hit up the sunnyvale skate park this morn. :-( *sigh*

some terms i found on a certain korean.english diktionary that i frequently use:
* 자동차에 관한 표현들 *
body shop; 차체 손 보는 곳 흠집등을 수리
car care center\auto repair center;일반 수리 담당
tune up center;정비 위주
towing service;견인 서비스
oil change;윤활유 취급
wheel alignment;바퀴의 밸런스 잡아주는 것
brake pad;브레이크 라이닝
shocks;충격 흡수 장치
transmission;기어
auto parts & supplies;일반 부속품
junkyard;폐차장
used car;중고차
car dealer;자동차 중개업자
car rental;차대여

수요일 아침: in that smiths song "please, please, please let me get what i want," lead singer morrissey croons, "haven't had a dream in a long time."   well, in the past wk or so, i've aktually had several dreams since i've been involuntarily sleeping in (against my will).   *sigh* i've gotten so behind in updatin' my journal, so i dunno if i can 'member all the dreams i've had lately.   it's un4tunate cos it's good to log ur dreams in ur blog, rt?

well, 1 dream i had last wk sometime... prob'ly on thurs morn or wed morn... *shrug* was 1 where the beautiful kaela hwang n' i went to watch some cirque du soleil show... 1 where u don't have a circle but have a normal stage in a more normal auditorium.   zumanity is like that, but this show was definitely not zumanity.   neway, in this dream, kaela n' i were going to watch this cirque du soleil show w/ my mom.   kaela was late.   she ended up missing the show.   my mom n' i watched it.   then, she sed she was gonna watch the next showing.   well, originally, in my dream, we were maybe in a city like sf.   however, then (u know how dreams don't make sense n' locations change) it turned into vegas; n' we had to fly back to the bay area.   however, kaela missed the plane cos she went to the later showing'f the cirque du soleil show.   well, i dunno... like, i guess i was waiting 4 her to fly home, but i somehow was skateboarding down a sidewalk on camden ave in the almaden valley w/ our taekwondo friends from u.s. taekwondo akademy.   isn't that funny?   like, in the past, i mentioned that i had skateboarding dreams.   that was back when i wasn't skateboarding.   now, i still have skateboarding dreams sometimes, i guess.

hrm, i had other dreams lately; more recently.   what were they?!

last wk... what happened last wk?   well, i think 'twas on thurs nite that 심사범님 shim sabuhmnim took a bunch'f us out to dinner @ the local 만두랑 칼국수 mandoorang kalgooksoo, which is a bomb@$$ place simply cos they want sooni to sit inside @ our table every time we go.   dude, that has won them so much favour w/ us... n' w/ sooni.

[later] the worst'f the good morns - this morn, i did hit up the sunnyvale skate park, which i thoroughly enjoyed.   however, 1) i got there really late, 2) in order to make it @ all to the skate park, i had to 4go sooni's morn walk, which she's definitely not happy 'bout, n' 3) i had 2 big (maybe a couple'f my biggest falls in the park this morn.   man, i'm so thankful that i've never gotten seriously hurt while skateboarding.   i know it's a somewhat dangerous sport; but... *sigh* well, yah... god watches over me, n' so far he's let it be such that i haven't gotten seriously hurt.   however, 2day, i fell 1nce on my left hip (which un4tunately isn't uncommon 'nuff), n' then 1nce on my knees.   agh, i wish i had kene pads... some good knee pads.   i stopped wearing my ol' rector knee pads from when i was a kid cos they kept slidng down neway.   i figured they weren't gonna funktion in a real fall.   i'm glad tho' that i have my nice pro.tec park elbow pads.   when i fall, i most commonly fall backwards, n' hafta do a 합기도 hapkido style back fall.   otherwise, i end up doing a side fall.   oh, n' of course, i'm glad i have my helmet.   yah, i know all these young kids, they ride w/o protektive gear, n' many'f them can really rip it up.   however, @ my age, i'm not gonna take those kinds'f risks.   it's ok.   i'll be "safety boy."

on mon nite, i went to sach's turbo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques 24 hour fitness in sunnyvale.   it was a good werkout.   afterwards, i went to the lawrence n' el caminio albertsons to buy some gro¢eries.   i bought a stranger variety'f stuff.   some'f the items screamed "health conscious" hippie, like organic baby carrots, white peaches, cali4nia.grown nectarines, kefir, natural peanut butter, flax seed bread.   others sed that i was just lookin' 4 good deals, like the oscar mayer honey ham that was on $ale, the generic "hot" salsa that was on $ale..   n' then some items sed that i was willing to splurge, like the white castle sliders (which were on< $ale but still overpri¢ed) n' frostypaws frozen doggie treats (which rn't superexpen$ive but not ¢heap either).

[later] 밤, 1029p: crazy, the lg chocolate's so hot rt now that i was reading the verizon website 'bout it n' watching the verizon commercial 4 it @ the same time just now!   crazy!   yah, it appears to be a pretty good fon.   finally a good replacement 4 the motorola v710 clunker!   the key feature'f this fon is the microsd slot!   everybody loves chocolate.

well, i werked late 2nite.   then, i went to valley fair, where i ran into andy pan from grx.   so his gf's b.day's the same day's kaela's.

월목요일 아침: $¢#3!ß3! can u believe that we're into the double digits days'f august already?!   oh my goodness! :-o

lately, the beautiful kaela hwang n' i've been watching the mbc 드라맘 drama 내이름은 김삼순 nae ireumeun kimsamsoon, starring 김선아 kim suhna.   don't 4get that kaela's korean name's 강선아 kang suhna... or sonah or son-ah or sun-ah... i honestly can't quite remember how she now romanises it in her official name. it used to be sonah, but... *shrug* korean vowels confuse amerikans.   neway, i haven't talked 'bout k.dramas in a while, whereas a yr 'go or so, i was talkin' plenty 'bout them.   i still wanna re watch 미안하다, 사랑한다 mianhada, saranghanda when i find time... if i ever find time.   that's 1 bomb@$$ k.drama!   wouldn't it be nice to have a job watching k.dramas all day? ha ha ha!   in the 1st episode'f 내이름은 김삼순 nae ireumeun kimsamsoon, we c this 1 gurl that both kaela n' i think looks like 김희선 kim heesun, but we both knew it wasn't her.   apparently, the aktress's name's 이아현 lee ahyun.

[later] 오후: wow, not only's it already the double digit days'f august, but it's already thurs (목요일)!!!   @ the start'f my entry, i wrote the day as 월요일 (monday)... dude, what was i thinking?!   it's already 목요일 mokyoil!   whoa!   days r flying by! [later] 4 lunch, i ate a chicken cobb salad fromt he werk.com cafeteria.   i ate in the cafeteria.   i wanted to sit outside w/ the ducklings (which've pretty much grown up now), but all the tables were full.   i had to sit by myself n' call at&t internet to cancel our dsl.   unplugged: yah, i made the somewhat executive (but not really) decision to cancel our dsl 4 now.   rt now, we pay $49.99/month 4 at&t dsl w/ a few extra perks like unlimited pikture storage n' an upgraded speed 4 both upstream n' downstream.   uh, i believe we get upgraded downsteram, but i know we get upgraded upstream.   neway... it's not worth it.   there's free metro.fi wifi in our neighbourhood.   kaela sez it's really slow tho'.   *sigh* i dunno.   i don't think we can afford to continue paying $49.99/month 4 our current dsl plan; n' kaela's been saying that we're schmucks 4 doing so.   thus, it wasn't really an executive decision on my part.   no, kaela's been telling me to do this 4 a long time.   aktually, a long time 'go, when the acct was under kaela's name, i told her to call them n' get our rate lowered.   she did, n' they sed they'd lower our rate but didn't.   what dirty, rotten scoundrels, eh?   rt.   thus, i made it clear this time that i wanted to cancel cos the rate was 2 hi.   they tried to entice me to stay w/ a $19.95/month rate.   it was a "deal or no deal" moment, n' i chose "no deal."   i want the $12.99 rate.   i think there's a $12.99 rate n' a $17.99 rate.   either 1's better than $19.99.   *sigh* we do need internet, so i hope metro.fi isn't 2 slow.   neway, after a while, i'll try to get us back on an at&t dsl plan, but 1 that's ¢heaper.   4 some ppl, the internet just causes trouble; i.e. they end up wasting time / procrastinating cos'f the internet or else waste their lives 'way dling pr0n all nite n' day.   4 that reason, a while 'go, 1'f the grx pastors 1nce sed in a sermon that maybe it's better not to have "hi speed" internet but to go back to dial.up.   that's true.   if u have just dial.up; u'll still be able to check ur e.mail; but dling inappropriate mat'l'll take so long, that u'll just get frustrated n' stop, rt? *shrug* [later] neway... we'll be unplugged 'least 4 a short while.   i'm a li'l worried 'bout not having our dsl line; but i s'ppose i'll be glad to c the $avings, rt?

[later] evites (evite.com): pastor bobby lee'f grx 1nce sed in a sermon that he hates evites (evite.com) cos it encourages ppl to look @ an invitation n' think 2 much 'bout how 1 friend might be worth more than 'nother... like, he was pting out that it's wrong to put value judgements on ppl based upon social status, wealth, beauty, etc.... i think.   i may've 4gotten what his pt was.   in ne case, if he doesn't like evites, then what does he suggest as the alternative?   like, i s'ppose we could just e.mail normal e.mail invitations, rt?   otherwise, what?   paper invitation via snail mail?   i'm having a rather socially aktive summer, n' i've been using evite.com soooo much lately.   also our grx small groups n' many'f our ministries n' ministry teams use evite.com all the time.   i'm surprised that pastor bobby sed he hates evites so much; really surprised.   yah... our church uses them so much.   neway, 1 thing i can imagine ppl hate 'bout evites n' evite.com is this: maybe it encourages u to look @ the current list'f ppl who r going n' then decide based 'pon that whether u'll go or not.   i s'ppose that encourages "cool kids" mentality, like, 'i'll only go to such n' such event if 'the cool kids r going.'   *shrug* aktually, lately (as well as a few timesi n the past) i've received evites where the guestlist is hidden.   honestly, i don't like that.   well, shoot; dare i say that i hate that?   sometimes i need to know who's going n' who's not.   it's sad, but sometimes the only way 4 me to find out if kaela's planning to attend an event is via the evite, u know?   yah, that's just plain sad, but... *shrug* it's better than not knowing.   well, recently, there have been so many social events that things r overlapping.   well, more specifically, check out this example: 1'f our friend couples is having a 1.month celebration 4 their baby son.   well, in the past, kaela questioned why my mom wanted a 1.month celebration 4 mason when we all figured the real asian tradition was to do a 100.day (백일 baekil) party.   i mean, we know that koreans do 백일 baekil 100 days, n' ken also sed that he thought that taiwanese ppl also do 100 days... however, our friends r doing a 1.month party.   neway, it's on aug 19, which is the same nite that kaela's throwing a 31st b.day lu.au 4 me @ our house.   personally, i want to know who is n' who isn't invited to our friends' baby's 1.month party in order to know if we ought to invite certain friends'f ours to my b.day lu.au.   not knowing who's included on this evite is honestly complicating matters a li'l.   well... in response to this situation, what i've done is to send out e.mails to friend or mailing lists'f friends b4 adding them to the evite.   i'm asking them to e.mail me if they wanna come...   then, maybe i'll add them to the evite or whate'er.   in a way, this also beats having an evite where all the responses r "no."   is it sad if u try to throw a party n' no 1 comes?   *shrug* well, heck... i feel i've felt like that in the past.   when faction.related politiks hit the cal taekwondo p.crew @ the end'f its glory days, i guess maybe i was losing coolness or popularity or whate'er 'mongst certain factions... so i adopted a "i'll hang w/ whoever wants to hang w/ me" policy.   there's a story in the bible 'bout this... where a rich man throws a party but few'f his rich friends come (if ne); so he decides to open his party up to all the ppl on the streets.   [later] ok, i found the passage n'd like to share it w/ u.

• matthew 22:1~10
  the parable of the wedding banquet: jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: "the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.   he sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.   then he sent some more servants and said, 'tell those who have been invited that i have prepared my dinner: my oxen n' fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready.   come to the wedding banquet.'   but they paid no attention and went off - one to his field, another to his business.   the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.   the king was enraged.   he sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.   then he said to his servants, 'the wedding banquet is ready, but those i invited did not deserve to come.   go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' &nbs; so the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests."
• 마태복음 22장1~10절
  예수께서 다시 비유로 대답하여 가라사대: 천국은 마치 자기 아들을 위하여 혼인 잔치를 베푼 어떤 임금과 같으니.   종들을 보내어 그 청한 사람들을 혼인 잔치에 오라 하였더니 오기를 싫어하거늘.   다시 다른 종들을 보내며 가로되 청한 사람들에게 이르기를 내가 오찬을 준비하되 나의 소와 살진 짐승을 잡고 모든 것을 갖추었으니 혼인 잔치에 오소서 하라 하였더니.   저희가 돌아 보지도 않고 하나는 자기 밭으로, 하나는 자기 상업차로 가고.   그 남은 자들은 종들을 잡아 능욕하고 죽이니.   임금이 노하여 군대를 보내어 그 살인한 자들을 진멸하고 그 동네를 불사르고 이에 종들에게 이르되 혼인 잔치는 예비되었으나 청한 사람들은 합당치 아니하니.   사거리 길에 가서 사람을 만나는대로 혼인 잔치에 청하여 오너라 한대.   종들이 길에 나가 악한 자나 선한 자나 만나는 대로 모두 데려오니 혼인자리에 손이 가득한지라.
• luke 14:16~24
  jesus replied: "a certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.   at the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'come, for everything is now ready.'   but they all alike began to make excuses.   the first said, 'i have just bought a field, and i must go and see it.   please excuse me.'   another said, 'i have just bought five yoke of oxen, and i'm on my way to try them out.   please excuse me.'   still another said, 'i just got married, so i can't come.'   the servant came back and reported this to his master.   then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'   'sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'   then the master told his servant, 'go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.   i tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"
• 누가복음 14장16~24절
  이르시되 어떤 사람이 큰 잔치를 배설하고 많은 사람을 청하였더니.   잔치할 시간에 그 청하였덩 자들에게 종을 보내어 가로되 오소서 모든 것이 준비되었나이다 하매.   다 일치하게 사양하여 하나는 가로되 나는 밭을 샀으매 불가불 나가 보아야 하겠으니 청컨대 나를 용서하도록 하라 하고.   또 하나는 가로되 나는 소 다섯 겨리를 샀으매 시험하러 가니 청컨대 나를 용서하도록 하라하고.   또 하나는 가로되 나는 장가 들었으니 그런므로 가지 못하겠노라 하는지라.   종이 돌아와 주인에게 그대로 고하니 이에 집주인이 노하여 그 종에게 이르되 빨리 시내의 거리와 골목으로 나가서 가난한 자들과 병신들과 소경들과 저는 자들응 데려오라 하니라.   종이 가로되 주인이여 명하신대로 하였으되 오히려 자리가 있나이다.   주인이 종에게 이르되 길과 산울 가로 나가서 사람을 강권하여 데려다가 내 집을 채우라.   내가 너희에게 말하노니 전에 청하였던 그 사람은 하나도 내 잔치를 맛보지 못하리라 하였다 하시니라.

neway, dude... that's what i've got to say 'bout evites, rt?   ha ha ha.   i dunno.   lemme tell u.. ne1 who's reading this n'd like to go to kaela's b.day party this sat @ kampai house n' then clubbing @ the dreamscape party @ the abyss nightclub in sunnyvale is welcome.   just e.mail me if u'd like to come.   i guess i should warn u'f a few things: 1) the restaurant's a li'l pri¢y, 2) there'll be drinking'f alcoholic beverages @ this celebration, n' 3) the nite may go kind'f late.   also, if u'd like to come to our house 4 the b.day lu.au that kaela's putting on 4 me on aug 19 (next sat), just e.mail me.   'gain, the nite may go kind'f late, n' there'll 'gain be the drinking'f alcoholic beverages.   by giving that alcohol warning, it's not that i'm saying that ne1's gonna get plastered or that ne1'll be forced or coerced to drink.   however, i know i have friends who not only don't drink themselves but also cm to be plain uncom4table w/ environments where there is drinking.   i dunno; that's simply not how i c it, but i'll respekt such friends' opinions so much as to give those warnings.   personally, i think getting drunk, 'specially on a frequent basis, is bad.   however, i think the existence'f alcoholic drink n' its moderate consumption in celebratory events is totally fine.   if u ask me, yah... i think jesus n' his disciples drank alcohol.   do u think grape kool.aid was served @ the last supper?!   i've heard some anti.alcohol christians say that ppl had no choice but to drink alcohol in those days cos juice spoiled w/o refrigeration n' that wine was much weaker in those days.   bah, i don't buy that.   furthermore, isn't that what u can call "relativism"? (the term "relativism" has a negative connotation n's used by so.called "conservative fundamentalists" to say that progressive christians have taken 2 many liberties in applying the bible to contemporary life.)   neway, dude... it's not like i'm aiming to have a wild, drunken party.   i aktually prefer that alcohol just be served to complement fud.   furthermore, who knows... maybe ppl won't feel like drinking, n' that's totally fine.