NEW BLOG LOCATION

sorry everyone for the change... i decided to switch again to WORDPRESS, because i kept finding that i couldn't customize Blogger the way i wanted to.

Please continue to read my blog as i prepare to leave Philadelphia... you can now all find me at THIS LOCATION.

I promise i won't switch again.

Thanks!!

salad!

so the other day, my officemate that i mentioned below...let's call him L ... sits down to eat his lunch. he eats his sandwich first, and then casually mentions that he's going to have salad as well. i wasn't really paying attention, but suddenly, he pulls open his desk drawer and pulls out an ENTIRE HEAD of lettuce!! he hastily ripped off giant leaves of lettuce, crumpled it into a ball, and noisily stuffed the entire thing into his mouth. i was secretly cracking up the entire time. it was 15 minutes of him manually ripping leaves off of the lettuce (without washing!!) and stuffing them into his mouth. Very interesting. It sounded crunchy and tasty.

blogging at work.

my days here at the VAMC/PENN hospital are quickly coming to a close. i only have 13 official more days of work until i am outta here! i can't wait to leave a cold and musty office, and get away from a particular office mate...who although is a nice guy, loudly gargles and swishes his water in his mouth everytime he takes a sip, presumably to clean his constantly food-encrusted braces. he always proceeds to swallow that mouthful of water, full of floating soggy food particles that he just loosened from his braces. sometimes, he accidentally farts too... but i always pretend not to hear it. i also pretend not to care when he shuts off the lights in the office, props up his feet, and goes to sleep for an hour at a time, lightly snoring with his mouth hanging open. but seriously. shutting off the lights while i'm still here? i hope he never sees this.

it's really disconcerting that i still don't know where the heck i am going... even though i am moving out in 4 weeks. sometimes it's fun to live on the edge, but having 4 weeks left and having absolutely no idea what city or even part of the country i will be moving to is cutting it too close! people keep asking me where i am going, and the answer still is... I HAVE NO IDEA. i still have to hear back from 2 grad schools, after which i will finally make a decision.

this summer, i think i need to take a trip to hong kong or japan, JUST to get on this plane. AWESOME. EVAAIR kittyjet!!! more to come on the kittyjet.

counting down the days..

does anyone want to take a spontaneous trip to NYC? i need to apply for a visa to taiwan for the summer and need to make a trip to the taiwan consulate. that'll be my last trip to new york anyway, before i leave. with that, i'll leave you with some good memories from good 'ol NYC... from a trip to LIPS for a bachelorette party... what's LIPS, you say? you know, it's that transvestite bar!



haha... i forget "her" name... but the "woman" on the right was Ginger.

scandal!!

anyone following the scandal that's rocking the HK entertainment industry?? Edison Chen ... one of the foremost actors/singers/producers in HongKong was stupid enough to take a ton of sexually explicit photos and videos of him engaged in various obscene activities with several of Hong Kong's biggest female stars. his PINK macbook broke down, so he brings it to a local shop, where the workers find hundreds of these photos and videos and then proceed to post them online.

how stupid can he be? way to ruin your career and the careers of many others! even if you are stupid enough to take all these photos, why would you store them in any easily visible place on your computer? ugh. makes me sick. maybe these things are readily acceptable in America (i.e. paris hilton, lindsay lohan, britney, pam anderson), but this is definitely unacceptable in Asia. i don't think anything when i read about American stars doing this stuff, but when i heard about Edison Chen... i seriously feel shame on his behalf.

It even made it to the NY Times.

total girl crush!!!

ladies, do you ever get a girl crush on someone? like... a woman who is so beautiful, classy, elegant and smart that you just can't stop staring?? haha just kidding. that sounds really creepy. but i do mean the part about being impressed with a woman with elegance and class.

last night, i was the photographer at a huge fundraising event in chinatown. i will leave out the details, except that there were lots of politicians, community leaders, VIPs, socialites and other socially well-connected people there. denise nakano, the NBC10 news anchor was the MC for the night. i met her in the beginning and we struck up a conversation. i was wary at first because i wasn't sure if someone like her who is a local celebrity, would even speak to me, especially with all of the politicians/important people everywhere. but she did, and she was so incredibly nice. she took time to get to know me and even joked around with me, in between talking to State Rep. Dwight Evans and the Honorable Judge Ida Chan.

if you guys ever see her on TV or around town -- don't be afraid to approach her. she is great. ok i'll stop my praising now, and leave you with a picture from last night.

what does my blog title mean?

many of you have asked lately: "what the heck does 'happiness is beebs-shaped' mean?"

i have avoided this question for months, because i didn't really feel like explaining, and quite frankly, am embarrassed about where it came from. but, i'm tired of being asked, so i will put my embarrassment aside, and explain.

3 years ago, i was introduced to a website called songfight.org. on this site, there is a weekly theme "word". you have 1 week to compose and record an original song and post it, and then people vote on the best song. this particular week's theme word was "TROUBLEMAKER". i found out about the website at 10:30pm. The deadline to submit, was 12:00am. my sister and i were inspired, so we decided to join... even though we had 1.5 hours to write, compose and record a song, with NO recording equipment.

our solution? we took my laptop, which has a microphone the size of a PINHOLE, and a windows standard "voice record" utility... and we got started. my sister wrote the lyrics, about our troublemaker dog, Titus. i sat down at the piano and pounded out some chords in about 10 minutes. here is how it happened:

step 1: recorded me playing the piano... mostly improvised. placed laptop on top of the piano. sound quality is CRAP! oh well.

step 2: i looped the piano clip and busted out my violin, improvising a melody and recording over the piano.

step 3: hmm. still not enough. i then busted out my Yamaha recorder (leftover from 5th grade) and improvised some more, over the looped violin and piano clip.

step 4: looped the piano, violin, and recorder clip... while singing an improvised melody from the hastily written lyrics. i had to literally hold my laptop up to my face while singing.

step 5: painfully converted the file into an mp3 and uploaded it onto the site at 11:50pm. WHEW!! i put my "band name" as "HAPPINESS IS BEEBS-SHAPED".

*disclaimer -- the sound quality is absolutely hideous!! static all over, and i kept catching noises in the background... my dad slamming a door, my rustling clothes, and in MANY parts, me trying not to crack up while playing violin and the recorder. you can totally tell that i'm laughing.

1 week later, after all votes were in, i won!! much to the chagrin of all of the veteran songfighters, (some of whom were established artists!) i won, despite the crappy quality. they said i won because i played 3 instruments and sang and made the song in 1 hour.

if you really are brave enough -- here is the song.

now you all know, why this is my title. enjoy.

family is best!

here i am, at 1:38am, sitting in Summit, NJ.  I spent the weekend here with my sister and her awesome other half, Mr. D.  I can't help but be amazed at how quiet it is here in suburbia... it's not that i miss the blaring sirens, the chinese drums, medical helicopters, barking dogs, angry car horns and occasional drunken screams of Chinatown, Philadelphia... but i strangely have found that i can't fall asleep here because it's just ... too quiet.  ironic.  i don't have my usual lullaby of fire engines, cop sirens and septa buses to lull me into my city-sleep. 

i've done nothing this weekend but eat. korean bbq. fresh japanese bread with black sesame spread. pot roast with potatoes. biscuits and gravy. artichokes. heirloom bean and vegetable stew. couscous. ice cream.  yum.  and my thighs begin to expand.  

eat... and watched the 3rd Lord of the Rings, which i actually never saw.  AMAZING!  all 4 hours of the extended-extended-super-long version.  

family is the best.  doing nothing but eating and having fun with family is even better. 

on an unrelated note; it was finally determined that my last day of work would be March 21st.  2 years at Penn, with this last year as a senior coordinator -- finally over!  2 years of working has passed surprisingly fast.  Done with the job on march 21st.  First week of April -- moving all of my stuff out to a new and fresh city.  Second week of April, saying my goodbyes and moving out of Philadelphia for good.   

it's all been so fast. 

The Asian Fit

Do your sunglasses or ski goggles never fit correctly? Are your ski goggles seemingly too curved for your face, so that they hit on your cheeks, allowing ice cold air to rush into your eyeballs and blind you while you're hurtling yourself down a mountain? Because that's exactly how i feel. Recently, a friend told me that Oakley now makes their glasses and ski goggles in what's called the Asian Fit. Basically, the bridge is a little lower, and the face of the glasses/goggles is less rounded; made to fit the flat Asian face that we all have, and fit better too. Some people think it's racist, blah blah blah blah. shuddup. truth is, we do have flat faces. and if these ski goggles are going to fit better than the many pairs that i've fruitlessly tried over the years (none of which have fit my face correctly), then i'm totally SOLD!!

now if only i could walk again... maybe i could ski again.
On a totally unrelated note.... i was out taking more pictures for my freelance project last night. Yes, that's right... i went out and took pictures during the horrendous ice storm. Today i realized that it was stupid and i could have totally snapped my ankle back in half, especially since crutches don't provide much support, or traction. ANYWAY... i took this picture and i think it's hilarious:

he looks so angry!!! i was trying to get his face in between the ducks, but i didn't think he was going to look so angry. haha!

happy chinese new year!!

it is officially the year of the rat now. i was born in the year of the rat. but according to those thin paper place mats you find at mediocre chinese restaurants that cater mostly to unknowing innocent non-chinese people, anyone who is born in the year of the rat will seldom make lasting friendships. how sad! don't believe in that gibberish!!

and maybe on that line of thought... i've been spending a lot of time alone these days. going on photo outings, eating by myself in restaurants, watching movies, and reading by large windows. all by myself. i even went to the philly international auto show by myself, and marveled at concept cars, the acura, audi, and mercedes displays. then i drooled over the new 2008 Honda Accord, which i am 95% sure i will buy, and is the only car in that price range that i think is droolable over. it's amazing.

all in all... i feel like it's been a great time of loner-ism. maybe i'm especially reflective and nostalgic, as i'm about to leave philly for good very soon...

i'm on a roll!

1. today, i filed my tax returns. Early, i know, but for financial aid purposes, I had to file them. i sat down and started them, anticipating a nice return, just like last year. my flat screen TV was the result of that return last year. THIS year, i planned on buying a nice new flash for my camera. i happily filed my taxes, only to find that i OWE $600+ dollars to the stupid IRS. I then filed my state taxes, and was appalled to see a return of only $6. blast!!

2. recently, i was asked to do a freelance photography project for the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. Although I have a suspicion that they won't pay me... it works out because i like going on photo outings anyway. Today, on a gloomy, rainy day, i went out with my crutches on a .... slow photo shoot.

i ended the photoshoot sitting in a bakery, with a hot strawberry pastry and a cup of steaming hot Horlicks. i love living in chinatown.

i like fried eggs.

i love eating eggs , fried sunny side up. they're yummy, especially with a few pieces of toast and some soy sauce.

my fingers hurt from sewing.

so much to do, so little time.

these days, i'm coming closer and closer to being able to walk again. it's so weird to think that it's already been over 3 months since i last walked... but yet i've managed to live a pretty normal life, even without walking. i still manage to vacuum, to cook, to swiffer, to do laundry, etc. even when i do walk again, it's not going to be me tearing through philadelphia on my usual explorations, mind you, it's going to be a few steps at a time; a hallway, a block, 2 blocks, then maybe even the stairs.... but i shouldn't get too ahead of myself.

the prospect of me walking has me.... burning with a desire to do all these crazy things...seeing people jogging in the city has me both envious, and stupidly angry at random strangers, just because they can run and i can't. and it's frustrating to know that it will be months or maybe even years before i can do them again. this morning, i gingerly took 3 steps (without my crutches) from my bed to my desk. i was SO HAPPY that i wanted to cry. but again, i shouldn't get ahead of myself. it was only 3 small, halting steps, and it was quite painful.

felt companions!

So, I have recently decided that instead of watching TV after work, I would put my hands to use and create some new friends :) As much as I want to keep these new friends, They will be going to some of my dearest friends, as goodbye presents before I leave Philadelphia.

First, let us meet Mr. Cookie. My inspiration was the Japanese cartoon Domokun, and these felt stuffed animals/creatures that were selling on South Street for like THIRTY dollars?!! heck no!! So I thought, Shoot, this is easy. I'll just start creating my own brand of stuffed felt/sock creatures. In about an hour, this is what resulted. I should charge $30 for these too.

Mr. Cookie is coming! Rarrrrrgh.

YUM!

he also has other friends, including a white radish (luo-buo) a.k.a. daikon, and a sock monkey. Anyone else have any suggestions of food items or anything cool that i could make? I am unfortunately not taking any orders. haha. if you want one, make your own. i should sell these for a hefty price in Taiwan this summer.

expecto patronum!!

The Jail -- another weird restaurant opening in Taipei and TaiChung -- in which you eat in jail cells, and they handcuff you as you walk in. i hear the food is amazing though!

i think i really need to go try this next restaurant. the menu looks SO good, and it is ohhh so cheap. this huge chicken curry dish below -- only costs a total of 180NT... about $5. heh heh...

http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/menu.asp

hospital pun challenge!!!

MY lovely friend Lydia and I decided to have a pun battle today. the theme? hospital.

There are a lot of hospital-ish words below... so I apologize to those who may not get it.

Lydia: ooh we shouldh ave a challenge
i think i might have done this once or twice during college
me: hahaha
ok 5 minute challence.
challenge
the theme will be... hospital
Lydia: oh dang
me: i bed it's smooth saline now that the semester is over
Lydia: haha
dang
i suck
me: i needle to buy lots of presents
Lydia: why can't i think of anything!!!!!!!
me: my body sucks
Lydia: gauze!
me: it's mophine into an old person
morphine
Lydia: well my boyfriend spends his whole day codeine so his body can't be much better
me: HAHAHAnot bad!
Lydia: stop steriling at my *****!
or lack thereof
me: well i need to stretcher my leg more
Lydia: poor baby. that sux
succinylcholine
me: omg
Lydia: IV IV. you are jealous of me
me: when i make copies, i colace them
oh gosh
hospital is hard
Lydia: yeah
me: you can't make puns with stuff like... cardiovascular
Lydia: hahaha
me: i have a christmas cardio for you!
yes!
Lydia: i nicu-ed myself when i was shaving my legs
me: HAHA
well i nicu-ed my armpit
Lydia: hahaha
did you picu your nose too
me: you can watch me walk with a lymph when i come back
Lydia: nice
me: HAHA i'm going to micu come places with me
Lydia: haha
me: kodak momENT
oh snap they just called a code overhead
Lydia: can you drive or will i have to trach you around everywhere
me: someone coded at the starbucks downstairs
scary
HAHA good one!
Lydia: wouldn't that be sad if they dropped the coffee on themselves
adding insult to injury
me: no i can drive
Lydia: well when you get in you will have to CALL me
so we're on the same page as to what fun stuff to do
me: shoot i'm slowing down
OGTT
that should be my new exclamation
Lydia: what's ogtt
me: oral glucose tolerance test, what i do all the time
Lydia: oh that's right
me: urine your house right now?
Lydia: hahaha
me: ha!
Lydia: positive
oh we had a lecturer
who was making a joke about how to identify AIDS patients
when you pass the patient off to someone else
you give the next doctor a high five
me: haha
wow
i may need you to come to my AIDS this next week
Lydia: TB or not TB helpful?
me: we'll make our rounds in phoenix to good food places
Lydia: you will definitely need AIDS when you go PPD on the airplane
me: HAHAHAHAH
wow that was really good
Lydia: why are we so nerdy
we're such dorks
me: i love it!

why is healthcare so expensive?

today, i was informed by my insurance company just how much my surgery ACTUALLY cost. it is absolutely appalling!!

surgery, hospital fees, anesthesia and operating room fees: $33,767.27
lots of x-rays: $483
leg casts, and wheelchair: $978
blood tests: $473

only having to pay a total of $150 for everything because of my awesome health insurance:

PRICELESS.

christmas time!

so these days... there is always a pile of RIGHT footed shoes in front of my door, as until recently, i was unable to wear shoes on my left foot. i took this picture, and i think it's funny.

the holidays are here! my friend abigail agrees. oooooooooo! :)

i can't wait to go home next week and spend 8 days eating, eating, seeing my lovely "8" ladies, and eating some more. :) it's been almost an entire year since i've been home, and i can't wait to go eat at Chino Bandido. for those who don't live in AZ... it is an amazing restaurant that is a cross between chinese food, and mexican food. amazing. spicy pollo diablo, with refried beans and pork fried rice and a quesadilla.

second thoughts

if someone has been trying so hard to reach their dream, but just can't seem to reach it, is that a sign that it's time to move onto something else? is it just god's way of closing doors and opening others?

the cutest cat i have ever seen.

i want to steal it. This has convinced me that my next cat has to be a scottish fold.