Damn I'm FAT!!!

I looked at some of the pictures of myself that were taken in NYC... and all I can say is 'who the hell is that fat girl sitting there?' All my life, I have never been trim; okay, I've been fat all the last 34 years of my life. But you know how you have this image in your head with how you look? Most people have that image so they have sort of an expectation on how they'd look in pictures. Well, the image I had in my head must have been of me when I was ten(!?!); 'coz to say the least when I saw these pictures, I was dumbfounded! Shocked! Embarassed! I mean, you can only blame the camera, the photographer, the lighting, the clothes you're wearing or how you're seated that much. All that doesn't add 40 pounds on your body. Not enough excuses can explain how I look so fat. Okay, other than all that glorious food and the lack of exercise. So this past Monday, I walked meekly back to the 'Y', and went back to the pool to swim my laps. It'll take months before I see anything happen to my body but I know in weeks, I will feel a slight improvement on my body and cetainly my body image.

Then again, sitting in front of the computer updating my blog and playing canasta on yahoo, I could be on the threadmill. But nah, I don't have to be skinny THAT quickly lol.

Millennium Hilton NYC

So I was at the Millennium Hilton (for the first time) the last few days and while it's great that it's located right next to Century 21, a comfortable one mile walk to triad-land/Chinatown and if you're still interested in looking at Ground Zero aka flat piece of land with lots of construction, it really is not much of a 'nice' hotel. For $219 however, I suppose it's a good deal for NYC especially since my main purpose was to seriously have South East Asian food in Chinatown.

All in all, it was a nice enough hotel. Not too small but certainly not spacious for two people. Probably bigger than all the other hotels in mid-town (this hotel is in downtown) but don't bet on getting first class service. Not bad service, just nonchalant. Good for businessmen I suppose. Weekends are pretty quiet without the people working in the surrounding buildings but cabs are always abundant; not that you'd need it with the nearby subway stations.

I can't say I'm looking forward to another stay with them but if it's last minute plans again and the Sofitel jacks up her prices to over $300 again (you can usually get it in the low 200's) I can't say I would mind.

CASH, NO TAX...

NYC as usual was a blast! Genevieve was a great room mate and we had a ball just hanging out and eating! That's basically all we did... eat, shop, sleep. Then the cycle starts all over again the next day. For three full days, we were stuffed with food as close to as what we get back home, lots of great laughs, gossips and reminizing the good old party days back home and bitch bitch bitch about the immigration system of the US, people and more people (what's new?! :D).

So what's up with Chinatown?! Where everytime you pay with a credit card (IF they accept them), they look at you in horror and/or with curiosity wondering where in the world did you fall out from, paying with a credit card?! You see, in Chinatown, whether it's for food, shopping for cheap dvd's or groceries, if you pay them in cold hard cash, you don't have to pay tax. Wait a minute, isn't that illegal!? ...and this is not just applicable to Asians. It's a well known fact, apparently; and now to me and you guys reading this. Isn't paying tax part of being a US resident's responsibility?

Of course, with the number of illegal aliens in the area within Chinatown alone is inconcievable. Tons of Malaysians, I realize. Including people who have been in the country for more than the last 10 years! How do you live like that?! They work, they might own houses, they certainly pay rent and of course, how could they not have kids!? Meanwhile... here I am, doing every damned right thing to go through to get my green card and where am I after three years? Absolutely not much different from the day after I got my first interview. Aggravating.

Well, whether it's bring lots of cash or being looked at disdainfully by the Chinese, NYC is a great place to hang out for a few days. I think I might just go insane if I ever lived there. It's so different from Tokyo where everything seems much similar and yet, much much more organized. Go to Tai Pan Bakery (with the yummiest Dan Tart and Curry Puff) and you'd understand.

Winter in NYC

Well, after a week of beautiful crisp weather in Tokyo, what better then to dive back into the bitter cold weather of New York City! At least the forecast of snow and rain for today (till Sunday) have, for some reason, changed to partly cloudy and disappeared altogether . COOL! My kind of weather. I can live with mid 40s weather; it certainly beats the 30s.

It's a girls' weekend with Genevieve who lives in NYC. It'll be fun. The husband was generous and got us a room to share so we're really looking forward to just hanging out and do some serious gossiping. Not that we haven't been on a daily basis for the last year up till last night at 11pm. The king put an end to it of course, and quite rightly so lol.

We're going to be at the Millenium Hilton. It's walking distance to chinatown and right next to Century 21 so you know who's excited. It's been more than a year since I've been to the City... Gen tells me that C21 now has a seperate store just for shoes. Paradise!!

Right, time to get outta'f here. More when I return.

Spring in Nihon

So we missed the cherry blossom... we do every year... oh well. But the weather was absolutely wonderful walking weather! Not that that didn't make my non-arched feet cry day after day walking around shinjuku/roppongi/azabu juban area (no shibuya for a change lol) in my sneakers but they cry all the time so that's besides the point. I really like the Park Hotel a lot. So it's no Grand Hyatt or Park Hyatt but it's modern, clean, cosy and even with the small rooms, Bruce and I were very comfortable. With it being so new still, the smoking rooms didn't even smell of smoke unlike the non-smoking rooms in past hotels we have been in smell like a used ashtray ARRGH!

We had a very nice time as usual with the Kohno's. We missed Mao-chan this time since it was a weekday evening that we met but both of us couples had a ton of fun at this new izakaya place at Caretta on the 45th floor . Never mind the view... the sake, the shochus, the wine and even the food was very good. Not that expensive either for a fancy izakaya. Ok, I can't remember what it's called. Got the card here somewhere.

Jun-san of the Rainbowl Roll is getting married... so he's moving to Nagoya where his girlfriend's family run a few different restaurants. Looks like we have go to Nagoya some time. Sushi Cho was more fun then usual despite the absense of sake lol. Fukushima-san (ok I can't say this guy's name) was extra talkative and curious and like many times with the Kohno's, there were more than a few times where we had our own lost-in-translation-moments.

Can't wait till June for our next trip there... minus the heat of course.

Japan, Here We Come!!!

It's been more than 6 months since we were last in Tokyo. Hard to fathom but true. It's been almost four months since I was last on a plane. Even harder to imagine but also true. Tomorrow, we head back out to Japan and I am extremely excited. To be amongst the insane Japanese, crazy new things, awesome yummy food and of course, much more beautiful women then me. Can't beat them all :) ...there will always be one man who thinks I'm the fairest of them all hee hee.

Our spring break tradition is always to be in Japan for a week... this time I believe we're staying at a new hotel in Shiedome. Will have pics and comments in the next few days (I hope).

Tailor-made condoms

It's a savior for single girls!!! For those horrible lying boys who go 'oh, they're so confining' or 'they just don't fit' or 'I'm allergic to them' or this is the best one 'I cum so much it doesn't fit' (YES, my friend believed this one too!!!)... there is hope ...and for stupid girls who believe them (arrgh)... tailor made condoms!!! At http://www.sakunet.com.tw/html/index.asp you can get condoms that'll fit you and only you :) So the site is in Chinese but hey, who doesn't know somebody who reads Chinese in this day and age lol.

Ananova - Tailor-made condoms

Kids... YUK!

We went to a 2 year old birthday party last night. Well, hardly a party considering it consisted of the birthday girl, her 4 yr old sister (who had a friend over), their patents, gramma, uncle Bruce and me. We were only there for a little over an hour but boy did it feel like an eternity! Thank goodness for Pizza Hut - and I don't even like them lol.

The kids were acting up, the birthday girl was stuffing her fingers, then her hands into the birthday cake, the digital camera didn't work, the video camera didn't work... the bloody regular camera had no film... I was afraid mummy was going to kill daddy who'd just got home from work minutes before the cake was brought in my gramma who was an hour late. It was like a train wreck I could see coming from a mile away... wow... why do people go out and put themselves in this misery (and have kids)?! Sure sure, all parents say they love love love their kids and wouldn't have it any other way. Of course they do!! They can't bloody hell give their kids away?!

As usual, we left the kids in shock (us not them). No matter what, we always seem to leave kids' in shock and all we can mutter is 'oh my gawd' and 'thank goodness we have no kids' for the entire drive home.

American Iron Chef Sucks!

Only because I don't see Bobby Flay as a real celebrity and I certainly don't see him as a chef. He's creative with his damn sauces and that's about it. What's the big bloody hoo hah about this guy?

Mario Batali is good and a real Italian chef. Professional. Of course there is the real Iron Chef, Morimoto. But who in the world is Flay? ...and southwestern cuisine!? It was simply unbelievable when he beat Rick Bayless!?!?! Talk about a load of BS!

No Sleep & No Sex For Yang Yang

Do not be mistaken. As much as my Chinese name is very close to 'Yang Yang', it is not me :)

Growing up in Singapore, whenever pandas are mentioned, we always know it's Yang Yang. Ok, maybe not growing up but it certainly is a familiar panda name.

China sure has been making a lot of money with 'renting' their pandas out. Even here in Memphis, we have Ya Ya and Le Le. Trouble is, in what condition will these animals go home? No sleep, no sex? These must be the only things out of China not ready to follow in the footsteps of her citizens to procreate... just like when they tried to introduce 'social enrichment' to Ya Ya (from Beijing) and Le Le (from Shanghai). Neither was interested in one another. A sniff or two and both headed towards towards the opposite direction. We know how those friendly Chinese are!!

According to a UK newspaper article, it's been so unseasonably warm in Vienna that the Pandas in the zoo are performing unusual acrobatic skills.

Mind Your Language

You'd think as a reporter, no matter how bad a slip, he would get his spoken English more precise. It's actually quite funny to me. Horrifying to some, I'm sure... and I guess in some way, it is to me... but funny nonetheless.

"Rob Blair of KTNV-TV was delivering the extended forecast Saturday morning when he said: "For tomorrow, 60 degrees, Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Day, gonna see some temperatures in the mid-60s."


Las Vegas weatherman fired after on-air racial slur

Hello? Lucky?

Lucky is the adorable black pug we have back home. He is the cutest, smartest, greediest little boy. Well, he's no more a little boy considering my sister in law's always telling me how old he's getting; it's very depressing but I try not to think about it too much. But here is a product, well, not really a product yet since it's not for sale but it will be someday and I could actually call Lucky whenever I want to. OK, not that I don't now and have mom hold the phone for him... still, cool idea!

Gizmodo : PetsMobility PetCell

Survive This!

How stupid and greedy do you have to be to believe that the IRS will not come after you when you've won the million dollar race on national tv and not file it in your income tax return. DUH!

He played a good game then but it looks like the good games biting him in his ass now.

Yahoo! News - 'Survivor' Winner Hatch No Match for IRS

Overnite.com sucks?

It's been more than a month since two of my four pieces of deck furniture arrived. And I have been seething here writing angry emails to the no-name customer service person who has done nothing except apologize. Well, yesterday, while exchanging an email directly with the furniture lady (porchesandyards.com) who has been more than patient with me, surprised me... well, ok, shocked me (I practically fell off my seat when I read her email) that overnite.com has found my two missing pieces!!! Well well well :D I called the 1-800 to the trucking company and sure enough, Kathy wasn't making it up! So it's supposed to be delivered this morning between 10am and noon. We shall see. In my mind, I'm thinking... "nah, probably the wrong pieces" but I'm hoping against all hope that my deck will soon look like the way I want it to be. Wish me luck!

TOO Funny!!!

If any of you are avid fans of the Amazing Race, you will only be too familiar with the screaming abuse this couple entertains us with each week. Now, you are able to read all about his excuse for his behaviour towards his wife and other people in the race.

First of all, words cannot describe how anyone can explain Jonathan Baker nor his wife Victoria Fuller... both are obnoxious and stupid but I can't decide who is more stupid. The one who screams more or the one who takes it and remains the spouse. Yet, they claim to be very happy. You can only imagine the fights behind close doors :)

He can take all the responsibility he wants. He's still a numbskull and definitely an asshole HAHAHAHAHA! By the way, the 'illness' he says he had was just some inflamed organ. Boo hoo!

Three Entertaining Movies

In the last two weeks, I have seen 'Meet the Fockers', 'Spanglish' and last night, 'In Good Company'. If you enjoy going to the movies, a laugh, few tears (well if you're a mother you might cry at 'Spanglish' but I didn't hee hee) and just enjoy being entertained, these are three fun movies to see.

DO NOT waste your money, NOT EVEN for a matinee (prices have gone up again by 50 cents to $6.00)... DO NOT SEE 'Oceans Twelve'. It's a sad sad follow up to Oceans 11 (which was awesome!). Not even having Brad Pitt or George Clooney helped. I also hated 'Sideways'. I think only older single men... or stupid younger single men will enjoy it... I can't believe how many awards it's been nominated for and won. YUK! Ugly men, unattractive women, slow, unmoving and just downright boring. My slow life in Memphis is more exciting then this movie.

Will tell you how 'The Aviator' is when I see it.

Do You Get Paid...

not by your job or your boss or even the government... but do you get paid by your boyfriend or husband to do or not do certain things?!

My longtime very good girlfriend from back home called me yesterday and we had the usual fun, funny long phone conversation. As usual, she nagged about how lucky I am not having to work and how my life that is filled with household chores, lots of travelling, lots of fun with friends and time with my husband sickens her. OK, not the household chores and cooking part but the rest, yes. We went on to talk about her life, her boyfriend (of almost two years - and that is a record since her divorce) and how she hates (yes, she used the H-word HATE) ALL her boyfriend's friends. So whenever he wants to go out with them, he gives her money. Yes, she gets paid so he can hang out with his friends. Let's say she's very ummm... outspoken and gregarious when it comes to getting the message across. When she doesn't want to go out with him and his friends or the boyfriend going out with his friends alone, he knows it well in advance. Getting things the way she wants has always been one of her strong point. I sometimes (note, it's only SOMETIMES) admire her strength. I've known her since we were little 8 yr old girls swimming at the country club... we both left home early to come to America to go to school 'coz we suck at our second language... and we are both with caucasian boys LOL. I think the similarity stops there... she's tall and thin and I'm... not :) She's super active, and I'm... well... far from it. The list goes on but it's too early to think. Ok, thinking just isn't included in my daily agenda these days... and I have no problem with it. I just wish I got paid not to think :D

WWW.OVERNITE.COM SUCKS!

We got some outdoor furniture from Porches and Yards (porchesandyard.com) and they shipped it via overnite.com. Well, guess what?! Two of our four pieces arrived and the other two have gone missing somewhere. Either they can't count or someone's a big ass thief! They are humongous boxes that have gone missing and no one in that freakin' company can track it. What in the world are tracking numbers for?! I have heard over and over again, "you will hear from our manager" but have I!? NOT A PEEK! I am annoyed that now I have to wait another 10 weeks for the furniture to be reordered. I just want to get my money back and go out and get the same set here in Memphis that cost double the price!!! IDIOTS! ...and I'd make them pay for it!

How Will I Go On???

Last night, we got ready to watch yet another of our favourite reality tv show and was surprised that it wasn't playing at it's usual timeslot of 8pm. After three weeks of holiday season crap, I was ready for some hilarious and stupid 'My Fat Obnoxious Boss'. Well, I guess the 'stupid' part didn't help the ratings. I think there are just way too many reality tv shows out there that this one got overlooked. But how could they have cancelled this show?! They have stupider shows like 'The Big Losers', 'The Will'... I don't really have to name them all to make my point. But I'm upset. This show was so funny(!!!), made a complete fool of all the contestants... and now I will never find out if the 'person' making the decision at the end of each show, the 'person' who eliminates each contestant each week, is a chimpanzee!!! Arrgh! How will i go on?! :(

COME ON ALREADY...

Americans are the BIGGEST busy bodies around. For one, Richard Gere, known by most of us people from the so-called civilized world from his list of movies (good and not so good) as Mr Hot and Sexy... and to my husband, I-don't-look-like-RichardGere-
even-when-I-don't-dye-my-hair (long story). Whatever the reason he did it for, whoever he thought he said it for... it's a bunch of crap! Who does he think he is (hot as he is) to speak for the rest of the world? I didn't get the call to see if I'd like him to speak for me??? How would you Americans like it if some Palestinian or ok, some English (quasi famous guy) comes along and says the same thing to you right before the elections? Besides, look at who you voted to be your own bloody President. JOKE! Come on already!!