life transcibed.

Philly Love-List

Just because there have been so many unfortunate things happening to me in the past month—I feel it is time to insert more positivity about my life in Philadelphia. I’m not going into the gritty details here; that would be counterproductive & enough of my friends know about it! I think I handled the bumps pretty well and I tried to keep myself upbeat as much as possible during the ordeal. :)

It is good to think about the quiet small things that make life sweeter. Since I love lists; a list of things I love! Since I love food, a lot of this is food-related. What a surprise! =P

1. My house. Despite all the critters and creaks. :) & my lovely housemates too!
2. Clark Park farmer’s market. It’s even lovelier now that spring has arrived. The Amish florist stand is GORGEOUS.
3. The nice neighbor across the street who let me use her cell phone when I got locked out of my house (wow, the ordeal was so much more painful than it sounds…LONG story). After I got into my house, I bought her a small bouquet of flowers from the Amish florist and left it with a card in thanks.
4. Walking through my neighborhood after spring rain. The air is so crisp, fresh and fragrant, the green so lush and dewy, and the gardens I pass are every changing. As different flowers and trees come into bloom, I can pass the same yard in one week and have it look totally different. <3
5. Apple Cider from the farmer’s market. They’re only offering it for one more week!
6. Milk & Honey Market. A very cute shop just a few blocks from where I live. Local produce, and quality imports too. I had the BEST MILK SHAKE EVER THERE! & they let me try an absolutely wonderful sheep’s milk cheese that was very milky and salty. Called Oro de Sardegna <3 I bought a small bit of it. I didn’t know how bad my food snobbery has gotten until I went through my fridge and realized how much cheese I have: bougie Parmigiano-Reggiano, brie, Oro de Sargegna, provolone slices, fresh mozzarella, and shredded smoked gouda. How do I spoil myself? With cheese. Hey, I mostly drink soy milk now, gimme a break!
7. Fresh Prince Milkshake from Milk&Honey, as mentioned above. Yes, it deserves a line of it’s own. It was a REVELATION, I tell you! Chocolate ice cream, milk (probably local), banana, and best of all…NUTELLA. I had a whole verbal exchange with the guy who made it for me, about how much I love nutella. He gave me a lil extra ;) I wanted to lick the cup when I was done. NOM NOM NOM. I am such a fatty!
8. The hills. Yeah, my muscles don’t love them—but the hills around West Philly PWN my butt when I go running, figuratively & literally. I didn’t make/find the time to go for three weeks because of all the stress I was under (plus I was sick for half that time) but after going again on Saturday morning, I feel delightfully sore. It’s the hills!!!
9. The seniors. Interacting with them is usually the best part of my work day, even if sometimes they are super cranky/demanding. The majority of the time, it is a positive experience.
10. Stairs @ work. Sometimes they’re a pain, but I run around the center so often that I feel like a few days of stairs at work may be the equivalent of going up all 11.5 flights of Century Tower!
11. Tuesday night Glee. While this is not Philadelphia exclusive, this is what I look forward to all day on Tuesdays now. It’s not as awesome as gorging on peanutbutter-chocolate-reeses cookies with Brandon on Wednesdays like before, but it comes pretty close. :)
12. Strawberry Basil Mojito from Devon during Happy Hour. $6.50 cocktails aren’t easy on a VISTA budget, but when it comes with free biscuits fresh from the oven & a delectable fresh sweet better, somehow it feels more worth it. Plus it was a dang good cocktail!
13. I know this makes me sound like an alcoholic, but the discovery of Lindeman’s Framboise lambic = YUM. I dislike beer usually, but this raspberry shiz is AWESOME. Plus I think I am slowly coming around to beer…VERY slowly.
No but seriously ya’ll, I don’t drink that often. Empty calories. :)
14. When the wind causes flower petals to fall around me on the street. The former anime-lover inside me comes out when this happens, especially when the sakura were still in bloom!
15. Smoothies from Reading Terminal Market. I make my own smoothies at home…but somehow it is never the same! It’s hard to describe the smooth fruitalicious essence that are the smoothies Stella & I get from there!
16. Baby bok choy from Dim Sum Garden. I dunno why, but it is so good.
17. Passing by the Jazz shop to and from work on Broad Street. Every time I pass by this one store, they’re always playing the BEST music. So soulful, it almost makes me want to sing and dance—you know, if I were actually good at dancing. =/ It does give me a bounce in my step though!
18. The Random Tea Room – I only went once but dude, it was the BEST. It was like a cute little tea heaven.
19. Food stamps/EBT/ACCESS Card. Whatever you want to call it, they gave me the full amount a single person can get and I eat SO WELL. I don’t like eating out very often because I can get so much good food without using any of my own money, and it is healthier too. I don’t even really budget much when I go grocery shopping because it isn’t necessary. I still look for deals though; it would be bad to break that habit! But every once in a while, I’ll treat myself to stuff I don’t need. Like fancy cheese. :)

Reflections on my year of service - April

So much has happened in the three months since I’ve moved to Philadelphia. Life has been crazy, chaotic, challenging, and in the moments of calm I have, I have not chosen to blog. I chose to watch hulu and youtube because I didn’t want to think or reflect or read anything too mentally stimulating. I wanted to put my mind at rest. Get immersed in cooking my dinner, or exercising when I had the time and energy—savoring the peaceful moments I had for myself as well as the time I spent with others.

I have always used this blog as a release of mind—be it ranting, or random musings…but always for reflection. I believe it to be healthy to reflect on life on a regular basis. Especially when so much has been changing around me, much without my control—reflection is a necessity. This weekend was finally my time to do so.

What did I reflect on?
On my goals and dreams—though that sounds so cheesy.
On what makes me happy and fulfills me.
On happiness, and what it means, how it is defined, and how I treat the idea of happiness in my own life.
What it means to know yourself, know your needs, and know what is right for you. How to tell when you know, and if that is possible.
On confidence and conviction, and self-trust.
On passion, passionate work, and how passionate work can define you/your life, and being cognizant of other aspects of life that are important: family, friendships, and other such relationships.
On choices, on the future, on my “career”.
On patience: Patience with myself and letting myself take the time to discover my true self, my true needs and desires.
On understanding that happiness is always changing, and cannot be found like an object or as I said to my friend “it can’t be so easily defined and squared away in a box, in a role, or a task or a career.”
On peace and peace of mind.
On realizing that there is a reason why I am where I am in my life, even though I will always be wondering what is coming next. To be patient and present with the present, respect each moment for what it is and find the positive aspects of every challenge or in the face of adversity. To learn from each moment and focus on the details of that moment, instead of always looking ahead for what might be coming or what might be “better”.
On becoming comfortable with the process of change, discovering: Knowing that change is inevitable, good, and natural. Taking the time to recognize change and respect it even & especially when it occurs within myself. To view change without fear or apprehension, but calm and understanding. To incorporate study with change, to shape my life with the knowledge of it.

More later. :) Time for bed.

Life Update 1/21/09

Since moving to Philadelphia, the following events have occurred:

1. I built a desk, dresser (OMG), bookshelf, and set of three rolling drawers from IKEA. By myself <3
2. Got lost my first time because I had no idea what a trolley stop was supposed to look like. They’re basically marked by green stickers on street poles.
3. I found my way to the not-anywhere-as-cool-as-Publix grocery store, Supreme/Shop ‘n Bag & stupidly purchased orange juice and soy milk at the same time, along with 2 cans and various other small items that I then had to lug home for a little over a mile. I thought my bag was going to bust open!
4. Got hit on by a creepy man on my way to said grocery store. “Hello, Gorgeous.” I didn’t even know how to respond; I walked faster.
5. Realized I cannot rely on my cards everywhere to pay for things anymore. WHY IS SO MUCH STUFF CASH ONLY? I barely scraped by a few times.
6. Had my first trial-by-fire at work when I stopped by their big MLK Service Event on Monday. I met some wonderful volunteers who gave me hugs even though they barely knew me, played every song I have memorized on the piano during their lunch, and met many many people whose names I am struggling to remember. I think my success rate is about 75%. I also made a huge pot of chicken noodle soup, and helped them find trash bags. My service year will have a variety of interesting experiences :)
7. AS I AM WRITING THIS: Water has begun dripping slowly from my bedroom ceiling. WTF! Right into my trash can!
8. I got a viet sub from a convenience store two blocks from my house and ate it outside in Clark Park, which was just a few more blocks down. MISTAKE. It was a good sub, yes, but it was SO COLD OUTSIDE by the time I was done my hands were like ice blocks.
9. Discovered that there is a plethora of ethnic food offerings in the area near my house: Indian, Vietnamese, Nigerian? haha
Even the vietnamese convenience store carried: Seventh Generation & Mrs. Meyers cleaning products, tempeh, tofu, fresh vegetables, stouffer’s frozen meals, yeo’s soy milk, naked juice, butter, kinder chocolate, and pocky. Kind of awesome! They had viet and regular hoagies too. :)
10. Fell in love with my work location: South Broad Street, on the Avenue of the Arts. I pass by at least 4 theaters and the University of the Arts on my walk from City Hall. Lots of hipsters here, btw.
11. Went shopping on Walnut around 17-15th streets. GREAT SHOPPING. I went today after shadowing at work, and on that street there is already an H&M, Urban Outfitters, Zara, the North Face, and various other good shops. Running stores too, hmm.
12. Said good morning to my immediate neighbor many times. I think he just hangs out on the porch. He’s a senior too. Gosh, I’m just surrounded by old people!
13. Experienced my housemate Hannah’s DIVINE chocolate scones. They are a revelation, and I hope she doesn’t make them too often or my workouts will go to waste.
14. Found out about the mice in the house and the raccoons living between the 2nd & 3rd floors. Luckily not above where my room is. Let’s just say I’m going to be really loud if I ever need to use the potty in the middle of the night, or the kitchen too early in the morning.
15. Spent 2 days shadowing at the work place in addition to MLK day. I’m going in tomorrow as well. Am slowly absorbing the giant mass of random information being thrown at me.
16. Found a studio 4 blocks away with cheap yoga & pilates classes.
17. Discovered a cheap food co-op that I can automatically qualify to shop at once I get food stamps. SWEET.
18. Started waking up at 6:30AM in the morning. Slowly working my way to 6:00AM. I’m going to be keeping grandma hours, folks!
19. Realized I will easily get obese at work because the staff love food, especially fattening food, and my supervisor especially is a foodie. Oh my. MUST RESIST.
20. Have yet to eat a cheesesteak. Not really feeling like beef right now & when I cooked dinner on Monday it was to last me the week. But I’m going to a Brazilian steakhouse called Fogo de Chao next Tuesday so that’ll be enough beef to make up for…forever?
21. Saw dear Carlos <3 for about an hour <3
22. Caught up with Ashley Gunn at the Green Line Cafe. She only lives like 5 blocks away from me, awesome!
23. Got to know my roommates, who are really great! They’re all so friendly and sweet!
24. Experienced Famous Dave’s courtesy of my family. I like Sonny’s better.

Come visit me <3 and we shall play~

New Year's Resolutions

1. To have more patience for the people who have frustrating habits.
2. To eat less candy.
3. To become a more generous listener.

A little late, but I couldn’t log in on my laptop for some reason. :)

28 Things & People I'm Thankful For

Because I’m procrastinating and need to get this out of my system.
& because I am graduating in about 25 days, and this realization has made me reflect over my life for the past 3.5 years. :)

28 is a random number, and there are so many more things I could write about, and really I listed more than 28 individual things. =P

in no particular order:
1. My family, for being so supportive of me even though they don’t understand most of the things I do/want to do. There really isn’t much more I can say, but I am blessed.
2. Eeyore, who I purchased in Disney Land in Spring Break of 09. For bringing back fond memories with every hug, and being so soft and cuddly at night.
3. For Food Politics and Dr. Scher, for opening my eyes to the issues and problems that are interconnected with the food industry, and for helping me to reflect on my Thanksgiving meal in a whole new way.
4. UF Carillon Studio, for being the part of my week that I never avoid, always look forward too, and never fail to have fun in.
5. Century Tower, for kicking my ass into shape with every climb and hilarious memories like the cockroach & wood cleaner incident or getting stuck in darkness for a few seconds that felt too long while on the 8th floor. & the view of UF Campus from the top of Century Tower, where all the bells are hung. For renewing my love of my campus and taking my breath away.
6. CASA Traditional Dance & fellow Dancers. Good times, ya’ll :)
7. My best friend since the 5th grade, Jennifer Lee—for all that we’ve been through, and for offering a fresh perspective on the happenings of my life, and for having unfailing confidence in me no matter what I do.
8. Tiger (you get my lucky number), the best dog I could ever love, for the 15-16 beautiful years I had with you, for protecting me, loving me the way only a dog could, for being my most faithful friend a person could have. I love you. RIP
9. Making music, for always bringing joy to my life and for being an outlet for all my emotions. Piano, Carillon, or my recent struggles with Guitar (haha thanks Nghi, I know I’m awful), I love it all. What a gift.
10. My friends of my Summer 2008 internship, need I say more? :) Clara Ng-Quinn, Lovely Umayam, Steven Liang, Carlos Oronce, Mike Mikawa, Olivia Chow, Claire Vergara, Viraj Patel, Nitt Chuenprateep, Trina Tran, Jeany Zhang, Jameson Lam…etc
11. AASU/CASA/La Casita and every other organization that I’ve been involved in. I’m not around anymore, but my experiences outside the classroom have shaped who I am now more than anything. The good memories will always be with me, despite the struggles I encountered and oft overcame.
12. Honesty. For being a part of who I am, and what I value and look for first in a friend.
13. Glee, the best Wednesday night entertainment. ‘nuff said.
14. Brandon Velez, one of the people I laugh the hardest with. I’m so lucky I met you last year, you are RIDICULOUS…-ly amazing. President of the Cirleen fan club, glee-fan extraordinaire, and my sweets dealer.
15. Autumn, my favorite season of the year. My idea of perfect weather.
16. Free Gym, I will miss this when I graduate. The best days are often begun with a good workout. :)
17. All the spices that signal the holidays: cinnamon, nutmeg…ahh I love it. Thanks for delighting my palate <3
18. Clara Ng-Quinn, former fiance. WUB YOU.
19. My bigs: Amy Chow, VJ, Alex Lavigne, Marievic Bulosan, Lisa Ng, Vicky Mei, Klara Cu & pseudo-big Tony Law. I’m a lucky little, and in each of you I found something to admire and nurture in myself.
20. Long Vong, Terry Ngin, Enrique Chan—LET! & Richard Llanton who I feel practically lives there too—For feeding me when I was too tired to feed myself, and in general always being a great crew to be around. & for awesome Lip sessions!
21. the Laws: Lisa, Tony, Phil. :) good laughs, sunshine, and fun in general! as well as Uncle Allen & Daddy Jon. Ya’ll are awesome :D
22. La Casita Crew of 07-08. Shoutouts to Desi, Bianca, Rafael, Frances, Jose, Chantelle…ahh the list goes on. For being a family, and one of the best parts of my college experience.
23. Reid Hall 4th floor, best place to live on campus, IMO! For the laundry runs that took me up and down 4 flights of stairs 7 times, for keeping me in shape through freshman year.
24. MCDA—Tamara, Taketo, Ellen, Desi, & Yuko :) and now Evan too!
25. Other faculty and professors who nurtured my growth: Cirleen dDeBlaere, Malini Schueller, Sharon Austin, Chun-Chung Choi,
26. My littles :) <3
27. Kshama Shah, Sandy Chiu, Leo Escalamado, and other Old-school AASU-ers :)
28. Life.