TINEyboppin...

The price you pay...

2011-10-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

Almost every day, I take the MRT to and from work. Work is a short 5 stops away and despite the quick trip, I still find myself watching people around me. Older aunties and uncles are reading the newspaper or bobbling their heads, half asleep. Young professional commuters are on their phones texting, playing games or listening to music. Nothing out of the ordinary.

There's the hustle and bustle of getting in and out of the MRT and fighting your way through escalators and stairs because everyone is important and has somewhere to be. Dressing for success is definitely a motto they live by here for the commuters. It's kind of nice to see slacks and tucked in shirts. It actually makes me want to dress up more (more than the typical pair of jeans, flip flops and favorite geek shirt).

The thing I notice the most about Singaporean women is their choice of shoes to commute in. The majority of time I see women in 2-4 inch heels doing the same walks I'm doing in my flats. I can't help but wonder how doing a ten minute walk in heels is in any way good for your feet, let alone your posture, after a long day at work. They're pretty and they make an outfit, but maybe I'm just not girly enough to want to have my feet endure this type of pain. Maybe I don't think looking cute is enough? It's so a la Carrie of Sex & The City!

So seriously... how do women here commute in heels?

Getting used to this...

2011-10-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Most newlyweds I know spend their first year being married in a carefree and giddy blur. I've actually only spent about 7 months being in the same physical location as my husband because of travel for work. It's definitely not how I envisioned spending our first year as newlyweds, but something we both agreed would have to happen. We're both career driven, and knew it was necessary for the long run.

So when it came to deciding if moving to Singapore for a few months would work, we both knew we were going to have to sacrifice a few things in order to be with each other. We also knew this was the only time we could get away with this. We had no excuses - we're still young, we both have strong families to lean on and we don't have any kids. He needed to work California hours on Asia timezone, while I needed to adjust my work/sleep schedule to make sure we made time for each other in the mornings and evenings. We also would be far away from our families, who we're both pretty close to. Whenever we started to doubt our decision, it always went back to the same thought: "At least we would be together." There was comfort in knowing that whether things got frustrating, or even exciting, we'd be experiencing them together.We knew we had to do it, in fear we'd regret not seizing the moment every time we looked back at this moment.

So here we are, still getting used to this different routine together and with our one year anniversary almost upon us. Would I change anything if I could? Nawww... we're together and that's all that matters.

Home Sweet Home...

2011-10-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

It used to come second nature for me to blog, especially when I worked on the Blogger team back in the day. I found something intriguing, and without hesitation, a blog post was up. It was that feeling that I was chronicling my life - for those moments when I just needed to remember what made me feel a certain way. These days, writing a blog post feels like work. I'm not sure when exactly that started to happen, but I miss that urge to just write. I've found myself focusing my energy on G+, Facebook, and reading other people's blogs.

When I worked on Blogger, I came across so many cool blogs. Most of the times, I was drawn to blogs about food and travel. I remember thinking a long time ago that if I ever was on an extended trip, I'd blog about it. I'd be writing one of those cool blogs I used to be so inspired by. And maybe one day, I'd be a blog of note. One can only dream...

Fast forward - it's almost 1 year that I've been married. The hubby and I just moved to Singapore for a few months so I could work out of our office here. It's our 3rd day being away from the Bay Area. Aside from jetlag and figuring out MRT, I'm trying to find my routine. I'm trying to call this place home for a bit so that I don't pass up on this rare opportunity.

I guess it's time to start blogging...

I'm Engaged

2010-03-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

Dum Dum Da Dum...

Yes, it's been a long while since I've updated my blog, but this calls for a post.

On Feb. 6, up in Yountville (Napa), Jackie proposed and I said YES ...somewhere in the middle of screaming, crying and laughing. Harry was right...

"...when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

The King of Pop

2009-07-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, while I was sick in bed at home, I watched MJ's memorial with the rest of the world. Facebook & Twitter updates blew up while I sat there tearing for someone we took for granted. I hadn't had a good cry in a while and I was congested and coughing... and still shocked. Goodbye MJ - you and your jams will be missed.

Bandages.. I'm stuck on you

2009-02-24T16:10:00.001-08:00

While I have a ton on my body from my tomboy childhood, I do have two on my face that are pretty visible. The first is in the corner, close to my right eye. I forget how young I was, but I was jumping back and forth from the couch to the tabletop of the coffee table.. in socks! I slipped and hit the corner of the table and being that my mom didn't really know about stitches, she slapped a bandage on it. The second is one on the bottom of my chin that you can see when I look up. There's ten stitches (8 on the outside, 2 on the inside) in total. Right around Christmas time, I was at a holiday party twirling around in my new boots when a boy ran up to me and pushed me. I fell, slamming my chin onto the concrete floor. Til this day, I have no idea who the bastard that pushed me was.

SxSW... Another Time =(

2009-02-24T11:58:00.000-08:00

I can't help but notice a buzz of blog posts and snail mail on this year's SxSW in Austin. I've gone a few years now, but this year I decided to pass with my upcoming work leave. I'd rather use the time to finish up projects and make sure I've found people to take care of them while I'm gone. Every year I look forward to some yummy bbq and a couple of mexican martinis at Trudy's, catching up friends on their panels, and the creative Blogger "cold weather" shwag - beanies, a scarf, and some hobo gloves. Oh well, there's always next year.

Storytime

2009-02-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

I just ran across an article about the Filipino veterans that are finally getting some of the recognition they're due and it reminded me of my grandfather's storytelling.

My grandfather has always been full of stories for as long as I can remember about the memories of growing up and raising my parent's generation in the Philippines. While my generation was the first born here, my parents and their siblings, along with my grandparents all immigrated to the US in the early 70s. It's been a while, yet these stories and memories are never forgotten.

There's one set of memories that my grandfather talks about every few years - the ones during "wartime" when Japan had invaded the Philippines. At that time, you either hid, fought in the war alongside other U.S armed forces, or just risked being killed/tortured by "the Japanese."

My grandfather chose the first route and would tell us stories about having to take his family and hide in the mountains, far far away from where they lived. They sustained themselves on whatever they found and feared for their lives every day until the invasion was over. Granted his stories were much more animated and vividly described, they were also usually told in a "no holds barred" kind of manner which almost always resulted in a few of us rolling around on the floor in laughter.

It's good to see that the people that fought during this time to keep my family safe are finally getting some recognition, after all this time.

But Mordeno expressed the urgency that pervades the quest for justice. He is one of a fast-shrinking group of about 16,000 survivors of the original 470,000 Filipino men who served in the U.S. military.

We can only hope that those came before us will continue to tell us their story to preserve memories and sentiment.

** most of the stuff in quotes are the terms my grandfather used in his stories **

It's about that time again...

2009-02-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

About two years ago, right around the time I was transitioning to a new role at work, I took a month off for a much needed vacation. I remember just needing to get away to forget about reality for a bit.

It feels like that was just yesterday but I can't help but feel the same way again. Fortunately for me, one of the benefits at work is the privilege of taking a personal leave after your fifth year. So I decided to take them up on the offer to once again disconnect from my daily life in a couple of months.

It hasn't been fully planned out yet, but so far I have a ticket to wander around Europe with my boyfriend - Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, and down the coast of Italy (Venice, Cinque Terre, Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast) to visit my cousins and godson. And sometime after that, perhaps some house projects, some sleeping, catching up with friends and family, and another trip to Asia for some scuba diving and visits to more family and friends.

My first job: Mrs. Fields Cookies

2009-02-04T13:19:00.001-08:00

Back when hanging out at the mall was 'cool', my first job was at Mrs. Fields Cookies at HIllsdale Mall, making minimum wage. I thought I was hot shet, meeting all these boys that worked at other places within the mall. We used to barter cookies for store discounts and even "overbake" cookies so that my family could grub on cookies I brought home.

Plinky Fun..

2009-01-30T17:02:00.000-08:00

A little over a week ago, an old coworker of mine shared his new project, Plinky, with some of us and I was quick to sign up. Shellen's always had cool ideas so it was a no brainer.

Timing couldn't have been more perfect. Every few days I'd open up Blogger and stare at my posting dashboard only to have writer's block. It was such a horrid feeling and then almost as if someone was spying on my thoughts, here's Plinky!

For the writer blocked folks like me, it's an awesome service because it prompts you to answer a really random question. Most of the time, the question's something you'd rarely think to write about. So far I've been enticed to answer two of the questions, but I have to admit it's content I've never really found a creative way to share 'til now.

Random thought: I can't help but be reminded of high school when slam books were cool. Here's my feature request, Shellen...
... give me post level options so that I can only share with certain friends and create my own online slam book!

In defense of my vice: pepperoni pizza pockets

2009-01-30T17:01:00.001-08:00

In high school, one of the things offered on our lunch menu was pepperoni pizza pockets. No matter how many times we had them, I never got sick of them and I almost always burned myself eating them. Til this day, no matter what kind of diet I'm on, there's always some in my freezer. My siblings eat 'em too and yes... we still end up burning the inside of our mouth somehow....

and no.. i'd never quit... ok.. maybe for the lean pocket version =P

Pandora & Productivity

2009-01-16T15:25:00.000-08:00

There's a few things that make me productive and work fly by each day. While one is green tea, another is ear candy, namely Pandora.

For a while last year, I read articles stating it was going to shut down... that its business model couldn't be sustained in the long run so I've just been bracing for it to disappear one day. Perhaps it's sooner than I thought?

In the last week or so, I've noticed that certain radio stations on my list don't work or just freeze all together. The worst is when it happens in the middle of a song you're jammin' to only to be surprised with dead silence and a need to refresh the browser. When that happens, I can only hope I'll get back into the same groove, but just sometimes another cool song will come on that makes me forget the previous. And on a few times on that first song, the session freezes yet again.

Argh. Stop teasing me!

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Everlong

2009-01-08T17:03:00.000-08:00

Right after the New Year, I headed to Tahoe to get some boarding in and to get to know someone better on the roadtrip... this song reminds me of those few days. =)

Looking Back...

2009-01-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

2008 had to have been the most indulgent, nonstop year to date in my life, in so many aspects. So many happy things to celebrate, changes (both good and bad) and so many moments where I just said to myself "You only live once, what the hell...".

It all started in Manila for NYE and my close friends' wedding. From beginning to end of that trip, it was one big party with friends and family around me, celebrating happiness, our youth and our friends' wedding bliss. Somewhere in all that, I kept thinking to myself, "If this is how the year's starting, I can only wonder what the rest of the year will be like..." Maybe I influenced it just a bit by having that thought so early in the year.

I got home from that Asia trip, only to be kidnapped a day later for a trip to Tahoe by the same friends that were in the Philippines. We went from extreme tropical weather to snow, all being jetlagged at the same time. Most of us could be found sleeping in the snow or on the chair lifts in between runs.

February came pretty quickly, marking my mom's 60th birthday and a rush to execute on an elegant night of dinner and dancing (with a live band!) with my parents' friends and our family. There were 60 people in total and my siblings and I made sure it was the perfect night.

Through the months after (and numerous snowboarding trips to Tahoe and Utah), I continued to stay busy only for summer to hit and a wave of friends' weddings and expected blessings (babies!). Eleven weddings in total to be exact for just 2008. Some were local but most were out of state and expensive to attend. I did my best to go to as many as I could since I was honored to even be invited.

Then came Chicago and the Rothbury Festival in Michigan for the 4th of July. We went the VIP route and saw bands I'd never seen before, living it up in nice cabins with running water (rather than the gross camping tents).

The end of the summer marked last minute trips to Napa and my birthday, along with a number of other birthdays. I wanted a simple birthday this year, spent down in southern California with my siblings at the beach. I got that, in addition to my bestest girl friends surprising me with a weekend of festivities in the city. There were more birthdays until November, at which point the holidays hit.

I changed from having a super busy social and dating calendar to one that focused on family and close friends. I honestly couldn't believe the year was coming to an end and I hadn't even had a moment to sit and just reflect on what I'd set out to do for 2008.

Thanksgiving and more birthdays came only for December to come so quickly. My cousins and 15 month old godson from Italy were visiting and would be staying with me so it was time to get the house in order - babyproofing, holiday decorations, cleaning out the guest room, clearing any type of personal plans so that I could spend a bunch of time with my family through the holidays.

And just to ensure that I'd be busy up until the last minute of 2008, I committed to helping host a huge NYE party with a close friend's architecture company. The majority of my closest friends, along with my siblings, were there to ring in the new year together and it was a success. I even met someone really special along the way.

Just reflecting on 2008 in words is already making me tired, but honestly, no complaints here. I couldn't have asked for more and I wouldn't take it back for anything.

Here's to a new year, to more memories, and more happiness. Perhaps at a much simpler pace though. =P

midday emo-ness

2008-11-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

Random thought after listening to a song...

I wonder if the reason why I tend to be on my own more often these days is because I'm scared to once again get so caught up that I lose the identity I work so hard to preserve...

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

When I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

Reminder

2008-10-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

Here's your reminder to take some time out of your busy schedules sometime between now and 11/4 to vote!

The High Road

2008-10-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

At one point or another, you're going to hear someone give you the advice to "take the high road" and "be the better person." And majority of the time, you won't take the advice and let your emotions get the best of you. I speak from experience, if you haven't figured that out yet.

It's those times in life that you just want to drop kick the hell outta someone for doing something to you that's inconsiderate, disappointing or just plain hurtful. Your mind schemes some horrible revenge plot and the idea of redemption thrills you.

Your mind continues to go back and forth - just like the cartoons where there's an angel and devil figure sitting on each shoulder, persuading you to go one way or the other. Then you end up surprising yourself when you pick a side (your conscience kicks in) and you take the higher road in return for a humble consolation prize.

I just did that recently and though it feels like the logical, humane thing to do, I can't help but feel like someone just ripped my heart out and instead left a lump in my tummy.

Bay Area Represent

2008-10-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

A close girl friend of mine, Jeen, decided to send me a link this morning via IM...

Within seconds, it started to remind me of my school days childhood in the bay area and I was laughing hysterically. Through the years, I've realized that people that lived outside of the bay area could not relate to the jokes we made about bay area tv commercials. I'd receive these blank stares after uttering catch phrases that would make anyone in the bay start busting up.

Glue, I need glue! .... you're going to need lots of glue

(singing) Mr Robinson, Mr Robinson I broke your window with my ball ... and I've come to confess... ... I told the truth!

I'm proud to be a Chinese American (i can't find this damn commercial/PSA anywhere!)

I learned it by watching you

I see Mike and Curtis.. Hello Kimmy and you too Jen

So while I'm sitting here reminiscing my childhood and the joys of living in front of the tv after school, I'm almost tempted to put together all my favorite childhood tv shows. Another post for another day..

Californication

2008-10-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Although it's already in full swing in its second season, I'm just starting to get into this show. A friend of mine intro'ed it to me and since then I've been hooked. It's twisted, a bit on the sexually explicit end, and sometimes dark, but every once in a while David Duchovny's character surprises me. I never expected this type of acting out of him, since all I ever associated him with was 'X-Files' and 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead' (go ahead and laugh at me for knowing that movie!).

Vamos a la playa

2008-10-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Boracay Sunset
The beach is my happy place ..the place I run to when I need to be away, when I need to do some thinking, when I need to have some fun, and where I can forget everything that makes my life go way too fast. There's something about the clean air, the birds flying, and the sand in my toes.

My earliest memories of the beach are in the Philippines when I was my grandmother's travel buddy. My uncles would take my cousins and I to Zambales, though for some reason we called it 'el bache'. Don't ask me what it means because no one knows how we came up with that.

Then when I was back in the states, I remember my grandfather making me his fishing buddy. He would teach me how to fish at the beaches in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. My grandfather would walk with me holding my hand, would teach me how to put bait on a hook (along with lecture me on which bait was better for a specific fish), and even helped me pull in my first fishies I caught.

As I got older, it was time for college and I ended up at Cal Poly San Luis Obipos. It sits in a valley, really close to Shell and Pismo Beaches, along with Montana Del Oro. It was home to the best clam chowder ever, smore-filled bonfires, and all night study sessions at the beach. During my college tribulations, I found myself running to Montana Del Oro, to one specific spot when I needed some alone, quiet time.

The last year and a half or so I've picked up scuba diving, both in cold and tropical water. On more than one occasion, I've caught myself laying at the bottom of the ocean, looking straight up to the water to see the sunshine rays peering through kelp forests. There's something spiritual about those moments, when all my worries float away. It's this peace of mind there that I constantly crave for. (Picture on left and right taken by Chilipino, left: me in Cebu; right: Monterey kelp forests)

The last couple of years, I've noticed most of my big trips involve the beach - Fiji, Hawaii, the Philippines (Palawan, Cebu & Boracay)... it only seems fitting that when I decided to take a three month sabbatical next year I chose to live two of those three months roaming SE Asia...

... mostly at the beach.

Fiji

August Rush ...in October.

2008-10-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of weeks, I keep seeing the movie August Rush playing on HBO and I find myself drawn to the movie, no matter how many times I've seen it. And I randomly catch myself humming one of the songs...

So long you’ve been running in circles
'Round what’s at stake
But now the times come for your feet to stand still in one place
You wanna reach out
You wanna give in
Your head’s wrapped around what’s around the next bend
You wish you could find something warm
'Cause you’re shivering cold
It’s the first thing you see as you open your eyes
The last thing you say as your saying goodbye
Something inside you is crying and driving you on
It’s the first thing you see as you open your eyes
The last thing you say as your saying goodbye
Something inside you is crying and driving you on

'Cause if you hadn't found me
I would have found you
I would have found you

Maybe it's a sign that I actually still have an ounce of hopeless romance left in me...

bad bad blogger

2008-10-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I've neglected my blog, among other things on the web. It needs some TLC ... and perhaps even a blog lift. Any ideas on what I should add/remove?

Happy National Cheesecake Day!

2008-07-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

Considering that I've been trying to watch my weight lately by laying low with the drinking and being more consistent with workouts, here's something that may sway me. According to the Cheesecake Factory, today is National Cheesecake Day and here's how they're celebrating...

To kick-off the anniversary celebration and in commemoration of National Cheesecake Day on July 30th, 2008, The Cheesecake Factory restaurants will offer every delicious slice of its more than 30 varieties of cheesecake with a dollop of nostalgia by featuring all cheesecakes at $1.50 per slice, limit one per guest, dine in only, on that day—as they were when the restaurant first opened in 1978.

Tonight, I'm heading out with some of my girl friends to partake in the celebration (right after I get out of spin class). Ha!

simple grubbing

2008-07-16T13:32:00.001-07:00

Something I read today reminded me how simple it can be to be healthy.

My advice about healthful eating is simple:
-- Eat less.
-- Move more.
-- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
-- Don't eat too much junk food.

Must remember this when the red velvet cake in the fridge calls my name later on...