Saving Money

For my upcoming trip to Korea, I've resorted to extreme methods to save money. Maybe I am exaggerating but learning the art of er ... discipline is surely beyond me. Here are few ways:

• canceling my monthly metrocard so that I walk to and from work every morning and evening
• bringing both breakfast and lunch to work everyday including cup ramyun and other obvious korean food. when i feel that the food is a bit extreme for the office, i go to a nearby park and eat it while reading a book
• not going out to eat, to drink, to socialize but instead maximizing the quality of gchat conversations throughout the day

ok fail. i haven't done much.

this is sad.

Tea

How often do you drink tea?

My new company has jars and jars filled with all assortments of tea and I love trying out a different ones about three times a day. But I don't really understand the purpose of tea, especially the caffeine-free ones. Is it just for soothing? I just get sleepy so .. soothing = sleepy? I honestly think I like the idea of "drinking tea" rather than actually drinking it because the act of it sounds so feminine and lovely. High tea, tea parties, tea pots, tea biscuits, tea saucers, tea sandwiches ... how feminine. Who wants to have a tea party?

via Sweet Designs

My Space

Maybe I should change the name of the blog to an “employee’s journal” since I will now write in the mid-afternoons of a work day so that I don’t shamelessly fall asleep on my cozy desk. I say cozy because the new job came with many upgrades: better pens, better space heater, and better desk (noted, it is listed in the order of importance). To the left of me are leftover dduk from this morning’s breakfast, inspired by Angela’s daily dduk and coffee breakfast routine, cold coffee from this morning, and a water bottle from The Coffee Bean on my recent vacation to LA. In front of me is obviously my monitor, my keyboard, small container of Vaseline, and Visine. To the right of me is my mouse and my giant phone with all these extensions I never use. My colorful pens are scattered all over my desk and I like to color code them as often as possible, now that I actually have the time to be organized and thus colorful. My outlook inbox has a total of 63 emails which is a huge progress from my last job where on my last day, my inbox had 36,000+ emails. No, I did not have folders and no, I did not organize because all of this meant leaving work even later than I was already leaving.

Breath of fresh air here. Figuratively and literally. I have my own space that I don’t share with enough room to stash all of my belongings underneath, beside, and above my cozy desk.

Loving life. Praise God.

via Audrey Hepburn Complex

Hiatus

not by choice. i don't have a blackberry anymore so i can't blog while i commute, which defeats the purpose of a commuter's journal. hmph.

Annoyed

I was so excited to get up and listen to the new clazziquai album I downloaded en route to work but as soon as I set down on the bus, my ipod starts being a bit psycho and skips through the whole album repeatedly. What a letdown. I hope I can find the album on imeem today at work.

Current person sitting next to me:
Late 20s early 30s, still party hardy on weekends in the "azn nightlife" scene (yes. one of those), rapping silently but with his hand, reeking of aqua de gio. I hope I painted an accurate picture in your head.

Hah. I wonder what others say about me. I was hoping to see Sun so I can draw on him again.

relaxing

my idea of relaxing after a ____ day (fill in with a negative adjective) is playing bejeweled mindlessly while periodically facebooking and eating random things i find in the refrigerator while listening to clazziquai's new album.

am i weird?

Big Bang

Leaving with a big bang...

My mom always said that the ending is always more important than the beginning because that is what people will remember you by. This is something I've never been too good at, mainly through relationships, romantic and platonic. Well, I guess if it's a good and healthy relationship, there shouldn't really be an end right? But the ones that have an ending, I can't say that I've necessarily tried to give it a closure. In fact, most of them are tainted with a bitter taste, with the exception of a very few.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, when you have worked so hard at something and have devoted so much of yourself to just about anything, it's almost impossible to have a bitter ending... it's rather bittersweet. No matter how much I've hated so many moments while I was in it, as I'm making my way out, it leaves me feeling ... bittersweet. I owe it to myself to leave it with a big bang. You only try to give something a closure if it ever meant anything to you. Well, I guess it did for me.

Disclaimer: David and I are still happily together. In fact, today is our 11th month!

photography . number . two

via microabi

this is how the weather looked like today.
it was a perfect weather.

Freedom Pt. 2

via DeviantArt

this is me right now. today. tomorrow. and the day after. and yesterday.

hello world.

Freedom >

Skepticism . Misery . Nonsense . Fear . Deadlines . Unknown . Mystery . Poverty . Anticipation . Uncertainty . Departures . Goodbyes . Unfamiliarity . Instability

Freedom = Jasmine!

Koreans

I think it's fascinating that anywhere you go in the world, you will always be able to identify Koreans, especially ahjummahs. It's not even based on their facial structure but it is the quintessential permed boycut hairstyle, twinset cardigan, and a designer handbag ranging between LV, Chanel, or classic Gucci and Ferragamo shoes. And of course, either a Rolex or a Cartier on their wrists. God forbid if it's sunny, you see all the ladies moving in synchronized motion: grabbing the nearest magazine and putting it over the head to serve as a visor; more prepared ones whip out an umbrella or a giant brimmed hats and sunglasses.

There seriously had to have been a manual on how to be a Korean ahjummah.

photography . number . one

i wish i was her.

via Audrey Hepburn Complex

Quote of the Day

Dark matter has a gravitational effect on other objects. You can't see it, you can't feel it, but you can watch something being pulled in its direction. - My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This says a lot about my current condition.

Uniforms

There is something so sexy about men and women in medical scrubs. Maybe it's from my former Grey's Anatomy obsession these days but out of all the professions that require uniforms, scrubs trumps it by far. It's just not possible to look sexy wearing McDonald's uniform, no offense to those who work at McDonald's.

I want one.

Unspoken Daily Encounter

I've been taking the same bus route for the past 2+ years and it's inevitably common that you run into the same people everyday. I've always took notice of this one fobby couple who seemed to have been recently married. He's the kind of guy who always makes sure to be in front of her with two bus passes and guide her in to reserve two seats for him and his wife. His wife seemed like your typical princess who was lucky enough to have found a man who loves her so much. If anything, I always observed the man over the woman because it's so evident to even a stranger just how much he is in love with his wife. I saw them again today in what seems to be a very long time and she's pregnant! I fought the urge to wish them congratulations because I would be a creep that have stalked them to even know that she's about 4 months pregnant.

This ends my observation for today. I am a creep who stalks random people and their lifestyle. Hah! And Sun is passed out next to me. Good thing I drew on his wrist and his nails with a pen. Surprise! Mooohahhaa.

Discovery

I went to the gym yesterday. I did! I did! And I discovered the art of the cycling machine. Because I am essentially sitting down and peddling, I was able to read a book while working out. I go to an inexpensive gym with a heavy focus on their classes, which is why I first decided to join. But because it's cheap and class-oriented, the tv for the elliptical and treadmill has been down ever since I joined and that was six months ago. I guess no one ever really complains since their workout room is always empty but their membership seems to consistently grow. That has been my excuse for awhile for not going to the gym: don't want to go to cardio-oriented classes because it's hard and don't want to go to the workout room either because the tv isn't working. But with a current book I'm reading (My Sister's Keeper), I stayed on the cycling machine for all 30 minutes with resistance. So proud of myself and I felt so accomplished!

I'm debating whether to switch my gym to NYSC in Englewood. It's $10 more than what I pay now and they offer pilates/yoga classes with no doubt that their tv will ever be down. The only downside is that it's a 10 minute drive from my house as opposed to a 1 minute drive.

Hmmmm. Dilemma.
Now, I've been craving a cranberry orange scone. How about that for breakfast? This is why I need to go to a gym. Sigh.

Currently

Pondering: why do I prefer room temperature water over cold water?

Anticipating: decision?

Excited for: tonight to go to a food tasting with the boyfriend and the bff

Feeling: blah. yet another stupid work day

Carrying: my semi-new red lunchbag!

Wearing: not anything new. hmph.

Sitting: alone on the bus 666! and it's during commuting hour on Monday morning. now this is a miracle my friends.

Surprised by: having to go to another wedding in october. i thought i was done for the year! weddings are things i love to complain about but ultimately, i love weddings! and this one is in newport, rhode island so something new!

Annoyed by: parent returning from korea. it's wonderful having a fully-stocked refrigerator but that also comes with fully-stocked nagging and dictator-like orders from daddy-o. the things i do for food.

Shocked by: how fast the summer sped by. i have yet to do half the things i wanted to do this summer! this blows.

Waiting: for the stupid bus in front of us to move.

Deciding: whether i should splurge today and buy iced coffee as opposed to drinking the office coffee. cheers to the new frugal jasmine!

Relived: that field day is done and over with and also super glad people seemed to have enjoyed themselves! note to self: no more taking on random projects especially based on the excitement of that moment.

Bliss

Sitting outdoors at the Starbucks' patio in 95 degree sunny weather with absolute zero humidity and clear blue sky reading the latest Vanity Fair with a venti iced hazelnut coffee with skim and 2 splendas, listening to korean ballads.

It's only when you lead a crazy, hectic life that you can absolutely indulge and enjoy these simple luxurious moments in life. This is what I call my state of bliss.

Friday, August 7th, noon.

Gym

Sometimes, well, all the time, when I sit and think about potentially having to go the gym, I instantly come up with an equal amount of reasons as to why I can't or shouldn't go. Well today, I ran out of excuses. I absolutely and wholeheartedly despise going to the gym. The concept of being on a stupid machine running and moving in the same motion for thirty minutes make me feel like a hamster stuck in a cage. I tried taking classes ranging from kickboxing, pilates, weightlifting, and it's too hard. I didn't mind going to yoga including vinyasa and bikram but I will admit that I liked the "idea" of going more than me actually going. It just sounds feminine to go to yoga after work and walk out in cute body forming outfits with a bottle of chic water in hand.

I am so lame. But I'm sure you've been there too.

In conclusion, I need to stop complaining and being pretentious and just do it for the real reason. My beer belly just has got to go.

Let me revisit this thought after my dinner.

**by the way, i didn't go. excuse? i had to help phil move. hmph.

Status

Since I don't have anything substantial to write...

- Current mood: Anticipation
- Physical dysfunction: Red left eye. Hope it's not a pink eye. If it is, I definitely blame David.
- Cravings: Dean & Deluca's large iced coffee with skim and two splenda
- Looking forward to: Foodies dinner tonight at HopKee!
- Yesterday: Dinner with David at Frederick's on Madison to use up the $25 gift certificate deal I scored with restaurant.com that I bought for $2. Went to his basketball game for his league and David hit a career high.
- Recent excitement: Riding in a convertible for the first time yesterday. I felt like a celebrity and because I did, I also felt like a loser. 24 years of living and yesterday was my first? It's comparable to a 40 year-old virgin (not that that's a bad thing.....)
- Recent accomplishments: Cooking dinner for David and Charlie because otherwise we'd have to eat ramyun every night. I'm actually not that bad! Thanks to being a foodie, I can cook by taste. Yay.
- Recent failures: My house is disgusting and I have no desire to clean it. I'm contemplating on hiring someone but I think my parents will never come back if I do just to punish my inabilities to clean up after my own self and stupid brother. Hmph.

And today is already Thursday and pay-day! Cha-ching... except they're all in pennies. Sigh. Necesito dinero mas porque tengo que vivir.

Union Square Little Keyboardist

Is back again
Except I'm waiting for the subway downstairs and I am secretly glad that the subway has just arrived so it gives me an excuse to not be courageous and not have to ask the following:

1. Where are your parents?
2. Why do you play here? Do you make a lot of money?
3. How old are you?
4. Do you have any siblings? If so, what do they do?
5. Do you enjoy playing?

Isn't is interesting how the same music can have such different meanings depending on the situation? Up until I met USLK, I enjoyed the sound of Fur Elise but from now and probably forever on, it will always remind me of USLK.

Breakfast

If you haven't already known, I am a foodie. I love the idea, the consumption, the variety, and of course the taste of food. Every morning when I get on the bus, I contemplate for good 45 minutes on what I should order for breakfast. It can get quite stressful when I am not inspired by much and I have to unfortunately..... eat to live. Drag. These are some of my ongoing breakfast menus:

- egg white, bacon, and tomato on whole wheat toast dry (University Deli - 13th & University Pl.)
- egg white omelette with spinach, tomato, and feta cheese with whole wheat toast dry on the side (University Deli - 13th & University Pl.)
- two eggs overeasy with home fries and whole wheat toast dry on the side (University Deli - 13th & University Pl. and it costs $2.50 AND they deliver!)
- everything bagel with vegetable cream cheese (Giant Bagel Shop - 13th & University Pl.)
- cheddar jalapeno bagel with sundried tomato cream cheese (Au Bon Pain - Port Authority)

Though I stopped (or trying very hard) buying coffee after my office finally purchased a coffee machine, these are my favorite iced coffee options all en route to work!

- Dean & Deluca large iced coffee with skim and 2 splendas ($2.95)
- Dunkin Donuts hazelnut or toasted almond medium iced coffee with skim and 2 splendas ($2.45)
- Toasties large iced coffee with skim and 2 splendas (<$3)

- Starbucks doppio over ice on grande cup. Add soy and 2 splendas ($2.12)

- Au Bon Pain medium french vanilla iced coffee with skim and 2 splendas (<$3)

I guess this could've been a foodie blog... Maybe I'll post it there as well. And for today, I am lame and I had cereal at home. But Special K fruit & yogurt cereal is actually quite fantastic!

Waiting

I hate it.
I like immediate responses and solutions.
It's sadly funny how I need to convincingly and repeatedly tell myself that patience is virtue. Well, is it?

Current mood: Extremy impatient
Object/people of envy: Long travels / Han & Edison
Desire: Daily fulfillment
Blessings: Everything and I know I'm being dramatically whiny because ultimately, I have it good
Current pet-peeve: Artificial air blowing into my face, especially in NY subway station. Gross.
Lust: This random Asian chick that just passed by me wearing silk bright lavender pants and creme blouse. Surprisingly tasteful.
Anticipating: This weekend! And it's only Tuesday. FML.

Commuter's Journal

I call this a commuter's journal because ... self-explanatory. It is perhaps the only time during the day I can have my own, private time without any interruption of having to answer to people and other life distractions. Well, that is, when I don't see my fellow commuters on the bus who, these days, are Justin, Tim, and occasionally Peter, Jimin, and Jay Jung.

I don't expect myself to remain consistent to this nor have an occurring theme for each post blogged to this site. It is simply an outlet for me to ramble about anything and everything, which I guess is essentially what a blog is.

Current frustration?
The influx of people who now take the 166 bus on Broad Ave. Residence of Palisades Park should have priority on getting on the bus because it's a bit ridiculous that my dad has to drop me off every morning in Leonia and for times like today, when my dad is away in Korea, I have to let at least two buses pass by just so I can get a seat. I feel like the antithesis of Rosa Park. Hah.

Current bliss?
Having a younger brother who constantly, though forcefully, updates my ipod with the latest and lends me his state of the art technology headphones that truly allows me to feel that I'm in my own little world.

Back to trying to finish The Time Traveler's Wife before the movie comes out.

Slumdog Millionare in NY?

While trudging myself home after a bad and lazy case of the Mondays, I hear Fur Elise being played in the Union Square station. It was a familiar sound, not because it was the first official piece I learned to play when I first began learning how to play the piano, but I had heard it before at this same location not so long ago. I look for the keyboardist and I see a boy who could not have been older than six years old sitting on a stool playing so apathetically and emotionlessly. It was the same little boy who played the last time but I didn't have a chance to see him up close since he was playing across the subway platform last time.

Why is it that when the Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, was released, people suddenly felt such compassion for children's suffering when today, it is happening right before our eyes? Given the circumstantial difference between the scenarios, (and I couldn't help but to check the Union Square little keyboardist's eyes to check to see that, God forbid, he is blind; he wasn't) I'd like to assume that the Union Square little keyboardist is hopefully in a far better situation than the children depicted in the film. However, the truth or the matter is, they are still children and there is no doubt in my mind that the Union Square little keyboardist is playing to showcase his talents. Where is his parent(s)? And most importantly, where is the justice?

What affected me the most is that I, with all the other commuters and students, turned a blind eye with justifications for my behavior such as what can I possibly do? What kind of a change can I possibly make? Can I even make a difference?

What are we waiting for?