Stanley Cup Finals - GO SHARKS!

As much as I liked Todd McLellan, the recent Sharks coach replacement was obviously a solid choice. Although DeBoer is not as entertaining to watch on TV, he has inspired the Sharks to make it through playoffs. First it was the Kings, then it was the Preds, next it was the Blues, and now the Sharks are taking on the Pens. IN THE FINALS!! THE FINALS!!! It's like the stars aligned - Jones got us past the Kings, Ward got us past the Preds, and Polak got us past the Blues.

When I first started watching hockey, I was SO into it. And my friends who were longtime Sharks fans (and others who were weren't fans at all) would always say that even if the Sharks are doing well in the regular season, they always choke in the playoffs. After a few years, I started to understand that sentiment.. but I never lost hope! If the Sharks win the Stanley Cup this year, I was will be SO HAPPY. I'll also be a bit sad though, because I won't be in the Bay Area to celebrate it.

I wish I had more fan friends to go to games with. Alex always has people to go with, and I'm not hardcore enough to go alone. Even though I was able to get tickets for a finals game, I'm selling them - no one wants to go! Hopefully this season's momentum will create a stronger fan base. In the meantime, some of my Seattle friends are slowly becoming Sharks fans. 

But Forrest has always been a Sharks fan. He has good taste.

Sharks Stadium Series game + Real Escape (Time Travel) + Seattle takes over SF

Quite the whirlwind weekend in San Francisco! Matt and I flew in Thursday night, and got to join Beer Club with Alex and Andy. Nan and I also had a secret club meeting. But the first rule of secret club is you do not talk about secret club. We tried a few beers and chatted for a bit before heading home.

On Friday, Matt and I walked downtown to shop for clubbing clothes. Matt actually ended up buying a lot of clothing but nothing for clubbing! I couldn't find anything for clubbing either, but I bought a pair of jeans and a jacket. Meh, not bad. We had Sushirrito not once, BUT TWICE that day. I've been waiting forever to try it, and it was everything that I had been dreaming of!!!

Round 1:

Round 2:

In the evening, we met people up for dinner at Playground. This is basically our tradition to prepare for escape games, but I'm not sure how effective it is. The Time Travel Lab was not a success, unfortunately. But we were close to escaping again! We were on the last clue. YET AGAIN. This game was really exciting, and required more physical activity than the Mysterious Room game. I think the third time will be the charm. And we need Alan. And we probably shouldn't drink soju beforehand. 

We ended up going to Temple afterward. There was some kind of crazy traffic/street closure happening downtown and it took me FOREVER to get there via Lyft. My driver was really interesting thought, and we were chatting about hockey! It was pretty awesome. I actually wasn't sad to be late, LOL. Menie and Charles (and everyone else) were at Temple! It was SO FUN to party with everyone again... and I'm glad we went there because the music was on point. After the club, we headed back to Alex's to hang out. The Seattle people left early, but I ended up napping and then waking up to join the SF people in the AM. We didn't go home until around 6:00 AM. I don't know how they do it...

On Saturday, Alex and Andy picked me and Matt up to head to the STADIUM SERIES GAME!!! However, before we got to the freeway, Andy decided he didn't feel well enough to go. So we dropped him off at home. And then we headed to the STADIUM SERIES GAME AGAIN!! We tailgated for a few hours and caught the very end of the rally. 

It was so cold at night! And when we realized we were sitting in the section where the wind cuts through the stadium, we knew we had to buy more clothing. The game was relatively boring and low scoring, and sadly the Sharks lost. I did have tons of fun hanging out at that gorgeous Levi's stadium though! And of course, I was in great company. The celebrity performances during the breaks were... dated... but entertaining in their own ways. 

A photo of the newest Sharks fan in my life, in his new gear. 

And a photo of the oldest Sharks fan, in his old gear LOL.

By the time we got back to the city, we were just tired and hungry. We went to Tonight Soju and watched k-pop videos!!! What an awesome way to end an awesome day. I really wanted to see Sharkie at the game, and that was the only thing I was disappointed about. Oh well, next time.

On Sunday, Sean and Sarah came to Hayes Valley to meet us at Chantal Guillon. OMG their macarons are the best I've ever had! I got some for my coworkers too because I knew they'd enjoy them just as much. In retrospect, I wish I had bought more.

We also stopped by Blue Bottle to get my favorite iced coffee. Mmm! And the sun was shining, and all was good in the neighborhood. These are some of the moments that make miss San Francisco so much. 

The next stop was Japantown, where we had lunch at Ramen Shalalala. It was okay, I didn't love it. I don't think I'd eat there again. Before we left for the airport, we stopped by for some BBQ and QT at Alex's. It was really nice to sit down and chit chat with everyone before the weekend was over. I even got to see BEAR!! All of the Seattle folks looked exhausted. And I think we all were. Too much fun!!

DIY: Breaking Boundaries

Yesterday, I so desperately wanted to watch the Sharks game that I did something that I've always wanted to do, but never was able to get myself to do - I went to a bar alone. The Angry Beaver is a new hockey bar (and I think the only one) in Seattle. And yes, THEY WERE PLAYING MY GAME! AND THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY ALL OF THEM! So glad I actually went, the owner was really nice and welcoming and I didn't feel awkward at all. I met a guy from Pittsburg and we made small talk. It's hard to talk to people at the bar when I'm watching hockey though, I guess I'll get better at multi-tasking. Because I'm definitely going back! I also had poutine for the first time, it was pretty darned good.

Today during lunch at work I took a walk to the bank because it was so gorgeous out. I ended up eating at Genki sushi by myself, and it was awesome. Didn't have to wait for anyone, didn't have to share either. I haven't eaten alone at a restaurant since college.. when I had long breaks between classes and I used to grab dinner at the pizza place near campus.

Look at me, doing it myself. WHAT'S NEXT? :)

Home Sweet Home

Last Friday, I flew into SF and Andy picked me up from the airport. Had some delicious chicken and rice from the deli around the corner from the apt. and ate it while watching the Sharks game. I miss being able to watch hockey! :( Later that night, we went to Alesso at the Warfield and then Ruby Skye after. I met some new people, ran into a lot of old faces, and had a seriously amazing time.





Saturday I headed home to have lunch with my parents. I didn't realize how long it's been since I've seen them! We got Korean food in Japantown, and it was actually pretty good. I then got my taxes done with the help of my mama (what would I do without her?) and later Colby came over and we had Lee's sandwiches for dinner. YUM! I stayed home Saturday night and watched Korean soap operas with her. We also watch Death Note which is apparently a TV series now. Lots of gossipping about family and catching up, I love quality time with mama! Sleeping with my fave blanket was awesome.. I think I might need to have that shipped to me!

First thing Sunday, Alex and Nan picked me up and we drove down to San Jose. Alex and I went to the Sharks game!!! Lost in the shootout, but it's okay... at least I got to see a shoot out? I feel so out of the loop, after this season's trades I barely know half of the team anymore. It definitely doesn't help that I haven't been keeping up with the games. Being at the tank was amazing though, and I forgot how exciting the energy is. I'm pretty set on going back for a play off game, as long as it lands on a weekend.

Coming back to Seattle was bittersweet, but more sweet than bitter. I was sad to leave my mom but I was glad to be back in Seattle. It really feels like home now! Being single gives me so much more time to hang out with other people, and I really feel like I'm part of some legitimate friendships in Seattle. When it's time to move back to SF, I will surely be torn.

Clean Closets & Taking Tumbles

Two weeks ago, I thought how nice it would be to finally have some time off! Today, I am SO READY to start the new job. Being at home with nothing to do has allowed me time to catch up on my favorite TV shows like Downton Abbey, watch all of the Sharks games thus far, and play with my new Hamilton Beach Blender, but I've simply run out of things to do. Thank goodness that the lockout ended though, because THE SHARKS ARE ON FIRE THIS SEASON!!!!

Anyway, one thing I'm proud of is that I finally got the chance to try on all of my clothes and clean out my closet. I didn't take a "before" picture but here is the "after":

Imagine that none of the clothes up top were folded before, and they were piled into the ceiling in the corners. I also got to go through my storage boxes and I definitely have enough warm weather clothing that I don't really need to shop for the Miami trip. Finding old faves is so fun, and a relief on the budget (especially after not working for a few weeks).

After I loaded up my giant box of clothing, I was grumbling about how I didn't want to carry it downstairs to my car. I knew I had no choice, so I lugged it to the elevator, and then to the parking lot stairs. And of course, my clumsy self misjudged the first step and tumbled down the flight. And I got serious booboos.

My hip (above), my right knee, and my left ankle got the worst of it. Luckily I had my North Face down jacket on and my arms were heavily padded. I'm also lucky that I didn't hit my head. Still, I was SO MAD that I fell! And I had to stuff the clothing back into the box, the same items that I had so carefully folded for the donation people. Ugh!

Then today I was walking up those same steps, for the first time since the tumble and I saw Hi-Chews on the floor. The same Hi-Chews that I keep in my purse! This reminded me of Sonic the Hedgehog games where Sonic would lose rings whenever he bumped into something bad. Except I don't lose rings, I lose candy!

Hockey is Back! NHL 2013

Finally, THE NHL LOCKOUT IS OVER! Spent my whole Saturday planted firmly on the couch, watching the first day of the 2013 season for a solid 8 hours. Decided to spring for NHL Gamecenter Live when I realized that I would only be getting 2 Sharks games if I didn't!

And today I'm making good use out of that subscription. Although, I wish the stream was in 720p or 1080p. I guess it's better than nothing, love having hockey back. GO SHARKS!

I just got back from a last minute trip to SF -- you know, HAD to see my Sharks play at least once this season! Flew in Thursday afternoon and hung out with Julian in San Mateo. Got my ramen fix at Himawari because Santa Ramen had just closed. It almost worked out better though, cuz karaaagee chickennns! :)

Had some delicious french pastries at Santana Row with Julian <3 .="" class="separator" div="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Then met Alex up at the Firehouse in SJ before the game to have a pre-game pre-game! The game was fun, stuffed my face with nachos and sipped my beers. I SOO MISS SHARKS GAMES! HP Pavillion feels like home. Too bad we didn't win that night, or Saturday night, and too bad the Sharks got eliminated ..

On Friday I had lunch with my parents, then hung out on the rooftop at my brother's place. It was so gorgeous! Great time catching up, I'm glad everyone is healthy and doing well. I haven't seen them for a whole four months, but the time feels shorter to me. On Friday evening, I went to Alex's for dinner. His house feels like home too! His mom made me eat a lobster claw, my first lobster claw ever. It was seriously ridiculous. I got to watch Bear and Tupac play, it was kind of gross to eat around them with the fur flying but they're still too cute.

We went to Priscilla's birthday after, and she ended up in tears!! I think they were happy tears... I hope. Anyway, I'm really glad she enjoyed her birthday, she totally deserves it! And it was very nice to see Andy and Janet and other people I haven't seen in forever. Saturday I had dim sum with my mom and brother, and I sort of just lazed around until the Sharks game started. A disappointing finish led to a dinner of leftovers - seems fitting. Saturday night was Alesso at Ruby Skye, and I actually had MUCH MORE fun than I had anticipated. The music was great, but the company was greater! Felt good to be back, and my calves are still sore from jumping around with Loan. My crack of dawn flight Sunday morning was not fun at all. When I got back though, the weather was gorgeous. Matt and I decided to make use of the rooftop with some wine! We continued the drinking at Vic's for bbq, and the night ended around a fire with smores and perfect weather.

This past weekend could not have been better. Loving life!

Hock-u (Hockey Haiku)

Finally Spring comes
Hockey heart strings pull left, right
Cup anxiety

Playoff Mania

It's the last week in the regular season for the San Jose Sharks, but the past few games have felt like the playoffs have already begun.

Oh the drama! The suspense! The anxiety! I dearly miss having someone to watch the games with, and having the games available on local channels.  I love that NBCSN has been making hockey more available to me though. Something funny happened today...

I tuned in for the Blues and Red Wings game after work, and got all riled up. A very intense game indeed! I've found myself watching other games besides the Sharks recently, but none up until today were so exciting that I felt compelled to yell at the TV. I started to notice that I was actually yelling through all of the shifts. And I realized that it was because I didn't want either team to win.. everytime there was a breakaway or a shot on goal I found myself screaming, HAHA.

How silly!

Jump Starting Resolutions

Life is good, resolutions are great.

Day 2 of the New Year and I've managed to knock out all of my resolutions! I woke up and did my face, and then I checked my lotto ticket at 7-11. The machine told me I'm "not a winner" -- I suppose it would be cruel if the display said loser. With my mood slightly dampered, I went to the Urban Coffee Lounge to read my book. It was noisier than I thought it would be (I Yelped "coffee, study" to find it) so I ended up just people watching instead of reading. I really enjoyed witnessing the scuttling through the rain by the passerbys. I even saw a girl dressed like a tiger, wearing shuffling pants. SO bizzare.

After an hour of people watching, I went to the thrift store in Kenmore. I was searching for cute little trinkets for a craft project I will be starting soon. I didn't realize that today was the 1/2 off everything sale, so there were quite a few people already there. Unfortunately, my quest for trinkets was a bust. But not entirely! I got a fancy glass plate to put my fruits on, it was only $1.65. I was also tempted to buy cute animal shaped sculptures, but I knew deep inside my heart that it would be a waste of money and space.



I went home to start cooking dinner. I prepped my curry ingredients during commercial breaks while watching the Sharks @Canucks. Such a good game! Overtime of course, and then the shoot out. I had to remind myself to breathe during OT - good thing it's only five minutes long. I miss getting all of the Sharks games, but at least now that the NHL is on the new NBC sports channel, I'll get more hockey games.

After the Sharks won, I went to the gym! Six months and one resolution later, it felt great to have finally gone back. I really like Planet Fitness, a lot more than 24 hour fitness. Many more machines, less crowded, nicer facility, and there are even tanning booths and massage chairs. Although, I highly doubt I'll be using the latter.

I came home to my big pot of curry. I feel great, and I'm going to sleep early tomorrow so I can wake up and have time to brush my hair! If today is any indication of what this year will be like, I think it's safe to say that this could be my best year yet.

Better Luck Next Year

With my personality, one of the things I've learned that I must be especially wary of is getting too attached or too emotionally invested in things. My newfound obsession with the Sharks, apparently, is no exception.

Hockey has certainly helped me grow as a person. I found more time to spend at home with my brother and my mom, instead of going out all of the time and drinking. This probably couldn't have been a better year to do it also, with my brother moving very recently. Through hockey my brother and I found a way to bond which has never happened before. We have no other hobbies in common. I also took the time to learn about the sport! Now I know what people are talking about when they discuss at least ONE sport.

This season has been an emotional roller coaster for me, but after every losing game there seemed to be a winning game not too far after. I really thought the Sharks could win the Stanley Cup, and I'm sad that they didn't. The elimination in the conference finals was devastating. I couldn't even talk to anyone the next day, it was reminiscent of darker days. The very last game was heartwrenching -- I went into the series fully aware that the Canucks could beat the Sharks. They're a fantastic team. But the way the Sharks were playing right before they got eliminated was enthralling! And so I had hope!

Unfortunately, it was too little too late. I still love the Sharks, and will follow closely next year. The let-down was shocking -- who knew I could care so much about sports? But in the end, it's probably a more healthy investment than other available options. Thank you Sharks for the wonderful season, and for laying it all out in the end. They DEFINITELY went out with a bang.

And lastly, the lighting and effects they use at HP Pavillion are amazing. Go technology! Last season, I was entranced by the montages. This season, I was in awe of the graphic projections. Who knows what will be in store for next year?!

Awh Shucks: Oyster Weekend & Sharks Penalty Fail

Saturday was BBQ @Tomales Bay day! Gorgeous weather, delicious oysters, and good company. Generally people should arrive early in the morning there to claim a table/grill as there are no reservations. I even asked a friend of mine who recently had a birthday there, what time is best to arrive. I then relayed this information to the people who were setting up. And so apparently, this fine weekend, tables at Tomales Bay were not in high demand -- upon arrival I was overwhelmed by smart-ass comments from the people who got there early for no reason. Mega irritating. Next time I'll just not give them a heads up.

After I got over that unwelcoming-welcome, I started to enjoy the day. The sun was out and winds were high, that's actually the perfect combination. Lots of oysters were eaten and shucked, and I only hurt myself once. Because of the storm during the week, the oyster farm was supplemented with Washington oysters (for lack of local oysters). But actually, I liked the Washington oysters better!

We started driving back mid-afternoon. Kevin and Kyle hopped into my car and we took the scenic route! Abso-freakin-loutly mind-blowing. Love the views off of Highway 1. We stopped at 2 of the lookout points just to take it all in. <3 a="" bay..="" before="" car="" class="separator" div="" drive="" enjoyable="" fun="" klaus="" more="" pretty="" rupert="" scary.="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" taking="" the="" those="" too.="" twisties="" up="" was="" way="" winding="" with="" zippy="">


We met up with the other people back in the city at Land's End. And we hiked up to the labyrinth, which I'd actually never seen before.

Later Andy and I headed to Brian's for the night. I did work while they went to dinner and later Brian went out. When I was all done, Andy and I were singing along to Youtube video duets.. SO FUN!!! We didn't want to leave when Brian got back, LOL. We ended up going out but it was an uneventful night.

Today was Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals Sharks vs. Canucks at home. It was... a travesty. Yes the game was exciting, but no we didn't win. So disappointing! The Sharks were doing well in the first period, but with three back-to-back (and overlapping) penalties in the second period there wasn't enough time for the Sharks to catch up. Too many opportunities, not enough goals. Le sigh. We went to OSF afterward for our lunch of shame. We had a photoshoot while we waited for our table, they had some pretty cool furniture.

I had some awesome moments this weekend, the weather was fantastico. Summer is going to be amazing, and I will surely miss SF if I leave. Andy explained that the proper way to walk a labyrinth is to choose a question to ponder for the entire duration of the path -- the question I asked myself was "Could I be truly happy in Seattle?" Unfortunately, I spent most of my brainpower trying to keep balance and not get blown over the edge of the cliff.

As always, I'll try my best and ultimately let fate decide. But for now, from me and all of my fellow Sharks fans, a picture for the Vancouver Canucks.

Stanley Cup Playoffs -- Round 1 Game 1 -- BEAT LA!

Hellooooooooooooooooo PLAYOFFS!! My new favorite time of year :)

So much awesome hockey to be watching! When they first announced the dates for Round 1 and I realized that our Sharkpak tickets were game 5 (when I'll be in Seattle) I was really sad. Like devastated. Like I was so sad that it would probably be sickening to other people -- yeah, THAT sad. But eventually I got over it, well I tried to anyway. As it turned out, Alan ended up with tickets to spare and he sold them to me with an offer that Alex and I couldn't refuse. ROW 2!! So on Thursday I left work early, and sat through almost two hours of traffic to get to the Street Rally just in time to look around. Made a fool of myself at the beanbag toss, and got a picture with SHARK TRUCK!!

I was awestruck when we first sat down. I've never been so close to the glass, I think the closest I've been before was around row 10 behind the goalie. We were right across from the Sharks entrance gate too -- PERFECT VIEW!

Nemo was in net, as he should be. Making saves and shutting shit down.

I was in row 2 with Alex, EXCITED AS EVER. I could barely contain myself, although by the time we took this picture I had calmed down quite a bit. We were SO CLOSE that we could see the expressions on the players faces. It, was, awesomeness.

Ah my fave -- Dany Heatley!! He scored the first goal less then 20 seconds into the game, my hero. I didn't even see it though because we were on the opposite end and I was still getting used to looking up at the Jumbotron. I was telling Alex that I was having the BEST birthday ever, and it wasn't even mine. I meant every bit of that.

I always knew that Murray was big. From stats, in comparison with other players on tv, and photographs. But I never quite comprehended the pure MASS of hockey players until I saw them up close. They simply are huge majestic beings.

I had a blast. There was drama in our section because there were Kings fans nearby but it didn't bother me, I rather enjoyed it actually! Alex had fun too, just not as much as I did LOL. I'm STILL excited about the game. Geez, I love hockey. And I am so so so so thankful that Alex introduced me to it. Happy birthday Alex! GO SHARKS!

Tiesto Weekend in Vegas!

Thursday night, we flew into Vegas right after work and checked in at the Wynn. What a fancy smancy hotel! We upgraded to the Panoramic room with the view but really the view wasn't THAT great. I prefer the Venetian Suites for group trips. More mirrors and places to hang things! Although, you can't beat the convenience of clubbing inside of your hotel.

Soon we were out the door heading downstairs to Tryst. While we waited in line, we played Stinky Pinky! Our new friends played with us too and it was pretty fun. Andy had 25 saved up from earlier in the day at work but we burned through those quickly. When we finally got in, the drinking and partying madness began. The layout of Tryst is EXACTLY like the inside area of XS, an probably 1/3 the size because it doesn't have an outside pool area. However, even though there seemed to only be two bars, there wasn't ever a long wait to get a drink! The waterfall in the background was gorgeous. At some point, a captain hat came down from the sky, and landed on my head. Captain power!!!! I love uniform costumes, the captain hat was AWESOME! Overall it is a nice venue, but I'd prefer Surrender and XS. I guess I'm a water person. But I definitely had a great night!

Apparently Alex and I left early to gamble, and everyone else met us at the tables. We had quite the lively conversation with the dealer and I ended up more than doubling my money. LOVE ROULETTE! They say that game has the worst odds in the house.. but I swear I never lose money on roulette. And I like it because it involves absolutely no math :) Brian got pizza at the bar and it was yummy. Didn't get back to the room until around 4:30 I think, and went straight to sleep.

Friday, it took a while for everyone to get out of bed - namely me. We went to Maggiano's across the street for lunch and the FUNNIEST THING happened. We were seated outside and while we were waiting for our food, a cigarette butt rolls off of the level above us and HITS HENRY ON THE HEAD, LOL! I couldn't stop laughing, FOR DAYS! I know it's mean.. I thought it was really funny though. I was feeling pretty hungover so I didn't enjoy my chicken pesto linguine. After lunch we went back to the room to chill out. Some of us napped while others walked around the casino. I actually did eat my linguine after napping and it was DELICIOUS!

In the evening, we got ready for dinner at Del Frisco! The last time we went to Del Frisco during the Halloween Vegas trip I vowed to return. And return we did! I got the Prime Rib again and it was delicious, no surprise! Andy and I got the crab cake and it was like seriously 90% crab meat, no batter or anything else. THAT's SOME SERIOUS CRAB! The truffle butter was tasty, and Alex ate like a beast.

After dinner we took this STRETCH TRUCK / MONSTER LIMO to the Cosmopolitan! It was so insane, and I FREAKING LOVE TRUCKS!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited when we got out of Del Frisco and saw it. O M G SO COOL! The inside has this crazy sound system, and there's room for 20 people.. like seriously 20 people! The lights inside change with the music, and even a mini bar. They played Like a G6 at one point and shit got crazy. Foreals. That stretch truck is awesome. If I ever get married, I'm showing up in something like that! So badass it needs an emergency exit. YEAH!

So we got to the Cosmopolitan and had drinks at one of the bars because we were early. Eventually we went to Marquee and got in immediately with the table service. Our table was outside, but luckily there were heatlamps. I got a chance to check out the lower and upper floors with Alex and Andy and I have to say, I really wasn't impressed. The main level was not bad, girls dancing everywhere and lots of tables on the floor. The dancefloor, I think, was too crowded though - even for Vegas standards. I don't plan on going back there. Still, XS and Surrender are my go-to's! I was thoroughly exhausted from the first night, and so Alex and I left at midnight to get pizza. When we got back to the hotel room I went straight to sleep.

Saturday morning was WAY more pleasant for me than Friday morning, because we left Marquee early. I am GLAD! My feet though, weren't doing so hot. I got three large, juicy blisters on my feet and I couldn't even put my Jacks on. I borrowed P's flip flops and went on a mall adventure with Alex and Andy. Al Pals! We went from store to store in search of a pair of cute yet comfy flip flops, and finally found a pair at Macy's! Andy picked them out for me, I actually love them. Andy is the shoe-man! When we got back, we all checked out of the Wynn and cabbed to the Hard Rock.

Once we arrived, Alex and I went to the Sports area to place our bets. He explained the whole betting thing to me and I ended up doing a three game parlay puck bet with the Blackhawks, Red Wings, and Sharks - each needing to win by 1.5 points. The Blackhawks won their game by more than 1.5, but the Red Wings totally bombed their third period. Damn! I could have won $960! Oh well, it was fun betting on the games. I wanna do it again! Next time I'll probably do a line bet though.

After we were settled in at the Hard Rock, we all went across the street to pick up food at Capriotti's. THE PASTRAMI SANDWICHES WERE DELICIOUS! With cole slaw inside! That is ingenious! I love cole slaw, and I love that sandwich. We hung out after eating, and were watching Tosh.O in the room. Definitely lots of laughs. We went to dinner at the Pink Taco. Aside from good chips and salsa, everything else was kind of meh. Especially the super slow service!

I got coffee from Starbucks after dinner. GOOD CALL! It kept me energized through the night :) We went back to our rooms to get ready, and then downstairs to Tiesto! I liked that it was set up like a Vegas show, so you can just walk in without really waiting in line like a club. Tiesto was basically an upscale rave. Like if you took a regular massive rave, added an overabundance of security guards to kick the sloppy people out, bathroom staff to keep all of the bathrooms tidy, janitorial staff to clean up spills immediately, and place it at a really nice spread-out, ventilated venue. That's Tiesto.

And while I could never imagine myself going to a rave sober and having a spectacular time, I was able to do this at Tiesto! We drank a bit in the beginning but I was having SO MUCH FUN I really just wanted to be sober and dance my ass off. So I stopped drinking and danced. I danced until 4:30 in the AM! Who knew I had that in me?? The lights, the music, the energy was insane. I was enthralled by everything around me and I didn't even know most of the songs! During the concert there were streamers dropped from the ceiling, and paper doves. There were also high pressure steam cannons on stage and all kinds of other really cool effects like the globe screens in the background. Geez, everything about it was cool! I seriously would NEVER have imagined having THAT much fun, in fact I didn't even really want to go to Tiesto. But now I am SO glad that I went. My favorite part of the whole show was when he played The Island Part I. Such a fantastic time.

That was pretty much the end of the trip. After leaving Tiesto, I went back to my room to finish packing and say farewell to everyone. I rested for about 30 minutes before Alex and I left for the airport. 7:00 flight! Booking Virgin's Main Cabin Select was excellent. We had a separate security scanning entrance, got to board first, didn't have to worry about overhead bin space, there was SO MUCH legroom, we got free movies and free food. Except, we didn't get any free food because we both passed out. I was so exhausted I don't remember most of the flight or the ride home. Chad picked us up from the airport :) Thanks Chad!

The trip overall was a success. It wasn't as crazy as Halloween Vegas but it was definitely fun with good eats and TIESTO! Alex and I tried to keep a vlog but neither of us know how to edit videos. If we ever figure it out, it'll be posted. I rested all day today and I don't know if I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow. Oh boy, another Monday. The weekend was a blast though, another ridiculous trip with awesome people!

Borrowed Time

SO they say that there's a first time for everything - in this case, thank goodness that the first time wasn't the last.

I've been fortunate enough to never have been in an accident up until now. And, considering that I really could have died last night is seriously saddening. I was on 280NB, heading home after the Sharks game, and there was a disabled vehicle in my lane (no lights) that I didn't see until the last minute - it was behind a curve. I swerved to get out of the way and a few bumps and spins later I was dazed and bleeding, on the phone with 911.

One thing I'm especially grateful for is that I was driving a Pontiac and not something less substantial. The other things that I am grateful for: walking away with only minor injuries and that the other car was okay.

The firefighter EMTs and CHP officers were all very nice and helpful. They seemed really concerned and were surprisingly pleasant. Even the tow truck driver was friendly and accommodating - I lucked out on SO many counts last night.

Now to wait and hear from insurance. I have vowed to avoid dark, curvy freeways at night and the next car I buy will have one hell of a frame structure, just in case. I'm putting any trips and unnecessary expenses on the backburner until I get the bill.

Andy and Alex, those darlings, picked me up in Mountain View at midnight and took care of me. They fed me burgers and booze, watched Beauty and the Beast with me, and made me laugh. I am incredibly lucky, to be alive and to have such great friends.


I smacked my head.


Rupert smacked his head.

My Hobbies: Hockey, TV, Reading, Being Bossy.

Hockey season has begun!!! Well, pre-begun. But still, Alex and I are going to the first Sharks home game 2m and I'm excited for what I hope will be a great season =)

I just finished Chasing Harry Winston by Weisberger. It was simply amazing. I would say that every emotion and most situations that I've experienced for the past four years were covered in those pages. I picked it up spontaneously at the airport when my flight to LA was delayed a few weeks ago and that was the best idea ever - TOP 10 books of all time!

Also - a bunch of my fave shows started tonight, all lined up: Community, 30 Rock, then The Office. The show that follows, Outsourced, seems pretty promising. AND THEN JERSEY SHORE IS RIGHT AFTER THAT! I can totally see where my next few months of Thursdays will be going. Each a Thursday well spent.

Some days I just feel like a fuckin boss. Today is one.



I've got a million ways to get it, choose one. Bring it back, now double your money and make it stack.

Feeding & Movie Frenzy

This weekend was pretty eventful. Thursday night I went to HH with Charles to celebrate my new job and catch up, and then went to Holy Cow with the guys. Needless to say, Friday night I was home recovering. I finished Weeds season 5, and it definitely did not disappoint. I also watched Invictus, and I was momentarily inspired by the power of rugby to unite a nation. Yeah, go rugby! Saturday night, I went to dinner with Julian at Santana Row and we got to check out the newly remodeled Straits! His parents joined us at Sino and we lost track of time, so I didn't make it to Pearl for Lily's birthday =(.

Sunday, I was back at the driving range - I did pretty well, but I think it's sad that I have still yet to play a game. As soon as my schedule settles down, lessons it is! I went to watch Despicable Me with Julian, and we ran into two of our guy friends who just came out of Twilight together. HOW CUTE!!! Afterwards, we ate at Red Crawfish (nom nom nom) and then watched Bounty Hunter at his place while he packed the rest of his stuff.

Monday I purposely did absolutely nothing. Yup, I've got to enjoy what remains of my mondays off. They will be gone soon! I watched Paul Blart Mall Cop, and then I realized that the movie I REALLY wanted to watch was Observe & Report. Damnit, I didn't realize there were two mall cop movies!

For lunch at work today, we ordered pastrami sandos from Deli Board. O, M, F, G. SO GOOD. And then after work, I went to the optometrist and got glasses for driving. I'm excited to pick them up next week =) I can be a four-eyes too! After the optomo, I went to Alex's house and played with his SUPER CUTE dog. He also gave me Sharks goodies HOW COOL IS HE!! I'm so excited for next season. We got a 10pak! WOOT! And we watched Inglorious Basterds, and his mom cooked dinner. OMG her food is always so good, I feel like a stuffed pig. NO, I AM a stuffed pig. Sigh.

The Sweeping of the Sharks

So the Sharks got swept in the last round of the western conference... but a truly valiant effort was undeniably put forth. The last two games were pretty close and the Sharks were playing hard. Also, now I understand why people hate Nabokov - there were moments when I felt like he dropped the ball.

I enjoyed the season nonetheless. I have Alex to thank for introducing me to hockey, and even with a late start in the season I've managed to go to six games - three of which were playoff games against the Avs, Wings, and Blackhawks. I think I've done pretty well as a fan for my first season of hockey! And even though he lost some steam, I still love Heatley.

I hate that people are so quick to talk shit about the Sharks, as if they themselves could do better. I think the Sharks made it pretty far and just because they didn't make it all the way, doesn't mean that they "suck". And when a friend who hasn't seen a Sharks game EVER watches today's game and messages me immediately that the Sharks "suck" - that they played it all wrong, I think that's total bullshit. F* that, who is he to say?

I can't stand negativity.

Princess Diaries

Thursday was the Sharks semi-finals against the Red Wings. We totally won! After the game I played Trivial Pursuit on 360 with my mom... and I was winning BY FAR for the first hour and a half but she beat me in ten minutes. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN??

On Friday night I went to the gym with J. YES, I made it back to the gym finally! I had a decent workout, and I tried the collapsing-stair Stairmaster. Goodness, that thing is dangerous. Afterward we ate Kabuto and then I called it a night!

Saturday was chaos at work. But B brought Little Lucca's and ate lunch with me! Later I took a nap before heading out with Alex and Kevin. We met Bui and Brian and ate at Tommy's Joynt. Mmm corned beef... my fave! We dropped by Mayes a bit then turned in for the night. Such a TAME weekend. Alex and Kevin kept opening the car door for me and calling me princess and madame.. I'm not sure why the special treatment but WOOOOt!

Today I went to the Sharks game with Alan, and finally got to take my picture with the mini Shark blimp! We won, so now we're 2-0 with Detroit, and have a decent chance! After the game we walked around downtown, then got Pinkberry at Santana Row. The pomegranate frozen yogurt was to DIE for. We hung out at Borders and then visited with Bo before heading back to the city.

Alan opens doors for me too. Best believe - chivalry is not dead.

Having A Go

Saturday night, Sharks beat the Avs AGAIN and won the first series!! WOOT! Watching the Sharks chuck freebies into open net was GREAT. Super excited for the second round, and will be getting a Heatley jersey sometime this week!

After the game, Kevin picked me up and we went to join Jon's birthday festivities. Pub crawl on Polk, and I saw a bunch of childhood friends from S.A.C.K. (summer camp)!!! I haven't seen them for like 10 years! It was awesome dancing with them a bit, then I went back to the guys. Overall it was a pretty good night!


Today I woke up to watch the WSBK Assen race. GREAT series of passes. Troy Corser had a nice start and ended up finishing 5th - not bad at all. It was really exciting watching the racers in front "have a go" at each other on every turn, passing and passing back. And I thought that Sharks commentators were bad, but FIM commentators are assholes too LOL.