Busy Week

Tonight's Amazing Race 6 episode put the team I've been rooting for in first place! Yay! (I won't say who that is at the moment so as not to spoil it for others). But me and S have been betting each week on our own teams to place ahead of the other's, with a point value assigned based on what place they come into the pit stop. At the end of the entire race (12 episodes from now), whoever has the lowest number of points wins and the bet is supposedly an iPod. I have to say one thing. This season is by far the most aggressive. In just the third episode, Jonathan was all over his partner Victoria, yelling and almost hitting her. That guy is such a #$%@! jerk. The other teams weren't much better off, bickering among each other. This group of teams has forgotten the meaning of the race.

Also watched the NBC Rockefeller Christmas special with music stars and the lighting of the gigantic Christmas tree in Rockefeller Square, New York. My fave Clay Aiken sang a song and, as always, did great. I also saw one of my classic favorites Tony Bennett. Even Jessica Simpson actually sang well for once in a classy, sorta cutesy 20's style rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".

Two days into the week and gosh am so busy. Busy at work, and busy working on some freelance web sites outside of my job, with a customer meeting Thursday. Hope it goes o.k.! Also fought off an oncoming throat cold after detecting its ugly presence 24 hours ago. Lunch with Euell yesterday, and have been getting a lot of calls and IMs from all my friends this week. It's nice to keep in touch with them. Am meeting my friend Alan from Singapore later this week, as he flies back to Sg from visiting in Boston. Should be cool meeting this year-long penpal of mine for the first time!

After the Thanksgiving Holidaze

A lot going on this holiday weekend, so let me recap:

Had a fun time at Katrina's family's Thanksgiving brunch on Thursday. For those who don't know, Thanksgiving is an annual American holiday, celebrated to commemorate the Pilgrims who originally founded the U.S. back in the 1700s, and to remember what they (and we these days) were thankful for in their lives. Anyways, since Katrina (my bro's girlfriend) is Filipino, it was no surprise that the party had hecka people there; I've noticed that family celebrations in the Filipino community tend to be big and this was no exception, with 30-something people stopping at Kat's home to celebrate the holiday. Everyone was so friendly, coming up and introducing themselves to me and shmoozing me to stuff myself like a turkey! And speaking of turkey, this year I pretty much forwent partaking of the fowl and opted for the vegetarian side dishes, as well as some tasty sweet honey-baked ham. After lunch, we all did some Christmas karaoke singing, where I discovered Louis Armstrong has been hiding out in my dad's body upon hearing my father sing!

In the evening, my bro Shane came over to my place, and I drove him up to where my new townhome I'm moving into next year will be. He was very happy for me. My family and I then watched "Elf" on DVD; was a funny and cute movie.

Friday, I didn't do much except go to work during the day instead of jumping on the insane bandwagon known as "Black Friday" and swimming with the ocean of people at the mall Christmas shopping! (Though I was tempted to, I have to say, as I really want to get an iPod!).

Saturday, I went to SF to catch the American play "Our Town" at the SF Playhouse with James, Stephen and Royce. I found it to be a heartwarmingly interesting story of a late 1800 New Hampshire town. It was also strangely melancholy near the end, and makes you stop to remember about how important it is to appreciate the moment in what days are left in each of our lives, for they will go fast. Good for the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Tomorrow (Sunday), I have to finish up a project I'm working on for one of my free-lance web clients in San Jose. Also have to go to the homebuilder's to sign off on papers for getting my new home!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends!!! Woke up before 10am this morning, with my annual tradition I turned on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, and while watching it baked a brandy cherry pie! Am on my way with my family to a Thanksgiving brunch at my bro's girlfriend's family's place in the East Bay (i.e. my bro's 'inlaws')! There'll be lots of food, people, and fun karaoke I believe. Then it's a rest-o-the-day with my whole family!

Last night my car hit its100,000 mile! Happy 100,000th mile, my vehicle babe! After all the taking me back and forth between work, taking me and family around the town, driving ya up to SF and back, and driving around past significant others! Even took you to Reno/Tahoe, Los Angeles, and even Las Vegas! Okay, I'm a sentimental fool, but what can I say? (*smiles*)

Sundae Recovery

A rather sedate Sunday. I slept in for 8 hours after getting home exhausted near 3am last night from the potluck at Ben's and dancing! Wuz so fun dancin with Stephen, J, Royce and Siu (who got her freak on me and vice versa like a 'naughty girlllll'). Today watched a little of Shrek 2 on DVD, worked for a few hours, daydreamed of far away places, and did some planning with my folks on how to decorate my new house (which walls we should paint, what kind of appliances to buy, etc). Think it's gonna be some fun shoppin over the next 6 months, hehehe!

Oh, and my beloved 2001 Honda Accord will celebrate it's 100,000-mile birthday in just under 200 miles!!! I think that will be sometimes by next weekend! I got my Accord coupe back in Jan 2001, and, yes, I've put more miles on her to most people's bewilderment! Well, a guys' gotta get to work, take friends and family around, drive on road trips, etc.!

Music Playing: "Just Lose It" -- Eminem

LEE HAS A NEW HOME!

Today was one of the happiest days in my recent memory. I am now the proud owner of my very first home! With the help of my folks, I bought a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, Italian villa-style townhome in South San Jose. After a long, tedious 9-month search, discouraged at times by a continued shortage of housing and the absurdly overpriced homes here in Silicon Valley, I finally achieved what I had been looking for!

My father woke me up around 9am and, tired from a late night before, I pushed myself out of bed at 9:30am. A small urgency got me up and to the housing office just shy of 10am, when the offeringo of 10 new homes was to happen. The 10 homes were to be offered up via a lottery system (where you have to put your name and info into a box). Personally I hate this system and think it is unfair. Anyways, 15-20 something parties of people lay in wait, in the hopes of becoming the owners of new townhomes. I even bumped into my friend Melvon who lived nearby and was in the market for a new home. After signing papers, my family and I anxiously waited outside in the wintry, sunny morning air. Then, at 10:15, the lottery began. My fingers were crossed. My mom meditated, concentrating her energy on the sign in front of the housing office. As the slim, white female sales representative clad in a black business suit reached into the box, in my mind I mustered up all the positive mental forces I could, constantly saying to myself "Lee L, Lee L, Lee L". A second later the female voice called out "Lee L." Immediately a beaming smile burst from my face and a shout of delirious joy from my mouth! I was hilariously excited! We went into the housing office and then picked the home we wanted. One with a mountain-top view of the entire South San Jose valley!

I won't be able to move into the new townhome until next June, but that's okay. I get excited now just thinking about all the things I want to do to my very first home, from painted accent walls to hardwood floors to a makeshift dance studio in the garage. I'll get my own bedroom on the very first floor near the entrance for added privacy. As I hugged my mom I could hear her choke back a tear. And my dad was proudly elated (he believed I would've been better luck. Looks like he was right)! I'm so relieved now that my search has ended and I'll have a house to move into next summer. I won't have to rent anymore, and my first-time homebuyer experience, in spite of several discouraging snafus, has gone for the better. Oh, and of course, housewarming party.....big time.

Tonight went to a potluck party at Ben's in SF. Brought the brandy cherry pie I baked last night. Was pretty good, and I could taste the brandy liquor I had put into it. Also played some 2-high (cho-dai-dee in Chinese), playing for shots. I think I lost only 2 hands and had to down two shots of vodka as my penalty. I've found that I've been winning more since I learned on my last L.A. trip to be more aggressive at the game. I also announced the joyous news of my new home purchase, and the gang was happy for me. After dinner the gang and I headed to N Touch for some late night dancing.

Let the Phoenix Rise Once Again

"Man is not disturbed by a chain of events, but by the view he takes of them" ~Epictetus

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." ~ Mohandas K. Ghandi

Can't wait to take my dance classes again!!

~ Lee Phoenix L.

Music now playing: "One, Two Step" -- CiaRa

Amazing Race is Back Again!

The sixth season of the Amazing Race began last night with a highly competitive and dramatically-charged 2-hour episode. The race started in Chicago, and the 11 teams wound up in cold, rugged Iceland for this leg of the race. Gloves were coming off as the competition to win turned into back-stabbing, dissing, and even verbal confrontations. And it's just the first episode of the entire season! I personally am rooting for the father/daughter team of Gus and Hera and any other teams that know how to put aside their differences and work together to make it the finish lines. Personally I would try to be one of those teams if I ever did the Race myself!:)

LA Trippin 2

Had an absolute fun time this past weekend in L.A. with Stephen and Ben. We drove down south Thursday evening (Veteran's Day), and with surprisingly little holiday traffic, we arrived at West Hollywood Ramada Hotel in a record-setting 5 hours. I had sworn off the hotel during my last LA trip, as it seemed as if they wanted to make money off of you by charging you for things and then subtlely telling you later. Reluctantly, as there weren't any other hotels close enough to walking distance of "WeHo", we wound up staying at the Ramada again.
Show those pearly whites!	Sha Ney Ney at da wheel	Artistic shot at night
Getting ready 4 bed	I'm rail-lee relaxin!
Friday, we all went to dim sum for lunch in the ever-Chinese Monterey Park. We ate at Ocean Restaurant, a large, popular restaurant with, fortunately, no long wait that day. We ate a lot of the typical stuffs like ha gau (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), spareribs, etc. We even spotted some 'gay jello'.Lol..After lunch, we headed down to Long Beach for a stroll. Amazingly it was dead there, perhaps due to the holiday or it just not being as popular as i last saw it in '99. In the evening, Stephen and Ben hit the Promenade, while I had the chance to finally meet Seymour. We went to a local mall where I helped him with shopping for a gift for his friend's birthday, getting shmoozed into buying myself a new black shirt from Men's Xpress, almost convinced to buy a nice orange KC tie from Robinson's Mae, and loading up on sushi and other japanese delicacies at Toodai's. Seymour got me to chow down on some fish egg sushi but was unsuccessful in getting me to eat sashimi (had a bad experience with it in Japan). After dinner, Seymour drove me back to my hotel where we met up with my frenz and went clubbing. To my pleasant suprise, i was able to get Seymour out on the dance floor, teaching him a few basic 1A dance steps. He did really well, and I was happily amazed that he overcame his intimidation. Overall, I had a real fun time with him.
Eat that dim sum!	Look guys! Gay jello!	LA has the best air quality
ChabLee and ShaNeyNey	Ben n Lee at Long Beach
Saturday, Stephen, Ben and I watched the U.S. premiere of Ethan Mao, the newest thought-provoking film by director Quintin Lee. I liked it, and its intensity, drama, and even humor gave you some reflective insight into the extremes of Asian parents finding out about their son's sexuality. Afterward, we got a surprise treat of meeting the actors and director! Later that afternoon we had a late lunch in Westminster, and then at night went clubbing at Red Dragon. Was our first time there and it reminded me much of Club Asia, my old stomping grounds where I first came out. At Red Dragon, the house music was so alive that the energy of the music, the air, the sights and sounds took over me and I burned it on the dance floor! It was sooo soul-reviving. Sunday, we ate breakfast at French Champagne in WeHo. After that I checked out Omar's Exotic Bird shop, where I was thrilled to physically hold affectionate parrots, macaws, cockatoos and cockatiels! (For those of you who don't know, my folks and I are 'bird-brains', having two pet birds of our own). We all then left Hollywood for home around 12:30p and got back to my place in SJ shortly after 5pm! (Wish I could go back and forth between L.A. that fast more often!) Overall, I had not just a relaxing time but also a time to reflect on myself. Through the fun and experiences, I came to truly realize someof what makes me who i am and what i want to be. ~ L.
Cast of Ethan Mao, plus us!	Reflectin...
Bird tailoring the shirt!	Smile for the camera!

Incredible Reflections

I guess I must have had an incredible weekend for movies, as I caught two awesome flicks: "Shrek 2" (you can read my last blog for info); and "The Incredibles." EXCELLENT movie and 5 out of 5 lee-stars. Brought to life by the same animators as "Finding Nemo", it's the action-packed, funny story of a family of four, each with a super-power (or two). Though some people may think otherwise, I personally didn't feel it to be a wanna-be knock off of the "Fantastic Four" (heck, THAT awesome comic is coming to theaters very soon anyways!). I thoroughly laughed and was engaged by "The Incredibles" because it's not just a group of super-heroes: it's a family dealing with loving one another and with learning to accept themselves for who they are, regardless of what people may say.

This weekend was also "incredible" becuz I met my childhood playmate Pammy from Hawaii, where I did much of my growing up for almost 9 years. Though I had sorta seen her once before, I didn't really have a chance to talk to her since we were 9 years old! So my family and I invited her and her bf over for dinner this past Sunday and needless to say it was a blast from the past. Pam and I talked about how we used to play together, gang up on my brother, get in trouble by *her* big brother, fight off her evil nails (though she flat out denied it), and juz plain fun. Ah, the good old days....

The past couple days a couple of songs from the 70s played on the radio have transported me back in time to my wonder years in Hawaii. Sometimes as I drove steadily on the highway in my car, sometimes as I walked about my room or around the office, I found myself singing songs I grew up with. Hehe...major throwback! (see my Top Hears of the Week.) Sometimes I miss being a kid! Back when life was less stressful and easier.=P

But I've also found myself realizing that each day is a brand new day. And it doesn't matter how many times you've tried to do whatever you wanted, how many times you may have procrastinated, how many times you have failed (or not). Each day is a gift from God that brings you a brand new opportunity! So why let hang ups hang you up? Keep your chin up, go for it and reach for the sky!

And don't let others get you down as you travel. I think for me, my biggest peeve is when people say things but don't walk their talk. But I keep my chin up and make sure that I meet my own expectations cuz that's what's most important.:)

Spinning on my iTunes:"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" (Dan England)

DVD and Cam!

Tonight I finally watched the highly-rated "Shrek 2" on DVD! Set in a kingdom far, far away, it's the story of the love of Shrek the Ogre who's unrequitted love for his wife Fiona and the father of Fiona who is shocked to learn of his beloved daughter has married an ogre. Dismayed and despaired and in an illicit contractual bind with Fiona's fairy godmother, he sends a feline of a hitman -- the witty, funny Puss in Boots -- to take him out, only to learn later that the pussycat has joined Shrek in his quest to save Fiona from her fairy godmother and a diabolical plot to separate them. Though the donkey has been my favorite character, Puss in Boots kind of stole the show with him.:)

One thing about Shrek 2 that moved me was that it was the story of an ogre who wanted Fiona to be happy and was willing to sacrificially change himself for her. The story reminds us that when you fall in love with someone, you love them for who they are, not what they aren't. I truly believe this myself. No one is perfect; there will be things you endear about another person and things you wish you could do without. When the initial chemistry subsides, what matters the most is remembering what brought you to another person in the first place and that you can see beyond the physical, the superficial, the petty, and the doubts for this. Many couples lose sight of this, unfortunately.

Being the hi-tech person I am, I finally bought myself a web cam tonight as well! I'm still learning how to use it and the pictures aren't the best resolution but should be good enough for video chatting with friends. I've even posted the very first snapshot I took with it in my profile (see right)!=)

Election Day

Today was Election Day here in the U.S., and I cast my vote for the next President this morning before going to work. Not only was the line a half-hour long, it was my first time voting as an officially registered "Independent" and perhaps the toughest voting of my political history ever in terms of who to chose for President: George W. Bush vs. John Kerry. Let's hope my vote was the right one. This evening I've been excitingly riveted at how close this race is -- the closest I've ever seen in my life and in 36 years according to political analysts. Over 73% (3/4) of Californians voted and 100 million Americans (out of 380 million Americans). People were definitely concerned about the direction of the country and the vote was divided almost completely down the middle as it was in 2000. As of this writing, the race still has not been decided and it looks as if it is coming down to Ohio. For more of the latest information, check out CNN.com.

Lee and Evan at Evans campaign victory celebration in Campbell in the evening, November 2, 2004. Waiting for results and trying to keep our chins up.

Tonight I went to the victory party/celebration for my 21-year old friend Evan Low, who's running for the first time for Campbell City Council. Had some stuff to drink, met some people and watched votes come in from the 21 precincts of Campbell. At last I talked to him (around midnight), he was only 300 votes shy to win! GO EVANATOR! Hope ya win. When I wake up tomorrow morning, I may be calling him "City Councilman Low.":P

Lastly, I brought in a new potential client for my freelance web design. My coworker's husband runs an association of wafer fabrication, including CEOs/COOs of wafer fabrication companies from around the world! I'm pretty excited about the prospect of making a website viewed by association members and "CEOs/COOs"!