Happy New Year 2005!!!

As 2005 approaches in just under 3 hours, I sit here at my computer reflecting back on things that happened to me this year that made an impact on me. (More than I had originally thought!

TOP 10 THINGS I'LL REMEMBER FROM 2004

1. New Years Eve 2003 in Las Vegas

Spending New Year's Eve 2003 on the streets of Las Vegas with Robert, Marty and Timmy. Something I had never done before and felt I just had to try once. Marvelling at fireworks launching from the top of hotels at midnight. Having a good ol time in Sin City that weekend.


2. My Pet Cockatiel Elvis

Elvis, a female pearly yellow cockatiel who was a beloved member of my family for almost 11 years, passed on January 27, 2004. I remember how heartbroken I and my family were, and a month or two later we were able to begin to let her go, to always remember her for the joy she brought me and my family.

3. My Birthday Celebration in August

As I always go over the top when it comes to harahh-ing the anniversary of my natality, I can never forget the two days I spent celebrating my 32nd birthday. The actual day with my family, going out and about, and then culiminating 4 days later with Volare, my huge Italian-themed birthday party!


4. Meeting New Friends

This was indeed the year of the "penpal." It's been almost a decade since I met in person on American shores a friend I had made overseas. Jason F and Alan L -- both were from Singapore, and happened to be embarking through SF en route home. I'm thankful for them taking the time out to visit me. And then meeting a friend of over a year from LA -- Seymour -- for the first time on one of my LA trips, going shopping, fish-egg eating, and dancing the nite away. And meeting new friends like Stephen, Ben and Siu, who are down-to-earth and cool.

5. Mom Getting an Award

My mom received an award from API Pride for being loving and supportive parent of a Asian Pacific Islander. I felt it important for people out there to know how much my parents support their son. More importantly, it was a way for me to say "Thank You" for all the times my mom and dad endured and struggled with their trials of accepting me.

6. Leaving my Community Group After All this Time

Every year I kept saying it, that I would quit my community group. Having been Social Chair for about 7 years and feeling stuck with the position because not only was I good at it but no one else wanted to take the job. I was able to pass on the torch to a successor in June and, for all my years of giving to the API community of the South Bay, finally start to focus on giving back to myself.

7. The Crash Heard Around the World

And then there was the day in September where I put myself in the emergency room from a game of dodgeball. On the first play of the game, rushing to get the ball and slamming my nose into the forehead of a girl on the opposite team. Lesson learned: avoid the 'rhino technique' when playing the game.

8. My Two Trips to LA
I had sooo much fun on my two Fall weekend road trips to L.A. with James ("Chanel"), Stephen ("Shanehneh") and Ben ("Bengkok"). Staying in Hollywood, going clubbing, watching Ethan Mao, pretendin to be stars, and cruising around and about!


9. Buying my First Home

Something I've only dreamed of and never knew when would happen! Afraid of being pushed out of the Valley, over 9 months of patience and optimism paid off in a sudden yipe of happiness one sunny, brisk October morning. I finally bought my first home ever, with my family. A 3-bedroom, 3.5 townhome on a hill in South San Jose!

10. Spending Time with My Best Buddy

Spending time doing things with my best buddy Timmy, who finally returned to So Cal as he had earnestly hoped and strived for the last two years. All the fun things we always do together, places we go, and things we laugh and learn about along the way. Life is an adventure with you, T.


OTHER THINGS I'LL REMEMBER FROM 2004

1. Gay marriages being officiated here in SF for but a brief moment in time in February.

2. The pain of the victims and the families of the tsunamis that killed 150,000 people in South Asia the day after Christmas. Remembering how the world finally came together again as "one big family" to help each other in time of need.

3. The passing of President Reagan in June, and how I'll always remember him as the man who helped open the door to peace with the former Soviet Union and made this world a safer place to live in.


TOP TEN LISTENS OF 2004
(My favorite songs of 2004 which I listened to the most this year...)


As 2005 approaches in just under 3 hours, I sit here at my computer reflecting back on things that happened to me this year that made an impact on me. (More than I had originally thought!

TOP 10 THINGS I'LL REMEMBER FROM 2004

1. New Years Eve 2003 in Las Vegas

Spending New Year's Eve 2003 on the streets of Las Vegas with Robert, Marty and Timmy. Something I had never done before and felt I just had to try once. Marvelling at fireworks launching from the top of hotels at midnight. Having a good ol time in Sin City that weekend.


2. My Pet Cockatiel Elvis

Elvis, a female pearly yellow cockatiel who was a beloved member of my family for almost 11 years, passed on January 27, 2004. I remember how heartbroken I and my family were, and a month or two later we were able to begin to let her go, to always remember her for the joy she brought me and my family.

3. My Birthday Celebration in August

As I always go over the top when it comes to harahh-ing the anniversary of my natality, I can never forget the two days I spent celebrating my 32nd birthday. The actual day with my family, going out and about, and then culiminating 4 days later with Volare, my huge Italian-themed birthday party!


4. Meeting New Friends

This was indeed the year of the "penpal." It's been almost a decade since I met in person on American shores a friend I had made overseas. Jason F and Alan L -- both were from Singapore, and happened to be embarking through SF en route home. I'm thankful for them taking the time out to visit me. And then meeting a friend of over a year from LA -- Seymour -- for the first time on one of my LA trips, going shopping, fish-egg eating, and dancing the nite away. And meeting new friends like Stephen, Ben and Siu, who are down-to-earth and cool.

5. Mom Getting an Award

My mom received an award from API Pride for being loving and supportive parent of a Asian Pacific Islander. I felt it important for people out there to know how much my parents support their son. More importantly, it was a way for me to say "Thank You" for all the times my mom and dad endured and struggled with their trials of accepting me.

6. Leaving my Community Group After All this Time

Every year I kept saying it, that I would quit my community group. Having been Social Chair for about 7 years and feeling stuck with the position because not only was I good at it but no one else wanted to take the job. I was able to pass on the torch to a successor in June and, for all my years of giving to the API community of the South Bay, finally start to focus on giving back to myself.

7. The Crash Heard Around the World

And then there was the day in September where I put myself in the emergency room from a game of dodgeball. On the first play of the game, rushing to get the ball and slamming my nose into the forehead of a girl on the opposite team. Lesson learned: avoid the 'rhino technique' when playing the game.

8. My Two Trips to LA
I had sooo much fun on my two Fall weekend road trips to L.A. with James ("Chanel"), Stephen ("Shanehneh") and Ben ("Bengkok"). Staying in Hollywood, going clubbing, watching Ethan Mao, pretendin to be stars, and cruising around and about!


9. Buying my First Home

Something I've only dreamed of and never knew when would happen! Afraid of being pushed out of the Valley, over 9 months of patience and optimism paid off in a sudden yipe of happiness one sunny, brisk October morning. I finally bought my first home ever, with my family. A 3-bedroom, 3.5 townhome on a hill in South San Jose!

10. Spending Time with My Best Buddy

Spending time doing things with my best buddy Timmy, who finally returned to So Cal as he had earnestly hoped and strived for the last two years. All the fun things we always do together, places we go, and things we laugh and learn about along the way. Life is an adventure with you, T.


OTHER THINGS I'LL REMEMBER FROM 2004

1. Gay marriages being officiated here in SF for but a brief moment in time in February.

2. The pain of the victims and the families of the tsunamis that killed 150,000 people in South Asia the day after Christmas. Remembering how the world finally came together again as "one big family" to help each other in time of need.

3. The passing of President Reagan in June, and how I'll always remember him as the man who helped open the door to peace with the former Soviet Union and made this world a safer place to live in.


TOP TEN LISTENS OF 2004
(My favorite songs of 2004 which I listened to the most this year...)

1. Extraordinary -- Liz Phair
2. The Reason -- Hoobastank
3. One, Two Step -- Ciara (featuring Missy Elliot)
4. Meant to Live -- Switchfoot
5. Reach Out for the Sunrise -- Duran Duran
6. Sunshine -- L`il Flip
7. Yeah! -- Usher
8. Drop It -- Snoop Doggy Dog
9. New Workout Plan -- Kanye West
10. One Hundred Years -- Five for Fighting


FAVORITE PHRASE OF 2004
"Ladies and gentlemen, allow ma'hself to introduce mahself!" ;)