On a Short Winter Break

I'm Back!
So here I am, on Christmas vacation. With the exception of a couple hours of dropping into work today, I've been out of the office officially as of Tuesday evening and don't have to return til next Monday. Finally, a chance for me to shut down for more than just a 3-day weekend, something I've not done in 3 years of constant corporate toil. I'm sincerely hoping to take advantage of my extended break to re-examine my current priorities in life when it comes to my job, my career, and my personal pursuits. I'm finding myself wanting to explore my creative inner self more vice a verse all the time I've spent working each day.

Meanwhile, I just started (yes, started) my Christmas shopping on Monday so I think part of my time off will be stolen by an incessant fight at the shopping centers to get my gifts by Christmas Eve. Fortunately I don't have as many people to shop for this year so I should finish on time (but the challenge of picking the right gift for each person still daunts me).

Digivolution Again

A part of my self-exploration has been getting back into "Digimon" the past several days. A cartoon simiilar to Pokemon which I was obsessed with back in 2001. Recently I saw an episode on TV and since then have been reliving the series online through video clips. It's so kewl...

I think I'm also evolving cuz I don't really know where I'm going in my life right now with regard to friends. My best friend this past week moved from SJ back to Southern California. I've felt a little saddened, especially with the Christmas holiday. At the same time, been feeling that life is going to be kinda different without my closest friend. We did so many things together, went to so many places, and my friend knows me well too. Yet I support him because I want him to accomplish what he wants to do -- what a real friend would do for a real friend. So that's more important to me in the long run that I must set aside my own personal feelings. But it's also that I'm still rediscovering who my real friends are..those who take the time to share their lives with me and vice versa...

So, fortunately this holiday season, I'm not feeling as blue as last year but still a little...

Parties, parties, parties

I've been to so many parties lately -- 6 parties within a four-week span. I think that's a record for me! Half of 'em were birthdays, and the other half Christmas parties. Last Friday (12/16), I had a small holiday gathering at my south San Jose apartment for my closest friends. We had a potluck dinner, complete with traditional Christmas faire -- Asian style! We also played some cards and talked around and had a smaller-than-expected 3-gift Secret Santa gift exchange.

On Saturday, 12/17, I went to a going-away partee for my best friend. At his friend's place in SJ, ate pizza and played Twister and Trivial Pursuit DVD. Sunday (12/18) my community group held its annual Christmas holiday party at the clubhouse at my apartment complex. Always attended by 50+ people and festive, especially this year feeling like an elegantly warm party in a country-club style ambience.

Other Miscellaneous News

• My boss gave me an umbrella for Christmas on Tuesday, a gift from my company. Guess they're expecting a wet winter! The umbrella is quite long (3.5 ft) and guarantees to hold up to 60 mph winds! Bring on the gale force winds I say and let's test it!
  
• On the way home home from Christmas shopping today, got a Tacoma Washington radio station on the AM dial in the car! Always weird that radio signals can sometimes go so far!
  
• One of my hopes for the new year is for more respect from people. Lately again I've been getting that feelin that I go way out of my way for others in general, that sometimes I'm too nice. Happens at both work and in my personal circles. And people expect me to do stuff and I don't get respect or courtesy in return.
  

I have to list my top 10 songs of the year here next week, as well as my goals and my top happenings this past year!