What's Going On

American Idol had its second semifinals episode tonight for the 10 men remaining. Compared to last week's show, there was not a bad performance at all tonight. All of the guys stepped out of their safety zones they had hid in last week and came out singing and swinging. Tonight I think Travis Tucker finally impressed me with his rendition of Lionel Richie's "All Night Long," and Bo , man, he just rocked the house and brought it down like last week!!! I think Bo is now my fave on the men's side. I was disappointed that my original bone-chiller -- Anthony Federov -- didn't impress me for a second week in a row. Strong, but no more chills down my spine like Clay Aiken used to do. And I had higher hopes for Constantine and for Anwar, whose version of "What's Going On" had me asking 'what's going on' from last week. Not sure who'll be eliminated Wednesday given the vocal slugfest! Tomorrow night let's see how the women do (and I hope that obnoxious Taylor-Dane-wanna-be Mikalah gets the boot (as do many of my coworkers)).

Quote: "There isn't anything you can't do if you set your mind to it."
Song: Cappucino -- Elva Hsiao

New Grounds for the Weekend

Another weekend has come and gone by like the sudden gusts of wind and pummelling downpours of rain that quickly burst through town today.

I chilled at home Friday night. Saturday morning spent skypn with Nick. For shizzle it was nice to get to finally chat with him, for over 2 hours. Late Saturday afternoon went to the Japanese Friendship Garden at Kelly Park in San Jose with my mum. A green, quiet Japanese-style park hidden within the surroundings of a blase-looking public park. A dark wooden gate welcomed visitors to two large ponds with bubbling fountains, coi fish, and quacking ducks, a Japanese arch bridge, and paths that walked us past stone lanterns, a hidden cascading waterfall, and a temple-looking clubhouse. (*points at pics below). It was definitely a peaceful stroll and a free hidden treasure. It's refreshing to know that in this money-driven world where greedy companies trade you moments of thrills or serenity for dollars that there are still some places that are free.

Bubbly fountain	Where's Nemo?	Goofy-fish!
Lantern sentinel	Me n da pond	Me n da pond again!
Mom reports to the bridge	My mum is so kewt!	Rushing waterfall

Saturday night went clubbing in the City with A n T. Had fun, but was hella packed. Half of my fun dissipated within the first ten minutes when I was apprehensively led onto the floor and was bumped around back and forth by people and girls' long hair flying in my face. Not my kinda sandwich action and how's a guy supposed to dance?? Nevertheless stuck it out 'til after 1:30 and I got home near 3:30.

Sunday went to work a couple hours then came home and cooked my parents a Thai basil vegetable dish for dinner and lychee pearl tea! Both turned out alright for my first time trying these two items, though the veggie dish was a little oily and needed real Thai basil (I had to use sweet regular basil cuz I couldn't find the real stuff). My bubble tea also lacked bubbles tonight cuz I wasn't able to find the tapioca balls at the Chinese supermarket. (of all places!) Despite the initial learning experiences, I do intend to practice making more boba teas at home. (It was quite fun to learn how to make it *smilez*.) Afterward watched a bit of the Oscars (Academy Awards) and also a public tv special on 1950s music and watched a lotta quartets from the 50s during my parents' growing up. Some people think I'm weird that I know songs from that era, but I think music from that era was classier than these days where so many damn songs are about freakin a girl. Musics' not anywhere near as meaningful and romantically rivetting as it used to be.

Song of Day: "Everything is Possible" -- Deborah Gibson
Quote of Day: "You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." ~ Mary Pickford

Dreams

Had the weirdest dream last night..dreamt that Agent Smith from "The Matrix" was chasing me through the downtown of a small city. Why? I have no idea! Not like I felt like I was "The One" or something..eheh...i remember desperately crossing some big traffic circle in slow motion and hiding out in a side residential area where I suspected Agent Smith would not suspect to find me. I hid upstairs in someone's house and that was the end of the dream. Weird.

Been surfing more web sites today, gathering inspiration and ideas for my next generation of web sites. Feel behind sometimes in terms of my skills but trying to keep my faith that I can and will catch up. I get so many kudos from people at work and outside, i just need time to get confident about my own designs and to improve.

I dream of:

1) Bursting from the bubble of safety within my designs with streams of creativity to be the best web designer i can be
2) Meeting that special person someday who'll appreciate all I got ta offer (and vice versa)
3) Making my family happy
4) Visiting new places like Chicago, NYC, and KL, and returning to past visited places soon like Singapore and Seattle
5) Extending my circle of frenz in the South Bay and Bay Area

Song of Day: "You Should Let me Love You" -- Mario
Quote of the Day: "Let your dreams be your North Star" ~ Anonymous

Idol Jamz

Tonight the following four American Idol 4 contestants got the boot for getting the lowest number of votes on Monday and Tuesday:

Guys: Judd Harris, Jared Yates
Girls: Melinda Lira, Sarah Mather

I understood both Jared and Sarah being voted off for their unmoving performances, but I was somewhat surprised Judd Harris got booted so early. Even though he had sung a 'swing-style' song "Travelling Band", his voice and stage presence seemed as if they would've begat him another round. On the girl's side, I was glad Melinda got the boot cuz she was awful. I'm sorry...though she's from California, her rendition of Celine Dion's emotional "Power of Love" ballad was just bad, playing with the notes and her voice was not solid enough. She teared and was upset upon learning the news of her getting the lowest number of 40 million votes across America, but she should realize she'll probably get other offers from others.

I am getting a little tired of AI playing with all these kids emotions. Tonight in announcing who was going home, first the guys were on stage and Seacrest slowly announced the loser after going through each guy and sometimes skipping one and coming back. Then the boys were moved offstage, the girls brought in. One female was weeded out after keeping the top row in suspense and then pulling out two women from the bottom row. Repeat again with the males. It's like a bad shampoo. It's bad enough that these kids nerves are on edge on whether or not they'll survive into the next round, but to leave them hanging tight and then playing around with the results is just mean. Come on, AI producers...get some real program on there...

I was hoping Mikalah Gordon, the annoying girl who pandered to both Randy and Simon during the quarter-finals and on Tuesday night, would get the boot. My fingers are crossed for later episodes. But I'm glad Nadia made it through without problem and I was impressed with her modesty when asked if she felt she might lose. Her reply was something like "Well, anything could happen."

Lee's Top 10 Jamz (02/23/05):

1. Toma -- Pitbull F/Lil John
2. Signs -- Snoop Dog (with Justin Timberlake)
3. Gasolina -- Daddy Yankee
4. Pretty Girl -- NB Ridaz
5. Say Yes -- ?? (Japanese from "Bubblegum Crisis 2")
6. A Different Story -- Peter Schilling
7. Move your Body -- Nina Sky
8. It's Like That -- Mariah Carey
9. Sugar (Gimme Some) -- Trick Daddy
10. Tempted to Touch -- Rupee

Special track: Hollaback Girl -- Gwen Stefani

Random Notes

• Must be stressed at work and not drinking enough water cuz I've been breaking out somewhat this week. Hate it!
  
• Working on my first version of DesignforSite.com for my freelance work. Slating a release hopefully in late April.
• Noticed that I've got my dial set to 94.9FM a lot these days and lotta good jammin in my ears, especially at work.
  
• Tonight was the 2nd of 3 episodes in a row for American Idol. Last night
  the last 12 guys performed in front of a tough trio of Randy, Paula and Simon.
  Overall I felt the performances were pretty good and perhaps better than last year.
  Tonight the women performed and I definitely heard better talent this year than last.
  Tomorrow night two guys and two girls will be eliminated. Hope my picks stay in!
  
  Lee's American Idol Season 4 Semi-Finalist Picks (02/22/05):
  (red -- indicates Lee's winner hopefuls)
  
  Da Boyz
  
  1. Anthony Federov (Clay Aiken Jr?)
  2. Bo Bice
  3. Mario Vasquez
  4. Nikko Smith
  5. Anwar Robinson
  
  Da Gurlz
  
  1. Aloha Mischeux
  2. Carrie Underwood
  3. Vonzell Solomon
  4. Nadia Turner (she reminds me of a baby Kalise!=))
  5. Lindsey Cardinale
  
  For a full listing of the top contestants, see http://www.idolonfox.com/contestants
  

Quote of the Day: "There are no impossible dreams, just our limited perception of what is possible."
Song: "Signs" -- Snoop Dog

Gung Heyyyyy Weekend

Friday night held my Chinese New Year party at the clubhouse at my place in South San Jose. It took me a hurried, concentrating 60 minutes in and out of the rain to rapidly set up the room before my guests would show up. Fortunately people didn't start arriving until after 6pm (the party was supposed to start at 5pm). Good luck writings on the walls and doors welcomed everyone,and lions warded off any evil spirits that could come through the door.

All in all, about 13 people showed up and we had a good time with a lot of Chinese and Thai food, and wine, sodas and Chinese drinks (pearl teas, grass jelly teas, and lychee drinks!). Kelly Chen, Faye Wong, and stars from the World Concert 2001 kept the energy up on DVD. A candlelit room adorned with Chinese decorations set the festive mood. Was really great to see everyone (see some pix below).

Room decorated and ready to party	Where are all mah guests?	Jasmine Tea bar ready for service
Guests arrive and dig in	Mmm...cheap Chinese food!

Afterward most of us headed to Sunnyvale for some after-party partying at the DL party. Wuz so off the hook; I saw many people I knew there and some I hadn't seen in years! Got my freak on with my squad and some old friends heard that I teach hip hop and kept bugging me for lessons, hehe. I need to find a place and start up my classes again!

Saturday I worked a little, then dinner with a friend and took him to the airport, then met up with my squad in SF for some after-lunar-new-year partying. Lotta people showed up to the club, some who I had seen the nite before at the DL party. Music was so-so, especially with all the Indie club music. Felt as if me and my crew were clubbing one night in Bombay!

Sunday took my mom out for her birthday for dim sum at Dynasty Restaurant in San Jose. Was my first time there and the dim sum was probably the best I've had in the South Bay! Then dinner with my whole family at Super Bowl in Sunnyvale. I love my mom so much and she never looks a day over 35 to me!

Quote of day: "Falling's part of the game. It's like my dad always says: "No matter how good you are, the ice is still slippery" -- Michelle Kwan

Music: "Smile" -- Tony Bennet

Another Day

Man, what kind of world is this when you're dying to see U2, you miss buying tix on two sold-out shows within hours of them being available at the box office, and 800 pairs of tix suddenly wind up on E-Bay for 2-3 times the cost? So wrong...:)

Spent over an hour at the gym after work tonight, working biceps and back and legs, of which I totally expect to be sore as heck walking in the next couple days.:P

Wouldn't it be nice if the bridge of dreams weren't like a swaying, tearing rope-knotted bridge you see in Indiana Jones?:P

Mood: Okay
Favorite quote of day: "There are no losers in this world except those who think they are." ~S. Yang

Decent Weekend

This weekend stayed in on Friday night, juz doing stuff in my room. Saturday ran some errands, then hit the clubs in SF with J. Was pretty fun, though the music kinda became tiringly monotone after about an hour. Afterward, we hit the Krispy Kreme in Union City for some after-midnight donuts. That was fun.

How my new home looked on Jan 9th	Wow, my home got windows and walls! (Jan 28th)

This past weekend I also drove over to my new home to see how building of it was coming along. To my amazement, quite a bit was done since I had last visited it on January 9th (points to pix above). I had been worried that the stormy rains earlier this month might have set back construction quite a bit. But it looks as if things are still coming along and hopefully I'll be able to move into it by June of this year (only FOUR more months!). I have also heard that the value of it has gone up $100,000 since my family and I bought it in November! Unbelievable! I'm happy (big smile)

Have also been listening to some old cassettes of mixes I recorded on Saturdays in 1999 off the now defunct Z95.7FM hit radio station. Man, what a nostalgic, hyfie throwback listening to non-stop mixes of Amber, Enrique Inglesias, Insomnia, Destiny's Child, etc.