Happy Halloween
Credit: Andrew
Halloween Event at the Office
Yesterday, we had our annual Halloween event at the office. The costumes and decorations were great. Lots of kids showed up and there was even a bird show to entertain them after they went trick-or-treating around the cubes.
My team dressed up as magnetic poetry but we didn't decorate our cubes. Originally, we thought about decorating our area as Hogwarts and dressing as Harry Potter characters, but that idea got scrapped. I was bummed. I would have liked to dress up as a member of the Slytherin house.
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A Star is Born
Check out Sean's debut in the short film Storyteller. He plays a transvestite looking to work as an office assistant in a detective's office.
30th Anniversary
Today marks the 30th anniversary of my family's immigration to the United States. Of all the wonderful cities in the U.S. to choose from to start a new life, my parents chose Appleton, Wisconsin. I'm reminded of an old friend, who first came to the U.S. in the early 90's as an exchange student from Japan, who told me that a lot of Japanese students choose to study in exotic places like Iowa and Kansas because states like these advertise heavily in Japan and promise young students lots of cultural events and an exciting night life. I wonder if my parents were lured to Appleton by pamphlets and posters talking about how amazing Appleton is(n't).
I remember very little from that period of time, but I do remember it being extremely cold. I also have a vague recollection of standing by my parents as our luggage was inspected by customs officials. There was some confusion because my parents couldn't find the tiny key to unlock the vanity case, and the official was struggling to pry the lock open. Truth is, I had the key the whole time but didn't feel like giving it up, for no good reason. What can I say, I was a sneaky child.
Anyway, my parents quickly realized that Appleton was just not the place to be and relocated to Santa Clara County, California. Thank Goodness!
Pho'k No
Whenever I ask Arnon if he wants to go out and eat pho (a Vietnamese noodle dish that I love and he hates), he replies "Pho'k No!" Well, after today's pho lunch, which made me so nauseous I threw up at work, I never, ever, ever want to eat pho again.
Also on my "Never Again" list are Burger King and Wendy's, whose burgers gave me serious food poisoning back in the day, and also a sports bar in Concord whose food made Andy sick.
Soaring Above Greenville, Texas
Yesterday (our final day in Texas), Beast took Arnon soaring at the Southwest Soaring Club in Caddo Mills, located about an hour's drive east from Beast's house in Frisco. Due to poor thermals, they decided to be towed only a mile up. The tow plane left them somewhere above Greenville, just 10 miles northeast of the flight club. Beast let Arnon control the glider during the 5,000 to 2,000 feet descent. Beast is clearly a brave man and has more faith in Arnon than I do.
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Here are some photos from Arnon's perspective:
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Dallas
Today, we spent the whole day in Dallas and had a wonderful time.
First, we headed to Thanks-Giving Square. We made it there just in time to hear one of the three Great Bells of Thanksgiving (modeled after the Liberty Bell) ring a couple dozen times. At the entrance to the square, there is a giant, gold ring, called the Ring of Thanks. If you stand in it and speak, there is an eerie echo. Not knowing what to say while in the ring, the guys suggested I express my gratitude to them for accompanying me to what they considered to be a boring place. Troglodytes.
As you walk across Thanks-Giving Square, you descend into the Meditation Garden where there are lovely trees, waterfalls, and pools of water. It's really peaceful there.
At the far end of the square is the Chapel of Thanksgiving with its spiral tower. Inside the chapel is the Glory Window (the primary reason I wanted to visit Thanks-Giving Square), with its 60-ft. ceiling formed by large stained-glass pieces. I laid on the floor to look up at the beautiful ceiling, which seemed to change colors as the light outside changed.
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Next, we headed to the Frontiers of Flight museum, home of Apollo 7. I really love air and space museums, and every time I see fighter planes from the Vietnam War era and older, I can totally understand how my dad was inspired to study aeronautics.
Arnon and I took a crash course on airplane design. The goal of the course was to get an elephant airborne, which we both succeeded in doing.
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The highlight of our day was dinner at Fogo de Chao Churrascaria, a Brazilian steakhouse. Beast and I feasted on scrumptious meat, red wine, creme brulee and chocolate cake, and most importantly, Guarana Antarctica. Arnon, as usual, opted for the salad bar. So embarrassing.
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Tomorrow morning, Arnon and Beast will go soaring while I remain safely on the ground.
Good night.
Hello from Texas
Howdy, y'all. Arnon and I are in Texas for the weekend, staying with Beast in Frisco. We spent most of the day catching up with Beast while gorging on delicious food, such as smoked sirloin, lobster, and the best frozen custard ever. Man, Texas has some excellent beef.
Beast has made a lot of progress on his glider but he still has a long way to go. On Sunday, Beast is going to take Arnon soaring in a two-seater. I feel nervous just thinking about it.
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Good night.
Golden Gate Park
Last weekend, the lighthouse folks who run the tour in San Luis Obispo canceled the tour (with some ridiculous excuse that PGE had to oil the roads for the coast guard ... whatever) so we spent the day doing what I wanted to do, which was to go to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. I've been to the west end of the park many times but have never been to the Japanese Tea Garden or the newly renovated de Young Museum, both located on the eastern half of the park.
Here are some photos of the Japanese Tea Garden:
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The most impressive part of the de Young Museum is the tower. From the top floor, you get a spectacular 360° view of San Francisco. Arnon and I dreamed out loud about having an apartment with a comparable view and said we would own nothing but a bed and a fridge, both on casters, so we could live in a different section of the apartment each day.
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As we strolled through the botanical garden, we saw this kid, with ball and chain in hand, chasing a squirrel. It was so medieval. But at some point, the squirrel got fed up and started chasing him. Serves him right.
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Mystery Day
Despite living just ten minutes away from it, Arnon has never been to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Nor has Richard. To be fair, they've only had three decades of life to squeeze in the hour-long tour. :)
Wes and Richard have never been to the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. It's understandable for Wes, who is from South Africa, but Richard? Come on.
Anyway, a couple weekends ago, we decided to have a Mystery Day and hit up both spots. Here are some photos from the Winchster Mystery House:
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After walking through 110 of the 160 rooms in the old mansion, I felt grimy, inside and out, and wanted to do two things. First, take a long, hot shower and get that old house smell off of me. Second, I wanted to throw away everything I owned. Zut alors, the clutter in that house.
When Sarah Winchester died, eight trucks were used around the clock for six weeks to empty the contents of the mansion. That's a whole lot of crap. Today, the mansion is decorated with a few donated antique pieces and yet it still feels stifling in there.
Throughout the tour, I kept thinking about the healing powers of lighter fluid and a match.
Following the tour and a ginormous lunch, we headed to Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. Here are some photos:
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When I tell people I went to Mystery Spot, I get one of two responses: "I love that place!" or "That place is a scam." The latter is generally said by people who've never been. Scam or not, it's a fun place to visit, and if you're too hung up on not being taken by a scam to find the place mysterious, at least you'll be entertained.
Photos
I had my birthday dinner over the weekend at the House of Prime Rib with friends I love. My birthday isn't until the end of the month but we celebrated early because we're flying to Texas next weekend for a joint birthday celebration with Beast, whose birthday is on the 24th.
Knowing that I hate seeing a large number of the same thing (like the wind farms you see when you drive eastward in California), two of the rascals I work with, Andrew and Armando (our Canadian intern), covered my cube with clear push pins. I admit I freaked out when I saw the display. My attempt to meditate back to a point of serenity failed, so I took the pins down without looking at them. They thought my reaction was hilarious, but I was less than amused, although I was amused by Armando's eagerness to pose for the camera.
For Anuj's birthday, we started the day with a pancake breakfast which was unfortunately too large and ultimately kept him from participating in his own birthday lunch. We would have gone somewhere nicer instead of bringing pizza in, but some of the members of our group were participating in a foosball tournament in the next room.
Richard in Santa Cruz:
Renaissance Faire
Last weekend, we went to the Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta in Hollister. I love these events but haven't been to one since 2001. At the last one, which was held in Vacaville, an artist drew our portait and had the nerve to give Arnon a lazy eye. Given how much we paid for the drawing, it's understandable that Arnon's held a grudge ever since.
Here are some photos:
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Check out this video of Andrew participating in the Bold and Stupid Men show: Watch Video
Travel Plans
For as far back as I can remember, I've wanted to travel through Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Last year, I went to Israel twice, and now, after nearly a year of planning, I've booked my trip to Greece and Turkey.
My trip will start in Athens with a 14-day organized tour through Greece. The highlights of the tour will include Athens, Ancient Delphi, the Peloponnese Peninsula, Olympia, the Ionian coastline, Monemvasia, Mystras, Sparta, Nafplio, Ancient Mycenae, Epidavros, and Hydra.
Next, I will have a week to visit the monasteries in Meteora, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion (featured at the top of this site), island hop to Santorini and Rhodes, then cross to Turkey to see Pergamom, Troy and Gallipoli.
Following that I will head to Istanbul for a 13-day organized tour through Turkey, which will include Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Kaymakli, Güzelyurt, Konya, Antalya, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, Ephesus, and Izmir.
From Izmir, I'll head back to Istanbul where I'll catch a flight to Israel. I haven't planned out my stay in Israel yet but I'll be there for a week. I hope to see Timna Park in Eilat, Massada, Ein Bokek at the Dead Sea, the ruins at Qumran, the Mount of Beatitudes in Galilee, the Golan Heights, and if time allows, Bethlehem, Jericho, and Abraham's well in the Negev. (Arnon will probably roll his eyes when he sees my proposed itinerary.)
Originally, I had planned to book the tours on October 1st, but ended up booking them in mid-September when I noticed that several tours were already full. In fact, my current itinerary is not my first choice. It just didn't occur to me that people make travel plans so early.
In any case, I'm set to go. I just have to count down the months until my departure, which isn't until May 3rd.
I look forward to crossing #4 and #5 off of my Top 10 list.
Egypt and Jordan will have to wait until Arnon is allowed to travel there freely.
If anyone would like to join me (and Arnon) for the Greece (May 5-18), Turkey (May 26-June 7) or Israel (June 8-14) leg of the trip, or join us for the whole six weeks, you're more than welcome. You just need to decide now to go so you can join the tours we've signed on to.
World Domination
According to Roger, I'm assembling freedom fighters in my quest for world domination.
Northern California Coast Tour — Part 5
On the last day of our trip, we left Mendocino and headed south to Point Arena to check out the lighthouse there. On the way, we came across some bizarre looking trees in Elk.
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Point Arena Lighthouse is located only an hour south of Mendocino in a windy and extremely foggy area. I loved it. However, the climb to the top of the lighthouse was tiring for me. I was annoyed by several children who effortlessly ran up and down the steep stairs. No worries ... their day of obesity and lethargy will come.
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After the lighthouse, we only had two stops left to make. The first was at Bodega Bay for lunch, and the other was at Timber Cove Inn in Fort Ross. We snuck through the inn to get to the bizarre statue located by the water.
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The end.
Northern California Coast Tour — Part 4
We started our fourth day with breakfast by the water. If only every day started this way.
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After breakfast, we headed out of Shelter Cove and passed through Leggett, where we stopped to drive through the Chandelier Tree. There are many drive-thru trees in Northern California and I did feel sneaky passing through one, but I also hate the idea of trees being cut up unnecessarily.
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From Leggett, we crossed west to Westport, at which point we started heading south to Arnon's favorite place in the world — Mendocino.
At a certain point, we pulled over at Abalone Point, located north of Fort Bragg, so Arnon could pee in nature. While there, we noticed a plaque dedicated to Randy Fry, who was killed in a shark attack. We were familiar with him because we watch all of the shark shows on Discovery channel. It was kind of cool to see the area where he was killed.
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As soon as we got to Mendocino, we quickly settled in then headed to Navarro Vineyards in Philo, located about 45 minutes away along a windy road that compels Arnon to drive like a maniac. Some months back, we had fallen in love with Navarro Vineyard's Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir grape juices and wanted to buy a case of each.
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Back in Mendocino, we watched a wedding take place in the headlands. Although the setting is beautiful for a wedding, the wind was a nightmare for the bride, whose veil was blowing foward, and the groomsmen, who were busy preventing wedding paraphernalia from blowing into the ocean.
I'll share more tomorrow.
Northern California Coast Tour — Part 3
On the third day, we headed south through Klamath and stopped at the Trees of Mystery park to take photos with Paul Bunyan.
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Just an hour and a quarter drive south from Crescent City is Trinidad, where we stopped by to see two lighthouses. The first, Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse, is a cute but dinky little lighthouse that sits across the street from some homes. We walked down from the lighthouse to the water where the view was breathtakingly gloomy. I could have stayed there forever.
Next, we hiked up to the top of Trinidad Head to see what we could of the Trinidad Head Lighthouse, which is not open to the public.
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Our next stop was Shelter Cove, which took two and a half hours to get to, the latter half of which made me nervous because the road to get there is quite rough. I was sure our car would fall off the edge of the road and tumble into the tree-lined abyss below, but we lived.
Let me just say that Shelter Cove is quite remote, and unlike the other coastal destinations, it was too warm there. Still, the view of the water was beautiful and we spent many hours walking by the coast and watching the purple sunset. If you need more to do than simply staring out at the water, then I highly advise against visiting Shelter Cove. It's definitely more suited to old souls like us.
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I'll share more tomorrow.
Northern California Coast Tour — Part 2
On day two of our Northern California Coast Tour, we headed to Ferndale, which is located more than 300 miles north of our home in Sunnyvale. En route, we passed through Willits which, other than being the gateway to the California redwoods, is not very interesting.
Roughly four hours after starting, we finally made it to Ferndale, a well-preserved Victorian town surrounded by large cow pastures. Although Ferndale was a charming town and we did enjoy a nice lunch at Curley's Bar and Grill, our primary reason for being there was simply to cut through on our way to Cape Mendocino.
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Cape Mendocino, located about 18 miles west of Ferndale, is the western-most point in California. It took us nearly an hour to get there because the road is windy and narrow. Cape Mendocino lighthouse used to stand on the bluff above the black sands beach until it was moved to Shelter Cove in 1998.
Near the foot of where the lighthouse used to stand, and just off the coast, is Sugar Loaf Island. Arnon was determined to get to it. Unfortunately, the land that separates the black sands beach and the main road is privately owned, so a little bit of trespassing was necessary.
After about 30 minutes of trudging across what seemed like quick sand, and enduring harsh winds that continuously pelted the sand at us, I had to call it quits. I know Arnon really wanted to get to Sugar Loaf Island, so I told him to go on without me, but he refused.
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After returning to Ferndale, we headed north to Crescent City, near the Oregon border. After all the driving we'd done earlier, the two hours to get there were a breeze.
Frankly, I thought Crescent City was a dump, with one saving grace: Battery Point Lighthouse. We had to wait for low tide to cross to the lighthouse, so we spent some time walking on the promenade that extended into the water. The weather was perfect and the lighthouse looked so beautiful at sunset. We also saw Point St. George lighthouse in the distance, which is only accessible by helicopter.
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I'll share more tomorrow.
Northern California Coast Tour — Part 1
In my July 13th post, I mentioned that Arnon and I went on a driving tour of the northern California coast over the long fourth of July weekend. Arnon's already written several posts about the trip, but now it's my turn.
Sausalito — July 4th, 2007
Just about every Friday, as I prepare to head home from work, someone asks me if I'm going up to Mendocino for the weekend with Arnon. If I answer no, the next question I'm asked is what lighthouse Arnon is going to drag me to. It always cracks me up.
I think people believe that Arnon is obsessed with lighthouses, since he's always planning trips to visit them. In reality, Arnon's interest in lighthouses is limited to merely acknowledging that a lighthouse has been beautifully restored or that it looks like a pile of rusted shit. He doesn't care to inspect the exterior or tour the interior, nor does he appreciate the long-winded tour guides who spend more time talking about the history of the area surrounding the lighthouse than about the lighthouse itself.
I, too, care little for lighthouses but if I'm going to make the sometimes lengthy trek to get to one, then hell, I'm taking the tour. Besides, I like listening to stories of yesteryear, especially when they're about the forlorn lighthouse keepers who eased their solitary sorrows by drinking lens cleaner.
What drives Arnon to the Northern California lighthouses is the fact that they are often built in the most precarious locations. He loves the rugged terrain surrounding them, the fierce winds that lash at your face, and the blankets of fog that dampen your clothes if not your spirits.
For over a year, Arnon has been talking about the lighthouses peppered across the northern California coast and expressing his desire to visit them. Countless hours of conversation but all I heard were things like "only seven and a half hours away to this one" ... "quick three-mile trek uphill" ... "fifty-mile winds." In other words, hell no.
In the end I caved in, partly because I came to realize that I was the last obstacle preventing this trip from happening, even though Arnon would probably never admit it, and partly because I can only resist Arnon's tragic puppy-dog eyes for so long. I may put Arnon in the dog house more often than necessary, but I do throw him a bone every now and then.
We started our five-day road trip in Sausalito, where we ate wonderful seafood and observed Fourth of July festivities by the waterfront. We spent the night further up north in Santa Rosa in order to wake up bright and early for the long day ahead.
I'll share more tomorrow.
Ego
Yesterday at lunch, the guys I work with said that In the Company of Men, a dark comedy starring Aaron Eckhardt, was a chick flick. Such a trivial thing, I know, but it really disturbed me. Just because a movie deals with the subject of relationships between men and women doesn't make it a chick flick. The passion between Hawkeye and Cora is a major theme in The Last of the Mohicans, but nobody would ever declare that movie a chick flick.
I'm intrigued that I'm bothered by this. I believe that Neil LaBute, who both wrote and directed the film, would cringe at the idea of his work being mis-categorized, and I'm certainly cringing on his behalf. But it's not my job to defend him.
I'd like to believe that my co-workers aren't shallow or mentally lazy, making sweeping generalizations in place of thoughtful commentary.
Perhaps at the root it comes down to my own ego. Maybe their labeling In the Company of Men a chick flick made me feel like they were accusing me of being a chick flick watcher, and I didn't want to be seen that way.
Gold Digger's Post on Craig's List
THE AD
What am I doing wrong?
Okay, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I’m a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I’m articulate and classy. I’m not from New York. I’m looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don’t think I’m overreaching at all.
Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200 - 250. But that’s where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won’t get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she’s not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?
Here are my questions specifically:
- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars, restaurants, gyms.
- What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won’t hurt my feelings.
- Is there an age range I should be targeting (I’m 25)?
- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I’ve seen really ‘plain jane’ boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I’ve seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What’s the story there?
- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?
- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY.
Please hold your insults - I’m putting myself out there in an honest way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I’m being up front about it. I wouldn’t be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn’t able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth.
THE RESPONSE
PostingID: 432279810
Dear Pers-431649184:
I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament. Firstly, I’m not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here’s how I see it.
Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple, a crappy business deal. Here’s why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here’s the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won’t be getting any more beautiful!
So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you’re 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!
So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn’t make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you’re asking) so I’d rather lease. In case you think I’m being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It’s as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.
Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful" as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn’t found you, if not only for a tryout.
By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn’t need to have this difficult conversation.
With all that said, I must say you’re going about it the right way. Classic "pump and dump."
I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.
Credit: Roger
The Forgotten
In my post about Robert Cook, I wrote: "I know very little about art and rarely like or understand what I see. When I do come across something I like, though, the impact is immediate and I become somewhat obsessive about the piece."
Well, it happened again, some months back, when I came across a postage stamp-sized print of Mackenzie Thorpe's The Forgotten in an art pamphlet. Unfortunately, the pamphlet did not include the artist's name or the title of the piece, and googling "person sitting atop dreadlock-like spires" got me nowhere, so it took me a while to find the piece in a gallery.
In any case, the full-sized piece is awesome and bears a price tag that makes Arnon cringe.
Still, I think it has a place in our bedroom. In my mind, treading at the edge of sleep and unconsciousness is no different than treading at the edge of the abyss, and somehow this piece mirrors that sentiment.
And yet I fear it would be bad feng-shui to hang such a brooding element in a space that should be calming and light.
Frankenstein Revisited
Last year, in my post entitled "Frankenstein," I talked about how my dad, Cho, is the master of finding new uses for old junk. Recently, my sister emailed me a photo of Cho's latest creation and it is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.
Here's what she wrote:
I had to share this picture with you. Dad's keyboard lamp broke awhile ago. Then, he broke the foot of the small lamp. So... what does the ingenious man do.... put it together so that he has a tall, standing lamp. It's the strangest thing... but it works.
Man, those people never throw anything away! I would have thrown both away and purchased a new lamp ages ago.... they're the true environmentalists. They fix.... salvage.... they don't use the clothes dryer... grow their own veggies..... no a/c.... reuse everything to the point of extreme.
If you look carefully, you can see that the broken yellow lamp is not only strapped to the broken black lamp's base, but that the electric wire from the black lamp is running through it. Crazy.
Time for another intervention.
Intervention
Fong is a Rock Star addict, and like most addicts, he's in denial. In the morning, he likes to "turn on his brain" by guzzling a tall can. Post-lunch slumps are "fixed" with another can. On occasion, he experiences chest pains or gets the shakes when he drinks a can on an empty stomach.
I'm intervening by exposing his addiction to the public.
Serenity Now
Public message for distressed friend with private issue:
The world is full of cowards, assholes and sell-outs. That will never change.
Rejoice in the loving friends that you have that are none of the above.
Folsom Street Fair
Yesterday, Richard took me to the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco, and let me just say that the phrase "hung like a horse" has new found meaning for me. Zut alors!
I didn't take many photos at the event because too many people were nude, but here are two of Richard in his tiny black shorts.