bringing work home

Well, I'll be bringing work home today so I can leave work before lunch tomorrow. My brother and I have lunch reservations in the city. Gotta take advantage of Restaurant Week! Hopefully the rain won't be so terrible tomorrow, but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

How have your Restaurant Week experiences been? Any suggestions for a good Restaurant Week restaurant? Besides the restaurant itself, I like to preview the menu beforehand. If a great restaurant has a cheap or uninteresting menu, I don't think it's really worth it.

A few of us gathered at Remi for their Restaurant Week dinner a short while ago. It was...fair. I've had better food at better prices. Hopefully tomorrow's experience will be a more positive one.

oh, brother

My brother's nightly ritual since he's been here is to have his QT (Quiet time or, in other words, reading and reflecting on Scripture) while taking a dump in my bathroom.

He calls it efficiency.

meeting of the gadget geeks

Gatherings like this make Kirk very happy. Scroll down, and you'll see evidence of his eager participation in the meeting of the gadget geeks. =)

(If you keep scrolling, you'll also see the Girlfriend Pillow on display. haha.)

exhaustion!

i'm poooooped...juggling church commitments and a picnic, time with Nick, two parties and time with Kirk, laundry, and my brother's arrival...oh, and a face-painting gig at a five year old's birthday party. it's been long days and late nights (uhm, more like early mornings) all weekend. the heat and humidity makes me sleepy too. *yawn!* i wonder if i can sneak in a nap at work...

whirlwind visits

"Is he Korean?" Kumar's mom pipes in with her own question. Rej and Kumar have been questioning me regarding Kirk over a late lunch at Panera. I replied with a simple "no" to Kumar's mom and resumed my lunch.

Five minutes later. "Is he Korean?" she asks again.

Sitting there slightly puzzled, I replied "no" again and feel a light kick under the table. I look across the table to Kumar who's giving me this look. "Joo, are YOU Korean?" Silly Kumar.

Has anyone ever repeated a question to you like that? Anyway...

It's too bad I didn't have my camera today! Jaelin and Eli are too adorable! Jaelin was smiling and eating her fruit. Eli was grabbing salad off of his grandmother's plate or sitting sunken inbetween his dad and grandmother. They are TOO CUTE! And now the Dixit family is on their way back down to Maryland.

Nick is in town, but I've barely seen him! =( And my brother flies in Sunday night. I plan to take a day off next week to spend time with my bro since he's not around for a weekend. He has commitments in Queens for at least a couple of evenings which is not too terribly convenient. I don't think he has any idea about what it's like to get from NJ to Queens...distance-wise it's not so bad, but with tolls and traffic, it's not pretty.

And it's going to be disgustingly hot and humid for the next few days. Yuck! Thank goodness for air conditioning!

bringing boba to bergen

me and nick and my jasmine milk tea boba, lollicup in arcadia, ca, dec. 2004

So sad. I don't get to have my usual jasmine milk tea boba ever since I moved out here. Any boba...or bubble tea as it's called here...in NJ has been terrible! There are one or two decent places in Chinatown, if I'm not mistaken, but Chinatown is not exactly in close proximity to me. *sigh*

Two years ago, I had thought of opening up a boba shop when I moved out here. The demands of a church plant would consume too much energy so the boba thing never progressed passed an idea, but now...

Oh, how I would love for a Lollicup to be in this area! Maybe it'll be more than an idea this time. It might just happen! I'll leave this job and manage a new Lollicup! (That is...if someone opens one...) ;-)

food discoveries

Englewood is no NYC, but this little town has some surprisingly diverse and fairly decent eating establishments. It's nice to have more options than just American, Italian, and Chinese.

Today Will and I made a new local discovery during our lunch outing. We were walking, seemingly aimlessly, and enjoying the beautiful day. Will then asks if I know a place where we can get Jamaican meat patties. Around here? And almost as if by divine providence, just as we were about to turn around and give up on our search, there we saw it: Almay's West Indian Kitchen. There was a small Jamaican flag hanging outside the establishment and so we figured it would be a good bet for finding the food to satisfy Will's particular craving.

It turns out Almay's West Indian Kitchen was the first Jamaican restaurant to open in Bergen County. The very tiny "restaurant" resembled more of a little corner market. There was only one table with three chairs and a couple of stools at the counter. But the food...yummy!

I had the jerk chicken meal which came with beans and rice, plaintains, and a serving of today's vegetable which happened to be cabbage. The chicken fell of the bone and was nicely spiced. I washed it down with coconut water. Will had his meat patty. Next time I'll try the curry goat. =)

red slushy streets

Heehee. Crazy Snapple people...trying to break the world's record for largest popsicle. Too bad the dream melted away. Hopefully no one was walking with expensive shoes in that area. And the poor cyclists...slipping and falling off their bikes...

But, wait...apparently, the popsicle came from New Jersey! haha.

metro worship

This past Sunday, with the drum shield in place and the drums miked, we were able to record the worship. Check it out!

Neah was telling me that with her busy tour schedule she feels like her voice is sounding more man-ish. ha. Decide for yourself if you think so. =)

But more than her voice, I believe she is anointed for worship...for leading people into a spirit of worship.

Enjoy!

grace lee

How many Grace Lees do you know?

A filmmaker named Grace Lee who grew up in the Midwest thought her name was unique until she moved and discovered she had one of the most popular Asian American female names around.

The more I heard about these other Grace Lees, the more I became convinced that "Grace Lee" signified an unmemorable, conservative hyper-achiever, confirming already existing stereotypes of Asian Americans.

Grace Lee, from her site

She made a film called The Grace Lee Project where she finds other people who share her name. It looks like a fun and insightful documentary. And it's playing tonight at the Los Angeles Film Festival! *sigh* Too bad I'm not in LA! You Cali folks should watch it! =)

Make sure to let all the Grace Lees know about this! =D

birthday merriment

Okay, so things didn't turn out exactly as I had planned. The plan was to get into Kirk's apartment, start preparing dinner, set things up, and change...all before his arrival. Getting into his apartment was the challenge, and despite the efforts of the front desk/door guys who were trying to get Kirk to fill out this permission form throughout the week, it didn't happen. I did not have permission to enter the apartment. Boo. (Now he knows why they were hassling him!)

So instead of being upstairs busily preparing dinner, I greeted Kirk at the lobby in my t-shirt and jeans, hair in a messy up-do, with a box filled with kitchen equipment and our uncooked dinner. haha. It's all good. I'm not the type who needs to stick to the plan.

In the end, I guess it didn't make too much of a difference. He was still surprised. Dinner was only about a half hour later than I had planned. The food came out okay. He still requested I change into what I was going to be wearing...and he even changed into a sarong as part of our deal. It was a nice evening. =)

Now I'm pooped! Nick is in town, and I just found out yesterday that Rej and Kumar will be in town this week. And my brother comes into town at the beginning of next week. I think I need a nap! Or a few days off. That would be nice.

birthday weekend & wine

Here are some pics from our one-day Kirk's birthday excursion to Long Island wine country!


piko (holding alexander), kirk, and joo at pindar. (dave is behind the camera.)

We made it to Pindar right before they closed the wine tasting bar. It's too bad we didn't get there a little earlier. Next time we won't bother to stop at Jamesport, the first winery of the day. The wine there was weak and not at all interesting. But other people seemed to like it...like the one couple next to me who was having problems pronouncing "varietal"...


my glaring forehead

At the second vineyard, Pellegrini, Kirk and I decided to frolic in the fields while Alex was being fed. (The wines here were noticeably better than Jamesport.) In the above pic, Kirk was directing my pose. (Turn to the right, chin down, etc.) What do you think my expression is saying? I think this pose highlights my already huge forehead. haha.


=P to you too!

Notice the cool gadget hanging around Kirk's neck? I had his birthday gift sent directly to him, and it arrived a little early. He's had his eye on the PIX Sports for a while now but was not able to get his hands on it. Boy, was I glad I beat him to it! =)

Instead of wearing the usual sticky name tag at church yesterday, Kirk clipped the PIX on his shirt with his name scrolling across it.


we should really feed him more

More birthday merriment later today! =D

birthday!

Today is Kirk's birthday! Happy Birthday, Wonderful! =D

north fork

Woo-hoo! I'm ready for the weekend!! =)

Kirk is taking the day off from work tomorrow, and a few of us will be heading east to the North Fork region of Long Island. We're going to wine country, baby! I've been reading up on the wineries to get myself ready. I have heard the wines in North Fork more resemble Bordeaux and European style wines in general rather than California-type wines. Hmmm....we'll see...

I'm ready for the weekend celebration of Kirk's special day...which is on Monday. Yay!

idiosyncrasies

Some of Kirk's idiosyncrasies:

He likes to take a break in the middle of his meal. So he'll eat, stop for a while, and then resume eating.

He likes his cereal soggy and his ice cream melted (just like you, Lauren!). He also likes his soup lukewarm. In each case, he'll wait until the food item reaches the consistency or the temperature he likes. (Reminds me of the time Lauren tried some of my GO LEAN Crunch cereal. She waited forever, and to her frustration, it never became soggy. heehee.)

He won't blow his nose or brush his teeth in front of anyone. It bothers him when others do those things in front of him.

Not sure if the next few items count as idiosyncrasies, but...

He will completely polish off certain food items in one sitting. Foods like chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies (half a dozen at least), dried mango slices (the entire bag), and Haagen Daz ice cream (the entire pint). What makes it all the more amusing is that some of those cookies were supposed to be part of his lunch the next day and he sometimes consumes the bag of mango slices he bought for someone else.

In his refrigerator you'll find water, OJ, milk, tonic water, leftover Chinese food, and mustard. In his freezer you'll find bottles of liquor...and nothing else.

Heehee.

autograph

Yesterday during our weekly lunch, esch handed me a copy of that book...the book that got me into the dating scene, on Match, and to eventually meet Kirk. Esch had the book autographed by Henry Cloud, the author, at the NewSong conference. Along with a scribbled signature, it reads, "To Joo, Good luck with Kirk."

Thanks, esch!

anabella

anabel, my niece, on the right with her new best friend bella

I like to call them Anabella. =)

nap time! 

the bitter end

Isn't it a strange coinky-dink that Neah, our worship leader and CAM (creative arts ministry) intern, and Sophia-Jay, composed of the music director and basically the entire worship team from Kirk's church, both performed at the Bitter End on the same night, back-to-back? I thought so.

After eating across the street at a very disorganized hot dog/hamburger/cheesesteak joint (good cheesesteak, terrible service...I mean, how many times does one have to repeat their order and it's still not right? Plus, they were so slow!), we entered the cozy Bitter End...packed with Asians! hahahaha.

Neah needs to expand her audience. She's much too talented to be limited to one demographic.

Towards the end of Neah's set, the Mosaic crowd came trickling in...and the demographic began to change. haha. I recognized a few faces, introduced myself to the person who sat next to me, and greeted the pastor as he walked in. We stuck around for the beginning of Sophia-Jay and then made our exit.

The downside of the evening? Kirk didn't end up making it; he's not feeling well. I couldn't help but think about him throughout the evening...kept wondering if I should break away from the group and pay Kirk a visit. I think I'll do that tonight. Apparently he's not feeling any better. =(

summer visitors

Woo-hoo! Nick is thinking of visiting NJ from 6/20-30. *fingers crossed* Now that Nick knows a lot more people in this area, I suppose I will have to share him. *sigh* And my bro will be in town the last week of June into the first couple of days in July...not sure how much I will see of him though considering he knows oh-so-many people. Susan will be visiting about mid-July. Yay!

I just wish my apartment wasn't so hot.

what to do? what to do?

My usual second Tuesday of the month (today) would entail picking up Ed after work and heading over to Whole Foods for their Tasting Tuesday event and then heading to the gym.

But on this Tuesday, Neah also happens to have a gig at the Bitter End, the oldest rock club in NYC where many famous musicians and comedians have performed.

Interestingly enough, after Neah will be Sophia - Jay. Kirk will be there to support Sophia since she goes to his church.

Whole Foods or Bitter End? I know, such a life-altering decision. What to do?

things on my mind...

How hot and humid it is.

How boring my work is, and how lazy I've become at work.

How amazing God's love is.

How sleepy I am. (Dang birds woke me up at 4:52 a.m.)

How much I miss California, especially since all these people have been vacationing there.

How great the people in my life are.

How I think I need a vacation.

And foremost on my mind? How Kirk's birthday is a week from today. Thinking through the details...

ONE

Did anyone watch Brad Pitt on Primetime Live with Diane Sawyer on Tuesday? I wanted to see it. And it's not because I wanted to drool over Brad Pitt, but I was curious as to what he had to say about Africa, poverty, and the ONE Campaign.

I first heard about the ONE Campaign from Simon the Wednesday before the team left for South Africa. That was about two months ago now. After the team returned, a representative from Bread for the World gave a presentation at our church. I'm wearing a white wristband that I picked up that Sunday. (Actually, I had to exchange wristbands with Ed. The one I picked up kept falling off.)

I'm glad to see celebrities taking action and becoming advocates. While they've been given wealth and fame, it's good to see them using their influence and power for something much more meaningful and worthwhile. And what makes this campaign (started by Bono) even more unique is that it's a collaborative effort of people and non-profit organizations with varying political views, all with the goal to fight global poverty and AIDS.

Join the campaign if you already haven't. You can make a difference, and it won't cost you a cent. It's not about raising money. It's about raising awareness and raising our voice as ONE.

next stop: LA

untitled, 1984

So Nick was all jealous that I got to see the Basquiat exhibit, but guess where it's going to next? MOCA in LA.

mail

Yesterday I had two pieces of mail in my mailbox. The first one was a legal notice from the Cliffside Park Municipal Court. The second was from my insurance company.

I was most curious about the legal notice, wondering what it might be. And what a surprise, but apparently there was a $10 parking ticket I received in April that I never paid. Now they were gonna charge me a penalty, and I would owe $64. HUH? I don't remember ever getting a ticket!

So I open the second piece of mail from my insurance company. It gave some information about the cost of the lab tests for my bloodwork, which is normal since I had received information like that from them before. But I had to look at it twice to make sure I was reading things correctly. From what I understood, it looked like the entire cost of the lab work would be my responsibility. All $397. HUH? Isn't this supposed to be classified as a routine preventive thing? Isn't insurance supposed to cover things like this?

I don't have $461 dollars to give...to anyone! And even if I did, I don't think it's my responsibility to give it!

=(

brooklyn museum

fireworks at the brooklyn museum

We caught the fireworks as we were leaving. Peter kindly took my camera since he had the best shot at getting the best shot. This is the best of the lot.

It was nice that we were able to take a picture from the front entrance which was newly renovated and unveiled last year. The new entrance and lobby area is open and spacious and beautifully done. Pretty cool, eh?

peter's rodin

While in line for the Basquiat exhibit, we passed through the Rodin section and happened by this statue that bore a striking resemblance to a weary Peter.

the teen years

During lunch I was talking with the Christian Education director about her thirteen year old daughter, a thirteen year old who happens to look 17 or 18. Apparently this past Sunday her daughter who frequently wears mini-skirts was also wearing a top that was strapless. And since she is well-developed at 13, many people noticed.

I think back to some of the things I wore when I was a teenager and wonder why in the world my parents let me wear those things. But like most teenagers, parental pressure would not have worked. I had to learn the lesson myself.

Being a teenager...with developing minds and bodies and personalities and an individuality...grappling with adolescent sexuality and the perceptions of others... How was it for you?

turning up the heat

Boy, is it hot out there! N-A-S-T-Y! Everyone who knows me knows how much of a wimp I am when it comes to heat and humidity. But...it's summer, and that means lots of activities! So much to do...

Although planning and organizing is not my favorite thing to do, I usually find myself organizing some kind of group event...like a trip to the Hollywood Bowl, etc. I think Basquiat is my first attempt at doing so since I moved out here...and honestly, I just threw the idea out there and realized the reponsibility would fall on my shoulders...

But not all things need to be planned. Yesterday when trying to figure out where we should go eat, Kirk asked a friend in the building who recommended a couple of places on Stone Street. Kirk had never even heard of Stone Street (he asked like three people for directions along the way...heehee), but we found it...a quaint cobblestone street, closed off to traffic. Instead of cars, the street is covered with tables from the restaurants that line the street. We chose Ulysses and ordered our beer and pub grub outside. (Lauren, they have Leffe Brown on their beer list! And they have lobsters! I thought of you...)

The patrons are mostly locals, although I'm sure during the work week, the place must be packed with Wall Street folks. Stone Street has a very European feel to it, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. What a great place to live!

Definitely need to go back here! A pizza place with a lovely wine menu was also recommended. And apparently the patisserie, which unfortunately is not open on Sundays, is supposed to be wonderful. I love discovering new places. =)

basquiat

On Saturday while Kirk was at his Remix Hotel conference, I gathered a small group of people to see the Basquiat exhibit in its final weekend at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The first Saturdays of the month are sponsored by Target: Admission is free, the museum stays open late, and there are a lot of extra activities.

We were told our wait to see Basquiat would be an hour and a half. At first I didn't believe it since the line was moving along, but, boy, they weren't kidding! I decided to purchase an audio tour (was thinking about trying to download an audio tour on the web to listen to on my iPod mini, but it got too complicated...haha) and worked my way through the two floors of the exhibit which followed his career chronologically. It was worth the wait!

Basquiat died of a drug overdose at the age of 27, but already by then in his short career, he had such an amazing influence in the international art world and in the emerging hip-hop culture. If the exhibit comes around to where you are, go see it!

The parking lot was filled with salsa dancers as we left the museum. And as soon as we pulled out of our parking spot....BOOM! The fireworks began! =) (Picture or two to be posted when I get them off my camera.) Then it was off to Juniors for some yummy grub, drinks, and cheesecake. A great day in Brooklyn!

the newest member of metro's singles group 

=)

Although yesterday started off a bit sour at work (the pastor acknowledges that he owes me one), it ended on a much better note.

I felt refreshed after two hours at the gym. Came home, showered, and it was off to the city! Amy alerted me to the fact that it was opening night for a new lounge, Opus 22, in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. Our buddy, Joanne, is one of the general managers of the lounge, and her friend is the proud owner.

Poor Amy. She was ready to go home but awaited my arrival. I arrived in time before the open bar closed at 11 p.m. (woo-hoo!) Then we waited for Kirk. And then Will came. Amy could have been home by 10:30 if she hadn't waited for me. Instead I dropped her off at 1:30 a.m. Poor Amy.

still at work...

Wow, I haven't been able to blog until now. And why am I still at work?

Not that I really have all that much to complain about. At least this is not a regular occurrence. Anyway...

I'm off to the gym to kick and punch my aggression out! One of the up-sides of not having small group on Thursday is that I can take Kwando (a kickboxing/tae kwon do/karate class) and Powerflex (a class using various free weights), two classes that I used to take regularly (with my roommies!) when I lived in Pasadena. I found out that one of the gals at church takes the Kwando class with her mom. She says the instructor is great (makes a HUGE difference). And I'll get to meet her mom, too!

I'm ready to kick and punch and lift some weights! =D

so predictable

Okay, so I'm out of the weird funk I was in yesterday. I mean, it wasn't that bad, but it was just this underlying uneasiness...all because of an unsettling dream that just seemed so real. *shiver*

Wacky dreams, and my appetite has increased. It must be that beloved time...PMS has begun! =D