Day 3: This diet has got me eating 2 things I really don't like. Cheese and celery. I don't think I'll go so far as to start eating cottage cheese though. Now that is gross...

As much as I hate to admit it, "The Prince & Me" was cute. Very ridiculously cheesy at times, but I expected it. But really, the prince-guy made the movie. I'm not sure I would have thought it as cute a movie if someone not-so-good looking starred in it.
I know I'm on a guy fast this year, but I think I can still look at famous people. Because there really is no chance I'd ever meet any one of them. Unlike Sarah, I do realize Usher can't be my boyfriend, so he's nice to look at and it stops there. :)

South Beach Diet Day 1. Bring it on!
The next 2 weeks are going to be depressing. I had water and egg substitute this morning for breakfast. Salad and celery for lunch. Bleh.

But I'm going to watch "The Prince & Me" tonight. Cheesy, I know. I don't really like Julia Stiles, but it's a free screening so I'm going...

Update: new pictures up (that's for you, Sarah)

23 is a good number. Anyone that disagrees can go eat poop.
That is all.

I went to the David Crowder Concert last night. It was great! I was wearing more comfortable shoes than at the Switchfoot concert so that helped. And since Dave Crowder is a definite christian group (as opposed to Switchfoot that has sort of crossed over to mainstream), the crowd was a lot nicer. There was the usual crowd up front, but I didn't have to bust out a "Can you watch it over here?" [see Isabel's blog].

David Crowder is a really funny guy. He had this afro-type hair and this crazy beard. Haha. I've never seen a picture of him, but definitely not what I expected of a praise leader. It was refreshing. And he has this Texan-and-something-else accent, and he kind of stutters (which I can't figure out if he was doing on purpose or not), but he's hilarious. Told us how he bought the Dr. Pepper house (built by the guy that invented Dr. Pepper), and some story about a squirrel.

First link, check out picture 8

Came home and had a nice package waiting for me. Cliff, from church got me a birthday present. He decorated the box with different pictures of himself, and each picture had a cartoon bubble with captions on it. Inside, there was a picture of him holding up a piece of paper that said "Happy Birthday Chris." Really good idea... nice alternative to your usual card. He got me clothes and I was very impressed. The clothes are cute and the size is right too. Ok, granted he works at Old Navy... but still... to figure out a person's style AND size... that takes talent. Thanks, Cliff :)

My newest project is to memorize the streets in San Francisco. Being a native, I get a lot of heat for not knowing which direction to go. So I now have a map of everything east of Divisadero. I'm going to memorize the order of the streets, and then eventually, which streets go in which direction. Too many one-way streets in SF. I know, it's easier to learn by experience, meaning I should drive around that area more often. But I'm thinking it doesn't hurt to have it memorized as well. And before you start calling me for directions, remember I'm in the beginning phase of my project...

My brother helped me download a new ring tone to my phone. So if you're on my contact list and you call, I'll be bumpin to "Regulator" by Nate Dogg and Warren G. I was very close to downloading "Rock Your Body" instead. I think I can pass for a cool-to-hang-out-with kind of girl. But my brother always makes me feel like the hugest dork. Dang it... me and my trying to be deemed "cool" by my brother. Sylvia understands...

I still think I'm going to download "Rock Your Body." haha. Unless they come out with "Yeah" by Usher sometime soon!

Had lunch with a friend today. We prayed before we started eating, and during our conversation, this lady came up to us and said, "Excuse me. I just saw you guys saying grace. I wanted to tell you that made my day." :)

That made my day.

I was in LA for the weekend. Had a great time. One of the highlights... my brother and Susan came to pick me up from the airport and they took me to Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade to go shopping. I was trying to buy her something in secret, and kept asking my brother for his opinion on things. Said he didn't know. Turns out, she was trying to do the same thing for me. We kept holding up clothes for him to judge if it would suit each other's taste. hahaha. Felt bad for him... a guy that doesn't know much about girls' clothes...

Knotts Berry Farm is super fun. I want to go again... ride more things. I guess I fulfilled my carnival/fair itch.

My left jaw unhinges when I eat something hard. Like deli sandwhich bread. Every time I chew, I can feel it clicking in and out of place. Not pleasant. I'm afraid one of these days, mid-chew, my jaw will just lock and I won't be able to eat anymore! I'll have to drink all my meals. How depressing would that be!

This losing weight thing is way too hard. I've been working out consistently for a while now, but the scale doesn't seem to budge. And to top it off, I know this might be too much information, but I'm going through that time of the month where I want to eat everything in sight - sweet AND salty. How is a girl supposed to lose weight when she has to deal with all that other crap?!?! (hahaha, can you detect the moodiness?) South Beach, you made my life so miserable, but I have a feeling I'll be coming back to you in 2 weeks' time.

I was SO excited to go ride the little carnival rides last night. Called Janet out, and being the good friend that she is, decided to amuse me by coming with me, even though she wasn't as excited. We get there and nothing. They tore everything down. I guess it was only here for the weekend. Made me really sad... should have gone on Sunday when I had the chance.

So we ended up at Twin Peaks instead. The air was surprisingly warm up there and the sky was so clear. We had a beautiful view of the city. Just sat there talking and trying to figure out different landmarks. I think we only realized how little we know our city. I had a great time nonetheless. Definitely not the same as riding little kiddy rides, eating cotton candy, and winning ugly stuffed animals. But nothing beats great weather, great view, and great company.

I sat out at Justin Herman Plaza for lunch today. There was a church choir/gospel group that was out there performing. I just figured they were on their spring break, doing a tour. Then I started thinking, I don't know if just standing up there singing is going to do anything. They're in the financial district of San Francisco, where people have nice jobs and are probably content with where they're at. Then I was reminded why I was here... let's make a difference!

I just discovered there's a Specialty's Bakery 2 blocks away from work. They have the best black and white cookies. This is very good news, but very very bad news. I usually limit myself to a cookie only when Isabel and I met up for lunch. That was a bit farther away. But I don't know now...

I went to Berkeley to watch the guys play softball last night. Man, I miss that game. I think softball is way more fun than football.

I got in trouble from my mom before I went. She said it was too late for a girl to be out, let alone drive out there alone. The whole time I was thinking, "you've got to be kidding me... I'm almost 23 years old, and you're not letting me go??" It was worth it though. I got to hang out with people I haven't seen in a while. Kay, Eugene, Allen, Sammy, Billy Ku, Kwan. Good talks, good times.

I ran over to Safeway last night at 11pm. I saw that they were setting up for their yearly carnival again. They close off part of the parking lot and set up little carnival rides. Each year I think, "that looks like so much fun" and I never end up going. But I'm determined to go this year. Anyone want to join me? They don't have everything set up, so I'm thinking it'll open either next week or the week after.

I told my sister and she gave me this look and said, "those rides are for little kids." But I'm gonna try to go anyway. I just hope I fit into a seat... or don't break a ride.

I put up a princess-looking canopy net above my bed. Now, if you guys know me at all, you would know I'd be one of the last people that would put something like that up for the pretty factor. Sure, I like some girly things, but this is a bit too "gong-joo" for me, if you know what I mean. And no offense to anyone that has one up because they think it's pretty. I put it up for more practical reasons.

So I put this net up is because I have this mosquito phobia. Honestly, mosquitos will keep me up half the night because I'm the type of person that will wake up with 10 bites from one mosquito. And since the weather has been so warm, if I don't open my windows now, I'll never get to air out my room. So I'm hoping that this net will allow me to open my windows, and let me sleep phobia/bite free.

I've been wanting to decorate my cubicle. I've been here 4 months now, and my cubicle looks almost the same. Now there's paper scattered everywhere, but it's pretty much blank. I've been meaning to bring in some pictures to make it feel more "home-y."

I bought a mini cactus in Phoenix when I was there for training in January. I thought it might do something to this very boring cubicle of mine, and since I don't have to water it all that much, it would be low maintenance. I realized this morning I haven't watered my cactus since I purchased it. I looked at it and the brown needles just scream neglect. Hope this isn't a sign I'm going to be a bad mother.

I'm going to LA in 2 weeks. I'm so excited!!! Just to go hang out with people I haven't seen in a while... and check out Gower's beautiful wedding dress. :)

I told my brother I was going down. It wasn't until this past week we were talking on the phone that he realized that's when his spring break starts. So we're basically flip flop-ing. I'm going down on Friday, he's coming up on Friday. But I'm coming back up on Sunday, so I guess I'll have 1 day to hang out with him. Monday. He has to go back down early to work.

Had a pretty funny conversation with my brother about *ahem*someone's*ahem* infatuation with Jamie, from the Real World. We'll see if that phone number gets passed along. It'd be interesting to see if he really has the guts to follow through and call.

I'm trying my hand at cooking again. I've picked out a few recipes from a cookbook that look good. But I think American food is not quite the right taste for a korean person. Yesterday, I made salmon risotto. Let me tell you... the picture looks soo much better. hahaha. I feel bad for my dad. He's used to his Korean food. And here, I plop down some mush, and he has to eat it, because my mom won't make anything else.

So that's what I had for lunch today. Salmon risotto. I have a pan full of this stuff, and since I made it, I must eat it. Hopefully the other recipes I've picked out will taste better than this.

And don't be deceived. I'm actually an ok cook. I'm telling you... it's the recipe. hahaha.

Sometimes I wish I were a better bluffer. In terms of not showing my emotions on my face. It would come in very handy playing poker. I haven't played yet, but I just know I would suck. But I have one of those faces that turn bright red when I'm embarassed. It's not just turning red though. You can actually see the color climb up my face. And you would think there's just one shade of red, but no. When people point out how red I'm turning, I turn a brighter shade of red.

The guys at biblestudy can always tell what temperature their house is by looking at the color of my face. When the heater is on, my face is unusually red. They say I look really tan, but I think that's just a nice way of saying I look sunburned. And when the heater isn't turned on, my face is a more normal color... until they crack a joke about it...

My dial up connection from home makes it almost impossible to upload pictures. But nevertheless, I did this last night while watching the Oscars... Enjoy!

Pictures