We have family friends that I always get to see when I go home. Old enough to be my grandparents, I love talking to them about their post-retirement traveling around the world and about politics because they have seen and remember it all. They are also staunch Democrats, which is an added bonus.
Today when my parents and I met them for lunch, the husband was telling us about how he immigrated to the United States during the 1950s and how he almost missed the boat from Japan to California. As in he got on the wrong train, which made him late for his boat, which had already pulled the boarding ramp. But he miraculously made it on and across the Pacific Ocean after a long ride. I love those stories.
Incidentally, my dad told his own stories over dinner today. How he left Vietnam and worked in a sausage factory in France, hitchhiked to work, and left a girl in Paris, saying he would come back from America to be with her again. Yeah, that never happened.
Even though I have heard some of these stories before, I think I can appreciate them more now. My dad and many of our family friends immigrated to the United States by themselves when they were my age (and my mom with her family when she was even younger). They may all seem like quiet suburbanites now, but they had some pretty crazy experiences.
Geeze, now I feel boring compared to my parents. I guess I still have time to catch up.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
A Pajama Day
The sun never came out today, which is a rare thing to happen in Southern California. In fact, I cannot remember the last time it was just gloomy all day without rain here. Yet today the clouds, marine layer, and fog all coalesced to create a Seattle or Bay Area-like environment.
Maybe that's what led to my family's unusually lazy day in the house. Typically when we are in San Clemente everyone in the family does his or her own thing, and spends a good part of it outside. Instead today we stayed inside all day, in our pajamas for most of the day (or in my mom's case--all day) and played Wii/Wii Fit games, watched two movies, and ate foods like sunny-side up eggs and tomato soup. It feltl like we had an all-day rainy day, the kind you have in elementary school.
And as usual, I won bowling with my lob throwing style. My uncle (3rd place), who was visiting for the past few days, filled in for my brother as the fourth member of the family.
Maybe that's what led to my family's unusually lazy day in the house. Typically when we are in San Clemente everyone in the family does his or her own thing, and spends a good part of it outside. Instead today we stayed inside all day, in our pajamas for most of the day (or in my mom's case--all day) and played Wii/Wii Fit games, watched two movies, and ate foods like sunny-side up eggs and tomato soup. It feltl like we had an all-day rainy day, the kind you have in elementary school.
And as usual, I won bowling with my lob throwing style. My uncle (3rd place), who was visiting for the past few days, filled in for my brother as the fourth member of the family.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy New Year
And Happy Birthday Dad too! In honor of my Dad (the ultimate planner and goal maker), a new Presidential administration full of hope (still not jaded yet), and in the spirit the new year, I have decided to actually write down my resolutions this year.
A lot of people think resolutions are stupid but I like clean slates at the beginning of the year, tangible checklists, and occasionally fulfilling my year-long goals (this blog was one of them.) Realistically, these will need to be reevaluated once I graduate since some circumstances will change, but most of these will probably be able to endure. So here we go:
A lot of people think resolutions are stupid but I like clean slates at the beginning of the year, tangible checklists, and occasionally fulfilling my year-long goals (this blog was one of them.) Realistically, these will need to be reevaluated once I graduate since some circumstances will change, but most of these will probably be able to endure. So here we go:
- Spend less time on the computer. I wish I could quantify this better, but I do not need to spend every waking moment with my laptop.
- Keep a more regular exercise routine. If Barack Obama was able to work-out 90 minutes a day, 6 times a week during the entire election cycle, I think I should aim for at least half of that (45 minutes, 3x a week).
- Explore more of DC and the East Coast. Visit at least one new city before graduation.
- Watch less television. No more than an hour a night during the week with exceptions for UCLA basketball games and tv at the gym.
- Cook more meals for Alex (or have him cook for me) instead of going out to eat as much for date nights.
- Work on having better posture.
- Try to stop thinking negatively about people and reduce the gossiping. Two hard things in law school, but a goal nonetheless.
- Be less of a homebody. Go out more often when invited by friends and do different things with Alex (translate: don't sit around and watch Law and Order reruns at night)
- Be more 'green'
- Stop procrastinating on bar exam logistics.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
2008: Year in Review
My annual review of the year . . .
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Some ‘firsts’ in chronological order: received a copy of my published law review article, went to the Final Four, had a paying summer job, went to the cabin with Alex's family, had my own clients, voted for the winner in a Presidential election, spoke in court in front of a judge.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I cannot remember if I made any last year, but I plan on making some this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Doug and Sara had little Charlotte.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Only more distant relatives and relatives of friends.
5. What countries did you visit?
I did not leave the country this year but I did get explore more the United States like Texas, Philadelphia, and more of the Bay Area.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
An answer to the question: what are you doing after graduation?
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4, 2008, when the news called the election for Barack Obama. It was amazing being in a bar, watching the results on 20 tvs with hundreds of other supporters and then celebrating out on the streets past midnight.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think I grew a lot professionally by trying a lot of new things and not stressing about finding the one job that I will do for the rest of my life. This year I got to work on higher ed issues at the university’s general counsel’s office, family and k-12 ed law at my summer job, and provide services for low income clients at the clinic.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Allowing bratty undergraduates in Santa Barbara get the better of me in my summer subletting situation.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Allergies. My roommate calls me sneezy.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Wii and Wii Fit my brother and I got for my parents. Fun for the whole family.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I am very proud of my younger brother from graduating from Berkeley’s engineering school, finding a job that he loves, and living on his own in San Francisco.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There is nothing like election year to remind you that there is a surprisingly large population of our country who are ignorant and prejudiced. Additionally, I went up against two opposing counsels this year who were unbelievably rude and gave lawyers a bad name.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition and during the summer, a large part of my paycheck went to gas. Filling up the old Explorer cost over $75 each time.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Presidential Election and going to work every day in the General Counsel’s Office.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
It’s not a good song, but Fix It by Danity Kane because the boys sang it when we were in San Antonio for the Final Four, it always came on the radio when I was driving to work this summer, and my roommate liked to play the song in the apartment for me.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Same I think.
iii. richer or poorer? Even though I made more money than ever before, tuition kind of canceled that out. Hopefully this will be my last year of being poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read more for pleasure, exercised more regularly
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Trying to please everyone, spending time on the computer, and watching television.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas again with my mom’s family (over 25 of us) in San Clemente.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
More every day.
23. How many one-night stands?
Not applicable
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Top Chef, Project Runway, the Office, Extreme Home Makeover, and many other reality tv shows on Bravo I should not watch so much of.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I realized that every year I fill this out, I pick a new politician every year. In that vein: I have a deep disdain for Sarah Palin. Additionally, I really disliked some lawyers I worked against and the girls I had to deal with this summer. Other than that, I do not hate anyone close or who matters to me.
26. What was the best book you read?
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I rediscovered hip-hop and pop music thanks to having a car and radio again this summer.
28. What did you want and get?
Alex bought me the coveted purple pea coat, a find that impressed many.
29. What did you want and not get?
Every year I have to say a national championship in basketball for UCLA.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Mamma Mia because of my unconditional love of anything related to ABBA. Surprisingly, I also really enjoyed Iron Man.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a low-key birthday with my family and some extended family in San Clemente.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think I had a pretty satisfying year; I cannot think of anything that would have made it significantly better.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Business casual with a splash of fun and feminine H&M separates.
34. What kept you sane?
Family, boyfriend, friends, roommate, and coworkers to give me perspective. Going to church weekly to cleanse my mind.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The entire Obama family.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Besides the general election, gay marriage and Proposition 8.
37. Who did you miss?
Many of my friends and family who live across the country.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of the new people that I have worked with this year. I was lucky to find many great mentors. Additionally, I became good friends with many new people on my law journal.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Seek out new opportunities personally and professionally because you can never have learned enough.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I am never good at this question so how about a YouTube video that reminds me of this year and always makes me smile.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Some ‘firsts’ in chronological order: received a copy of my published law review article, went to the Final Four, had a paying summer job, went to the cabin with Alex's family, had my own clients, voted for the winner in a Presidential election, spoke in court in front of a judge.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I cannot remember if I made any last year, but I plan on making some this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Doug and Sara had little Charlotte.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Only more distant relatives and relatives of friends.
5. What countries did you visit?
I did not leave the country this year but I did get explore more the United States like Texas, Philadelphia, and more of the Bay Area.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
An answer to the question: what are you doing after graduation?
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4, 2008, when the news called the election for Barack Obama. It was amazing being in a bar, watching the results on 20 tvs with hundreds of other supporters and then celebrating out on the streets past midnight.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think I grew a lot professionally by trying a lot of new things and not stressing about finding the one job that I will do for the rest of my life. This year I got to work on higher ed issues at the university’s general counsel’s office, family and k-12 ed law at my summer job, and provide services for low income clients at the clinic.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Allowing bratty undergraduates in Santa Barbara get the better of me in my summer subletting situation.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Allergies. My roommate calls me sneezy.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Wii and Wii Fit my brother and I got for my parents. Fun for the whole family.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I am very proud of my younger brother from graduating from Berkeley’s engineering school, finding a job that he loves, and living on his own in San Francisco.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There is nothing like election year to remind you that there is a surprisingly large population of our country who are ignorant and prejudiced. Additionally, I went up against two opposing counsels this year who were unbelievably rude and gave lawyers a bad name.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition and during the summer, a large part of my paycheck went to gas. Filling up the old Explorer cost over $75 each time.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Presidential Election and going to work every day in the General Counsel’s Office.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
It’s not a good song, but Fix It by Danity Kane because the boys sang it when we were in San Antonio for the Final Four, it always came on the radio when I was driving to work this summer, and my roommate liked to play the song in the apartment for me.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Same I think.
iii. richer or poorer? Even though I made more money than ever before, tuition kind of canceled that out. Hopefully this will be my last year of being poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read more for pleasure, exercised more regularly
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Trying to please everyone, spending time on the computer, and watching television.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas again with my mom’s family (over 25 of us) in San Clemente.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
More every day.
23. How many one-night stands?
Not applicable
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Top Chef, Project Runway, the Office, Extreme Home Makeover, and many other reality tv shows on Bravo I should not watch so much of.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I realized that every year I fill this out, I pick a new politician every year. In that vein: I have a deep disdain for Sarah Palin. Additionally, I really disliked some lawyers I worked against and the girls I had to deal with this summer. Other than that, I do not hate anyone close or who matters to me.
26. What was the best book you read?
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I rediscovered hip-hop and pop music thanks to having a car and radio again this summer.
28. What did you want and get?
Alex bought me the coveted purple pea coat, a find that impressed many.
29. What did you want and not get?
Every year I have to say a national championship in basketball for UCLA.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Mamma Mia because of my unconditional love of anything related to ABBA. Surprisingly, I also really enjoyed Iron Man.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a low-key birthday with my family and some extended family in San Clemente.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think I had a pretty satisfying year; I cannot think of anything that would have made it significantly better.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Business casual with a splash of fun and feminine H&M separates.
34. What kept you sane?
Family, boyfriend, friends, roommate, and coworkers to give me perspective. Going to church weekly to cleanse my mind.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The entire Obama family.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Besides the general election, gay marriage and Proposition 8.
37. Who did you miss?
Many of my friends and family who live across the country.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of the new people that I have worked with this year. I was lucky to find many great mentors. Additionally, I became good friends with many new people on my law journal.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Seek out new opportunities personally and professionally because you can never have learned enough.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I am never good at this question so how about a YouTube video that reminds me of this year and always makes me smile.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Holiday Highlights
Now that all of the extended family and Alex have left, I have a little time to catch up on my blogging before the new year. It has been a good break. Here are some highlights and pictures:
On Christmas Eve we had our usual big family dinner and gifts. This year we decided to do a White Elephant like game (but with good stuff). Despite some contentious steals, I think everyone had a lot of fun and liked what they got. I got books but I also had my eye on stealing the Clapper, which is what my grandma ended up getting.
On Christmas some of my younger cousins opened their Christmas gifts while we all watched Mamma Mia sing-along-version. The highlight gift was definitely Rockband, since the whole family could play. It was a lot of fun seeing everyone try out different instruments and my grandma sing Duran Duran's "Hungry Like A Wolf."
And I helped my cousins decorate a gingerbread house . . . which subsequently was attacked by ants :( It's ok, they didn't need any more sugar.
Day after Christmas was Wild Animal Park in San Diego, which is one of the few zoos I actually enjoy going to.
After all the family left, Alex came. No pictures, but we went to my friend Doug's Christmas party to hang out with old friends and see his cute new baby, Charlotte. The next day we went to UCLA to watch the basketball team destroy Louisiana State and then had sushi with my parents.
Finally yesterday we drove up to Santa Barbara and along the way we stopped to buy produce and grab a quick lunch. Oh taco trucks, how we love thee. 3 tacos = $3.75. It was good seeing Alex's family and playing games.
For all pictures of my winter break thus far, you can check them out at my Flickr account. And I still have one more week of California left for me to enjoy.
On Christmas Eve we had our usual big family dinner and gifts. This year we decided to do a White Elephant like game (but with good stuff). Despite some contentious steals, I think everyone had a lot of fun and liked what they got. I got books but I also had my eye on stealing the Clapper, which is what my grandma ended up getting.
On Christmas some of my younger cousins opened their Christmas gifts while we all watched Mamma Mia sing-along-version. The highlight gift was definitely Rockband, since the whole family could play. It was a lot of fun seeing everyone try out different instruments and my grandma sing Duran Duran's "Hungry Like A Wolf."
And I helped my cousins decorate a gingerbread house . . . which subsequently was attacked by ants :( It's ok, they didn't need any more sugar.
Day after Christmas was Wild Animal Park in San Diego, which is one of the few zoos I actually enjoy going to.
After all the family left, Alex came. No pictures, but we went to my friend Doug's Christmas party to hang out with old friends and see his cute new baby, Charlotte. The next day we went to UCLA to watch the basketball team destroy Louisiana State and then had sushi with my parents.Finally yesterday we drove up to Santa Barbara and along the way we stopped to buy produce and grab a quick lunch. Oh taco trucks, how we love thee. 3 tacos = $3.75. It was good seeing Alex's family and playing games.
For all pictures of my winter break thus far, you can check them out at my Flickr account. And I still have one more week of California left for me to enjoy.
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