Happy 4th!

Where are they?

This is what the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) announced yesterday:

For the 63rd year in a row, the number of boys born in the United States outnumbered births of girls, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
In 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 94,232 more boys were born than girls. Since 1940, an average of 91,685 more boys have been born each year, the agency said. That amounts to a total of 5,776,130 more male babies than females over the 63-year period. The agency said the more children a woman has, the more likely she is to give birth to an equal number of boys and girls. Chinese and Filipino mothers were most likely to give birth to more boys than girls, while non-Hispanic black and American-Indian mothers were most likely to have an equal number of infants of both sexes, the CDC said.

So my question is: Where are all these men?

Turning 30 and what it means to me

So I'll be turning 30 this Friday... Yep, happy birthday to me. I really dread this birthday, because it's one of those years that becomes a turning point in life. It's like your 18th, or 21st birthday-type of year. Being 30 means you're no longer in your 20's, no matter where in the late 20's you are. It makes you remember the "old" times and refer to the 80's song as "oldies." It means checking off a different age group when filling out questionaires. It defines the difference between a Miss and a Madam. It makes you realize that you can't pull all-nighters anymore and that your little heart can't take those daredevil rollercoaster rides anymore. It also brings you into a totally different mindset in financial terms because now you find yourself paying attention to those Social Security debates because they start to mean something to you now...

The most scariest part of being 30 to me is that it means that my biological clock is ticking and I'm running out of excuses (and time) for not having a baby yet. I woke up in the middle of the night in sweat one day because I dreamt that I was pregnant. Yes, I have a fear in having babies. I have a fear to raising kids. I have a fear in the whole process. But yet, I know I have to do it, now sooner than later. Turning 30 is forcing me to stop procrastinating and to face my fear!

The Common Cold

After my 2 year streak of being "cold-free," I have finally fallen ill to the common cold virus this past week. It all started off with a sore throat, which of course, being Chinese, I immediately thought the sore throat was a result of "hot air." I began my spree of eating and drinking anything that was classified as "cool" - melons, ice cream, ching-bo-leung, etc. But the sore throat quickly developed into a congested nose and a fever. It was then I realized that my strong immune system that protected me for the past 2 years lost its battle against the evil virus. The cough came and then more congestion. I missed 2 days of work, and I'm still trying to recover right now. The hope of being 100% well in the next day or so seems unlikely. I need to heal quickly because on Monday, I will be stepping into a plane, i.e. the best breeding ground for germs to spread. It will be a 5 hour flight to New York, which is a very long flight in my definition. I don't want to spread my germs to others nor do I want my weak immune system to engage in any more fights with other viruses. This is perhaps one of the worse colds I've had... symptoms acting in full-fledge and lastinglonger than usual!

Desperate Housewives

I love every Sunday night's Desperate Housewives! The show has a plot that draws me in like a magnet, and every episode never fails to do just that. The storyline gets more and more interesting every Sunday. This is, by far, one of the best TV shows I've watched. If you are a fan of Desperate Housewives and have been missing a few ones here and there, watch the April 27th show, which is supposed to be a "recap" of all that has happened since the premiere. And boy, there are a lot that has happened! A lot of secrets have been revealed!!!

Catching up

It's always a treat to meet up with an old friend once in a while and have a nice lunch to catch up. I met up with a college friend today and we talked non-stop throughout lunch. We gave updates on our lives, which remained pretty much status quo. We mentioned that every time we meet, which is about 2-3 times a year, life hasn't changed much since. There weren't any "dramatic" changes. We defined "dramatic" changes as:

1. A new job
2. A new love life (boyfriend, fiance, husband)
3. A new dwelling (buying a house, moving)
4. A new baby

So how do we end up talking for an entire hour if we've determined within seconds that our lives remained "same ol', same ol'?" Well, the joy of having 2 women together can be translated to talking about other people's dramatic changes. While it's politically-correct to catch up on each other's lives, it's much more interesting to catch up on the latest gossip!

I'm sad to announce that the watch department I currently handle at work is under the chopping block. Senior management thinks the department's brand line-up and price points are too "cheap" for the company's image. They want the cheapest watch that we offer to customers to be at least $200; so the $60 watches in my department just won't cut it. So there it goes. My department, my vendors, and most importantly, my bonus. Throughout the year, we work hard, long hours just so we can beat our sales targets and get our much-deserved bonus. So it's only 3 months into the year, and because of this decision made by Senior management, we are left in the cold. We are in the process of negotiating with the company to make some "exceptions" because this is simply unfair. Why should our team be punished for the Company's decision?

In addition to the bonus, the ultimate question is what will happen to me? I'm actually not too sure myself. If my entire department is to go away, will they eventually eliminate my position and lay me off? There is always this chance. Why keep that extra body and head count around? Hmmm....

Cruise

My husband and I, along with my entire family just came back from a short cruise vacation we took this past week. This was my first cruise but I've heard quite a lot of things about cruises from friends and people who have gone before. Our port of call was in L.A. so we had to drive down there. It was no easy task to coordinate a trip for 18 people, ages ranging from 1 year old to 70. Thankfully, it was somehow managed and no major issues happened. The ship was a little bit aged and probably needed renovations, but overall, not too bad. The best part of the cruise was of course, the delicious, around-the-clock food. Dinners were of course the best --many times I ordered more than 1 appetitizer, more than 1 entree, and more than 1 dessert! :P

Our port stops included San Diego, Catalina Island, and Ensenada. We visited the San Diego Zoo, kayaked on Catalina Island, and walked around Ensenada. This was definitely a good starter cruise because it was short and have 3 port stops to rest and be on land. I actually got a little uneasy when we sailed over choppy waters the first day. I never knew whether I get motion-sickness or not. I've been on speedboats before and have no problems but the rides were always less than 30 minutes short. I guess I was able to adapt on this cruise to the constant swaying.

So the week just zoomed by without me even realizing it. I'm now back in S.F. and am totally NOT looking forward to going back to work. I took a sneak preview of my work inbox and saw that I have 250 emails sitting there. :( Next week is going to be a long week for me, like always.

Spring Forward!

Monarch of the Seas

Women Turning 30

Googi just forwarded me an email about CBS 60 Minutes Andy Rooney's discussion about women over 30. It reminded me of an old article I kept back from 1997, titled "30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30." I ran across this article in the May 1997 issue of GlamourMagazine, thought it was interesting, so I decided to keep it. I figured, when the day comes that I turn 30, I will reflect on the list and see how it all relates to me. I was 22 at that time, so 30 seemed very far in the future. Well, what do you know? I'll be turning 30 this year!! Anyways, Googi's email made me dig this article back up from my storage bin and here I would like to share with you the List:

30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30

Should have:

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you've come
2. Enough money within your control to move out and rent a place on your own, even if you never want or need to
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or lover of your dreams wants to see you in an hour
4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you're not ashamed to be seen carrying
5. A youth you're content to move beyond
6. A past juicy enough that you're looking forward to retelling it in your old age
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age - and enough money to fund it
8. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra
9. One friend who always make you laugh and one who lets you cry
10. A good piece of furniture not previously own by anyone else in your family
11. Eight matching plates, wineglasses and a recipe for a meal that will make your guests feel honored
12. A resume that is not even the slightest bit padded
13. A feeling of control over your destiny
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don't get better after 30
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better

Should know:

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself
2. How you feel about having kids
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship
4. When to try harder and when to walk away
5. How to kiss a man in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn't like to have happen next
6. How to have a good time at a party you'd never choose to attend
7. How to ask for what you want in a way that makes it most likely you'll get it
8. That you can't change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents
9. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over
10. What you would and wouldn't do for money or love
11. How to live alone, even if you don't like to
12. Who you can trust, who you can't and why you shouldn't take it personally
13. Where to go when your soul needs soothing
14. What you can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, a year
15. Why they say life begins at 30

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Snow in the Big Apple

Just came back from yet another week-long business trip to the Big Apple. While Californians were enjoying spring-like weather, it was a whole different story in the East Coast. The temperatures were freezing! We had 50-mph wind gusts that made the temperature drop to a mere 15 degrees. Not 15 degrees C, 15 degrees F! Water literally froze! One day, it even snowed which gave the city a couple of inches. While it was a beautiful sight to see the snowflakes fall onto the ground, getting around the City was a nightmare. Along with the cold temperature, it was nearly impossible to catch a cab, the ground was super-duper slippery, stores closed early, traffic was a mess, and flights were delayed. People became short-tempered, viscious when fighting for cabs, etc. Overall, not a pretty scene! I was thinking to myself, this is why I love California, the Bay Area. It's truly beautiful here.

My big bonus check

I have to admit that I am very happy with the big bonus I got this year from work. Actually, the bonus I got this year is for last year's performance so next year I'll get the bonus for this year's performance. Did I confuse you? Anyways, again, I am very happy. It is the most money I've ever got as a bonus since I started working in the corporate world. Hope it won't be true, but I'm afraid that this may be the most I will ever receive. Either way, I am glad to have the joy of getting such a big check in the mail. Of course, the true benefactor of the bonus is Uncle Sam. He doesn't even have to work for it. My hard-earned check got cut in half because of him. It's absurb.

I'm done with 2 meetings, and have 1 more to go tomorrow. With those endless projects and ad-hoc assignments, I am thoroughly stressed out at work. It seems like the only time of the day I look at the clock, it's already 5:30pm. The day just zooms by without me even realizing it. I have too much to do with too little time. I really need a break. But you know what a break does to me? Create and pile up work, and then I suffer even more. Too bad my assistant is so lazy to do anything for me. She just does her work, status quo. If I don't ask, she doesn't do it. Even when I ask, it takes her a long time. That's why people stay at the same level where they are, even if it means 14 long years. *sigh*

I noticed that none of my fellow bloggers are blogging anymore. I wonder if anyone reads my blog? Too bad there isn't a guest counter on these pages, then I can check if I actually have loyal readers out there and who checks in. Either way, I still blog because this became my journal. I go through my past entries once in a while and it's still fun to re-read what I wrote... especially during a certain period of time, whether I was happy or sad. They're my thoughts, my feelings...

Rain on window

I did so little this 3-day weekend that I can barely remember what I did. I just remember sleeping late, and thus, waking up late. By the time I got out of bed, 1/2 the day has gone by. I love keeping my room really dark and sleeping in. For the past 3 days, I remember going out to eat lunch, and then hurrying back home. Didn't go anywhere else. The weather has been yucky, so it was actually nice to stay dry at home. I love listening to the rain when it hits the window. It only makes me feel more comfortable and warm. The best feeling was eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's in bed, watching TV and listening to the rain. It's a very cozy feeling.

To do nothing during the weekend is nice, and is actually a good compliment to my upcoming busy work week. I have several meetings lined up this week, which will take a lot of time away from my day-to-day workload. This will mean that I will get stressed by deadlines. Overall, not a good thing. I'm almost anxious to get these meetings over with...so I can get on with the other things. I hate being busy at work!

V-Day!

Valentine's Day is Feb 14, but who cares? What is the big deal? I walked around the mall today, and every store is dressed up with their pinks and reds. All that "fluff" disgusted me. If you haven't known this yet, Valentine's Day is purely a made-up Hallmark holiday... it is nothing more than a merchant's excuse & greed to jack up prices for that day. So why are roses and dinners 2x as expensive on Feb 14, than on Feb 13 or Feb 15 for that matter? It just doesn't make sense.

V-Day has always been my least favorite day. When I was a kid, my parents were too poor to buy me those cute, colorful Valentine cards to pass out to my classmates. So I already felt bad that I didn't have any cards to give away. The biggest agony, of course, was at the end of the day, how many of those cards did you receive. There was always some sort of unspoken competition among the kids to determine who was most popular in class. And if a boy selectively gives a girl a card (or vice versa), then of course, the endless teasing begins. As we grow older, V-day became worse. The holiday is so "in-your-face" that it makes all the single people out there just miserable. People can't even avoid it. Couples for some reason act especially lovey-dovey than normal on that day, which is supposed to make everyone else more comfortable?? Just case you're wondering, there will be no celebration with my husband this year. We will just go on with our regular daily routines. There will be no expensive dinners nor expensive flowers. Just a simple day wtih each other...and that's already enough.

Horoscope Believer

Yesterday was the start of the new year…it's also this time of the year that I like to read up my horoscopes for the upcoming year. My husband nags me not to take horoscopes too seriously. For the most part, I read it for entertainment; but lately, there has been a series of events that coincided with the horoscopes that I'm beginning to believe in them. So far, here are a couple of examples I've read about that actually came true:

This was my horoscope on Yahoo Astrology on February 2, 2005:

"Certain natives of this sign cannot progress in their career principally because of their inaptitude for public speaking; is it due to a lack of practice or lack of self-confidence? The solution will reside in the courage to undertake public speaking. Perhaps it is time for a class?"

The most freaky part was that very day at work, I attended a company-sponsored Presentation Skills seminar training class. I signed up for that class a couple of months before, so it was not because I read this piece of horoscope did I decide to attend the class. Coincidence? I think not!

So just today, a friend of mine forwarded me a link to my Year of the Rooster's horoscope by Feng-Shui master, Raymond Lo. In this article, it states that :

"For the Rabbit people, the clash against the rooster could also mean surgery, accidents involving breaking of neck or back."

So what happened yesterday? On Chinese New Year day? My husband and I went swing dancing... My husband got too anxious in showing off his new moves, he twisted me the wrong way during the dance. So guess what? My back got screwed up. It was sore the entire day today. Coincidence? I fear not!

I'll try to take these horoscopes I read with a grain of salt, but I'm beginning to wonder if there is some truth in them...Master Lo also said that I need to wear a dragon pendant to ward off bad omen this year. I better go find me a dragon pendant soon!!

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is right around the corner! It's only 2 days away. This coming week will most undoubtedly be occupied with gatherings and feasts. In fact, I just had my first CNY Eve dinner with my in-law yesterday. Of course, like every year, we always have more than enough dishes. For a group of 8, we had duck, chicken, roast pork, lobster, quail, soft shell crab, abalone and soup. There was enough food to feed a team of 20 football players. But I guess leftovers are welcomed, as they signify that the family will always have an abundance of food in the upcoming year. Little superstitions like these and playing around with sounds of words go a long way in Chinese culture.

A little early, but I wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year! May Wealth, Health and Love be both around you all...

Fresh New LOOK!

My Blogspot now has a brand-new look!! When I first started this blog about 1-1/2 years ago, there were only 3 templates to choose from. Now, there are at least 15. It's exciting to see my blogspot with a fresh new look. I tried to customize some of the settings, but realized I had to rely on my limited HTML knowledge to have some things changed. I wish they had something a little more easy to use.