Jury Duty

Last Monday, I got selected as a juror for jury duty at the Civil courthouse on McAllister. Here is my recollection of these couple of days. Waited around for 1/2 hour and then got assigned to a courtroom by 9:30am. Out of the group of 60, they picked 28 for questioning. I was chosen as #24. After all the questioning and people getting struck out (excused) by the lawyers, I ended up as Juror #4. I don’t know why I am so lucky when it comes to these things! By the afternoon, the 12 jurors and 2 alternates got sworn in to serve.

This may be the SHORTEST trial that the court ever had. 1-1/2 day!!! There were only 2 witnesses, the plaintiff and the defendant. The case is about an ex-employee (plaintiff) suing the ex-supervisor (defendant) for assault and battery. The events happened between April 2003-May 2005. The plaintiff accused the supervisor of using her hips to bump her (the supervisor is pretty fat), pinning her to the desk, holding a fist against her face and of course verbally abusing her. All these events have no witnesses. The plaintiff did most of the talking, recounting the events. She was too dramatic - she tried to re-enact all the scenes; fake-crying on a couple of occasions .

The defendant looked mean. She didn’t seem nice; and she admitted that she would raise her voice to get things and exercise authority. She didn’t recount her recollection of the events ; she said she doesn’t recall any of them. The jury deliberated for about 1 hour. IMHO, I thought the plaintiff exaggerated the physical violence she claimed had happened (the hip bumps, the pinning) - so not guilty on the Battery charge. The other 11 people concurred. But on the Assault charge - which is defined as the “intent” to cause harm, I voted guilty on that. I believed that she did put out her fist. But unfortunately, I was overruled. 9 other people didn’t agree with me, so the non-guilty verdict passed. Many people had a problem with the fact that there were no witnesses subpeonaed to testify. In Civil cases, only 9 people need to agree vs. in criminal cases, it has to be an unanimous vote (12 out of 12 have to agree). So the case was done… in 1-1/2 days! I wonder why this would fall in the Civil court if it is an assault/battery case? Well, the answer is that the plaintiff is seeking monetary damages and do not necessarily want the defendant to go to jail. So it was kinda weird…

Every once in a while, I don’t mind serving as a juror. It’s only when I get super busy at work that makes it stressful for me to sit through a trial & then go back home to do regular work. But this was just fine.

Halloween 2008

We celebrated this year's Halloween at my sister BT's house. We do normally get together every year for Halloween, mainly for the kids (nieces and nephews). This year my older nieces and nephews didn't even join us since they rather spend the time with their friends trick or treating. But we still have the party for the younger kids. I wasn't really in the Halloween mood after coming back from Paris & being super busy at work. But I was able, on the very last day, to pull off a costume for both me and SQ!

The only thing I bought is that pink poodle dress - everything else I had. The wig I borrowed from my sister and voila! I was a 50's girl! And SQ's outfit was all already owned. What a cheap costume!

Paris

SQ and I spent about 6 days in Paris this past week. I was there mostly for work and SQ on vacation. We did manage to hang out 1 day and a few nights together. Otherwise, SQ ventured out on his own while I slaved away in meetings after meetings…

We both loved Paris! It is indeed a very beautiful city - no wonder if it is one of the most beloved cities in the world. There is so much old-city charm … everywhere you turn, you find historical buildings, landscaped parks, sidewalk cafes, relaxed lifestyles - I can go on and on and on. There is so much to love!! Here are a few pictures we took:

Arc de Triomphe

Notre Dame de Paris

Musée du Louvre

La Tour Eiffel

So you may ask why the Eiffel Tower is blue? The Eiffel Tower at night is normally a “yellowish” color, which is what you typically see in pictures, etc. But this year for 6 months (Jul 1 - Dec 31, 2008), the Eiffel Tower is blue in honor of the European Union (blue in the color of the EU). The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was selected as the President of the European Council, which is a position that rotates between member states every 6 months. So, we were lucky to see the very “limited edition” color of the Eiffel Tower! Besides the blue color, every hour on the hour, there is a light show for 10 minutes. Bright white lights dance and sparkle in the dark sky. It is one spectular show!!

The only thing I wasn’t too crazy about…was the food. Because I dined with the local Parisians (for business), I was able to try out a lot of different dishes, not only your typical escargots, foie gras (though I also had those). But truthfully, I am never a big fan of French cuisine - let’s put it this way - I can eat it but don’t appreciate it as much. And after 5-6 days of eating the same cuisine, I was so ready to go back home to eat a bowl of Pho!!

I would love to go back again…next time, I will plan it a bit better so I can have more free days to explore this beautiful city.
Edit this entry.

Janet Jackson concert

We went to watch our first American concert at the Oakland Oracle Arena yesterday : Janet Jackson 2008 “Rock Witchu Tour.” SQ got offered by a business associate a pair of free tickets to watch the concert in a private suite. The suite was in on the Mezzanine level, kinda far from the stage but it’s nice and private - food, drinks, private bathroom…I think we should book a suite to watch a concert one of these days. Don’t know how much it costs though…Probably expensive. There were about 15-20 people in the suite, so it’s at least $3-4K??

The concert was great! Neither of us were Janet Jackson fans, but she did put on a good show. She could sing AND dance. I was amazed with the production, complete with gigantic LCD screens, superb lighting, techs, etc. — nothing compared to the Chinese concerts! The best part is that I was still able to sing along to maybe 2-3 of her old songs! She sang & danced for 2.5 hours straight - breaking only to change clothes. She changed outfits about 7-8 times…transitions were seamless.

Oh yeah, the opening act was Nelly. So before Janet came on stage, there was a group of people on stage with one guy particularly in charge. They rapped a few songs. We had no idea who was singing, and then someone finally told us that the guy on stage was Nelly. In my head, I was asking, who the heck is Nelly?? Name sounds familiar, but I know nothing about him. When he started to sing “It’s hot in here,” the audience went crazy. So anyways, he left after a few songs and Janet Jackson came on stage with her show.

Overall, a great 1st time experience. I must admit that it was super nice to be in the private suite. It was an excellent way to enjoy the show without going too crazy. We’re way too old to be hanging in the mosh pit anyways.

Surprise on the Beach

For whatever reason, SQ decided to drive home via Geary Blvd on our way back home. We drove to the end of Geary and around the Cliff House curve. Then from a distance, on the beach – something caught our eye. What is it? Are those horses? Are those people? Are they moving? We quickly parked our cars to take a closer look. What we saw was simply amazing… over 100 boards of Indians (Native Americans if you want to be PC) stood along the beach. The size of each board is over 10 feet tall. I took these pictures with my camera phone.

Intrigued by this display, I went on-line to find out more information. Apparently, this is a moving exhibit that travels around the nation. It is created by an artist named Thom Ross, who was inspired by Buffalo Bill Cody’s 1902 photograph of his Wild West show. The artist then re-created the scene with these 120 pieces. Exhibit will remain at Ocean Beach until Sept 15. Below is the original 1902 photo and today’s re-creation.

Planter & Trash Shield

After many hours of hard labor during the weekends, SQ finally finished the planter and trash shield outside our front yard. Here is a picture of it:
The project started out when we found out that a recent San Francisco law prohibits the trash bins to be in plain view after garbage collection day. In other words, we will get fined if we have our bins sitting outside our yard. We have always had our bins outside the front yard since our downstairs remodel when access to our back yard was limited. We didn’t like putting the bins in our garage because of bugs, garbage smell, etc. So long story short, we decided to put up a trash shield to ”cover-up” the bins.

Along with the trash shield, we wanted to get a planter. We would like to grow some ornamental grass/flowers in the front, but we often get dogs ”doing their business” (pee’ing and poo’ing) in our front yard. Yes, there are despicable dog owners who allow their dogs to poo on other people’s yard (regardless of how nicely maintained the yard is) and worst is that they don’t pick up their dog’s poo. So that’s how the planter came about.

We still have to complete the other side with a similar planter box. I think we might paint it… or maybe not. But for sure we will put some nice plants in these planter boxes. Hopefully the next time you come by, you can see it.

Mini Kitchen Remodel

What started out as a simple hood installation progressed into a mini kitchen remodel...! Since we are cooking a lot more now, we decided that it was finally time to install a hood over our stove so our house won't smell like the food we just ate everytime we cook. SQ looked around and decided to buy a model from Home Depot. So, that was that. But it doesn't stop there. With the hood, we would need a duct to exhaust the air outside. We would like a nice cabinet to hide that 6" ugly silver duct. Then there came the cabinet. But if we install 1 cabinet, we mind as well install more cabinets - wall and base cabinets. We always need extra storage space anyways, for dishes, pots, pans, you name it. The cabinets go in. But base cabinets require a countertop. If we install a new countertop for the new base cabinets, we mind as well install a new counter for all the cabinets so it will look uniform. New countertop goes in. Installing the new countertop will require removal of existing backsplash tiles and some will be damaged and hard to match back. Mind as well replace the backsplash with new tiles. New tiles go in. Wait... hardware pulls on the old cabinets and new cabinets don't match. Mind as well replace all the hardware pulls. Did anyone notice that the white on the cabinets are not exactly the same? One is in a more "worn" white and the other "fresh" white. Mind as well repaint all the cabinets 1 uniform white color....

BEFORE AFTER

So you know the term -- opening a can of worms? This is one classic example. What started out as a simple project became more and more work. But I'm glad that it's all done now. I ended up with a new kitchen!

Cheesy movies

I am such a sucker for Cheesy movies - aka chick flicks. ABC showed "Win a date with Tad Hamilton" today for their Friday movie. When this movie first came out on DVD, I wanted to watch it so bad. But of course SQ would never agree to it so I never got to watch it. Finally I was able to watch it on the plane... and then again on TV. Tonight's show would be my third time watching it... and yet, I still cry over the cheesy parts. So touching. So romantic... ok, ok, I'm pathetic!

Random

Every night when I come home from work, after dinner, I go online and hit my usual sites. Check email, check Facebook, check 360, read up on people's blogs, etc. I like reading blogs -- friend's blogs, or sometimes even random stranger's blogs. In fact, when you're in Blogger, you can click onto "Next Blog" and it will pull the next random blog for you. Most of the blogs I've ran into usually fall into 2 categories: Hobbies and Babies/Families.

After clicking through a few, I always get inspired to write an entry on my own blog...but most of the time, I end up not posting anything at all. I feel like I have nothing to share. I don't have a hobby and I don't have kids. My life seems very normal and there is nothing to rave about. Sometimes normalcy is a good thing. As they say, "no news is good news."

Well, glad tomorrow is finally Friday. This week passed by extremely slow. Labor day this Monday so we have a day off! Yipppeeeee!!!

Thought of the Day

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Satay Chicken

Yesterday my sister hosted a 2008 Olympics Open Ceremony Viewing party, so what better opportunity to try out a new recipe with a group of guinea pigs? Sorry let me put a disclaimer out there - this is one of those "cheating recipe," and not one made by scratch.

It is super simple - Soak the Skewers in cold water for 1 hr (so they won't burn when you grill). Brine 2 lbs chicken breasts also for 1 hr. Flatten chicken by pounding it with a mallet or a cleaver. Slice into 1" strips. Marinate with Lee Kum Kee Satay Sauce (about 6 tsps). Add into diced green onions. Skewer the chicken and grill. It comes out perfectly done! You may want to also buy the pre-made Thai peanut sauce at your local Chinese market. Serve the sauce warm.

The satay chicken was a huge success! The best part is that it is super-easy to make! Something to think about for the next potluck.

Shocker!

Did you guys know that Judge Judy is NOT a judge? Well, she WAS a family court judge but have since retired back in 1996. So technically, she no longer a judge. On her show, "Judge Judy," although she is referred to as the judge, she is only acting as an arbiter. The court officer who stands by her is acting as a private security guard. I feel cheated. I feel like I've been tricked.

RedBox

Have you guys seen this? SQ and I went to Lucky's (supermarket) yesterday and came across the "RedBox." What attracted us to the machine is this $1 DVD rental banner. As you know, we don't have cable and since unsubscribing to Blockbuster.com, we haven't seen a DVD in a long long time. Plus,, the $1 deal is very attractive... DVDs at Blockbuster stores usually go for $3.99 or something ridiculous. So we gave this RedBox a try.

The movie selection is not extensive because I guess there is only so much DVDs the machine can store. I don't know if it's just me, or I couldn't recognize like 3/4 of the movie titles!! Finally, we saw a couple of titles we recognized and rented "Juno." The "vending" part of it was easy. Select the movie, and then just swipe your credit card and then enter your zip code on the key pad. Then within seconds, the DVD pops out on the side. $1.09 ($1 with tax). We need to return it by 9pm the next day otherwise there is a $1 per day charge(maximum $24). So it's not too bad. It's convenient - considering the machine is just inside the supermarket. I think we will use it more if they have more movies we want to watch in there. The website says you can also reserve it online and pick it up at a destinated location. Kinda cool...

By the way, Juno was good. I liked it.

Support Local Grocers

Recently, I noticed more and more peddlers standing on Sunset's street corners selling fruits, mostly flats of strawberries and bags of oranges. At first, I just viewed these individuals as hard-working folks who are just trying to earn a living. But after thinking about it some more, I don't think they should be allowed to stand on street corners to sell fruits at all. These are illegal street vendors. They do not have a permit to sell. They are here one day and not the next. How do we know where the fruits came from? Were they properly stored and refrigerated? Are they safe to eat? There is absolutely no responsibility and accountability if anything goes wrong.

Health-issue aside, have you thought about how these people impact our local grocery store owners, who took the LEGAL and RIGHTFUL way to do business? They obtained a permit, pay for rent, pay taxes, pay for the overhead costs, etc. These store owners are being squeezed out of business because someone decides that he can evade all laws and taxes and set up his own little shop on the street corner for free?? This is wrong.

Supply equals demand. Therefore, I ask you to please NOT patronize these illegal street vendors. Yes, you might save a dollar here and there, but the more you buy from them, the more they will show up. Soon enough, every street corner will be filled with someone standing there selling fruits at the expense of our local grocery stores!

UC Davis revisited

On our way back from Tahoe, we stopped by my alma mater, UC Davis. It was nice to see the campus again, although I could barely recognize it! There were so many new buildings - the whole campus seems so unfamiliar to me. SQ kept on asking me what is this building, what is that building? And I had to say, "I don't know!" We passed by this new modern building, and it was labeled as ARC (Activities & Recreation Center). This is the new Rec Hall, although the old one was still there. I was so impressed with this building - although we didn't get to go in, I saw a lot fancy exercise equipments through the windows. Mann, I would love to be a UC Davis student NOW. There are so many cool things! Right along the same area, there was also a brand-new DC (Dining Commons) for the Segundo dorms.

And of course, the new Mondavi Performing Arts Theater is another new building on campus. Isn't it so fancy? Love it! The surrounding area was also nicely landscaped with beautiful sitting area and flowers. Mann, I really would love to be a UCD student NOW!! The campus really transformed - for the better of course. I hope the university will continue to prosper and improve so it can one day be recognized as one of the best in the nation.

By the way, every so often when the breeze blew towards me, I could still smell the cows. Yep, what's better than the smell of steer manure during a hot summer day ?? And how can I possibly reminsce about Davis without the cows?! I guess some *good* things will never change...

Lake Tahoe

SQ and I went to Tahoe last weekend as a weekend getaway for SQ's birthday on 7/20. We had a great (and relaxing) time! We stayed at a hotel right across from the lake and had private beach access. SQ went for a swim on the lake while I sunbathed. We also rented a couple of bikes and spent 4 hours biking along the lake, and had a picnic on the beach. Lake Tahoe is always so beautiful, no matter what time of the year it is. The weather was in the mid 70's during the day, and cool at night. We couldn't chose a better weekend to visit Tahoe.

The highlight of the trip though was my $480 winning from the slot machine in Montbleu! It's always when you LEAST expect to win, you win!! I was there sitting around waiting for SQ when I just plugged in a $20 bill into the quarter-slot machine. After 5 minutes of playing, I hit the bonus spin... and the bonus spin allowed me to win 8X my payout! So it came out to be $480!! This is the MOST I ever won! It almost paid for the entire trip!! What a deal!

4th of July weekend

This 4th of July weekend, SQ and I went camping with my family. We are not even close to being called outdoors people, let alone camping. But we do this once a year... last year we went to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park . This year we went to Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek, CA. It is located south, near Saratoga, about 1.5 hours away from SF. Campsite is very outdoor-sy, very wilderness, surrounded by tall redwood trees... don't remember much other than there are billions of bugs there...and they bite!! I was covered with long sleeve shirts, long pants, closed-toe shoes...every protected gear I have. But to no avail. I still managed to get bitten on the face and on the hands (the only exposed areas). Those are such pesky little critters!

We got there Friday evening, ate some home-cooked noodles, and then went to bed. Next morning, we went for a 2-mile hike and then came back for lunch. We cooked some hot dogs and ate the leftovers from yesterday night's dinner. We then played some games and I was so wiped out. I don't know why I got so tired...maybe it was the heat? Cooked dinner, moped around, ate some marshmellows and then crashed to bed. Although our tent was right near the fire pit, I slept through all the giggles and the ghost stores. I even slept through the night when a racoon came by searching for food! You can say that I slept well. Well, before you know it, we have to head back home. You bet I was ready to go back home! I guess camping wouldn't have been bad if it wasn't for those bugs. I didn't want to stay any longer to be another feast for those hungry creatures!

若要人似我﹐隨非兩個我

I learned a new Chinese quote today. You can't expect everyone to think like you and act like you. It's reality. Therefore, show tolerance. Everyone's different. Everyone's unique.

WALL-E

SQ and I went on a movie date to watch "WALL-E." It's Pixar's newest animated film about 2 robots, WALL-E and EVE. I don't want to give the story away, so all I will say is that the plot is really original, imaginative, and intriguing. It's one of Pixar's best films. There isn't a lot of dialogue in the film because the robots didn't talk, but only made sounds that resemble words. But you can follow the storyline. Kids will love it for the comedy and cuteness, and adults will appreciate the key messages the creators want to raise. It's a great movie - highly recommend it!

Honey Ginger Chicken

My mom passed along this recipe to me:
Ingredients:

• 6 Chicken Drumsticks (or about 20 Chicken Wings)
• 1 TBSP Ginger Juice
• 2 TBSP Soy Sauce
• 1 TBSP Sugar
• 1 TBSP Honey
• 1 TBSP Rice Wine
  

Directions:

• Squeeze Ginger Juice out of Ginger
• Marinate Chicken with Ginger Juice, preferably for 1/2 hour
• Cook Chicken until done & golden brown
• Take cooked chicken out and dab with towels to rid of excess oil
• Mix Soy sauce, Sugar, Honey and Rice wine in a bowl
• Put mixture into pan to heat
• Add in Chicken
• Turn Heat to Medium Low
• Heat until sauce is reduced and is thoroughly mixed with chicken
• ENJOY!!