putting the knit in shizknit

Not so Core?

Okay - does anybody really understand this new Core program at Weight Watchers? I attended on Tuesday night, all excited listening to the stories of my leader and how she's lost 2 lbs in 5 days but once I got home, I realized I was completely confused! In the last 2 days this is what I have concluded:

FlexPoints - this allows you to eat whatever you want, in moderation.
Core - this allows you to eat more, but out of a limited food group.

What I have actually done? I've been so confused that I eat Core foods thinking of them as free points, then do the flexpoints when I want to eat something not in the core food list. Result? I'm just eating. AUUUUUGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"What goes on in Vegas, Stays in Vegas"

I don't go to Vegas nearly as much as some others that I know, so going twice in a year would be considered "frequent" for my standards. It was nice, although we went for one day shorter than last time, it was a much more relaxing trip - not just the rush, rush, rush that accompanies my typical "I want to see and do and eat everything!" attitude. We stopped by my favorite Sam Woo restaurant on the way for their to-dye-for clams in black bean sauce. Traffic on the 15 was not even close to what it was last year, thank god - although it was its usual Friday mess. We arrived at the Bellagio with enough time to go through their botanical gardens and Monet exhibit (oh and for me to eye the Gelato place) before dinner.

We walked through the strip, all the stores and came back to the room totally exhausted. The next morning consisted of the most delicious croissant I've had in awhile (wait, I haven't had one in quite some time, come to think of it) and a fruit platter. We walked down the other side and direction of the strip, starting with the MGM Grand and M&M store. There, I met Yellow M&M, a big lovable and huggable guy. We then proceeded to walk in 100 degree heat all the way to the Venetian, and walked through the grand canal shops, then back to the Bellagio again. We had a window view dinner at Circo, complete with the dancing fountains and the best oysters I've had my entire life. This was followed up by seats at "O", the Cirque Du Soleil show I couldn't get tickets to last time. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! I was at the edge of my seat cheering and aaaaahing and what not the entire show. Tienshiao liked Mystere better, but I have found my favorite. Cirque is so amazing, but with a tinge of sadness - they all seem to have a theme of humor, seriousness mixed with sadness. Of course, for dessert I got to go to the Gelato place for some Rum Cherry and Chocolate Chip mmmmm...... all sadness forgotten~!

The last day was lots of sleeping in, Bellagio buffet and the long-ass drive home. The drive home was the most miserable part, and I was probably driving poor Tienshiao crazy. It was almost 6 hours in blaring heat - and no matter how much the AC in his TT works, there's something to be said about the blazing heat on your body. Nonetheless, it had its own humorous moments which made it memorable. So in comparison to last time - I know that the Bellagio has an awesome reputation, but it just couldn't compete with the suite and 42" plasma TV that awaited us at The Hotel last time. In terms of shows - "O" definitely was my favorite above Mystere, Mamma Mia and David Copperfield. Weather - last time was freakin' freezing which kept us indoors, this time it was hella hot which kept us indoors - oh well, at least there's great shopping to be done! Overall? **sigh** its too bad I had to get up this Monday morning. Spoiled - yes, I do get spoiled. Yay! :)

Great Weekends

We just got home and I'm exhausted... for now guess where we stayed? :)

Speaking of Gambling...

Viva....Las Vegas~!! Here we come!!

life is all a gamble....

I played poker for the first time a few nights ago. It was fascinating. I have absolutely no love lost on gambling - some people are terribly addicted, I on the other hand don't care for certain things - gambling, playing team sports, card games. However, once I get into it, oh damn I go head first.

Gambling makes a great analogy to life, even as the famous saying goes, "life is all a gamble", although I would like to think that life is not as random as the shuffling of a deck of cards. Like gambling, there are some moves and decisions made that are better than others, and perhaps intuition which comes in that territory. However, is our goal in these types of games the same as in life - i.e. "winner takes all", the person with the most money wins? Or, are we trying to find our pairs, our equals amongst many others that are so similar but not a match?

So you probably want to know how I did - "ya win some and ya lose some".

On Singledom

As we get older (yes, late 20's you start to realize that you are getting old) there are all the indicators - friends getting married, that wrinkle by your eye, and lots of single people who want to be hooked up with other single people. Its amazing, this day in age when there are a million online outlets for singles to meet that many that are living online lives are hesitant to take that step to seek out their other half online. Interestingly, I have more single male friends who are looking for that special girl than vice versa. Is this a recent phenomenon or is this typical for people my age? I was under the impression that people of my age group (late 20's to early 30's) were overpopulated by women 3:1, but perhaps that was just the latest issue of Glamour magazine trying to give us tips on how to grab that perfect man.

My most recent interesting experience has been with a guy I met in a class briefly last week who has decided to bear his soul and become the father of my children (and he obviously doesn't know me since I don't want any kids anytime soon). So here are my range of emotions->shock->surprise & bewilderment->flattery->guilt. So why guilt you ask? I suppose because I have to hurt someone's feelings who has done no harm but to take a chance, I suppose because at one point in my life I've done something similar (well sans the children part) and experienced rejection which I don't wish upon my worst enemies.

So here's another decent asian guy who is looking for Ms. Right. I know so many of them who want to meet someone, take care of them, get married - please contact me if you're looking for that someone (well, straight asian male in late 20's early 30's) special! In the meantime, this was a nice compliment to smooth over the "I-thought-you-were-a-guy" comment.

Gracie's Dinner

Gracie is leaving in a few short days. We had a party for her at work, but of course, we can't let her go without another dinner! An evening of fun, laughter, okonomiyaki and carrot cake. Yum! Nothing is a "send off" without some good food! Gracie, we will miss you!

Angels vs Mariners

Angels stadium was a huge difference from Dodger stadium. My parents friends got us tickets again and we were in for another fun-filled treat. Like any outing, this was complete with food to match - the huge italian sausage with everything on it, kettle corn, soda. Yum! They played the Mariners which of course, has my cousin, Ichiro (I'm so totally joking). Tienshiao got into the spirit by wearing his "I'm a Super Duper Programmer" shirt to show his nerdy ways. On the way home he amazed me once again with his driving skillz, blasting by a Lexus to cut him off for the onramp from a red light - all within a few hundred feet. I had my life flash before my eyes and every curse word flying out of my mouth. I guess its always the quiet ones you have to worry about. Mia was obviously unaware of anything going on anywhere else but in dreamland back at home.