2007 in Pictures

My new room in my new apartment where I live with my new roommate Peter:

My 24th birthday party where my brother and sister were able to legally drink with me for the first time:

The whirlwind of a trip that was Tokyo July 2007 with the loves of my life:


Celebrating 15 years of what can only be described as the most interesting relationship I've ever had, with Naoko:

Weddings, weddings, and oh, weddings. In fact, the first thing that I'm doing in 2008 is flying to New York (again) for another wedding. I also went to NYC a LOT this year. (More than once constitutes as a lot. This will be the third time in about a year.)


Completing a year at my current job. I love it.


And finally, the family was great and healthy, and hopefully will be for 2008.


Have a happy and healthy and safe 2008. See you on the flip side!

The Insignificant and Significant Things

Merry Xmas, everyone!

The holidays are pretty much over now. Let me tell you, we done FEASTED like no other.

The Spread:

The no-knead bread that I baked. I baked. Can you believe it? And it actually came out looking like a loaf of meaty bread. If I could do this, anyone from Britney to lizards could bake this bread.

Those brussel sprouts are not burned. It's coated with reduced balsamic vinegar. Just FYI, because I made it.

OK. HOLD UP. This. This above here, is my favorite Spanish food, EVER. Forget paella, chorizo, the jamon. Fuck it all, THIS. This is where it's at. It's mild Spanish goat cheese with membrillo preserve. It's quince. It's salty and sweet and soft, and basically what I love most in life. Best eaten with a slice of white porous bread, like the magical one that I baked. I wasn't talking for half of the meal because I was stuffing my face with this stuff. I don't really talk when I'm eating something I'm enjoying.

And finally, fresh blueberries, Japanese cheesecake that my sister's BF gave us, and a vegan Chai apple cake that I baked.

So now that the year is about to end, it's time to look back or look forward, whichever you roll. Lots of crap happened this year. I moved out, basically got started with my job, started running, lost weight, and everyone started getting married. On the more insignificant side of things, I was introduced to a show called Ace of Cakes and I permed my hair. All of the aforementioned affected my daily life in some way this year, which is why I wanted to recognize it.

Resolution? Mmmmm, nothing drastic. Just keep doing what I'm doing, and perhaps in a slightly more organized manner. That's all.

I hope everyone's holiday (whether it be Xmas, Christmas, Pagan Sun God celebration, or what have you) was relaxed and joyous. See you at work tomorrow.

YAY!

I'd like to congradulate my bussom buddy Naoko for receiving her first well-deserved acceptance letter for her grad school program.


WOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Scholar!

1 year yo!

This week marks the 1 year anniversary of me working at my current non-profit organization.

SHAZAAAAAAAAM.

That was fast. Like blinking of an eye fast. Faster than that.

The time that lapsed since last year seems like a millisecond, but the time that I actually have been working there actually seems longer. I feel like I've been part of my workplace for years. Does that make sense? I guess it means I feel like part of the family.

Wow. My work has brought me to many places, figuratively and literally. It's taught me so many useless and highly useful information. It's given me the chance to go to Skid Row and the Consulate General of Japan's house. (Nice house by the way. Huge.)

I know another year is going to go by just as quickly. Here's to my induction of The Adult Years! Cheers!

drat

I was going to write yesterday to wrap up November and look back on my attempt of writing here regularly. But alas, I fell asleep, like always.

This November was great. I got to spend some time in New York City and enjoy actual fall, and was surprised to see some autumn colors back here in LA on my many runs. Thanksgiving was nice and relaxed as always. I love my family's Thanksgiving. No one cooks, therefore no one cleans up. There's no leftovers, which some people may find as blasphemy, but that also means that we can go back to healthy eating that night for dinner.

I love November because it's subtle. It's the beginning of "the most wonderful time of the year" but it's less apparent. December is so in-your-face about it that it turns me off a lot of times. I think I get turned off by a lot of things that are in-your-face. For example, I know how important it is to be environmentally friendly. I think I've been more of a conservationist than some (Peter can attest to that because he constantly complains about my collection of plastic yogurt containers). But this year, when everything got branded "green" and all those celebrities started yapping about being friendly to the environment (while still flying their private jets and driving in limos) (although I consider Al Gore as an exception - plus, he's not really an average celebrity) I got really turned off from all the hoopla because it just felt... phony. Even if it's for a good cause, if everyone is doing it because it's suddenly hip, I get some what annoyed with it.

I feel like that during this holiday season too. You hear all these commercials and programs about giving back to the community, toy and food drives, volunteering and such. People are in "the giving spirit" and are pouring into places with money and canned food. That's so great and everyone appreciates it. But it's once a year. Only once a year, people will give. We get a delivery of canned food this time of year that we stretch out until the next holiday season. It's definitely better than nothing. And I'm so thankful about it. But once in a while, when I suddenly hear a butt-load of these holiday-oriented charity events, I can't help but occasionally feel bitter and wonder about the rest of the year. It's hypocritical of me too, because I certainly didn't do something charitable every month. I still don't. But when I hear about different great organizations running out of money and not being able to function in March compared to the great giving hoopla happening right now, I suppose cynicism can't be avoided. At least not for me. Is this what people call a Grinch?

I suppose that is why I like November much more than December. Because it's slightly, only slightly, under the radar.

In other news, we bought new furniture during the Black Friday sale at Ikea:


Can you see our furniture, or are you distracted by our good looks?

And I'd like to show you my new favorite staple in my everyday meals:





Slow cooked tomatoes! They are so easy to make and the best addition to anything.