.:: y'om say'n? word. ::.

.:: Monday, December 29, 2003 ::.

gosh, i haven't even had time to let it sink in yet! we've been running around like chickens with our heads cut off, trying to make sure we have EVERYTHING for our trip. i'm so excited, i don't think i'll be able to sleep tonight. maybe that's a good thing...it's 12:31am now, so i think it's like 5:31pm in japan, right? so if i can stay awake for another 5 hours, maybe i can trick my body into not feeling jet-lagged. :) okay, maybe not. well in any case, i'll try to update a little while we're there (we're taking a laptop), and post some pics (from our new digicam!!). alrighty, must get off the computer now, so long!

:: joyCleeP 1:37 AM [+] ::
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I'M ENGAGED!!!

:: joyCleeP 6:37 PM [+] ::
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why is it that everyone waits til the last minute to shop for christmas presents?! sheesh...i went to BR today, cuz roommate told me they marked down their goods 50%. there were a million ppl at the mall, it was craaaaazy! is it just human nature to procrastinate? why is it something that so many ppl do? i'm not saying that i don't wait til the last minute, but for the most part, i'm pretty well prepared for things (like the holidays!). well, there's nothing i can do about it, so i guess i'll stop my griping.

i really have no gifts to buy (which is a good thing, since i have no money to purchase them). i'm buying my parents a dvd player. they watch a million korean variety and dramatic shows on video, so they don't really NEED a dvd player. but i think it's something nice for them to have, on those occasions where they want to rent an american movie to watch. hopefully they put it to use, unlike some of the other gifts i've bought them. years and years ago, when i was about to go off to college, i bought my dad a fax machine, cuz i knew he really needed one but wouldn't spend the money. so i used my last pay check from my summer job and bought him one (this was back when it cost at least $300 for a decent machine). i've seen him use it maybe 5 times. but he swore he needed one at the time. and last year for my mom's birthday, i asked my dad what to buy my mom, and he said to get her a foot massage. i don't even know that she still has it, i've never seen it at their house. let's not get into all the countless clothing items that i've never seen them wear... am i just a bad gift giver when it comes to my own parents??? i like to think i'm a very thoughtful gift giver, and i loooove giving gifts (mainly MAKING gifts). but how can i miss the mark so many times? maybe i should just give them cash (that's what they usually get me). :) you can't go wrong with cold hard cash.

what's your favorite christmas carole? mine is "o holy night." i love the dramatics of it. :) it's hard to sing tho.

i can't believe it's christmas already. however you spend celebrating (or not celebrating), hope it's a good day for all.

:: joyCleeP 9:22 PM [+] ::
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well, it seems the worst has passed. i'm not so dizzy and weak anymore. i actually managed to finish my xmas cards and sent them off today. hopefully they get to their destinations on time! still don't have an appetite. i'm getting tired of being home, watching tv. it gets old, you know? although today i saw the episode of 90210 where donna gets drunk at prom and can't graduate. "donna martin graduates!" that was a lame episode. they shouldn't have let her graduate, rules are rules! hahaha

all i want for christmas is to not be sick anymore! better yet, to not get sick ever again!

:: joyCleeP 7:10 PM [+] ::
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crap, i may have the dreaded flu. doc said i have flu-like symptoms, but he can't be sure. i hardly ever get sick, and just this year alone i've gotten sick 3 times! grr...i just hope i'm fully recovered before we go to japan, and pray that i don't get w sick. I HATE BEING SICK!!! i'm so weak, i haven't been able to finish all my holiday stuff (like getting out my xmas cards!). this sucks.

:: joyCleeP 10:48 PM [+] ::
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joy-C in NYC!!

thursday: great flight on jetblue (my new fave airline), checked into renaissance times square. hung out with T & R...dinner at penang in soho, la bella ferrara in lil italy for dessert (best damn cappucino float with hazelnut gelato, still drooling), back to times square and drinks at the lounge at paramount hotel (where we will stay later).

friday: me + W = ultimate tourists. double decker bus tour of downtown, got off at battery park, went to statue of liberty (nice, but big waste of 2 hours), ground zero (very emotional, hard to stop the tears). very very cold, we were sitting on the top deck!! J & G arrive, go to chinatown for dinner (cheap and good!). then went to empire state building, more standing in line, but the views were spectacular (we got there just before midnight).

saturday: double decker bus tour of uptown, got off at guggenheim. very interesting building, featured artist was james rosenquist, pretty cool (tho i'm not much for modern art). walked around times square/5th ave./rockefeller center...soooo many friggin' ppl, headache developing. dylan's candy bar for retro candy, tiffany's (2nd floor, *wink wink*), stopped in sanrio (of course), then dinner again with T & R at a really yummy asian tapas place, kuma inn, lower east side (ludlow & rivington, go check it out), had the best damn thai chili-lime sauce with chinese sausage (of all things, but it was so good, we ordered 4 plates of it!). chit chatted with the father of chef/owner, and asked chef king for recipe, but no go. good news, he's bottling it! yahoo!! after dinner, happy ending (chinese massage parlor turned lounge, weird and cool at the same time). time hotel lounge for more drinks, but parties going on, so we couldn't really talk to each other.

sunday: woke up and it was snowing!!!! cachu came out from connecticut to hang out, got tix to see "thoroughly modern millie" (thanks koji for the recommendation!), very good, go watch it (delta burke was in it). checked out of renaissance times square and into paramount. very interesting decor. killed time before show at the HUGE toys r us. didn't want to go far from hotel for dinner, so ate at the fanciest red lobster ever. note: don't eat "salsa" in nyc. for dessert, went to serendipity 3 for frrrozen hot chocolate, sooo good! who knew!

monday: time to go home...had a great flight back to cali.

the highs: the food, especially that cappucino float at la bella ferrara and frrrozen hot chocolate, and who could forget that thai chili lime sauce, the snow, and turning the corner to approach times square (wahhh...). what a great "welcome to nyc."

the lows: wasting 2 hours of our day for the statue of liberty that we couldn't go up to view anyways, everything in nyc is too expensive, and W & i didn't get to have our "romantic evening" as planned.

things i noticed: the ppl are very diverse, i like that. the food is very different. drivers honk their horns waaaay too much, it's ridiculous.

next time, i think i'd like to stay in the soho/greenwich village area...stay away from the tourists!

:: joyCleeP 7:35 PM [+] ::
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so good to be home. :)

:: joyCleeP 6:52 PM [+] ::
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gone to NYC; be back late monday.
*whee!!*

:: joyCleeP 7:17 PM [+] ::
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i'm so overwhelmed. too many things to do. i have two major trips in the next 4-5 weeks, plus christmas shopping and preparing for the holidays, and this year i decided to MAKE everything for everyone. what was i thinking?! and this weather is stressing me out! i just hope my flights aren't delayed.

most of those who read this probably won't have a clue what i'm talking about, but the other day, i said "oopie" and started laughing. i haven't said oopie since i was at poly. hahaha...

:: joyCleeP 8:34 PM [+] ::
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it's snowing in new york. :)

:: joyCleeP 8:07 PM [+] ::
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yippee! 80's quiz!! i scored 66.

:: joyCleeP 9:41 PM [+] ::
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