NYC

On my way to Paris now. Boy, was I tired today. I got into NYC last night at 10:30 and got to my friend's place by 11:30. Unpacked a few things and then decided to just chill cause I was tired from my trip home to Vancouver. Dim Sum was so sweet. I had to give her some medicine for the plan ride and she was all drugged up...but I felt so bad for her. She slept most of the way but still...she looked so tired. She's a little better today but I'm sure she's still a little drugged up. Now saying bye to her on my way to Paris is the hard part...a new city, cold weather, new apartment, new person to watch her...she's going to be so scared.

Today I took her for a walk and she was sooo cold...she was shivering...I think it's the first time I've seen her like that. She waited till we were in the lobby before she went poop and then didn't even go pee at all outside...I guess I can't blame her when she's so cold. Hopefully, after I go shopping for a lot more doggie clothes she'll be better...now off to the airport and on to Paris!

Journey to YVR

Wow, was it ever a drive. We started at 5am, December 21 and thought we could make it to Vancouver by 7pm. Boy were we wrong. It actually took us 3 hours longer than we expected. The rush hour traffic in Portland didn't help either. The fast food, gas stops and doggie pee breaks were a little more than expected...we thought we could stop only 3-4 times but we ended up stopping at least 6 times. Dim Sum was getting a little restless in the car and was exhausted cause she couldn't sleep in the car cause of the bumps and noise of driving. Poor girl. The border was empty and it was great to be in YVR. The weather here is sunny and chilly but I actually like it. Now the next adventure after the xmas holiday will be to NYC on the 27th.

Le Papillon

Last night I had my goodbye dinner with my GT friend Stephen Foster. He's unable to make it to my going away dinner tonight so we had dinner...I got to choose the restaurant. After several searches for restaurants I came across this one that was voted #1 French Restaurant in the Bay Area.

http://www.lepapillon.com/

And do I know why now! Amazing! Simply Amazing! Yes the meal cost a lot but was the food and wine good. Stephen and I got the tasting menu and one dish after another, it kept amazing us. The wine that we had chosen from their extensive wine list was great too. It was sooo good. I definately found my new favorite restaurant in the Bay Area. Too bad it's when I'm finally leaving though. This is a restaurant that I would definately recommend to my friends. Wow...it was great...I'm still thinking of thinking of the food today. Love it!

Palace Buffet

Last night I went to Palace Buffet on El Camino and was I disappointed! The food was good but I was stuffed so easily. It was to the point where I was uncomfortable...note to self...always remember to wear comfortable pants when going to buffets.

Remember the days when you can eat and eat and eat and you never felt too over stuffed? Well I do...I believe it was in UBC when my friends and I would have our weekly Thursday afternoon eating fest. We would be eating for hours at a time and be just fine. I remember thinking that my friend ate really little...cause I used to eat the most out of the group...but now, I go over to my friends place for dinner and can she down food! It must be all these years of living with her bf and him giving her huge portions every night. Now when I go over to her place for dinner I'll make sure I run over early so that her bf doesn't pile on the food for me or I'll never finish what he gives me. I wish I could eat as much as I used to...

Driving Theory

So my friend made another comment last night that stuck in my head...it's alright for your friends to drive drunk when you are drunk too. Nice one huh?

House of Prime Rib

Last night I went to House of Prime Rib. It was sooo good. Although I know I'm going to find other places in NYC that has good prime rib...it was just something I had to eat before I left. Just sitting there waiting for them to serve up the meat. Then having the first bite...mmm melts in your mouth...it was soo good. I like the mash potatoes and creamed spinach too but can't eat too much of that cause then there's not enough room for the meat. All worth the drive up to the city...and Dim Sum I happy too as she's got enough bones to last her till we leave for Vancouver...except I dont' know if I'm going to feed it all to her cause I'm too scared after the Thanksgiving day mess that was left in my apartment.

Packing

I have so much shit! Can't believe what accumulates over the years. Just packing what I'm going to bring and using the stuff I'm either going to throw or give away for the next 2 weeks doesn't seem like it'll be hard...I have a lot that's either going to be given or thrown away. Wow...boxes filling up...I thought when the movers quoted me 2000lbs they were out of their mind...then now as things are going into boxes...I'm thinking...there is definately that if not more here. Oh well...it is what it is.

Short-Timer Syndrome

I think this is the first time I've had short-timer syndrome at a job. I'm sitting here at work and thinking...I don't feel like working...but then again...that's probably been the story of my life for the last 6 months. We're going through our month end...my last one here...thank God! and I don't even have the urge to start handing off my work cause all I think is...I'm not going to be around. I know I have to do it but I keep procrastinating. Oh well...I can't wait for Dec 17!

Downsizing

Wow, all the things that we accumulate over the years sure do add up. After looking at some places in NYC and realizing that I'll only be able to afford a studio apartment and still be paying more rent than here, I started to evaluate what I would need to keep. It really is hard to part with furniture that you really like and were planning on keeping for a long time...especially when you spent so much money on it. How the hell is everything goingto fit into a studio...well it makes sense to be in studio anyways. I never really made full use of my apartment except when I lived with my boyfriend and we had to have our own space but now, unless people come over, I rarely use the living room. I have so much stuff to throw away that I don't even know where to start. I can just feel that one day, I'm just going to get into the mood to pack and go crazy with throwing things away.

Taking People for Granted

Do we live in a society where we come to expect too many things from people? Where you can barely find anyone to do something out of the goodness of their heart without having a alterior motive? Are people so worried about being taken advantage of that they expect things in return for everything they do for someone. I remember when we were younger and this would never be an issue. Back then, it seemed as though everyone just did something cause they wanted to do it for you not cause they'd have something to gain or expect something in return. Also, does everyone take others for granted? I started thinking about this after talking to a friend of mine. Isn't it true that we come to expect certain things from people (family, friends, boyfriends) and barely think twice about thanking them for it? No matter how big/small the task is, the bottom line is that they really don't have to do it for you and we should all be thankful for them doing these for us. That's what we should all be thankful for and not just during Thanksgiving but throughout the year. It's going to be hard but I think it'd be great to thank people for all that they do for us so that they don't feel as if they are being taken for granted. The smallest things like this make a difference.

Stressed about Moving to NYC

How do people do it? So many people in this world can just pick up and leave within 2-3 weeks. This includes people who own houses and all. I've only been in the Bay Area for 4 1/2 years and I already feel stressed about moving. Although I had some time to mentally prepare myself, I feel like there is just so much to do in so little time. Find movers, find someone to sublet my apartment, find people to buy my furniture, travel arrangements, packing, disconnecting, finding a new place to live, etc...the list goes on. I know it's not so bad when this is all said and done but for now...along with work...it just seems like a lot of stuff to get done.

Giving Notice at Work

I hate giving notice at work. When should I do it? I definately was waiting for a good time. I was going to give 2 weeks notice but then things started happening at work. Meetings were being set and work assignments were being made for 2005. The budgeting process had started and everything included me in it. How could I be sitting here, partially knowing that I'm going to leave when they are still assigning me all this work. I needed to tell them. Ok...I planned to tell them the morning prior to our meeting with our external auditors since me leaving would affect the audit. Sitting at my desk since 7:30am waiting for my boss to get in. She's normally in by 8:15...what's up with the day. She didn't get in till 8:35. So I finally get up and stroll over to talk to her. She was extremely nice about the whole thing. She was concerned about my TN visa issues. She then requested that I go and tell the CFO. What??? Me? I didn't want to tell him. So I walked over to his office but he wasn't in yet. So I finally go in to see him at 9:30. He wasn't very happy about the idea but after I explained why I was leaving, he was very understanding too! I couldn't believe it...I actually thought that he was going to be more upset about the whole thing...thank goodness. It makes my resignation process much easier.

Moving to NYC

Wow, it was something I always wanted yet now that it's here, I feel a little hesitant. But I guess that's normal when it's such a big move and change. All these things cross my mind, am I going to be able to find a decent place to live in Manhattan, will I be able to stand the winters, what am I going to do with the lack of good asian markets, should I really leave my current job while we're going through Chapter 11, do I really want to move now that my brother just moved to the area? All these questions, but in the end, my heart told me I had to do it. I don't ever want to regret not living in NYC. Wow, it all happened so fast...even though I knew for a while.