Jr. HIGH Construction Dude

i live in front of wilson jr. high. because the jr. high kids don't drive yet, our street only gets clogged up during school day drop off and pick up hours. but as of late, they started doing some major construction at the jr. high, and now there are a ton of cars parked during school hours on our street. these cars mostly belong to the construction workers and during their numerous breaks, these dudes hang by their cars. i always thought they were just getting snacks and catching a quick snooze. but boy, was i wrong.

this morning, as i strolled outside of my house, i saw this one construction guy stumble out of his car. he walked right past me, and i got a good whiff of his distinctive scent -- a crapload of pot. now i'm just curious how often this guy smokes out. like a stalker, i'm perched by the window looking out for this guy. so far, he's come back to the car once more...to grab his lunch and spend five minutes in the car (i wish i had some binoculars, but i think i saw a smoke cloud).

hmm, maybe i should be worried for the safety of the school, but really, this is weirdly entertaining.

In the Name of Biggie

after two consecutive poker nights with friends, i decided this morning to follow my mom to church to say what's up to my homeboy, big G. since college, i can probably count on one hand how many times i've been to church. and yes, that's including the easters and christmases.

after this morning's mass, i figured out the reason that people go to church every week -- the power of the last song. more sticky than the last song you hear on the radio, there's something about the last song at church that gets glued to your brain like no other. perhaps it is the the simplicity of the songs intermixed with the number of times (usually a bazillion) the song gets repeated before you exit the church.

for me, it's the first few lines of the chorus that sticks with me - and nothing more. it's usually a line that makes no sense in any other part of everyday life. for example, after mass today, i met bethie up for a short mountain bike ride. the whole ride, i'm humming to myself, "...i am the bread of liiiiiife..." wtf.

but really, it's so calming. i can just hum it forever...but it usually fades after about a week. and that's exactly why there is weekly attendance at mass. it is for the weekly drug refill we know as the "last song"-- so cleverly prescribed by big G.

Random Old Golfing Buddy

i usually take about 45 minutes at the driving range. i'm too ADD for more and i feel like it's a waste of a trip if i stay less.

this morning, i went to the driving range and got a small bucket of balls. after about 15 minutes, this really cute old granpa walks up to me and says:
"you have a great swing. you have to be patient with yourself."

me: "oh, thanks."
old dude: "no, you don't understand, when you don't hit well, you grimace like this." (and he does my face)
me: "haha, okay, i'll be patient"
old dude: "okay, before you hit each ball, i want you to say 'i have a great swing. it doesn't matter where the ball goes.'"
me: "um, okay."
old dude: "c'mon say it with me"
me: "i have a great swing and it doesn't matter where the ball goes."
old dude: "now swing!"
me: "thanks." (i shank that one, but smile to him)

and then, i realize he's just continuing to watch me. i'm thinking to myself, "CRAP! do i have to keep saying this before EVERY ball?" and apparently yes, since the old dude is smiling like, "go on, let's hear it."

so i keep doing that - cause he's just a really cute old man. but thank god i only had like 10 balls left. even though it was only a 25 minute session, i was really okay with making an exception today.

He Said Yes

perhaps it was love at first sight. i mean, i've really been contemplating our engagement since the first day i met him. i dreamt every night of our casual yet classy beach wedding with family and friends. everyone else saw his charm from years ago but i held out because i thought the ideal man for me would be a hot korean catholic with a charming sense of humor, uber intelligence, and a ridiculous athletic prowess*. but i was wrong.

tonight, a casual gathering with my friends - ellen, jon (stewart), and conan - convinced me that he really was the one. so i asked him to marry me. and he said yes. please congratulate us - future mr. and mrs. tivo.


*if you exist, please contact me. i'm willing to renegotiate my current love.

Foiled by Baby Yi

i should've figured 23 years is long enough for anyone to get to know your games. my conversation with my little sister today at 7 pm pacific time.

yuj (in dc): "hi unni, what's up?"
me (in la, of course): "nothing. long time no talk. how are you?"
yuj: "okay. how are you?"
me: "cool. so...how's work?"
yuj: "not bad. everything cool?"
me: "yup yup. so...um...who won american idol?"
yuj: "UNNI! are you just using me cause i'm three hours ahead of you???"
me: "no no, i was just making conversation."
yuj: "it was carrie. you're the worst."

or maybe i'm just not that sly.

Maturity of a Nine-Year-Old

on saturday, the so cal mit young alum group went to a wine-making session. as the resident wine expert was explaining the delicate chemical process of wine-making (i didn't hear a single word she said), i noticed a shelf full of "bungs". these bungs came in various sizes - up to a monstrous size of 13! that's one big bung.

Blue's Funeral

a moment of silence for blue. he was a good fish. he kept mostly to himself but his love for the world exuded from every scale of his body.

as shown below, the popicle stick marks the spot of blue's grave (i forgot to write "RIP" before i stuck it in the ground). as will farrell would say, "blue, you're my boy."

The Blog Debut

i lie. i've posted a blog once before (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=saujpauj). i couldn't figure out how to post a picture of my fish. so i'm here now.

as my title indicates, i'm going through a quarter-life crisis. after four years, i couldn't handle my job as a finance monkey anymore and quit. it's been a month, and upon my last day, i was firmly told by other past quitters that i had to fulfill my duties as an unemployed bum with certain "approved" activities.

attempt #1: YOGA. sadly, i couldn't balance, relax, or hum.
attempt #2: PET FISH. i got blue betta named...blue...but it died today. i changed the water yesterday and had to think back: i filled it with water, not vodka, right? in any case, RIP, my friend.
attempt #3: EBAY. after my credit card company called about potentially suspicious activities, i got the hint. no more income, no more ebay.

now, attempt #4: BLOG. welcome to the world of my random thoughts. hope you enjoy the ride.