Tiger! Tiger

Recently, I have received many phone calls from various charitable organizations asking me to donate money. It seems there are so many non-profit organizations out there asking for money. Well, here are my responses to most of the time to these unsolicited calls: A. I don’t care about any of these charities because I don’t care about these people. and B. I also don’t believe these charities are doing any goods.

All except for one. And this one I have been donating regularly! "The Save the Tiger foundation". I will also donate $$ to any other foundations working to save this majestic animal….and it is so refreshing read about story in the paper today that the Chinese government are making a concerted effort in tiger preservation.

Drinking....

A friend called me up as I was studying and we went drinking. We each had a BOTTLE of wine. Yes, a bottle each. and boy, do I regret it now. I am having the worst hangover ever, and it didn't help that I didn't sleep until 2:00AM this morning. I don't think I'll do that again anytime soon...

Places to Study....

Since I really do hate to study at home, there are four places I go afterwork to study between 5 to 9:30 each night, and here are their pros and cons.

1) Irvine Library - Pros: Library atomosphere, Internet Connection. Cons: Closes at 9:00PM, Low desk and table, and not the best lighting out there.

2) Diedrich Cafe - Pros: Internet connection, Pretty girls and lots of them (especially the Japanese Exchange students :) I think I'll talk to one of the regular patron next time). Cons: Bad coffee, Bad lighting, Loud, and of course... Pretty Chicks.

3) Starbucks Cafe - Pros: Quieter than Diedrich, better lighting than Diedrich. Cons: No Wireless (can you believe they make you pay for it), Bad coffee table and chair (hurts your butt).

And here is your winner:

4) Coffee Bean - Pros: Great lighting, Good coffee table and seats that are actually comfortable, no crowd, internet connection. Cons: Its a bit cold here...and there is this girls who always stares at me (she is doing it now now) which is a bit scary....

There you have it. now back to study :)

Random Thoughts...

I had dinner with my God sister today. I have not seen her since she got married last December, and it is good see her again. We had a simple dinner at the Tea Station in Irvine, she seems to be very happy with her new job at Argent and her married life and I am very happy for her.

After dinner, as I drove to Diedrich some studying (no library today, since Irvine library closes at 9:00PM and my dinner did not end until close to 8:00PM), I came to realize why some people in this world are happy. Like my God sis. I think Happiness is a derivative of contentment, meaning being comfortable and satisfied with what you have now, at the moment, rather they looking back and try to justify what could have been, what should have become. I think that is happiness. it is funny, for every person that you know (ask yourself that) you know that are happy, there are 10 people who are not, simply because they want more than what they have at hand. As that movie "Garden State" says (BTW, it is a pretty artsy movie, not the best, but artsy) Life sucks, so live with it. Don't find excuse and try to see the bright side of it :P

For myself, I think I am in the "inbetween" stage, which is good because I don't want to be too happy so that i lose sight of the rainow i am chasing. nor am I too coughtup in this whole late 20's symdrom where confusion and unrealistic and selfish wants and expectations set in.

Well, here is my 150 words of warm up for my writing excercise...now back to GMAT :P

Quote of the day --"Life is good when you wake up, have some food to eat, have some beverage to drink, have some cash to spend, have something to do, and at times, have some tails to nail" that is all... that my friend, is happiness (I forgot where I read that)

October Music Review

Those who knows me well will undoubtedly know that I have great taste in music. And I have, from time to time introduce to my friends new music I came across. Here is the latest. I will make a point to do this once a month from now on; after all, I would love to see you learn to have musical taste too, just like yours truly:

This month, may I present to you Anna Tatangelo.

Well, for those of you who are not familiar with who she is, Tangangelo is a very talented Italian singer who came into the European music scene in 2003. I first heard about her music during a train ride from Milan to Florence last year and am immediately impressed by her vocal range and emotions she injects into her songs (though I had to read the translations to the lyrics in later dates). Unlike artists like Britney (Who can’t sing, but whines with nostral voice), Christina (who yells when she sings), and Jessica (who yells and seems detached when she sings), Anna Tatangelo is a great singer in typically Italian fashion. She won the San Remo music festival in Northern Italy when she was 15 and the duet she sings with Federico Straga was one of the best duet I heard in terms of composition. The only artist I think I will compare her with here in the States is probably Alcia Keys, Albeit different style.
Anna Tatangelo has had two albums out, and they are:
Attimo X Attimo (2003 and Ragazza di Periferia (2005). And they are all great songs.

For more information, visit: www.annatatangelo.com

Booooo.

There are only two things in my mundane daily life I enjoy more than anything else. One of them is watching Dragon Ball Z on the cartoon network week days from 10:30PM to 11:00PM. I enjoyed it not only because it is something I grew up with, but also that the storyline is continuous, albeit slow, it still provides something for me the relax, after a long day of work, study, and off season training (I usually don’t get home until 10:00PM).

Well, just like my waterloo with the GMAT, what do you know! I found out yesterday that the Cartoon network, CANCELED, Dragonball Z (just when Goku was about the fight Captain Ginynu). This totally sucks. Last week, they took away my pride, and this week, they took away the only thing I look forward to every night. I even wrote to the Cartoon network today and try to find out when and if they will bring the show back. I really hope they do.

Back to the drawing board...

Here are some GMAT experience and advise.

1. Don’t take the test if you feel you are not ready.
2. Don’t take the test when on the day of the test, you found out your driver license has expired and need to rush home to get your passport.
3. Quite the test when you see easy problems.

Well, that pretty much summarized my first GMAT experience. Needless to say, it was not a good one and I was extremely depressed. But after a good day and a half of R&R, it is back to the drawing board again. At least I’ll now what to do the next time, and hey, I am 100% sure there is nothing buy upside…

So so sick of it all....

Damn GMAT. My nemesis! I am finally facing you for the first time this Saturday.
You make me sick... On Saturday, I will test out how good you are and see if you will need to face you again….punkassbitch.#$%!$&

Holy cow...

Holy Shit! I am 29!

My 28 was a great year. Lots of things happened last year. Some I am proud of, some I am not. But it sure was fun. I hope this year will be even funner!

Special shoutout to those who made an impact on me this past year. Positive or negative. You know who you are! Thank you! or...Sorry.
But remember, our prime is not behind us. Lets get stronger, faster, and wiser this coming year.

Here is a glass of Hennessey XO to you.

"Real Estate Agent" I might have to ask you to buy me another bottle on your next oversea trip. I drank it again... BTS, I'll just give you the check next time I see you.