Joseph Campbell

As an on going attempt to re-kindle what I enjoyed intellectually as a youngster, I have borrowed this Audio Book from the library.
Joseph Campbell’s view on mysticism and religion has had a profound influence on my view about religion and the after life since the first time I watched his program on PBS in high school.
I highly recommend it. The great thing about him is that he is a tremendous story teller, and engaging. And ultimately, I think from him, I have developed some sense, thru all the mysticism and breakdown of world religions, about the existentialism of our humanity--> Check it out, its worth it :P

Strange but Cool Song...

Not sure if it is the changing season or what not. I actually went through my entire music collection and try to find music to fit the season. It must have taken me until 1:00AM to finish it. Sometimes I wonder if I really do have ADD or OCB...
But back to the main point. By "trying to find music fit for the season", I don't mean Christmas music. That would be too easy wouldn't it. The words that kept coming into my mind are cold, lonesome, reflective, meloncholy, yet introspective.

As I dug through my collection I have compiled over the years, I found on pretty fitting for the season. It is called "Babylon" by David Gray. I wish I could pod cast it to everyone, but for some reason, i thing this is a quite fitting song for this time of the year.

Mini Road Trip

Heard a horrific story from a coworker this morning about his traffic experience yesterday. It actually took him 3 hours to get home last night! From what the news is reporting, it looks like today will be even worse.
Since I am taking a co-worker to John-Wayne Airport later today so she can catch her flight up north, I am basically stuck here in Irvine until 3:30PM. I don’t even want to imagine how the traffic would look like on the freeway by that time. If I leave Irvine by 4:00PM, can I get home by 7:00PM?? To combat this problem, I am going to do a little adventure! I’ve decided to go LOCAL for my weekly drive back to SG.

My planned route:
Starting at John Wayne Airport, I will drive west on McArthur (And of course, have my sun roof down and watch the planes take off). Once I hit Harbor Blvd. I will turn north and drive through the lovely Santa Ana with more doors securely locked and windowed rolled all the way up (I am debating if I should blast Gangsta rap out loud just to blend in), on the way, I will also stop by Alberto’s Taco for some refueling, they make the best damn Taco in the world. Okay, back on the planned journey, I will continue north on Harbor, driving through Santa Ana, Garden Grove (where I will make a pit stop to unload), and Fullerton, and eventually, I will hit Commonwealth near where my professional career started (maybe I’ll drop by the building just to see how it looks). And then I will turn left on commonwealth then Alondra Blvd to see all the old industrial center of LA before heading north again on Lakewood/Rosemead Blvd. Keep on going north and north, thru the neighborhood of Pico Rivera where there is a park pack full of people playing soccer ( I am sure I’ll see some matches there), the lakes of legg lake where I use to fish as a kid, and the terrible road conditions pass the 10 fwy and then finally the Santa Anita race rack and the lovely Huntington Dr. And then! I’ll be home! In two hours time!! (if my car holds up).

Happy Driving’

X Box 360

The most coveted Toy this Xmas....
I was so excited about this I couldn't sleep last night. Drove by Costco near work to checkout if there is a line for it....man, there were about 150 ppl waiting already.
this sucks....

Black Friday!!!!!

Well Folks, Black Friday is upon us again. Are you guys ready for some crazy deals? Are you guys ready to line up at 3:00AM to shop!?!? I certainly am. I want to get myself a nice Epson printer and Gateway computer this year. Seriously, nothing out there in the market beats these two brands!!! nada!

It has been a tradition in our family to shop on Black Friday. Last year, Steph and mi madre waited with me in the cold outside the Best Buy in Pasadena along with a few thousand other eager shoppers. The crowd roared when the store opened at 6:00AM, and everyone rushed into the store like rock group groupies....What did we buy? Abosolutely NOTHING....nada! Everything we wanted are gone by the time we squeezed our frozen body into the store....Well, this year, mi madre is kind enough to fly half way across the world to join me in this annual tradition again. mom, if you are reading this, I promise I'll take you to Costco to buy those Centrum Vitamins if you help me wait in line this year :P

weekend Update

Friday - Got off work late so decided to spend a quiet evening at home sipping my Cognac with some Puccini in the background and catch up on past issues of Economists. Woke up the next morning on my lazy boy. That was the yuppie moments for the month.

Saturday - Went out drinking with an old friend who just came back from China. Also met some interesting new friends in the bar. I was truly impressed by how much 30 somethings can party. Three shots up S. Cheers! Also bumped into the sorority president twins who were my neibor back in the days. They still look the same, and its funny to see how some early 20s younglins tried to pick them up. Were we that blatantly aggressive back in the days?

Sunday - Lexus, Taste of Luxury event at Irvine all day . Great job your agency did Michelle, how much did Lexus budgeted for you guys in this event? but they certainly did a great job. It will be my next car. not that I needed any additonaly convincing :P The highlight of the event was going 130mph and pulled .9G in a hairpin turn while dusting the BMW 330i. Hope everyone like my comment on TV.

Also last but NOT LEAST, Amour is in the air!! Big Shout out to Da Bull! Congradulations on popping the BIG question

. And to the future Mrs. Bull. I can't think of a better person that will make Fernando happy. Congradulations! (I don't have any new pics of you two, so this is a rip off from Ferny's blog! )

Germ Factory!!!

It is a germ factory at work! I have finally succumbed to the multiple virus attacks. This sucks! I am bombarded by huge doses of coughing attack from co-workers sitting to my left, right, and back….maybe I’ll get a face mask from the dentist tomorrow.

Do I look like this dude!?!?!

Seriously, Do I? My VP seems to think so!?!?! He called me into his office to his morning meeting today just so he can show the other VPs. I think he's got too much time on his hand...
it would be nice if I could fight like Jet Li though :)

The New IS

Finally, I am getting ready to take a test drive! Who knows, it less than 1 month :P

Manly Chicflick!?

Engaged in a conversation with co-workers during lunch about if it is possible (or okay) for a man to have a favorite chick flick? My answer is YES. and here is my Manly Chick Flick...shuuuu!

PLAYING BY HEART (1998) is a character-driven drama about the sometimes funny, sometimes painful (and always complex) ways love can touch your life. Set in Los Angeles, the film weaves in and out of the lives of a group of eleven people of varied generations and lifestyles, all of whom are experiencing love in one of its many maddening stages. Some people are finding it. Others are losing it. What they have in common is an intense desire to express how love makes them feel.

Give it a try at your local BlockBuster or Netflix. Its worth it. and to my friends who are having (or lack of) relationship issues, hope this will help :)

November Music Review....

Well, if you are like me who dreams of one day play a mean spanish guitar, you will undoubtly appreciate the Gypsy Kings.
I first heard about the band a few years ago in Cairo of all places...then I asked my aunt about their music.
Gipsy Kings are largely responsible for bringing the joyful sounds of progressive pop-oriented flamenco, called Sevillana in Spain, to the world. The band started out in Arles, a village in southern France. Their best songs, I think are"Michael" and "Luna De Fuego"

Check out the sample sounds on itune. I think you might just like it:)

Whatzup with the weather!?

Can you belive it was 94 degrees the first day of November here in Irvine. And just a week ago, the weather was in the low 60s. Like lizzards, I don't adjust to weather changes well and this sudden temperature change has been giving me splitting headache for the past two days... But its all cured now after a nice quiet lunch by the lake yesterday. If you haven't done it already, I would highly recommend it as a stress release therepy. On the days when you are stressed out, just take your lunch and sit somewhere quiet, really quiet, for 30 min. Relax and just listen to the sound of nature. It helps.