Manga or Animated Series Book or the movies

I think I am classically traditional when it comes to stuff like this. I really like the feel of the pages and the black ink lines on the pages of manga over the animated series off crunchyroll.com. I just like it in my hands and to look at the manga style frames and images and lines. I like the manga fish eye perspectives too. I think I feel more of a connection with the author and the illustration artists. Been following Shamen King, Naruto, XXX Holic series. Even the print manga version posted online onemanga.com isn't as statisfying as the actual pages in my hands.

Melting Cake

It's my niece Ellie's birthday today. She likes pink so I decided to make her chocolate cake with pink frosting. I put the icing on too early while the cake was still steaming hot and the icing melted. It was a fun hot pink cake with fresh black berries and cherries. I also got her a giant stuffed unicorn as a gift.

Bullies and Push Overs on Christmas Day at the AMC Mercado 20

Woke up and opened up my presents this morning in the tradition of Christmas. It was fun and really liked the gifts I got this year. Never get tired of getting good beautiful quality gifts from others.

I went for a Christmas lunch at Berkeley Monastery, it too is a annual tradition. Afterward, we watched "It's A Wonderful Life". I think this is the first time I saw the film from beginning to end. I really missed some critical parts in the past. Like I never knew about the angel. I made Hawaiian popcorn and hot chocolate mocha and tea.

Then I rushed to AMC Mercado 20 to watch "Marley and Me" with Michael, Dustin and Shelley. I was first to arrive and got in to locate a good row of seats for us. For those who came late to the theater they were upset about not being able to get seats they like and got angry. Not only that called the staff to tell me I can't save seats for others. I have no idea why me since I wasn't the only doing that. He must of liked my seats. Well, then get here like I did a whole 40 minutes earlier and prior to that wait in line for 30 minutes in the cold to get tickets. It's a no brainer, it just requires dedication and patience,and plenty of time to spare. I just couldn't believe someone getting upset on Christmas day and over something so trivial. This person must of not had a good Christmas. Maybe he didn't get any good presents. That's just sad. Well, the scene he made really scared all the kids in the theater. So not in the spirit of Christmas. What did I do, held my seat with my dear life and refused to let anyone bigger than me bully me around and he was big by height and weight. Nor did I let a AMC hourly wage worker who tried to move me without proof of such rule as AMC theater policy. Geesh, this was quite the movie before the movie.

Marley and me was an awesome dog movie. I cried. It's so embarrassing. Well, plenty of people in the theater were crying. As if that wasn't enough,I cried all the way home and continued to cry some more at home. I missed my dog.

Made Belly Room for Two Christmas Dinners

I decided to locate a gift for Naji. I found black and yellow North Face flip flops, they were his favorite color, but a size too big. I bought them anyways because it's Christmas Eve, and I was in the midst of preparing Christmas dinner and I don't have the time to order the right size or go to another shop and look around. Oh well, I've put the gift receipt in incase he wants to exchange for the right shoe size.

Dinner is Chinese Hot Pot. I was on my feet all day preparing. Shelley's mother past away a few weeks ago and she still doesn't feel well enough to participate in events so I packed her a to go of he own personal hot pot to be delivered by my brother her husband. I did the whole hot pot event to cheer her up even though she didn't know that and couldn't make it, I sent her my good wishes via to go box.

The kids tore up the presents and played with them right away. It was chaotic for a brief 15 minutes of gift wrap destruction.

I rushed to Charity Focus Christmas Eve event and I was late, a whole two hours late. I couldn't help it, I was running a Christmas party and dinner at my place and I also cleaned up too. I was locked out out and I waited for a bit before I decided to give up. Luckily I did wait because eventually some opened the door for me and I made it inside. I was invited to help serve dinner and dessert. I always feel good about this, I really enjoy service and I really enjoy working with Guri, Pavi, and Viral. I am always feeling more at peace and happy and grateful during and after. The food was so good as usual. Although I was stuffed, I ate some more anyways. Well, it has become an annual Christmas Eve Wisdom Scroll thing for me here, especially when I am in the country. I really look forward to the wisdom scroll like a fortune in the fortune cookie. I save mine each year.

Four Birthday Cakes

I made 4 Birthday Cakes today because I know four people born on this day. It was all chocolate with a Cherry Chocolate glaze. One of the birthday girl was out of town and I knew that ahead of time but I made one for her anyways, so...... I ate her cake for her instead. It's the thought that counts right.

Tonight I went to Teance for a gathering, after the gathering Ali asked me to stay because he made his famous Persian Saffron rice with Eggplant lentil stew. He is a good cook and his food is delicious. It was already 10:30pm but I couldn't resist and stayed on his invitation. As we all sat at the tea bar for a delicious hot midnight snack, I had a feeling that we have been gathering like this before in the past and often at a bar over food and drink. It all felt very familiar. Some how this process of gathering,eating, drinking and chatting about this and that was enough support and bond. And that somehow it was healing enough without fixing each other's anything or advice cramming. It was interesting experience.

Gwhyneth Chen Salon Concert

Here is a clip of Gwhyneth Chen playing one of my favorite pieces by Chopin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMiZtTZK56w
I had fun setting put for the reception after the salon concert. It was fun working with Sher and Cindy. Developing Virtue Girls School came and served the appetizers to everyone and also helped with decorating and setting up. They were all very sweet and great to work with. Teance served tea. I enjoy hanging out with my friends from Teance. Here is their site, check it out they have top quality tea. http://www.teance.com/

Bishop Swing and Charles Gibbs from United Religions Initiative came to the kitchen and greeted the staff. That was very nice of them. I felt the menu for the appetizers was a good one. I'll have to check in with others if they felt the same.

How does it feel to be 21 today

"How does it feel to be 21 today?" Well, I'm glad I'm not 21 today. I miss the amount of physical energy I had then but I really don't miss anything else about my twenties. It was hard, not young enough to be a kid and not experienced enough to know how to handle adult questions in life.

The rest of the day was a total roller coaster but ended up sweet with dinner with my dad. I enjoy just sitting around and listening to him talk in things that interests him and how he sees things. He told me I was too nice of a person who takes care of everyone and ends up broke and still smiling as if I won the jack pot. That I don't know how to take care of my own interests because I'm just too good to people. I guess I am my parent's child. I learned it from them. They are just this way too. I remember when I was little I would watch my parents loan money to friends and family who they know won't return it, but they give any ways.

Tap tap tap

I woke up so exhausted I barely had any voice. It actually made me sound good. I was wondering whether or not I could keep this new voice. I had breakfast and watched TV. I saw the Christmas in the Park parade on TV. I would have personally gone and stood in the cold if I knew it was happening. Maybe next year. I cheered as if I was there when my old high school marching band marched by. My mom said,"you are like still in high school" in a nice way. Then I switched to the ARTS channel and ballet was on and we watched it together. She then said to me softly,"remember you used to tap dance and your feet was tapping all the time, and that was troublesome for me" in a very nice and reminiscing way. I must have been loud then and not very good either. I must have given her headaches. Well, I think that was the first nice exchange we had in.... oh, ...well... I can't remember at all when the last time was. Did it ever existed? This is a good new start I'd say.

Then I zipped out and went shopping. I had done all my research in the past few weeks on where to buy what at best price etc... so shopping today was fun, easy and not stressful.

76 Bags of Cookies

I baked cookies for 6 hours yesterday and didn't go to bed till 2am this morning. I baked 76 bags worth of Orange Russian Tea cookies cut in star shape for Christmas gifts. I spent another few hours bagging them and decorated with red, green, and yellow raffia. It was fun to hand out Christmas cookies with cards. I can't believe how I managed to run out of cookies even though I made twice as many this year.

By the time I was done with all of this White Elephant party had started and I was late on top of that I didn't prepare anything for the potluck. I brought the ingredients but I was just too tired to cook it. I really enjoyed the part year after year. Especially what people chooses to steal from others and who ends up with what gifts. I think the process is more fun than the actual gift part.