Two weeks from tonight, Sunday, March 14th, I am co-hosting a little party at my place. I've got a little TAF reunion going... Dave and Michelle are flying in that day from the East Coast. Young is currently here at Berkeley. Lester and Stephen just moved into town. Bea is also realtively new in town. And some (very) old-school TAFers are making surprise appearances... TAF people, you better think about making a trip out to California if you've got nothing to do. I, of course, would be happy to have you stay at my place. Let me know if you'd like me to put you on the evite...


Ho Chie, Anny, and Alice cordially invite you to a classic evening in celebration of the Taiwanese American community. Please join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as well as Taiwanese teas, pastries, and light dim sum while overlooking a panoramic view of the Bay. Both the deck and the apartment will be open for this gathering...

My friend and fellow resident Seble came over this morning for some computer help. While she was here, I noticed this old ripped baby pic that she had scanned on her computer. I told her I could touch it up a little bit... After an hour of playing around, I feel a new career blossoming here... I amaze even myself sometimes.

Before and after...

Remember 2-28. It defines my people.

Wow!
"TAIPEI (AFP) - More than 2.5 million people joined hands to form a 500-kilometre (310-mile) human chain stretching the length of Taiwan in a huge anti-China protest"

Two bubble teas later (an excellent one from Wonderful Foods in Inner Sunset, and the other from my usual Old Teahouse), I'm ready for dinner with some friends in the Intern class.

I got out of work really early today, so I'm making a little surprise visit again to Karisa and Timmy. Grandpa Ding is visiting too! We're having noodle soup for lunch. Yummy!

I'm still a little bit obsessed with this Hayward Fault threat...

spunksterOO7: what are you gonna do if an earthquake hits?
HoChie71: fall to the core of the earth
spunksterOO7: bad answer
spunksterOO7: try again
HoChie71: stop drop and roll
HoChie71: away from the crack in the earth
spunksterOO7: better
HoChie71: i'm a survivor

Poor Ivy. She's sick, but still working hard.

It's a yucky gloomy rainy day today. I'm going to sit at home and pout.

*/edit* Not only is it sucky outside, but it's raining and flooding so hard that water is gushing out of manholes like geysers. OK, back to pouting...

I'm at the teahouse for the third day in a row now. This is bad. My teeth are going to rot, and I will smile like a grumpy toothless old man in the future.

I'm meeting Alice during her break soon and then Cat for a late lunch today...

I just saw a news special on TV discussing the Hayward Fault and huge overdue earthquakes. Here is a map of the fault line as it runs through Berkeley. On the map, I live between the words "Hayward" and "Hearst Creek." I am now convinced that the crack running underneath my car in the garage is due to this fault movement, and that the next big quake is going to take me, my car, and my bedroom to the center of the Earth. Scary. Still trying to smile...

Before and During a Quake... The lines of paint don't even line up anymore...

Today was one of those days where one smile turned into another. No big events. Just lots of little things that made me smile. It went something like this...

I woke up this morning feeling really good because I didn't have to go to work today due to cancelled clinics on my rotation (sleepy closed-eyes one-sided smile).


Since they are members, and I am not, Armen and Mike took me to Costco where I bought lots of toilet paper and paper towels to last me months (grin).


Then they treated me to lunch at Zao, an asian fusion restaurant, where we had this super-cute-petite Asian American waitress serving us (jaw-dropping smile).


After lunch, Mike wanted to go to Cold Stone Creamery. So we went, and he treated me to some Mocha + Oreo/Peanut Butter cups ice cream (satisfied smile).


Then, they dropped me off at my usual bubble tea house, where I chatted online with Karisa at work and then Vivian in Japan for awhile (heart-to-heart smile).


Of course, I had my dose of bubble tea, but the girl at the register noticed it was not my usual order of "taro milk tea, hot, with pearls" (funny cute smile).


On my way out of the tea house, I coincidentally bumped into my next-door neighbor, who I think is just really pretty. I might have a crush (flirty smile).


I walked back home and just took in the beautiful day. For once, it was amazingly sunny and clear outside - the kind of day I live for here (happy grin).


While at home, I got an unexpected call from fellow resident, Kathleen, and we chatted briefly about the Lion King musical that I recently saw (content smile).


Immediately after, I got a call from a deputy sheriff, as my thoughts raced through all the illegal activities I might allegedly be accused of (brief concerned guilty look)...


But it turned out he was just promoting a concert to benefit my hospital, so we had a good conversation when I mentioned I was a doctor there (smile of relief).


I also got a nice email from Cat, who just got accepted to med school, so I am planning on meeting her for lunch tomorrow (heart-felt happy and excited smile).


Now, I'm just waiting for the guys to come back from their mini-trip to SF, so that I can start BBQing some of the ribs I bought today (hungry lip-smacking grin).


The rest of the evening is yet to be written. More smiles and laughs I'm sure.

Happy Birthday to Eloa and Mai! After dinner with Sylvia and Priya, I brought the guys over to the Alley, a cozy piano bar/lounge, to join a little surprise birthday bash.

Eloa and the cake. Mai, Kathy, Jenn.

Sylvia and me. Celeste and Elizabeth entertain at the piano.

The bar feels like an open air Night Market.

Armen, Brandon, Mike. Mini-mint cheers!

I love seeing my parent's generation speak out for what they believe. The passion for a greater cause is so admirable. We, as the 2nd generation, can only hope that our younger community might be able to come together if and when the time calls. I often wonder if we have the heart to do so. I hope we do...

I'm gonna go support my fellow Taiwanese people and make a scene in downtown San Francisco. It's a peaceful protest of course.

Armen and Mike are visiting for the weekend. Except, I'm at work today until tomorrow. Bummer.

I made a surprise visit to Karisa and li'l Timmy after work today... He's so cute!


Lion King was, simply put, visual magic. I loved it all. Can you feel the love tonight? In the Circle of Life?

Anny, Alice, Stanley.

Nancy and Venny.

Candice and Amin.

In front of the Orpheum Theatre.

I have a very exciting evening planned! After all these years of waiting, I finally have the opportunity to watch the Lion King Musical in downtown San Francisco with all its wonderful costumes and puppetry and of course the best musical score of all time. Nancy, Venny, Alice, Stanley, Anny, Candice, and Amin will be joining me. What a great group of friends I will get to share this with!

I just spent over 2 hours with Alice talking about the future of Taiwanese American organizations and community. I have to say, I've always been impressed with her maturity and thoughtfulness with regards to various issues. She cares so much. I admire her. She reminds me of a handful of people I have high regard for.

Sitting at Old Teahouse with Alice enjoying bubble tea. I met her very cool friend Yena who is into Asian American Studies and working with a prominent APA documentarian on campus. I'm impressed. Where do I meet more people like this?

I wanted to get some bubble tea tonight, but I couldn't find parking in the area after circling for 15 minutes. It wasn't meant to happen. I was denied.

I recently found out that Stephen from Atlanta and his wife have just moved into town. Also, I hear Lester just relocated from Chicago for work. I feel some mini-TAF reunions are about to happen...

Wow. Just chatted with Karen online about some heavy topics - the type of stuff she usually addresses in her blogs. She impresses me beyond words.

How exciting! In a couple of weeks, Carol is visiting, followed by Michelle and Dave. The work and play plans seem to be falling into place.

I took my neighbors, Hanah and Rose, out to lunch today. They are really sweet people who I hope to get to know better. I've been such a bad neighbor. I should've done this much earlier.

OK, time to finish the rest of the unviewed chick-flick DVDs I rented for yesterday's party. Get the tears primed and rolling...

In lieu of a special Valentine's date (not that I had one...), I hosted a "Lonely Hearts Club Movie Night" served with homemade pizza and wine. It was just me and some of my cute resident friends from work. Since they are all very special to me, I made them each a special Valentine's Day card (just like in junior high, awww...), bought them boxes of chocolates, and gave them all roses before they left. They're all such sweeties. And, yes, I am a smooth bachelor...

But, really, I just adore all my friends.

Betsy with a lovely smile. "Cherished Friends, Hugs From Ho Chie."

Tear-jerker movies and wine.

Me with my Valentines: Priya, Cherie, Marlene, and Sylvia.

I'm back home after some late night partying. I am too old for this.

Kari and Ivy look so fly, they even make me look good... Ouch, they're hot!

Me, Kari, Eileen, Ivy, and Shu at Fluid.