W. Beach

Yesterday was my last day at work W. Beach. I'll be starting somewhere new in a few weeks, and while I'm very excited about this new opportunity (and especially glad that I already have a friend there), I'm so sad to be leaving my friends at W. Beach. I've made so many lasting friendships with the funniest, kindest people. I know I'll still see everyone on the weekends, and sometimes even during the week, but it's not the same as seeing them everyday, you know? I guess this is just a part of growing up. Love you peeps.

Weekend Update

Friday
A bunch of us went back to Ye Olde King's Head for a low-key night. This time, however, the night didn't go as smoothly as we hoped. We were asked to switch tables twice and had to deal with a rude magician (really) and his rep/assistant. The rep was very pushy and kept shoving her odd-shaped boobs in our faces. In the end though, we got the last laugh - a free round of drinks AND no one showed up for the magic/comedy show!

Saturday
While Allen was taking his CSET Science test, I ran some errands at the promenade. Picked up some new undergarments at Victoria's Secret & exchanged some make-up for my mom. You know how third street has all those street performers? One of them caught my ear and I stopped to listen for awhile. It turned out to be a band (two guys) called the Ken Oak Band. One guy (Ken Oak) uses a cello as a bass and the other guy has a guitar and they both sing. Their music is kind of folksy, but I liked it enough to check them out on myspace. I'm friends with them now.

Afterwards, I stopped by the library and picked up two books: Girl With A Pearl Earring and Slammerkin. After reading The Other Boelyn Girl, I've been so interested in 15-18th century-based novels. I've already finished Girl With A Pearl Earring (I had nothing else to do on Saturday and it's a fast read!) and I really liked it. I'd already seen the movie, starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth, so I knew what the story was, but I still enjoyed it. I love the idea that there's a story behind every painting.

After Allen got home, we watched Pan's Labyrinth. All the bugs and weirdos totally creeped me out, but I really liked the juxtaposition of the real world against the fantasy world.

Sunday
Went to visit my mother, who is leaving again soon. We went to dim sum, where all the dishes are only $1.99 each! That's a steal. The place gets so packed that they started opening at 7am. After breakfast, I took my mom to Target to pick up some make-up. I wanted to buy the make-up for her, since I barely got her anything for Mother's Day. Part of her gift was supposed to be a mother/daughter(s) day out, where my sister and I would take her to lunch and go shopping. My sister ended up not being able to make it out, so I really wanted to make it up to my mom and I was insisting that I pay for her stuff at Target. I swiped my card before she could get her cash out, but then she practically pummelled me in the parking lot and forced me to take her cash. Do you guys ever have this problem with your parents? I took the cash, but snuck it into her purse when she was in the bathroom. When she's at the airport and there's nothing she can do, I'll call her and tell her where I hid it.

DVD Review: Because I Said So

I say this movie is a piece of crap. Normally, I love Diane Keaton - she's so quirky and lovable. In Because I Said So Keaton plays the completely neurotic, overbearing, insane mother to three equally annoying and crazy daughters, including Mandy Moore. Keaton can't let her youngest daughter (Moore) go and constantly meddles in her love life.

The plot is weak at best. The characters are unlikeable. Keaton's long scenes make you seriously hate her and want to pull your hair out. There's a scene where Keaton has lost her voice due to laryngitis and has to write in a notebook to communicate. She asks Moore, her youngest daughter, what an orgasm feels like. WHAT MOTHER DOES THAT? Moore then proceeds to describe the sensations, ooh-ing and ahh-ing, eyes closed and writhing on the sofa -- it is one of the most uncomfortable and unbelievable scenes I've ever witnessed! I had to fast-forward because it was totally grossing me out.

Even more annoying? Keaton and Moore wore Uggs (colored ones, no less!) for half the movie. Enough said.

DVD Review: Deliver Us From Evil

This was a heartbreaking and utterly disturbing documentary written and directed by Amy Berg. Berg interviews Father Oliver O'Grady, who admits he has molested, abused, raped and sodomized numerous children, and allows him to explain his actions. The film also follows three of the victims and their families as they struggle to heal and search for answers as to why the Catholic church allowed this predator to continue to be around children.

O'Grady clearly has psychological issues and it is very eerie hearing him explain the "situations" of abuse. He isn't the least bit remorseful and he's very deliberate and careful in his choice of words so as to trivialize the abuse that he perpetrated.

Watching the parents of the victims is truly gut-wrenching. They all feel so guilty for allowing this man into their lives and putting their children at risk.

Berg also delves deeper into the history of the Catholic church to find out why child abuse and molestation is so prevalent. The answer completely makes sense and you have wonder WHY they don't make changes. You'll be shocked, angry, sad and uncomfortable throughout the film, but it's so interesting and completely worth your time.

Weekend Update

Sorry this is late; I've actually been busy at work lately.

Friday
Allen, BK, S+R, and I wanted to do something low-key Friday night. We made plans to meet at Voda Bar in Santa Monica, but it turns out that Voda is about as big as my closet. All the tables there were reserved and there was hardly any standing space unless you squeezed in somewhere near the bar. Instead, we decided to give Ye Olde King's Head a chance. Guess what? It was pretty fun! There are two pubs to choose from, one rowdy and loud, and one that is more relaxed. We hit up the quieter one and had a great time chatting (yes, we could actually hear ourselves w/o shouting) and the best part was that call drinks were only $8! I'm sure we'll go back again.

Saturday
We didn't do much during the day, but went to dinner at my Mom's in the evening. She made yummy beef stew and something similar to shabu-shabu (in Mandarin, we call it "hot pot").

Sunday
A bunch of us have been planning a trip to Magic Mountain for quite some time now, but kept putting it off. This past Sunday we finally went. When Biddy and Spam told me they wouldn't join us because they don't like roller coasters I laughed at them and called them chickens. Well. As I was being strapped into my seat on Viper (our "warm up" ride), I realized that I am the ultimate chicken.

(SM, BK and Allen are actually on this ride, Tatsu)

I remember the days when roller coasters were exciting and fun. Yes, I'd be scared, but it was exhilarating and thrilling. Now, it's only terrifying and stressful. Alas, I am too old for roller coasters.

I had a ton of fun at Magic Mtn (thanks to my friends), but I won't be going back.

PCD: Asia Gettin' The "Aks"?

Remember Asia, the somewhat snotty, less talented competitor in the Pussycat Dolls: Search For The Next Doll reality show, who won despite her many faults? Well. According to TMZ, she was not present at a recent PCD show in Atlanta.

As TMZ first reported last week, sources say Asia, who won CW's "The Search for the Next Doll," isn't "the best match" for the group, but at the time, we were told by Warner Bros. that Asia "is absolutely a member ... and will tour with the group and record for the Dolls' second album." So what gives?

Calls to the group were not returned, but things aren't looking so hot for Asia -- the reality show has been green-lit for another season and TMZ spotted Robin Antin, the creator of the group, dancing with the runners-up on the series, Chelsea and Melissa, last night at the Stoli Hotel in Hollywood.

Hmph! Asia probably complained that she didn't take center stage or that she didn't get to spend enough time with her daughter and her poor attitude got her booted from the group. Whatevs. I always wanted Melissa R. to win anyway.

Bottomless Bean Pit

I received a Soup Plantation coupon in my email yesterday so Allen and I went there for dinner. I must say, there is always some form of entertainment available at SP. What we witnessed last night amazed us. We still can't get over it. Neither of us has ever seen one person, let alone a very small girl, probably 5'3", 105-110lbs., put away so much food. I found a few pictures, but they really don't do her appetite justice.

This girl ate at least four overflowing bowls of beans (there was a mixed bean soup, but she didn't seem to want the soup part), a humongous salad (Allen couldn't even figure out how she fit so much on one plate; it was a salad tower!), two giant bowls of chicken noodle soup (again sans the soup), a plate full of muffins and at least one baked potato with all the trimmings (bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream etc.). She made multiple trips to get more food.


At one point, while I was getting more soup, Allen saw that she went into the bathroom. He ran to get me so I could spy on her. I quickly went in and, according to Allen, no more than 15 seconds passed between the time she went in and I followed. I washed my hands and kept my eye on her stall through the mirror - she wasn't sitting on the commode, rather she was already standing to the side of the toilet, blowing her nose. Afterwards, she flushed the toilet twice. My thoughts are that she's gotta be one of the following:

1. She's the world's fastest pee-er.
2. She's the world's quietest barfer.
3. She just had to blow her nose. (But why the two flushes then??)
4. She's like a hummingbird and has to eat all the time due to some strange superhuman metabolism.
   

I hope she didn't notice us spying.