where did the first month of 2010 go?

happy new year to you all! okay, i'm a little late in the game..... but better late than never, right?
so, journeying back into my school of random thoughts. my brain can't stop thinking and random ideas (some good some bad) keep sprouting up here and there... speaking of sprout, i love brussel sprouts.... i wonder why so few people like them.

anyway, i have completely abandoned my blog. but i'm not the kind of person to start something and not finish. must continue.... that's what happens when you are desperately trying to sort out your life and neglect others. can't say my life is anywhere close to being sorted but heck, life is too short to fret over silly things. most of the time i can't help it. i'm a perfectionist by profession so what can i say? however, i have also succumbed to my own imperfection and/or self-doubt. sigh!

where's waldo? since my first and last entry, i have traveled to hong kong six times (that's like once a month literally.... yikes!); twice to vancouver; overnight in los angeles where i caught up with one of my dearest friends, and believe it or not, crazy workaholic me managed to squeeze in a REAL vacation to hawaii! aloha! this was my first real vacation in about five or six years, possibly more but i can't remember! so 'real' that i was working away on the beach with my blackberry!!! anyone want my miles or a free ticket? like how i changed the subject??!?!!!?

pop quiz: can someone identify the location of this photo? to some of you, it might seem like an ordinary, not so scenic photo. there's something about it that is very soothing, calming and peaceful. see that dinghy??? that's going to be my getaway boat or hideaway safe haven. also, you'd never guess where this photo was taken?!?!!?!? it was taken at the hong kong country club in deep water bay on january 9th, 2010 while new york was getting dumped with some serious snow. i have fond memories of my childhood here swimming and boating with my parents prior to their divorce. good times good times.

i was hoping to catch a glimpse of snow when i got back to new york but had mostly melted or turned into ice already. it sure was chilly though! vancouver apparently had some great snow this winter AND the olympics is starting in about three weeks!!!! the city is in crazy preparation mode but i hear canucks are worried that the weather is now too warm for the ski slopes of whistler? hes?

i'm boring myself to death with this blog... i feel like i'm trying to write for the sake of writing. not how i want this to be. i suppose i can talk about the NUMBER of weddings i have attended or still have to attend. one more to go.... my best friend is finally tying the knot this sunday, after ten years of courtship! woohoo!

also, bought a new camera over christmas holiday. i was debating between the panasonic LX3 or canon G11 but ended up going with the latter. any comments or suggestions? i'm still maneuvering with the buttons. though my heart was dead set on the LX3, i guess the canon G11 is growing on me.

ciao!

entry #1

i rarely share my thoughts with anyone. i rarely trust anyone. i am not a huge fan of people. if i can have it my way, i'd much prefer not to speak but express myself through music. many consider me an introvert, some call me a hermit. in truth, i'm just a private person. but here i am, blogging my random thoughts, secrets, rants and life stories. THAT's the irony of it all.

perhaps by doing this, i don't have to explain myself over and over again. this will be my one stop shop portal. you want to know what i'm doing or thinking? then follow my blog. so essentially, this is much more time efficient.

since this is my first entry, i definitely have lots of random things to say so please bear with me. slightly on the long side..... ( in no particular order)

1. i've recently discovered a new organic coffee and tea house in the west village called grounded. i stopped drinking coffee two years ago so i ordered an ice vanilla rooibos tea latte with soy milk instead. it was VERY delicious! grounded is hidden and tucked in on jane street between west 4th and greenwich street. totally quaint and cozy. free wifi with lots of tables, couches and chairs. however, there is a 1.5 hrs limit. poop!

2. am i the only one buying classical sheet music these days??? why is it so hard and so frustrating to find a decent sheet music store in new york? well, aside from the obvious economic downturn. now that joseph patelson music house is gone, what's left? i mean, there's frank music company and juilliard bookstore. so get this- i was in the lincoln center area today and realized i needed some music by brahms. i then wandered along 66th and broadway where the juilliard bookstore has been temporary relocated to try my luck. of course, it was CLOSED until july 1st.

as much as i know i can always count on frank's, their prices have always been much higher than patelson's and juilliard. yes, i usually order everything online but there might be days like today where i needed to get a hold of some music right away. what happens if you get called in to play a concert tonight unexpectedly? you just never know.

on top of that, i'm a print music whore and music books galore! call me crazy or anal retentive but i own 3 copies of most of my piano scores! i'm also not a fan of borrowing music from the library. rule of thumb: if you must photocopy music, just don't do it around me EVER!

3. as i wandered through times square on my way to the gym on sunday, i couldn't help but notice two idiots marching up and down the block selling sarah palin and obama condoms. completely appalling. i decided to follow them and inquired about the production cost. what is becoming of this country? no wonder we are the laughing stock.

4. 3G phones might be fast and slick, but they die so quickly. i upgraded to the blackberry bold from the curve recently. my curve gave me a fantastic two year run until it shattered into bits and pieces. the bold looks and feels cool. however, for someone like me who can never remember to charge a phone, i'm not so sure if 3G phones are such a good idea. i spend more brain power reminding myself to carry a phone charger daily. a job in itself. not good.