Welcome Back to Seattle Post
Hey y'all...
Yeah yeah...been lazy with the post since I have been back. Once again, I have been busy, trying to readjust into my structured unpredicable life here in Seattle. Yes, I am at busy at work (kinda)...did you know I have work waiting for me when I got back...I mean, it could have been done by someone else I assume but no...they waited for me to return so I can do it...
And I still haven't even unpacked fully from my trip...in fact, my place is a utter and complete mess now and I dont know when I can straighten everything out (will be out of town this weekend...more on that someother time). Not only that, I have tons of things to watch (new DVDs bought in Toronto) and play (games I bought), not to mention the shit load of downloaded TV shows I still have to watch on my PC. At least my 2 weeks worth of backlog Tivo has been caught up (most of it anyways).
Anyways, here are the highlight of the past week:
--my final day in Toronto consist of lunch with my mom before my friend Leila came to pick me up to go to the airport. We even had time to stopped off for a quick bite to eat and even Square One shopping mall for some last minute geek shopping. We chatted on what was important...video games :)
--flight to Denver and then to Seattle. Much longer than when I did it the other way. And oh, on my Denver to Seattle flight, for some strange reason, I really needed to go to the bathroom a lot....like REALLY a lot...but the worst was during take off when I really had to go...but i couldn't until the "captain has turned off the fasten seatbelt light". I was dying...
--thursday...back to work with work waiting for me. Nothing I couldn't handle...
--thursday nite...was going to go home and start cleaning up my place but I get a phone call from Porn. Funny thing about this guy...EVERYTIME he has a flight into Seattle, HE ALWAYS MISSES the flight out of it. So, he gets stranded in Seattle and he usually calls me for a place to crash. Luckily, airlines gave him a hotel room to stay in so he called just to go hang out. We go see The Chronicles of Riddick. That movies made absolutely NO SENSE whatsoever. Made Pitch Black look Citizen Kane or something..
--Friday: dinner in Alka Beach with Linh and her hot lawyer sister. Did I mention, that this is one of the first time I found parking in a busy place AND I PARALLEL PARKED all by myself in to the spot?!! Woohoo! After dinner to Linh's place, waited for Angela, sucked into watching Euro Trip Uncensored (awesome movie!) and then drinks at Triple Door with Justin and Paul and Andrea...
--Saturday: lunch with Oiyan and Jimmy. Then went home to build my Star Trek Enterprise model I got (it so fuckin' detailed and it even lights up! just awesome--yeah I am a geek) and sleep the whole afternoon away (no cleaning up yet). Dinner at Oiyan's with Jimmy and Chee Chen...and then I convinced everyone to go watch The Terminal after reading Denny's review of it. It was a good movie but I dont think I had that much of an emotional connection as Denny did. Maybe my heart is black...
--Sunday: tennis in the moring. Dim sum at lunch. Fremont Fair in the afternoon (somekind of hippy fair). Hanging out with Justin, Paul and Andrea in the evening at their place, watching Family Guy on DVD
--Monday: work, working out in the evening...missed strip club outting with the boyz :(
--Tuesday: doctor appointment in the morning. work. Dinner at Linh's (she cooked it herself). Love Actually viewing afterwards.
Now you are all caught up!
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
My last post in Toronto
My 2 weeks are almost up. I fly back to Seattle tomorrow. I had a blast in Toronto, seeing old friends and just hanging out. Despite that...I can't wait to get back to Seattle...I guess I am a little anxious to get back to work...
Here are the highlights:
--bbq and karaoke for Monica's bday. Got to see Monica's old friend Lauren and Dawn who I met when I first moved to Seattle. Karaoke in Korean Town was awesome...that Korean place we went to was one of the best karaoke joints I have ever been to which VERY recent songs.
--dinner with Silver and John and Rental Girl. We told so many great stories about the past (mostly involving Steve) which some I almost forgot. One great story I was told went something like this:
John was driving Wayne in his car, somewhat speedy down Toronto streets when both of them hear something.
Wayne: do you hear that? its kinda faint.
John: yeah I did. What is it?
Wayne: I dont know, but the faster you go, the louder it gets. You should speed up.
As they speeded up, it turns out that faint sound was a police siren. John was pulled over and his is how he recieved his first speeding ticket.
--met up with old Elementry friend Huy and his girl, Jin. We watch Euro Cup 2004 soccer, England vs. France at the Peel Pub. What an awesome game with the crowds in the bar (both England and France fans fairly represented) really into the game. Toronto is such a soccer city...it was amazing...I walked down my neighbourhood in the Portuguese Village and everyone is glued to their sets watching the Portugal vs. Greece game. Even at the mall, ppl found any TV they had and sat infront of it. And when Greece won, the Greek neighbourhood went ballistics and some even (dare they) drove down to the Portuguese neighbourhood to gloat...awwww...that's Toronto.
--lunch with Jason discussing his wedding plans and life in the gaming industry. wish i had more time with him.
--dinner with old digipen classmate Vince in Scarboro. We ate good sushi and then met up with ex Seattlite Priscilla. I know that both Vince and Priscilla are good friends now because they argue with each other. I am happy.
--lunch with old digipen roomate John Mac and his gf, Megan, who JUST came back from Japan for a summer break. John Mac is now working at Rockstar Toronto for a bit. That boy is just as strange as ever ;)
--dinner with Londoner, Monica and Joey and Renee at some mexican joint near my house, were I have never eaten before. Went Bubble tea before I went to Mike's place where I met his roomates, 2 people from my past. In fact, I was only told that they were roomates with Mike at the last minute before I entered his house! Two person were Janice and Chung, who I met like 10 years ago at camp and never saw them since. Wow!
--hanged out at my friend, Hong at her place. Hong's a cool person to talk to with 2 brothers who really liked talking to me about the game industry. Stayed up late with all 3 of them...
--huge dim sum with the family. I brought a copy of my game on my GBA SP and my cousins couldn't stop playing the game. They wouldn't even allow my younger nephews to play.
--you know, i haven't been home for 1.5 years and the first thing I was told about is how my house was renovated and how I will not recognized it when I came back. Well....it wasn't THAT drastic...but what was drastic is the house next to mines....it use to be a little single story bungalow and now its a 3 story, MODERN design home. It looks incredible! Not only that, I found out that the person that lives in it is a semi famous Toronto celebrity (identity concealed to protect his privacy). Cool?
--actually, walking thru Toronto, there are a lot of NEW buildings everywhere. Mostly new condos but boy do they look very cool a lot of them do. Great designs. But not just the condos, there are a lot of DARING new buildings which very unique designs. Pictures coming soon...
Anyways...see y'all back in Seattle...
My 2 weeks are almost up. I fly back to Seattle tomorrow. I had a blast in Toronto, seeing old friends and just hanging out. Despite that...I can't wait to get back to Seattle...I guess I am a little anxious to get back to work...
Here are the highlights:
--bbq and karaoke for Monica's bday. Got to see Monica's old friend Lauren and Dawn who I met when I first moved to Seattle. Karaoke in Korean Town was awesome...that Korean place we went to was one of the best karaoke joints I have ever been to which VERY recent songs.
--dinner with Silver and John and Rental Girl. We told so many great stories about the past (mostly involving Steve) which some I almost forgot. One great story I was told went something like this:
John was driving Wayne in his car, somewhat speedy down Toronto streets when both of them hear something.
Wayne: do you hear that? its kinda faint.
John: yeah I did. What is it?
Wayne: I dont know, but the faster you go, the louder it gets. You should speed up.
As they speeded up, it turns out that faint sound was a police siren. John was pulled over and his is how he recieved his first speeding ticket.
--met up with old Elementry friend Huy and his girl, Jin. We watch Euro Cup 2004 soccer, England vs. France at the Peel Pub. What an awesome game with the crowds in the bar (both England and France fans fairly represented) really into the game. Toronto is such a soccer city...it was amazing...I walked down my neighbourhood in the Portuguese Village and everyone is glued to their sets watching the Portugal vs. Greece game. Even at the mall, ppl found any TV they had and sat infront of it. And when Greece won, the Greek neighbourhood went ballistics and some even (dare they) drove down to the Portuguese neighbourhood to gloat...awwww...that's Toronto.
--lunch with Jason discussing his wedding plans and life in the gaming industry. wish i had more time with him.
--dinner with old digipen classmate Vince in Scarboro. We ate good sushi and then met up with ex Seattlite Priscilla. I know that both Vince and Priscilla are good friends now because they argue with each other. I am happy.
--lunch with old digipen roomate John Mac and his gf, Megan, who JUST came back from Japan for a summer break. John Mac is now working at Rockstar Toronto for a bit. That boy is just as strange as ever ;)
--dinner with Londoner, Monica and Joey and Renee at some mexican joint near my house, were I have never eaten before. Went Bubble tea before I went to Mike's place where I met his roomates, 2 people from my past. In fact, I was only told that they were roomates with Mike at the last minute before I entered his house! Two person were Janice and Chung, who I met like 10 years ago at camp and never saw them since. Wow!
--hanged out at my friend, Hong at her place. Hong's a cool person to talk to with 2 brothers who really liked talking to me about the game industry. Stayed up late with all 3 of them...
--huge dim sum with the family. I brought a copy of my game on my GBA SP and my cousins couldn't stop playing the game. They wouldn't even allow my younger nephews to play.
--you know, i haven't been home for 1.5 years and the first thing I was told about is how my house was renovated and how I will not recognized it when I came back. Well....it wasn't THAT drastic...but what was drastic is the house next to mines....it use to be a little single story bungalow and now its a 3 story, MODERN design home. It looks incredible! Not only that, I found out that the person that lives in it is a semi famous Toronto celebrity (identity concealed to protect his privacy). Cool?
--actually, walking thru Toronto, there are a lot of NEW buildings everywhere. Mostly new condos but boy do they look very cool a lot of them do. Great designs. But not just the condos, there are a lot of DARING new buildings which very unique designs. Pictures coming soon...
Anyways...see y'all back in Seattle...
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
My 5 Minute Mid Toronto Vacation Report
(5 minutes is all I have left at this $3/hr internet cafe)
--so far fun...seeing a lot of friends and family
--but 2 weeks is not enough time for me...I usually come home for 3 weeks
--went mini golfing in the dark with the "Men of AXE" crew (aka The Gay Boyz) with fun nick names as The Choo's, Hentai Rob, White Boy Jon and Rental Girl...Then we went to all you can eat Korean BBQ at midnight for like $12 CANADIAN!! WOW!
--on Saturday, I nearly died from all the food I was eating with my sister's inlaws...we ate SOOOOO MUCH for dim sum followed by an invitation to their place for a BBQ dinner...I can't believe the amount of food there was that night...
--on Saturday, I also nearly died from a car accident that happend right in front of us of the freeway...we pulled over to help and make sure everyone was okay and called 911. I wasn't too worried about the accident at all but how we were off the side of the road waiting for the cops. Even the tow truck driver told us to leave in fear of getting rear ended.
--spent Sunday with my best bud Danny who came down all the way from London to spend the day with me. We went to the Pickering Flea Market where I got to see "trailer trash" of all ethnicities there....then went ate Japanese and watched Harry Potter 3 on an IMAX screeen. Just beautiful!
--Monday...went to see Jon and Thea and their new kid, Trentin in Oakville. That baby is growing really fast!
--Tuesday. Girlie shopping / tour of Toronto with my Seattlite-turned Torontian friend, Priscilla. I bet she never walked as much as she ever did than last nite :)
oh...yeah...did I mention it is friggin hot and humid here? and its supposed to rain too...but its not...
oh...at least all the girls here are wearing very tight tshirt/tank tops and short skirts everywhere they go...
ta da..
(5 minutes is all I have left at this $3/hr internet cafe)
--so far fun...seeing a lot of friends and family
--but 2 weeks is not enough time for me...I usually come home for 3 weeks
--went mini golfing in the dark with the "Men of AXE" crew (aka The Gay Boyz) with fun nick names as The Choo's, Hentai Rob, White Boy Jon and Rental Girl...Then we went to all you can eat Korean BBQ at midnight for like $12 CANADIAN!! WOW!
--on Saturday, I nearly died from all the food I was eating with my sister's inlaws...we ate SOOOOO MUCH for dim sum followed by an invitation to their place for a BBQ dinner...I can't believe the amount of food there was that night...
--on Saturday, I also nearly died from a car accident that happend right in front of us of the freeway...we pulled over to help and make sure everyone was okay and called 911. I wasn't too worried about the accident at all but how we were off the side of the road waiting for the cops. Even the tow truck driver told us to leave in fear of getting rear ended.
--spent Sunday with my best bud Danny who came down all the way from London to spend the day with me. We went to the Pickering Flea Market where I got to see "trailer trash" of all ethnicities there....then went ate Japanese and watched Harry Potter 3 on an IMAX screeen. Just beautiful!
--Monday...went to see Jon and Thea and their new kid, Trentin in Oakville. That baby is growing really fast!
--Tuesday. Girlie shopping / tour of Toronto with my Seattlite-turned Torontian friend, Priscilla. I bet she never walked as much as she ever did than last nite :)
oh...yeah...did I mention it is friggin hot and humid here? and its supposed to rain too...but its not...
oh...at least all the girls here are wearing very tight tshirt/tank tops and short skirts everywhere they go...
ta da..
Friday, June 04, 2004
STILL in Toronto
These past days have been fun yet relaxing...basically walk around a lot and hopefully run into a few friends or two...next week is when I should actually call ppl out ;)
Last nite I was supposed to see Maur...he was going to drive down to Downtown Toronto so we can hang out at some IGDA Toronto geek meeting thing at some bar. He cancelled but I ended up still going (I was in the area). It was actually cool. Lots of ppl showed up and I got to see a couple of ppl I have met before. Toronto's game development scene is really growing by leaps and bounds...
The last time I was back in Toronto was a year and a half and man, everything changes here. I mean, there's a lot of thing that changed for me since I have come back every year or so, but it still blows my mind to see the change and know what it use to be.
Of course, there's a lot things I miss while walking thru Toronto like how beautiful some Toronto neighbourhoods are and how nice it is to be able to walk anywhere in the city and how safe it is. And oh yeah...Jamican Beef Patties from Bathurst Station, and those Panzerotti...DEEP FRIEND Pizza calzones...nothing taste better than fried pizza dough...YUMMY!!
Of course, there's one thing I dont miss about Toronto and its the humidity. And the humidity is not that bad here now either, yet all this west coast living I been thru as lowered my tolerance greatly...great thing I didn't come back in the summer...
Dont know what I will be doing tonite...supposed to go to a bar or dancing or something but everyone is so last minute here...just like me :)
These past days have been fun yet relaxing...basically walk around a lot and hopefully run into a few friends or two...next week is when I should actually call ppl out ;)
Last nite I was supposed to see Maur...he was going to drive down to Downtown Toronto so we can hang out at some IGDA Toronto geek meeting thing at some bar. He cancelled but I ended up still going (I was in the area). It was actually cool. Lots of ppl showed up and I got to see a couple of ppl I have met before. Toronto's game development scene is really growing by leaps and bounds...
The last time I was back in Toronto was a year and a half and man, everything changes here. I mean, there's a lot of thing that changed for me since I have come back every year or so, but it still blows my mind to see the change and know what it use to be.
Of course, there's a lot things I miss while walking thru Toronto like how beautiful some Toronto neighbourhoods are and how nice it is to be able to walk anywhere in the city and how safe it is. And oh yeah...Jamican Beef Patties from Bathurst Station, and those Panzerotti...DEEP FRIEND Pizza calzones...nothing taste better than fried pizza dough...YUMMY!!
Of course, there's one thing I dont miss about Toronto and its the humidity. And the humidity is not that bad here now either, yet all this west coast living I been thru as lowered my tolerance greatly...great thing I didn't come back in the summer...
Dont know what I will be doing tonite...supposed to go to a bar or dancing or something but everyone is so last minute here...just like me :)
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
In Toronto NOW...
Flew into Toronto last nite. Took off around 11am Seattle Time...got into Toronto 9:30pm Toronto Time. Yes...I usually lose about a day getting here and usually I dont sleep the night before but I made the mistake of doing so...so I couldn't sleep last nite...
And I have no internet at home :( I am using a internet cafe here on Yonge St.
So, I am just hanging out now...checked out the AXE store...found out Silver is out of town til next week...oh well...
Memorial Day weekend was very laid back and lazy. Went to a couple of BBQs, dinners and even went bike riding. Now I want to buy a bike...
Memorial Day weekend was also when NZ was in SF and I was also supposed to fly down also. Oh well...I missed that too...but got some great drunken phone calls instead..
A few things before I forget...
--I noticed that ALL airplane food taste the same. Not that it tast bad or good...just the same. I noticed this after I burped a bit and tasted the aftertaste and how it taste VERY familar.
--GLEN! Glen! Glen! Glen!
http://content.collegehumor.com/media/movies/starbucks.mov
--Check out the making of the Japanese commerical of my game:
http://watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040528/mario.htm
and the actually commericial too!
http://www.planetgamecube.com/media_downloader.cfm?filename=/commercials/mario_vs_donkey_15.mpeg
oh, those wacky japanese!!
Flew into Toronto last nite. Took off around 11am Seattle Time...got into Toronto 9:30pm Toronto Time. Yes...I usually lose about a day getting here and usually I dont sleep the night before but I made the mistake of doing so...so I couldn't sleep last nite...
And I have no internet at home :( I am using a internet cafe here on Yonge St.
So, I am just hanging out now...checked out the AXE store...found out Silver is out of town til next week...oh well...
Memorial Day weekend was very laid back and lazy. Went to a couple of BBQs, dinners and even went bike riding. Now I want to buy a bike...
Memorial Day weekend was also when NZ was in SF and I was also supposed to fly down also. Oh well...I missed that too...but got some great drunken phone calls instead..
A few things before I forget...
--I noticed that ALL airplane food taste the same. Not that it tast bad or good...just the same. I noticed this after I burped a bit and tasted the aftertaste and how it taste VERY familar.
--GLEN! Glen! Glen! Glen!
http://content.collegehumor.com/media/movies/starbucks.mov
--Check out the making of the Japanese commerical of my game:
http://watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040528/mario.htm
and the actually commericial too!
http://www.planetgamecube.com/media_downloader.cfm?filename=/commercials/mario_vs_donkey_15.mpeg
oh, those wacky japanese!!
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