JONIZZLE

Busy busy weekend.

Friday - TASC had a volunteering shindig in Urbana to play games with kids/give them lots of candy. The sponsors of the event encouraged us to dress up in our costumes. This was the debut of my awesome creation:

Yes. I was Foellinger Auditorium (the building on the right) for Halloween. Puahah.

People liked my costume. Some little kid kept punching me though, I was about to slap him (he was really getting on my nerves), but I...managed not to. A lot of kids were nice and cute though, whee. And then other people kept poking me through the doors of Foellinger that I had cut out of the box...

Saturday - the kids came. We took them to Evo for boba and ran into Michelle Ng visiting from Iowa.



Jess, Michelle, Me, Ryan, and Alice. My former campers from Hongee-Tao and B5 :)


All the tafers at Praise Night, too many to name.


Praise Night was good. I think I liked Spring 04's better, but it continues to impress me. I left everyone to go join my other friends and to form our Quad at Elizabeth's Halloween party.



Me, Steve (Gregory Hall), Brian (Lincoln Hall), and Eek (the Union). Look, no cup in my hands.


Tyler as a dragon. As we walked down the street, everyone laughed and liked our boxes. We were quite popular and funny.


No offense Bryan, but I told Alice I think her and Ryan would be really cute. haha, oh man. TOO cute.


Speaking of my cute daughter Alice, this...is a face she did multiple times this weekend.


Sunday - Breakfast at IHOP before they left. Look Alex, your girlfriend is glowing.


And tonight, Jess Sun was still here, so we went to Mandarin Wok. Today was the last day for the previous owners, they sold it to a new family since they're getting old. It is a very sad day, and it's a sign of how good your restaurant is if people are genuinely sad to see you leave. But I am happy for them. I'm sure they made an amazing amount of loot and can now rest. We'll miss you :(


Thanks to Jeremy, Alice, Eric, Tim, Ryan, Michael, Jess, Julie, and Michelle for coming in for the weekend. I slept till 430pm after they left, I went to dinner, went to a TASC meeting, and then came back and slept more. Therefore, I slept most of the day and I am not going to bed tonight.



And tonight, I was sad. I'm missing something.

Halloween this weekend. Look forward to pictures of me in my costume. I'm going to be wearing a box.

And prepare yourself for an attack of the killer St. Louis kids. They're comin to get me!

Hurrah Huzzah, congratulations Boston.

As a true Cubs fan, I rooted for you.

1) We share similar history (and misery).
2) I won't cheer for the Cardinals (unless the Cubs need them to beat someone).
3) I know WAY too many Cardinals fans, and I don't want to hear them gloat.

I remember a long time ago I thought to myself that Boston would win this year, and the Cubs next year. Well 50% of that came true...let's see how it goes next year.

Cubbies in '05! (knock on wood)

I went to Hardy's Reindeer Ranch yesterday with APAC and we got to play in a giant corn maze. It was muddy and a lot of fun, but what was even more fun was taking pictures with the country/farm atmosphere. As a central Illinois boy, it's something I love.

The whole group. APAC officers plus reps from 6 other AA orgs, like me and Jnet for TASC.


And Jnet seems embarassed to be with me...


Jnet, Me, and Tina sittin' on a rock, surrounded by trees, hay, and pumpkins. Classic.


The 10-acre maze we went through. "Cornfusion 2004". har har. And me, Tina, and a nice tall corn stalk thing.


Bunnies Bunnies Bunnies!!! And a doggie! The doggie kept coming to play with us, and he even ran in the maze with us and led the way for a little but. AWWWW!


I think we look alike.


JUMP!


Rockin' out with Tina on some rockin' chairs. har har. Ah yes. I now want a farm and to sit out on the porch in a rocking chair...


...and take in my farm and all the nature around it. I wanna live where the green grass grows and watch my corn pop up in rows.


Ah yes. Travel the world, make a movie about 228, and then own a farm ranch and watch sunsets from my front porch with my lady, whoever she may be. That is the dream.

I watched Serendipity last night too. It's all about fate and destiny and the signs we see. In the movie the guy is named Jonathan (a sign!) and the girl is named Sara Thomas (another sign!). I know a Sara Thomas. So I'm going to interpret it that my soulmate is some girl I already know. Puahaha. That's right, I'm going to marry you.

I'm using a left-handed mouse right now, and let me tell you. It's WEIRD. I can't function at maximum capacity! My left hand is cramping up!

Last night:

Tampax Runstoppers - 33
the other team (with an annoying qb...) - 0

YEE-EEAA! Another undefeated regular season. For the season, we outscored our opponents 129 - 13. And those 13 (lucky) points all came in our first game of the season. We were rusty, you know.

Playoffs in 2 weeks, looking to win it all this year after making it to the Final Four last year. But also, even if we lose, we've officially be invited to play in the state tournament. Hoo-AH!

Ocelot Onslaught men's flag football Monday.

One thing that struck me as beautiful the other day:

I was sitting in the RSO Office with Jnet and I looked over and saw a girl of Islamic heritage with a traditional head scarf on. She was also wearing an adidas track jacket, emblazoned with the USA flag and a USA logo, making it look like something a US Olympian would wear.

Looking at the girl, I realized she is a living representation of what the word "America" means and stands for.

It was a touching moment. And Jnet said I was poetic to boot.

I think its REALLY weird that a few hours after I finish reading Angels & Demons, this news story breaks. That's like...dead on fiction turning into reality. If this was xanga, I'd insert the face with the big bulging eyes right now.

slickdeals.net is my new best friend. Simpsons/24/Futurama/more! Season One DVD's on sale for $15! $750 off Dell Laptops (expired)! Alex and John bought one each. Justin was going to, but unfortunately he woke up too late. Mike Weng was...but he too was late. Crazy Dell upping those expiration times. BUT the best of all, is free! MyPublisher.com is an online photoalbum maker, and they have free shipping right now and a $20 off coupon, so you can custom order a 20 page (up to 80 pictures) hardcover album for...free! The coupon code when you by it is REFB777. I made an album for TAF tonight. Tomorrow, Taiwan!

- Must sleep at correct times
- Must eat well
- Must exercise
- Must keep learning guitar
- Must figure out Europe
- Must do homework (if I can't get a 4.0 with only a 9-hour credit hours, I should shoot myself)

That's a lot of musts ::Insert bug-eyed xanga smiley again>::.

I was going to post this up myself, but Margaret makes it all the much easier for me:

months ago, the bush administration announced the capture of saddam hussein at a very politically convenient time, giving them just them the boost in public opinion they needed. it looks like the bush administration has been holding on to osama bin laden for yet another politically convenient time when they need a boost -- right before the election.

i will be so so pissed off if a stunt like this will swing voters and win bush jr. the election.

http://www.el-mundo.es/cronica/2004/469/1097487207.html (original in spanish language newspaper)
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7077.htm (translated into english)

in case you doubt the reputation of el mundo, please read the following:
http://www.il.proquest.com/division/pr/04/20040618.shtml

what will china want for handing over osama bin laden? (maybe taiwan?)

True? Maybe. Interesting and plausable? I think so.

Angels & Demons is good.
My Two Friends (Young's band) - Oceans is really good. Gonna be big some day my friend.

Roger added.
Julie re-added.

Grant out in SF. Timmy down in CU. Those Chicago working men be running amok.

Roger, Timmy, Alex, Me, Justin, Grace Ding, and Fu.

Y'all remember Grace Ding from 2001? She was one of the infamous curfew-breakers that were caught on video surveillance. Puaha. It was her first time hanging out with tafCrush. Shes a freshie too. And we're gonna take her mandarin wok-ing tomm.

Wengaroni coming in tomm too.

sending my taflove all the way out to the west coast.

p.s. "CU" stands for Champaign-Urbana.

Attention everyone:

I dropped my English class today kids. And that means this semester I only have...

...

9 credit hours.

Yes. College. I rule at this.

With all this free time, you'd think I would be able to do more homework. But no no, do not despair, Jon Lee still manages to dedicate his time to other things, and do his homework after midnight.

...

School. I suck at this game.

Meh. I'd like to forget parts of this day, but I shouldn't.

Racism and ignorance. It's a kick in the gut and a slap in the face.

It's even worse when it comes from people you call friends. Good friends.

Yea, it's been nearly 12 hours since, and I'm still madly pissed. It was a joke maybe, but a terrible one. Honestly, I don't think I've been this hurt or pissed in a long time. Although sadly, its happened before 18 months ago, from another friend.

On the bright side, I helped me think of activities for TAF. Yes, I think about TAF. And what does TAF stand for?

Taiwanese American Foundation.

Notice the American, bitch. Yea, I said bitch. And you should have heard the f-bombs I was dropping earlier too. If you know me, you know I don't say those words often. That's a sure sign I'm mad.

To any of my friends or any people I know or don't know who might think otherwise, I might not be white, but I sure as hell am an American. I've been one since the day I was born, and I will continue to be one until the day I die.

Welly Yang was awesome:

Most of the TASC officers with Welly (taken with my new camera!)


So yea, his session was really good, he can REALLY sing, and there was a good Q&A session. I talked to him about TAF for a bit, and he told me he was the one who brought Bernice to TAF. THANK GOD he did that. Haha. But yea, good for him, bringing an Asian/Taiwanese presence into broadway and television and representing and trying to make a difference with his production company. And for being talented.

Along the same lines, Young's band's song Oceans is really good. It's one of my best new listens in a long while. Us TAFers...so good at life. Haha.

1) Adrienne is visiting!
2) I watched Friday Night Lights and I liked it. I read the book though, so I think that helped.
3) I am going to buy this tomorrow:

4) And I am going to this afterwards:




And by the way, he IS a TAFer (85-88ish). So I guess it's a TAF visit!

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

(7:25:20 PM): haha oh yes
(7:25:23 PM): in personal comm
(7:25:31 PM): we had to write about one person that has been influential in our lives
(7:25:33 PM): and i wrote about you
(7:25:34 PM): :-D

Thank you for making my day :)

Well I guess my day was made again because of flag football tonight.

Tampax Runstoppers: 29
The other team: 0

Puahaha. We rock it really hard. AND THEN, we got to play again for fun! One team didnt show up to play, so the other team they were supposed to play asked us if we wanted to.

And we did, and we beat them 34-3. Ah yes. Tampax Runstopper football.

Oh, and a quote just heard on Elimidate, "How does he not like me? I'm the best human ever!" Right...

I am sore. Goodnight!

Another night, another thousands of dollars for B-Roy.



You know I'm his coach kids, so if you want to learn, I only charge 35% of your winnings.

I like Nick Lachey. He puts up with A LOT. And he does a lot of his work on his own (moving in furniture, trying to plant a lawn) even though he has a ton of money. I respect that. Me on the other hand, I give Roger $5 to park my car a quarter-mile away because I have a few hundred from poker. The more money I get, the more money Roger gets. I guess it works out for both.

I was highly amused at Mr. Lachey for being sad watching his Cincinnati Bearcats get CRUSHED to the ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI in last years March Madness.

Mid-term week here at school...not so bad when youre only taking 12 credit hours, but busy nonetheless.

Go get Something Corporate - Konstantine.

- I really REALLY love all of my JH campers. You all need to IM me and tell me what youre doing. It would make me immensely happy. like THIIIIIIISSSS happy. Yea, its good for my soul.

- Can anyone explain what Laguna Beach is? Is it like a high school Real World or a scripted show?

- Its getting cooold outside! I enjoy it now, but I wont in a few weeks.

- EuropeEuropeEurope!

- I saw an Apple desktop computer tonight, and I was like whoa. It had a really big monitor and I was actually mesmerized by the Pictures Screensaver. It would fade in and out and zoom in and out of pictures, which was a really classy effect. I initially wanted to buy an Apple just for that, but I came home and found a PC version of the screesaver here, and so all I need now is a big monitor. I dont need an Apple. Puaha.

- I've pretty much listened to this song for a whole year, usually before I go to sleep. It's crazy that I've actually listened to it roughly 365 times, because its nearly 10 minutes long, so that means I've spent 3,650 minutes listening to it, which translates into about 60 hours, or almost THREE FULL DAYS. Here are the lyrics:

I can't imagine all the people that you know
And the places that you go
When the lights are turned down low
And I don't understand all the things you've seen
But I'm slipping in between
You and your big dreams
It's always you
In my big dreams

And you tell me that it's over
Wake up lying in a patch of four leaf clover
And your restless, and I'm naked
You've gotta get out
You can't stand to see me shaking
No
Could you let me go?
I didn't think so

And you don't wanna be here in the future
So you say the present's just a pleasent interruption to the past
And you don't wanna look much closer
Cuz your afraid to find out all this hope
You had sent into the sky by now had crashed
And it did
Because of me

And then you bring me home
Afraid to find out that you're alone
And I'm sleeping in your living room
We don't have much room to live

I had these dreams that I learned to play guitar
Maybe cross the country
Become a rock star
And there was hope in me that I could take you there
But dammit you're so young
Well I don't think i care
And if I hurt you
Then I'm sorry
Please don't think that this was easy

Then you bring me home
Cuz we both know what it's like to be alone
And I'm dreaming in your living room
We don't have much room to live

And Konstantine is walking down the stairs
Doesn't she look good
Standing in her underwear
And I was thinking
What I was thinking
We've been drinking and it doesn't get me anywhere

My Konstantine came walking down the stairs
And all that I could do is touch her long blonde hair
And I've been thinking
It hurts me thinking that these nights
When we were drinking no they never got us anywhere
No

This is because I can spell konfusion with a k
And I like it
It's to dying in another's arms and why I had to try it
It's to Jimmy Eat World and those nights in my car
When the first star you see may not be a star
I'm not your star
Isn't that what you said
What you thought this song meant

And if this is what it takes
Just to lie in my mistakes
And live with what i did to you
And all the hell I put you through
I always catch the clock
It's 11:11
And now you want to talk
It's not hard to dream
You'll always be my Konstantine

Konstantine, they'll never hurt you like I do
No they'll never hurt you like I do
No, no, no no no no no no

This is to a girl who got into my head
With all the pretty things she did
Hey
You know
You keep me up in bed
This is to a girl who got into my head
With all the f*cked up things I did
Hey
Maybe
Baby
You could keep me up in bed
My Konstantine
Spin round me like a dream
We played out on this movie screen
And I said
Did you know I missed you?
Did you know I missed you?
Did you know I missed you?
Did you know I missed you?
Did you know I missed you?
Did you know I missed you?
Did you know I missed you?
I miss you

And then you bring me home
And we'll go to sleep, but this time, not alone, no no
And you'll kiss me in your living room
I know
You'll miss me in your living room
Cuz these nights I think maybe that I'll miss you in my living room
We don't have much room
I said does anybody need that room?
Because we all need a little more room
To live

My Konstantine


I doubt anyone read all that, but I felt like posting the lyrics anyways since it's what, in my mind, a song should be. And its BEAUTIFUL. Something Corporate - Konstantine. This is the millionth time I've mentioned it, so if you haven't, you really should get it. It is quite the depressing song, although in my case, it can remind me of happier times. But it still mellows me out low. Maybe I should you know, stop listening, and let go of a little bit of it all, all that I think and feel. Maybe...sigh.

I don't like letting go.

Im going to sit and watch my screensaver now.

I like the weekend nights, because that means we cook. And we cook good.

Grace, Tina, Roger, and Albert


With all of our food, Americana-style. Sloppy joes, mashed potatoes (from scratch!), mac n cheese with hot dogs, grilled cheese, cheese and sausage and crackers, and then some Taiwanese veggies and soup. Mmm Mmm Mmm.

Oh and french silk pie for dessert. I am too lucky.

I love intramural flag football.

Game 1: Co-Rec league
Tampax Runstoppers 37
Other Team 13

Our girls are GOOD yo. I mean really. We got two new ridiculously amazing soccer girls, one who is an All-American and she was the last player cut for the US Women's National Team. Like, whoa x 20. She made a leaping catch first of all, AND THEN juked out a girl and a guy and tightroped into the endzone along the sideline. The refs, and us guys, were speechless.

Maybe we will see Peggy's Rice Paddies at Nationals.

And yea, I was so giddy to play that I couldnt do any work starting at like 530, and i left for the fields at 7. the game was at 8.

Next up is mens flag football monday night. im so excited.

My vote is going to John Kerry.

You can ask me why if you want.

Yes. I am going to make a movie about 228 fit for the Hollywood screen. I need to continue my romantic comedy too...

quoting people quoting Plato. Mmhmm.

Hmm. Too bad I put too much emotion and dwell on the actions of those who I care (too?) much for. It makes for only "ok" evenings. But hey, at least misery loves company friend. And of course, other friends who congregate over here. It's fun to have us all in here, with 3 laptops and 1 desktop, with Jamie sleeping, Brian winning money, Marge hitting me, and me doing whatever, while John and Alex and Jess and Roger and Grace walk in and out. Oh and I don't mean my whole apartment, but just my bedroom, this 9' x 11' box. Yay for people.

In other good news, I only have 12 credit hours now, so my weeks are easy. Only one class on Tues/Thurs, and it's at 2pm. That means sleep. Oh yea oh yea.

AND I can shuffle poker chips pretty well now too.

What a night.

Brian came over to do some laundry, and he decided to buy-in to a tournament while he was here doing it. GOOD THING.

Yes, that does say $12,639.90. ATTABOY BRIAN.

That's my laptop in the picture too! You go girl! I tried to do my homework and partake in a particularly important chat online, but it was hard to not watch Brian's progress, heh.

I remember having all this other stuff to upload, but I can't even think what it was right now. Me, Jamie, John Paik, Steve V., Roger, and Grace were all watching. And we cheered LOUD. Haha.

Good job Coolman2K. Or maybe Coolman12K now...

I went to watch some high school girls tennis today with Roger and Grace. Haha yea, only because SHERRY was playing! My little ILTer and Roger's little cousin is now a freshman in high school, but she plays on the varsity team. ATTAGIRL

Yea Sherry! She made it all the way to the finals with her doubles partner. I am proud of her.


Cooked curry with the Tina tonight, and then the CUSA (Chinese Undergrad Student Assoc) was having an APA Broomball tournament.

And the TAIWANESE AMERICAN STUDENTS CLUB ARE THE CHAMPIONS!


Yea we rocked it up. Went undefeated, shutout the other teams for all 5 games, and scored probably the most goals of all the teams with our high-octane offense. It came at a price though, hehe. One of our players, Alex, slipped and went down...HARD. On his head.



But he's ok now.

Holler holler out.

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

tonight was FANTASTIC, hahaha. I heart Erika and the other ladies of Pi Phi for a good ole romping barndance, and then hanging out with B-Roy and Stevil and others post barndance. And then, I got free pizza from Brian!

AND THEN, I WON A $150 TOURNAMENT IN POKER! YEA YEA YEA!

hahaha. oh how sad for my opponents.

A good night it was, and a good night to you.

Four of my lady friends all have the same pink Comic Sans 12pt font in their away messages/profiles. Theyre in a row on my buddy list. It is amusing.

Britney Spears is...something.

I'm again switching majors to Media Studies. I am therefore dropping my TV Production class. It isnt needed anymore and despite being interesting, it would be too much of a workload. Plus, I dont have the passion to be a journalist (no internships, etc) like the other students in the class do. But funny enough, who got the highest grade on the first shooting assignment? Yea, Jon Lee did. haha...

Sherry is coming down here to play tennis at one of the local high schools Saturday. Roger and I are going to go cheer her on. Yay a JH TAF visit kind of!

I could have gone to the Dashboard Confessionals concert last night and watched the show next to Tina in the front row, but I did not. Maybe a stupid move. I mean it WAS free too...haha. But yea, she did get to meet him and talk to him and take pictures with him...

ah well. I dont really like them anyways.

Now it Kate Beckinsale came to UIUC...

the 2004 MTV Movie Awards were on MTV tonight. I was really confused. Lindsay Lohan is the host? What what? How did I manage to not notice this...

Oh yea, I was in Taiwan, haha.

But yea no really. I am impressed so far. Lindsay Lohan did the opening dance sequence. She can dance! Maybe I should get her to choreograph a swing choir with me.

wait no.

Angie > Lindsay Lohan.

puahaha.

But yea, this whole mental hospital theme is weird.

*edits*
- Paris Hilton (along with Nicole Richie) is not attractive. *shudder*
- Kate Beckinsdale (along with Heather Locklear who I saw on the Emmys) is GORGEOUS

This is so unbelievably messed up...

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,987172,00.html

"When you have a teenager on the rampage, who are you going to turn to? In America, parents send their troubled offspring to Jamaica's Tranquility Bay - a 'behaviour-modification centre' which charges $40,000 a year to 'cure' them."

I read the whole article trying to keep an open mind about it, but no, it's just disgusting. This is worse, so much worse, than the (possibly urban-legend) clown story.

I wan't to drop kick some of the parent's in the story in the nuts. Or ovaries. You suck.

HOLY CRAP

thendxcrd (4:53:14 PM): haha what happened
Auto response from SpcyDiabla82 (4:53:19 PM): Oh my God...I just heard the creepiest story in the whole world. Who wants to come protect me because I am a little freaked out?????
SpcyDiabla82 (6:31:41 PM): Jenny's boyfriend's like sister or something was babysitting. The parents said that the kids weren't allowed to watch tv but if she wanted there was a tv in their room and she could watch it after the kids went to sleep. So she went in there and there was a clown maniquine. It freaked her out but she just kept on watching tv. Eventually it got to be a little much for her so she went down stairs and called the parents to see if she could like move it in the closet because it scared her. The parents were like "get the kids and get out of the house immediatly"...ya they didn't have a maniquine!!!!! They called the police and it turned out to be a voyer who broke into the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What if she had tried to go and moved it without calling first. HOW FREAKING SCARY IS THAT??????

..........derr.........wholly crepes....

the stars are beautiful tonight

dum dee doo dee dum dum...i had quite the enjoyable evening doing nothing really. Friends in and out, here and there, inside and outside, it was nice and "chill".

free food for us college kids: www.campusfood.com

The big dipper was really big tonight. I'll have to look in my Astronomy 100 book to see why it looks bigger. but yea really





the stars are beautiful tonight.

Why was I stupid and did not drive up for this:

I got into my bed around 12:01am. I promptly drifted off into sleep, and then, very unfortunately, woke up approximately 3-5 minutes later.

And apparently thats all the sleep my body wanted, because it is now 2:23am and I havent been able to fall back asleep.

This is the worst. Being sleepy yet not being able to fall asleep.

I miss being at taf.

Anyone want some fruit?

story:

I was in my Persuasive Writing for Advertising class yesterday, and the teacher handed out resumes for us to critique and to choose one that we thought was the best. So he hands everyone in the class a stack of resumes and splits us up into groups. I get my packet and I'm looking through the resumes. I put the top resume in the good pile because the guy did an internship in Taipei, and I thought that was cool...but little did I know that it would get much cooler and crazy. I skim the next one, and then I put it to the back of the pile and then at the top of the third resume is...

"William Chung"

I stop. I think. William Chung? If you can picture me expressing "...", then you have a good idea of what I looked like. And then a "hoooly shhhnikies" and I stare in wonderment. Hahaha. I look over the rest of the resume to make sure its Wil, and yea, the guy is from the Chicago area, is an engineer, and maker of a cartoon called "Nick the Duck" is listed. Hahaha. I was highly amused. Looking over Wil's credentials was fun. But then yes. I keep on going since I have a time limit to select my top resumes, and then I see...

"Christopher S. Lee" !!!

Not as surprising since I already saw Wil, and it makes sense that they'd have taken a class together, but yea. It was interesting to see what they put down to make them sound good. I asked Wil about it, and well, he makes things that he worked on sound really good, haha. The funniest part was hearing other people talk about Wil's resume though,

"What about this William (haha, "William") guy? He sounds good."
"Ooh, he's a cartoonist, that show's creativity!"

Puahaha. William. Sad for Chris though. No one mentioned his that I heard.

In other news, I've been eating a lot of carrots. A LOT. A parking lot sized a lot. And oddly enough, I got an article of clothing Monday that makes me look like a bunny too. I was wearing it today, and then took it off, and realized that I was wearing green (Taiwan staff shirt) on top and orange (Illinois shorts) on bottom. I went from looking like a bunny to looking like a carrot in seconds.

Who wants to go to Europe with me?!?!

ah yes. it is different.

It's my first time changing the colors of my blog in all three years. Changes are occuring, yes they are, and not just with this.

I'm trying out vegetarianism for the week with B-Roy, kinda to see who can do it longer, but more importantly, we both are interested in it.
1) its healthier
2) i feel bad for the way animals are treated, and when I do go back to meat, i'm only going to purchase it from a local store that sells meat from animals that lived decently happy lives on pastures, rather than in crowded cages. Go margaret and angie.

There's more here, more there, and more everywhere. But for now, just that.

Yes. The background is black. My entries and the links are white. But nothing in this world is just black and white. It's all in shades of gray. You have to look deeper to know what's real (or take a step back too). That's why if you visit a link and see more, afterwards, it becomes gray :)

I didn't plan that really, but it works well.

And yes, even though it may not seem so lately, I sizzle in red because my heart is full of love, love, love. Because...

"His heart was full of love, love, love.
Love, love, love.
Love, love, love is all around"
- Dave Matthews Band

*link cleanup. If youre on the blogring, odds are youre off. no hate no hate. just love love love.

a change is a'comin.

yea. i need it.

yea. thinking about it more...Garden State. great film.

I kinda hit me. I've thought, and told with some people, that I don't feel like I have a home sometimes. Somewhere in the past three full years of college, my house in Springfield stopped becoming home. And I've bounced around apartments the past 3 years, although I do really like my new one. Maybe I like it because it might be my new "home"...?

Regardless, home is where the heart is. I guess the closest thing that makes that true is taf. Too bad it's only 1/52 of a year though. But it could be somewhere else. Within special people. Maybe. But I guess either way, I don't have a 100% solid home. I need a home.

Pardon my melodrama. I'm getting annoyed at it. I guess its just my mood lately.

A lot to do in the next few days.

Don't wake me, I plan on sleeping in.

lkjsasjd;lkd;laskd;askld poeiuroi wej [pwjf ;isaj f;ljasf;lkjsad fp'wuepoajfelasjnlkn sfalAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Garden State. Good movie. Quite good actually. maybe...refreshing even?

I think I was actually impressed by someones acting ability for the first time tonight. I don't recall sitting in a movie and thinking "dang, she can act." Good job Natalie Portman. It doesnt hurt that you have a legit natural beauty/gorgeousness about you. But yea, I am impressed.

Ranee busted out the JH robot sequence of the swing choir in public tonight in Chicago. She says it was awesome. Props for her.

The Postal Service - Such Great Heights (aka the 1st song in the slideshow)
The Postal Service - Sleeping In
Jars of Clay - Love Song for a Savior
Damien Rice - Cannonball

And these Kings of Conveniance guys seem pretty solid.

TASC Shaved Ice tomorrow, 3pm, in Allen. Come one, come all.

oh yea. Bryan Vince and Harmony too.

*edit*

So hah. I'm looking for pictures of bah tzang online. I go to google and search for "Bah tzang". Two of the first five results? Annie Chieu and Emily Huang's xanga/blog, with Annie being first overall. har har har. Again, I am impressed.

*edit 2*

ok so this is getting ridiculous. ten minutes later, I use Google Images to find a picture of bah-tzang. And what do i get? a picture from....Harmony's xanga.

...

school has started. oh what a joy.

classes can be good this semester though, if i let them be. one of them requires me to be part of a team in a class setting. i shall apply TAF skills here...i hope.

bah. school.

but it WAS a good night. yes, yes it was. but i will say no more.

lunch with erika on friday. booyah.

mood of the day: le poop

blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah, blah blah.

sooo...

my internet is ridiculously whack. it goes in and out. im going to call and yell at my service providers.

material possessions are really of no real value in this world. sure they might make you a little happy (i do heart my laptop and wireless internet) and make people think your a little cooler ("whoa, a laptop Jon!"), but in the end, theres something else we all want and need. and when you need it and want it but cant get it? well then, life is like a box of chocolates, a lot of little brown pieces that arent really chocolate, but poop...wait no no, crap, crap is a better word.

i still want my freaking camera back though. and yes, i am blessed with a lot. i just wish it was other things. silly human, always wanting more.

so ill try to end on a happier note. Z and Juliana, and maybe Howa, are coming to visit UIUC! yea!

aaannnddd...i want to sleep forever. yes. forever. I asked grace to punch me in the face. hard. she says shes going to do it tomorrow. im looking forward to it.

apologies if i depressed you with this.

and now i hibernate. and think nothing of all of this please.

Taiwan pictures are up!

So its the TAF post.

Well well. TAF 2004. In the twelve total years that I have attended TAF, I can honestly say that this was my personal best one. I don't know if I should call it "amazing" or use other choice words to describe it, even though it might have been. I think this year was my best because YOU all describe it as "amazing" and as "my best year". All of the hard work paid off. I feel a sense of accomplishment due to the campers' willingness to open up and let us impact them. Without the campers spirit (and energy), I would really be nothing. Thank YOU all, for everything you have done.

I'm not sure what else there is to say about this. I met a lot of new people, got closer to new people...but also...got farther from old people too. Too bad the week isnt longer so I can play with friends in other programs eh?

What took me so long to get to this was because my job I guess, isnt really done. But it isnt done for you either. From Juniors to Youth, we all learned about our ethics and our values.

How will YOU apply it to your real world now?

That's the most important thing. Sometimes in all of our euphoria over TAF and "taflove", we forget (I forget to) that what we are taught at TAF is something to use for the rest of our lives, in our REAL lives. Not only in our TAF lives.

And there are still some TAFers, and definitly the majority of people who don't go to TAF, that don't what it's all about because no one has shared it with them, it being...

Openness, acceptance, unconditional love

It's been my challenge to myself for the past two years to spread them everywhere. I hope you challenge yourself to it also. You might succeed, you might fail, you might forget, but it is important that you try. And if you DO succeed, I assure you the rewards are great.

Acceptance

I think a lot of us forget it. It's like the middle child of the three, but its just as important as the others. There is simliarity with yourself in the quiet kid in the corner, in the gothic kid walking around, the country kid sitting next to you. We're all human. We all have something beautiful.

I'd also like to take this time to thank everyone again. My staff, Junior staff, Youth Staff, the Officers, and the Campers. Every single freaking one of you. From the youngest Junior (Nathan?) to co-JH PD Christine to President Huang and other board members who started making the impacts that you and I still feel today, thank you.

And yes, I reiterate, the TAF week may be over, but we're all still here for you. Most of you know you can contact me any time if you want to talk. Same for any of the other JH counselors, and for the other program's staffs as well. We're all here for you.

The little quote seems to have caught on, "It not just a foundation, it's a family."

Just remember everyone at TAF is part of the family ok?

And once again,

“We should all strive to be who we are at TAF back home, in our "real world". Be as happy, open, loving and caring as you are at TAF. Strive to be the forever TAFer, and if you do all of this, you accomplish the goals of TAF. All you need to do is love, and you'll impact mankind in a unique and compassionate way. Break down your walls, eliminate the barriers, just open up and it will come.”

Peace up, God bless, take care, I'll see y'all soon.

tafLove

yea yea, the taf post is still coming. im still wrapping things up.

on a side note. Yes, Moulin Rouge is correct.

The greatest thing you'll ever know it just to love and be loved in return

BUT.

To love and NOT be loved in return...well thats just straight up drop kick you in the gut, tear out your heart and torture your mind SUCKY.

Yes. Hmm. That was kind of depressing. I hope you all have a good day!

i saw kelsey chappel today for the first time in...7 years? She moved to New Mexico after freshman year. of high school. we were once little buddies in the sandbox. Two decades later, it is the 21st century. she wrote her email address down for me on a napkin. har har.

in the words of mr dave matthews, "it hurt not much when you're around."

but you're not around. and it hurts. oh yes it does. i forgot what else i wanted to say. meh.

and dont fret. I'll post all about that taiwanese thing i went to last week soon enough. you know i love you all.

Harold and Kumar go to White Castle = goooooood.

hahahah. yea.

this is two years in a row ive seen a movie the night before TAF, and two years that John Cho, Eddie Kay Thomas, and Thomas Ian Nichols have been in that movie (American Wedding).

But yea, big ups for the asian guy and the indian guy. wooooooooooooooooooo!

TAF tomorrow. holla holla holla.

yes yes, thank you for all the birthday wishes. It is now three days after mine, but yea. It was interesting, the first three people who wished me a happy birthday (people i was hanging out with on monday night and jeanette dont count since it was before midnight).

I met them in the same order they wished me a happy birthday. and more importantly, the way they have impacted me so far in my first twenty-one years started with the first person, who probably influenced more of who I am today than even my parents, the second, who showed me how good a person can be, and the 3rd...well, its been good so far, and maybe more is to come, maybe not.

I've kind of lost touch with the first two. And I blame myself for that. Sure, people change. But you shouldnt forget where you come from.

I'm looking forward to seeing them again. After TAF, that is.

And I'll see all you TAFers, this weekend.

Peace up homeboys and homegirls. 

one moment can change a lot
one choice and change everything
one vision can inspire
one voice can lead
one life
one love
 
and one...and another. together.
and thats perfect (?)
 
maybe youre gonna be the one that saves me.
maybe...you're my wonderwall?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

you know what, four of the best words you could ever say to an angry friend is, "You need to vent?"
 
It can make a big difference.

much props to the Huang's for their hospitality, and big ups to the TPC. I really do adore that place.
 
And if I could come up with a great new cheer for JH, I could retire from TAF forever.
 
 
 
 
 
 
ok no not really. But making a new cheer would be nice.

attaboy Prince. Now that's what I'm talkin' bout

blogger is new looking, once again.
 
I went to dinner with my dad and sister. As usual, we went to a chinese buffet. And as usual, dinner conversation amuses me. kind of. I think communication problems run deep in my family, especially since my dad lost hearing in his right ear a few years ago. Compound that with my sister's very soft voice and...yea. It's a lot of "what did you say"'s and repeating the same thing over and over...and over. It can be a mind-numbing experience for me sometimes, but hey, its family right? But better communcations would be a great thing to have...
 
random:
 
- i bought a new Cubs hat for St. Louis tomorrow. uh huh.
- a fellow guy at the chinese buffet place stared talking to me about the Cubs. He had a Cubs hat on too :)
- Jars of Clay is good
- I got out of my car yesterday and I almost stepped on a dead baby bird. It was on my driveway, covered in ants. I wanted to vomit, but I instead made loud moan-ish screams and ran away. Later that night I ended up running over the bird and the ants, and at the thought of that, another loud moan-ish, eew-iness scream. The bird was completely gone by this morning.
- My dad and sister were HIGHLY amused at me saying "Wah gah lee gong!" at dinner tonight. He told me to start speaking loud Taiwanese to see if the owner would notice, thus signifying whether or not she was Taiwanese herself. Unlike all y'all kids in Taiwan, my dad thought my "Wah gah lee gong" and subsequent "heh heh ho ho"'s were pretty good. Which is why I guess it was funny...
- B-Roy told me Mike Montney got a job at Frair Tuck's, a liquor store. The amusing part of this story is that Mike used to buy alcohol there with a fake id, so all of the employees knew him as "Luke." I wonder what they thought when they realized his name wasnt Luke and his former ID didnt match his real one.
- My friend's dad might have robbed a couple of banks. Seriously. I won't go into further detail but...yea.
- My grandpa hid in the mountains during 228. And my mom is amsued at how much I look like her.
- Traci helped me choreograph swing choir. She is amazing. She choreographed six 8-counts and taught me in like...thirty minutes. I take like...a full day.
- My mom is looking at my Taiwan pictures. She's half shocked and amused by Jeremy and Jacks tongue's together picture. Yea, that was awkward. My mom seeing the picture that is, not two guys getting their tounges close together.
- AAND my mom just hit me, since Roger can speak Taiwanese and I can't, and he translate for my mom.
- TAF. is. coming.

"i am the only one to blame for this"

ouch. but a good ouch.

Anyways. Spiderman is pretty darn on target with its message.

"With great power comes great responsibility"

In whatever we do we probably influence someone, somewhere. And if you are a Counselor or Advisor or ILT or Coordinator or a Program Director at TAF, you will influence someone. You have the power. Therefore, you have the responsibility.

A lot of people talk about "hanky panky." We dont want shady things to happen? Then we don't do anything shady ourselves. We dont even joke of anything shady. We don't (or at least cut down) talk about crushes. I joked about it, I gossiped. But it'll stop for me at TAF. I let it become something bigger than it should be. "Who's your TAF crush??" is not a theme, on par with "Leadership", "Identity", "Communication", or "Ethics & Values". We want campers to stay awake and attentive so they can get something out of the week, the experience that is TAF? Then we do the same, WE SET THE EXAMPLE. I hope you're all ready for that, because that is your responsibility.

You're a role model. Maybe you didn't sign up for that, but you are. And I hope you realize that and do something about it. Don't be like Britney Spears (who you all know I love) and think you're not partly responsible for those younger than you.

And this still applies to campers. You may not be on staff, but you certainly still make an influence on others. You're the next leader, the next advisor, the next Program Director. Your actions can lead to the actions of another.

And yes, we do all make mistakes, and we should all be forgiven for them. Every year, everyone should be given a clean slate.

But please, don't let this get you down. If it does, maybe you should forget what I've said, because TAF is something to celebrate. Don't let me be one to take the joy away from you. I'll be in North Manchester, Indiana in 17 days with a big smile on my face, my heart filled with joy, and my mind wondering how I am so lucky to be here, with all of you.

I hope that's how you'll all feel too. Lucky.

man i had a really good post for you all to enjoy. it was kind of an in the moment thing. but i guess you'll all never know.

but anyways. i wish i would have been able to attend TAC ec. i'll try to go next year, as just a camper. yes! a camper! that'd be nice.

musicisgood.

you know, I wish i cried more. things usually dont move me to tears. they hit me in the gut, can give me chills, rip away something, but usually, no tears. I think we could all use a really good cry right? When oh when will that come. and what will cause it?

I'm scared to know.

love love love.

i believe its love, its hiding down, deep down inside us all.

Another thing i'm scared of is losing touch with friends. good friends. that doesnt hit me in the gut, but more so in the heart.

Wednesday: Springfield
Saturday: St. Louis
Sunday: Champaign/Springfield
Tuesday: Michigan
in 3 saturdays: North Manchester, Indiana. or home. Not Springfield, but home. maybe.

it is where the heart is. is it where my heart is? nah. its all over. in other people.

I think communication is the key to a lot of things. good communication. i think that may have something to do with my fantasies of not taking any classes but languages. I'd like to be sept-lingual.

out on the corner in the pouring rain.

see all the black all the white fade to gray.

i believe that love is the answer.

dream on, dream on.

and when she says she wants somebody else, i hope you know, she doesnt mean you.

you quenched my heart in love. (i bet thats a good feeling)

its hard to say what it is i see, and you wonder if i'll always be

did you know i miss you, did you know i miss you, i miss you, i miss you

turn turn we all become dizzy

up all upside down, to each other, we'll be facing our love

back beat the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out

in your arms, my salvation lies in your arms

and its all about you, yes its all about you

and as we wind on down the road, our shadows taller than our souls

a clear black night, a clear white moon

coffee black and egg white

get close, get tight

we'll walk above the water, we'll rise above the mist

do you really want to live forever? forever. and ever.

I want to wake up where you are

in the name of love

hold on hey love hold on hey love hold on on on hey love hey love.

and i'll stop. i'd be impressed if someone knew half those songs. if you did, maybe we should be best friends.

and i ramble on.

ess tee ell is coo-ell as always.

yay tpc :)

my ilter emily working at qdoba? priceless.

yahmmy free au jus and 10 cent cones at lions choice

delectable bbq tasting spaghetti sauce by mommy huang

mmm red lobster (hmm...lots of food being mentioned...)

and big ups for a video outside of red lobster.

come on over baby.

whatup!

im at angies house in stl. yea i know, youre all jealous.

i should call jon, jeremy, emily, ryan, jessica, julie and others to let them know im here.

but i must dance. DANCE!

come on over, come on over baby...

aww sad.

Mishelby84: aight. i'm gonna go walk around 101

that makes me miss Taiwan :(

It was in the 60's here in Champaign though. That was quite nice. I saw Spiderman 2 tonight. Tyler Steve and I all wore soccer jerseys to the theatre. the girls were amused. And I continue to believe that Tyler looks a lot like Tobey Maguire. But Tyler is MUCH cuter than Tobey. I mean, thats what I've been told.

...

ANYWAYS, I must dance for swing choir. And my desktop computer is acting amazingly slow. I think it might have a virus. tear.

I am going to end this post now.

Like most things an upper-middle class kid like me would complain about, someone else has it much worse. "MAN, I've been in Taiwan for so long, I cannot WAIT to go back home to the US!"

On the plane back from Chicago to Springfield, a friend, or maybe just a guy I knew in high school, was sitting across from me on the plane. I had seen him in the airport before, but I didn't really think it was him at first. He looked different. He looked older. I guess a year in Iraq would do that to you though.

Kuntzi was finally coming home after flying around the Western hemisphere for two and a half days. I thought my 11-hour flight from Taipei to LA was bad. Try Bagdahd to Bahrain to Turkey to Frankfurt to Philly to Norfolk to Chicago to Springfield, along with some stops I dont remember the names of. And yea, going home after a year in a desert fighting a war.

Now, back in high school, people say Kuntzi wasnt the smartest guy. In fact he was voted Most Spaciest. But he went off and joined the Marines while I debated what major to choose. And while I go to class, or skip class and play video games, he really does risk his life for you and for me. He told me about three other friends we went to high school with. One of them was one of my best friends in 6th grade. I borrowed many of his MAD comic books to read and we were desk neighbors. He's on his second tour of duty now. Another is stationed in some place, and the last one is a medic in the airborne division.

This war in Iraq, I still think it's more not right than it is. But we do all have to remember that we all must support the troops 100%. Because they are our friends, our neighbors, people who we played with as kids on the playground, and their lives can be taken in a split-second. Knowing someone in directly in the war makes you look at it differently. Maybe you know someone in the armed forces. Maybe it's a good thing, maybe its a bad. But either way, it forces a closer and more personal perspective.

I wanted to ask him a lot of questions about the war, but I didnt think he'd like to talk about it a lot, . I felt stupid asking asking my single question, the all-encompassing "how was it?", since im sure being in a hot desert with the possiblity of dying not being the same as being in tropical humidty at Ximen Ding, but he said easily, "it was ok, good I guess, since I made it back." Yea, making it back is good.

So Kuntzi, a soldier of the United States Marine Corps, arrived back home in Springfield, Illinois, greeted by a small crowd of family and friends, on the Fourth of July. Good for him. A hero's welcome.

I felt humbled after seeing that. I really shouldnt complain anymore. We all shouldnt.

See, you and me
Have a better time than most can dream
Have it better than the best
And so can pull on through
Whatever tears at us
Whatever holds us down
And if nothing can be done
We'll make the Best of What's Around

Maria Sharapova is 80 times better than anna kournikova. She gets her name capitalized.

Sportscenter look crazy yo.

California is different. Or maybe its just the LA area.

YES! AMERICA! WHEEE!

its 59 degree here. and no humidity. and im sitting outside in this cool night weather. YEA.

ok im done. i think i might go pee pee somewhere here in the backyard.

last night out playing in taipei. so the 2 most frequently visited places of course.

Ximen Ding

For you taf viewers out there, Kelly and Vince's first time out with us, and Paul and Steve came out too. And for you uiuc'ers, Nancy. And then a bunch of friends of friends.

and of course, Shihlin Night Market, where someone found us! randomly!

Kevan in the hizzy!

I gave him your phone #'s ming, michelle, roger, etc.

Hi googoo Yvonne. I will send you pictures.

Steve just found out he was related to a long time friend of his. Who he dated when he was 16. puaha. just another reason why to not hanky panky at taf :)

So I leave tomorrow night. I am looking forward too:

- Carpet
- Inhaling big whiffs of fresh air
- Space, as in not bumping shoulders with people wherever I walk
- My bed
- Central AC
- Any type of comfortable couch
- Taking a poo and not sweating

But of course, I am going to miss Taiwan. The hustle and bustle of this small island is
an experience to behold, and spending day after day exploring this city and culture with good friends made it even better. I find myself almost feeling guilty for having this much fun, FUN, and not spending my summer doing some sort of internship or being productive. But I did learn how to get around Taipei, and my Mandarin is now just bad, instead of really bad. So whatever. I'm going to miss the family though. Yay for grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins. Maybe I'll be back in the winter. Who wants to play with me and Michelle then?

Green grass and open spaces await me. Wheeeeee!





i heart taiwan

eyecandy


Anna, Me, Jack, Albert, Roger, Michelle, and Ming with Paul and Steve (and 2 teammates) after there dragon boat race.


TAFers, ATLers, and others eating lunch in the Mitsukoshi Dept. Store Food Court


A view of Hualien. Big blue sky, big puffy clouds, clear blue ocean. Gorgeous.

yes. i am now officially taiwanese. i actually had a craving for stinky tofu.

and i think taiwanese and japanese are two really pretty languages. i guess that means i would have enjoyed living in japan-occupied taiwan. but they didnt have ac back then, so...yea, no.

and dont buy the pirated movies at Shihlin night market. they quality is el crap.

only in taiwan do you watch the news and see Paul Lin eating on tv. hahaha.

*edit*

Ok so Paul was shown on the news because he and Steve are competing in the Dragon Boat races here in Taipei for the bah-tzang day festivities. They news camera took a shot of people in the stands, and lo and behold, Paul Lin chewing on something.

But yea, Wellington called me later this afternoon and informed me that Paul and Steve's team for 2nd Place overall! thats REALLY good, cuz there were a lot of teams. congrats!

Anna and Albert go bye bye today. Kevan comes in Monday. and others sometime in between. 8 days left in Taiwan. wow.


Ming Young: May 16 - July 20 @ Taipei
Jon Lee: May 19 - June 30 @ Taipei
Roger Lin: May 23 - June 31 @ all over the island
Linda Kuo: May 24 - June 7? @ the Southern tip of Taiwan
Jason Kuo: @ the Southern tip of Taiwan
Jessica Sun: May 26 - June 21 @ Taipei
Michelle Hsu: June 1 - July @ Taipei
Anna Wu: June 3 - June 23 @ Taipei
Albert Wu: June 3 - June 23 @ Taipei
Jinny Chieu: June 3 - June 28 @ Taipei and Taichung
Jon Chen: June 10 - June 16
Jeremy Chen: June 10 - June 16
Vince Huang: Late June - Late August @ Taipei
Kevan Lin: June 26 - July 31 @ Taipei
Kelly Huang: June 27th - Aug 2 @ Taipei (Loveboat)
Alice Wang: early July @ Kaoshung
Alvin Wang: early July @ Kaoshung
Karen Lai: July 3 - July 17 @ Taipei
Pauline: Late July - August
Mayline Wu: Late July - August
James Huang: Late July - August
Marco Ku: Here
Leo Ku: Here
Cindy Lee: Here
Jason Lee: Here
Wellington Tzou: Here and Loveboatin' it too
Elevyn Tzou: till June 27th
Alberta Lui: July 17th - August 18th
Annie Chieu: June 14 - July 8th @ Taipei and Taichung
Kayleen Fang: June 27- Aug?? @ Taipei, Tainan (Loveboat)
Jeff Fang:
Nancy Wu: Again @ Taipei
Nick Huang: I assume June 27th...
Mr. Charles Huang: el Presidente!

Eric Chang: Lives in Tainan
Steve Lin: Lives in Taipei
Paul Lin: Lives in Taipei

Other Taiwanese Kids:
Stl's Jack Chiu: May 17th - July 23rd
UVA's G-race: Early-Mid June - Early August @ Taipei (Loveboat)

The last few days have been great. I'm really grateful to be this blessed to be able to be here in Taiwan, and explore the city (and also to make all the natives stare at us while we're loud and do crazy antics) with friends.

I've been able to laugh and smile a lot, and it makes me happy that everyone here is doing the same. Taiwan baby, it's a great place. Yea, really really lucky.

Jessica, Jon, and Jeremy left today. Sadness. They were a source of immense amusement. I wonder if we could do the same things we did here in Taipei in STL. I'd hope so. But hey, we lost three, and gained two.

Yea, we totally, unexpectedly, ran into Wellington and Evelyn from ATL.

--on the subway--
Wellington and Evelyn: Roger!
Me, Roger, Michelle, Jon, Jeremy, Anna: (turn around and see them) AAAH! AAAAAAH!! AHH!
Natives: (taken aback by LOUD screams)

yes. It was random, and it was great.

I have two more pictures from Ximen Ding. And don't worry Oogs, I have one at night :)


Ming, Evelyn, Wellington, friend Gary, Anna, Albert, Michelle, Roger, Me

And I'd post the other Ximen Ding photo, but this one from Danshui has more people. Sixteen to be exact. And I took the picture. Yup, so that's seventeen Taiwanese American kids roaming around Taipei. Amazing.

My wireless internet lost its connection while I was making this post, so I watched Moulin Rouge. And yes, it is one of my favorite movies. Here's my top 3.

1. Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (the serious one with Kevin Costner)
2. Moulin Rouge
3. Dogma

I realized that in my top two favorite movies, the main character is called Christian (Morgan Freeman's Muslim character calls Kevin Costner that throughout the movie, and it's Ewan McGregor's name in MR) and the third, Dogma, is about Christians and Christianity. Interesting...

"The greatest thing you'll ever know is to love, and be loved in return."

What do you think?

Ive lately been thinking that I could write my own movie or novel. A really cheesy romantic comedy, or a really cheesy action flick. I think of a lot of random things that i personally think would be funny to watch. Maybe i'll set some time aside and do that someday.

Me and Jess played a fun game tonight called "Who Can Spit Your Gum Higher In The Air". I think i won, but the better part of the story is that after we spit our gum in the air and it landed on the sidewalk, I threw mine away while jessica didnt want to pick her's up even though i told her too. Soon after, two of Michelle's friends came to meet us and they stepped in the gum and got it on their shoes. And then when jessica left, she stepped in it to. HAH. what goes around comes around.

bad jessica, i told you so.

Im watching CSI right now. Funny that I come to taiwan and start watching america's #1 drama.

But yea, movie. I can do it. I think some of the characters will play my gum-spitting game in it.

Michelle is here, yay! Our first east coast representation here in Taiwan. Its funny to think that everyone, other than Michelle, lives in the midwest and we can all just drive a few hours (or in Jessica and the Chen's case, six minutes?) to see each other instead of traveling for a whole day to get here. But oh well. Messing around in Taiwan rocks.

Today was a long day of messing around. Met up at the Taipei 101 with everyone. Throughout the day we did a lot of random things that were highly amusing. I'm too tired to tell you what it all was, and maybe you have to be here to really see why its so funny. But yea, a really good day at the 101 and Ximen Ding.

Wait. All these TAFers at Ximen Ding? Sounds like the traditional photo-op time!

Summer 2002


Winter 2002


Now

Anna, Michelle, Ming, the top of Jeremy's head, Roger, Jon, Me, Jessica, Albert, and the big KFC bucket in the background.

I am lucky.

Balled tonight with Ming vs many skinny Taiwanese guys. But we played some good guys too, so we lost a few. I think playing here changes my game. I usually prefer to stay outside and shoot back in the US, since my friends are taller than me, but here, I could post up against anyone because theyre all so skinny. If I was a few inches taller, I'd be Shaq-like. Well maybe.

One junior high kid was schooling me, hehe. He kept making shot after shot. I played decent defense I think...but we still won, thanks to me just giving Ming the ball and him cutting in for layups. Attaboy.

I was talking to my friend Julie Ashenfelter's mom on her screenname today. When she left, I said "peace out" and she said "ten four big daddy". hahahah, her mom called me "big daddy"...

So, Ximen Ding Saturday night? All the TAFers meet up there and take one big happy amazing picture? : )

Anna calls me a Taiwan tourist guide. Holla.

I went to Shihlin night market tonight with Ming, Cassia, and Jack. While we were sitting around eating some shaved ice, Cassia and I started talking about her one year at TAF, in 1998. I was in Youth that year with her, yet I didn't remember her at all. BUT, she told me about how she remembers only a few people, like Timmy Huang, because he was the one who busted her and three other girls for breaking curfew.

Their punishment was the spanking machine. And I distinctly remember being in a big circle with everying in Yuoth, with the four girls crawling between everyone's legs and being spanked as they walked through. Haha yea, so we realized, that I've spanked Cassia before. (sounds dirty doesn't it? yet it was TAF approved)

And now we hang out in Taiwan together six years later. Whatta camp.

Bought a bunch of things at a 10NT store tonight. Thats right, .30 cent store!

OH AND. I got soccer jerseys today! Good ones too! I'm super-duper excited. I could have gotten hit by a car today, but it would still have been a good day because of the deal I got on the jerseys. And they're real!

i feel cool. Andre Igoudala is pictured on the main page of espn.com, and I made him a smoothie once at my moms store. He grabbed a spoon and dropped it, and then tried to shoot it into the trash can and missed. And now he's predicted to be drafted as high as #3 in the NBA draft.

Good thing he handles a basketball better than a plastic spoon!

har har.

Biggest meetup so far yesterday. Met up with Anna Albert and Jessica at the Taipei Main Station, Jinny met up with us (after a ridiculously hard time trying to find each other), and then went underground to some shops where we randomly ran into Cindy Lee (and she found us because I was talking loud...haha), and then Roger and his cousin Marco (who was in JH long ago) met up with us. hurrah hurrah. And then we met up with Paul (after another ridiculously hard time trying to find him), and took a picture. yay.

We went to lunch, minus Cindy, Albert, and Jess. I got some beef noodle soup (neu ro mien) and the chinese pizza (tsong yo bing) for like...four dollars US. cheap.

Lunch was fun, caught up with Paul's escapades here in Taiwan. Marco was Paul's camper when he was in JH. And Paul didn't remember.

"You dont remember me??"
"I dont remember you, but I remember your SOUL!"

haha yes. good recovery Paul.

I need to learn proper pin ying.

oh yea, before I got to the club last night, an old guy approached me on the street and kept talking and walking with me, asking me if i wanted any "xiao jie's".

haha. a taiwanese pimp.

I didnt accept his offer for his girls.

and i quicky walked away laughing.

hehehe. clubbin in taipei. awww yea.

me, ming, cassia, linda, and jack went to Luxy, which by US standards is a REALLY nice club...and it was pretty cheap for me considering, about $1 2US since i got in after 10pm, but everyone else got in before 10 so it was free for them. So why was I after 10? well...

i forgot my ID. i remember before i left for dinner, that i left my wallet at home since i wouldnt want it at the club. little did i think to take out my ID. So i go to the club anyways and ask the bouncer if i can get in without an ID, hoping he doesnt care since i have a heavy american accent and well, i think i look over 18. but he didnt care. i was hoping for some taiwan ghettoness to get me in :(

so i called up cassia and we talked about our options for awhile, and getting me either ming or jacks id was the fastest option. now getting the id to me was a challenge in itself, let alone getting in with someone elses id, because jack said the bouncers there check IDs hard. cassia and linda were able to get a stranger to hand me the id's, wrapped in money to conceal them, at the entrace, because if they left they couldnt get back in.

so i had jacks taiwanese citizen id and mings drivers license. i went to the end of the line and compared them. i mean, people do say i look like ming, so that would make more sense. i studied up on his birthday and address etc in case they asked me at the door. but after i talked to cassia on the phone again, we decided that i should go with jacks, cuz i mean, i doubt the club gets a lot of Illinois licenses, so they might notice it more...

So i give the bouncer jacks id, and he takes his time looking at it and at me, back and forth. I really dont want to make eye contact with him, so i whipped out my phone and started to pretend to be talking to someone, hehehe. and i said "yea my uncle came and dropped it off" so the other bouncer who i asked if i could get in without and id wouldnt wonder how i had gotten it so quickly. yes i am smooth. but also lucky. while the bouncer was looking at the id, he stared at it for awhile and then he asked me in mandarin when or where my birthdate was. i froze. haha. i memorized mings bday, but his and jacks are really close, and i forgot which was august 6th or 8th. BUT THANK GOD. before i could say anything, or have a heart attack, the bouncer said "oh, here it is", and let me in.

WHEW. it was straight out of a movie.

mad props to cassia and linda for getting me in. and jack for having a taiwanese id with a photo from the side so it looks a little bit more believable that its me.

and in the club, some taiwanese people dance funny.

linda leaves on monday, sad. but anna and albert are here now, hurrah!

Ming Young: May 16 - July 20 @ Taipei
Jon Lee: May 19 - June 30 @ Taipei
Roger Lin: May 23 - June 31 @ all over the island
Linda Kuo: May 24 - June 7? @ the Southern tip of Taiwan
Jason Kuo: @ the Southern tip of Taiwan
Jessica Sun: May 26 - June 21 @ Taipei
Michelle Hsu: June 1 - July @ Taipei
Anna Wu: June 3 - June 23 @ Taipei
Jinny Chieu: June 3 - June 28 @ Taipei and Taichung
Jon Chen: June 10 - June 16
Jeremy Chen: June 10 - June 16
Vince Huang: Late June - Late August @ Taipei
Kevan Lin: June 26 - July 31 @ Taipei
Kelly Huang: June 27th - Aug 2 @ Taipei (Loveboat)
Alice Wang: early July @ Kaoshung
Alvin Wang: early July @ Kaoshung
Karen Lai: July 3 - July 17 @ Taipei
Jessica Fu: July @ Taipei
Pauline: Late July - August
Mayline Wu: Late July - August
James Huang: Late July - August
Marco Ku:
Leo Ku:
Cindy Lee:
Jason Lee:

Eric Chang: Lives in Tainan
Steve Lin: Lives in Taipei
Paul Lin: Lives in Taipei

Other Taiwanese Kids:
Stl's Jack Chiu: May 17th - ?
UVA's G-race: Early-Mid June - Early August @ Taipei (Loveboat)
UIUC's Calvin:

holler. night markets rule. A pretty real looking Von Dutch hat for 250 NT, which is about $8 US. and a bunch of (more than likely fake) adidas and nike headbands and wristbands. oh and some Polo Sport cologne, probably real, for like, $6. hehe yes.

and the food. oh my.

and the heat. oy.

wow. so i was shopping yesterday with Jack from Stl, and I was asking for the price of this dvd. I asked the storeowner how much it was, but you know, my mandarin sucks. So there was this girl who overheard me and asked if she could help. She did, and then we started talking. She asked me where i was from, and i said uiuc. she then asked me if i knew Jonathan Chu. I always think its funny to ask if someone knows so and so because c'mon, what are the odds? but. i knew this kid. apparently, theyre best friends, and i grew up with him back home, we went to the chinese church, and had C++ class together in high school. and i meet his best friend in a small shop in taipei due to my bad mandarin.

like whoa.

So Roger im's me and says he is in Taoyen. And that he saw a random TAFer.

tetelestai92427: yea, i was walking around, doing some window shopping, and i look inside a store and see a umich tshirt.
tetelestai92427: i look to see who it is...
tetelestai92427: and its kevin yau

whaaaaat? daheck is you doing here and we not be knowing? and having roger randomly run into him...well das just cool.

anyways, for all of you who want to play, my # here is 0930202770. hit me up.

Ming Young: May 16 - July 20 @ Taipei
Jon Lee: May 19 - June 30 @ Taipei
Roger Lin: May 23 - June 31 @ all over the island
Linda Kuo: May 24 - June 7? @ the Southern tip of Taiwan
Jason Kuo: @ the Southern tip of Taiwan
Jessica Sun: May 26 - June 21 @ Taipei
Michelle Hsu: June 1 - July @ Taipei
Anna Wu: June 3 - June 23 @ Taipei
Jon Chen: June 10 - June 16
Jeremy Chen: June 10 - June 16
Kelly Huang: June 27th - Aug 2 @ Taipei (Loveboat)
Alice Wang: early July @ Kaoshung
Alvin Wang: early July @ Kaoshung
Karen Lai: July 3 - July 17 @ Taipei
Jessica Fu: July @ Taipei
Pauline: Late July - August
Mayline Wu: Late July - August
James Huang: Late July - August
Marco Ku:
Leo Ku:
Cindy Lee:
Jason Lee:

Eric Chang: Lives in Tainan
Steve Lin: Lives in Taipei?

Other Taiwanese Kids:
Stl's Jack Chiu: May 17th - ?
UVA's G-race: Early-Mid June - Early August @ Taipei (Loveboat)
UIUC's Calvin:

LIVE FROM TAIWAN!

its your favorite resident izzle, Jonizzle. and yes, it is humid. The stewardess said it was 75 degrees when we landed, but yea, 75 plus Taiwan's infamous humidity is really freegin hot. I started sweating immediately.

Ive been here a few hours and i napped for most of them. But in like the two hours i spent awake, I ate 3 bahtzang (in the first 30 minutes of getting to my grandma's) and a couple of those asian apples. YUM.

food food food. sweat sweat sweat. and thus is the story of taiwan.

oh yea...i lied to customs by the way. har har har.

dang. my aunts are really freegin loud. like my mom loud. and when theres 3 of them here in LA and they get together...oh man. My ears hurt.

but yes, a relaxing day here. My aunts house that i am staying at right now is really nice. I should come back here and house sit for them if theyre ever gone. cuz its really cool...hehe.

there was something interesting that i wanted to post but i cant remember now. sad for you all isnt it?

well i cant say im suprised...

I scored a 64% on the "how asian are you?" Quizie! What about you?

Greetings from Taiw...Los Angeles!

Yes. So my plane from Springfield to Chicago Ohare was delayed 1 hours. This forced me to switch from an 845 flight to a 930 from Ohare to LAX.

And so I arrived in LA at midnight. I walked to Singapore Airlines to check in for my flight to Taipei at 1am...

and they had already given away my seat to someone on standby. klasdlkajjalskjlads. So now I am here in LA. I hung out with Grace yesterday and visited my aunt and uncle. Went back to the aiport last night to try to get a ticket on standby, and they waited until 1230 to start (as opposed to 1200 when they gave my ticket away the night before...wtf???) and needless to say, i didnt get a seat.

And since friday night and saturday night have a ridiculous amount of people on the waiting lists, Im confirmed for sunday night/monday morning 1am departure to taiwan.

meh.

1 more day till Taiwan. It's been a good few days here at home, seeing a lot of old friends and such. I miss these kids. I went back to the U of I yesterday though to trasnfer files from my computer to this new laptop. It is sweet. Laptops are fun yo. And this will greatly support all those road trips we go on right tafCrush?

I'm going to D'arcys Pint for lunch, getting me another horseshoe :)
and then off to visit our friend in the hospital :(

Hopefully he will be doing better.

You know when people say Don't Drink and Drive> Yea, please, don't do it.

wow. I left an away message saying I was going to see Mean Girls...and nine people, all girls, left me messages in reference to it. That's like a record. and it was just for a movie...

but yea, it was good. yay for my illegal underaged celebrity crush Lindsay Lohan. Matt's a Hilary Duff guy. meh. Brian and Raj came with us.

...

anyways, Nancy Chen is going to Taiwan tomorrow! hurrah, another person to play with. holler holler!

oh and Julie and Janelle were with us at the movie too...in case any of you thought it was odd that just four guys went to see a girl movie...

even though Brian and I wanted to see it anyways. eh heh heh.

my credit card company, Clout.com, charges $10 for using an atm. those whores.

oh yea, 1 more thing. JH staffers, Ryan's voice changed. its crazy. He's a man.