Stop talking

Some people like to talk a lot about their inspiration, dream and plans: "That movie inspired me to live my life to the fullest" or "I want to become a professor" or "I am going to study so hard for this test."

I'm not saying it is bad to vocalize your thoughts. Saying things out loud can assure and remind you of the current goal and task you should focus on. However, it is very easy to be caught up in the words themselves and not realize that they are merely empty self-satisfaction.

Let's say there is this guy named Bob. He has a test coming up next month. His friends ask him to go to a movie and he responds, "I can't go 'cause I need to study for this exam." He stays home and watches TV. Next week, his parents want him to join them to go grocery shopping and he replies, "I can't go 'cause I need to study for this exam." He remains home and memorize some vocabulary for the day. One day, he wakes up late in the morning. As he feeds his cute pooch, he murmurs, "I'm sorry I can't take you out for a walk. I have the exam coming up." He goes to the kitchen to get the food and start watching TV shows he missed on his computer.

Ok. Now, what do you think about Bob? I mean, he says that he can't do all these because he needs to study. Is he studying hard enough? Well, I don't think I can agree. He is not utilizing the time wisely enough. Even if he went to the park with the dog, he would have enough time to study. It may just be more efficient to take a walk, shower, and start studying with fresh feeling, instead of stuffing down his stomach and giving into food coma.

Well, so, those excuses for not doing something for the exam do not really make sense at all. He stayed home to study but ended up not studying. Why is that?

In my opinion, most people with this problem tend to view the thought of studying, for example, as if it counts for studying hours. Basically they assume that they studied just because they thought about studying. I am not saying that people do it intentionally. Regardless, this type of behavior is unhealthy for the active, happy life.

There may be a way to prevent this. Micro-planning. Before you go to sleep at night, take out your planner and write down what you will be doing for tomorrow in 30 minute increments. You need to make sure to write down everything that will happen tomorrow. However, do not make a plan that is impossible to keep. You need to know your ability and limit. When you wake up in the morning, check the planner. Every half an hour, check the planner for the tasks you should be doing.

Here is an example. Let's say Bob planned to study from 2-6pm tomorrow. He writes down Math for 2-4pm and English for 4-6pm. He opens the Math book he will be studying and decides to finish Chapter 3 tomorrow. He writes, "2-2:30pm Math page 43-50, 2:30-3pm Math page 51-60, 3-4pm Math Chapter test 3 and review." The next day, as he studies Math, he realizes that he is not able to finish the test and review in an hour. He only finishes the test and move onto studying English. After dinner, using the time scheduled as 'free time,' Bob finishes the review promptly and enjoys watching TV peacefully.

Doesn't that sound nice? Watching TV peacefully knowing that you have done every task for the day? Even if Bob had test next month, he is able to use his time wisely and relax fully after his study.

Micro-planning should also be accompanied by Macro-planning. Basically you are picturing the general layout of a month at the beginning of each month. It helps you guide through the month and help you keep focused on what is important and imminent.

For Bob, since the exam is next month, he would write something like, "Study Math everyday except Mondays and Fridays. Study English everyday except Tuesdays and Sundays. Memorize 20 vocabulary everyday. Take Wilson out for a walk every Saturday mornings. No going out with friends except 15th (Susan's Birthday)."

With this, Bob will have some exercise taking the pooch out to the park. He will be able to organize his studying schedule. He will not have to give excuses every time. One task should not be an excuse for not doing another task.

We are given only 24 hours a day. It is up to us to use that time wisely. Some people use 24 hours like 12 hours, and some use 24 hours as if 48 hours had passed. Using the given time efficiently is the most difficult and the most rewarding task of all.

Let's live life to the fullest: stop talking and start doing!

"It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck.
Even while waiting for it."

- inside a fortune cookie -

Tofu's Hike

Today I write another adventure that Tofu and I had. I felt bad that Tofu was being kept in the apartment with almost no form of exercise except chasing his own tail or throwing around his dolls. Therefore, I decided to give him a little treat and take him out to a day in the dog park. Surprisingly, there are not many dog parks near my area and the nearest one I went to was not so good. So, on Sunday I found a park that was about 25 minutes away from my house called Runyon Canyon Park.

I went to this Runyon Canyon Park only to find that the parking here is impossible. There is no designated parking for the dog park or any park enthusiasts. After about a good 15 minutes of searching for parking, I had parked. Unfortunately, this guy couldn't wait and went poopy in my car and I shall not disclose the picture because it is just disturbing. So, after I parked and cleaned up his poop, we walked to the entrance of the park.

Now at this entrance, there was no sign that said, "Welcome to Runyon Canyon Dog Park." Instead, all I see is a dirt road going uphill. Therefore, Tofu and I hiked up this trail until I finally saw a sign that said, "Off-Leash Area," but there was no fence and it was just dirt with a trail leading again upward. I was so confused, but it said no dog leash and so I unleash Tofu wondering what is going on. After a few seconds, I realize that this isn't a dog park but it was a hike trail where dogs could be unleashed to follow their trainers. So, though I was wearing sandals and had no hiking material, Tofu and I decided to hike for about half an hour and come back. It was great opportunity for him to be unleashed and still follow me. We were still weary of other dogs as they are way bigger than he is. Yet, he enjoyed his freedom in the blazing sun and that made me happy as well.

The Entrance to Runyon Canyon Park

Uh oh... is this park safe?!

The OK for unleashing the Tofu

Tofu likes smelling anything... even rocks

The bigger dog

Tofu and the scenery... can you find Tofu?

P.S. Today, I was printing out a lot of documents when I happened to see Tofu freaking out over my printer spitting out pages.... I hope the video is in working condition

"Dogs are better than human beings because they know and do no tell."

- Emily Dickinson

Vegas, Vegas, Vegas!

Vegas the destination of every 21 year old's dream. This was my 3rd visit to Vegas after I turned 21 and it has always been a blast. It's not about the drinking, clubbing, or gambling that makes going to Vegas really fun (even though it definitely helps) but it's about the people and the atmosphere that Vegas creates. Therefore, if you ever have a chance you should always go there at least once after you turn 21.

I went with one of my good friends, John, and we stayed at his hotel called the M Resort. The M is a four star hotel with great food and the newest slot machines. However, a downside to this resort is that it is 10 minutes off the Vegas strip, so if you want to get into the Vegas mood and see bunch of people walking down the streets of Vegas with drinks flying around everywhere then you should think about different hotel.

How the M Resort looks like

On the first day, we drove in and we started off right away with the slot machines while we were waiting for our rooms to be ready. Then around 4 we went to the pool for a quick swim and let me tell you it was great because it was 102 degrees outside. After that we played some more slots and then it was the long awaited M resort buffet. This buffet has one of the greatest food ever and also the best beer.

This was my first plate: slice of pizza, mac & cheese, creamed corn and spinach, tortellini, cocktail shrimps, ribs, prime rib, and salad

Second plate: tri tip, mussels, creamed spinach and corn, cream of broccoli, and tacquitos

Desert: Fruit tart, Cream puff, Red Velvet Cupcake, and gelatto

Then afterward, I played some blackjack and then slept for the night. The next day, we just had some Jack in the Box and went to Serendipity. Now Serendipity has the best frozen hot chocolate ever located in front of Caesar's Palace. They also have a great food too, which I tried on my last trip to Vegas.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Then, we played some slots for a while and swam afterward too. Then again, we ate at the wonderful, oh so wonderful buffet. It was great.

The Swimming pool

Won a $100.21 with my last golden monkey :]

Overall, I didn't make any profit but it was great vacation. There are a lot more things to do in Vegas, such as shopping or catching a show (I personally recommend Love). It's just a fun place to be and I hope you can go sometime soon as well.

The view of Vegas from my room

"The worst thing that can happen to a man who gambles is to win."

- Charles H. Spurgeon

Free

Yay~ I'm finally free~!!!!!!























.....................

Or am I...?

Peggy Sue Restaurant

For some random lunch in San Jose, I went to Peggy Sue.

It is kind of casual, 1950s-inspired restaurant that serves burgers, shakes, and many other wide range of good eats. If you are a San Jose Sharks fan, this place is for you.

The people are very friendly and the food is great.

This is the Peggy Sue's Hamburger. Tomatoes, lettuce and a patty.

This is the "Blue Hawaiian" Pineapple Bacon Burger. The name pretty much says it all. I made mine a meal combo with a side of sweet potato fries and a soda.

Currently, Peggy Sue Restaurant is having a promotion that you can get the burger combo meal with a price of a burger every Wednesday. I am not sure how long this would last, but regardless, the burger is pretty big and filling.

It seems like they have two locations in San Jose. Visit their website if you are interested.


http://www.peggysues.com/index.html

"You can find your way across this country using burger joints,

the way a navigator uses stars."

Charles Kuralt

Panera Bread

I see Panera Bread quite often around the Bay Area. But weirdly enough, I hardly visited this place. I love pastries and good quality bread. Well, maybe because I've been trying to avoid anything that would make me feel guilty in the midst of my pathetic effort to lose weight. It is true that losing weight should be more about working out and exercising than starving my appetite, but being conscious and controlling the diet can show you some fast results.

Enough of irrelevant stories.

I only ordered what I could finish, so it is not much.



This is an iced latte. I got it for FREE cuz I signed up for the myPanera program on my last visit.

This is Pecan Roll and Bear Claw. The Peacan roll is great and all, but the hardened sugar/syrup can stick to your teeth pretty badly. The bear claw, the one on the back that I cut into impatiently, is good as well.

Anyways, they do serve salads, soups and more varieties of bread. You can check out their website for the locations near you.

http://www.panerabread.com/




Now, I shall try this thing RAWR is always doing at the end of his posts.

"I like reality. It tastes like bread."

- Jean Anouilh

Tofu's Long Awaited Adventure

So, it's been a long time since I've written on this blog and there were tons of things I could've written about. For example, my trip to Vegas, Disneyland, Colorado, or even how I finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, but I have decided that I shall do another Tofu entry because he's just darn too cute.

I feel really bad because I feel like I've been neglecting his needs and I really should take him to the vet for his check up. However, even though I may not be home because of the work I do, my brother and grandmother take good care of him. Even though, my grandma wants me to give him away, she has fallen for the innocent face he creates when he knows that he's done something wrong.

Well, I have decided this past Sunday to take him to a park, where he can just be out in the sun and have fun. We went to a nearby park called Pan Pacific Park and just walked around the huge park. We met with couple of dogs and they sniffed each other, so they can get acquainted. It was just a really great time but after an hour of walking we had to call it quits because the weather is just way too hot. By the end of the day, his tongue stuck out as long as his body, but I know he enjoyed the time out in the sun. As a dog owner, I should take him out more often and I feel bad that I can't because of the living situation in my home. However, I'm going to try to take him out at least once a week so that he can just enjoy the sun and have a breath of fresh air.

Now, time for pictures :]

This is Tofu desperately trying to look out the window

Look at his shadow and how flappy his ears are~

After a tired walk and a bath~

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."

- Roger Caras