Last-last weekend in pics: NYC birthday

Today's the last day of March, which means my month-long birthday is officially over. 25 was definitely a birthday to remember, and more so because I'm not planning to turn anything older than 25 going forward. ;-) Some moments from our dinner at the new Buddakan (which by the way, has amazing decor!)...the food was not as stellar as the Philly outpost, but that's what you get for trying to replicate the original, right?

That's me with Olivia & Zhi -- I guess the saying that once a Croftie, always a Croftie is pretty true, eh?







Miss Regina and me, having fun as always :-)










I'm wishing, I'm wishing!

It feels a bit like this...

A sneak peek into my NYC birthday party a couple of weeks ago. Ever since then, life has been a blur, a lot like the way this picture looks: I see myself smiling in the past, but the rest is fuzzy and unclear. Ironic how my birthday dessert was one called "Chocolate Tears"--I love oxymorons like that, especially when it seems that my life is one big oxymoron most of the time...

Soundtrack of life: in Chinese...

Apologies to my non-Chinese visitors. Just heard this *really* old Mavis Fan song this morning and everything hit the spot in terms of my current "soundtrack"...

自言自語 - 范曉萱

天是灰色的　雨是透明的
心是灰色的　我是透明的
愛是盲目的　戀是瘋狂的
痴是可悲的　我是絕對的
你是自由的　我是附屬的
她是永遠的　我是錯誤的
夢是美好的　你是殘酷的
我是灰色的　我是透明的

Terra firma

Hours in United's check-in line in Sao Paulo: 2
Bottles of water consumed in the last 20 hours: 9
Miles flown within the past day: 8,000+
Miles flown in the last 9 days: 17,000+

Yes, I'm very very relieved to be home.

Sleepless in Sao Paulo...

...enough said. 23 hours and 40 minutes until I start the journey home.

It ends here.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm usually not at a loss for words. Since Sunday, I've been at a constant loss for words. I don't know if I'm just getting too old, or if I just feel stupid that all of this happened. If I were 15, I'd definitely document every thought and feeling about what's been going on. But apparently, growing up has its responsibilities, and as we know, blogs can come back to haunt you--hence the cryptic references to what's happened in the last week. I wish I could be in my 'teens again...where life was simple, and relationships didn't involve baggage, complications or true emotions. I'm probably being melodramatic, but I think I've always been like this--serious and utterly passionate about what- or whomever was in my life. But I've also been very good about running away and letting distance separate me from any pain. So despite what my friends say, I don't think I was ever really that strong. I was just always really good at having a plane ticket in my hand ready to go when the shit hit the fan, so to speak. But this time, it keeps catching up with me. I've flown 6,000 miles in the past 4 days, and yet I still feel stung by hurtful words, broken dreams, and empty memories.

The reminiscing ends here. Tomorrow I go home and life begins anew.

Soundtrack of life: growing pains

So life has been a little bumpy since I turned 25 a couple of of weeks ago. Maybe that's part of growing up. Thanks to those that have rallied around me through it all.

Tears and Rain - James Blunt

How I wish I could surrender my soul;
Shed the clothes that become my skin;
See the liar that burns within my needing.
How I wish I'd chosen darkness from cold.
How I wish I had screamed out loud,
Instead I've found no meaning.

I guess it's time I run far, far away; find comfort in pain,
All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble.
Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray.
I've heard what they say, but I'm not here for trouble.
It's more than just words: it's just tears and rain.

How I wish I could walk through the doors of my mind;
Hold memory close at hand,
Help me understand the years.
How I wish I could choose between Heaven and Hell.
How I wish I would save my soul.
I'm so cold from fear.

I guess it's time I run far, far away; find comfort in pain,
All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble.
Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray.
I've heard what they say, but I'm not here for trouble.
Far, far away; find comfort in pain.
All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble.
It's more than just words: it's just tears and rain.

Argentine afterthoughts...

Just got into Sao Paulo, Brazil after three whirlwind days in Buenos Aires. Still sad that I didn't get to see much of the city, but I did learn/make some observations:

-Argentines are like Europeans, only they wake up even later to avoid the need for siestas all together. No one gets to work before 10am, lunch is at 2, and dinner is at 11. Yes, that's 11pm. Last night we got back from dinner at 1:30am. I was tired and smelled like smoke and I didn't even go out...that was *just* dinner.

-Free boob jobs. So I thought Canadians had it well with their socialist medical care. Well apparently, depending on your level of income, the Argentine health system will take care of ALL your medical needs, necessary or not. One of the folks we talked to told us that her health plan allowed her to have one free cosmetic surgery per year. PER YEAR. Damn. No wonder no one looks like they're over 30.

-Did you tell your therapist that? Apparently, Argentinia has the highest number of psychotherapists per capita. Everyone goes to a psychotherapist, whether you think you need it or not. If you turn 30 and you don't have one, then you're some weirdo amongst your friends. Companies have mandatory psychotherapist evaluations as part of your interview process. Craaaaazy...

Too bad that I didn't get to spend more time in B.A.. It really was a very nice town.

In Argentina, yo

Just landed in Buenos Aires and checked into to the painfully-hip Hotel Madero. Flight was shitty, but what else is new when you fly United international coach, right?

P.S. Thanks for all the concerned voicemails and text messages from sweet individuals (you know who y'all are)--I made it here fine and should be okay.

Ever wonder about your granny (smith's)?

Just read this little tidbit about the mysterious numbers that you always see on fruit stickers:

"[T]he sticker labels on fruit: The numbers tell you how the fruit was grown. Conventionally grown fruit has four digits; organically grown fruit has five and starts with a nine; genetically engineered has five numbers and starts with an eight."

Note to self: avoid 5-digit fruits starting with the number 8. And here I thought (being Chinese) that the number "8" was good luck...

(Original link, from BoingBoing)

More birthday pics...

These gorgeously warm pics from Andy & Sandra...thanks, guys!

Link

Can I just fedex all my clothes?

I'm so not ready for my trip tomorrow. NYC --> Buenos Aires --> Sao Paulo = major stress at 11:54pm the night before. I just heard it might snow in NYC this weekend. Well, sh*t. It's only like 30 degrees in Buenos Aires (and yes, that's celsius). So I need a winter coat. And a bikini? I really should just fedex clothes to myself at these hotels. Packing bites. Especially if you haven't started and it's midnight.

The weekend in pics - BIRTHDAY!

Yeah, yeah, it took me a few days to recover from the big 2-5, but I'm now older and wiser and yes, you missed a great party. Here are some highlights from the weekend...

Friday: Dinner at Gary Danko's

Promise me you won't hate me for being a Pucci-wearing Asian...

Saturday: Dinner at Slanted Door

The obligatory cake picture

Yay bubbly!

Sandra & Andy are so cute!

Partying it up in the limo...trust us, we just hailed it on the street

Saturday: Party at Suite one8one

Sasank & Nina are so cute as well!

Sasank's eyeing my cherries...

...and so is Wayne!

Rohan managed to grace us with his presence...after not seeing him for 2.5 years!

Regina and me :-)

It's here!!

Regina's landed. The cake's been ordered. The guest list for Saturday has closed. All plans are in place for the big 25. So why am I still up at 3:30am working?! Maybe that's what growing up is all about...responsibility. *Sigh*

No big birthday wishes so far...I could be cliche and wish for world peace. But really, I just wish all those around me health and happiness. Smile--life is beautiful. :-)

Little Miss Jetsetter...

3 days until the big 25

Okay, so I haven't done much of a countdown, mostly since I was wiped out by a nasty cold all weekend. Nevertheless, the countown continues... Regina gets here on Thursday! Next Thursday I'm off to New York, and then on Sunday I head to fabulous Buenos Aires. Then Sao Paulo. (It's for work...really!) Yes, I never stop flying. That's part of the fun! ;-)

Countdown to the FABULOUS 2-5...

8 days until the big 25

So I thought it'd be too cliche to start the countdown to my birthday at 10 days, so today I'm starting at 8. (And hell, 8 is a lucky number. I'm Chinese. Bite me.) And yes, I realize that counting down to one's birthday is completely self-centered, but you know what? I figured I won't be "aging" anymore after this year (yes, always being 25 is a good thing), so you'll just have to bear with me for 8 more days and it'll be out of my system. I promise.

Don't really have a lot of thoughts about being 25 yet, other than the fact that I will no longer be in my "early twenties" and I'll actually not have to pay ridiculous fees when I rent a car anymore. Okay, you're right...based on one past experience alone, I should never rent a car again period.

The theme of this year's birthday is "25 and Fabulous". Well, yah, somebody's gotta be my cheerleader to fight aging, right? Regina's coming out to SF (I know, it's a big deal for her to leave her beloved coast), quiet dinner on the actual day at Gary Danko's, and then we're rocking it up at suite one8one on Saturday. And then the party moves to NYC the following weekend for a true bi-coastal celebration.

Did you expect anything less?