THRILLING

My friend Steve got married about a month ago, and this is what his reception looked like.  AMAAAAZING.

STARCRAFT 2

I said it!  Starcraft & SC Broodwar kept my phone line tied up for many many hours when I was in middle school and high school.  My friends and I were big fans of the big custom money maps; the kind that you could build indefinitely until you just unleashed on your opponent.  Times have changed and I no longer have dial up (YAY) and no longer have to play on a laptop that was so heavy, I could use as  a weapon (YAY).  It’s a great game and if you are looking for someone to play with, lynniechan, is your girl.  I still use Protoss as my go-to race, mostly because I’m too lazy right now to learn any other one.

On a semi-side note, BF and I have randomly burst into song…”My life for Aiur, Aiur, Aiur…” which I find exciting and somewhat sad.  My BF is amazing.

DIY Bubble Chandelier

Please see: http://www.casasugar.com/DIY-Bubble-Chandelier-8478784

I imagine my whole house with that kind of lighting.  Too bad I live in earthquake land where that kind of lighting will surely kill me as I sleep.

I have since left my cushy job with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati to go to another bigger (better remains to be seen!) law firm, Morrison & Foerster.  I haven’t strayed too far, still across the street from my old digs.  I miss my old coworkers.  I feel like I’ve lost my family in a way and I’ll miss hearing the updates on their kids, hearing the drama about baseball and 4×4 monster trucking.  I started MoFo a week ago and I am still finding my way.  My coworkers have been awesome in helping me find my place and I think I’ll find my way soon enough.  I’ve had my first beach ball ambush this past Friday.

I’m still doing TKB and have added PiYo to my Monday workouts.  I have a great group of girls that I work out with every Monday and keep me focused.  Summer has come around and I intend to start running again after work if I can get home early enough.  Otherwise, it’s to the gym for some less exciting treadmill and elliptical work.

Tomo and I are still dating.  I am so lucky to have found someone that is so unique and amazing as he is.  He makes me smile and very happy.

I haven’t seen my family in awhile.  I still live with my cousin Scott and see my cousin Derek from time to time, but I haven’t see my immediate family since March.  Writing to my grandma is another thing I have to work on.  The past few months have been so tumultuous that I haven’t written to my grandma in ages!  Now that I’ve had time to breathe, it’s time to get back to doing the little things again (writing….and cleaning).

That’s about it for now.  Here’s to starting to write and trying to find some new inspiration to write about.  Of course, there will be Hoppy updates as they come about.  :)

===========

Hoppy said that this was a better picture of him. He will be flying home tonight.
Bunnzai!

===============

(and the day after)

Dear Lynn,

Received this anonymously sent photo, quite disturbing. It seems that Hoppy might have had too much “Hoppy” to drink in Japan and decided to make one more stop before going home. Better check your loose change (and Hoppy’s breath).

Love,
Dad

============

(same day, this is after Dad sends me the proof from our recent family pictures)

Obon buddies!

Melanie and I have worked together for a few years and we also dance in our neighborhood obon festival annually.  We are also lunch buddies and I stop by often to get away from my work.  Her boss sent her the following because at approximately 2:50, there are two girls that remind her of us.  And it’s so true.  It might be painful to watch the whole video, so I’d just skip until maybe 2:40.

I’m on the left, Melanie’s on the right.  True to form, I’m usually more energetic (I get excited about small things…) and Melanie is always sweet enough to put up with it and even join in .

Moving quickly forward to 2010, lets introduce the Tomo.  I somehow made a promise to go with him to snowboard one time.  I may have been drunk or maybe crazy, maybe both, but I felt a need to make good on that promise regardless of my previous experience.  I was lucky enough to find another beginner to [suffer] with me, also someone who was nice enough not to yell at me when I started crying on the slope (true story, it happened).  Tomo, Janet and driver Tuthien and I embarked on Saturday, February 27 to Kirkwood….

…and I survived!  HURRAY!  Here’s some fun shots from Saturday:

]]> http://lynniechan.com/blog/archives/98/feed 0 http://lynniechan.com/blog/archives/95 http://lynniechan.com/blog/archives/95#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:42:30 +0000 admin http://lynniechan.com/blog/?p=95 Did you happen to read last week’s PostSecret?

Today, I’m sitting at home, telecommuting.  It’s the perfect telecommuting day: my room is a pleasant 70 degrees, the weather outside is dreary and rainy, and I’m eating my favorite Special K with chocolatey bits (thats what it says on the box) and almond milk.  Today is January 21, 2010.   4 years ago, we were celebrating your birthday.  I miss you Justin.  I haven’t forgotten your birthday or the day you left us.

Thanks for the rain and for making my day already so perfect.  Happy birthday!

I’d like to present my case and explain why I love home so much and why using up (seemingly) all my PTO on trips home is worth it.

BEACH – I tortured myself in the beginning of December with the Eddie Aikau competition and then the Pipeline Masters.  I definitely won’t be surfing on the North Shore but I will be going to Kailua Beach with the cousins, Ko Olina with Maria and Kyle, and every other beach I get to go to.  Oh and Sandy’s because it’s near Jess and it’s my favorite beach to tan and nap on.  Just a biznich to clean up after.

FAMILY – If I were really a good daughter, I would’ve put family first.  I guess that’s how my brain works: water, sand then…parents.  It’s hard saying goodbye to them everytime I leave and I feel like crying when I see them again.  I think college made me think that I’d be totally fine without them but by the end of the four years, it was clear that it’d probably never be the case.  There’s also the brother quality time I miss; singing loudly in his car until he tells me THATS ENOUGH, listening to him “booht”, making Starbucks/Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf runs, watching him devour enough food (not to mention sodium) for a family of four, seeing him get excited for his Christmas gifts and blowing up crap on New Years with him.  I can’t wait for Christmas dinner at Aunty Lauren’s with her banana nut muffins, Aunty Emi’s nishime, Uncle Paul’s namasu, Aunty Aileen’s awesome baked goods (please red velvet, please red velvet), Dad’s sashimi (that he bought, he’s no fisher), and other yummy food.

FOOD – Christmas feast definitely tops the food category but then there’s breakfast favorites like Koa Pancake House, Rocky’s for their fried rice, Tanioka’s for their fresh food, Mitsuken for their garlic chicken, Zippy’s for their orange bang and veggie chili with rice (onions and cheese too), Waiola’s for their shave ice, Sushi Ten for their everything (favorite Japanese food place ever…), Hy’s because it’s tradition and their Steak Diane is insane (not on the menu but by request), Rainbows, McDonalds for their portuguese sausage, eggs and rice….the list goes on.  And I’m fricken’ hungry.

ALA MOANA – I love this place.  There’s no mall better than this and if it’s not raining, SCORE.  The outdoor mall has all my favorites and includes lower end shops like The Slipper House and uh the ABC store to the middle cluster of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Prada, Christian Dior, Chanel, Ferragamo…yadda.  And everything in between.  Oh and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf which is my fav.  I drag my Mom for a marathon shopping trip the day after Christmas every year.  My brother joins us at about 11 AM and follows us around, managing to find every chair in every store that we go to.  What a talent.

FRIENDS – It’s been about 3 years since most of us graduated from school and we haven’t all made it home for Christmas.  I think this year, most of it not all will be home.  Sheri, Young Nurse Yung, Jordan, Maria, Jenai, Jess, Jenn, Chad, Dave, Bonnie will ALL be home all at once.  I’ll be bringing my green hat home, hope they’re bring theirs.  I’ve been promised 100% debauchery from Bonnie & Carol and I expect delivery!  :)

tbc!

Mom: Hoppy, don’t you want to stay here forever?  FOREVER?  Can you hear that Lynnie?  BELLS!
Dad: Don’t ruin the surprise!

================

Dear Lynnie-chan,

Attached is the surprise that greeted mom on her birthday and the latest
craziness that Hoppy has to endure.

Love, Mom and Dad

Mom's Birthday with "friends"

I’m stressed.  I never really understood why my mother went bonkers every year around Christmas.  She pulled it off seamlessly–the gift giving, the tree decorating, the yummy breakfast.  I enjoyed every second of it.  Now that I’m of an “adult” age, I’ve taken on some of those same responsibilities.  Picking out the perfect gifts for my friends and family, decorating the workplace, taking on the Adopt-A-Family captaincy, preparing to go home–it’s making me bonkers.  I’m not sure how to fit all of these things in one December.

By far, the most agonizing bullet on the list is the Adopt-A-Family.  I’ve participated for the past couple years but never as the organizer.  How hard could it be?  I’ve emailed about 5 mass emails in three weeks.  I’ve gotten a 1/4 of what donations we need to fulfill the wish list of the two families.  One family has 5 children under 5 years of age.  Another family has two teenage kids whose mother has brain damage.  How to ask 60 other people in your department to give when its the year of recession, no raises, no bonuses.  I’m tired and disappointed to say the least.  Two families that are relying on our donations to make their Christmas happy and it almost seems like there’s no way to get through to my group to help.

OK I feel a little better.  I’ve been having a ton of sleepless nights.  I have 0 Christmas gifts to speak of!  How do people do this??  I miss just being able to enjoy Christmas .