In no particular order.

I somehow convinced myself that I deserved some self-pampering, and it came in the form of dropping my rainy-day savings on a Rebel XT (still on its way - can't wait!).

Boy: If you've been reading regularly, you've seen me go from the falling-in-love stage right through to the current whine-my-head-off-until-I-can-whine-no-mo stage. The times I shared laughter with him will stay in my heart always as a fond memory. Love is a creature I have yet to comprehend fully. I'm also trying to understand myself better.

Moving out: best move I made this year hands down, improving relationships on so many levels - with my parents, between my parents, with my friends.

Professionally: I've had so much support from friends 'n family, and I am truly grateful. I also have amazing colleagues, making my work experience excellent (ie. little / no office politics, ability to brainstorm with each other regarding treatments / business ideas). I never thought I'd enjoy working. I've had my share of ups and downs, but what has not killed me will only make me stronger, and I am thankful for this. I have learned to speak a rudimentary and crude form of Spanish to better serve those patients who speak minimal English.

Travelling: I didn't do too much this year in light of just dedicating myself somewhat seriously to making my solo acupuncture venture work out. But there was Colorado, Taiwan, Japan, Austin, Los Angeles, and Dallas.

Misc: I learned how to play a few songs on the guitar by myself. I got to attend some free classical music concerts because of the kindness of a friend I met on the Internet. I performed 2 lap dances - both for girls - and they were not entirely repulsed. I completed a 28-mi ride on my bike. I donated acupuncture services. I survived Hurricane Rita and was so bored / depressed I made mock video broadcasts. Eddy introduced me to and taught me rock climbing. I got really smash drunk a few times, and both times (that I remember?) I was in good company who took care of me. I went on a Friendster date and she became a friend. I dogsat really well-behaved and adorable doggies. I played table tennis for the first time in a long time.

Here's to an even more amazing year. Cheers! (Should one of my resolutions be perhaps to cut down on the number of times I get wasted? Hmmm ...)

Happy New Year, all! Here's to a year of being happy, or as one partygoer said, "to keeping that sparkle in your eye". I'm all for that!

zzzzzzzzzzz ...

I have forgotten how slow a 28.8 modem is. So I trust you all shall forgive me for not posting pictures right now. Hahahah.

I'm in Dallas now, hangin' with April 'n David 'n their cutie-pie beagles, aka their children.

Got to spend some time with Sam yesterday by Whiterock Lake, and he moved me almost to tears with his beautiful poetry-like discourse expressing his incredible, unconditional, all-encompassing love for his wife. I truly aim to be able to love like that one day. He gives me hope.

[yawn] So it's like half past noon on X'mas day for me, and I am awoken from my beauty slumber with a call from the bro:

"Yo! Merry Christmas! It's really loud in here, so I just wanted to tell you to turn on Channel 13 cuz I'm at the ___ (couldn't hear who) vs Detroit basketball game, and if you look closely I'm the dude in the grey shirt and khaki pants under the net that Detroit is attacking, with a camera on my right shoulder! Check it out!"

But first, my holiday hangouts so far:

Went on a Friendster date with long-lost friend Anita who braved her headaches so we could hang out and hit on teenage boys in the astrology section of the bookstore

Got together with Esther and Jean so Esther could get her fill of real Chinese food and boba

Pigged out on awesome vegetarian hotpot with the fam

Drove around with the fam checkin' out other people's amazing X'mas light displays [ panorama 1 (above) ] [ panorama 2, ocean theme ] [ closeup of Santa waterskiing ] (Canon Photostitch is so cool!)

Leisurely took pics of our autumn scenery (winter for Texas) before heading to clinic and getting stood up by patient (aiyaa)

Went clubbing for the first time on X'mas Eve, with comrades Hugh, Eddy, Anita, and Anita's homies Vivek, Ashoke(sp?), and Raj: [ me 'n cute bouncer ] [ I look retarded when I dance ] [ leaving Club Mantra ] [ At House of Pies, with our Santa ]

And ... just got back checkin' the TV. I called the bro up: "Hey, uh, I can't see you." "I'm the only Asian dude on the floor!" I squinted more closely and still couldn't tell. Perhaps this is where the high definition would come in handy. Oh well. And so I missed my bro's fifteen minutes of fame.

More merrymaking to come!

Happy holidays to all.

In writing X'mas cards, I have been cursing my disorganization and not having all the physical addresses for my friends.

Enter the online whitepages. Scary stuff, yo.

This guy made me laugh on the way to work. I didn't know Krusty the Clown repaired windshields. And in just 10 minutes, too!

I have also seen a windshield-repairing Santa recently.

Today while driving home I was checkin' out a couple o' dudes in their Honda S2000 (I was being discreet ... I think). And I think they were staring back! It's probably because they're mad jealous of my mad teeny-bop pop-song lip-sync skillz. Holla!

It rained HARD today, with scary thunder and lightning to boot. Eddy and I got thoroughly soaked after making a mad 4-second dash to the car after brunch, having to brave bad traffic and make my car swim through rivers made my commute to work 3 times longer than usual, 2 patients either cancelled or just didn't show up ...

Just kind of a gloomy, Eeyore-ish day.