Event Recap:

Ok I think this is my last recap because these things are getting way to long.  I'm going to try and be good and update daily.  We'll see how that goes....  I wish I had that gadget that Hermione had in the latest Harry Potter movie that let her travel through time.

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Wednesday, June 31st
Irvine/Anaheim, CA

After running into Joanne last week we made plans to hang out tonight to catch up.  I haven't seen her in almost a year and was looking forward to this night.  After work I jet over to her apartment and we decide to head over to Olive Garden.  I ended up getting Fettuccini w/ Sun Dried Tomato Sauce and Joanne ended up getting the Cheese Ravioli, both excellent dishes.  I love Italian food.  =P

Afterwards we headed over to Downtown Disney and just walked around and at 9:30pm we were able to watch the fireworks from Disneyland.  I had a great time and its cool how some people you can just click with.  We probably won't be hanging out again for some time because she is so busy but I'm glad we were able to catch up.

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Thursday, July 1st
Irvine, CA

Had dinner w/ my friend Jacqueline tonight and to save some time she decided to drop by my office.  I think it's always fun to have friends drop by the office or especially when a coworker brings their baby/kid to work.  It always brightens the office and breaks up the monotony of the day.

Here's Jackie at my office and my rice patty hat

We decided to head over to BJ's get a pizza and have a little picnic over at a park by my work.  It was my treat because she just got a job as an anchor on an all asian produced and run newscast on Channel 22.  I'm so proud of her because I remember when she used to be so shy and deathly afraid of public speaking.  It's amazing to see how she's grown and for that fact how many of my friends have grown over the past several years.


Random pictures from the night.  =)

After dropping off Jacqueline I headed over to a baseball field to meet up my company for our weekly softball game.  We lost by one run, but it's always fun to hang out with my coworkers and make fun of everyone while they're playing. =P

Here is a picture of my cool coworker Nicole....in her own words "First White Girl on My Xanga"


Here is a picture of my dumbass coworker Chris  The other picture is a funny t-shirt my coworker made me that says "Lan Mower" on the back.

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Friday, July 2nd
Warped Tour, Fullerton, CA

Warped Tour by far was the highlight of my weekend.  I took the day off from work and headed over with Jon, Eric, Eileen, Megan, & Larry to my very first real concert experience. 

Heheh Eileen said this was the best birthday present she got she thinks =P

The first band we got to watch was New Found Glory and during their set I think I surprised Larry.  While we were in the crowd watching I started giving Larry my cell phone, wallet, & digital camera.  He looks at me with this weird face and I just turn and run head first into the mosh pit.  It was pandemonium in there and a great way to release some tension and angst.

The bands that we got to see that I liked were New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio, Coheed, Story Of The Year, Vandals, Bad Religion, & Yellowcard.  My first love has always been hip-hop but it was nice exposing myself to a little bit of rock and some bands I've never even heard before.

Besides having my first experience in a mosh pit the other first I had was crowd surfing.  This was a complete rush eventhough the first time I tried I got dropped on my ass.  OUCH!!! I vowed at the beginning of the day to get all the way to the security at the front of the stage.  During Bad Religion all of us were about 10-15 feet from the stage and stuck in the deepest parts of the pit.  While everyone was trying to take a quick exit out the side of the crowd I decided to tap a big guy on the shoulder and pointed to the sky.  He put his hands under my foot and launched me onto the crowd.  It was so amazing getting to the front of the stage and I felt like I just ran a marathon walking out to meet my friends.  Complete rush and I hope I get another chance to crowd surf this summer.




Pictures from Warped Tour 2004, CSUF

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Saturday, July 3rd
Home/Irvine, Fullerton, CA

Woohoo, I got a hamster everyone!!!  If you guys didn't know my dog Princess passed away several months ago and the family has been debating about getting a new dog for months.  In the mean time I decided to get some hamsters to hold me over.

Vanilla (Left) & Coco (Right)               Coco sleeping in his new house.

Vanilla sure does like to eat               Vanilla trying to work off all she ate.

Later that night headed over to Eileen's for her birthday Price Is Right Party.  It was cool she had name tags for everyone and even had price is right games.  I think the most fun of the night was answering the question "What has Eileen never done....." and before they could finish the question I blurted out "Sex" hahhah they let me advance anyways. 

Here's Happy/Sad Eileen after Rashmi, Jessica, & I pied her.

Hahah Laura's name tag says (Queen BJ) and mine says (Nympho)

Afterwards we played this game similar to Indian Poker where you put a name on your forehead and ask questions to guess your character.  I played a trick on Eileen.....

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Sunday, July 4th
Los Angeles/Corona Del Mar, Fullerton, CA

Happy Independence Day Everyone!  My sister and her husband came to visit from Arizona so we decided to head out to Chinatown do a little shopping and have lunch.

I think over the past several months I've grown closer to my family and I've begun calling my sisters in Boston & Phoenix more often.  I wish they lived closer but I have my life out here and they are still defining theirs also.

Later that night I headed out to Corona Del Mar for Rob's 4th of July/Birthday bonfire.  It was cool being at the beach on a nice summer day eating smoors and watching the fireworks from the sand.  All & all pretty chill 4th of July.

(P.S. It's weird who you run into sometimes and things you forget......)

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Monday, July 5th
Anime Expo, Anaheim, CA

This was my first year going to Anime Expo and it was a trip.  Met up with Ferdinand, John, & Eric and we headed out to the Anaheim Convention Center.  Thanks to Dennis Portugal for getting in for free my new name is Koji Tajii .  It was cool we watched about 2 hours worth of Anime Music Videos when we got there and some of them were hilarious.

Afterwards we had a chance to walk around the show and check out the people dressed up in cosplay (costumes).



Random Pictures from Anime Expo 2004.

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Tuesday, July 6th
Westminster/Pasadena, CA

Hung out with my cool friend Trang Tran real quick at Barnes & Nobles.  She's studying for MCAT's this summer and I wish her the best of luck.

Still trying out the black & white photos, kinda cool

Afterwards I drove up to Pasadena and took out Helen to congratulate her on getting a job as a teacher in LAUSD.  We headed out to Paseo Colorodo and had dinner at Tokyo Wako.  It was great hanging out with her again and I can't believe it's been 3 years since we first became friends and now she's a teacher.

TOKYO WAKO!!!!!!!!!                     Uhmmmmmm.....Wako Scorpion Drink

So Many Sushi Rolls                            Helen & I =)

It's been a very long week and I hope over the next week I can relax a little and finally get a chance to stay home and read Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown.....ahhhhh who can complain though I have an amazing family & great friends; I'll never turn down hanging out with either.

Event Recap:

I finally got a digital camera and xanga premium so I thought I'd start publically posting again, hope I don't bore you guys to much.

Thursday, June 24th
Irvine, CA

Feeling kinda down because I was supposed to hang out with a friend in Downtown Disney but that fell through......butut....cool Michelle Le calls me up to watch Dodgeball with Her, Courtney, Quoc, & Richard.  I have to say I wasn't feeling exactly up to a funny movie, but half way through the movie I just couldn't stop laughing.  While not oscar worthy it was just what I needed to bring a smile to my face.

After the movie, Michelle and I walked around Irvine Spectrum and passed a tatoo vendor.  Michelle was real cool and was down to get a tattoo with me.  I have to say hers looked pretty bad ass and hopefully by the end of summer, her & I will have real ones to show off.

Michelle's Tat.

Afterwards, we headed over to Dave & Busters and met up Jennifer, Kim & Lorraine.  Heheheh it was fun we played a horse racing game with skee ball mix.  It was so funny because the loser had to ride a real (arcade) horse.

Kim riding the loser's horse =P

It was cool going to Dave & Busters because it was so random because I ran into a big group of my highschool friends and other random people like Annie, Jimmy, Claire, & last but not least Joanne.

Joanne & I, been almost a year since I've seen her.

Afterwards some of us headed over to 24 hour pho in Bolsa.  Heheheh vietnamese is so good at 2am in the morning and I think a little healthier than going to Denny's or getting fast food late at night.

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Friday, June 25th
San Diego, CA

At around 7pm my friend Trang calls me up to go to a club called On Broadway in San Diego and I decide what the hell why not.  So I make the hour drive down intodowntown San Diego and of course I get lost.    But luckily I called up Rashmi & was able to get directions to downtown SD. 

Trang & Me, at On Broadway                       Trang & Pema

Pema & Me (She's 1/2 Tibeten & Indian what a crazy mix)

The club was amazing it was nicely decorated, great music, a good mixed crowd, and huge.  Clubs that have extra room to dance are perfectly fine with me.  If you're in San Diego I totally recommend this club.  After the club we headed to some hotel right down the street for a hotel suite party but sadly the cops had come 30 minutes before we got there.  So we just chilled on the balcony enjoying the view of downtown SD.  Afterwards I called up my very good friend Rashmi and we chilled until 4am before I ended up crashing at her pad.

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Saturday, June 26th
San Diego, CA

Next morning while Rashmi was working at Stride Right I decided to go shopping for Eileen's Graduation present.  I ended up at Spencers Gifts and I got her one of those cool Electric balls that you see in Frankenstein movies.

After spending 4 of the longest hours ever at the mall.  Rashmi & I headed over to Eileen's house for her graduation party.  Eileen's party was really chill and it was cool seeing how close a family can really be.  I've always been amazed at how close nit Filipino familes are.  Anyways, congrats to Eileen graduating.  I've known her for 4-5 years now and it's crazy to think she's entering the real world now crazy stuff.

Eileen at her Grad Party.

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Sunday, June 27th
Orange County/Los Angeles, CA

After a long drive back to Orange County on Saturday night I was able to get back home and sleep in my nice comfortable bed for once.  Sunday was spent watching The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly, with my brother and just relaxing around the house, but then.....

My friend Jennifer calls me up at 10pm and let's me know that there is a dance competition or something going on in LA.  Random me, I get dressed in 5 minutes and start driving up to LA.  I pick up my friend Jennifer and then we head out to this club called Dragonfly in LA.  We get there and we find out there is no dance competition but there is some band there called the Spazmatics.  How unexpected but man, this band was so awesome.  They were playing covers of all these 80's songs like: Take On Me, 99 Luft Balloons, Jessie's Girl, Like A Virgin, Come on Eileen.....so many great songs.  I was singing and jumping to every song.  It was so much fun.


Random pictures from a great night at Dragon Fly

Adventures of the Filthy Foursome:

The Tale of Blackstar:
written by Ho (Eric Ho)

Lan, Laura, Megan, & I (Eric Ho) were on the way to this hanuted house in Blackstar Canyon and it was the scariest things I have ever experienced.  We were driving on this windy road with no streetlights for the longest time when we spotted headlights behind us.  Someoen mentioned they were speeding up as the headlights were getting closer, so we decided to pull over so they could pass.  We turned into the parking lof of this church and the pickup truck followed us, only it stopped in the driveway entrance.  We were like, what the fuck, so we decided to get the hell out of the church parking lot.  Made a u-turn and drove past the truck waiting at the entrance.  It was dark and I could only see the silhouette of the driver.  We turned back onto the road when the pickup went further into the church parking lot and turned toward us.  We were really freaking out at this point, thinking it would follow us some more, but it didn't.  It just waited in the parking lot, pointing its headlights at us.

We drove around looking for it but to no avail.  Next time.

P.S.  I also found out last night that Eric, Laura, Megan, & I are all really scared of the dark.

Event Recap:

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Here is a picture of my mom & dad on her birthday, I think they look cute.

Written on the Wall:

Happy Birthday Lisa!!!!  I'll be spending my Halloween this year with Lisa for her 22nd Birthday.  Why does it feel like I'm the one getting her as a gift....

The Ways....
Written by Lan Nguyen

I like how you notice the little things
    and how we can imagine how a Viking Sings =P
I like your sense of humor
    and the fact you don't have a tumor
I like the fact you can dance
    and that you told someone else "not a chance"
I like how you can both listen & talk
    and how we both borderline stalk
I like the fact you are loyal
    and the way you bring water to a boil
I like the way you look up at me with your cute eyes
    and how you finally said yes after so many tries
I like your very full lips
    and those oh so sexy hips
I like it when you say "hella"
    and the fact I think you are so stella'
I like that you are part Vietnamese & Chinese
    and how when you were small you climbed trees.
I like the fact we have the same taste in music
    and how the initials of our names are cubic
I like the way you look when you are walking away from me
    and the way you like songs about pee
I like the fact you are so caring
    and how we like sharing
I like the fact you are supportive
    and then a little more because the life you live
I like how you are an internet stalker
    and how you can take any girl and mock her  
I like you for being a little bit of a dork
    and how I like pickin' you up from work
I like your sarcasm and wit
    and the fact you don't have a zit
I like how you took a chance on me
    and how I like the sound of we
I like all the random facts you come with
    and how you can probably smoke a fifth
I like how you are up for anything & everything
    and how I feel like I won with you and I hear "ding, ding, ding"
I like the way you kiss
    and the way you can totally diss'
I like how you have your own opinion
    and how you like watching poker at a casino owned by binion
I like the fact we can tell each other anything
    and how you pop up on aim with a moo not a ring
I like how you can finish my thoughts
    and how we sleep on beds not cots
I like the fact "you live to eat, not eat to live"
    and how you have so much to give
I like that we can speak Vietnamese to each other
    and actually am a little disturbed you show interest in my brother
I like the fact you like dogs
    and how you've eaten frogs
I like the way you make me feel
    and how this boys heart you did steal

I like how every day I am still discovering new ways to I like you...

Writings on the Wall:

Wow....it's been one month since I first asked this girl to be my girlfriend and she still continues to amaze me.  She's quick witted, perceptive, caring, funny, beautiful, intelligent....etc....etc.... hehehe ok I'm gonna stop fluffing her ego now because I know she reads my site

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The following letter sums up fairly well how I feel about my girlfriend Lisa.

Lee-oi (Viet Style Pronunciation =P),

Hey boo, just wanted to let you know that these past four days have been amazing and I'll always cherish them and keep them close to my heart. The only way I can seem to describe our time together is that I've felt so "alive" these past few days....and for some reason that description doesn't do it justice. I feel like I've known you for years and its eerie how much we think alike. I mean think about it two people that were raised to be strong and independent individuals, meet twenty one years later only to find out that there is someone out there who is just like them. I feel like deep down inside I know you....and the trippy thing is I feel that deep down inside you know me. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life and at the same time letting me share mine with you.

Yours Truly,
Lan-a (Viet Style Pronunciations =P)

About Me:

"And like that, (poof) he's gone."

Addenda:  The last weekend of July was very hard for me and I had a lot going on in my life on multiple fronts.  I felt like I was getting suffocated with all my problems and sometimes when that happens I like to take a breather. 

For me sometimes this means taking a time out for myself and reassessing my situation.  I disappeared off the face of the earth, I stopped posting, I didn't go on AIM, and heaven forbid I turned off my cell phone.  I think all of us have gotten to the point where we just need some time to ourselves and some time to think.

Some very good friends and a very special person in my life helped me get through this time and I want to thank everyone in my life that was there for me and also a thank you to those who wished me well. 


So how am I doing now?  I'm happy to say the break I took helped and I was able to sort everything out.  Life can throw you some twists and turns but in the end it all works out.

About Me:

all my life i've been told to be polite, be quiet, be a nice guy. I'm sick and tired of being something i'm not just for the sake of society's piece of mind. im

mad as bloody hell and i'm not gonna take it anymore! if i want to pierce my tongue or dye my hair blue...i will, dammit! i'm the byproduct of all this ameriasian mish mash...the epitome of being asian, being american, and just being. i find myself emotionally drawn to humanity and it's problems, and

most of the time i do community service to fight the good fight. although it seems a losing battle, i continue because i have a strong sense of the virtuous.

every time i read john hersey's "hiroshima," i'm driven to tears. we're supposed to be intelligent creatures bestowed with the power of reason, yet we rarely seem to u s e it. the outlook is at times menacingly bleak, but just as any other social activist, i hang tough, i know this world is worth fighting for, it's just a matter of convincing others.

Disclaimer:  Although I am ranting a little bit and many of you don't usually see this side of me.  I thought it'd be an interesting change of pace from

the normal happy go lucky thoughts I post up on here.  And yes I do feel a little down every once in awhile. =) Enjoy!

Writings on the Wall:

About a month ago I found myself at 5am after a long night of partying calling my friend Alex asking for a place to crash for a few hours.  (Side note: Alex is one the most kind & talented people I've ever come into contact with and I'm thankful to have him as a friend).  The thing is there is no parking at his complex and he gives me his Razor scooter to park a couple of blocks away and Razor my ass back to his apartment.

I park, break out the scooter and get going.  On the way back to Alex's apartment I find I can't help but have a smile on my face stretched wide from cheek to cheek.  I felt like a little kid again, utterly carefree and truly happy.

These past few months have been crazy with all the drinking, clubbing, parties, dating, etc...etc...

But I have to say some of the most joyous moments of this year so far have been those most simple.  Sitting shotgun while a friend is driving and noticing how green the trees are, or noticing that you can see the mountains from where I live and they look beautiful.

Since my day with the razor at Alex's apartment I've had a chance to cater to my "inner-child" with various activities such as hula-hooping, rolling down on the grass of a steep hill, blowing bubbles, and recently cloud watching & flying a kite.

I guess I'm saying it's ok to be a kid again.  Find something that brought you joy as a child and just let go.  To my friends that watch "Friends", sometimes you just got to run like Phoebe.

About Me:

"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K"
     ~Ted Logan from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

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[Edit:] This blog was actually posted because of some Circle K politics I became indirectly a part of; I always have faith in Circle K and am glad to say it all sorted itself out in the end. =)