Writings on the Wall:

Just in case you are having that feeling of deja vu.......I originally posted this blog on July 21st, 2003. A lot of the things I wrote back then still apply to this date so I thought I'd repost it for my newer readers.  I hope you all enjoy this blog as much as I do.

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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.

Event Recap:

San Francisco, CA

Ok over the years I've learned that sometimes things don't go the way you want them to and plans change, people flake...etc...etc.....  Well my friend and I had been planning a trip to San Francisco and at the 11th hour my friend decides to cancel out on me and there I was on a Thursday night thinking about how shitty it was that I wouldn't be going to San Francisco.

The next morning I went to work and went through my daily routine then I headed home and just watched tv.  But wait, what the hell was I doing just sitting at home in Sourthern California.

So I packed up my shit and headed out of Orange County at around Midnight.....and that is how one of the best and most enlightening weekends of my life enfolded......

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The Drive:

After I got on the road I realized....Fuck....i'm driving by myself tired and at night.  So I pulled off the next exit and picked up some of the bare essentials.....but they didn't work to well

Red Bull...hahah gods gift to late nighters...damn that steering wheel was comfortable

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Arrival:

After 6.5 hours of driving I finally arrived at my friends place in San Francisco at around 7am.

Her place so much nicer than I had imagined.  It was in downtown San Francisco and about 5 minutes from her school the San Francisco Art Institute.

After I got there I woke my friend up and told her I drove 6.5 hours to see her and I wanted to make the most of my San Francisco Trip.  I wanted to see as much as I could in as little time possible.  She was tired and though I was crazy but I eventually convinced her to get her ass out of her apartment.

My friend Thida...she was resting comfortably before I got there....muahahah

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Breakfast:

My first priority was Breakfast at this great place called "The Crepe House", this great place right around the corner from my friends apartment.

I don't remember what kind of Crepe I had but it was delicous.

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Vintage Shopping:

Next stop was one of the most famous corners in San Francisco.....the corner of Haight & Ashbury where numerous social protests and hippies converged in the 60's now I.  Today it's mostly vintage shops.

All types of weird art shops and clothing shops were there for us to see.

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A Little Bit of Nature:

Next stop on the list was Golden Gate Park.  I wasn't sure what to expect and neither was my friend Thida but after we got there we realized how beautiful a city San Francisco is.

With us moving so quickly through everything I thought I'd take a moment to just enjoy my surroundings.


Here was a picture of a rock party I threw

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A Good Cause:

We were just randomly walking through the park when we heard some music down toward the center of the park.

Apparently there was a big AID's fundraiser going on open to the public.

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Glass House:

Next stop on the list and my favorite part of the trip was right down the road......

The San Francisco "Conservatory of Flowers"

Inside were some of the most beautiful things I've seen in my life.



Random pictures taken throughout the Conservatory.  The center one is my favorite out of this set.

While walking around there was one flower that stood out from the rest.  And I have to say the picture turned out to be favorite of all time favorite shot:

I'm not sure but I think it's a water lily

This picture was a close 2nd for my favorite picture:

Nature's Window

Here is my 3rd favorite of the day:

One of the many backrooms to the conservatory

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Orient Express:

Next stop on the list was the Japanese Tea Garden

There is something I'll always love about girls in Kimono's


The Japanese architecture and art was amazing.


Hahahah this was my favorite personal pose of the weekend =P

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Lunch:

Next stop was Lunch at one of the greatest restaruants in America.....

Hooters!!!!

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The Night Life:

With enough sight seeing under my belt it was time to have fun.  The great thing about San Francisco is everything is w/in a $5-$10 taxi cab ride.  We ended up going to 3 bars and 2 clubs.

Here was the first bar we went to that had a hair salon theme...kinda trippy

The cool thing about clubs in San Francisco are that they don't close down until 4am.  My friends began to get tired at 1am and I did one of the craziest things ever.  I told them to just go home and that I wanted to keep dancing w/ this one girl at the club and I would catch a cab home on my own later.  Ended up getting back to my friends apartment at 5am!

I made lots of great friends that night and even managed to get a #

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Graduation:
With one day left on my trip I decided to wake up after 3 hours sleep drive an extra hour to Berkeley and go to my friends Graduation.  I was happy I was able to be there for her.

She's the fourth one from the right.

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Aftermath....:

This weekend trip was just 3 days but it was one of the most random and amazing trips of my life.  When I left my place on Friday night I had no idea what I was going to do.  To find so many things to do on just impluse and spur of the moment feelings was utterly refreshing.

That Sunday driving home by myself with just 4 hours of sleep....... maybe I just went crazy because I felt like I had just had the best weekend of my life.  I think the single best thing I took away from the trip was that I knew I was able to push myself to go on my own and take a chance.  I felt so independent & alive.....

Try This:

Write fifteen statements intended towards fifteen different people, but never tell them it was about them, or would never say it to their face, or something you wish you would have said, but didn't.  (These are in no particular order)

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1.  There was a time in my life where I felt that you were the only one in it.  You gave me my first kiss (on the cheek) and since then we've been friends with always this hint of romance underneath.  When we finally kissed last year....I mean really kissed.....it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders......I'm glad we're still friends even though we don't see each other often and I will always get a smile when I think about the day we met.

2.  You are one of the most amazing, funny, caring, & honest people I've ever met.  This past year being away from my parents was tough but being around you made things easier.  I feel like I've been able to introduce you to so many new things but on that same note you've taught me so much.  I hope we stay friends until we're old and grey.

3.  I'm sad I never got a chance to say "I Love You," before you were taken away from me.

4.  You were my first in so many different ways.  The time we had together I will remember for the rest of my life.  There will always be a place in my heart for you in some way or form.  I hope you realize that.  Also, I'm sorry that I broke it off so abruptly in the end and that I hurt you.

5.  I'm getting to know you better every day.  What I'm learning is both amazing and scary at the same time.  I see myself falling for you but I want to be careful because of your past.  I've been hurt to many times to rush into things and I'm happy with the way things are.  You should know I love spending time with you and that I care about you dearly.

6.  You called yourself my friend but you constantly fucked me over.  I remember when you used to make fun of me and I think it was because to make yourself feel better.  I just wanted to say thank you for being an ass and making me a stronger person.

7.  There was a time I called you my Best Friend.  We both made some serious fuck ups when it came to our friendship (me more than you probably) and I fear we won't be able to ever go back to the way things were.

8.  You have nice legs and you're a great kisser.  Hahahh hope we can do it again some day.

9.  I can't believe you are such a coward!!!  That day we spent on the rock pier out on the beach was the most amazing days of my life. [period]  To throw it all away because your parents didn't want you dating is such a cop out.  You should've stood up for what you cared about.....I'm beginning to think that you never cared at all though.

10.  There was a time in my life where I thought we would get married someday.  There is a small part of me that still does think that.  I felt like you were my equal in every way.  We were attached at the knee but we never had a chance to explore our feelings at risk of losing our friendship.  Sometimes I wish I would've acted sooner or that we liked each other at the same time....

11.  Its funny you are at the same time one of my fondest memories and most hated memories.  Our first time meeting and first "date" were amazing and one of the most enjoyable nights of my life.  Fast forward a couple of months after that first night and then I found out you had a boyfriend.  I felt so cheated, fuck you.

12.  You've gone through so much the past couple of years yet you seem to have come out ok.  I hope you learn to truly enjoy your life again and that you realize it's ok to live your own life.  I wish we had more chances to hang out and I hope you realize that I consider you one of my greatest friends right now.

13.  People ask me why we ever dated but there is always a part of me that remembers how we started.  Those feelings that were so strong when we first met were amazing.....I'm guessing some things are meant to fade with time though.

14.  I have a small crush on you.  People call you a bitch but I haven't seen that side of you and I like to make my opinion.  Hopefully we'll get to know each other better in the future. 

15.  I remember lying in my bed crying from the pain.  I remember those long green reeds you used to leave scars on my small back.  I realize now that it was the way things were always done in our culture....but I know I'll be different.  Now that I'm older I realize you did it partly out of frustration.  You haven't hit me in over 10 years and I know for you it had to be done.  It's because I've finally realized that you really do care about me greatly.  Your hits have turned into hugs and your screams into I love you's.......thank you for being my greatest role model.

Picture of the Day:

I was feeling kinda down on the weather earlier so I dipped into my old files and found this picture.  Never ever fails to bring a smile to my face. 

Movie Review:

Summary
American Chai is a funny, heartfelt, coming-of-age story about SUREEL, a first generation Indian-American college boy who can't tell his parents he wants to be a musician, not a doctor.

Growing up, Sureel just wanted to be like his American friends, but his strict, immigrant parents kept a tight rein on his life.  No dating, no staying out late, no music, no R rate moves, no prime time TV, etc.  The traditional Indian upbringing at home, coupled with the progressive American world around him, made for a life of duality and deception.

Now, in his senior year at college, Sureel's deceptive ways have reached an all-time low.  His parents think he's graduating pre-med, but in reality he's a music major, following his rock and roll dreams.

As the story unfolds, Sureel must discover who he really is and what he really wants.  Does he pay the price for following his dreams?  Does he reveal his scret life to his parents and risk their rejection?  In AMERICAN CHAI, Sureel falls in love, faces the music, and discover his destiny.

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My Opinion
Growing up in a very traditional family myself, I found so many aspects of the movie I could relate to.  I've seen many of the people of my generation and culture become fine doctors & lawyers.....but is that all there is to life?  Too many times we've let our parents dictate how our futures will turn out, what careers we end up choosing, and what kind of lives we live.

Are your parents trying to control you too?

Being happy doesn't necessarilly mean driving that Mercedes, having that big office, or the title on that little piece of metal on your desk.  Some of the happiest people I've met in my life are those who get to fully explore their talents.  I have a friend who gets paid very little teaching html & piano to kids as a side jobs, yet he's utterly content with his life.

Each of us is Vietnamese, Chinese, Hispanic, Black, White not because of where we were born but because the culture that arose around us & made us who we are today.  We as a community need more scholars, musicians, & artists.  The need to reconnect to our roots and at the same time integrate into our new rolls as Americans, is strong. 

As long as we realize that there are other futures for us besides being another pharamcist I think we'lll do ok.

Watch the Trailer ----> Click Me

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My Grade for the Movie - A

Writings on the Wall:

Tongue Piercing Haiku
written by Lan Nguyen



silver on my tongue
sticking out of my small mouth
oh how i love you.

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Submitted to me by one of my readers:
(Can you come up w/ better?)

i love my piercing
it helps me eat vagina
i like to go down

Submitted to me by another one of my readers:

Your mouth is not small.
Your tongue ring is what's little.
Why they call bars rings?

June 10, 2000

Dear friend,
     Do you know what "kissing" is?  I think you probably do because you are older than me.  But just in case, I will tell you.  Kissing is when you touch your lips against another girl's lips.  Wow!
     I thought that in those movies and television shows when they talk about having a cigarette break that they should have a kissing break.  But then again, I think this would decrease productivity.
     I'm only being cute here.  I don't really mean it.  I just wanted to make you smile.  I meant the "wow" though.
     Earlier this week my friend Karla asked me to go with her to Universal Studios.  I had such a good time!  My favorite ride was Back to the Future.  Feeling the heat on my face was such a great feeling.  All the other rides were OK but I think I like Magic Mountain more.
     Well after we left we decided to go watch a movie.  We both sat down in the movie theater and then Karla leans over and looks at me.
     "So do you want me to kiss you now or kiss you later?"
     I was so shocked.  I couldn't tell if she was joking or actually meant it.
     "Surprise me," I said.
     "OK"
     "I'm sorry I need to go to the bathroom."
     I wasn't sure what to do I never kissed a girl before.  I always had this image of me kissing a girl on her front porch after our third date.  Me slowly going in and kissing her on the lips while holding her neck.  But here I was at the movies with a girl on our first date and SHE asked me for a kiss.  What a dilemma.  Well I mustered up the courage to head back to the movie and sat down.
    Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I see her head coming at me.  Ahhhhh!!!!  I brace myself for the worst and she goes in for the kill.  I remember thinking to myself Oh my god she's kissing me.......wait this feels good.....wait this feels wet.....wait that's her tongue.
    I don't remember much of the movie but this has to be one of the best times I've ever had at a theater.
   Afterwards, on the way back to her house we talked about the kisses and I let her know that it was my first time.  She was surprised at first and told me she thought I was good.  That made me happy.
   During the ride home I called all my friends to tell them what happened and how come they didn't tell me kissing was so cool.  One friend even brought a bigger smile to my face.  "Lan, if you like kissing this much, imagine what sex is like."

Love always, Lan

Event Recap:

It's the 4th of the month and I realized I haven't wished everyone a Happy New Years yet.  Since I've been partying so much the past several months, I figured this year I would stay home on one of the biggest party nights of the year and just watch Dick Clark Regis Philbin Drop the ball on New York City.  If you didn't know for the first time in 33 years Dick Clark will not be hosting New Year's Rockin' Eve because he had a stroke earlier this year.  

With the way things are going in my life, I've decided to make no resolutions because I'm happy with the person that I am today.  The past year has been one of the most amazing of my life and I look forward to what the upcoming year has in store for me.  Good luck to everyone who did make resolutions though & Happy New Year!!!!

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Saturday, January 1st, 2005
West Covina, CA

One of my old good friends Mikie has the very unlucky pleasure of having his birthday fall on December 25th.  This year to kick off the new year he decided to throw a Birthday Party on the 1st of the year & I have to say this one more than made up for me not going out on New Year's Eve.

Ever since the first Day I've met Mikie he's been a great friend and a good bartender.  He wasn't going to disappoint either on his birthday making Crazy Mixes, Yard Longs, Long Islands.....anything you wanted he had.

Here is the Master @ Work.

Of course it wouldn't be a real party with out some music and we had two DJs spinning that night much props to Marcel aka DJ Version 1 & Ryan aka DJ Ryan.  (Haha we're still trying to find him a good name)

DJ Version 1                vs              DJ Ryan

Another surprise of the night was this weird contraption I saw sitting on the dining room table.  Well someone throughout the night decide to pour some Bacardi 151 into one of the bottles cross off the label and call it the "Mystery Drink" anyone brave enought to take it was in for a surprise.  My friends famous last words, "So what's in the mystery bottle?"


Round & Round we go and where we stop nobody knows.

Someone I was overjoyed to see was Helen (Mikie's Girlfriend) and she didn't dissappoint me by bringing all her girlfriends to the party.


It's been awhile since I've been able to come up to a party up in West Covina but my favorite part has always been the girls.  Hahah here are some random pictures of me making my rounds of the party.



I don't know who any of these girls are but they were cute hahahahahah j/p

This party went on until 2:30am with no cops coming to bust down or anything.  It was one of the best parties I've been to and I'm glad Mikie was able to bring in the new year with a great Birthday party.


My favorite picture is the guy holding the box of corona over his head to make sure it's safe

Mikie & I have been friends for about 6 years and It's amazing all the shit we've gone through over the years.  I feel blessed to know someone like him and I hope the new year brings us back a stronger friendship.

The Wake Up Kidz (hahah i have a pretty disturbing look in my eyes )

Learn Something New:

I finally got my hands on a copy of adobe photoshop!!!!  Here is a breakdown of my first project......which took a wooping 6 hours!!! (Hopefully my next project won't take as long but I wanted to make sure my first one was done correctly)

Here is my xanga before Photoshop

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Step One:

First, I started off w/ the orignal image of the Gorillaz and then opened up my adobe photoshop and began to painstinkly remove the Gorillaz tag by using a stamp tool to "erase" the grafitti.

Here is the original image of the Gorillaz tag

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Step Two:

After using a painstaking process called "clone stamping" to remove all of the previous graffitti from the image I ended up w/ an image of just the two characters and the spray can.  This allowed me a clean image to tag anything I wanted on to the image.

This image is of just the characters after I removed the Gorillaz Tag

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Step Three:

Finally w/ a clean slate and using Photoshops brush tool and color burn w/ outer glow turned on I was able to get the Grafitti look I wanted.

Final Project Status - Completed

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Step Four:

Here is a screenshot of my baby  The colors used for the links & title headers are sampled from the yellow shirt and the blue colors I used on my site are from the windows of the building.

Here is my xanga before Photoshop

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For this being my first time using Photoshop I'm amazed at all the things I've learned to do so far.  Can't wait to find out what i'll next learn.

P.S.  Special thanks to Kim of www.madpimp.com for answering some of my question on how to use photoshop.

Written on the Wall:

‘Twas the Night Before Finals
written by Lan Nguyen

‘Twas the night before finals, when all through Claremont’s Halls
Not a person was studying, not even on Habib balls;
All class notes were posted on the computer with hate,
In hope a graduate or two a final would create.

The students were restless all frightened in their seats,
With visions of derivatives, graphs and math sheets’

And Monica in her beanie and I in my hooded sweater,

had just sat down to discover who's cheats were better,

When out on the balcony rocks came to awaken,

I arose from my bunk so very shaken,

sluggishly to the window I crawled like a snail,

to discover what tonight’s adventures would soon entail.

 

The spotlight on the ball of magical lights,

Sparkled dozens of flashes each and every night,

“Oh my goodness,” I said with much surprise,

There was a tutor with books, from the floor to his eyes.

This little man she recognized at once,

It was the silly Mr. Pooh who looked like a dunce.

Hyper and chatty this boy began to speak,

Those books he did bring, he began to seek.

 

“Now, LINEAR! now, ALGEBRA! now, ENGLISH and ANTHROPOLOGY!

On, MICRO! On ECON! On, STATISTICS and PSYCHOLOGY!

To the top of the balcony! To the top of her table!

Now open and be read; and help if you’re able!”

As all the books and the young student work,

The man they called Pooh had a bright smirk,

Memories of how they met began to arrive,

Of all of the struggles and happiness fate hoped to drive.

 

When they first met it was to just skate,

But to Pooh’s stupidity he didn’t relate,

The girl they called booboo did notice this fool,

While for some reason his eyes were covered in wool.

 

But then again things don’t always work out just fine,

While a second chance meeting would happen in due time,

At and event they call STC that boy did happen to see,

A girl named Ping he provoked into noticing he.

 

Her eyes – how they twinkled! Her dimples how merry!

Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!

But her small mannerisms and upturned mouth,

Showed this little boy that compliments had no clout.

 

They were to go to Disneyland to begin their friendship brand new,

But the boy discovered the girl had a problem or two;

She had a boyfriend that he could not stand,

And then they stop playing that Lonely Hearts band.

 

But then again this story does not end,

A third time is what fate would send,

They met again this time would be grand,

But this little boy she still could not stand.

 

He with his “Good Morning” chant,

Her with her Sponge Bob Blanket Rant

And finally these two had a chance to sit,

Ensued was a most wonderful conversation with wit.

 

But alas this story detracts from tonight’s plight,

The student must study and keep up the fight,

So the little boy left and while leaving he said,

“STUDY HARDY THEN PARTY AND THEN GET THEE TO BED!”

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A while ago I was feeling creative and wrote this poem for a good friend of mine.  To give you guys some context it was right before winter finals and my friend was a math major.  Hope you like it, I don't write that much poetry but who knows maybe i'll start.