[career woman di says] work travel always taints a new city for me. the one thing i'll always remember about it is that i had to go there for some client. the way from the hotel to the client. where the nearest bofa atm is. where the nearest mall is. the direction of the airport. not that i don't try to have fun while i'm there, but most of my initial adaptation feelings always get rooted into the work routine.

given the number of years i've been consulting, i've been pretty fortunate to be staffed locally. when you're staffed locally, teams respect your personal schedule and space. it's great that you can go to the gym, or go home and cook, or meet up with friends at Americano after work. but when you're traveling, it seems less okay to do that. or does it? i always have a hard time deciding on hanging out with my very cool and nice colleagues at a new restaurant, or to keep up the exercise routine and head back to the hotel for a good workout. the lazy foodie part of me will always choose food. but the impending bridal di in me says work out! team i've definitely had great experiences with my various teams when i've been traveling, but i always regret how tired i am the next day, or how flubby i feel the following weekend. on the other hand, after that great workout, i always feel somewhat lonely at my room service meal, re-runs of SATC, and hotel room routine.

for my (perhaps non-existent) audience - how do you balance your work-personal life when you're traveling?

[fashionista di says] i think i'm the only one that thinks about outfits when she's about to go camping :) what to wear hiking, how to keep warm, what to wear when we might meet civilization the next day. kekekeek. silly di.

[fashionista di says] i am hearting phillip lim these days. his dresses, his cute cropped pants, his artistically created tops. all with great cuts and perfect fit! let the fall sales begin soon -- please! one of my favorite tops can be found on my shopstyle stylebook (along with a coveted bottega knot clutch that i must save up for):

[jetsetter di says] one of the best ways to pack shoes is to wrap them in shower caps. recylable shoe bags, often found free at any hotel you may stay at, and transparent so you can pick what you're sporting straight out of your suitcase! whoops, i just realized that a little bit of fashionista di snuck into this snippet. oh well. i can't help it :) yes, i'm off again on another airplane ! if i count the number of times i've been to the airport this year, i will quickly run out of hands! i had to pack for two getaways today because when i get back, we'll be off to clear lake for camping!

[domestic di says] tide-to-go is amazing! a staple in my purse wherever i go for many months now, i got to put it to good use on one of my co-workers shirts after she got too excited over her pasta.

and we should all spend more time at home. with a good book. showing our couches some love. it's good for the bottom -- and for the pocket book!

[back to reality] it's been less than a week since i lived a very charming life in europe, and there is nothing like a good dose of vacuuming, laundry, 256 emails waiting, and bills to pay to shake you back to... life!

actually, it feels pretty good. too many plush rolling green hills and errand-less days can't be good for me, can they?

the hills are quite alive, no? (and yes, that is a propeller of a propeller plane!!)

[fashion fix] for anyone that knows me, you know that one of my hobbies is fashion. can i just say i looooove loooooooove loooooooooove my new purple intreciatto pleated bottega bag? fall here i come! i haven't been able to find a photo of it online, but once i break the zipper seal and bust it out of its duster bag, i will let you know!

[a simple me update] after a whirlwind of a summer in houston, atlanta, phoenix, italy, and germany, i think it's time to pick up wedding planning where i left off. we're at 8.5 months and counting till the big day! who knew that there were 8 bajillion ways to word an RSVP or to extend a simple invitation to my loved ones?

[ok enough] of me rambling. i am boring myself, and am feeling a desire to post, but uninspired to write. i blame the delicious grass fed beef sliders we just made. oof.

[buon giorno] ah italy, the country of long vowels, pasta, gelato, and stylish men and women. it's been divine vacationing here and having no planned schedules, but at the same time, i miss my brian and wish he was here too!

[on the fashion front] vogue and bazaar weren't kidding when they said that italian cities are the place to be to get a preview for the next season. i'm sensing purple and grey are the colors of the fall, belted styles are still in, and booties are going to be rejuvenated. more so, they're combining belted styles with outerwear too, so yay! more use for the many belts i've stocked up on over the seasons. i've been eyeing the oversized pleated purple Bottega hobo.... i still have a week to ponder it ;) sadly, no cute shoozies have been found yet, though there were these adorable red ruffle Dior heeled sandals -- without my size :( boohoo.

men and women alike here just have a flare for fashion. like our driver, Josef, told us, it seriously just comes naturally. a certain suit goes with a set of shirts, ties, watch, and even sunglasses (hoo boy florentines love their sunglasses!). even old women wear these cute belted outfits with espadrilles and matching gucci purses and large sunnies. i love it! it brings a whole new meaning to people watching to me.

[on the florence food front] lucky was i to try enoteca pinchiorri - the 3 star michelin restaurant in 2007. it was fabulous, fine, and you know what, not overly indulgent. with over 3,000 wines on their list, including the likes of richebourg, screaming eagle, moutons, lafites, crystals, doms, and the oldest mouton i've ever seen (1840), you can only imagine how delicious their food and wine pairings were. other good eats recently were buca lapi - with superb florentine steak ,and a flourless, sugar-less, butter-less cake to satisfy my every chocolate craving. the roberto cavalli cafe, where roberto, celebs, and stylish people of all kinds rest their feet for lunch on the sidewalk spread, is my pick for a daily lunch. skip the paninis you see in the little alleys, and grab a sandwich, salad, and sweets here! great value for money, and quality quality ingredients. it reminded me of dining at neiman's. fashion + food. my kind of scene!

[on the family front] my parents are so funny. i truly enjoy spending time with them now that my mom has more things to worry about than nagging us: like which purse to buy! haha! difficult decisions i share :) my dad is a much better listener now that he has slowed down his life, and they are just quirky as ever. if i can age and be like them, i would have done very very well. dru also teases me less and is a lot more mature than i remember. yay him. i love my fam-lie :) kekekeke.

[my note] i learned that i really enjoy perusing vintage and antique jewelry. every piece is so glamorous and tells some story, and they were truly truly handmade with quality stones back in the day.

more later! time for a vacation nap!

some quality italian fare from Buca Lapi = happy di

[more] hahahahahah ok i just read through posts from 3 years ago. check this one out! oh how naive di was...

"Wednesday, April 13, 2005

[vroom, vroom, OUCH] i just paid $42.75 to fill up my tank. that is $2.99/gallon.

(though i guess i shouldn't complain, b/c i could have paid $3.12/gallon at the next shell station)"

[welcome back] ok, how bad is it that reading my old blog posts actually inspired me to write THIS post? it's a secret that i have decided to start blogging again, but there is nothing like a good introspection break during a work day, right? hush hush for now ;)

[when can di have time for di] is the story of my year so far! it seems that a lot of the decisions that i've been making lately are based on doing/seeing/meeting/giving/celebrating other people. i love that i can do that and feel fortunate that i have the means and man support to do so, but there is an itty bitty part of me that wants a weekend for me! a week for me! an evening for meeeee! maybe in 2009 :)

[oh btw] and if you are a true blog follower and not friend, i am engaged to the best man in the whole wide world. multiple *muah*s!



[shout out] and a shout out to Pachi for getting me to write this blog! she may have to remind me from time to time to update.... *cough cough*

[happy 2007] hope everyone had a safe, warm, and fun holiday season! it's a new year, so i'm thinking that means a couple of new habits are in order? sigh - i haven't been able to think of a good new year's resolution yet. so far, all i've got is "di will not snooze more than twice in the morning". let's see how long that'll last =P

[hello, i'm a wii] when i'm feeling blue, i actually just surf on over to those "i'm a mac, and i'm a pc" ads on the apple website. they are just hilarious (or maybe just the actors are). b sent this to me, and though i'm against the whole stripper vs. non-stripper characters, it actually made me go ha-ha.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9136575504838642038

[what an eventful 4 days] ooh boy, we got so much done in the last 4 days! not like we had a to-do list, but it's pretty amazing what me, myself, and a cool buddy can do (that's YOU b!) to ironically make it sound like a to-do list:

• ate chicken, ham, AND turkey! not to mention, yams, some green veggies, stuffing, bread, dumplings, corn fritters, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and chocolate chip cookies. *whoops* no wonder i'm still full. discovered that the Tom brothers are pretty darn good at playing Cranium, and mark ang hums so soulfully!
  
• tackled the friday afternoon crowds (when plenty of the friday morning crowd was at home taking a nap!) - ticked off about 0.15 of our xmas shopping list. kekekeke.
• finished watching all of west wing season 7. awe. what a great show.
• learnt that our turtles have personalities! (really!!)
  
• took a cute trip to sausalito to spend some quality time with the ocean (we miss hawaii), seagulls, and lappert's ice-cream.
  
• hear hear for impromptu home-made meals!
  
• caught 8 crabs off of pier 7 in the pouring rain. sure made a sweet dinner :) all props to b for his caveman-style capture!
  
• slept. a lot. ah.

and because i have to spend all day at work, electronic mail is flawed, and 2007 will be here all too soon, here's wishing everyone a belated happy thanksgiving (did i mention that i'm thankful for you?), happy hannukah, merry christmas, and happy happy holidays!

[back for good?] or am i just kidding? have definitely been caught up in the the "must-do's" of life lately, that i've barely had a moment to think! but now that we have 3 weddings out of the way, our vegas trip memoralized, and our maui vacation come and gone, perhaps it's time to get back in first gear...

i've noticed that as we've gotten older, people's blogs have now been used more for the regular updates of "hey, this is what i've been up to lately" - versus the "here is what i want to do with my life lately". personally, i think it's just great because it lets me catch up with folks scattered across the nation and world behind their backs! muahahaha!

so the highlight of my weekend has been the revival of my skin. after spending 7 days in the sun, gone are the rough UV ray bumps on my face, and ta-da to the soft glow that is a tan! weeee! pheu, my body's largest organ is alive again.

another first for the weekend is receiving the first shipment of the Porter Creek wine club. it's the first one that b and i decided to join because we discovered it while driving along the russian river valley during our 3-year anniversary trip. it also has an array of stellar pinot's and the 2002 carignane, i remember best for its rasberry jam taste-alike ;) we got the 2004 carignane, and it's amazing how different it is - much bigger, bolder, and totally like a french rhone red. big big explosions in the mouth. anyway - it's cool that we're at that stage where we can appreciate the subtle aspects of wine (or not so subtle maybe) and afford to receive 2 shipments a year :) wee-ha!

okie doks - off to see borat! i don't think i've seen b so excited to see a movie in a long time. haha :)

[wow] april?! it's been a very long time. helas, summer has come and gone, and while i try to live the last of it with a rushed camping trip, i have to succumb to fall as the goose bumps start appearing on me arms.

so it has been the craziest summer. if you're reading this, you probably also receive my monthly photo albums. well, at least you know i'm alive and VERY much living. i have been spoilt with wonderful friends, fine food, and the warmth of my family and loved ones.

anyhoo, as my 24th year has come, so has a pensive disposition. so perhaps the blogging will restart.

oh yeah, and i hafta pay tribute, after all this time, to andy chang! who got me started on blogging to begin with. thanks :) it's nice to know when i can't see andy face to face, there is always his blog. not quite the closest substitute, but we do what we can, right?

ta for now :)

[two ppl very excited it's friday - and oh, we love nba street too]

DUMdeeDUM dI: but i LOOOOOVE shawn marion
laztigger: hahahaha
laztigger: da matrix
DUMdeeDUM dI: he ROCKS!
laztigger: is that because of fantasy young lady?
DUMdeeDUM dI: eeeeeeee!!!
DUMdeeDUM dI: no, i've always liked him
DUMdeeDUM dI: b/c he's so smiley :D
laztigger: hahaha
laztigger: that's perfect!
DUMdeeDUM dI: yesh
laztigger: i can't think of a better player
DUMdeeDUM dI: heeheeeeeee
laztigger: maybe steve nash
DUMdeeDUM dI: he is awesome and slick
DUMdeeDUM dI: but not my type
DUMdeeDUM dI: i need a man who can DUNK
DUMdeeDUM dI: hahaha
DUMdeeDUM dI: :-P
laztigger: ... wow...
laztigger: i am diana! here me ROAR!
laztigger: i can just see, if we made diana a character on nba street
DUMdeeDUM dI: haha i donno about that
laztigger: launching high in the air, dunking with authority, knocking down some poor schumuck center at the same time, and then standing over the poor sucker with an intense grrrrr look, and immedaitely busting out in smile helping him off the floor. 'i'm sooo sorry! did i hurt you?'
DUMdeeDUM dI: i just enjoy watching it :D
DUMdeeDUM dI: hahahaha
laztigger: that is so di
laztigger: how FUN would that be though
laztigger: to make a diana character on nba street
laztigger: hahahahaha
laztigger: have her dunk on someone and then watch her drag her hand on the ground afterwards
laztigger: that would be aweoms
DUMdeeDUM dI: okay, you're getting WAY to into this
laztigger: how fun would that be though haha
laztigger: we'd make a howard, big fat dude, with a lot of power but little shot
laztigger: brian would be the short one, quick, steals and handles

hahahaha!

[in tune with politics] now, i have never been one to have a high political acumen - when people start throwing out phrasaes like democrat and republican (ok, mebbe i'm not *that* bad), i get all feduddled and my brain shuts down. no seriously, for the longest time, i didn't know what democrats or republicans stood for. haha.

but thanks to the west wing, i hafta say that i am much more in tune with debates and bills. no longer do i tune out when political news hits the tv or radio - like this morning for example, mister arnie is "supporting the concept" of mandatory health care. i tuned into one political analyst argue that mandatory health care is basically a republican push to give health care providers greater profits, especially since low income families would be purchasing health care with deductibles of say... $5,000. they'd rather NOT go to the ER to get treated but would still be paying their installments on their health care. what a crock.

now why won't you guys just privatize health care already? =T most developed asian countries do...

on that note, b and i are 3/4 through west wing season 4 and oh NO, that means another 9 months or so before new west wing episodes. boohoo. thank you west wing for opening up yet another door in my mind. heehee!

[omg omg omg] CONJUGALATIONS Chrichelle!!! :D

[vroom, vroom, OUCH] i just paid $42.75 to fill up my tank. that is $2.99/gallon.

(though i guess i shouldn't complain, b/c i could have paid $3.12/gallon at the next shell station)

[oh boo hoo]

So, who wants to be a millionnaire? Looks like it ain't gonna be me...

http://www.bankofamerica.com/financialtools/index.cfm?view=planning&calcid=savings01

[where have i been?] after walking up and down post and around union square in gorgeous 70 degree weather, what amazing sights i saw! (haha, i'm guessing not everyone will be able to bond with me on this one)

- they're opening up a ZARA store on Post! oh me oh my! me so exciteddddd!
- a lady pushing a tri-stroller, one seat in front of the other - with triplets?!
- i must "ooh and aaaah" at the new spring burberry line. cute cute cute.
- my dream drink come true - a green tea jamba juice!! :D:D:D

ah. spring is here.

[long time no post] thank goodness i'm back in the city - no more boony experiences in modesto, though i'm sure i'll be back there some time this year... work has totally engulfed me these days, i've had little time to think about much else. life has just been back-to-back action, with no space between!~ what do you do when that happens?

as a result of all this back-to-back action, i haven't been able to sleep very well. i guess my body still has its momentum, and doesn't want to rest. i *cannot* get up in the morning! dah!

it seems i'm not the only one though....

laztigger: you know, last thursday i fell asleep in the shower
laztigger: for like... 10 minutes
laztigger: sat down on the bottom of tub and was out
DUMdeeDUM dI: hahahahaha
DUMdeeDUM dI: you're kidding!
DUMdeeDUM dI: i'm sorry, i don't mean to laugh
DUMdeeDUM dI: that's dangerous quinn!
laztigger: haha yea, but man that was a great 10 minute nap ;)

[childhood] we watched toy story last night - andy is so creative with how he plays with his toys, creating bank robbery scenes and wiping out soldiers and all that. i don't think i was ever that imaginative! haha, i remember playing THREE things repetitively in my childhood.

(1) Banker - I think this was b/c my dad is a banker and I'd always hear him talk about money, investment, etc. Using Disney or Monopoly money, I would log how much money we had in an envelope, and then my little brother would come and say he'd want to withdraw some money, and I'd subtract it out! I'd also make him sign these make-up forms and stuff - haha, I guess I was an accountant at heart! (what a scary thought)

(2) Don't get eaten by sharks - when we lived in Jakarta, we had the whoooole top floor as our playroom. We also had this ENORMOUS couch that could probably sleep 5 kids on one end of the floor, and that was our SHIP! Dru and I would lay out all of our books along the floor, and hop skip around. The rules were that we couldn't touch any tiles, otherwise the sharks would eat us! An added complication - tiles were slippery, so when you hopped on a book, you easily could slip off! One by one, we'd hop from book to book to make it back to our ship, where we'd then reward ourselves with tv and video games :D

(3) Cooking - oh, how i loved this! i had this little battery operated stove and it was the COOLEST!! (i always wanted one of those fisher price cooking sets though) anyways, it came with a frying pan and a sauce pan. you could put water in both of them and then when you put it on the stove and turned it on, the stove would blow air through so it really looked like things were frying and water was boiling! i would always make breakfast for dru - sunny side up or boiled eggs. hahaha!

oh i miss those days =T

[lilies, daisies, and carnations] are keeping me company in my modesto hotel room :) thanks b.. makes me smile every time i get blue out here :D

[how am i supposed to bring in the new year in modesto?] i searched high and low for a chinese restaurant - of course i'm not expecting much. cheap chinese food it is. i looked in the yellow pages, and the only decent one with a full menu is closed on tuesday's. so i search online -- dinesite.com, ah yes, i can trust them. i randomly called one up and YES - they have seafood noodles. the melding of fish and noodles will b ring me great luck and prosperity in the new year.

i mapped this place out -- not surprisingly, it is in the middle of nowhere, just like modesto is. it takes me a good 25 mins to find it since modesto does not believe in lights, and i am trudging along at 30 mph hoping that i won't miss it. i drive along coffee street (it's at 1501 coffee street), and i see only one asian-y looking restasurant: FIRST ROYAL CHINA. okay, that's not it.. so i keep going.. and i reach the next block, which is the 1700s. that's not right. i make a U and decide to check out the FIRST ROYAL CHINA. naturally, it was the one i was looking for. the owner changed its name from FIRST MANDARIN to FIRST ROYAL CHINA. that explains that.

so i thought it'd be an in and out job, but the owner thought i had gotten lost and cancelled my order. so i wait for my seafood noodles and pot stickers. she speaks cantonese, a dialect my dad missed out teaching me on, so there will be no asian bonding. i walk around the restaurant, and at least there is an aquarium full of fish. i stare at that for a little while.

about 10 minutes later, the cook walks out with three styrofoam boxes. yay, my food! so excited, i make my way back to the hotel in half the time it took me to get there.
i zip out of my work clothes, into my comfy PJs and sit myself squarely at my desk for a good meal. computer to my right, noodles to my left, bottle of Arrowhead straight ahead (go figure that a glass of pinot grigio will also take room service 30 minutes to deliver)

i unwrap my chopsticks and say a quick little "yay to chinese new year prayer" to myself, and chow down on my seafood chow mein. after my first bite, i encounter the first problem to my new year's eve meal - a nice curly hair with a little white speck at the end. just great. i combed the noodles a little more to see if there were any other traces and decided to eat from the bottom instead of the top. besides, the noodles down below are warmer.

i take a couple more bites, and lo and behold, the second problem with my meal. a thin metal strip. i dropped it on the wooden table and it made a meek *klang*, so i'm pretttty sure it's not mushroom or something.

so i'm giving up. my chopsticks are now stuck into my noodles and i'm going to attempt to pick out the pieces of celery with my fork. it was a short meal for a very hopeful long life.

do potstickers have any symbolism in chinese? =T does this not bode well for di's rooster year? i am alone, in the armpit of california, with pube-infested, metal-sprinkled noodles, and no oranges.


gong xi fa cai, and may the rest of you roosters have better luck than i.