"The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are." - Samuel Johnson

That keeps me coming back

If you know me, I can listen to one song on repeat for weeks to months, this song has been on repeat at work for two weeks.

It's strange that out of everyone, I have not and am most scared of telling my work mom about you. Maybe its because she met you and really really liked you, or maybe its just knowing I don't want to see how disapppointed and let down she will be. She had a lot of faith.. but that's not who needed it.

Impact Factor

One my favorite researchers who I admire and respect a lot, one who replies to my emails at 11 pm and  excitement for research is contagious, tells this anecdote at many conferences and talks I've attended.

He has been doing research for about ten years.. and decided to check the impact of his first article he ever wrote almost a decade ago. He googles his article and he finds ONE citation. The one citation is by himself in another paper.

SO! I decided to google myself (I do this ALOT) and found out one of my papers has been cited! AND not only once but SEVEN times =) I'm not first author but I'm glad I'm part of research that other research is branching off or at least referencing!

That is my little update for now.

Haul of photos

Disgusting photo of me but shows how fidgety Molly is.
First day back home and get to see my favorite furball

 That's butter.. in the broccoli.. disgusting eh?? My mom claims to not know what a tablespoon is

STEAK!

Chicken wings =)

My sister and her husband came back from a weekend in Banff and bought 
me some of this! Have yet to open it.

Bon bo hue! Buy a big pot of this Vietnamese noodle soup + noodles + 
bean sprouts + all those goodies for $20 which can feed like 5 people!

Black bean ribs are always better when mom makes it.

 This big gulp is HUGE! For $1.49, use to be 99 cent, my brother 
thinks the lady ripped us off. Went grocery shopping at Superstore, 
then a 'jog' with my brother while he rollerbladed and PK-ed onto the grass.

It was fun and I am definitely out of shape (weighing myself at work is kinda motivating)!  The view of the skyline is gorgeous from the playground of my junior high, will take photos!

Last weekend (June 1-3), went out to bars on Friday with some girls! Wore false eyelashes (a first, not counting my sister's wedding since those were individual eyelashes) which were kind of annoying, bumped into an old junior high friend at WEST Patio (bar with three floors.. top which is a rooftop patio), danced a bit, drove to another club, no crowd, so we went to Twisted Element, a gay bar! Had soo much fun! Lots of people just dancing and having a good time! Some photos on facebook (this gay guy pretty much went around and kissed all of us (four straight Asian girls) on the cheek. For some reason.. lots of straight guys and since we were the only straight girls.. they kept talking to us. This super tall blonde guy started talking to us in Japanese since he thought one of the girls was Japanese! Went out for bubble tea and then went home, where my friend and I stayed up chatting all night.

Saturday, went shopping with my sister and my mom, my shopping haul consists of flats, a watch, and sunglasses for $50 (and my mom gave me pearls). After that, it was my friend's birthday party at this fancy restaurant (had seafood/tomato soup for $30).

It was really nice to see a different side of Calgary this weekend. All the bars along Stephen Avenue, patios open, live music blaring, and other bar hoppers in heels. We made a stop in Mickey D's before heading off to the next club for a bacon cheeseburger :) I'm really starting to see myself living here for the long term. Love car rides as usual and some people have some incredible voices :)

Sunday was getting together with my aunt and making some 'buen goon', no idea what the 
English name is! Her and my mom made LOADS, non-stop like a Vietnamese restaurant!

Then we had a BBQ with my sister and her husband which was really delicious! Pork and beef ribs, I think pork taste better but beef taste has a meatier texture to it. Also heard a non-annoying yap from Molly (besides her barking at other dogs/babies from within the house), she tries to chase the water from the hose and makes this CUTE noise :)

Homemade 'tong yeen' (sp?) - the glutinous rice balls with sesame and peanut at 11pm

Alright, posted cruise photos and expect another update after Toronto. Off to Toronto for convocation :)