Sarang Gay

In in effort to continue our exploration of racially offensive themed parties, we hosted a Gay Korean themed party back in February for Andrew and Charles.

Sarang Gay is a play on "Saranghae" which is Korean for "I love you"... and with all the soju pouring in from our friends (you cheap fucks) ...we really felt the love that night.  It's like 2 bucks for each bottle.  Mix it calpico and you got a group of drunks in 10 minutes.

Thanks Andrew for wearing a traditional hanbok which I must say isn't very flattering to the woman figure.

This is how I decorate - random Korean characters and Tae Yang.  Done.

Set up the Karaoke

Arrange Korean snacks like banchan..

Do Korean bombs with beer and coke

And set up a photobooth:

Lots of props and if you noticed.. a sexy kpop wig

I hope everyone had a good time.. ended the night at a late night Korean restaurant.  I wonder if the servers thought that wig was my real hair.

Learn korean in 15 minutes!

9 Ways Twentysomethings Screw Up Their Lives

After reading this article about how 20 somethings screw up their lives... I'm stressing a little more as my 27th birthday is coming up.

Twentysomethings are in almost constant communication with the same few people, but those who huddle together with like-minded peers limit themselves. New information and opportunities--and dates--come from e-mailing your aunt's neighbor or having coffee with that friend of a friend from college. The urban tribe is overrated. Twentysomethings who won't ask outsiders for advice and favors and invitations fall behind those who will.

I think this happens more when you're comfortable with your life situation.  You don't force yourself to talk and connect with new people because you're happy with the community that you built over the years.  On facebook, I made a friend list called, "LA Reconnect."  Which is composed of interesting people who were once really close to me, but lost touch because of life in general.  I really need to take advantage of casual meals and drinks to get fresh perspectives.  Though these folks are still "like-minded peers," they still offer something valuable.

"What would I do with my life if I won the lottery?" is about what you would do with your life if money and talent didn't matter. They do. The question twentysomethings really need to ask themselves is "What would I do with my life if I didn't win the lottery?" What do you do well enough to support the life you want and what do you enjoy enough that you won't mind working at it, in some form or another, for decades to come?

Jimmy said he never daydreamed about acquiring a large sum of money he didn't earn.  It was just something he didn't think about.  I guess with the probability being against us with every lotto ticket we buy, it's a waste of time to even pretend.  But it doesn't hurt to just think about it once in a while right? It makes me think about my career and a lost opportunity to make 50% more than what I'm currently making... is it really about the money?  It is!  You work to make money to do things that make you happy unless you're lucky enough to work on something that makes you happy - in this case you're never really working at all.  Lucky bastards.

Just some Sunday thoughts.  Other points this article had I didn't have an issue with.
I can't believe this exists: http://www.ehow.com/way_5266881_th-birthday-party-ideas.html

Work Out

letopho: how did you lose your toe nail?

Gay Guy with Abs: got in a fight

Gay Guy with Abs: haha

letopho: damn girl

letopho: i hope it involved racism, homophobia or some other sort of injustice

Gay Guy with Abs: someone constantly telling me i'm fat

letopho: injustice. yes

Even though I don't know the whole story...

Don't forget that you also need to work out what's in your head while you work out your body.

A Kiss in Paradise

I thought that I had enough will power to overcome the JetLag back into the states, but my 3AM-7AM insomnia and 3PM power night at work proved me wrong.

Before the Tsunami warning, the above happened.  Will document our escape into the jungles in a little bit.

Epic Asia Trip

In September 2011, Jimmy and I decided that we would hit up Indonesia the following year and stay with his family.

Since I was drunk, I tweeted something like, "Indonesia, it has to happen in 2012."

Little did I know, the trip has become a reality and we are set to leave tomorrow evening at 1AM, but instead of Indonesia it became a tour of Hong Kong, Singapore, Phuket and Bangkok.

Two main goals: eat and shop for cheap.

Inspired by Mony, I created a google docs that organized everything.  I printed out all hostel confirmations and flight numbers and stapled it into a folder in chronological order.

Jimmy went on a shopping spree on Amazon investing in a heavy duty water proof backpack to protect his gear, space saving bags to help with the clothes we plan on purchasing and an extra camera battery in case the first one dies.  We have 32 GIGs of memory and a tripod.  Prepare for amazing photos.

We are packing light light light.  Only the essentials which includes some anti-diarrhea and a skimpy bathing suit to even out our white thighs.

A peak at our schedule:

Los Angeles
Unfortunately I'm leaving work at a "bad time." But when is a "good time?"  I'm worried about coming back and everything being on fire.  After a full day tomorrow, Jimmy's mom will pick me up from 321 and we depart LAX at 1:40AM for an amazing red eye flight.  Blessed with my, "I can sleep anywhere" talent I am excited for a cramped airplane with crying babies, suspicious smells and little to no leg room.  The best 12 hours of my life.

Hong Kong
When I first moved to LA, I made friends with Jason, but he quickly went to Hong Kong for work and never came back.  Lucky for us!  He's going to meet us at the airport and is excited to show us a good time.

• Eat Pork and Goose
• Temple Street for "men's fashion"
• Big Buddha
• Ferry/Sky Tram (Skip the veggie lunch)
• Victoria Peak
• Chungking Mansions from Jimmy's favorite movie

Our Hong Kong Inn Hostel is right off the Causeway Bay stop so we should have no problem getting around and just for kicks we'll check out the gay club Propaganda.  Why not?

Singapore

Apparently Singapore has the best airport in the world.  Upon arrival I want to go on their large slide.  Maybe check out a free movie in the airport theatre.  Items on the list:

• Helix Bridge/Sky Park
• Bukit Tima Reserve
• Arab Street
• Hawker Center

Ever since watching Anthony Bourdain's No reservations, Jimmy and I have been salivating over the amazing food this man consumes on both the Travel and Food Channel.  We learned about  Hawkers which are outdoor food courts with only the best cuisines. Going to eat everything.

Phuket

The idea of being on a beach with a cocktail sounds so amazing to me right now.  Phuket is where you go to get scammed but by avoiding the grudge of Patong we found plans to revolve around Koh Phi Phi.  Jimmy found this amazing program aptly called Maya Bay Camping that has amazing reviews online.  After an afternoon of snorkeling, the hosts cook you a meal and hand you a mat and blanket where you can fall asleep on the shore next to a camp fire; this is truly a "one with nature" experience.  And also where Jimmy's water proof backpack will come very handy.  Jimmy insisted that we be surrounded by islands so there was no way we were going to stay at just "another" beach.

After camping on the beach we are spending a day at a beach side resort doing resort-y things as a treat to ourselves since we are in hostels in HKG, SIN and the first night in HKT (Phuket).  It's the romantic part of the trip.  I think the goal here is to buy cute swim wear and flip flops and to reenact a scene from the movie The Beach or Castaway.

Bangkok

The biggest reason we are going in April is because of Songkran or Thai new years which is a city..actually country... wide giant water fight.  Bloggers say that it's impossible to stay dry during this weekend.  Luckily I'm borrowing Alysia's waterproof camera (even though it's also good photo quality proof as well.)

We're meeting up with blogger Thwany for two days and a night.  I offered to bring him stuff from California since he hasn't been back in a long time.  His request: Bayer Aspirin and a large bottle of Sriracha since it's manufactured in Southern California.  You didn't know that, did you?  Read the bottle next time you have pho, it says, "Made in Rosemead."  The bottles were just made to LOOK imported.  A gift to you fellow blogger.

The rest of our stay in Bangkok is blurry, but Thwany recommended we keep it open ended because the city was built for backpackers.  But a couple of things we had jotted down include:

• Grand Palace
• Open Flea Market (Chatuchak)
• Khao San Road
• G Circuit - the largest circuit party in... i have no idea.. and why not.
• Night markets
• Taylor a Suit?

Once again lots of eating and buying cheap goods to fill our space saving bags

Beijing

Surprise. Surprise.  Our connecting flight back to LAX was canceled so our 6 hour layover in Beijing turned into 13 hours.  And according to this, we can sneak out of the airport on a Stopover permit to explore the Forbidden City.  If we don't come back, you'll know why.

We will arrive at 6:30AM and plan to dash on the subway to explore the Forbidden City, the Hutongs and any other temples we can squeeze before our 9PM departure.  Oh and a quick delicious meal of course.

I'm the most nervous about Beijing because of the huge language barrier and the potential of being stranded.  But I feel like taking this risk since we won't be returning for a while.

And there you have it.  

In between I will be meeting up with Mony and some SF gays to chill and hang.  We've decided that we are only eating local, and checking out what the McDonalds menus... McFriedRice?  McDimSum? McPadThai!?  I can only imagine the bastardized delicacies of America + Asia.

Please leave some tips and suggestions for any of these places.  I would love to hear it!

See you in a couple of weeks!!!!!!

Shotgun!

Guns are terrifying, but if we ever found ourselves in a Walking Dead - like zombie apocalypse, I will be ready to protect my man.

My heart was beating so fast and I was having a lot of chest pain because of how nervous I was.  There was nothing stopping the guy next to me from aiming his gun at me.  The tutorial was short and we were handed buckets with the guns we rented for the evening.  We were told to go to "lanes" 5, 6, and 7.... lanes... like bowling lanes.  But without the neon lights and bowling balls

After I got over my nerves, I was able to take aim at the business man target that I selected.  When I shot the first bullet, I stood in shock for a couple of seconds at the power that was sitting in my hands.  I was careful with where I placed my thumbs as the instructor told us that we could break our fingers if we were holding it improperly.  I also loaded my bullets backwards and jammed the gun.  Oops.

I remember the first time I held a gun.  My friend was dating a marine and he just had a gun in the living room that he would play with.  I remember how uneasy I felt especially since we were planning on drinking that night.

The boys insisted that I try a shotgun.  Boom.. it felt like a bazooka was resting in my arms.  One shot was good enough and I handed it back to my coworker who was a loving the experience a little too much.  That was a trip.

There were kids there - no age limit to shooting, just owning apparently.  There were also chicks in heals and some high schoolers that were looking for something cool to do after school.  The whole site was baffling.

There were no real safety precautions in place anywhere and I was just on edge praying for no accidents.

I'm happy I did it.  Checked that off my life to-do list and made it out alive.  But if I was asked to in some situation, I can say that I have shot a gun before and maybe I'm less useless for it.

Liquid Diet

TMI POST

I have to drink one gallon of laxatives to clear my system before my colonoscopy today.  This liquid diet isn't for vanity ... it's for health.

Looks like Jimmy and I are becoming old men really fast.  The waiting room was full of old people.  Apparently pooping problems is an old person issue.

Have you ever heard a girl go pee?  They make... SHHHHHH sounds.  My guess is instead of a smooth stream it's like someone set the hose nozzle to mist.  Anyway, I was experiencing that after my first 2 pints of liquid hell.  I was also starving.  I don't know why I was reading food blogs when I wasn't allowed to eat anything by chicken broth for 24+ hours.  Complete self inflicted torture.  Things that I normally find revolting like pastries in the morning or Cheesecake Factory was making my mouth water.

=

For years upon years, I've had hemorrhoid issues.  They come and go and I go on with my life.  My lack of fiber could be to blame, but it's come to a point where I really really hurts to shat.  Like, dude, something is wrong.  Maybe it was how I was sitting instead of squatting.



I've put it off, but thankfully my coworker has his checked without any shame sending a mass email to everyone.

"I'll be out of office today for a Colonoscopy.  Let me know of any projects beforehand."  This email elicited some hilarious feedback such as:

"Can't you just take this during your lunch?"

With that, I sat down with him, asked him about his experience and went to his recommended doctor.  Lucky for me I was able to get in appointments by stating the emergency: Rectal Bleeding.  Apparently you can get to see the doctor the next day if you're having a period through your butt.  And the next weekend, I'm scheduled to have a camera go up my butt.

"What if I have booty hole cancer?" I asked Jimmy.
 He responded, "you don't have cancer.  One of the main symptoms is weight loss... you DEFINITELY don't have that."  #rude.  His response made me feel fat... but better about the situation.  Especially since WebMD was telling me that I had 6 months to live.

It all has been a joke at 321 - Jimmy taking pictures of me drinking laxatives.  Telling me, "don't worry baby, I'll turn the music on really loud so we don't hear you."  Yeah. Hilarious.

Everyone having a good time

==

Another coworker pulled me to the side and asked me, "could you tell me why you're going to the doctor... if you don't mind?  I'm curious."  In a whisper tone in her cube, I told her what was up and she was thankful because she was experiencing the same things.  Her biggest question, "so what made you decide to go to the doctor?  At what point did you say that this needed to be checked."

And to be honest, it was because of the first coworker who spoke so candidly about it made me feel like this needed to get done so that I know that everything is okay with my body.  That I wasn't the only one with a hemmy problem that needed to be checked out.

==

I guess that's the problem with feeling "alone" so to speak.  It prevents you from taking the necessary steps to resolving it with your body, your mind, your spirit.. whatever.  But the fact is.. there are billions of people in the world and you're not the only one a "problem."  This can be applied to anything I guess.

In a couple of hours, I will have this checked off my to-do list and I can concentrate on other life things with out struggling with this one hurdle which is costing me $450 btw.  Thank you insurance (ugh).  That's how much my flight to Asia was (with years of rewards points.)

I'll tell you how it goes. ... and after this, I have to figure out how to file my own taxes.  #firstworldproblems