LongLong's OL Blog - 容容 的洛城OL隨記

I was living in New York City when 9/11 happened  6 years ago.  As many New Yorker can testify, it was an experience that no one would ever forget and only new yorkers can understand.....
My office was across the river from World Trade Centers. The first plane hit just right before I arrived to the office that morning.  No one has any clue on what's going on.  I remembered standing by the window on 30th FL and  saw a plane just in the middle of the building - so surreal.  From far, we all thought it was some private jet with some pilot accident - no big deal....  No one thought it was an attack  Without knowing what's happening, I even went down to pick up some coffee with my co-workers.  Then the 2nd plane hit, and it was clear to everyone that something was wrong.  I remember people rushing to get to the 1st FL.  We were the only high rise building in the area cross river of the towers, people thought we might be the next target. 
I was lucky that I left work right before all subways/transportation was shut down in and out Manhattan.  It was not till I got home and watched TV, then realized what was just happened.  it's just hard to connect terrorist attack with our day to day New York City life - it supposed to be something happen far away from us.
I never saw that many panic faces walking down the New York Street, empty shelfs in the market as people trying to stock up day to day supplies, people are fight to get that last bottom of water- kind of like war zone.  Well- i guess it was a war zone....
I still remember that smell in New York City air weeks following the attack -smell of burning in the air....You can't tell if that was smell of burning buildings or human remains.  So many lives were lost and families were broken. Many brave fire fighters and polices' who died trying to save lives.  They are the true hero.  Nothing political - but I also admire Giuliani's leadership during that time. 

那天去大學校友網站時, 才知道我一位數學系的教授年初時過世了. 
Professor Morris Newman 算是我的恩師. 我拿了三年他的課.  其時那時他已經退休了. 就因為熱愛教書 every year, he would teach one or two classes, 也讓我有機會拿他的課.  我大二時, 他應該七十幾了吧.  肚子大大的, 很慈祥, 好像沒看他發脾氣過.
說實在的 三年來學的都忘光光了. 那時是學 numerical theory.  當時對運用數學程式設計密碼和解碼很有興趣, 也很喜歡聽 Professor Newman 說他如何在二次大戰時, 用數學程式幫情報局 破德國的秘密通訊的 story.  有一陣子. 我還想畢業後去情報局工作呢!
我除了上他的課, 也和他做兩年的 independent research, 幫他改作業 賺外快.  也因為他的推薦 讓我在大三時 有機會到 College of Williams and Mary 做研習 大開眼界.  我的視野從此不再只是小小的南加州  我還記得二姐說我從Virginia 回來後變得很 liberal.  Oh! 後來我的研究有被出版喲.....
也因為教授的鼓勵和推薦讓我順利的進入研究所

Can you guess what this is?
I got this magnet from my manicure lady, Judy as my support to my home shchool, Temple City High.  Judy is helping her daughter selling for her cheerleading team.  I remember Karin and I used to go door to door around the neighborhood with Christmas catalog trying to raise money for our chrior.  We got so excited when neighbors would willing to order wrapping papaer, chrismas orinaments, or calendar from us.  I recalld I met certain quota, and even recieved a free phone as a gift - (it's a see through color phone, I still remember it ).  I appriciated families, friends and neighbors who would buy things from me, and this is why now I would always buy from kids.
Temple City high had a pretty good football team in 90s - I am not sure about now.  I remember every Friday night during the game season, we would see the player walked around the campus full of confident with their white shirts, khaki pants, and dark green ties - they were the stars of the school.  Too bad that I never went to the game at high school.  Maybe one of these days, I would go and support my home town team.
I can watch and understand most of "national loved" sports: soccer, baseball, and basketball.  However, I still don't understand foodball.  Well, I think UCSB is the one to blame.   Why?  Because UCSB does not have a football team.  Most gals would learn about football during college year by going to the games & supports their college team or their favoriate good looking players.  Since UCSB doesn't have one - so I lost my chance.  By the time I arrived at Stanford, it was too late.  Although Cardinal is one of nation's strongest college football team, but since I didn't develop my passion at young age - I miss out again.   
Well, maybe one day I would learn to love football.  For now, Go RAMS, Go Gaucho, Go Cardinal  - I support you all!

Hannah's Dad has been putting together a time capsule for our little princess Hannah.  Items are contributed by friends and relatives - memorable items, current trends, fashion, affair.  It can be anything from newspaper, latest fashion, credit card bills, or etc.  This time capsule will be preserved and to be open at Hannah's 15th birthday.  Auntie SmallN and I have been scratching our heads for awhile to come up with things to put in there.  We've dragged our feet for months on contributions.  Since Auntie Smalln is going up to SF this weekend, we both finally decide to take actions and add our contribuitons.
What would a 15 years old girl like in another 15 years?  Well, I can't get her any clothes or nail polish or lip gloss.  I started to think about things I liked when I was 15, and still do.  Beside money , without any doubt Hello Kitty.  I am sure in another 15 years, I will still like Hello Kitty.  
I got her a little compact mirror and comb set - SmallN, Karin, and I all had one in high school, too.  I still have one blue Hello Kitty mirror in my purse.  No matter you are in Year 2006 or year 2011, all girls need to look good
A combination lock - although I am not sure if students will still use this type of lock 15 years later - most likely will be digital or even hand free voice activated, I think it would be fun for little Hannah to see what freshmen high school girl use in 2006.  Maybe we can teach her how to open a lock.
A little Hello Kitty Charm with her birthday date on it.  We all need some accessories.
I also got her a Livestrong  bracelet.  Mabye Hannah's grandma can share with little Hannah on her cancer survival story.....
I hope when Hannah opens her time capsule 15 years later, she will discover lots of history and joy.
Do you still remember what were your favorable items when you were 15?  Do you still treasure them?

Do you still remember your 1^st diary?  How did it look?  What did you write about? 
This is my first diary. 

A yellow snoopy note book, Mom and I picked up at "San Shum" department store.  I still like Snoopy a lot!!
I think I was in my first or second grade at that time - just barely learned how to write all those complicated Chinese Characters.  
I even named my diary - "Growth Diary".
I couldn't remember if I meant to draw a rabbit or just a cat with long ears.
You must wonder why I called it "Growth Diary".  I guess I was a kid with long term vision who knew people would ask 20 years later, so I wrote it down.

"Growth Diary" represents a person who writes journal during her growth period.  Hmmmm... Simple and to the point.  Maybe not too creative? 
You must wonder what a  7 years old would write in the diary. 

Nothing fancy, definitely no deep philosophy nor life long inspirational phrase (Well, still can’t write any of those after two decades ….) Just a simple laundry list of things I did - of course with my childish drawing

It's always fun to discover things from the past- a old friend, an album, a old piece or jewelry, or even a old diary.  It brings back many memories that you cherish.  
I am glad that I am writing my blog now - the childish handwriting & drawing are replaced by fancy computer font & digital pictures. However, I am sure 20 years later, joy of rediscover the past will be the same and it will be irreplaceable.
I consider this as my "BLOG Movement" during these long boring work days till my last day at work - To Those Lazy Blogger, Keep Writing!!!
 

 

 

 

 

Today is our 16th Anniversary of moving to U.S.A. 
I vaguely remember our arrival in LAX, the 1st evening walk in U.S. with grandpa -I stll remember he taught us what to do at STOP Sign, walked into Alpha Beta Market and amazed by how big everything seemed to be in U.S
1 big american dream
2 large over-sized teddy bears which I recieved from my friends right before boarding the plane at Tapei airport.
2 concerned but brave parents who moved to an unknown territory in order  to provide their children with a better life and opportunity.
3 young & fearless teens waiting to start their new lives in U.S.A
4 people squeezed in the back of Jonathan's red acura integra
5 confused and jet lag FOB
6 anxious awaiting relatives and friends:  Grandpa & Grandma, Christina & David, Jonathan and Auntie.....(I couldn't remember if "Big Face God' was there)
7 people crowed in grandpa's 2 bedrooms apartment
8  years of waiting for the visa approval.
9  lbs is how much weight I gained in the 1st year in U.S. Thanks to all those big portion food, giant chips and M&M from Costco...
10 large black suit cases 
It's an amazing 16 years.  We've gone thorugh many trails and triumphs as a family or as an each individual.  Looking back we can just be thankful for each step that God has leaded us through, friends and families who have come beside us in these years- and be grateful.
 

I was having a hard time falling asleep last night, was still quiet awake at 1am.  As I tried to force myself to sleep, my phone rang.  It was my friend J from Taiwan. I wrote about reconnecting with her in my Blog few weeks ago (http://www.wretch.cc/blog/longlonglin&article_id=6548204).  

I've meant to call her for two weeks now. Every time when I tried to pick up the phone, I hesitated.  To be fully honest, I was a bit afraid to make that call.  After all, we haven’t spoken to each other for years, our lives most likely have gone so many different directions since last time we spoke.  Yes, we were best friends before, but it has been a long time ago.  I am not sure if the connection between us is still there.  What am I going to say to her?  How can I summarize my 7-8 years of life into a 10 minute conversation?  Will she be able to relate to me?  I was anxious.  

My pessimistic attitude has been proven to be totally wrong.  We filled each other in with what’s going on in our lives, and picked up some old past memories.  It was just like the old time.  Back then it was two teenager girls sitting at the café shared with each other their big dreams for the futures.  Fifteen years later, it’s two professional adults shared their joy, heartbreaks and the dreams they still have via a long distance phone call across Pacific Ocean.  The great thing is that although the method of sharing or dreams might be totally different, but the feeling of the true friendship and closeness has not changed.  

Today is one of my happiest days for awhile.  I finally got in touch with my good friend, J.C. from junior high in Taiwan. It all attributes to the power of BLOG.

J.C. is my good friend from junior high in Taiwan.  Even after I moved to California, we still kept in touch via mails.  I wish e-mail/internet was more popular back then, I would of be able to keep in touch with most friends in Taiwan.  It’s too much trouble to send postal mails, and it took too long.

Well, with the inefficient of postal service, my frequent moves for school & work, plus admittedly my laziness, we somehow lost touch for many years.  Till the other day, I was flipping through TV channel, and suddenly I saw my old friend on TV.  She is now a popular anchor in Taiwan. Luckily she hasn’t change much from junior high, so I can still recognize her.  I went on her station’s web site, and left the message on her BLOG.  She e-mailed me, and we got connected again!!!  

As I enjoy the joy of lost and found.  I start to think about all the benefits of Blog that I personally experienced so far.  Here are few things I came up with. 

- Find my long lost friends 
- Bring the sisterhood closer 
- Reconnected with my cousins in Taiwan 
- Allow me to be more appreciative of little things around me. 
- Rediscover many childhood memories 
- See every step of my niece and my nephew’s life 
- Encourage me to write 
- Learn more stories about my friends 
- Identify my addiction (Shopping, Food & Drink) 
- Kill time when I’m bored at work 

What an amazing blog experience……. 

 

I received an e-mail from Alfredo yesterday, who will be in town for the conference next weekend. 
Alfredo is my old colleague from Citi in NYC, we haven’t seen each other since I moved back to California in late 2001.  I am so excited to see him after all these years. 
Alfredo a.k.a. Al-The-Man or Al for short worked with me along with Asha, Rati, Alison, and Ted in the strategy group for Citicards.  I kept in touch with most of them even years after I left NY.  None of us are working in that same group anymore, even our most Driven Boss, Arun has also moved on.
Speaking of my old boss Arun, I can’t help thinking about all his famous phrases.  We used to have a secret competition during our staff meeting to see who can use the most quotes during the meeting.  Here are few of his quotes….It’s been so long, I can’t remember all of them.  (P.S.  If any of my Citi Crew out there can remember others, feel free to add on…..)

The weather has been so hot this week. It's perfect to stay home watching World Cup while having a light beer.  Most people are surprised to find out I am a beer drinker, somehow they think I am more a Cosmo or wine person (people are blinded by my sophisticated look ).  Well,  I do like cosmo and wine, but truely like beer.  I was reading an article from a fitness magazine the other day, it turns out that Light Beer actually has less calorie than cocktail and wine.  Now, I like beer even more.
I bought some Miller lite yesterday.  
I can't say Miller is my favoriate beer, but everytime I have it, It reminds me the 1st drinking party I had with my roomates in college.  For me, Miller will awlays be College Beer.   
It's our Sophomore year and 1st time moved to the off campus apartment, Santa Barbara North.  Four girls lived in a 2 beds 2 baths apartment - (didn't we only pay $150 or $200 per person for this furnitured apartment?). We decided to have a little celebration in our own apartment.  The only problem was none of us were over 21 at that time.  Finally, we asked our older RA taking us to buy alcohol.  I think he was attracted to one of my roomates, and was gladed to say yes..... 
I remembered 5 of us went to Safeway market around the apartment.  We picked up few packs of Miller, wine coolers, and Zima.  Wow, the last time I had Zima or wine coolers was at College .  At the check-out counter, the cashier was an older lady in her late 40th.  I still remember the comments she made.  She looked at the RA with some concerns, and told him " You, make sure you watch after these girls".  She must think we were some wild under aged college girls who just want to get drunk.
It wasn't any wild college UCSB night, just few gilrs gossiping while watching some chick flicks. All of us were too goody goody to pull anything wild.  Nat and Michele were out after their 2nd wine coolers.... Chia and I might had 6 bottles each. and went to bed after that.  We defintely failed the UCSB party standard.  
it has been years since the graduation.  We will have our 10 years re-union next year.  Each one of us has gone our own ways since SB.  Some have became great moms, or successfully in their careers, or are currently chasing love in Europe .  It's hard to get everyone together.   But the great thing is that no matter how far we are apart from each other, the deep friendship we have will never go away.  I know with few Millers, Zima or wine coolers, the gossiping and laugh between girls will be come back right away.