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Chillin' at Third Floor Cafe 

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New York City in September

I missed the anti-war protest rally, the Blocktoberfest, a jazz concert but my trip to NYC was worth it! I have just 2 words-- Mama Mia~ I had so much fun during the musical and even afterwards, it just totally puts you in the party mood :) At the end, the audience was on their feet, clapping, dancing and singing along with the cast! It was incredible! To the surprise (or dismay) of my friends, I continued to sing and dance along the streets of Times Square...
"You can dance,
you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen"

Great catchy music, crazy colorful costumes, universal storyline- it made me laugh and cry. I highly highly recommend it!~

With my girl Cha in town for the weekend, Nat, Cha and I hit up the DC Zoo- although we couldn't see the pandas that day, we got a great work-out walking from elephants to lions to monkeys and even got to see a "hama." 

Good to know that somebody wants me

I think I stumbled across a good hip hop club at Home. The decor needs an update and its no swanky club but all a girl really needs are some good beats and the dance floor and I are like old pals :) That same night we also hit up Zaytinya- great restaurant bar that I will be returning to for their crabcakes (its delish!) and great ambience.

But the bar/lounge/restaurant that I am most excited about is located on U Street. Great decor, even better music, infectious energy, interesting people and ahem!, a certain manager that is absolutely handsome and charming~ :) My girlfriends mercilessly tease me but I am perfectly content with admiring him from afar and maintaining my aloof stance. C'mon, you gotta make the guy work for it!~

In other news, I got a job offer (yeah!) and currently I'm in the process of negotiating with them. Thought that I had learned a thing or two from Mandell and Mnookin, but still struggling to be more aggressive and communicate my interests. You'd figure that after negotiating a bitter divorce settlement, mediating a labor union dispute and securing a favorable agreement between a private developer and a city ( albeit they were role-plays), I would sufficiently be able to negotiate a moderate salary increase. Oh, the curse of the submissive docile Asian female!~ Haha.... y.e.a.h.

My parents will be happy to know that I finally went and checked out a Korean church. Not too impressed so far- although I did meet an adorable 19 month old boy by the name of Jackson. Unfortunately, he's about twenty some odd years too young for me :)

Hurricane Katrina

It has been absolutely mind-blowingly horrific to watch the images and news reports coming out of the Gulf Coast. I can’t even begin….

Tragically Katrina’s aftermath has been the most devastating. The lack of preparedness and response time has been shocking. In this era of post 9/11 and all the supposed emergency game-plans that the government has improved on- one only has to look at the monumental fiasco at the Convention center and the incompetence of FEMA to adequately deal with the situation to wonder “Where the heck did all the appropriated funds for emergency preparedness go?”

Whether it is a nuclear bomb, bioterrorist attack, or a conventional war, the response is essentially similar. Medical care centers need to be set up. Law enforcement needs to be deployed to maintain order. Basic human needs must be met. If a predicted mother nature event created such destruction and confusion… can you only imagine what a surprise strategic “attack” in several cities will do?

Be afraid….. be very afraid.

P.S: FEMA is apparently recruiting a few good men and women.

P.P.S: Visit the Red Cross website to help at www.redcross.org. In between checking your stock prices, fantasy football stats, ebay bids, and e-mail, give your fingers a bit more exercise.