New Year's Eve. Trying to figure out what I should do tonight. Every New Year's Eve I usually go to church back home. This is my first New Year's Eve not home, and I've been trying to figure out what people do with themselves on this night. I got invited to a party, and I think I might need to make an appearance. But I'll probably leave early, and celebrate New Year's in my own little way. I've been feeling a little sick lately, and I woke up this morning with a slight sore throat, headache and a cough. Ick. I'm thinking I should just staying in and vegging out sounds great.

Also, every day I read the news and I just get so sad reading about the tsunami. These peoples lives have been devastated, and as I sit at my comfortable desk at work, or at home, it makes me feel so useless. My co workers and I chipped in to donate some money to Doctors Without Borders, but it feels like such a small drop in such a huge bucket. And as I pray, it's hard to feel like it's doing any good. I know God has a plan, but this to me is another one of those instances of what the heck was He thinking?

2004 flew by. It's been filled with weddings, births, deaths, celebration, sorrows. I think this year has made me grow up, and made me realize just how much more growing up I need to do. For everything that I've accomplished this year, there's twice as many things that I wish I could have done better or wish I'd done differently. I've been so blessed, but also so wasteful with those blessings. 2005 is almost here. It's a new year, a new day, a new beginning. I'm excited to see what's in store for everybody. It's going to be a great year. I know it.

New York Times
EDITORIAL

Are We Stingy? Yes

Published: December 30, 2004

President Bush finally roused himself yesterday from his vacation in Crawford, Tex., to telephone his sympathy to the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, and to speak publicly about the devastation of Sunday's tsunamis in Asia. He also hurried to put as much distance as possible between himself and America's initial measly aid offer of $15 million, and he took issue with an earlier statement by the United Nations' emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, who had called the overall aid efforts by rich Western nations "stingy." "The person who made that statement was very misguided and ill informed," the president said.
We beg to differ. Mr. Egeland was right on target. We hope Secretary of State Colin Powell was privately embarrassed when, two days into a catastrophic disaster that hit 12 of the world's poorer countries and will cost billions of dollars to meliorate, he held a press conference to say that America, the world's richest nation, would contribute $15 million. That's less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities.
The American aid figure for the current disaster is now $35 million, and we applaud Mr. Bush's turnaround. But $35 million remains a miserly drop in the bucket, and is in keeping with the pitiful amount of the United States budget that we allocate for nonmilitary foreign aid. According to a poll, most Americans believe the United States spends 24 percent of its budget on aid to poor countries; it actually spends well under a quarter of 1 percent.
Bush administration officials help create that perception gap. Fuming at the charge of stinginess, Mr. Powell pointed to disaster relief and said the United States "has given more aid in the last four years than any other nation or combination of nations in the world." But for development aid, America gave $16.2 billion in 2003; the European Union gave $37.1 billion. In 2002, those numbers were $13.2 billion for America, and $29.9 billion for Europe.
Making things worse, we often pledge more money than we actually deliver. Victims of the earthquake in Bam, Iran, a year ago are still living in tents because aid, including ours, has not materialized in the amounts pledged. And back in 2002, Mr. Bush announced his Millennium Challenge account to give African countries development assistance of up to $5 billion a year, but the account has yet to disperse a single dollar.
Mr. Bush said yesterday that the $35 million we've now pledged "is only the beginning" of the United States' recovery effort. Let's hope that is true, and that this time, our actions will match our promises.

Aid Arrives As Asia Death Toll Tops 76,700

You can help:

AmeriCares
88 Hamilton Ave
Stamford, CT 06902800-486-4357
http://www.americares.org/

American Jewish World Service
45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10018
800-889-7146
http://www.ajws.org/

American Friends Service Commi
AFSC Crisis Fund
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-241-7000
http://www.afsc.org/

American Red Cross
International Response Fund
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
800-HELP NOW
http://www.redcross.org/

Catholic Relief Services
Tsunami Emergency
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, Md. 21203-7090
800-736-3467
http://www.catholicrelief.org/

Doctors Without Borders
P.O. Box 1856
Merrifield, Va. 22116-8056
888-392-0392
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Food for the Hungry, Inc.
Food for the HungryAsia Quake Relief
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
800-2-HUNGERS
http://www.fh.org/

International Medical Corps
Earthquake/Tsunami Relief
1919 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 300
Santa Monica, Calif. 90404
800-481-4462
http://www.imcworldwide.org/index.shtml

Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake Response Dept. W
P.O. Box 2669
Portland, Ore. 97208
800-852-2100
http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/

Oxfam America
Asian Earthquake Fund
PO Box 1211
Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211
800-77-OXFAM
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

Save The Children
Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund
54 Wilton Road
Westport, Conn. 06880
800-728-3843
http://www.savethechildren.org/

Islamic Relief USA
Southeast Asia Earthquake Emergency
P.O. Box 6098Burbank, Calif. 91510
888-479-4968
http://www.irw.org/asiaquake/

US Fund for UNICEF
General Emergency Fund
333 E. 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
800-4-UNICEF
http://www.unicefusa.org/

World Vision
P.O. Box 70288
Tacoma, WA 98481-0288
800-56-CHILD
http://www.worldvision.org/

Last morning at home :/ My flight leaves at 1:50 and arrives at 11:30. I just hope I can catch the last Metro. I'm sad to be leaving, but also a little relieved. It'll be nice sleeping in a bed, not a mattress on a floor, having my own bathroom instead of sharing it with four other people, and not having boot stomping men walking all around the house at 7:00 in the morning. But I'm going to miss the fam a lot, and I'm sad I can't spend New Year's with my Bethel peeps.

Last night I tried on myt bridesmaid dress for Jo's wedding. Um... let's just say I need to do a bit o' slimming down before July. Yeah.

My suitcase is packed and I'm ready to leave! One thing to do before I go: head to Trudy's Bridal to drop off my gift for Jo and watch her try her wedding dress on!! EEEK!

Goodbye Sunnyvale. Peace out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It was a very interesting day. Many many relatives came over, and we ate a whole lot at Ca1ifornia Buffet. Afterwards ,we did a salvage mission for some of our crap that was outside. Our pooooor stuff.

I got some cool stuff- a big ass towel, a Giants sweatshirt!, books and a wrap. I am very grateful that I have such cool friends and family.

It's kind of weird-- I just don't feel much like it's Christmas. Maybe it's because my house is in disarray. Maybe because I was so caught up in work and traveling and coming home. But I think I haven't really reflected on the spirit and the meaning of Christmas. Something to do and think about, albeit a little late.

What does Christmas mean to you?

BACK HOME!!! My house is a disaster area. The whole fam is living upstairs, cause the downstairs is uninhabitable. Got in on Tuesday and I was totally shocked by our house. I was warned about how bad it is, but it was still unexpected. Yesterday I went to Target (twice), took family pictures, ate out, then headed to P. Frank's for some chilling with the church folks. Man, P. Frank's kids are soooo cute.

So Christmas is going to be... interesting. Four cousins, three cousin in laws, and four cousins kids are coming here tomorrow to celebrate in my busted house. Where are they going to sit? What are we going to do? Those are all questions that still need to be answered.

Minsoo has freaky toes.

Last full day of work before I leave and I am bouncing off the walls! I can't wait to go home! Well, what's left of home. According to Sarah and Minsoo-- it's a mess. Oy.

Shopping to do today, shopping to do when I get home. It's madness.

Law school apps are almost done! Only two more to go! Took me freakin' long enough. Geez.

Saturday night, 11 PM, I'm sittting at home. Hoooooome. Very happily. Last night I went to watch "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Kennedy Center. It was good-- not awesome, I wasn't blown away, but it was fun to watch. The girl who played Millie was good, a better actress than singer or dancer. I thought she was a lot better in the second half than the first half. Oh man, how I wish I could have seen Sutt0n F0ster in that role! It was a great way to spend a Friday night though. The Kennedy Center was goooorgeous, and we sat in the front rows!

Woke up late today, ate at Perfect Pita, then headed to Georgetown for some shopping. Oh man, I have SO MUCH more shopping to do. Oy vey. Met up with roommate Christine and Sarah's former roommate Pam and headed to Laureol Plaza in Dupont. Drank many margaritas and ate a lot of Mexican.

Confession: Little drunk right now. That is all.

On Tuesday I went out for coffee with Mr. Seungjoo "Ryan" Lee (Ryan? Really? Hm). He was in town for the day for a hearing, and after much waiting and anticipating, he finally called me. It was great to see an old friend, even it was only for an hour.

Kennedy Center tonight!

I just looked at my itenerary to go home and found out that I booked my flight to come back on Tuesday, not Monday! Extra day at home! Yay!

BIG NEWS! I bought the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King extended edition yesterday!! YAYAYAY!

GRRRRR. Yesterday Sarah and I went to go get our measurements taken. First place we go to, the lady is taking the measurements of some guy. When we tell her what we want, she tells us she can't do it unless we come back on Sunday morning when it's less busy. Meanwhile, she's still taking the measurements of this guy right in front of us!! Argh. Then, we head to Nordstrom, where I had been assured earlier in the week that they do have someone who can take measurements. I get there, and the lady tells me that they don't do that anymore! GRR. ARGH. And then I was really pissed off and headed home. Talk about a waste of time. But it will get done soon! Promise, Jo.

I NY. I gotta say, one of my favorite things about living on the east coast is that I'm only a four hour drive from the big apple! This weekend I headed up to New York with my sister. Got in on Friday night, trekked up to Jess Ko's place on the upper upper upper west side, and then ate some Malaysian for dinner and went to Cafe Lalo for dessert. Saturday we met up with Jane K, visiting from Boston, and walked around the West Village and got cupcakes at Magno1ia! Yum! Headed to Rockefeller Center to see the tree, cause Jane and Sarah had never seen and were greeted by the hugest crowds ever. It was sooooo crowded. It was crazy crowded. It was fire hazard crowded. But at least we saw the tree. Ok, so highlight of the trip: we watched "Litt1e Women: the musical"!!!! It was freakin' awesome. Well, the show itself wasn't so awesome. It's in previews right now, and it was only its fifth performance. Some of the dramatic moments weren't so dramatic, and some moments were very cheesy. But I would go watch it again, just because of Sutt0n F0ster, who played Jo. She was FREAKIN AMAZING. Amazing actress, amazing singer, amazing performer. I was blown away. Plus, Litt1e Women is one of my favorite books from childhood. No matter what, whether I'm reading the book, watching the movie or watching the musical, it always makes me cry.

Anyways, that was my New York weekend. I'm thinking of going up over MLK weekend to hang out some more and watch some more shows. Who's with me?

Sarah's coming back from New York today after spending some time with her chingoos. We're going to have fun the rest of the week, and then next Wednesday I'm coming hoooome! I just hope I have a home to come home to. Oy.

Seriously, does anyone have Disc 2 of my copy of "Pride and Prejudice"???? It is GONE. And I miss Mr. Darcy!

This afternoon I was putting together my Christmas shopping list. Column 1: People I want to get presents for. Column 2: What I should get them. Column 1 has 12 people on it. Column 2 is BLANK. I have NO IDEA what to get anyone for Christmas!! Grrrr. Argh. Does anyone have any suggestions of what to get my bosses? I have three of them, so it can't be too expensive, and I already got them chocolate last year and wine when I came back from vacation.

Speaking of Christmas lists, here's mine:
- IPod, please :)
- digital camera
- shawl (to wrap around me at work, because I am always freezing there!)
- new scarf/hat/gloves set.
- Admission to law school
- new work clothes
- anything off my amazon.com wish list
- a ticket out of DC for inauguration

That is all for now :)

This afternoon I spent a lot of time reading my old blog posts. I read most of my posts from 2003, and it was very fun/weird/interesting. It was fun reading about senior year, what I went through, good times I had. It wasn't that long ago, but it feels like it's been forever since I was in school. But it's interesting reliving the whole graduation, end of school, moving to DC, looking for a job process. My comments on the war, waaay before it even started, and on the job process were especially interesting to read now. 2003 was a fun year for me. Looking forward to reviewing 2004 too.

All this also made me think about whether I've changed since I first started writing this blog, in the fall of 2002. Reading my blogs from back then, I wonder if someone who didn't know me would read then, and the read my more current posts, and sense any difference in me. Has working changed me? Have I matured? It's very difficult for me to make those self-assesments. I don't feel very different. But I hope living in DC, working, being on my own, has had some positive impact on me. I hope, I hope.

The weekend of December 4 was a very cathartic weekend. Purged myself of the LSAT. Feeling good. Now I just need to get cracking on these law school apps. My goal is to have them done by mid month. As Bi11 Hybe1s says-- I must develop discipline!!

Lately, I've really been missing my girls. It was great hanging out with former roomie Joy on Saturday/Sunday, had a good chat with Tina this weekend, and have been playing phone tag with some other cool friends. I guess I'm realizing the importance of good friends and maintaining relationships. Takes a lot of work, but so worth it.

Busy couple of weeks ahead of me, starting today. Lots of fun though! First up: Sarah Yu, arriving day after tomorrow. Sweet.

Sometimes things happen that you can't explain, that are so devastating and heartbreaking, you don't know what to do.

I know all I can do is pray for healing, but what I really want to pray is that God would never have allowed this to happen.

My heart breaks for my friend. I hope I can hold off crying until I leave work.