A Complete Life

Best Birthday Ever!

January, 2007, goes down in history as my best birthday ever. No, it's not a "special" birthday year. No new decades or half decades to celebrate. But the way my friends and family from all over went the extra mile...that's what really made me feel special, and thoroughly thankful for having such wonderful people in my life.

Celebrations lasted the whole month:

• My parents took me out for dinner at my favorite Sushi restaurant, Sam's in San Mateo
• Ted surprised me with drinks on top of the Marriott and dinner at Ame in SF. How did he know that I've been wanting to go to Ame for months?!
• My sister surprised me with the sweetest bouquet ever: a dozen chocolate covered strawberries. Yummmmm!
• My girlfriend planned a huge bash, including 20 of my best friends, a private room/nook at Umami, an AWESOME up-and-coming restaurant, and we danced the night away afterwards
• Ted (the man is a saint!) also planned a weekend ski trip with 15 of our closest friends. It means so much to me that people would be willing to take a whole weekend out of their lives to celebrate mine. What an honor!

You know, in the past, I would have felt like I shouldn't ask for so much for my birthday. But, you know what, allowing people to make a big deal out of your birthday doesn't feel as selfish as I thought it would. Instead, I felt like it made us closer friends. I guess, sometimes, accepting expressions of caring is just as important as giving them.

Cafe Vivoli

I recently found a great new lunch spot: good food, cheap, plenty of options...and a wonderful experience to boot.

It's an Italian lunch spot right in the middle of the Financial District. Being on a corner, it's got plenty of windows. Plus high ceilings, this makes it expansive and airy, not too noisy. (A good thing, given it's packed during lunchtime.)

The fare? Everything from huge slices of pizza and calazones to deli sandwiches to a huge salad bar and, my favorite, the freshly-made pastas. Yummm! Those of you who know my addiction to carbs can imagine how great it is to find the perfect source of lunchtime pasta! But wait, there's more....

For $6-7, you can order from over 30-40 different pasta dishes (I've tried the shrimp primavera and chicken and gorgonzola), and stand by the long window to watch the dance happen. The pasta is made on a long range of 16 burners, and it's so mesmerizing to watch the chefs work. They juggle up to 8 dishes at once, adding veggies, sauces and glorious meats, dousing their handiwork in wine, ladling in sauces, tossing in the pasta....

With two or three of them working at once, it's a miracle they don't constantly burn each other. Hot pans weave over and under arms, finished plates arrive 4-5 at a time...it's all a wonderful, captivating dance. This is not the chaotic, loud, angry, yelling kitchen that chefs warn about on TV. Like a sports team that's been together for years, they intuitively know where each other are, and when and how to give help.

I've always been intruiged by restaurants. For someone who loves food and loves sharing it with others, what better obsession?

Funny the places that calm and recharge us...

I have Great Coworkers!

Last Wednesday, our company participated in the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge. It's a 3.5 mile race for charity. It also really hit me over the head with what great coworkers I have here.

I suggested the idea on a whim...an everyone was so enthusiastic! It was great to have support for something

1. Our team has never done before
2. I have never done before (I've never run a 3.5 mile race in my life!)

In fact, virtually all of the company was able to make it (and we really missed L who couldn't).

I felt so proud that everyone loved the T-shirts. (They say, "We think faster than we run.") I felt even prouder when we arrived on the field, the fog not dampening our spirits one bit, all proudly showing our company colors.

OK, so I run slower than everyone else in the company. Which actually turned out to be a blessing. As I came around the final bend, and sprinted the final stretch, there was the whole team, whooping and hollering for me. Thanks, guys! It's because of you that I ran my fastest ever: 3.5 miles at a 10-minute mile.

Next year, I hope that I'll be cheering someone else onto the the finish line...

Overheard at a Wedding

Ted and I were blissfully dancing...as we always do. Not perfect, but completely immersed in a world of us, the music, and the present moment. An old man taps us on the shoulder:

I used to be a professional dancer before World War II. Let me tell you, I think you guys are wonderful. Thanks for giving an 88-year-old inspiration to get up and dance.

He then proceeds to escort his wife onto the dance floor. The same wife who would later sing a jazz standard with the band...such a rich, vibrant, lively voice.

Simple praise that means so much. Thank you.

Nike Running Club

Wow, I haven't posted in a while. That's because I've been so busy living up life, I've had few moments to sit down and write about it.

One of the things that's kept me busy is discovering new hobbies. Running for one. "Running?", you say? "Doesn't that date back to when they invented feet?" Relax, my friend, running's an old sport, but it's never been my cup of tea. The idea of tirelessly and repetitively pounding one foot ahead of the other, usually while you're alone, and out of breath...I just never really understood it.

But, the Nike Running Club has got me running! How'd they accomplish such a herculean task? They've made running social. They've made it supportive. They've made it exciting.

Usually, I'm skeptical of corporate-run marketing events. At some point, during college, they told me I should be smart enough to see through them. But I'm smart enough to see through this one, and I still enjoy it. From a marketing perspective, it's brilliant. From a personal perspective, it's a lot of fun.

What does this involve? Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm, hundreds of runners, mostly women, show up at the Niketown store in Union Square. You can pick one of 7 models of Nike shoe to trial run that day. Music is pumping, people are chatting and meeting each other, and there's an announcer on the mike with raffles, training tips, and general encouragement. You group according to your running pace, and they cheer you off!

Someone else is setting the pace, so you don't have to worry about running too fast. You're chatting and getting to know people as you're running. Aid stations with water and snacks are sprinkled along the way so you don't have to carry water. Pressure to stay with the group keeps you going when your energy is flagging. And everyone's in a positive and friendly mindset!

Pretty soon, the faster running groups are passing by on their way back, and we cheer each other on. When we return, the music's going, people are cheering, and there's water, food and a festive atmosphere. "What an accomplishment!", you feel. And you're ready to do it again.

I'll admit: the 4 miles I ran on Wednesday was probably the farthest I'd ever run. In fact, after my first run on Wednesday, I convinced Ted to go with me at 8am this Sunday morning! He's such a saint that he decided to go. At 9:30 am, we felt so charged: normally we'd still be in bed now, but today, we've already achieved so much!

What a great win-win event! Nike wins because we're running more and trying their products. I win because I'm getting healthier, achieving new heights, and having fun!

My First B&B Experience

Last weekend, we took our long-awaited, sorely needed vacation! Off we went to Ashland, OR to see the nation's largest, and oldest, Shakespeare Festival. It was my first time, his 3rd or 4th. And, really, I suggested the location because I knew how much he wanted to go back. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised!

There are probably 3-4 entries I could write about my experience in Ashland. But the first think that kicked off the vacation gloriously was arriving at Hersey House, the bed and breakfast we'd be staying in.

This was the first B&B I've ever stayed in. It won't be the last. Our host, Lorraine, was so welcoming and warm. It was the little touches that made the difference:

• The truffles left every night on our pillow
• The cookies, tea, coffee and soft drinks we could help ourselves to, 24 hours a day, downstairs
• The home-cooked breakfasts

But, it wasn't just that. It was also that Lorraine personally cooked the food, cleaned the rooms, and did everything else associated with the house. Why do I appreciate it so much more when the service comes from someone I know? I don't know, but it's an amazing difference.

It was also the wonderful people we met at breakfast: especially Ruth, the old grandmother who's been coming for 30 years in a row, and told stories about how she was an adult during WWII in San Francisco.

Even more, Lorraine went out of her way to notice the small needs, or opportunities, and meet them. It touched me that she noticed my disappointment at missing the full breakfast one morning because we had to leave early to go white-water rafting We were supposed to have a continental breakfast of fruit and a muffin instead. But, we woke up to an amazing meal of peach-cantelope soup, oatmeal bursting with dried fruit, and the delicious muffins that were promised.

This was most certainly more than she had to provide. And more, I'd guess, than she was planning to provide. But, she did it. And, even more, she packed 4 delicious cranicot cookies for us for the raft! We took great care to keep them dry through the waves, and they were the perfect mid-morning snack.

What a perfect home base for the perfect long weekend in Ashland!

Saffron Rare Threads

I've come off an especially draining week at work, and I found the perfect oasis to recharge. As chance would have it, a lobby renovation kicked us out of work at 5:45 pm. Perfect chance, I thought, to go shopping for that new suit I've been needing for a while.

Just a few short blocks from my house, I discovered Saffron Rare Threads. I'd read about it on Daily Candy as a place to get high quality suits with a modern twist. I'd been planning to go for months.

I walked in, and discovered a colorful mix of mens suits, women's suits and boldly patterned dresses. One of the owners, Priya, approached me right away and offered me some baked goods, leftover from an event earlier this week.

She told me about the store: they're a group of three women designers selling their own designs. In fact, the back half of the space comprises their studio: a colorful mix of tables, ironing boards, cloth, patterns and works-in-progress. It added so much uniqueness and interest to the designs to see, right there, where they came from.

I felt like she was welcoming me into her home, of sorts. And I felt relaxed. What a pleasant experience! They even have events every so often in their space: what a great way to build community!

I took a look at the clothes, and I was so wonderfully surprised. Classic items: blouses, knit shirts, jackets, pants and skirts. But, with a twist: well-placed ruffles, iridescent silk linings, interesting cuts and details. To me, that's what made the clothes special: and what makes them feel special to me. That's exactly my style too: classic, but unique. Well-made, fairly priced, and, even, free alterations! What a deal!

Inspiring designs, a welcoming store, expert advice, friendliness, patience, and a good deal. Wow, when I left, the stress had completely dripped away!

I'll certainly be back: the fall designs arrive in August. Thanks, Priya!

Overcoming My Fear

As a Hong Kong girl with only a year of driving under her belt, I have a confession to make: I'm afraid of driving.

The great thing is, as of last weekend, that statement's now "I was afraid of driving"!

I owned a car between 2001 and 2002. That's the one year that I really drove at all. I was so afraid of the highway that when my dad and I drove separate cars to Sunnyvale to sell my car, he took the freeway and waited for 45 minutes while I took surface roads. Stoplight, go....stoplight, go....for 40-50 miles. It's not my own driving I was worried about: it was everyone else on the road, everyone who might swerve unexpectedly, stop suddenly, or come a little too close.

The thing is, I don't let fear stop me. That's not who I am. But then I moved to Philadelphia, to San Francisco, places where it's better not to own a car. And gradually the issue faded. Not owning a car became a financial and environmental issue.

Just recently, I got back on the horse. First, I had the chance to learn how to drive stick. So Ted and I braved the relationship dangers of teaching your girlfriend how to drive stick, and we spent a couple of sunny afternoons stalling and screeching in the quiet neighborhoods of Atherton. After 4 weekends, I felt ready to tackle the highways. Here I come!

Funny thing is.....it wasn't that bad! I realized I've got a lot better at trusting others and letting go of control. Cruising up and down 101, driving all over San Francisco......it was even fun! My crowning achievement was on a recent lone business trip to Detroit: I picked up the rental car, drove into town on unfamiliar roads after dark, smooth as silk.

It feels so good!

Why Didn't I Think of That?

Last night, thanks to my friend Jessica Wan, who performed during the night, I discovered Ghetto Gourmet. It's basically a nomadic dinner party. It moves from house to art-space to loft to club cooking gourmet meals that anyone can join. It's an informal gathering of friends: coffee tables are assembled, we sit on pillows on the ground, dishes and silverware come from IKEA, volunteers play sous-chef to the culinary artists, and we bring our own wine.

It's almost like we're long-time friends...except we've never met. And that's the beauty of it. Jeremy (the organizer) welcomed us like we were friends, the dinner was set up like we were friends...pretty soon, we made a bunch of new friends!

We enjoyed great food together, from the pea-bacon flan to the berry crumble, and enjoyed a variety of entertainment: comedy, music, dance. OK, so the entertainment was variable, but at least we were all in it together.

I'll be going back: maybe even to volunteer in the kitchen: cooking next to a REAL chef would be a grand experience. Maybe Ted and I will even do our own versions on the concept. I wonder how another dinner-entertainment experience, SupperClub SF, compares.

Lime Makes a Party!

Last night, for Girls' Night Out, we chose Lime Restaurant. Partially 'cause the pink lights inside looked like fun, partially because it's right across the street from my apartment!

What great fun! Apart from a short wait for our table, it was a flawless experience! We got a great booth in a quiet nook. It was such a fun menu! Homey classics like deviled eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches, to the less "All-American" but super-yummy choices like Tuna Poke. We all went around and named our favorites. Our waitress was super-thoughtful and helped us decide how many orders of each item we'd need to go around for all 9 of us.

And then the party started rolling!

One thing about small plates and groups is that they just keep coming, and coming, and coming. With a regular restaurant setup, you talk until your meal comes, then the table goes silent as you eat. No way, here! We were laughing, passing the plates, and sharing like crazy! Fluid conversation, lots of interaction, and tons of fun!

At a place like this, you might expect more flash than substance: but all the food was super yummy. The zucchini frites, thinner than a shoelace, were perfectly crunchy yet healthy. The tuna poke was perfectly seasoned. The ricotta gnocchi suitably decadent. But it was the desserts that were the most fun! We ordered little mini red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting: they come four to a plate. How cute!

Before we knew it, we'd spent 3 hours there. For only $25-30/person, including drinks. What a deal! We were stuffed! If I ever get a chance to plan a catered party, I've learned: it's going to be small plates, not sit-down. Fun food for a fun party: keeps the smiles going!

In the same vein, check out Callahan Catering: they make mini burgers the size of a quarter, tiny little cotton candy cones, and more!