Christmas

Haven't been blogging regularly. On Christmas, I went to my parents' friend's house for a get together meal/chat. Although they are older adults, I didn't feel bored at all. Maybe because I'm getting older myself. I enjoyed listening to their conversation, since it's not about just gossip, but also on burma's politics, entertainment, and jokes. Besides I brought my laptop and magazines if I ever get bored.

The hosts are also familiar with movies and more knowledgeable and open minded about the industry than other burmese/singaporean adults who watch movies and read books but always frown when somebody majors in movies or the arts. If you have no respect for someone doing arts, dun enjoy arts. I dunno, it's kind of mean, but I can't stand these people. They also think film majors can only be directors, and they have no idea and could not appreciate the rest of the development and production crew. Sometimes I want to introduce them to friends of mine who are working in the field of either live action or animation movies, their roles are not director but successful. It'll take me a while for me to get there, so I can't wait to let them know.

We had two kinds of noodles. One small plate for each kind. One is Shan noodles. Shan is an ethnic group in myanmar, fair skin, looks chinese, and the language sounds like Thai. They speak burmese mainly. My Dad is like 1/3 Shan. That makes me a little shan. Shan noodles is based on a sauteed chicken dish, it's meat and gravy mixed together (like salad) with egg/rice noodles, and shan sour vegetables. It's very appetizing if done well.

Another is chinese Hor Fun, burmese-chinese style, fusion. I like it more than most of the hor funs I've had.

We also had dumplings. Bread and coffee for dessert.

There were 4 families at the party. The hosts, and families of 2 sisters of the host. After lunch we went to look at the new house that one of the families bought. It's a large house that's cheap for it's kind because the city is a new development and rather countryside. When we got back to the host house, we had another helping of noodles and tea.

Went home after that, didn't eat for the whole night.

Slumdog Millionaire

Watched Slumdog Millionaire today. Enjoyed every minute of it. Probably my favorite movie of the year. It's a British production, in English, some Hindi, directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan (India unit). I'm not gonna have spoilers here but it's a moving drama splash comedy about a young man, Jamal, competing in the India version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, hoping that Latika, the girl he likes since childhood, would be watching. Latika and Jamal were separated due to unfortunate circumstances and he knew that she likes to watch the gameshow.

Jamal was only one question away from winning the whole thing but was accused of cheating. The gameshow's host and police did not believe that he could answer all the questions because he grew up in the slums and worked as a Chai Tea boy at a phone company. During the interrogation, he told the police about his life, from growing up in the poor slums to young adulthood. While representing the hard life of poverty in India, his story also explained why he knew all the answers to the questions on the gameshow. Touching and funny. Great directing, adapted screenplay and cinematography, to say the least. Good work from the kid actors too.

Nominated for Golden Globe's Best Motion Picture (Drama). I hope it wins. It's most enjoyable to my personal taste than other films in the running. Boyle is nominated for Best Director too. It's also one of the leading contenders to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Boyle might get Oscar nod too. It also won the People's Choice Award at Toronto International Film Festival and several other film festival and critics' awards.

The movie's soundtrack is supported by M.I.A, the London born Sri Lankan alternative hip hop artist. I'm surprised to hear Paper Planes, M.I.A's single off her album Kala, and it enjoyed heavy airplay on my local alternative rock station live105.3.

After the movie, Andrew dropped by at Valley Fair to get Christmas presents for his relatives. Had dinner at the Vietnamese restaurant opposite Santana Row. We watched Slumdog at CineArts, Santana Row. Dropped by at Barnes & Nobles and got myself a CD version of MGMT's album Oracular Spectacular. I've been listening to it online for a while but since it's one of my favorite albums of the year, and I got a B&N gift card, I bought the cd. I'm a music album collector by the way.

Today

Today did my online filings of Kaiser health insurance in the morning. It's an unpleasant procedure because I had to check and dig up details of past doctor visits and illnesses. As some of my friends know, they are not pleasant things to think about.

My mom made deep-fry breaded eggplant+cheese+egg+mint balls. It was good, better than expected. New recipe.

Met Ming in the afternoon. We had lunch, I brought some of the eggplant balls out so he tried it. We talked about film ideas. I don't want to think of anything, no big interest at the moment, but I'd be glad to jump onto a project if someone develops it. He's going back to Taiwan for 3 weeks vacation on monday. He's gonna meet Peter. I dunno how I could meet up with peter or yuzo (japan). Ryo could meet yuzo easily. I could only meet them if I go taiwan or japan for vacation purposely but they could meet while they visit their own relatives.

We played drums at Guitar Center. I'm gonna get into drums for sure. Hunting for a studio to jam. Went to Barnes & Nobles. Ming found so many books on offer, and they are wonderful books, big bargain. Met Andrew after that, accompanied him for his meal, I dunno what to call it, lunch or dinner or branchner. That's his first meal of the day at 5pm. I figured since we might do a film together in the future, it's good that Ming and Andrew meet today.

So at Thai Delight, I asked the waitress, "What is Tod?" (shrimp mousse ball) And she instantly writes on her check, "Tod? Okay." This is the fourth time a waiter thinks I'm ordering the dish when I'm asking what it is.

Me: "What is country fried potatoes? How is it coo..."

Waiter: (writing on his check) "Okay, country fried potatoes."

*slaps forehead"

Language? Maybe. Most of the waiters who has this problem are foreigners, some have higher level in english than others. But there were incidents at Denny's. They have waiters with better english but they have the same problem. So I thought maybe because of my speaking (as I have random stutter) but still...not just that and it isn't everytime.

So both Andrew and I came to the conclusion that these waiters have a mentality, a thinking, that customers never ask how the dish is made. Also the hand gesture. When you point to a dish on the menu, they instantly think you are ordering it. It's not bad service, but bad..waiter skills?

A waiter should be open to questions, and expect anything from customers. That's what waiters at Cheesecake Factory, Red Robin or Apple Bees do. American (as in white/black/asian american) waiters at these restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, Red Robin or Italian outlets are really impressive. They know everything a customer might want. You can ask them anything. They know that you are saying "What is hamburger?" and not "I want hamburger". They don't have a "Customer come, sit, only order, I take order." mentality. They provide assistance at all levels.

It's not about age, although most american waiter/waitresses at these restaurants are late teens, young adults, and most often females, but elder waiters are very good too. It's so different from the ones at asian restaurants and places like Denny's.

Yesterday

Yesterday met Ryo. He practiced driving, in school first, then we had starbucks to refresh ourselves, and then he drove outside of school, along stevens creek blvd to Shadow Oaks residential area. After the practice we went to Satura Cakes, the Los Altos branch. Satura Cakes is a European-Japanese fusion of cakes, dessert and breakfast items. I've never been there from cupertino, so we had problems finding freeway 237. The french toast there is excellent. It's a good place to talk and eat. It has a cosy, lively and cute atmosphere. Bought home a choco-misu and cheescake. Ryo stopped by an Italian convenience store to get some cheese and wine. Then headed home.

Long Day 2

Today was the day for Timo. Driving test! Only that he couldn't take it after waiting for more than an hour. Because one side of my brake lights is not working. *slaps forehead*. Yes, he's using my car. On the previous occasion, he couldn't take it as well, because I found out my name wasn't on the insurance paper... So he booked again for the 3rd time. My dad told me about the brake lights not working about a week ago, when his friend saw it. But I didn't pay much attention to it and it's been like 3 years since I took the test, I forgot that they'd check the car.

After the disaster (I'll call it), we went back to my house for me to finish up writing checks, filings and mailings. Then we went to Great Mall. Had sushi again. This time, the waitress was scary. Timo got scared everytime she looked at him. The way she talk is so aggressive. She was nice when we pay though. We spent a long time at Dave & Busters. We both won lots of tickets and bought ourselves D&B mugs. Had coffee and Edamame there (unusual combination). Went home after that.

Long Day

So Tuesday was my birthday, I slept at home. On Wednesday, thought of celebrating but I was too caught up filing for my health and dental insurance (not covered under my parents' from now on). I need to buy separately so I had to investigate, read and fill up forms, and my mom was pressuring me to finish quickly. When I stopped (I didn't finish everything) it was already past 6pm. I called Timo then I went to refresh myself. I forgot to call Andrew and it turns out when I finally called him, he had eaten dinner.

So had dinner with Timo. We had sushi again, at a ghetto japanese diner owned by Koreans. There was nobody inside when we arrived. We didn't plan to go there. We were driving, saw it on the way and decided to try it. It's called Yume Sushi. Yume means dreams. At first glance, the diner's exterior looks like the kind you'd find in Japanese horror films. Lots of Japanese decorations. Timo said usually a Japanese restaurant that's over-decorated with traditional decorations is not owned by Japanese. Right on.

We played pool after that. Beat him 3-2 at 9-ball. It was all luck to get to the 9 ball, but I did hit the 9 with real intentions!

Cheese Cake

Late blogging, as always. ^^

On Monday, taught Ryo driving. It was raining. Practiced at school's parking lot. Police patrolled as usual but he didn't seem to care. We parked quickly when we saw him.
Then Ryo treated me Ringer Hut, thanks Ryo! Didn't like the Champon. Had the cheese cake there for dessert. It's Japanese style, a little thicker cheese than usual japanese. We both prefer that to the American version with super thick cheese. Delicious. Haven't had Japanese cheese cake for a long time.

We went to kinokuniya after that, Ryo gave me a special pen and pencil as bday present, thanks again Ryo! Sent him home, then went to Borders to get internet for checking map to Danny's place. Used the pen that ryo gave me earlier to copy down the directions. It was real smooth just like what he described.

Danny's apartment happened to be near santana row so it was easy. We hanged out at his place, watched films that he made with super 8 camera. Nice works. I saw The Crow's poster on his wall. I really liked it when I watched it long ago but I always forget about it when I think of my favorite movies. The poster made me wanna watch it again. Danny said Heath Ledger's Joker is The Crow with green hair. Right on.

Chicken Pie

So today I went to World Market at Fremont Blvd. It's in the complex that has Borders, Mervyns, Target and Red Lobster. I often pass by the complex but never explored it thoroughly. I regret that because I found so many cafes, a hobby shop, and other creative shops. It's probably the most *useful* plaza I've seen within the range of san jose-fremont. So my mom and I went to World Market, bought wines and other household stuff. Got chicken pie from a bakery. Love it. Reminds me of the film, Waitress. Cute movie. Everytime I think about it I wanna eat pie. Been raining all day and freezing.

December

It's the end of the year. I've been too occupied with my health and procrastination these days. Finished my critical thinking final yesterday. Went for lunch at sushi california then we went to Cheesecake Factory just for dessert. Felt guilty for the waitress who thought we were gonna eat big. Headed home after that, but to avoid traffic, I went to Borders and edited my feature screenplay, Candy, with comments from my trusted personnel. Stayed longer than I wanted to. It's always good to write when you are in a hurry. Ideas just seem to flow.

Plans for the break would be to go to the screenplay library in LA, but my friend but hasn't confirmed the trip. Also planning a whole other trip to LA or any other place with andrew and tomomi. But now that the holidays are finally here, I'm feeling lazy to go.

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