When I read that, I knew I had to drive on Mosquito Ridge Road.

Even if it meant driving 133 miles just to get there... to drive more.

  
And it was worth it.  The road was more beautiful than I had expected. We saw three separate lakes, went through various rivers, hiked through the forest, went down some water falls (more on this later, with pictures), and ate at a wonderful restaurant at the end of the day.

"Nice date," I said.

"Date?," he asked.  "Let's see... we heard gunshots, growling bears, almost froze to death in the water, drove over 20 miles of rocky, bumpy fire trails... that's a bit rough for a date, don't you think?"

"Nah," I said. "I like it rough."

The only thing bad was that, unfortunately, I didn't get to drive much.  Driving another's manual transmission car is never comfortable. Too bad my miata has been having "belt" issues. :-/  I feel like I've been sitting a lot recently, as passenger. 

I want to drive.

Pictures to come~!

that the class might get canceled.

There's only 6 people in it for now.. and more might drop out. :-p

Graduate courses are so tiny...

1. The professor has allowed me to take his graduate-level course at Berkeley and I am enjoying my time there immensely. I feel so lucky to be there..
2. I changed seats at work; I sit right next to the window on the 17th floor now. I look out to the TransAmerica building, Coit Tower, the Bay, sailboats, and the Richmond mountains / hills. It is sooo, incredibly beautiful...
3. Free chocolates today!

Whoever came up with the concept of To-Do Lists must be a genius.

I had just finished my latest Financial Analysis course at Berkeley, and was wondering what the heck I should do with all my "spare" time after work. Feeling bored and unmotivated, I decided to make myself a detailed to-do list. 

Now, I feel incredibly busy and motivated!!! Yay!!

Things on my To-Do List:
1. Motorcycle Test / License on Sept 17
2. Get my Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Certifications (MCAS) for Excel and Access (Taking my practice Exams today!!!! Yay!!!! )
3. Beg a professor to let me take a Masters Level course at Berkeley
4. Take the Foreign Service Officer Exam on Oct. 3 (probably won't pass, but good experience nonetheless)
5. Find a good graduate school program
6. Write my graduate school essay
7. Complete my grad school applications
8. Deal with two tickets :-/

Yay!!

---

Here's a random question: What do you do with your spare time after work?

Last night was incredible.

I took my little miata up to Grizzly Peak, twisting through the mountain road while revving her up to her sweet spot (5-6000rpm). I parked at a quiet place by the side of the road, popped open the top and found myself greeted by the most beautiful bay view:

 
Then, I leaned the seat back, snuggled up with a warm sweater, and looked up at the sky.  I saw at least 5  meteors pass by...

Sometimes, a little peace is all I need.
Particularly when there are so many stressful things going on...

---

Today
1) Salary bump
2) Morning bun for breakfast
3) Touge Session 2009!!! Yay!!! Drive with my friends!!

Yesterday
1) Someone to pressure me to work hard
2) No lines at Berkeley Bowl!!
3) Cool weather... thank goodness for the ocean breeze..

Points of Improvement
1. Laziness. Ahhh... sometimes I feel that it will be the death of me.  All too often, I'd rather bum around indoors than go running.  Or do leisure reading instead of study for my exam or do my homework.  At the end of the day, I'd feel extremely guilty.

So nowadays, I try to remind myself that I need to improve.  I'm trying to run more.  Running is hard, really hard.  Especially after a long day of work and not enough sleep. At that point, I tell my body that it has two choices: keep on running - or collapse.  Stopping is not an option. ^_^

2. Disappointment. I love trying new restaurants, but I get nervous when I bring others with me.  Since I've never been to the place before, I don't know whether it'd be good.  The last couple of places I've tried with others were disappointing.  And it makes me feel bad to drag them into it. Sorry~~

3. Insecurity. I admit that I can be insecure. But the worst part about it might be that I don't tell anyone about it. Oh well, I don't see a reason for voicing those insecurities... because I understand that I shouldn't/don't need to be.  Insecurity is definitely on list of things I want to improve about myself, and I'm dealing with it the best I can.

---

Monday
1) Time for rest
2) Not getting another ticket for my broken HID :-p
3) Someone to take care of me

Sunday
1) Bookstores in the Mission
2) 5-toe socks
3) Time to read

                                                                                                         The Unbearable Lightness of Being

I had another dream about grandma last night. 

"Grandma," I asked, "when you were young, how did you think you would spend your last years?"

"I thought I'd spend it with family. But look, there's no one here," she said, with infinite sadness in her eyes.

Her intense loneliness and staggering fear reverberated throughout my heart. In my dream, I started crying. Does grandma feel this way?  I honestly don't know.

But I woke up, wishing I were in LA, feeling guilty about being up in the Bay.

I'll be flying down next Saturday.

---

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

I love Murakami books, but even after 6 books, I'm still not sure I understand his stories.  Perhaps the Japanese way is too subtle, expressing an unspoken feeling that is expected to be understood.  Or perhaps I am not supposed to extract "meaning" from those words; but to take and accept as-is.

Either way, the oddness and raw emotion in these stories keep me hooked. 

I may not necessarily understand the rest of that story (about man-eating cats), but I know that feeling, all too well.

Saturday:
1) Home-cooked meals
2) Interesting conversations
3) Plants vs. Zombies

1) I get addicted to games too easily.  Hours go by so quickly.
2) I need to focus on homework more.
3) Losing weight is hard... it's all too easy to say "I don't want to run anymore; I'll just walk."

Friday:
1) Reading "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting"
2) Coworker's birthday (free cupcake!)
3) Lazy, afternoon naps

1) Should really lay off those sweets
2) To remember to enjoy life, even when things are busy
3) To be more decisive.

Today:
1) Being loved
2) Being cared for
3) Coworker who came by to say hi

1) I wish I could love better - accept love, enjoy love, give love
2) I want to work harder
3) I wish I had cooked something this morning

Yesterday:
1) Bread and cheese
2) Special Costco order at work
3) The feel of my Miata~~

1) I want to deal with stress better
2) I want to procrastinate less
3) I want to be more patient with my family members