恭喜發財!

Gung Hay Fat Choy ya'll!

May the new year bring you luck, wealth, health, and happiness!

It's the year of the Ox and the horoscope for me seems prosperous, if I can recognize the opportunities and act upon them. Ugh.. when is it going to be a year when prosperity just falls into my lap?

Happy Birthday Everyone!

Today is 人日. That's the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, when everyone turns a year older. So Happy Birthday to you!

In following my 'I don't buy into Valentine's Day' tradition, I'm going to tell you about my day at Jury duty instead.

It was boring. And to my surprise, the clerk has to be one of the nicest person in the world! I thought all city employees were jaded.

No offense.

In actuality, the whole jury duty experience was even bearable - quite a change since I last participated. They now have Wi-Fi access! But being able to bring my laptop wasn't the best part of the day; they let us go early!

Worst part? Getting up before 9am has made me susceptible to the flu. Ugh. Nyquil, here I come!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year, ya'll! For your reference, it's the year of the "Earth Rat."

And no, just because the 'mascot' is a rat doesn't mean it's going to be a bad year. Just think of how much you enjoyed Ratatouille.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! February 18, 2007 starts the Year of the Pig (or more accurately, Golden Pig)!

Unlike the Western negative connotations for 'pig', the Chinese consider the pig (and those who were born in that year) fortunate; for they will be considered happy and healthy.

So go out there and have a Happy and Healthy Chinese New Year! Preferably with some nice, crispy bacon.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Happy Chinese New Year!  Last year was a bit cocky for me, so this year, I'm definitely doing it doggie style.  Sorry, couldn't help myself.

And here's Pooh wishing you health, wealth, and a prosperous new year!

Happy New Year!

Everyone got their resolutions?  Great!  Now do what I do and toss them in the nearest garbage can (or recycling bin if it involves paper, plastic, or aluminum).  The whole concept of resolutions is just so.. irrelevant.

Maybe it's the fact that I also celebrate Chinese New Year (Lunar calendar), but I believe that deciding you're going to change your life shouldn't have to wait until this poor excuse for a holiday where thousands of people crowd around a two block radius watching a shiny ball drop.  Call me crazy, but I think that's crazy.  And just because I waited until Christmas to come out of the closet doesn't make me a hypocrite.  (Does it?)

Now that I got that out of my system, my first year out of the closet has been a whirlwind.  Won't you come join me down memory lane?  Read more [+/-]

Last Christmas, I pretty much blew my closet doors open and came charging out - with the help and support of friends.  Sorry if I ran over some of you.  Anyway, I found myself asking... myself, "What the hell do I do now?"

The answer came to me quickly as only working in a career center for three years could - go out there and learn about your new career from the pros!  So I set about trying to meet professional gay people, observe them, network, learn and mimic.  And because I'm a tech geek, I did this online.  After all, professionals have websites, right?  I found some great gay blogs (see my blogroll), then emailed, chatted, met (GB:NYC2 was amazing!), drank, hugged, kissed, and touched inappropriately.  Them gays sure are affectionate.  And I like it.

But I also had another answer; one I give to many inexperienced students wanting gain some work experience to put on their resume: volunteer!  No, I didn't become a whore.  I volunteered for 'gay events', the first being the AIDS Dance-a-thon run by GMHC - can't get much gayer than that.  It turned out to be a great experience and an excellent opportunity to find some philanthropic people (especially gay men).  Other 'gay events' I've volunteered for included the Gay Life Expo, NewFest, AIDS Walk, and the Pier Dance.

Okay, so the truth was that I was looking for hot men so that I can become a whore.  Somehow, meeting people through volunteering seems less sleazy than say.. downelink.com.  But honestly, just because you can equate 'volunteer' with 'good will', you can't say the same for 'volunteer' and 'good looks'.  Knowing this, I continued my 'online research' and met the first person I was sexually involved with.  (The random guy I made out with at that bar doesn't count.)

I had been out for two months and I was definitely horny and disappointed I didn't try everything in the 'Big Book of Gay Sex' yet.  But I moved forward slowly, and soon broke off the relationship because we didn't mesh well.  It was harder than I thought - I had the notion that he could be my soul mate, but I was too cautious (heeding friends' advice) to let myself believe it.  In the end, I'm glad I didn't give him my end.

During this time, I ventured out into the gay bar/club scene with my new set of gay friends.  Learning to flirt with men was hard, especially eye contact - especially when closeted behavior forces you to avoid it.  But I've been working on that skill; and used it to pick up potential boyfriend number two.  It didn't work out but we ended up friends - it's all about the networking.

And this networking led to potential boyfriend number three, which I won't go into, but turned out to be the biggest head case of all.  And isn't it so strange it's those you felt the most passion for?  I guess the more you burn, the quicker you burn out.

Around the same time as number three, I received my 15 minutes of fame.  Remember that?  My homosexuality was announced in the paper and in three local news channels!  As a friend said, "If they didn't know you were gay, well, they do now."  Check this: during my company Halloween party, where I dressed up as a 'No Stopping or Standing' sign, a coworker from Denmark remarked that he read my story in a Danish newspaper.  And this past November, I received the Spirit of Stonewall Award from Heritage of Pride for my actions.

It was a big year, chock full of gayness - not to mention my Brazilian wax, getting my first tattoo, and my three week vacation to Costa Rica.  Can I top it in 2006?  Actually, I'm not sure I want to.  I'm going to head into the new year with the same goals and mentality I had when I came out of the closet that fateful Christmas nearly a year ago:

Be nice, be honest, and live life like it's the only one you got.

I've done well with it so far.

Oops.  Almost forgot one other goal: to tickle my boyfriend, B, and to feed him lots of oysters.  Did I just say boyfriend?  Well, I guess it's a good sign I didn't shudder or break out in cold sweats.

Anyway, as your award for reading this, here's me and my new pair of jeans.  Have a wonderful 2006!

First Signs of Stardom

Second grade.

I was the only child brave enough to 'learn' to cartwheel, and therefore I was cast as the lead, Peter Rabbit, for the Annual Chinese New Year School Play (yes, it was the year of the rabbit).  A dance routine, no speaking, but I would have the whole stage to myself!  I was excited!  I was nervous!  And I only had 2 weeks.  I practiced everyday at the back of the classroom; my second grade teacher, Ms. Chin, as my Bela Karolyi.  Read more [+/-]

The routine was simple enough, with the cartwheel right in the middle.

The day of the performance arrived and I was introduced to my pink bunny outfit complete with button nose and cotton tail, whiskers glued above my lips as the final touch.  With pink furry gloves over my hands I was worried that it would affect my cartwheel.  Ms. Chin, observing my demeanor, gave me a pep talk and ushered me stage right, behind the curtains.

The lights dimmed.  I gulped.  Spotlight turned on with a *shunt*.  I froze.  The music started.  A shiver went up my spine.  My cue was coming.  If my mind weren't totally blank, I might have realized that I was shaking.

"NOW!" I screamed in my head on cue and threw my body out from behind the curtain and started my hopping routine.  The spotlight was blinding and I couldn't see the audience, only hearing their cheers and applause overpowering the music.  It was euphoric.

I was approaching the trickiest part of my routine, the cartwheel.  In practice my success rate was a only 40%, without gloves.  I'm going to stick it.  Hop, bounce, left, right, cartwheel!

I'm half way!  Stick the landing!  Wait.. wait.. no!

The adrenaline coursing through my veins had made me rush, undershooting the landing.  As a natural reaction, I bent my legs, and with a *thump*, landed on my ass.  Luckily, Ms. Chin had prepped me to continue the routine even if I fell; so with laughter in the background, I finished my routine, hopping off stage left, shaking my cotton tail.

I felt bad for falling (and losing my whiskers), but elated that I had the courage to perform in front of the whole school; as the star!

It must have been a memorable performance, because the during the beginning of my freshman year in high school, I ran into an elementary school classmate.  She stared at me for a second across the hall before running up to me.

"Hey!  I know you!  You're Peter Rabbit!"

Blushing at my newfound fame, I replied, "Second grade?  Yea."

"Yea!  You were so cute as a pink bunny with whiskers stuck to your butt!"

WHAT?!

G.H.F.C. Y'all

Happy New Year everyone; or as I would say to my Grandmother as she hands me 'lucky money' in a red envelope, Gung Hay Fat Choy.

Here are some rules for today:  Read more [+/-]

1. You cannot wash your hair.
2. You cannot use scissors or knives.
3. All your meals must be vegetarian.
4. If you are married, you give lucky money to those who are not.
5. You must wish Gung Hay Fat Choy to all Chinese people.  My advice to you is say it to every Asian person you see no matter if you think they're Japanese, Korean, Filipino, or you just can't tell. Chances are some of them will be Chinese; so you might as well play it safe.

Break any rules, and you've lost your luck for the rest of the year.

Here's some links so you can educate and enjoy yourself:
Chinese New Year [via Wikipedia]
Chinese New Year in New York City [via nycvisit.com]
Explore Chinatown in NYC

Update (10:30 am): What horoscope reader Paul Ng says this year has in store for me (via my sister. Get your reading here).  Read more [+/-]

MONKEY in 2005

This year favors the male monkey more than the female counterpart. There are plenty of romances, which may result in triangular love. Your work may be volatile. Your limbs are hurt easily.
[Well, I've already got the consulting job and leg cramps.. just waiting on the ménage à trois now.]

WORK
There would be up’s and down’s. Your favorable businesses include entertainment, public relations and products for men.
[Is go-go dancing considered a product or a service? seems to be public relations for sure.]

WEALTH
Your income would be stable, with an upward trend. Often you had to lose before you can gain.
[Well, from the bottom you can only go up.]

HEALTH
There would be plenty of small ailments, especially with the arms and legs. Rest more and exercise well.

ROMANCE
You would have good romances and people relations. Be careful of triangular loves. If you are single, consider marriage. If you are married, stay away from extra-marital relations.
[Triangular loves? I have no idea what that means... teehee.]

Metal Monkey (1920, 1980)
You would run into some people problems. However, your work is good. There is a good chance for promotion.
[Dammit... I knew I hated people for a reason.  All in all, I'm thinking this will be a good year for me!  Woohoo!]