It's been a while since a guy has left a positive and favorable impression on me. Tonight I realized why I like David so much. I respect and admire David immensely for his selflessness, his patience, his humbleness, for the little things he does to make one feel comfortable and at ease, for his insight and wisdom, and for his genuine love and kindness manifested into his everyday actions. It is actions, and not words, which reveal a person's true heart.

Over this past year, I've become very cynical and disillusioned about boy-girl friendships and have generally lost faith in them. But while at Bing Ling's, I came across an article which temporarily fostered a tiny bit of hope. And then that hope dissipated when I realized that things like this can only happen in imaginary little worlds where people think that I can be fun and nice, and simple honesty and love underlie the meaning of our lives.
 
 
"Those moments when you can't bear another instant of whatever it is that makes them... well, them. Worse still are the times when you see they've used up all their patience for you. But as with any friendship, you each put up with the idiosyncrasies and annoyances for as long as the relationship feeds you, for as long as it seems worth it. That's the verdict, really. I'm still friends with her because she's worth it. I continue to listen and give, even when I'm exhausted, because I know she will do the same for me."

I went to Ruth's Chris for the very first time tonight. The food was undoubtedly delicious, but the company was the highlight of the night for me. I learned something new today about steak: If I cut up all my pieces of meat before eating it, the meat will get cold faster, thus resulting in a not as satisfying Ruth's Chris experience. I will also remember tonight as being one of the very few and precious moments where I was able to triumphantly trump every single one of Kwansoo's fallacious and erroneous comments about me. Indeed it was a very exciting night.

We have real cable now so I've made the resolution to maximize it for the remaining month that I have here at Berkeley and to leave the apartment as little as possible. Unfortunately, I have yet to take advantage of it so while I sit here miserably at work, Esther and Sewon are generously fulfilling my wish and watching my cable tv instead of me.

Kpxgrlx012: it mus thave been tough for you
samoanboy72: yeah
samoanboy72: i was actually contemplating whethe or not i should move back to LA to be w/my mom
samoanboy72: but she told me that i should go back to nyc and continue on w/my life
Kpxgrlx012: wow
Kpxgrlx012: your mother's a strong woman
samoanboy72: she is
samoanboy72: i love her so much
samoanboy72: =0)



Kpxgrlx012: so next year ill come visit oaky?
samoanboy72: definitely!!!
Kpxgrlx012: it sounds so far away
samoanboy72: it's not so far away
samoanboy72: it's soooo much fun
samoanboy72: =0)
Kpxgrlx012: hahaha
Kpxgrlx012: yes
Kpxgrlx012: we will haev ltos of fun
samoanboy72: definitely
Kpxgrlx012: you can show me around to all your hangouts
samoanboy72: ahhh yes
samoanboy72: i'll take you to the hot spots
Kpxgrlx012: hahaha
Kpxgrlx012: i'm already imaging how crazy you get
Kpxgrlx012: ahahahahaha
Kpxgrlx012: i remember those whitney dances
samoanboy72: oh indeed
samoanboy72: i'm even crazier
samoanboy72: hahaha
samoanboy72: esp when i'm drunk
samoanboy72: i'm a big fat ho
samoanboy72: hahaha
Kpxgrlx012: HAHAHAHA
samoanboy72: fo real
samoanboy72: hahaha
Kpxgrlx012: =D
Kpxgrlx012: i really cant wait
Kpxgrlx012: hahaha
Kpxgrlx012: but its in about 6 months
samoanboy72: the time will fly by
samoanboy72: it already has
samoanboy72: think about it in 8 years we'll be 30

It's crazy how everything can change within such a short period of time. Sigh. Keep your head up, Tame. Six months isn't that long a time. I'll see you soon, buddy. =]

Who would have thought that the post office actually sold envelopes?

More revelations about the Kum family:
-None of us are musically inclined, except Brandon and Kirsten who are forced to play for us during Christmas.
-None of us are physically active, except Eugene who�s good at snowboarding, and Eunice�s mom, who's good at golfing.
-Eunice and I both like to douse everything with hot sauce.
-Edwin and my sister are both completely useless when in comes to anything.

I bought a travel book for Sweden today. But the cover is so ugly, I've lost any incentive I initially had to read it.

I always thought that I was relatively comfortable with the idea of physical contact with members of the opposite sex. But then I realized that after four years of being around the boys who I've been around, most of my interaction has drastically been reduced to hugs or the pummeling of their arms with my fists in angry retaliation of an insulting or stupid remark made about me. I realized even more today how much I dislike boys touching me. Stupid boys.

I've forgotten how nice it is to drive down to the Marina to absorb its beauty and to just openly talk.


"And it was during those moments where I realized that my head and my heart were believing in two very different things."


One day, I'll be able to finally sample the Chicken with White and Wild Rice from Costco. And that'll be a very happy day indeed.

I bowled a score of 88 last night which included one strike and two spares. I think John Song and Kwansoo were very proud of me. Hahaha.

David Kim also got a turkey in the last three frames of the game. I've never seen this happen before in my life. I've known David since our elementary school days at Helen Wittmann Elementary School. After school, we used to play with Preetesh Bengali and Jane Ahn at Frontier Park. Preetesh and David used to say "sexxxxx" to each other all the time in very sensuous and provocative voices. It was very unsettling.

I have a friend who is deemed to be one of the nicest people ever, whose favorite animal happens to be the dinosaur and not the tiger, who detests seafood and eggs, who considers himself a genius in everything but academics, who always manages to have an infinite supply of Big Red chewing gum, who is able to always somehow hear every under-the-breath comment and slip-of-the-tongue remark I make, who seems to revel in humiliating me, and who is so popular that he has an entourage of admirers constantly vying for his attention. Yet ironically, this same friend continues to unconsciously (and hopefully unwillingly) bring about much distress and angst in my life. It really is quite remarkable. =]

I put myself on the degree list tonight. Wow. It really feels like it's all coming to an end now. I don't think I'm ready for it.

I spent more time with my cousins this past weekend than I did in the past 22 years of my life.

Three Zagat rated restaurants: King of Thai, Hunan Home's Restaurant, Panta Rei.

Things I discovered about my family:
1. The Kums generally have not been blessed with the gift of singing melodiously.
2. The Kums have all generally been cursed with acne.
3. The Kums have all been blessed with relatively good eye-sight unless it was inherited from the other parent.
4. The Kums and their children are all relatively dark-skinned with the sole exception of myself.
5. The Kums are all monstrous heifers who always appreciate fine dining.
6. Even though our family seems to be open-minded and liberal, when it comes to their own children, the Kum lineage is actually quite particular and picky. This is most evidently revealed in terms of dating and relationships.

I don't know why I was so nervous to spend so much time with my cousins. But what fun we had, what money we spent, and what food we consumed. =]

My thoughtful father sent me an early happy birthday e-card two days before the actual date. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a happy belated birthday card. =]


The ominous real world out there really doesn't seem so bad when facing it with some �Ϻ�� and your lifelong friends.

In tribute, I post this entry written exactly a year ago. My, my, things have definitely changed.


"I just got back from Las Vegas and before I conk out, I wanted to write a little something that I learned about each person on the trip. I will write about the full details of the trip later.

Andy: Andrew Chon is exactly like Marlin in Finding Nemo. He will be the quintessential paranoid father figure who will freak out if even one hair is out of place on his future children's heads. He always lectured us on using the crosswalks and was always extra careful when stepping on and off the escalators. Despite this however, I can honestly say that Andrew is an intelligent guy except when he tries to prove me wrong about his acclaimed smartness. Andy has never tried ��뺺= although he claims that he loves ��� and is shockingly successful at Indy 500 and water shooting games. He was the first boy's leg that I've ever touched, and now I know not to touch them anymore. He let me watch while he applied his Old Spice deodorant. He is utterly useless on road trips and he does not enjoy sweet foods such as barbeque sauce or ���ø�.

Josei: Josephine Kim likes to sleep the earliest every night so that she can maximize her fun time during the day. She is also so fashionable that Nancy and I took alternate turns matching her outfits with one of ours every day. One of the most important qualities that Josei looks for in the opposite sex is their drive for ambition. Josei was also perceptive enough to know that I was going through Diet Coke withdrawal symptoms the first night and was kind enough to buy me one when I was at my all-time low. She also had really cute flowers embossed onto her toes, and didn't know that she was supposed to tip the pedicure lady. Josei thoroughly enjoyed the butternut squash ravioli at the Bellagio buffet.

Kwansoo: Kwansoo Jun likes orange juice and has never heard of �Ϻ�� in his life. It was also his first time in Las Vegas so he and I were really excited when we saw the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. Kwansoo doesn't like to eat fancy foods and instead prefers steak over everything else. He also packs excessively for a guy and was the only other person that wanted to ride the New York New York roller coaster with me. He wanted to hire a hooker to seduce Royee although it was he who received the lap dance at the Egg and I, and was the only guy who knew how to eat somewhat healthily. He has also seen the vast majority of movies, and laughed the longest after Nancy had her incident. He constituted the first 1/3 of the Third Wheel Party.

Nancy: Nancy Kim is crazy and thus has my complete respect. Not only does she have this limitless amount of energy that everyone feeds off of, but she is cool enough to try and steal a dollar from the fountain at the Bellagio. She is also really classy, piquing my interest not only in Andy Warhol, but in fine delicacies such as fruit salad in mint julep chutney. She is not ashamed to vocalize her appreciation for the finer looking specimens of the male species and her new hairstyle looks really good on her. However, I do not understand how she does not like ��κ� that much. She also never wore the baseball cap she brought to protect her face from the sun after her a surgery.

Robert: Even though Robert Kim was quite sick throughout the trip, he was still the most sensible and rational one out of everyone. He was the one that reminded us to get rest or to not get too carried away when we wanted to start our Vegas trip early. Rob was also the exemplary tour-guide, never ceasing to amaze me that a North Cali-er knew more about Vegas than So Cali-residing Nancy, Andy, Royee, and Josei. He also waits for opportunities to use terms such as "ghetto fabulous" in ordinary conversation, and Andy and him were kind enough to teach me how to play Worms before they regretted doing so. He was the one who also quarantined himself off whenever possible so that we wouldn't catch his germs. Robert taught me to never take anything from the men who slap ads against their palms, and that after 9/11, people came to pay their respects at the New York New York hotel.

Royee: Royee Chung is surprisingly good at BlackJack and surprisingly horrible at performing magic tricks with cards. He also does not like mushrooms and believes that "Pho is what they serve in Hell." He likes to stroll around Vegas, alarming people with his ghastly pallid upper arms and tooting praise songs on his kazoo. He takes ridiculously short 5 minute showers and believes that one pair of underwear is sufficient for a 3 day-long trip. Royee likes to drink orange juice and lemonade. He is also remarkably adept at water shooting games and hence won Brownie, the stupidest rhinoceros I have ever seen. =] He is by far the unhealthiest person of the group, but enjoys popsicles almost as much as I do. He constituted the last 1/3 of the Third Wheel Party.

Thanks to Rob and Kwansoo for driving everywhere. Thanks to Nancy for planning the trip and all our fun activities. Thank you Andy, Billy, Butch/Brian, Josei, Kwansoo, Nancy, Robert, and Royee for making my first Vegas trip so memorable and fun. =]"

I was reflecting on senior year and the growth, challenges, and lessons it brought about when I caught a lonesome sign atop a hill with two simple words scrawled on a broken piece of plywood: "Jesus Heals."


White lions and tigers, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and SEVEN Bellagio Waterworks Shows.

"Love does not seek its own interest, but that of the other, and before all the common good." -Martin Luther.


My father and I have been raising a tomato plant together. He thinks I'm crazy, but I have affectionately named the plant Bob. I hope that the tomatoes will grow up to be as nice and red as Bob from Veggie Tales. I like living with just my father and me.

I received one of the best gifts ever today. It makes me look utterly ridiculous, but I absolutely love it. =]

Too much has happened within the past week and a half for me to accurately depict all the emotions and memories that I wish to cherish forever. I plan to leave Berkeley tomorrow, but something happened tonight that I'm still reeling from. Happiness marked by sadness... this seems to be the continual pattern of my life.


"God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry it's weight." -Reggie White.

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:

1. to see
2. to hear
3. to touch
4. to taste
5. to feel
6. to laugh
7. and to love."



The things I take for granted and dismiss as simple and ordinary are what are truly wondrous. The most precious things in life cannot be built or bought by man. It's ironic how simple everything's becoming just as the year is drawing to an end.

I AM DONE! =]

I wanted to take a picture of my thesis like Andy Chon did, but I don't have a digital camera. So I took one with my regular camera but I don't think it'll have the same effect. Eh, I don't care.

This is cheesy, but I am very thankful for the friends who have empathized with me and who have encouraged me throughout this past semester. I can't believe I suffered an entire semester for one large conglomerate of words. It almost doesn't seem worth it at all. But regardless, there are some people who really made this semester bearable. Granted no one will know the extent of what I went through, and I say this without trying to be presumptuous at all, and I was never as lonely as I was this past semester, but every concerned question, every inquiry about my progress, every encouraging phone call, email, smile, postcard, helped. Thank you so much. =]

It hasn't yet sunk in that this will be the last time I'll probably ever have to deal with my thesis paper again. All the paper, all the notes, all the highlighters I went through, all for a measly 78 pages. Haha. It's ludicrous.

To finally be done is such an anticlimactic feeling.

I say that my life is ironic. People think I'm being dramatic or just wanting attention, but honestly, it really is. To take some examples that happened within the past 24 hours...

1. My thesis professor finally got back to me about my rough draft. She told me that she'd place it in her mailbox today because the final draft is due tomorrow. I trekked all the way to the JSP building to find that it wasn't there.

2. I never get sick, but I'm actually starting to feel the sickness coming on. However, I just gave the last bit of my cold medicine to Sewon who herself was sick, so I no longer have any for myself.

3. I always have problems with Calmail, so I decided to be smart and email myself my thesis to my Yahoo email account. A few hours later, my Calmail account is working fine and my Yahoo one won't open.

4. I've been meaning to speak to this person but haven't gotten around to it because of my own pride and fear. I've been thinking a lot about resolution with this person and tonight I randomly saw him on the street. It was weird, but it affirmed what I needed to do.

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." -Mother Teresa.