I compose an average of 30 emails a day, many of which are written in an informal manner.  I also draft about 10 to 15 memos a week, many of which are written in a formal manner.  It's very likely that my grammar and vocabulary have gone downhill since college.  Afterall, I don't spend a mundane block of time every day to focus on LEARNING how to write properly anymore.  Instead I spend many hours APPLYING what I've learned to write as properly as I can remember how.  If that makes any sense...

Today, I emailed my Coalition Chair some speaking points for our next meeting and he responded with a grammar lesson of the day:

"Looks good.  Thanks.  Side note on grammar...

"Katherine will be unable to continue with the Sacramento Children's Coalition due to having accepted a full-time position..."

My 10th grade English teacher (one of my favorite teachers of all time) always used to tell us:   "Only bills are due."  I would have written the following or some other substitute instead:  

"Katherine will be unable to continue with the Sacramento Children's Coalition because she has accepted a full-time position..."

No biggie, obviously.  

When you are moving as fast as you move, a little grammatical indiscretion is excusable (at least with me).  In other settings, I insist that the quality of your writing match the high level of your intelligence and talents.  I also insist that whenever I do something dumb you tell me about it...  

I see it as part of my role as Coalition Chair to help staff realize their goals and potential.  I know you have goals, and I am even more sure about your potential.  It will be fun to watch your career.

P.   "

Now normally I would be appalled by his response.  How utterly embarrassing that I got a grammar lesson from this person!  So what if he's a doctor?  I've only known P for two years and admire him a great deal for his charisma and IQ, but already he's nitpicking my choice of words.  I don't care if he complimented on my intelligence and talents! 

Nevertheless, without people like P who can be honest with me and still be able to teach me something, I would not be able to improve myself.  So there's my daily dose encouragement. 

hahahaha i love this!

I formally canceled old house deal.  Just found out this morning that the bank went with another offer on the new house deal.  Back to square one...

Long story short:  I'm homeless.  Well, not literally, I can ride out the rest of my lease at the apartment.  Doing so will alleviate the $2,500 cost of breaking the lease.  But of course, my preference is to get a house.  Grrrrr!!!

I read this amazing thought today on Pirgoeth's blog: "Aesthetics is a drug, powerful and threshold-raising. An encounter of ten seconds can shock me out of a three-month blogging lull. Yet, for finding and reveling in paragons of human radiance, I doom myself to lonely heights. Desirous of improvement, devoid of contentment, the antithesis of naivete."

As my good friend Brody is finishing up his year in Antarctica, he is rushing to finish up some projects, tie up loose ends, and also to experience as much as he can in his remaining days on the southernmost continent.  Afterall, a year in Antarctica can only leave one breathtaken and will forever change one's view of life.  Antarctica is a place for revelation.

We had a quick discussion on how we try to jot down our thoughts about the most peculiar events in our lives so that we may share those thoughts with others or perhaps just keep as a self reminder that we have experienced something worthy of a memory.  Unfortunately, we get so caught up with life itself and are only able to find a bit of time to reflect on our fleeting thoughts. 

We are of the inquisitive type.  The overanalyzers.  We leave no rock unturned and are always curious to see what else is there to find in this great big world.  And when we find beauty...aahhh beauty...we just want to focus on taking it all in. 

When so many things are happening around us, there isn't much time to write everything down!  We can't possibly document everything that goes on in our heads, simply because it is impossible to wrap our heads around it sometimes.  So when we are crammed for time, our writing becomes somewhat of a chore...a bit dull...almost useless due to its unmotivating factor. 

Our conclusion is that there are experiences you simply should not bother to record or analyze.  The simple act of writing it down ruins the experience because you spend too much time trying to put a value on it by thinking of specific words to describe it.  Some things are just indescribable.  Some things are just best unsaid.

I canceled the house deal. 

Some things just aren't meant to be.  Sometimes, you just gotta cut your losses and walk away thinking about the hidden blessings that could result.  This is one of those times when you are so frustrated that nothing worked out, but happy that it turned out that way.  After so many troubles of closing on this particular house, what I found on Friday was the last straw.  I've had it.

On our final walk through, we found major leakage in the foundation of the house and about a foot of standing water underneath the wood deck in our backyard.  Our carpets were soaked and you can only imagine the horror of finding all that water outside our house.  Needless to say, there was no point in keeping the deal.  We canceled the purchase and instead put in an offer on the house next door.  The house next door just came on the market...it's got the same floor plan and it's better maintained.  And the best part is because of the market drop, it's CHEAPER. 

Wish us luck!

Wow.  I won't say who told me this but I am completely disgusted with this line which was communicated to me today:

"well to be honest those kind of guys that you like, like you they value pedigree. and unfortunately, (having grown up with and gone to school with these kind of folks) the type of business you are in is not looked upon too kindly. and also, you didn't go to a top MBA or undegrad program. So I think you'll have a difficult time getting someone like that to take you seriously.  I think it's too bad, b/c the fact is you do work hard and are very ambitious. But guys like that, well, that's the attitude."

I am in Vancouver this weekend to vacation and attend my godsister's wedding -- I'm the emcee for the wedding reception.  Yay!

This city never ceases to amaze me.  But not only is it the city, I've realized this feeling is correlated with the fact that ANY vacation spot I choose simply amazes me. 

I don't wanna go home.

What are your stress relievers?

We went to the Bay Area for a birthday getaway weekend.  I love getaway weekends with friends!  I met up with a lot of people and had a blast touring, eating, laughing, conversing, wine tasting, dancing, etc.  Had so much good food this weekend, too...

La Bouchon Bakery - Roast Beef on Ciabatta Bread Sandwich and Vanilla Eclairs.  WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH  It was soooooooo good!

Angele Restaurant (next to Napa River Inn) - we ate everything...my favorite was Duck Confit!  I'm too lazy to look up their menu but I think we ordered 75% of everything they had available.  We had a group of seven so it made it easier to share and taste a variety of dishes. 

I love French food.  I've had French cuisine before (I even know how to cook some of it) but I think as I have more disposable income, I'm able to try out higher status restaurants...so each time I eat French food, the dishes just get better and better!   I think it's trumped my love of Italian food.  So funny...I was telling my friend that eating all these delicious foods around the world makes me work harder so I can keep eating more exquisite cuisines...and he hella laughed at me because I was such a foodie!

Of course, what's a good time without a picture to prove it?!  I present to you my silliest moment of this weekend:

My friend Hong looks like he wants to kick me!  hahaha

Sometimes I wonder if I can ever settle down again.  While I have been happy dating, my heart is still guarded and I revert back to being defensive when I feel my happiness is threatened. 

My girlfriend sent me this song today and I think it explains why I am the way I am.  Protective of my own heart because I know what it's like to have loved and lost.  On a more poetic note, the song is so much more meaningful in its original language than when it is translated.  Why is that? 

Cầu Vồng Khuyết (Bright Rainbow)
Thể hiện (Artist): Tuấn Hưng
Sáng tác (Composer): Minh Khang

Ai đã yêu một lần, đều hạnh phúc với người mình yêu

(Whoever has loved once has been happy with the person they love)
Ai đã yêu một lần, đều trải qua cay đắng của tình yêu

(Whoever has loved once has gone through the pain of love)
Ngày xưa tôi cũng yêu người tôi yêu đẹp xinh

(In the past, I was in love with a beautiful person)
Như hoa như đôi thiên thần

(Like a flower, like a heavenly couple)
Giờ đây tôi lặng im nhìn em xa rời tôi

(Now I quietly watch you leave me)
Chia đôi cầu vồng ngày xưa

(Splitting the rainbow of the past)

Đã khuya rồi vẫn ngồi đếm sao

(It’s already dark but I’m still sitting here counting stars)
Sương rơi lạnh ướt đôi bờ vai

(The fog falls and chills both my shoulders)
Ánh trăng đã không còn nữa

(The moon no longer shines)
Chỉ còn chiếc cầu vồng khuyết để mình tôi đơn côi

(Only me left looking at the bright rainbow alone)
Đến bao giờ mới được có em

(Until when can I have you?)
Đến bao giờ thấy được cầu vồng

(Until when can I see the rainbow?)
Tôi ngồi giữa đêm lạnh vắng

(Sitting alone in the middle of the cold night)
Hỏi vì sao tôi lại khóc

(Ask why I’m crying)
Giờ mới biết đâu là yêu

(Now I know it is love)