This weekend was a nice little weekend of rest. Didn't really do much at all which was exactly what I wanted to do. I made dinner for my friends on sat. It think it was pretty successful. People were quite full and satisfied. I made spare ribs, salad and rice. Afterwards we went to a nice little korean drinking place where we got pretty drunk. The method of our drunkeness was pretty simple. I introduced my innocent friends to the joys of korean drinking games. When you first hear about the games they sound relatively stupid, but in actuality they are quite hard. The first is called 3-6-9. It is a fairly simple game. All you have to do is count. The trick is on number that contain the numbers 3 or 6 or 9, the person claps instead of counting the number. For example, you can start with anyone in the group(i usually go clockwise but it doesn't really matter), the first person would count "one", second person would count, "two", the third would clap and so on so forth. So essentially the game would sound like this.... 1,2,clap,4,5,clap,7,8,clap,10,11,12,clap. So on number that contain 3, 6 or 9 you would clap instead of count. Once you get to numbers like 33, 36, 39 or 63, 66, 69, you would clap twice because those number contain 2 of the numbers you are suppose to clap for. This game gets pretty intense and pretty funny when you watch your friends screw up. Loads of fun and tons of laughs. Another game we played is called 007 bang. I'll explain that game another day. Writing way too much at work today.

posted by Johnny Chang

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this is from one of my friends in nyc...

Hey, thats the David Tao album title name.... (chinese singer...
nevermind)

Anyway, just thought I would write to everyone to thank u all for your
messages and concerns, and give u a bit of an update. And to think, I
was so excited to come to NYC...

Well, things are calming down a bit around here, but its just eerie how
quite it is on the streets in this neighborhood, relative to how it
used to be. From where I live, I'm about 15 blocks away from the WTC, so I
could pretty much see everything, and saw more than I wanted to. One block
south of here, all the roads are closed off.

I'll tell u all my experience, and those of u that heard it already,
bear along, cause I think it'll help me a bit too. So I wake up tuesday
morning around 8:45, thinking I'm going to be late for class again. Then I
hear a plane fly by and hear a boom. Being a bit groggy still, it didn't
really register to me what I just heard, and went in to take a shower, which I
suppose is when the second plane hit. At about 9:00, I'm running out, late
for class, and when I hit the street, I see crowds of people looking
back at something, which at first I thought was a car accident or something.
After walking a bit further, I look back and thats when I first see the
towers burning. Thoughts flash through my mind, thinking first it was a fire,
we were hit by a missile, then hearing that they were hit by planes.
Still in shock, the whole situation did not really process in my mind as i kept
walking. Perhaps it was just a little plane, or maybe a commercial plane,
without passengers. Couldn't have been terrorists... Once I get to school,
then i hear the news, hijacked planes, crashing into the WTC. Believe
it or not, class went on as usual, and I was the last one there, though I was
spacing out for that hour. Some time around the end of class, the first
building collapsed. When I went back out, I was in shock to only see
one tower left. Going back in to the lounge to watch, I was surrounded by
others in disbelief, tears, and sadness, not believing what was going
on. Then we watched as the second tower fell, and all I could mutter was,
"Oh shit."

The emotions the rest of that afternoon was a wide range. Still
feeling disbelief, I thought about all the lives that must have been lost
there, and how frightened the people on the plane were. One moment, I would think
this whole situation was not real, and the next I would see and hear the
news, and just feel my heart fill with sorrow and sadness. Home in Palo Alto
sounded so good at that moment. Next I felt anger at whoever is responsible.
Just thinking they should bomb the hell out of all those
middle east country, if they kill our ppl, we'll kill their. Then I felt
shame for even thinking that; what good will this anger do? Those
Palestinians celebrating on TV, I just wanted to understand them. I
don't want them to die, cuz they're innocent people as well (well most of
them) and more deaths isn't going to help. We should try to understand these
enemies, understand why they hate the US so much and what it is about
their religion that would promote such hate. I think thats the only way to
really stop all this. And when we do retaliate, I just want to US to be sure
who we are attacking.

As the afternoon went on, and I see all the people here calm, trying to
help anyway they can, trying to go downtown and volunteer, huge lines trying
to donate blood, I felt so proud to be part of this city at that moment.
I know this may sound cheesy, but I'm not try to romanticize this at all.
The feeling of unity I think everyone here feels is so overwhelming, and
there is no way they are going to scare me into leaving here. I think I've
seen these days the worst and the best that human beings have to offer.
There are make shift shrines all over the city, vigils in all the parks, and
people just going up to the police and fire officers, thanking them for
their sacrafices and work, and telling them what heros they are.

Well, things here are all shut down now, and I just want to do
something to make me forget what has happened. This may sound strange, but I wish
there was school, just anything to get my mind off this madness. Just been
walking around, since theres nothing going on here, hanging out with
people at school, whom I've gotten closer with.

And finally, all the calls, emails, IMs, that I received from u guys...
I feel so special to have such great friends and know that u all care. U
have no idea how much these messages I get mean to me and how much they help
right now. I really feel so lucky right now to have u all in my lives.
And it makes me feel popular ;) So if you do know other people around here
or in DC, even if they're just acquaintances, drop them a line and let
them know u care as well.

I guess I don't really sound like myself here, but I just feel so
strange lately. I feel guilty when I laugh, when there is tragedy so close by.
One moment I would be thinking this isn't real and trying to go on like
nothing happenend, and the next moment it would hit me and just feel like
crying. So I guess when I've talked to some of u, I've been going through
different stages. Don't think any of us will quite be the same anymore, but I've
just been a bit more emotional these days.

But thanks for taking the time to read this and letting me get this off
my chest; it feels good to share and open up a bit. Hope all of u and
your friends and family are well. Don't let this tragedy scare you or keep
you from doing what you want to, and don't lose faith in mankind cause from
what I've seen here, there is a lot of hope left for us. Just a shame that
it took something like this to bring out the best in us.

Oh, couple more thoughts. Can you believe how idiotic Bush sounded!
"We're going to hunt down the FOLKS who did this." I hope he doesn't lead us
into war; if so I want Powell in command. And WHEN we rebuild the WTC, they
should build five towers instead, and have the center tower twice as tall as
the other ones.

Take care everyone.

posted by Johnny Chang

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My head bows down in a moment of silence..for all those people effected by the tragedy at the World Trade center in NY. I could never imagine the feeling, if i lost my loved ones I don't know what i would do.

posted by Johnny Chang

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You know what I think is curious. I believe that I am a part of the internet generation. I mean my generation kinda started it. The kids now are amazing but when we were in college the internet was born. This is all wonderful and great and stuff, but when I look at my group of friends, close and extended, there is only one person with a webpage or any sort of web presence. Kinda weird huh? I mean is it because I'm a loser or something? Most of my friends are quite successful and very active socially. Do they not have anytime to bother with the web? Is the net only for people who have no life socially? Are all the stereotypes true? Well am I a part of that. I mean friends over the internet is great and all but does it compare to friends you have over the net? I read and see many communities over the net. I'm actually envious of most of them. I mean how do they do it? how can they reveal themselves so readily and freely over the net. How can they make friends so easily? Its kinda funny actually. I'm ok with meeting with new people in person but over the net i'm just a lurker. Reading peoples stuff and admiring it and things. I wonder to myself why i cannot be the same. sigh oh well. Which is better? Well I guess a combination of both would defintely be the best. A social life is defintely important to the happiness of everyday life. But I think an active life on the internet strengthen the soul. I mean where else can people open themselves to others and only be judged for what they think and write? Okay I need to make more internet friends...

posted by Johnny Chang

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Went camping this weekend. That's why there hasn't been any updates for the weekend. Not that anyone cares at all. bleh... camping just way too tiring. i vow that i'm just gonna rest this weekend. I'm not gonna do anything. Just chill at home and do nothing.

posted by Johnny Chang

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I heard a little funny story yesterday while drinking with my friends. One of my other friends, a cute and very sweet girl, is getting married and has already received her rock. She has become somewhat of a folk hero to all of my female friends. Well once upon a time....well nevermind that...One day she was having an argument with her financee. He a pretty nice guy, treats her alright but not the versed in the way to treat smooth talking a girl. Her financee didn't want to go to her financee house because it was an hour drive away. Of course my friend thought it was unfair because she always goes to his parents house( which was much closer though). Well the argued for a while and then my friend finally gave up. She was pissed though. So she took off her ring and threw it at him, yelling, "you can forget it then!!!!" (obviously referring to the engagement.) He was quite shock but not wanting to seems like a wuss just then he said, " Alright then!!!) and they both stomped off to their prespective corners. My friend drove off to a parents house and her finance just stayed home I guess. Well after like 20 minutes on the road her financee calls her up and says, "ok I'm going now". Of course my female friends love this story and us guys go, "shit....". And that guy comes off as a wuss but shit she a great catch. He better be treating her right. But for all you girls out there who want to do the same thing. Shit if my gf did that to me i'd be like shit alright i'll keep it then and make her sweat it out a little bit before i gave it back or found some other girl..heh heh dog at heart.

posted by Johnny Chang

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Feel kinda bleh today...can't really do anything about it, just kinda go through the day I guess. I think I just need to rest one weekend and just chill. I don't know, i think that may it or maybe I just need to see my friends. I need to be rejuvenated. The San Diego trip was great and it definitely nice to hang out with greg, navi and my bro, but it was hella tiring. I just feel like crap... Maybe I just need some TLC from my friends...lol

posted by Johnny Chang

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going to lunch with a old japanese classmate. I haven't talked to him in like 3 or 4 years. wow, seems like forever. well i guess it has been forever.

posted by Johnny Chang

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