All About Home Shopping

Homesickness

I miss everything about San Francisco! It seems like only yesterday when I went shopping with my friends for Christmas presents on Union Square. Time flies!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays. Why? Both are associated with holiday shopping! I can live without the turkey feast and the eggnog but I must hit all the malls and stores for holiday bargains!

This year I can only browse through online stores to look for bargains (bebe, Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, BCBG, Macy's, Banana Republic, Charles David, Max Studio, and etc.).

All I want for Christmas is to go to San Francisco so that I can see all my wonderful friends and immerse in the fun of holiday shopping!

Something I Love So Much that I Make It My Job!

Shopping is truly one of my passions in life. I find great satisfactions in bargains. However, I never thought that I would become part of a home shopping network. My kind of shopping requires going to the stores, trying things on, chatting with the sales clerks and etc. Go figure!

There is more to TV home shopping than meets the eye. Appearance is important - porcelain skin, beautiful hands, impeccable make-up, hair, and wardrobe - because it is what the viewers see first. Voice, pronounciation, delivery, gesture, facial expression, and body movement will all be taken into account the host's performance. IT IS HARD WORK!

This home shopping network is keeping me super-busy. It is interesting work. Now there are 240 employees in the company, including 130 people in programming. So far I’ve met some real nice people who work with me closely.

Despite the hectic schedule and insane workload, I’m happy to go to work every morning when I get up. How many people on earth actually look forward to work? Consider myself lucky! If I cannot enjoy what I do and have fun on the job, then it is nothing more than a paycheck!

Getting ready for the show!

A Brand New Start

It has been quite a few years since I had my pictures taken by professionals. I loath the heavy make-up. However I'm always surprised to see how the photographers can manage to capture the part of me that I did not know before.

This time it just happened our stylist is my old friend David's wife. She knows me well enough to prepare the kind of clothing that will bring out the best in me. As much as I would prefer to wear my own clothing, I trust her professional judgment and just go with the flow. It is so much fun to play with all sorts of different looks. I used to think that casual look (i.e. jeans) does not suit me. Now I know what low-rise jeans can do for a shorty like me!

My New & Improved Look

Wearing the right clothes can bring a very different look to a person!

Born-Again Christian

Two months ago, I received an Email from a former colleague. We hardly talked to each other when we both worked at the radio station. She left and then came back and then left again. Six months later I followed suit and went back to the States for a year. Our interaction began after we both quit radio.

She became a born-again in 2000. Since then, it seems to me that becoming religious have brought out the negativity out of her. She was quite bubbly in her days on the airwave and she just doesn’t seem as happy now. I am not saying that religion has a less positive influence on her. However, her self-discovery journey seems to bring her pain and sorrow.

In the Email, she said:

I had these relationships in the past where it seemed perfect, but you know, I think women have sensitive hearts and even though guys seem like they are giving a lot of love, you can feel the 1-10% of his heart that he is holding back which makes us feel insecure. In the end, it's hard to find someone who can really love you completely...which is one of the reasons I became a Christian because I realized that if I don't learn to love completely (without selfishness or self-defense), I will never have the relationship I desire.

We must become what we seek. We all are imperfect, and need help in building healthy and solid relationships. Though I have a lot of experiences I don't think it has helped me, rather it has tainted me more than anything.

That's why I decided to take a break (2 and a half years) without dating. I wanted to redefine myself as an individual and not always get caught in the romance and drama, which always resulted in disappointment and pain.

So, at church on Sunday the minister talked about four kinds of love, the first being erotic, second family love, third, brotherly, and the fourth is called AGAPE, which is Godly love in which there is no self. I think the only kind of love that can fulfill is the fourth kind, when both people work towards eliminating self and work towards the spiritual growth of the other. You might try reading, "The Road Less Traveled" by Scott Peck, it's a great book about love!

Here is my reply to her:

There are men who are just as sensitive as women are. Among my circle of male friends, I see sensitive men everywhere. Honestly, I don't think there is such a thing as the Perfect Relationship. If you are willing to Sacrifice / Compromise, then your relationship will work and it will seem perfect to you and your loved one.

Most of us have certain hang-ups toward relationships. If two people cannot be better when they are together, then they are better off alone.

Yes it is hard to find someone who will love us completely. On the other hand, can we love someone 100% without holding back? I hold back from men occasionally and I take it as a sign that it’s my intuition trying to tell me something.

Yes you are right. We must become what we seek. I agree with that saying wholeheartedly. People tend to look for whatever is missing in their life through their loved one. That is not fair.

It seems that your experience in the love department has not been pleasant. Well, you live and learn, right? Perhaps you have overlooked the positive qualities in the relationships you’ve had. I only reminisce the good times I’ve had and remember the good in people. Hardship in breakups always seems painful and heart wrenching. It builds characters that way and supposedly, it teaches you how to look on the bright side!

One of my ex-boyfriends has done me so wrong to a point where he knows that he will have to pay for what he did to me. It’s karma. Goes around Comes around. Come what may, I only wish him the best despite the pains I endured thanks to his poor judgment.

In this lifetime we are supposed to fulfill all four different kinds of love. You cannot get one and not the rest. Otherwise your life won’t be complete. When I don’t love myself enough, I can’t love others. Everything starts from SELF and you work your way up.

You can try to open up a bit and you will realize that there are a lot of decent people (especially men!) out there. You are a good person and people with similar qualities will gravitate toward each other. After all, it is a wonderful world we live in!

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

This is not a Dear Abby or Dear Ann column but I would love to start one! My friends say the funniest things to me and often seek advice and from time to time, they like to throw me a curve ball. Even though none of it is my business, I cannot seem to keep quiet and just have to put my two cents worth in!

Question #1: I heard that you got a webcam recently. Got an idea for ya! You have all the equipment to become one of those 24 hour broadcast webcam girls on the internet. Now you can make money on the side getting people (that is, men) to subscribe to your site.

Answer: Haha. Thanks for the idea. I don't think I'll be stripping on my webcam anytime soon. I will let you know when I decide to let it all hang out and appear online in my birthday suit. Who wants to see me naked aside from those who already did?!

However, I heard the most profitable porn sites are the ones catering to gay men and lesbians. That is where the money is at – worth looking into! Maybe I’ll buy you a webcam for your next birthday. What do ya think, partner?

Question #2: My girlfriend is away for a few days while visiting her family in the East Coast. I have not missed her that much. Is it that bad?

Answer: There is nothing wrong if you don’t miss her a bit. Not even a teeny-tiny bit? I promise not to tell her! Haha! Hmmm, that is perfectly okay. You do not miss her and that is the fact. Who knows? Maybe she does not miss you either.

Perhaps you two have been spending too much together. Her leave of absence was timely since you needed a break and some time to yourself.

The least you can do is to think of her when you’re playing with yourself!

Question #3: I notice that among the young Asian American women nowadays, they smile, fake, and pretend that they are interested and it is a hoax. Why is that?

Answer: The Asian chicks cannot reject men directly because it is considered ‘RUDE’ in the Asian culture. They were taught to respect any male elders, their father and brothers no matter what. As a result, they developed this inferior mentality toward men.

When chicks don’t respond to your enthusiasm, the last thing you want to do is to beat yourself up over it. A chick who doesn’t reciprocate to your TLC, she is a lost cause. Why lose sleep over a fish when you live in the ocean?

Do you prefer women who tell you to ‘Take a Hike’ or “Get Lost” when they are not even remotely interested in you? Usually you can tell from their voice if they are into you or not upon first meeting. You can simply walk away when they don’t sound sincere.

Question #4: Last night my girlfriend and I got together, we did nothing in particular. She did not want to have sex. This morning she grabbed my balls and wanted to go at it. For the sake of not letting her control the pace of deeds, I refused despite being really horny. Is that terrible or a wise move?

Answer: Kudos to you and that is a wise move! You should not let your woman take control of all things. If she can say NO to you, SO CAN YOU. Most men have difficulties to turn women down for sex. Oftentimes, they want it more than their partners do. When it comes to relationship, many women place more importance in emotional bonding than sex. Nonetheless, what you did is truly a triumph for the male race!

Robin William once said, “God gave us a penis and a brain, but not enough blood to use both at once.” You just proved him wrong.

Keep up the good work and we are one-step closer to equality between men and women!

Question #5: I am dating a divorcee, he is perpetually late, and there is no sign of the situation will ever improve. Sometimes I feel that he does not take me seriously –I am just someone he happens to like and have fun with every so often. When do you know enough is enough?

Answer: I guess the way he acts would suggest that he is not so serious, all the showing up late and stuff. Perhaps the failure of his marriage played a part in the way he behaves, or causes him to be scared to get closer. After all, we all carry some relationship baggage and can’t seem to shake it off?

Only you can call the shot and put a stop on it. Listen to your heart and trust your intuition. You are the master of your life and you’d better start acting like one!

Question #6: I do not understand what women see in Hugh Grant. I remember he got into troubles while back. I am dating a woman who is infatuated with him. Despite being a movie star, why would he need to get a hooker!?

Answer: The British accent makes Grant adorable. I’ve always liked him. He has that boyish look that most women like and the accent just tops it off. Maybe the movie roles he portrayed on the silver screen created a false image and we women really have fallen for the movie characters. After all, most of us do not know him personally.

By the way, If you can’t seem to figure out what your woman wants, then get clues from her favorite romantic movies!

Hugh’s look combined with the sexy British accent and his impeccable movie appearance makes him attractive. However, like any movie icon, Hugh is in the past and he has gone with the wind as the 90s ended. Now we are infatuated with Jude Law.

Question #7: I met a woman on a streetcar in Boston last year. She was helpful when I asked her for directions. She is a single mom with a son in trouble. She gave me her card and we started exchanging Emails since. The other day, she mentioned an interest in moving to California and asked me to send major Californian newspapers to her. I don’t really know her and honestly, she is just an Email pal. So, should I send her the papers? Is it an unusual request?

Answer: Hell yah and who is this woman in Boston?! Has she ever heard of the INTERNET??? She can browse newspaper websites online if she is serious about finding out more about California. Maybe she is old-fashioned; there are people who prefer to read from the actual paper so they can get their hands dirty while flipping through the pages. Y’know, maybe she is not so bright or she has a thing for you?!

Question #8: My girlfriend has an incredible endurance for TV. She can stay on the couch for the whole weekend without leaving the house once. But I want to go out and do things on my days off. When she is over at my place, the TV is ALWAYS ON! HELP!

Answer: You should sign her up for the television marathon and see how long she can stay on the couch watching TV nonstop. If her super stamina for TV bothers you so much, you should tell her to go home and watch TV in her own space! On the other hand, you are in luck when the sports season begins. You two can watch all the games on TV together because she loves TV and you love sports!

Question #9: I don’t get it. This happens to me all the time! I think I am a decent woman but other women tend to find me as a threat for no obvious reason. Do I really look that threatening? What do I do that’s so threatening?!

Answer: Oh sweetie, it is perfectly all right. You have a lot of sex appeal, in person and even in photos; other women can find this threatening. It may be something that you are not even trying to do, but it comes across pretty strong.

After all, you and the rest of single women force are after one thing – A Prince Charming, someone who can sweep you off your feet. It is a competitive world out there. And it’s every woman for herself!

You should be happy about your sex appeal and just look at it as a God’s gift to you! Obviously, you were born with it. Therefore, you should use it toward your advantage. Be yourself and be proud of who you are, Sexy Mama!

Question #10: Is it wrong to ask your partner for honest inputs?

Answer: Absolutely not! In fact, honesty is the best policy! However, you should keep in mind that sometimes truth hurts. Be prepared for what you are about to hear and it is not always pleasant.

There are women who like to ask the meaningless question, “Do I look fat?” They expect to hear a positive answer regardless of their body shape. Everyone likes to receive compliments, reassurances, and validations from others. After all, it is human nature wanting to feel good about ourselves.

People tend to be more cynical and perhaps critical toward people who are the closest to them. When you offer a chance for your partner to be honest and candid, he is likely to disregard your feelings.

Every man has his quirks and twists. Just remember to keep an open mind. No one is perfect and neither are you!

Question #11: My history with women has been horrible. I guess I got self-esteem issues, I get very nervous around girls that I find attracted to and I tend to be attracted to girls that I feel are out of my league. I am embarrassed to say I have only one relationship ever.

Answer: Your somewhat low self-esteem keeps women at bay. I suggest that you should engage in social gatherings with your friends. Get yourself situated in a familiar setting will help overcome your fear for approaching women.

The number of relationship you’ve had does not make you a less worthy person. Relationship is all about timing. You have to be at the right time / right place with the right people in order for things to happen. It’s the Ying & Yang – cosmic balance works its magic, everything should fall into place.

It is never too late to start now! You have to fight your fear for rejection before going out to meet women. As a woman, I can tell you now that we do not like men with low self-confidence. Often it’s not about how men look. It is their poise! Good luck to you!

Question #12: I am very much a loner; I have a few close friends. I feel overwhelmed when I am involved in scenes that are more social and my insecurities tend to come out. I wish I were in a relationship right now, tired of feeling lonely all the time.

Answer: We came to this world alone and it’s interesting how many people are afraid of being alone. Being a loner is good but you have to know when to come out to play! Most modern relationships have codependent qualities because people do not know how to get along with themselves. Some are just afraid of being alone and they are on the lookout for companionship.

When you do not know what to do in your own time, you tend to look for relationship that can fill the void. Codependent relationship is likely to fail because there is a lack of independence.

All you need is a few good friends. Acquaintance, Mutual friends, and Partying Friends do not help you to become a better person. They are likely to stick around when you are in the golden age of your life. They are the kind of people who will come in and out of your life. Only your true friends will always be around – when you’re up and when you’re down.

In my opinion, it is best not to get involved in any romantic relationship until you are comfortable with yourself. Being alone and feeling lonely are not the same things. When you understand the differences between the two that is when you are ready to kick the demons in your insecurities issues. The world awaits you. See you soon!

Happy to see ya!

What Gets Your Adrenaline Going?

Hosting events is so much fun! Going on stage and entertaining the crowd always gets my adrenaline going. Tonight I was the mc for the farewell dinner at the 8th annual meeting for Asia Pacific Central Securities Depositories Group. This is the first time that Taiwan got to play the host. So the organizer was quite nervous.

The party was held outdoors. Nearly a hundred guests showed up and most of them are CEOs in their home country. What are the chances of getting so many important / powerful people together for dinner? ONCE A YEAR!

English is the main spoken language at the party. I can't remember the last time I hosted a party in English. Despite the chilly weather, I experienced such a high when I got on stage.

Overall, it was a success! Everyone seemed pleased with my performance. Nonetheless, I had a good time too! And I'm even happier when I got paid for having fun on stage!

Hosting the 8th Annual Meeting for Asia Pacific Central Securities Depositories Group

Photo: Hosting Outdoor Party is FUN!

Wearing a Taiwanese aboriginal tribal headband

Special Thanks to You!

Just when I thought most of my friends are too busy to remember my birthday, they surprised me with the warmest wishes. Yesterday I received birthday greetings via Emails and cell phones.

My love goes out to Brian, Chow, Danny, Emily, George, Grant, James, Leo, Meetu, Naked Emily, Nina, Owen, Trish, Vanessa and Warren. Thank you for thinking of me! You made my day!!! I know how busy and hectic your lives must be but you took the time to show me your love. This world is wonderful because there are people like you. I feel truly blessed because I have friends like you!

Maybe it's time for you to show a gesture of TLC towards someone you care, someone you love. They may never know how you feel about them until you tell them so! You will make them feel so loved!

Thanks!!!

My New Sense of Self

In the past few days, I’ve been meeting my college best friend T.M. on Yahoo Messenger. It’s been awhile since we last spent time catching up. With the helps of webcam and mic, it is too much fun! Thanks to her hubby who’s away on a business trip. Such intimate bonding only happens every so often. I appreciate the intimacy and precious time! Despite the physical distance between us, we can chat online in real time! All this talk about our youth has made me feel quite nostalgic.

Something just does not change over time. When I get on the phone with my friends, they can hardly get a word in. Most times, they just listen as I unfold my latest stories or adventures. Every so often, I will pause and ask if they want to comment on anything.

There are exceptions. When I receive calls from friends and instantly I sense that they are looking for a listener. Then I will play my part, lend a sympathetic ear and only offer advice when they ask for it.

It seems like in my olden days, I had a need to be so brazen. Luckily, that’s all in the past. I have learned to become more reserved in order to counterbalance my outgoing (almost-too-much) personality!

There was a time when “Happy Hour” was my cue to let it all hang out and it could take place on any day of the week. Now I can putter around the house on a Friday night. It might seem unbelievable but I actually do not feel like I am missing anything.

Now I stay home a lot during the weekends. Every once in awhile, I might hit the nightlife and let it all hang out ‘till dawn. However, I have to pay for the price of an all night fun (drinking & dancing & socializing) and boy it is hefty. I spend two days in recovery. My body is not up for the “abuse” anymore and is unable to return to its normal condition after a night on the town.

Most people who know me are under the impression that I am a bubbly person and a social butterfly. The truth is that I enjoy solitude as much as the limelight. I am not needy at all. In fact, I do most things alone. I like to hit the bookstores, record stores and shopping malls alone. Recently, I started going to the movies by myself, catching the matinee at a theatre within walking distance from my apartment.

A few months ago, I traveled to Bali solo. I can get a lot of things done when I have total control of my time. Being independent gives me the chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude.

Even though I always feel like a jack-of-all-trades, a master of none, I am more content with the way I am and not everyone has to know me.

it's not about what your money can buy and how much you can spend. it's about how to get your money worth and have things that you can afford, according to your social and financial status.

This is how I see it. When a 20-year-old college kid wears a Rolex, there is something wrong with that. It’s likely that his pop bought it for him or the watch belongs to his old man. However, when a somewhat established 30-something with a promising career sports a Rolex on his wrist, people just think that he’s making good money.

A few boys in my high school used to parade their expensive cars around the campus. Every teenage boy dreamed of having a nice ride. Most of them would buy a second-hand as their first car as soon as they got their driver’s licenses. Everyone knew that the kids who drove fancy cars to school only wished to show off their family wealth and of course, the cars.

Today I officially become 31 years of age. Yap, I am thirty-one. Let me tell you, I’m truly happy to embrace my age and look forward to even bigger and greater things that will come into my life! I will age well because 1. I am Asian – we have good genes; 2. I do the best I can to take good care of myself and I have the ability to pick myself up and regain my composure each time my life hits a low; 3. It is all about the attitude – I am only as young as I feel. Therefore, it will take me a few more years to reach 30!

Happy Birthday to all the Scorpios!

A special shout out to my fellow Scorpios, Josh, Paul, Bruce, James, Joel, Dennis, and Kevin. You boys be sure to party ‘till you drop and have a drink for me while you’re at it!