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August 5, Thu
+ King Arthur & I, Robot
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05:09 PM
 Oh gosh, I've a feeling that this is gonna be a long entry. Also, there're gonna be quite a few movie spoilers, so be warned if you have yet to see the few movies I'm gonna mention in this entry. Anyway, this last Sunday Neo and I went on with our plan and watched King Arthur at Shatin. It was a pretty good movie. It could be better, but not disappointing nonetheless. I like the character Lancelot more than King Arthur himself. I don't know, it just makes me feel like Arthur doesn't even know what he's doing sometimes. The first half of the movie was pretty good, but move towards the end it kinda lost its momentum. The battle with the Saxons just not quite there. I really felt for Lancelot alot more than Arthur... How he had promised his family he would return but couldn't at the end. Anyway, it was a quite enjoyable movie with a semi-happy ending. Well, if it was a truly happy ending, all the knights would be alive. After the movie, it was still early so we decided to watch another one that night. We've decided to watch I, Robot.
I've seen the trailer and all the TV spots before I came back to Hong Kong for the summer, and I thought it would be a good movie, but I didn't really have that much of an intention to watch it. But IT BLEW ME AWAY!! It was an awesome movie, way better than King Arthur I must say. Maybe it was just because I wasn't expecting too much out of it, but it was really awesome!! It was truly surprising and the twists were brilliant. At first, it reminded me of A.I., dealing with robot who can feel and experience emotions. But later it turned into a real sci-fi thriller. I think there's a high possibility that there'll be a sequel. Just because of how the movie ended and some other details, like the boy who only showed up twice and only had a few lines, etc. Anyway, if they are really gonna make a sequel, just hope that they won't screw it up! It was a pretty long movie also. I didn't get home 'til a bit past mid-night.
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August 6, Fri
+ Ocean Park
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06:07 PM
This monday my mom, my little sister and brother, and I went to Ocean Park. It's the biggest theme park in Hong Kong (for now at least, until Hong Kong Disneyland is done). I haven't been there for ages, ever since I was a little kid. There were a lot of people there even thought it was a weekday. Well, I guess it doesn't really matter whether it was a weekday or not during the summer. We've to wait in long lines for all the rides and such. Going to Ocean Park was my little sister and brother's idea, so they enjoyed it very much. As for me, it was alright. On the way back, I had a conversation with a few tourists on the bus. They were only 16yo and from South Africa. It was their school trip, spending a week in Hong Kong and Macau. It was fun talking to people from other country, especially when they've a different accent. I like how one of the them said "We don't live in flats; we live in houses." Anyway, it was just some random stuff.
 Last several days I had been working on Airman Basic's website, and I finally got it done on Tuesday. Everyone please go take a look and let me know what do you think. I would like to add a few more sections after I get some photos of the band from Rafael. I still need to design a cover for their first EP. Now I can start working on a new layout for Dabs. I'm really getting sick of this one. We'll see how long that'll take me.
Yesterday I finished watching Love Actually. Stephanie lent the VCD to me about a month ago and told me to watch it. I mean, I'd been planning on watching it ever since the movie first came out in America, but just never really had a chance to. Yesterday afternoon my sister was using the computer and I didn't really have anything to do, so I decided to watch it. Man, was I glad I did? It was a heart-warming, moving story (or stories?). The story I like the most was how Sam have this crush on a girl from school and how he learn to play drum just to get her to notice him. At the end when he ran into the airport terminal to tell her how he feel about her, I swear there were tears in my eyes. The first half of the movie wasn't that special, but it got better and the end was just a great ending, with Christmas time and all that.
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August 12, Thu
+ Formula 17
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01:41 AM
 Oh my gosh, I just watched Formula 17 with Stephanie, and it was soooo good!!! I just can't believe how good it was. Alright, it was Stephanie who told me about the movie. She said I would love the movie and she would go watch it with me if I want to. So, we decided to watch it tonight after her work. However, it started raining really hard in the afternoon, and we almost called it off. Luckily we decided to go on with our plan at the end. We knew that the movie was only showing in two theaters, one Cine-Art House cinema and a Broadway Circuit cinema. And we thought that it was showing at Broadway Circuit Mongkok, so we went there first. Only to find that the movie is only showing at Broadway Circuit Cinematheque, so we took the subway there. Fortunately, the movie was totally worth all the troubles we went through. It was so funny, sweet, lovely, and moving. My eyes were wet the whole time either because of me laughing so hard or because of those moving moments. It was totally a unique film in that genre. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Anyway, I've been working on a new layout for Dabs, and I got the design done last night. Now I just need to get it coded and hopefully it'll be up within the next few days. Keep checking back for it, alright?
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August 13, Fri
+ Version SummerBoy'z
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10:48 PM
Yeah, the long awaited version seventeen is finally here. I started working on this layout on Wednesday and got the design all figured out. But I was remaking the entire website into php for easier management. That's why I didn't get it done until tonight. Anyway, this is a somewhat happy and fun looking layout comparing to the last several ones. I guess this layout is somewhat a reflection of how I feel. Without all the responsibilities and pressure I had when I was studying in the States all by myself, this summer without doubt is the most relaxing and enjoyable in these several years. That's why I like to make a fun looking layout rather than a serious or depress one. Anyway, the two guys featuring in the layout are from a Hong Kong pop group Boy'z. I've been listening to quite a bit Hong Kong pop music this summer, and Boy'z is like my favorite group, not to mention that they're both gorgeous! I hope you guys enjoy this layout as much as I do. Don't forget to let me know what do you think about it.
My mom gave me a haircut this afternoon, and I must say, it was pretty good. Even thought my hairs are a bit short... Oh well, I was the one kept telling her to cut it shorter. I'm gonna be leaving for the States next Sunday, so I thought if she cut it shorter then I don't have to get another haircut anytime soon. I mean, it's still pretty good looking; it's just that I look like a freaking 14 years old. Anyway, I'll try to take a picture and put it up, so you guys can let me know.
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August 18, Wed
+ The Last Week in Hong Kong
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04:13 AM
This past Saturday I got in a small argument with my Dad. He was a bit overly controlling in my opinion. I mean, after 3 and a half years of living on my own, I'm so not used to having my parents around and telling me what to do. Well, it wasn't that big of a thing to begin with. We were supposed to go visit and have morning tea with a relative on Sunday morning, and my Dad was telling me I've to stay home and go to bed early the night before. The thing was I had told him beforehand that I had promised Neo we would go shopping for webcams Saturday night after his work. And me going out that night or not going to bed early didn't mean that I wouldn't be able to go with him to visit our relative the next morning. I told him I would and I sticked to my words. He didn't have to boss me around with other stuff. Well, I guess I was upset because I had also arranged with a few netfriends to go clubbing that night. I don't know. Anyway, I did go shopping for webcam with Neo that night, but ended up not going clubbing, just because I still wanna respect my Dad and didn't wanna take things too far. Anyway, it wasn't really that big of a deal. I bought two webcams that night, one for my family here, and I will bring the other one with me when I leave for the states again, so we can keep in contact over the internet without those expensive long-distance phone bills. They were pretty ok quality. I took a test cam picture the other night and updated the cam on here, so take a look and let me know.
Monday afternoon Stephie and I went shopping in Mongkok. I got a pair of DC Shoes and some Hong Kong souvenirs for my friends back in the states (well, if you guys have any suggestions, let me know. I've no idea what people would want for souvenirs). That night we met up with Crystal and Neo, and all four of us went for dinner at a Japanese restuarant. It was kinda like a farewell dinner. Afterward Crystal went home first, and the rest of us went on to karaoke. We started from 11pm and went all the way through the night 'til 5am the next morning. It was so much fun. Well, I got home around 6am and slept until 2pm this afternoon. Watched Athens 2004 Olympics most of the day, and started installing Windows XP on my laptop tonight. In fact, it's still being setup and all that, that's why I'm still awake. It's weird thinking that I'll be leaving again within a few days. The last two times when I left to go back to the states, I was happy and excited. This time it was the total opposite, I just don't wanna go back. Don't wanna go back to being on my own, being strong, and being alone. And there're just a lot of uncertainties, with me going to a new place and a new school, and so much more to worry about. But things will always work out, at lease they did in the past 3 and a half years. Maybe I should stop worrying and just try to look forward to the new school and environment.
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August 21, Sat
+ California Here I Come
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09:41 PM
Alright, today is my last night in Hong Kong this summer. My flight leaves tomorrow morning at 9:15, which means we'll have to get there at around 8am, which also means that we'll have to leave the house one and a half hours before that, 'cause that's how long it would take to get to the airport. I'm dead tired right now. Last night I didn't sleep too well 'cause I kept worrying about all kinds of stuff after I get to the states, like how am I getting down to San Diego with all my stuff, and where am I gonna stay when I get down there, and how the roomming situation will turn out, plus all the school registration shit that was suppose to be done a week ago but has yet to be done. "Things will always work out", I hope that's right, if not I'm in deep trouble. I didn't fall sleep until way after 5am and I got woken up by my Dad at around 7:30am 'cause our whole family was suppose to go to morning tea today. Then afterward I've spent more than half of the day packing. Well, that was something I'm proud of myself, I packed all my stuff into two suitcases. I packed into three originally and then decided to give it another try and finally did get them into two. I'm gonna check in those two suitcases and just carry on my backpack and laptop. Anyway, it seems like it's gonna be just my family and Neo taking me to the airport tomorrow, 'cause Stephie has to work. Well, it's fine with me, I don't want them to wake up so damn early to take me to the airport anyway. Wish me luck, guys. And I don't know will I be able to post again until I get all settled down, we'll see. California here I come!
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August 24, Tue
+ Arrived in California
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04:15 PM
Hey guys, I'm back in California now! Anyway, that morning when I got on the plane, two of my friends, Anita and Joyce showed up at the airport to surprise me. They said they wouldn't be able to take me to the airport, and so there were only my family and Neo. We arrived at the airport at around 7:45am. Once we got there, Anita called to ask where we were and suddenly showed up. I was so surprised. I walked in to the gate at around 8:20am and boarded the plane right away. But when all the passengers had been boarded and we started on the runway, the pilot said that there was a mechanical problem with engine no.1, and that they had to go back to the gate to have it all checked up. After they checked it up and a minute later, the pilot said that there was another totally unrelated problem with engine no.3, and that they had to go back and have it checked again!! The flight was delayed for almost 3 hours, we were all waiting on the plane for almost 3 hours! The flight was supposed to take off at 9:05am and we didn't leave the ground until 12pm. I was so worried that I would miss my connections. We got to Tokyo about 2 hours late and luckily my connecting flight was waiting us. Then when I got to Los Angeles, the custom and security lines were amazingly long and it took me a total of 2 and a half hours to get through them. So I missed my last connecting flight from LA to San Jose, and was on standby for the next available flight. Luckily I only had to wait for 2 hours and I finally got to San Jose at around 3pm on Sunday.
Tim and Beth went to the airport to pick me up that day, and after we dropped off my stuff at their place, we went to watch Open Water. It was one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my life. It was a low budget movie filmed with a digital camcorder. I almost fell sleep halfway through the movie, not to mention that it wasn't scary at all.
Remember how I was worrying about my roommate situation next year and such. Well, things seem to be working out. Yesterday afternoon Jennifer (one of my future roommates for this coming year) called and told me that she has found an apartment, and that she and her friend Kyle (another future roommate) have reached the decision that I'll be their roommate. Hearing that just made my day; the first thing off my shoulder 'cause now I don't have to worry about finding roommates and apartment. We'll be able to move into our new apartment on the 15th. Also, Beth has offered to take me down to San Diego but it's not certain yet 'cause she has to work most of the time and we haven't work out a time yet. Another thing is I've a mandatory orientation I need to attend on the 9th, but I can't move into the apartment until the 15th, so basically in between that week I don't have a place to stay down there, but Kyle is asking some of his old roommates if I can crash at their place for a week. So hopefully it will work out, and I owe him a big thank for that. I've also been catching up with the classes registration and enrollment thing for this coming quarter, so it should be fine. I've also called Vladi (my old roommate) to arrange a time for me to go back to Santa Cruz to pick up my stuff there. Anyway, hopefully everything will work out at the end. Thanks everybody for your comments and carings. :D Also, a special thank to Amy for offering to drive me down to San Diego, I might still take you up on that.
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August 29, Sun
+ First Week Back in the U.S.
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05:45 PM
Things have been workng out great. I've confirmed with Jennifer and Kyle (my future roommates) about the apartment, and Beth has offered to drive me down to San Diego on the 10th. Kyle's helping me to ask his old roommates if I'll be able to crash at their places before the 15th, which is the date I'll be able to move into our new apartment down in San Diego. I've also sent an email to my advisor at UCSD to ask if I can be excused from the mandatory orientation on the 9th, 'cause there's just no way I can get down there before that, and I just don't wanna deal with all the troubles. Jennifer and Kyle were last year's transferees, so they can always fill me in with the information from the orientation and such. I've also gotten my class schedule all worked out with an advisor this past week. My register time begins on the 31st at 2pm. I'll be able to get in 3 classes for sure, and I might need to waitlist one. So, basically I'm all done with most of the stuff except the whole orientation thing, but hopefully I won't have to go to it.
I met Kyle in person on Wednesday 'cause he's home for the summer and he's family is living in Santa Clara. So we met up that afternoon and we had a nice long conversation. He seems like a really cool and nice person, and someone who I would actually befriend and hangout with. I'm sure we're gonna have so much fun this coming year.
Thursday night Tim and I rented Godsend, and it was pretty good. I like the idea of the movie alot, but I wasn't too impressed with the ending. It's still worth seeing if you haven't seen it yet thought.
Today I went shopping with Beth. We went to Ross and I got a pair of white DC skate shoes for $27, a black Billabong sweatshirt for $17, a pair of gray short and blue boxer for $14. I needed another pair of short and white shoe. I didn't really need that sweatshirt, especially since I'll be living down in San Diego and I don't think it get too cold down there, but they were good deals, so ya.
Beth will be taking me to Santa Cruz tomorrow morning. I'll probably stay with Vladi (my old roommate) for a few days, see a few friends, pick up my stuff from storage, and then head back up here to Santa Clara and get ready to go down to San Diego. We'll see how that goes.
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