Life with Jim

1:24pm: Annie & Jim
had a great night in a japanese bbq near by where i live now. i was there with annie's friends and it was quite delightful! the bbq restaurant was owned by a japanese and the service also "right". Many things are just not right here! ha! it's my 4th day here and i think so far so good!

8:26am: Breakfast in Shanghai
Acutally, i am now in shanghai and all my blog is not working!!!! only this live journal one. so I am back!

10:33pm: Life is totally shit!

Time does fly. I have been working in this company for more than a year already! The job I quited for only one day and decided to try again. the first exhibiton I ran. My brother have a little cute boy this spring. I've moved out to live with Allen despite of the fact that my parent doesn't support at all. Got promoted. obsseed by asrology. trying to find who i'm on a single pie chart. Keep my yoga practising again. what elso happened in the past year?

I still hate this job and wishing the boss can fire me every moment. on the contrary the more i do, the more she loves me...she is a psycho and so do i! Rita, you are such a sick woman!

Wow, that feels good!

7:34am: Scorpio's Month
Ya, it's Scorpio's month. The first birthday party is for my love, Allen's. We've been attached for almost 5 years. 5 years ago, before Xmas we met each other on net and arranged the meeting which i was so late for 2 hours.

Really not easy ah? My best straight friend, Roger, has made up with his ex-girlfriend. Their relationships had lasted for 4 years and had broke for 1 year. An other example is Ray and his bf, Philip. 5 years but still didn't work out. But if time truly matters in a relationships? We always feel sorry for a just broke up long relationship but why? Sometimes it's so damn good to get broke up, isn't it?

Anyway, happy birthday to all Scorpio:D

10:01am: Last day in Hong Kong
Finally it's my last day in Hong Kong. Except to the Disney land resoir, i think i have been to visit almost of the sightseeing spots. i'm done with hong kong already:P today i choose to do some suvenior shopping. the yung gee duck might be the first choice.

hong kong actully is not much different from Taipei. just people are not actually very friendly. the intereting part is that i found they react more friendly once i speak english. if you speak manderine, they just look a little bit ...not that friendly. they don't like to see excuse me and sorry. of course they don't know what is please mostly. cars are not very friendly to passangers in the street. i don't like hong kong food, usually heavy taste. my favorite might be the cantonese congee! wonderful! anyway, to sum up, i don't have a very good impression on hong kong:P thank god i have friends here, or my visit will be even awful i guess.

i also went up to Shenzhen. since everything is damn cheap there, i had 6 dishes and 1 soup with Joe, it only took us 172RMB. all fresh seafood and the restaurant is already the expensive one. we just want the food is garanteed saft! however, shenzhen is not very clean and you just feel it's not really in good managed order. THE SEAFOOD WAS JUST MORE THAN WONDERFUL! Joe also brought me to have my feet nails down:P ha! can't believe they are mine now:P

the other exciting thing is that i bought a Holga here. might up load some photos here or just on my MSN.
http://jimkuo.spaces.msn.com/

6:00pm: before my 5th day in Hong Kong
Wow, for how long i didn't share my life here?

Since Allen went back to Taipei last Sunday night, I've started my alone tour for 2 days already. Which means, finally I stopped shopping in those huge malls. We even got lost in Harbour City. Once I saw the entrance I felt like a got rescued! However, Hong Kong must be one of the best shopping spot in Asia. Taipei, of course, is not good for shopping. Every thing is damn expensive. Don't know exactly who is actually buying!

I have to put a thank you note here for my wonderful friend, Joe! He offered his wonderful suit for Allen and I which is just accomplished the renovation! we were the first guests! how lucky i'm. Now I'm staying with him in ONE of his appartmentS in hong knog.

Yesterday I went to Wong Tai Sin temple, which I don't recommend any tourist to go. But next metro stop the dimond hill you can find a wonderful buddhist temple up there.  only took about 5 mins walk! By the evening, Joe brought me to enjoy the foot massage. My first try and was damn great!

3:56pm: light apple green bikini?
Yesterday was a fucking busy day. Probably due to my late beginning to prepare all this things on my list of a day!

I decided to clean up Allen&I's apartment after my brunch. While I was using the vacuum I noticed that I need one more thing to make my work perfect. However, it was not rush. I can buy it later on my way back from swimming pool.

Weather was quite nice yesterday. Some how the sunlight was happy to breake the clouds after almost a week blocked. In good mood frankly and wanted to make a good shopping for my swimming accessories, such as goggles or probably a new trunk. Usually I wear Arena size L or O, sometimes the L is too fit and tinny to wear or even cover somewhere shall not to be revealed to the public:P I was thinking of mustard yellow or dark purple. Or some other colors, not always black, blue, and grey. This light apple green was up to 40% off. It's not bad but not my color indeed. The sales lady was dame good. anyway, I picked up a pair of transparent race goggle, the style without rubber looked better and smart and also couldn't help collecting the light apple green. Will I wear it? who cares, it's always underwater though... I think i will...

Got a quick swimming in the pool. only took 700 meters long. not too many people in the pool since the spring just arrived and was still chilling out side. usually the pool in summer will be filled up by hunks. will see the scenery again after couple months when the outdoor pool reopens.

After swimming around 4pm, I started my dinner shopping for my ceaser salad, seafood pasta, and pumpking soup. went to 2 supermarkets and tried to make all ready before 6. unfortunately, allen got home earlier yesterday. everything was messy like shit! anyway, all dishes were served before 7:30pm. allen and his student seemed to be fond of my work! i sitll considered myself as a telanted chef intead of a good housewife:P

1:15pm: Monthly Update
Gee, Chinese New year was a matter of last week already. Time flies and none can stop it. During the chinese new year everything was so peaceful in Taipei. Whole family dined together from the eve to the first day of CNY. I was surprised that we could possibly clean up all the dishes on the table.

Following days were become disaster. My sister went to I-Lan where my parents have a cozy apartment with hot spring for a couple days tour. My brother and sister in law stopped coming after the first day. which means only my parents and I left home. everyday they asked the same questions: when are you going to get married? why don't you bring over your gf home? ....something like these.

frankly i had 9 days break I should arrange some activities for myself. Instead, i chose to stay home with 2 type recorders. i shall pay them back once a year as a duty of a son:P

So that was my new year holidays. to sum up, nothing special!

one huge regret, I didn't make up to see the musical, "Phantom of the Opera". it's not the first time on Taipei stage but still the tickets were as difficult to get as to enter the heaven= =. Indeed, i got the ticket but right then realized that it was for the first night of CNY. Allen would be in Taichung and I would be at the meal for giants. Sold tickets out after a week after i bought!*sigh* I believe it will come back again next year!:P One thing to note, the first class ticket were marked up to NT$6,000! enought for me to fly to Hong Kong or Singapore! Don't know who decided the prices table! Are taiwanese all crazy rich? my friends said it's about 2 or 3 times expensive than what she saw in true broadway! I shall make a goal, to see the phantom in the broadways opera houses!:P

Thinking of seeing the movie, Walk the Line. Unfortunately Allen was not very interested in seeing this movie despite the fact that we both like leading actor and actress. Probably had too much entertainments last months. 4 movies a month? many or not?

aiya, life is too beautiful to keep!

2:35pm: Movie month
Don't know why all the great movies are releasing like a sequence this year. Memoirs of Geisha on 6th of Jan, broback mountain on 13 of Jan. and pride and prejudice will be on this Friday, right before the Chinese New Year:D

Allen and I were both not quite impressed by Ann Lee's latest movie, Brokeback Mountain. However, it looks it has a strong power to make well received from women. All these girls burst into crying when seeing the story. sometimes i felt like to laugh. anyway, i got a second thought from the movie next day. some details made me feel sad for these couple both are deeply in love with each other. Ann Lee does know how to take care of those gentle details to convince audiences what truly happened between them. however, i still could not help laughing when Jack said, "I wish I knew how to quite you". it should a bitter and heartbreaking movement! still a nice movie.

Geisha was nice. all these chinese actresses were speaking english in a story from Japan. Odd, but fine to see. many repeated dialogue such as, " i do not understand" and "i can't take this anymore"...you see, you know. Rob Marshall tried to make every scene as beautiful as like real japan in that era. frankly, i like it very much. as a guy just went back from Kyoto, just can't deny his work. okay, once scene, the girl was crying and leaning against a bridge which looked very new too me:P

Don't know why recently Madonna became my favorite singer. She sang to me in the morning when i got up and in the evening when i was on the way home and before got in dreams. very nice lyrics in the album of confession on a dance floor. somehow every words just like speaking out for you?! why? no wonder almost every gay loves her! so i took my friend's advice, got another album of hers, Music. next one will be Ray of light, i guessed. The Music, so far so good. will catch this for more days.

finally it's the final week of year rooster! my mood is already in holidays. i wish i can get out of this place to go somewhere on this planet! With my poor savings!~"~ look back to this year, my life hasn't changed a bit. about time to resign? John offers me another sales position in his yoga studio. now i understand he doesn't know me in last 2.5 years. i wish i knew how to quite this job as i know i have to plan for my won life as early as possible. getting old to change jobs...

3:48pm: Roll the Snow Ball

Ironiclly before the snow ball party takes place at ministry of sounds at Taipei, local media were saying it is going to shut down after the new year. MOS made an anouncement which denied the RUMOR and insisted the snow ball party will hold as already scheduled. after my experience last night, i have a very strong hint.... it's going to shut down sooner or later. that's how the story starts.

The party started at 10pm. I bought 3 tickets, one for me, others for Philip and Josephe. We should meet at 11pm but I was late:P As soon as I got there, about 11:30pm, i was shocked by the incrediably long line, probably 300m. It seemed they were controling total amout of people in the building but there were no signs and very few staffs, actually none, are out there to calm the crowds with temperature around 10C! Since I know it's impossilbe to get a locker at MOS, I still got my leather jacket with me coz it's god damn cold. Poor Philip and Josephe, they had no idea that we have to wait for so long. Honestly they were lucky because lots of people just had singlet, or mesh outfit...(whatever lah:P) Oh, for how long, almost 1:30 hours. How did we get in? very premitive way,.... in that situation, trying to get away from cold air is human beings gift:P

Anyway, once we got in we met anohter problem...WHERE CAN WE STORE OUR JACKETS? of course, no locker is there waiting for us! so we took 10 minutes to find a place where our jackets might not be taken. Got in line anohter 10 minutes to pee! All set, we went to the dance floor but I was separated by the crowd, of course, not on purpose. Since I can't find Philip and Josephe I tried to enjoy myself:P

After 1 hour, I got them back. Music was quite nice. But techo for 3 hours was over enough. about 4am DJ played Madonna! i felt my energy just encharged again! TIME GOSE BY, SLOWLY SLOWLY... anyway, quite fun:DWe left almost 5am.

To sum up, so many hunks but ended up all looked the same. Short haircut, beautiful bodies.... see some net friends but didn't approach them at all..... I had a fucking great time. 

12:34am: Xmas is on the way....
Hey Xmas is coming! Today I left office early since I started my work 2 hours earlier than regular. on my way to eslite flagship book shop at Xin Yi district, i saw the huge light tower, the Taipei 101, has been decorated with xmas trees:D Surprisingly I really like it! Cute and interesting. Last time they put E=MC2 to be a memorial sign for whom invented this formula(don't know how to spell his name in English, Einstain?) like it:D                                                                                 

9:52pm: Wedding

Since i mentioned about wedding today. Carol's wedding came to my mind. It's odd, on your wedding party people were discussing how sympathetic the marriage might be. I still consider his "husband" gay but what can we do? also the point is nothing to do with sexuality. it's about if the man can give her the happiness she wants! unfortunately, i don't think so as I've already heard of too much negative gossips. if just simply a matter of getting married, of course, she is now way too satisfied! if so, someone must be sick. on the whole, i hope i am badly wrong!

Carol looked so happy on that day.....

( See more... )

3:48pm: hidden friends
Monday night i got 2 missing friends' messages. one is my high school mate, she is going to get married in January. unfortunately i already know her tricks. no intention to give her a red envelope as it is a Chinese tradition for congratulating some important events, such as marriage, birthday, baby's first month, bride returning home after one month marriage....etc. she said, "oh, of course, I'm not calling to bomb you for asking a red envelope. just want to say hi." we talked on my call for a least 15 minutes. tried to hand up first 10 minutes but failed. i didn't even ask her when the exact date, instead just saying simply congratulations.

we were very closed friends in high school. she is a very funny girl. i also supported her 3 month job in a insurance company. since then, i listed her on my blacklist. money changed people. not quite happy to get her phone call actually. my life shall leave alone from those people. her call was not just for saying hi, of course. for how long her missing? hmm, frankly, doesn't matter at all.

The other one is a 42 year-old 190cm German. he was interested in me 4 years ago. yes, i met both him and Allen around the same period of time when i was kinda desperate in meeting new guys. the fact is i didn't come to this German. he came to me on the contrary. at that night, i went to a bar with a just knew friend. he knew my friend. that's how we knew each other. after that he asked me out for meals couple times when i was dating with Allen already. anyway, he is totally not my type. i was trying to be polite and nice. i wouldn't answer his further requirements. that's why he disappeared! suddenly got his message to say hi. so we just messaged each other like chatting. his style, always shows up on cellphone mailbox.....now, i don't even be interested in meeting him for any meal.

May God bless these hidden friends rest and peace in my memory:P

11:19pm:

Last weekend I went to see the movie, Just like heaven. Frankly it's unlike any other Hollywood crabs. Ya, of course, there are still so many those shits. hmmm, still worth to see! at beginning the motive of seeing this movie in the cinema is because of the leading actress lah! both of us like her. after the movie, i felt...hmm, the leading actor was also yummy:P somehow he looks like my bf, Allen:P I did burst into cry once the guy was telling the spirit how his wife died. so romantic:P a man can be so in love with someone (probably because the wife is dead). just depicting it makes his eyes wet:)

Since last Thursday i have been busy like shit. New batch of purchasing is coming to end. Also the furniture I have been following up for almost a year also arrived. I have to arrange delivery and make my clients pay hurry! So far, still quite waiting money! getting tired of those shit. Different days, shits still happens!

Monday, my college friend, Sindy, also one of my best pal group came to Taipei for the public servants exam. She has attended the exam for 2 years already. i guess she will also failed this year. her boy friend is a very nice person as i can see when we guys were talking and eating like crazy:P a great gathering with all of my best friends:D

( see Sindy and Me )

11:51am: D. D. S. S.

Yesterday was Edmond's birthday. We got his invitation to celebrate at Roxy 99, a great music bar, half a month ago. Actually I was not quite excited, simply because it's a straight bar:P however, the music they plays is just very different from other bars you can find in Taipei. Neither a huge place nor fancy decoration, like any other night clubs in Taipei, usually located underground, the basement. For me music is the best thing they have. For others, hot chicks who searching for fresh white or black meat, they got their bingos here:D

It's a shame of us coming without any gifts:P even worse, i left at 2am, still early. For me, in the dance floor for 3 hours almost nonstop dancing. I felt like, ENOUGH:P Beer for me, always not a good choice. Edmond tried to keep my legs but i was too tire to stay sitting there. I'm old and had enough of straight bar, that's what i was telling myself on the way out::P Frankly, there are many hot chicks, "not girls", making me confused now, some hot straight guys now know hot to make themselves clean and charming. I wonder they copied the taste of our world. What a shit:P must be careful in the future:P

Allen didn't go with me like always. He just bought his new ASUS laptop and tried to run its limit at that night. Use what? The online game, War of Warcraft, we both are now playing for leisure.

Recently I'm busy working on our newly made furniture, just arrived this Thursday. Filing, photographing, and also informing my client's to pick up. Once again, same shit happened on different days before yesterday. John suddenly came to me and told me one of the piece was in WRONG dimension. I was shocked. All these have been checked by myself at least twice before finalizing the order. He asked me to make a phone call to China immediately. Can't deny, I was a little bit panic and not quite confident of myself and that time. Anyway, after all these shit, again, John didn't remember what he designed before very clearly. Unfortunately I just made all the calls to the factory and also my client. I felt the very first time, " what the shit! It's also a part of my mistake. I shall know these details better than John has. Shall not make him distract me for the first place. I shall check all the emails before all these nonsense calls!" felt depressed and marked "fuck you" on my MSN for 2 days. But how could I remembered all these things since the order were made half a year ago!? D. D. S. S.= Different Days Same Shits!

Thinking of going to the snow ball party at Mos Taipei. Will see what kinda fun I can find there:D

12:02am: Hot spring wanting!
aiyo, what make living in Taiwan so perfect, of course, without saying, must be the HOT SPRING! Went to a villa in the moutains last weekend, and still can't get rid of the wanting of bathing in hot spring:D

today, again, temperature is still around 10C. Even worse, it starts to rain in Taipei. whole day in grey, sun light has been blocked for couple days arleady. which explains why i have such a strong idea to go for hot spring. eh, of course not for those beautiful naked guys in the bath:P

my day off, went to calligraphy class in the early morning, at 9am. Didn't practice very well today. partly because we, classmates, were discussing celebrities' gossip. fankly, i had a great time. oh, i forgot to mention. thank god, there is starbuck. their hot chocolate is tasted much much nicer than what i had yesterday. Miky is no good:P

after the class i booked my new hair stylist. why take new? i just can't stand every time i want to book the original stylist, he is always occupied. this time, even worse, i have to wait in line till next monday! what the shit? i don't need a popular stylist. i just need some one who happends to know how to make hair shorter properly. also, his service is not cheap which i think it's not good enough for the price. why took me so long to change? i'm curious as well. he is not cute, neighter hot nor handsome. oh, must be the location?! right in the middle of the popular area in Taipei?!

Ya, location, before i took 15 minutes to get to the salon. now it take me more than half an hour....but half price:D this guy is allen's stylist. finally i take his recommanendation. hmm, not bad actullay. with the price, i have no complains!:D

btw, before making my hairdo, i went to my favorite korean restaurant for my lunch! how could i say?! as wonderful as i remember!:D Since it was raining all day in Taipei, my mood still remains wonderful!:D

What a day...tomorrow gonna be busy like shit!

1:01pm: Saving Face

Went to see the movie, Saving Face, with Philip yesterday evening. I was a little bit surprised why Philip wanted to see a story, regarding with lesbians:P Then I figured out, because he has no idea it's going to be relevant to 2 women in love. Anyway, sexuality identity is not the main point of this movie. The director was trying to use a very funny way to depict how Chinese women survive under the great power of Chinese community in New York. That's why the story started with a 48 year-old mother who got pregnant with a mysterious father and also have been trying to introduce her lesbian daughter a Boyfriend.

7:33pm: A Great Opening for a Day!
It's getting colder today. The forecast were saying that the temperature will go down to 10C. On my way to office, suddenly had a mood of getting a coffee. Stopped by Starbucks and got a cup of vanilla latte. As I was in the line waiting to get my term, noticing the clerk shall be more than 40 years old. Usually Starbucks' staffs are around 25 to 35. He did surprise me at beginning. However, the story goes on.

I told him I wanted a cup of Vanilla Latte. Twice he asked, "hot or cold?" Twice I answered, "HOT." In the morning, frankly none can have any patience to answer a stupid question twice:P when i was wondering why people want to take an old coffee in such a freezing day? a guy in front of me, just took away his frappuccino..., okay, I'm spoiled!

not getting the point yet. because he asked me the same question twice, i can't not help wanting to see WHO the brave man is! how dare ah:P okay, his name as i can see from the name label right pinned on his up-left pocket. ......"FREEMAN", ah, what's this?...try to see clearly again, "F-R-E-E-M-A-N". ya, I was right. So funny ah:D why he chose to stayed and endured Starbucks' exploitation. It's a message from God, "Want to be a freeman? go to Starbucks...."

Ha....

12:43pm: Life report
What am I doing lately?

Just went back from 5 days tour in Japan with my mother. Basically visited with an arranged group. Not quite interesting at all. Upload some photos on my MSN space, unfortunately the quality is not good enough once after zipped. Will try to post some more here.

Finally got my Ipod V, the one you can play lots of functions which you probably never use them in your entire life:P Will see how to work on it tonight:D

This week will be busy working on the Suzhou Pingtang, kinda scholar's lesiur since 400 years ago and still being well preserved in china. Once again, John will help them decorate the stage and I will be the assistant. Got free ticket for last performance becasue I have to take care of returning goods.... What a busy sunday, a day I'm also off.

11:33am: Badly hang over...

Lately Sharon just can't help dropping into the bad mood simply because of family troubles. So as her friend, I just invite Edmond and Philip to hang out over night for couple cups of drinks. Surprisingly, we didn't go to any night club or lounge bar. Instead we headed to Philip's place. Just drinking, smoking and chatting:P Holy shit, it is just MONDAY!

Sharon and Edmond don't work today. That's a little bit tricky and unfair to me. Now, I have hang-over problem and am sitting at the reception, feeling my stomach is still rolling... Can't eat anything right now but feel hungry:D What a good start for a brand new week:)

3:42pm: Naked?

I'm not naked! it was taken on the second day we stayed in Liou Ciou. Still quite cloudy:) Roger holds the picutres still. For 2 reasons he doesn't want to burn a disk for me. One is because he is really busy now... the other is I'm still keeping the pictures we took in Angkor about 1 year already:D

12:06am: SAMAJI island, a vacation never feels enough

The name, Samaji, sounds like aboriginal language. Mandarin we call Liu Chiu, a remote island right located opposite of Dong Gang. Basically, it's in the south of Taiwan and take 20 minutes to get there by ship. Weather was quite nice. No burning sun but bright enough. Not quite hot and also windy cool:) At night was a little bit chilling. The point is the cost is damn cheap! 2 days you won't spend more than USD100 and have a speak-less great time! The coastline is perfect! all the tropical fishes are just everywhere! Can't believe you can find a place like this in Taiwan. Oh, People there are just nicer than you can see in Taipei. Yes, it's country side:)

Belows were taken in the lobby of the Port? don't know how to describe....

  

( That's how it started... )

1:19pm: Frog eye

Actually, the frog eye by lomo was made for under water. unfortunately its effects look quite awful when you use it indoor= = I used the free film they attached in the box and then other films just can't work out. Even worse, i got 3 rolls blocked in the camera already. Is it broken already, just after 24 shots?! a little bit depressing, i was planing to bring it down to the island vacation. now i need a new plan...... Hope it's only a tiny problem of using the wrong film....

up: my colleague, Tauno, an Estonian. below: me

6:11pm: appointment with City counselor, swimming nakedly, losing weights and on diet...
I'm going to a remote island somewhere in south of Taiwan this weekend. I've been preparing for this for a least 2 months. So I'm on diet of course and trying to get back into the shape:D

Fortunately, yes, I'm getting better day by day:P My weights is dropping from 77 to 72kg but my goal is 70kg. Basically just go swimming and do some weight lifting at home. got sun-tanned already.. darker than ever:)will post some photos here after I got back from my tour:)

Made an appointment with city counselor already. I respect her duty and will turn her offer down. I will not join her campaign season in year 2006. That's the statement I will make to her.

September seems to be my lucky month. 2 persons offered me jobs. one is from the city counselor I've mentioned in former entry. The other one is from one of my clients. Will not go there too. Hate being a salesman again, but in ARTASIA, okay lor:)

Oops, forgot to say one thing. Yesterday Ray, a friend I knew from John's yoga studio, and I were planing to go to a swimming pool and get some sun kisses. Around noon time, Ray messaged me if i was okay to go to White Sand Bay, where it regularly takes 1.5 hours to get there by motorbike. I was soooo excited and said yes right away. Still in weekdays, not more than 10 people at the beach. We found a huge rock and laid on it enjoying the mercy of SUNSHINE! Trying to catch the tail of the Summer.

By the way, we also brought some beers:D and then we swam nakedly in the sea! just too damn great:D ha:D~~~~

12:15am: DRUNK AT KTV
Last Saturday night, my stylist, Benny, invited me to join a small gathering at Cashbox, a karaoke place, with Steven (his bf), Jack (his friend), Ray (also his customer but we knew each other before without realizing we have the same stylist), and Benny's sisters (a lesbian couple i don't remember their names)

Was quite fun, can't believe all these guys are really good at singing:D we played some stupid games. Loser had to drink! I was not quite lucky, but I'm okay with beer.... Till the end of the game, Steven and Benny just got badly drunk:D hahahaha ^^ that's something have to remember:)

Frankly I was drunk too but in the rank i can handle. I rode my motorbike very slowly on the way back home in case bumping into police's nets:P I even turned off my light... I knew I was bad, .... but sometimes being evil a little bit can be fun though. Allen didn't know I got drunk and even smoke at that night because I woke up at 8am next day and was like full of energy. Trying to fool my mom too:P On moon festival we have to worship gods in the morning. Very Chinese, I know:) And tiring, you have to prepare lots of stuffs... Moon cake of course.

My brother and sister-in-law came over for lunch. it was quite fun actually:D Mood festival is always a special day for gathering all of family members.