“Dressing on the side, please” I say.

More than 50% of the time, my request isn’t honored and I get a salad drenched with dressing. Even at nice restaurants. I used to know someone who always requested coke, no ice. People forget little things like that. Especially when we’re paying $40+/head.

But why do people forget? Is it because of priority? Is it because it’s not important enough? What little things do we choose to remember or to forget? Do you sense the flicker of disappointment or disapproval on someone’s face? Do you tell yourself that you shouldn’t do it again?

Do you remember when I say I love kiwi that when you pass by the gelato shop on the way home and you spontaneously buy me a pint of kiwi gelato? Because I remember your love of chocolate and saved you a piece from today.

My first year doing Dine about town in San Francisco. A prixe fixe menu at at San Francisco’s fancy restaurant for all of January. This is the last weekend!

I went two weeks ago to Rubicon. Just for the occasion, I had dressed up in a dress I had spontaneously bought because it had ruffles. Had my second glass of wine (ever). Went through all three courses of the perfect-sized portions. At a table for four, but only two of us.

Then today, my friend and I chose Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Started off with a 1/2 “steak” salad. Hot plate with sizzling butter holding my 6 oz petite filet. Sides of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. And followed by bread pudding. Oh and all of this complemented by a light red wine (my request). Service was a bit questionable as was the music. But my friend pointed it out to the oblivious me.

These are the few times that I forgo my non-drinking habits. Great food must go with wine.

“I fixed some relationship bugs,” my coworker declared when he received a small vase of flowers early this afternoon.

It has been almost one year since I broke my hand last year. While skiing at seven springs.

When the opportunity arose to stay at my company’s cabin in Tahoe, I jumped at it. My doctor had looked at x-rays of my hand and said that I was good to go. This weekend, I went skiiing at Kirkwood. Fell more than 5+ times. Fell off the chair lift and got hit by it. Skiied through a closed-off area. Conquered many of those blue squares. And I just left with only slightly achey shins.

Although the prices were more than the $40 rental/lift package I had last year. But I am back!

In other news, today January 21st is the 5 year anniversary of this blog. Happy birthday blog!

A recent observation of my favorite movies. The movies I list as my favorite movies are movies that I have watched alone. Is it because I enjoy something better alone (relish the greatness of a movie) or because I don’t usually see great movies with people?

Regardless, I recommend: Say Anything…, Goodbye Lenin, Run Lola Run, The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, and Twin Falls Idaho.

I never thought I would be involved in chair racing again. Of $600 Aeron chairs. But how can anyone avoid hardwood floors and chairs with wheels?

Note: I am too old (and broken) to actually chair race myself.

The last time I did was almost 3 years ago in a newly built university building. The janitors were taking their nightly 1 am break. I was there as part of a late-night attempt to save the computing centers’ servers. Someone suddenly had the idea. For whatever foolish reason, I also joined and sat myself in a chair. We raced through the empty hallways past the cubicles, winding in a circle ending in the break room. Exhilarating. The chairs had served their purpose.

Today during commercial breaks of 24, my friend and I discussed his upcoming invitation list for his wedding and the difficulty of narrowing down those who matter.

How do you do that? From year to year, you meet different people. There are some you consider close and some you don’t. And then they change the following years. Who stays in your life and who doesn’t? Especially when each invitation is $10 each.

I am a list-maker. I tried to make a list of 365 people who influenced me, but found it difficult to list 365 people. But to limit to 150 people (including their possible +1)…is that possible to share a momentous occasion?

After being disappointed with season 4, I took a break from 24. Then someone got me to watch season 5 of 24 over Christmas (and I really mean, Christmas, because that’s all I did during the holiday). Season 6 starts tonight at 8. Jack is supposedly in China and there is a new president, Wayne Palmer. Almost everyone from the original 24 is dead. But I am now ready to take on the challenge now I am 24 and my ringtone has been the 24 ringtone for the last 2 years.

And somewhat related, countdown to the iPhone release. I don’t like the interface and probably will not buy it. But it’s the buzz. And how it really does look pretty.

Carol mentioned today according to a Chinese superstition whenever you feel anything twitching, someone was thinking of you. Good and bad.

And I also saw that it meant that something good was going to happen if it was the right. And something bad if it was the left.

Not studying abroad as an undergrad.

I hear of stories of living abroad. Things learned. Experiences one had. The purchases, the things they missed. And the people they got to know.

Although it’s not too late. If the right job came along in another country (at least one where I can speak the language), I would do it. Although that’s me saying that now and not then. But what of it if I only will regret it later.