happy new year!!

i really see the new year as a fresh new start, being able to start on a clean slate. but can't u start over any day u choose? i dunno

well these last few days have been quite- random. hanging out with ppl i don't usually hang out with.
for audris' birthday on the 30th, two car-fulls of a-town people went to arcadia to a dumpling house and then went to see chicago in pasadena. we also got gelato at pasadena, but nothing beats mondo gelato in berkeley!

lemme tell you, chicago is a GREAT movie. i felt like i was watching the performance live in a theater. the acting, dancing, and singing were great. flawless. and the story was fun and entertaining.
and for guys who get dragged to see this movie by their girlfriends, lighten up cuz u get to see a very seductive catherine zeta-jones and a very cute renee zellweger :)
hehe it was so funny watching it with priestly-2nd-floor-doug. i just randomly called him up cuz i knew he lived in arcadia, and he joined us for the movie~

yesterday, my mom and i went to play at the getty center. it is so great there. i don't particularly like the medieval european pieces- practically all of them are a "madonna and child" or "crucifixion" or something related to the bible. and i don't feel comfortable looking at those pieces because they're wayy too showy and ostentatious with its large size, bright colors, gold frame.
i loooved the south wing exhibits, especially the french rococco furniture and paintings.
the porcelein china, mantelpiece clocks, beautiful arm chairs were absolutely amazing~

from all the paintings i liked, the only ones i can remember now are:
jean-etienne liotard's "marie frederik...something" - he made the subject seem real, her soft round cheeks, soft hair, soft velvet robe, her curious puppy...
and a painting of venus and ares (god of war?) - where a usually belligerent ares looks lovingly at a sleeping venus. i saw it as a symbol of the power of love.

from this year's new years eve celebration, i realized what my ideal new years eve celebration would be:
sitting at home [or a friend's home] in comfy clothes, watching good movies, sipping on apple cider or champaign, sitting by the fireplace, laughing the night away with friends :)
doesn't it sound great?

last night, i chilled with some a-town people.. ericfrance [who i haven't seen in a year!], woodykim [who i keep running into], charleslee, jefflouie, andyhuang, and some other random people.
i also got to see part of a sex and the city marathon! woohoo..
poor mommy got called out to work at 9pm and came home at 5am and went out again at 9am.

ok, i must start on my study abroad app [which is due jan. 6th]

as andyhuang would say, have a merry new years!

* chicago soundtrack - cell block tango