Corner Table Restaurant Review

Not impressed.

I mean, the food was decent. In general, I think the service sometimes makes it or breaks it and I just was not happy with how things panned out.

Last night Kyongdo, Diana, Josh and I went to the Corner Table.

We ordered the Nosh Plate (mix of olives, "deli" meat, cheese and organic strawberries) and Crostini (Smoked salmon, horseradish crème friache) for appetizers. The latter was a bit tasty with the Syrah we ordered (I can't find the name on their online wine menu).

I had the halibut (fennel roasted potatoes, carrots, artichokes + heirloom pumpkin broth) which was perfectly done...still juicy but lightly crisped on the outside.

No dessert as it took them half an hour after we finished our appetizer to bring us our entrees and we were already late for our after dinner plans.

The waiter was also a bit strange. When Diana inquired how much longer our food was going to be, he gave her an inquisitive look and stared at his watch for what seemed to be an inappropriate pause, looked at her, blinked once or twice and said, "5 minutes?..."

I asked for an extra glass of water during our meal because even though there were four glasses on the table, one of us mistakenly drank out of two glasses. Our waiter said okay upon my inquiry, but looked at the four glasses on the table and then took two steps and looked back at the table again like he couldn't fathom how I did not see there were four glasses on the table and one was OBVIOUSLY for me. I was slightly annoyed.

We left shortly after we were done with our meal.

And FYI, they don't take AMEX.

I Have a Date with Spring

One of my favorite chinese movies/stageplays is I Have a Date with Spring. I have both the movie and the stageplay on DVD. Everytime I got to Hong Kong, I say that I want to get the soundtrack, but I never end up doing so. The soundtrack is so great...filled with these nostalgic songs from the 1960's. Of course...I didn't know the songs during that time...but many of the songs we sang on karaoke at home. My parents always liked the Hong Kong "oldies".

Recently, I discovered the best vintage Hong Kong radio station on line. It plays all these songs from the 1980s-late 1990s. I have been very out of the cantopop scene lately, so I often don't know any of the new singers. And when I do get a chance to hear their music, I just don't appreciate it. They just don't make them like they used to. This radio station is awesome because I went to Hong Kong about three times in that period, so many of the songs are so familiar to me. AND...the best part is that it tells you all the juicy cantopop star gossip in English!

Notes to Myself

I always find myself wanting to write, but not having my journal with me. So oftentimes when I'm on trips, I'll write on a random piece of paper. I always tuck it somewhere...and later on...when I eventually discover it again...it's like I have a little note to myself. I recently found a note that I wrote while I was in Austin, Texas last year during a business trip.

I especially like this part of my note:

Whenever I do go on trips and I'm walking around - looking for my destination - I feel like there's something else I'm supposed to find. Today, I saw my first butterfly in Austin and paintings by Fidencio Duran that reminded me of gatherings at Barnes Park in California during the earlier parts of my life. Am I supposed to find old memories in new places?

(Sigh)

I miss how I feel when I'm traveling - how the world seems so exciting, how I'm so eager to get up with the sun so I have all day to do what I want to do...I always feel like my senses are heightened and I remember always vowing to live every day like I'm traveling. Then, I come back to my own life and trap myself in all these little games I make up for myself...I think my newest one is ripping out every cool exercise I see in my Self, Fitness and Shape Magazines. Then I sort them into exercises for different parts of the body, put then in protective covering and stick them in my work out binder. This process is actually not as nutty as it sounds...quite simple and relaxing...because to me - it's enjoyable and that's what counts. And sometimes...for a surprise...I can turn to a page and just do whatever exercise I open my binder to. Hmmm...I think I'm sounding crazy.

The point is...today I feel restless.

There's something I'm supposed to be doing. Oh yeah...studying.

Ugh.

Cool Web Tools

I've recently discovered http://del.icio.us/ It's so cool...instead of saving your favorite links on your browser, you can save them on line. Then you can see who else also saved that link...click on their profile...and see what other links they can introduce you to. I love technology. I've only recently opened up an account, but if you want to see my limited links, you can click on:

http://del.icio.us/keroppiven

Also...Nicole and I have a google calendar where we have posted our favorite events. It's called Venora and Nic's Fun Calendar. Here is how to access it (directions from Nicole's blog):

you can log into Google Calendar and paste the link "http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/nic.tollefson@gmail.com/public/basic" into your "Other Calendars" to see what we're up to!

I'm not quite sure how you can just log on it instantly. I'll hv to talk to Nicole and see.

We've been to some cool panels recently. We went to the Race and Hip Hop Panel at the Walker on Thursday April 6. I quite enjoyed it. Someone who works for the City Pages blogged on it. Rich sent us the link:

http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2006/04/public_forum_on.asp

On Wednesday April 12, Nicole and I went to the South By Southwest Recap Panel hosted by the Minnesota Music Academy. The speakers were:

Speakers:Thorn (Music Director - 89.3 The Current)
Chris Riemenschneider (Music Critic Star Tribune)
Ross Raihala (Music Critic - Pioneer Press)
Anna-Marie Ganje (Navarre Distribution)
Mark Mallman (Musician)

I really liked the location of the event, the Suburban World Theatre. I had a hard time not staring at the ceiling, because they had a projector that showed images of clouds moving around. I liked how there was a stage and a Vegas style lounge around it so you can sit in a circle around the table and enjoy what was going on.

Afterwards Nicole and I went to eat at the Lotus. The last time I was there was probably my sophomore year in college with Debbie. It's strange how time passes by. Also, recently, I've decided it's wierd replacing restaurant memories. What I mean by that is that I always seem to think about a place in terms of who I was with the last time I was there. Maybe I should have Friday Restaurant Memory Blogging. That would be interesting. Many of my memories take place around food.

Memories of Leslie Cheung

During the first wknd of April, I decided it would be a good idea to move my Leslie Cheung CD to my car…where I can listen to it whenever my heart so desired. I especially like the song, “The Wind Continues to Blow”…mostly because I remember hearing it when I was little and I liked the sound of his voice.

I started googling Leslie Cheung because I wanted to learn more about him. And during my searches, it occurred to me that he had committed suicide April 1, 2003. It became eerie to me that I chose to listen to this particular song over and over again that wknd because it is the same song that they played at his funeral in memory of him.

I always liked this song because there were a couple of lines that I could translate to myself. (Chinese songs are funny b/c they do not sound like conversational Chinese…so I often can sing the songs over and over again and not have a clue to what the meaning of the song may be.) I always liked the song because of what I believed two of the lines to say…"I want to make you happy and you make me feel intoxicated with your love"…it’s so pretty (sounds cheesy in English...but is really much more endearing in Chinese). It seems that is what “togetherness” should mean…that you always try to make that special person love you more…not because you should…but b/c you inherently feel like doing so.

And whenever I hear this song, I imagine that there are two people, who are deeply in love and hanging out along the beach, shortly after the sunset. They’d be wrapped in a warm cotton blanket and the wind would be gently caressing their hair. I always thought the song was about how this couple had to part for a while…but one day they would reunite. And I like what I thought this song was about. So, I do not know why I decided to google the translation of this song from Chinese to English. That’s when I found out that the song is really about two people that are hanging out together for the last time and that they prolly will never see each other again. There’s a line in there that I did not know which translates to how he says she does not have to ask him if he’ll always remember her because he could never forget her. AND then I figured out that my favorite line is actually written in the past tense…that he had made her happy and she had made him intoxicated with her love…and the line that I thought said “we should chase our dreams together”…actually translates better to “why are we not the ones to chase this dream together..” implying that they won’t be. Sigh.

So many things that are left better the way I thought it was.

All That Happens In One Day

April 1, 2005

Today has been the strangest day.

So many activities.

So many different people.

So many new ideas spinning in my head.

I woke up to the doorbell ringing. My first thought was, "CRAP...I didn't wake up early enough and everyone from the surprise birthday party is at my doorstep..." (I planned a surprise party for Josh). It turned out to be Andy, because, I had asked to borrow a video camera and he was providing drop off service. Ah...it's so nice to have friends that are willing to go the extra couple of miles...all the way to your front door.

I have not planned a surprise party since I was in middle school. I cannot believe that was more than a decade ago. How can I say phrases like that? Time really passes you by. I remember hearing that when I was little...and worrying...and wondering...and thinking...how I can manage my life so that time won't pass me by. ..so I can pack in everything...and I feel like I'm on the brink of discovering all of this stuff about life...but I'm not quite there. What is the secret?

Anyway.

So it was neat having all of Josh's friends over. I got to know them all a little bit better. Every time I talk to new people...they tell and remind me of so many things that I want to read more about and know more about. Diana suggested reading The Meaning of Wife, which could go on my "to read" list in the Holy Blue Book. She also had a whole host of suggestions for Chinese and Korean flicks...I need to start archiving.

Then, I went to the Asian Student Union Spring Conference Dinner with Eric. That was very interesting...mostly because I did not know that Rich was going to be the key note until recently. I was also very amused to be so in awe of what he was going to say...and now...after the fact...I am thinking of a few of the things he said. I like what he said about how as a first generation Asian American...I have the King's voice...that my voice can be heard because I can express myself in English. Many memories came back when he commented on how we have a responsibility to learn our parent's stories and tell them. How we might have had to speak on behalf of our parents when they couldn't express themselves. And remembering these times bring back some anger. It brought back a lot of "oh I shuda said this...or that..." whenever some white person made racist comments towards us in Eau Claire. But most of the time I was too stunned to know how to react.

I can't help but think how blogging does give you a voice. How people might be interested in what I have to say...but then now I feel so uninteresting...mostly because of another comment I heard last night...which will be told at another time. Focus...

The highlight of the evening was hearing Dat Phan's stand up comedy. Eric has been talking about him at home...but it was cool to hear his jokes in person and be able to laugh so hard. I had not laughed in this manner in such a long time. It feels so good to be able to throw your head back and laugh so hard that you have to stop. And I'm so happy for Dat...because he took a big risk and followed his dreams. Like I was writing somewhere else today...it seems that sometimes it is easier to let practicality rule rather than passion. I wonder what I would be like if I let the latter rule my life. Perhaps I'd have no hair because I would want to dye my hair hot pink all the time...so all my hair would prolly have fallen out by now. I would also want to have really cool tatoos. I would also prolly always have glitter and paint my face so it looks like those Venetian party masks all the time. Or not. There is so much I can do if I let my imagination take over. All that is fun to sit and think about sometimes.

New and Recycled Ideas:

Hip Hop Dancing Lessons
Chinese Dance Lessons
Summer Activities (Soccer, Tennis, Wall Climbing, Paint Ball, other outdoor activities)
Dragon Practice