Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!
Feliz Navidad!
Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Kwanzaa!

Here's alittle Christmas gift for you all (alittle blast from the past...circa 1988)...I hope you all have a wonderful holidays and a happy new year...

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

Without fail something always happens during holiday travel. Combine that with my oh-so-good-luck (do you sense the sarcasm?), and it gets worse.

So I'm trying to go to LA to have Christmas with my family and I'm stuck at the airport. It is raining a bit here but not so bad that I think it would delay flights. So I call American Airlines and they're like yes, your flight is delayed. I ask about the flight after mine, and they say NO, it is not delayed. So I'm thinking huh? How could my 2:30pm flight be delayed due to weather but NOT the 4:05pm? Then I ask what other flights are delayed and she says, "None".

????

For some reason MY FLIGHT is the only one delayed! The delay is due not to the weather but to "delay in equipment coming from another flight". WTF? What equipment?

UGH. So I'm sitting in front on Auntie Ann's pretzels right now writing in my blog. How very unmerry...

Oh wells. What can I do? Another 3 hours to kill...

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL!!!

Wedding website

In case anyone is interested we set up our wedding webpage (were too cheap to set-up a real website!). Check it out if you are interested...

The Kim-Choroco Wedding

Chugging along...

So this wedding planning has been a bit stressful but I am glad to say we've gotten many things checked off on our list. Here are a few highlights:

> Venue: YES (see post below)
> Gown: YES (can't provide details as a certain choroco checks this every now and then)
> Wedding Bands: YES
> Photographer: YES (check out julietnicole.com)
> Florist: YES (check out nancyliuchin.com)
> Day-of Coordinator: YES
> Invitations/Design: YES (those of you who are unfamiliar with Good on Paper Design, Ms. Jackson is one of the most talented designers I know-- and no, even though she's my bridesmaid I'm not biased...)

We will be in the bay area in mid-January to figure out the caterer and the cake and then that's all of the big stuff! I've been looking into the small details recently (i.e., seat cards, menus, programs, etc) and although that is the fun stuff, I fear more stress will be coming my way. Knowing myself, I will fret over every detail to make sure everything is coordinated...goodness gracious.

Marin Art & Garden Center

So I believe this is the place where the Kim-Choroco wedding will take place in 2008.

Take a tour!



I can't wait to marry Frank! :)

First of snow...

We got our first snow of the season today in New York. Frank and I spent the day in Central Park and took some pictures. It was truly beautiful...its days like this that make me love New York...

Frank walking towards the bridge

brrrrrrrr....

Not quite sure what I was doing in this picture...

There were icicles on the rocks!

Close-up of the Icicles

Another beautiful bridge

Can't you imagine this image in one of those karaoke videos?

We heard this squirrel from about 15 feet away-- it made a squealing noise that sounded like a kitten and I was worried it was a lost kitten. But alas, its a little squirrel! Look closely at the center of the picture...

On our way out...

Maya & the Ghoulish Skeleton

During my cousin's white elephant gift exchange (the gag gift part), we discovered that my niece Maya LOVES ghoulish skeletons that sing "Living La Vida Loca"...take a look...

So many choices...

The good news is that Frank and I were able to see 9 potential wedding venues during our Thanksgiving trip to SF. The bad news is that we saw 9 great wedding venues during our Thanksgiving trip to SF. We pretty much have made up our minds...anyone wish to take a gander at our final choice???


1) Hotel Nikko

Ceremony Site

Reception Site

2) Clift Hotel

Ceremony & Dinner Sites



















Cocktail Reception & Dancing Sites



















View from Terrace





















3) DeYoung Museum Cafe


Terrace for Ceremony



















Ceremony Site



















Reception Site



















Terrace View





















4) Cornerstone Gardens

Cocktail Reception Site



















Ceremony Site




















Photography Opp Area




















Reception Site






















5) COPIA - Center for Wine and Food

Ceremony Site

Reception Site

























Cocktail Reception Site





















6) V. Sattui Winery

Ceremony Site I

























Ceremony Site II


























Ceremony Site II - Alternate View



























7) San Francisco Theological Seminary

Ceremony Site



















Reception Site





















8) Marin Art & Garden Center

Ceremony Site



















Cocktail Reception Site



















Reception Site






















9) SF Film Centre in The Presidio

Ceremony Site

























Cocktail Reception Site




















Reception Site

By invitation only...

So after about 3 months online with my blog I've decided to make it readable "by invitation only". There are several reasons for this:

(1) Only my wonderful friends and family would be interested in reading about me,
(2) only my wonderful friends and family would be interested in reading about me,
(3) only my wonderful friends and family would be interested in reading about me.

No, seriously, I know the irony in posting a blog online and restricting its visibility (yes, then why even blog at all), but I am getting a *tad* bit freaked out about the possibility of a random person finding my blog and reading about my personal life.

So thats all folks. Hopefully you guys will continue to visit and read about my not-so-exciting life in NYC!

And p.s., for the readers who I don't know but still managed to read/find my blog, please at least let me know who you are. You shouldn't make a comment unless you're willing to show yourself...really...its the polite thing to do.

GO BEARS! (even though we dropped from like #6 to being non-ranked...boo hoo!!!)

Marriage licenses

So I was talking to a co-worker (who's also engaged), and she mentioned how getting a license in one state (while residing in another) may be something I want to look up. I went to NY and CA state websites and I think it shouldn't be a problem. BUT, there was a couple of interesting things I found out about the marriages in NY:


1) Frank and I can change our last name to anything that is a combination of our last names: "a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse". THEREFORE, I was thinking of these options (and side note, why do most of these combinations sound japanese???):

Katherine Chokimo
Katherine Kimchoco
Katherine Chocoki
Katherine Kirocho
Katherine Cochim
Katherine Rokimo


2) If Frank was my first cousin (clearly he is not), I would be able to marry him: "There is no legal bar against marriage between cousins". Interesting...I thought this would be illegal in this day and age.

But there you go-- hopefully you all find this as fascinating as I did!

Frank's Amazing Adventure

Alright, so Ashton looks the best in the video, but I couldn't help doing this for Frank as well...

TOO FUNNY!!!

Amazing ABC Adventure...

OMG, I thought Peanut Butter Jelly Time was awesome-- this is right up there! Here's a video of my little Ashton (well, technically I guess Lis' baby but I love him to death!!!).

Check it out...

SPAM

Ok, this is not about email SPAM, but the O.G. SPAM-- canned that is.

I was in Hoboken, NJ last week and at the local street festival there was a SPAM van! I couldn't believe it! AND the best part is that they were giving away tasting samples AND packaged samples (they have these single serve packages which are AWESOME - I've already eaten the two I got).

YUM!!!

My niece Maya!

I introduced Maya in my blog when I first started writing but now you all can see her "live" (well, as live as you can get via online). I can't wait to meet her!!!

I know...I know...

Okay, so it's been 3 weeks since I've written...the whole point of this blog was to record my life in NYC and I've been very bad at that. So let's see, what else has been going on? Big news...Frank and I are engaged!!! I'm just so excited (rather, we're so excited!).

Date of Proposal: 9/6/07
Place of Proposal: My apt, NYC

It's a bit overwhelming trying to research places online (we're getting married in San Francisco). I just hope we find a good place (hopefully in San Francisco)!!! But as I have more details, I will share.

Oh, and I started a wedding page for us (just ignore the date-- I had to put in something to create the page). Not sure whether we'll do the whole wedding website thing but for now this will have to do!

http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?coupleid=7734249275808871

*side note* too bad wedding planners are so expensive-- I would LOVE to just tell someone what we want and the just have them do it! But we'll see, if we find a good place then maybe I'll enjoy the planning...

Do shoe designers hate short people?

Okay, let me just vent for a minute. I know tall boots look great and they are a must-have for the fall season. SO, I ask, WHY ARE THERE NO TALL BOOTS FOR SHORT PEOPLE?

I have looked, and looked, and looked, and there are NO boots that fit me. I feel like goldie locks here - too big, to small-- why is there nothing that's "just right"? I either have to settle for booties (please do NOT get me started on that fall trend) or what on me looks like f-me boots since all the tall boots go over my knee.

This is not fair. For the most part I'm happy with my height, but when it comes to tall boots, I get ANGRY! I finally did find a pair that looked normal on me, but I also had to pay double my planned amount to get them!!!

But here's what I eventually got...one day I will make a clothing and shoe line just for short people...FASHIONABLE though (none of that Petite Sophisticate crap)...

OMG...frickin' HILARIOUS...

Alright, this is probably one of the most FUNNIEST things I've seen in a LONG time. This may not be new for some of you but my goodness...a wonderful new discovery for me.

Enjoy!

Le Bernardin

First, let me just say thanks for all the birthday wishes!

Second, let me tell you about my dinner at Le Bernardin. Of course as usual it was EXCELLENT. We both had the Chefs tasting menu and enjoyed lobster, wild salmon, fluke, and more (8 yummy courses in total)! The only bad thing was this guy that was sitting next to us. He was dining alone and was the most arrogant, rude, schizophrenic, ignorant man I have ever seen...to recap...

Description: Male with balding hair (on top, long on the bottom), round stomach, bad suit, apparently American

Timeline of Behavior: (note: I am NOT kidding here)
7:30pm - Sitting on right side of table
7:31pm - Gets up and walks out of the restaurant
7:35pm- Comes back to the table but proceeds to sit on the left side of table (note, all his settings on are the right side so of course the wait staff have to change it)
7:37pm - Gets up and walks out of the restaurant
7:40pm - Comes back to table and sits on same side
7:45pm - Gets up and walks out of the the restaurant
7:50pm - Comes back to table and sits on same side
7:53pm - Gets up and walks out of the the restaurant
7:59pm - Comes back to table and sits on opposite side (note, he kept switching sides like every 4th time he left the table)
8:00pm - Gets up and walks out of the the restaurant
This went ON and ON and ON unti about 9:15pm..He probably got up and left the table/restaurant about 15 times...I kid you NOT...everyone in the restaurant was looking at him...

Then, the piece de resistance-- he frickin' lights up a cigarette and starts SMOKING at his table. For those of you that don't know, here are some facts: (1) LeBernardin is 4-star restaurant, arguably the finest restaurant in NYC, (2) smoking is NOT ALLOWED in NYC restaurants. At first I thought I smelled smoke, and I look over at the psycopath and he's SMOKING. Another table noticed and complained to the Maitre D so he finally put it out after 2 mnutes. Really, he almost ruined my birthday dinner. I was SO OFFENDED. It literally left a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyways, I wish I had a camera so I could've taken a picture of this guy, or even shot a mini-video. RIDICULOUS.

But besides the fuc*#$ prick I had a great time at dinner with my sweetie.

Thank you Frank!

the apple of my eye...

Okay, so my birthday is coming up. I'm not that thrilled to be turning 32, but I am OH SO thrilled about one of my birthday gifts this year (which I am using RIGHT NOW). The apple of my eye *wink wink* got me my very own apple; a MAC that is!!! I was sure that he got me a grill pan (I told him either a nice dinner and no present, or normal dinner but nicer present, but of course he broke the rules) but alas he walked in with a cute white laptop.

I'm so very excited. Whoever else has a mac let me know so we can video conference. I feel so cool!

NY Half Marathon

Here are some pics from this past weekend's NYC half marathon...and no, obviously I didn't run it! Frank did an awesome job...

Frank at Mile 7 (57th and 7th)

Frank's Medal of Achievement...GO FRANK!!!

Tad Martin + West Side Diner

So Frank and I are sitting in our booth, looking at our menus, and I happen to look up and I say to Frank, "OMG, I think that's Tad Martin from All My Children". But then I think for a second and I say to Frank, "But he looks too fat to be him". Then I hear him say something. "That sounds so much like Tad Frank". Then I hear the Tad-look-a-like say to his breakfast companion, "If Tad wasn't such a funny character they would've fired me awhile ago".

So there you have it. Tad Martin inside West Side Diner.

DVF

I LOVE DVF.

I will forever be grateful to Saks because it was there that I discovered the DVF wrap dress. Never before had I seen a dress that fit all women's shapes, nicely hid tummies (and other unsightly bodily regions) and enhanced other lacking areas. My goodness.

I encourage EVERYONE to go out and buy one. Yes, it is a rather expensive purchase (now that I am no longer at Saks I fear I will no longer be adding to my collection...sniff...sniff), but ladies it is WORTH IT.

Here are my latest favs from the fall collection...

I have so many print dresses, but she has all these cute prints...
my next purchase should really be a solid color...(*yawn*)

This is Camilla's dress...I can't believe you got this...RUDE...(but SO cute!)

This dress wraps in the back...its SO cute!

But alas, this is my year of savings so I will not be purchasing one anytime soon. But please, someone buy one of these dresses so I can live vicariously through someone else! (Or if anyone knows if DVF is hiring, let me know...ha ha ha).

The meaning of the universe's actions...

So one has to wonder, when bad things happen what is the universe trying to tell or teach you? My cousin and his wife faced a horrible decision this past week and will soon be suffering a great loss. I am deeply saddened by this, but in bad times I try to remember that the universe has a way of shaping your life by giving and taking things from you. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason (even though sometimes those reasons don't become clear until many years later). Maybe my belief is a form of a coping mechanism, but nonetheless I truly think there is a greater purpose and path for everyone.

My thoughts are with my cousins and I know there will be something positive that comes out of this tragedy. Perhaps this was a sacrifice that saved her life - she was set to leave for Iraq to serve in the reserves but due to her situation she was discharged her from the reserves. God knows what might have happened if she went to Iraq. I am not saying one situation is preferable to the other, but like I said, the universe has a way of making things happen the way they were meant to happen.

Take Care S&G-- I am thinking of you.

dancing queens...

It's no secret-- I love to dance and so do my girlfriends. I'm going to kill two birds with one stone by introducing my friends and illustrating some dance moves...

Margie (hey-- that ain't the shopping cart)

Sindy (mid-thrust or mid-Roger Rabbit...hard to tell)

Annie (dance pose)

Tina (the macarena?)

Camilla (????????????)

Wu-wu (Texas-style jive?)

Jenn (robocop?)

Claude (the monster mash)

And last, but not least...Lis (the guitar)