Happy New Year!… 2 months of traveling, friends and creating memories (#18)

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Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great holiday! The last 2 months flew by so fast. So much has happened. Since I last wrote, I have done tons of traveling and catching up with family and good friends. I always believe life is about creating memories… and in the last 2 months, TONS of memories were created. Here are some of the highlights.

SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA (mid Nov. 2009)

Simon, kelly and Kim — Kelly and I did our annual trip to Monterey, California and along the way, we met up Kim Koller (USANA Gold Director) at Santa Maria, CA. Kim is one of our USA leaders and she took us a quick tour of her hometown. (the tour lasted 10 minutes… haha)… In this pic, Kim took us to a great breakfast place in downtown Santa Maria

MONTEREY / CARMEL VALLEY BY THE SEA (mid Nov. 2009)

Kelly with Obi at Carmel Beach

Sunset ad Carmel — Sunset at Carmel Valley by the Sea

Kelly and Obi at Monterey — Kelly and Obi taking a break by the golf courses at Monterey

Obi at carrier — While we took the pictures, Obi would watch us from his bike trailer

I would ride along the coast and then go to Pebble Beach and bike along 17 mile drive. Talk about a great place for “dream building” and getting inspired. Seeing wealth and what is possible really inspires me. It shows that anything is possible. I biked and then came across this AMAZING house (or castle) along 17 mile ride. Check the size of this place!

dream castle — This is another view of the Dream Castle! It was very inspiring that the next day I had to take Kelly there to show her! You would need an army to scale that palace!

beach view — Imagine waking up to this view!

THANKSGIVING AT SAN RAMON (San Francisco)

Simon and Ryan — That’s my bro Ryan… I know we don’t look alike but who is better looking? Who is younger? Haha

Family eating sushi — Family sushi dinner with Ryan, Lisa (his wife) and their little man (my nephew) Jacob.

Simon and Jacob hi five — Jacob likes Uncle Simon. “Give me 5!”

Simon and Tom — This was a PLEASANT surprise. Turned out that my best friend Tom was also in town. Tom didn’t have much time so we just grabbed a quick breakfast at Los Altos. We ate at Tom’s Depot (highly unrecommended restaurant.. not good)

Thanksgiving menu — THANKSGIVING DINNER – my bro, Ryan, is an amazing chef. Check out the menu!

thanksgiving dinner — THANKSGIVING DINNER – we had great food, great wine and great company. It was awesome to see my half nephew, Jojo and his wife, Grace. The last time I saw Jojo he was like 10 years old!

OBI’S BIRTHDAY – Nov. 28, 2009

Obi birthday — Obi turned 1 year old on Nov. 28, 2009! We can’t believe he is 1 already! Obi wasn’t really excited about this picture. He was dying to eat his birthday cookie!!!

LOS ANGELES (early December)

I took grandpa to check out Hollywood. I love my grandpa. I can’t believe he is over 80 now… doesn’t he look good for his age?!

COUSINS REUNION – one of my highlights was being able to meet some of my cousins for the very first time. For various reasons, we got disconnected since we were young. Decades later, we find out we are all living in Southern California. I met up with Lucia, Ricky, Lori, Katherine, Peter in November and then right before I left for NYC in Dec., we had a little holiday reunion and get together at my house.

NEW YORK CITY (Dec. 2009)

Simon and scott — I got to NYC in early December. Scott McGee (USANA Silver Director) came to visit as well. I took Scott out around town almost every night and had plenty of good food. Here, we are not necessary at a “fine dining” establishment but instead enjoying Sam Adams Cherry Wheat at “Down the Hatch” at the Village. “Down the Hatch” is a total dirty hole in the wall but it is happening and fun place… and MOST importantly, they have an “Atomic Wings” franchise inside the bar. They are the BEST buffalo wings on the planet! I normally do not eat wings but I could not help it and give that place a visit. I first knew about “Atomic Wings” back at Columbia since they had one inside “Cannon’s” on 110th and Broadway. Tom and I used to go there for all you can eat wings for $5 all the time. Years later, the wings are just as good!

condo painting — I arrived in NYC early because I had to do renovate my condo. My tenant moved out so I took the opportunity to renovate. Scott Mcgee was a huge huge help and his work was really impressive. It was tough work since we had 17 foot ceilings and NO scaffold to assist us. After spending over at least 100 hours of painting, I decided to NEVER NEVER NEVER paint again. Though I saved $$$ by doing it myself, it was not worth my time. It cost me more in time cost than the $$$ I saved. But… I do my best to look at the positive. I did learn a ton and that was worth the price and experience. Life is about creating memories and staying up late with Scott every night was definitely something I will never forget. Another memory created…

simon's condo — After the renovation, the place looked NICE! I have a potential new tenant already but I’m also open to backups. If you know anyone who is interested in a: NYC apartment 1bed/2ba 1400sf duplex 1 bedroom/2 bath 1400 sf loft for rent. It is located in Jersey City Newport and only 5 minutes away from Manhattan. 17 foot ceilings, doorman, Washer/Dryer in unit, includes gym w sauna. $2300/month.

Obi outfit — Of course I took my son, Obi to NYC. NYC’s weather was BRUTAL and my mom got Obi a wardrobe. Check out Obi’s new raincoat

obi at snow — It was also Obi’s first time in snow. Check out his new outdoor jacket! Haha… ok… I’d never thought about putting my dog in clothes but when the weather is 15 degrees and with windchill (make that zero F), then the poor guy needs a coat and some shoes!

NYC Pizza! I eat pretty healthy but love pizza. I don’t get pizza much in Los Angeles (part health reason and part because pizza sucks there) but once I got to NYC, I go and fulfill my pizza quota for the year! I had pizza almost EVERY DAY or like 22 days out of the 27 days I was there. This super huge slice is from the famous “Benny Tudino’s” at Hoboken. It is good stuff. I must have been there like 6 times and even took my dad there. Some other pizza places I went to: Joe’s Pizza at Village (one of the best), Hoboken place on 1st & Washington (suckiest NYC pizza I’ve ever had), Ray’s Pizza on 6th Ave and 11th St. (this must be original Ray’s) since this was one of the BEST BEST BEST slices I had. wow!… Mama Theresa’s at Westbury (still the best buffalo chicken slice)… no name place in midtown (no name but best thing is any place in NYC has good pizza. It was good)… this brick over pizza place in Carroll Gardens that Todd Betzag took me. (forgot the name but it was good. They had fresh hot peppers on the side) … and a few more places. I was tempted to bring 2 pies back but I figured I had eaten too much pizza already and needed to be healthy again

chinese professor — One of my highlights to my NYC trip was my visit to Columbia just to see my former Chinese professor Ms. Sobelman. (or “Su TaiTai”). It was great catching up with her and also to see how much classes have changed due to technology. Ms. Sobelman also shared with me an excellent article about China. It was very very inspiring. Going back to Kent Hall brought back memories. It only seems like yesterday that I was there taking classes… One of my goals for 2010 is to be connected with the Columbia community more.

columbia — This is the famous Columbia “steps”. Not many people here today since it was finals week. This is where everyone would hang out when the weather was nice.

catching up with friends — USANA Silver Director Randy Ng set up a nice USANA get together at Astoria, Queens. It was good catching up with old friends and also meeting new associates.

chawey and Simon — Got a chance to see my close Columbia buddies Chawey Wu and Simon Lam. Though we only had 1 hour to hang out (Simon Lam had to beat the snow and leave NYC for Jacksonville), it was memorable. How fast we have grown up!

with parents — Christmas Dinner with my parents

christmas day — Christmas day with parents and obi

at veneiro — At Veneiro’s (famous dessert place) at lower east side with close friend Ray Moran and his fiancee Theresa. I’m not a “dessert person” but I took NYC “off” and just treated myself. (along with pizza and wings and ice cream)

at mama theresa — At Mama Theresa’s at Westbury… Pizza again! Best buffalo chicken pizza! I introduced Ray Moran to this place and somehow when I found out that he goes here all the time, it made me happy!

high school friends — Met up with good high school friend, Stanley Hsieh and his wife Joanne. Stan and I hadn’t seen each other much in the past 15 years but somehow God keeps us close through all these years. I am very grateful for his friendship and really looked forward to seeing him and Joanne.

freezing — NYC was FREEZING! I am enjoying a cup of hot tea from my thermos in 15 degree weather on the streets of 5th ave. After 1 month in NYC, I felt like I lived in NYC again and really missed home. In the past, I would only visit for 1 – 2 weeks and mainly stayed in Long Island but this time I was everywhere in Manhattan and walked the city. This was the first time I’ve spent so much time in NYC since I moved out to Los Angeles back in 2002. I took the subways, PATH and bridges, tolls, etc. I felt like I lived in NYC again. NYC was cool… but after 1 month of NYC living… I must say that I am happy that I made the right choice and moved to Los Angeles. NYC is just not for me. I missed biking in the shorts, going to the beach and living the “Cali lifestyle”

mimi and obi — Dec. 29, 2009 was Obi Day. We took Obi to visit my friend Mimi and Obi’s girlfriend; Ashley! Those 2 dogs love each other and can play with each other nonstop for HOURS! They would run after each other nonstop. The next day both of them were so tired that they just passed out and didn’t do anything in the house! Mimi was nice enough to refer us to her vet. Obi had some problem with his hind legs. We saw the vet in LA but wanted a second opinion. Turned out that Obi has “medial patella luxation”. The good news is that he didn’t need immediate surgery. The bad news is that Obi’s patella pops in and out and is a genetic disease. There is no real cure. Unfortunately Obi should not really run nor jump anymore or else condition will get worse later on! How sad. Obi’s doggy park days are officially over…

obi's party — Part 2 of Obi’s day was visiting my good friend Ruth and her husband Clark. We had a great time sharing stories at her house.

eating sushi — At “Tomoe Sushi” at the Village. I’ve been to many many different sushi places and this is BY FAR THE BEST SUSHI I’ve had. The last time I went was over 8 years ago and 8 years later, it is still just as good. They have the BEST yellowtail and BEST toro. It is unbeatable sushi and good prices. The downside is that you have to wait 30 – 90 minutes to get in. But the patience and wait is worth it. Here is a tip… go there late (after 830pm) and you only have to wait 30 minutes. I was lucky enough to go to Tomoe twice on this trip. Once with Scott and once with Kelly. Both times the food was UNBELIEVABLE! TOMOE is the BEST SUSHI I’ve had. Period.

buddies — Having a late night drink/dessert with USANA Silver Director Dave Block and his girlfriend Noelle. Dave Block is very impressive. Very goal driven and his growth from self development is astonishing. I learned a few things from him that night!

brunch — Brunch at Norma’s (midtown) with Kelly’s friend Sylvia and her husband Kevin.

This was the BIGGEST omelette that I’ve seen. Of course it was also $25!!!

air jordan — NIKE STORE – been years since I’ve been to Nike Store so I decided to check it out. They had a really cool Nike Air Jordan displayed that showed every Nike Air Jordan ever made and which year it was made

christmas — The famous Rockafeller Christmas tree

last night at nyc — On the last night in NYC, we had to go back to “Down the Hatch” for Atomic Wings again! (and the last time I’ll have wings for a long time…)

BACK HOME IN LOS ANGELES

It was so nice to be back home again. Los Angeles is so different than NYC. It’s like 2 different countries! The weather was so nice and warm in the 70s that I felt like going to the beach and jumping into the ocean. After dealing with 15 – 30 degree weather for a month, LA’s 70s seemed like a heat wave!

I’m at the mall and with my portable “home office”. I’m logging into a special web presentation by Tim Sales

kelly's birthday — Kelly’s Birthday! Had a great time. Here we are out and about! It’s good to be back “home”

There are also tons of events that I didn’t get a chance to take pictures (or forgot)… such as the memorable dinner I had with the Calvosas in NYC… dinner with Pete Feng in Cupertino… hanging out with Keith Lee at his house in Los Altos… and visiting my good junior high friend, Todd Betzag in Brooklyn. Congrats to Todd for being a new dad!

Some good news… I went to see my doctor for my annual checkup and he told me that I was one of the healthiest people for my age that he has ever seen! He said I should be his posterboy and spokesman for his other patients! My good cholesterol (HDL) was 92 which is more than double what is the “target”. Anything over 40 is good and mine was at 92 and off the charts! The doctor didn’t even know why mine was so high and asked me how did I become interested in being so healthy. I shared with him my story and told him my formula was 1) good diet 2) exercise and 3) supplements!

Books I have read since I last wrote:
1) Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
2) Conspiracy of the Rich by Robert Kiyosaki

Currently reading and rereading:
1) The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
2) Can’t Lose Sales Tips by Joe Girard
3) How to Sell Anything to Anybody by Joe Girard
4) Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer

Last thing… I know many of you have goals for 2010… having goals is a MUST and important but do you have Action Plans that relate to your goals? Having goals with action is meaningless so make sure you take IMMEDIATE action! Email me directly and I can share with you some of my goals for 2010 and what action steps I have taken already.

Until next time, God Bless

Simon

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Happy New Year!… 2 months of traveling, friends and creating memories

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