June is looking to be a good month.

While it was rainy, cold, and miserable today on the 1st, it still hasn't dampened my excitement for the next 30 days. The weather has been really summer-like the past few weeks, so I'm sure it'll be hot again in no time.

I'm going to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, next week and it's exciting because it'll be my first business trip with my current work place. It's going to be nice to get away from New York for a bit to spend time with my bosses and colleagues outside of the office. It'll be my first time going to Florida, let alone to a tiki convention. The week after Fort Lauderdale, I'll be going to Aspen, Colorado, for the best American culinary event of the year. This trip will be a bit sentimental because it's for the food magazine I used to work for, and at an annual event where I once helped plan and produce. The event has just continued to grow tremendously since I worked it years ago, which makes me all the more look forward to seeing everything in a few weeks.

My friends Jenn and Daniel will also be coming to visit in June, on top of some other guests. But I'm especially excited to see them because they're the friends I used to live with in Los Angeles, who so kindly allowed me into their lives out there and helped me out so much. I haven't been back together with them in New York since we were all roommates in the Upper West Side before I left for Asia, so it's going to be awesome to see them here. They've also had a beautiful baby son since we've last seen each other and there's much to catch up on.

I'd really like to just stay mellow and have a good time this month. Traveling and seeing old faces will be a great way to start off the season.

you know i feel like i used to be pretty attached to my blackberry before it broke. i was obsessed with being online and having the ability to check my email at all times. i'd be online at every moment, checking the news, blogs, and other mundane stuff. after my blackberry broke in aspen, i was using a very old phone that my friend gave me and after that stopped working a month ago, i think i've learn to let go of having a usable cellphone.

a friend once told me that she always puts her phone on silent and checks it sporadically. i immediately questioned her and asked why on earth would she do that? what if people are trying to reach her or she misses an important call? she responded with, "i don't know... i guess i just don't want to be attached to it." that really got me thinking and made me realize that i too do not want to feel attached to my phone. i guess my point is, it's been a month since my substitute phone broke, and i definitely can't afford to buy a new one. but i don't even care, isn't that crazy? my sister offered to buy me an iphone, and we even went to the at&t store on astor and broadway to purchase one. as we're talking with the sales girl on necessary paperwork and stuff, i had an epiphany and told my sister that i didn't want it. she asked why and i just said, "...i just don't care.." i know that i eventually will get a new phone, but i guess it's not a priority in my life. and when i do, i sure as hell am sure that it won't be anything fancy, probably just something i can make calls and receive texts with.

i'm hoping that coming home and watching tv while i surf the web will fill my technological needs for awhile.

i went to aspen for 5 days because that's where the magazine i work for throws the number one culinary event of the COUNTRY every year over father's day weekend. being there made me feel so proud to see months of hard work come to life. everyone just enjoyed themselves over the weekend, and even though i was there for work, it felt like an awesome 5-day vacation instead. being there was not work to me, i had the time of my fucking life and couldn't believe how lucky i was to be a part of such an amazing event. it was pretty cool to see that this whole event was put on by a team of no more than 15 people, and i was one of those people.

i did way too much stuff there to even begin listing all my favorite things, so i'll just leave you with these pictures. all i can say is: aspen is an absolutely breathtaking city, i saw melanie griffith walking down the main street of town smoking a cig, got kicked in the back thigh by ming tsai, finally was able to see the big dipper again in what felt like years, had a broken phone on my 2nd day there and i am still without a one even now (it's lonely without a cell phone at my apt, i have no one to talk to at all), got sunburnt and was able to take a bath. hell fucking yeah.

ps- on a random ass side note, how crazy is it that i saw my halal lady on the subway platform today late in the evening in koreatown and we said hi to eachother? haha nyc is really such a small city.

i came home after work and did a 4 hour marathon of the korean drama, "On Air," and was able to finish the show today. the drama was very good, i definitely recommend it to everyone. the only thing is that i didn't shed a tear once during the whole drama, which makes me sad because i feel like i need a good cry. watching it did make me miss korea though, i'd love to live there for a year or two later down the line. i guess we'll see if that happens.

work has been a bit crazy the past few weeks. i'm going to aspen next week for the number one food event of the nation that is run by the magazine i work at. among my many responsibilities throughout the 5 days, i'm throwing a party on wednesday that i'm hoping will have a good turnout. i'm definitely looking forward to getting the fuck out of nyc for a while, it's going to be nice being surrounded by nature. i also found out that i'm going to "the oscars of the food world," aka the james beard foundation awards, this sunday at lincoln center. i'm looking forward to the free food, drinks and drunken schmoozing. maybe i'll meet a nice chef, who knows? i just don't have any nice clothes to wear though, sucks.

with an outdoor, daytime wedding this saturday in what's supposed to be a 90 degree and humid day, and the award show on sunday, i won't have much downtime this weekend. then it's two long days at work on tues and wed, and then i leave for aspen 6 am on wednesday.

i guess losing sleep is worth it sometimes and being busy isn't the worst problem to have.