And just for a moment, I was able to get lost in it...

"We venture through the streets
in search of funky beats."

From the Pacifics by Digable Planets. 

Please don't bullshit me.

"Dream on,
Dream on."

From the song Dream On by Depeche Mode.

This is Juby, my sister and brother-in-law's dog.

They're currently in China for a business trip for a few weeks, so I'm watching their office and also house/dog-sitting for them here in New Jersey. It's been nice because my sister got Juby while I was living in Thailand, so this is the first time I've been alone with her for a large chunk of time. 

As a professional couch surfer, it's been nice to hang out with so many dogs along the way.

"Thank goodness I found the good in goodbye."

From the song Best Thing I Never Had by Beyonce.

"Rose: You know what's also a shame?
Dorothy: What?
Rose: When you sit down and your thighs squish out to twice their size---that's a shame!"

From the sitcom The Golden Girls. Episode "End of the Curse."

Whatever, man.

Just a few more weeks until magazine heaven.

Ah September issues, I'm ready for you!

"It was metal on mental,
It was somethin' in my heart."

From the song Subway by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

.

Happy, happy.

Dearest Junho,

Happy birthday!

Thanks for always being such a great friend.

Dear literary agents and book publishers, wouldn't you like to read my book proposal? Pretty please with cherries on top?

Yeah, Queens!

My first week back home has been amazing so far.

When you have good people in your lives, nothing else matters.

It's time to get serious.

After 3 years of wandering and living away, it finally felt like the right time for me to move back to NYC.

In total, I spent 6 months in Korea, 2 years in Thailand, and another 6 months in LA. Each place had its own charms and annoyances, but I can honestly say that living in Thailand's capital city of Bangkok was my favorite. The two years I spent there living alone was really a nice chunk of time for me to just clear my head and figure some stuff out. I truly feel like I've returned much wiser with a better understanding about myself, other people, and how things in life work---and I'm so humbled and grateful for that.

Words can't describe how happy I am to be back in NYC with my family and close friends. And now, it's time to start over once again---but thankfully this time I'll be doing it in my hometown.

Also, thank you so much to my friends Jenn and Daniel for everything in LA---you guys are truly the best.

It's so nice to be home.

NYC, I'll never leave you again!

Change.

My cousin Tony has been staying with me for the past few days here in LA.

This has been his first visit to Los Angeles, and here we are getting some air at Venice Beach yesterday.

What's going on?

There's nothing wrong with an honest day's work.

Words matter.

Anything is possible.

I'm a changed man...

Turning 30 is proving to be pretty eventful so far.

I can't wait to see what lies ahead.

It's nice to come back to this Carr's on Northern Lights Boulevard after 15 years away.

This supermarket was close to my uncle's store as a kid, and it's also where I had my first magazine purchase ever in my life.

Ah, Anchorage---you'll always hold a special place in my heart.

Life is truly so amazing.

Sleep, where are you?

Happy 4th of July, America!

큰아빠, we all miss you so much.

Celebrate life.

Purpose.