Glass Art at the Washingtonian

There's this place called Amazing Art Studio at the Washingtonian Center (aka: Rio). It's the largest do-it-yourself art studio around here. We went there for the first time and tested our creativity. We painted a ceramic chopsticks bowl and fused glass to create the plate. The ceramic painting was a little sloppy. Glass fusing involved protective eye wear and a short training session on how to safely cut glass and properly use the tools provided. It's not as easy as it looks or sounds, but it was definitely a lot of fun.

I think we did good for first-timers. The bowl came out a little messy, especially around the rim, but it turned out better than I had expected. We're going back to try other art projects sometime soon. The studio is worth checking out, and the staff are very helpful and friendly.

[ www.amazingartstudio.com ]

Is Education Worth It?

I've had plenty of discussions with many people about this topic. We all wonder whether education is really worth it.

• You spend at least 4 years of your life studying - often times, staying up all night to cram for a test or finish that research paper.
• You end up in debt from student loans or other means of paying for school because you don't qualify for financial aid, you don't get enough financial aid to cover all your costs, or you missed the deadline to submit your application for financial aid.
• According to the government, your parents make too much money for you to qualify for financial aid, but in reality, they barely have enough to cover the cost of textbooks.
• You work several part time jobs, or a full-time job, or a combination of both just to pay for your tuition or some of it, while going to school full-time or part-time. Regardless, you still have to study for that exam, read the 10 chapters the professor assigned, or write that 20-page paper or 1000-line program for a class right after you get out of work.

When you graduate and get your degree, you realize that...

• Someone without a degree is making so much more money or the same amount of money as you do, but they're not burdened with student loan debts.
• You realize that your degree might have gotten you a white collar job, but people can do just as well or even better without that degree.
• You wasted at least 4 years of your life studying for a lot of things you can barely remember and barely use in your job.
• People who did not bother go to college have had a head start with their careers, so they're already experienced workers by the time you graduate.
• All the internships and part-time jobs you did while in school might have made your resume look good, but nothing beats 4-years of work experience, so you find yourself unqualified for many job opportunities, and you end up applying for entry level positions.
• You have to go back to school and get your masters or PhD to move up, to get promoted, and/or get a raise.

You go back to school and take more classes for that graduate degree, and unfortunately for you, your employer doesn't want to pay for you to get that higher degree...

• You spent another couple of years or so of your life studying and most likely, working at the same time.
• You got your degree, and you indeed get that promotion or pay raise you wanted, but you soon realized that you're much deeper in debt with student loans.
• And you're in so much debt that you're not even sure how and when you're ever going them all off, even with the pay raise or promotion.

Sometimes, a degree/diploma might just be a status symbol. Unless you have parents who can afford to pay for your college education, or you qualify and receive full financial aid help, or you're getting scholarships left and right because you're super smart or super athletic, then you might want to think twice about going to school - at least here in the US, because it is one of the most expensive things you will ever spend on, second only to a house.

So do you think it's worth it?

Fern & Jamie's Housewarming Party

Last weekend, Fern & Jamie moved to their new place. This past weekend, we had a housewarming party. We had home-cooked Thai food again, lots of beer, and Thai tea ice cream. After eating, we played some games on the Wii, and the Just Dance games was the best and most entertaining game of the evening. We all embarrassed ourselves by dancing along with the game. Some of us had grace, but most didn't. It was still a lot of fun. The night ended with the police and neighbors knocking on the door because were too loud. Good times!

Preaw, Eve, and Taan posing with the food.

Eve trying to eat a big piece of fried noodles. Taan made it.

Yummy Thai food!

Having so much fun playing the Just Dance Wii game

Dodgie got Towed

Dodgie stopped working today. It won't start anymore, so I pulled out my handy triple A membership card and called for roadside assistance. They came and checked the battery, starter, and etc. Dodgie still wouldn't start. So we had to tow it to the auto shop.

Dodgie getting on the tow truck. It was actually a lot of work to get a car on top of the truck. Good thing I wasn't stuck in the middle of nowhere or on the highway. I was at a safe and quiet neighborhood.

I got to ride on the tow truck on the way to the auto shop. It was a fun experience. I'm hoping Dodgie will be fine, and fixing him won't cost too much or too long. We shall see on Monday.

Fern & Jamie's Move

Fern and Jamie moved to their new place this weekend. After moving everything, we all went to Rick and Eve's place to party. We had home cooked Thai food, which I couldn't enjoy that much, because they were too spicy for me. Fortunately, the guys got pizza so those who didn't eat spicy food weren't left hungry. We played Jenga after eating, and it became interesting because most people were already intoxicated. There was no winner but one loser. The loser ends up taking a shot of rum. Good times!

Yummy Thai food

In the kitchen preparing / getting food.

My turn to take a piece.

It gets harder each round.

You lose when it falls.

Loser takes a shot of rum.

Joe Satriani at Guitar Center

One of my all time favorite musician / guitarist, Joe Satriani, stopped by the local Guitar Center a while ago for a quick jam and autograph signing session. It was awesome. I wish I could play like him. I think almost every guitar player wants to play like him. He doesn't need vocals or lyrics - just let the guitar sing. It's amazing.

Music is great from your MP3 player, the internet, the CD, and etc, but it's the best live. Nothing beats live music. Of course, the place was packed and the line was long, but we eventually made it through and got a picture with Joe. It was the best.

National Museum of Crime & Punishment

The National Museum of Crime & Punishment is right next door to the Verizon Center. I was watching a concert at the Verizon Center a few months ago, and I noticed this museum. I love crime shows - CSI, Bones, Cold Case, Law & Order, etc - so this place caught my attention. I researched it online and found out that they offer very discounted tickets on Sundays (January 10 ‐ March 14, 2010) for Maryland, Virginia, and DC residents. Just bring proof of residency and you'll only pay $6 per ticket instead of $12 - $20 per ticket. [www.crimemuseum.org]

It was interesting. They had a lot of good stuff in there, and plenty of information on crime and punishment to read - starting from the old ages until modern times. I thought it was a fun trip, and it would most likely take up your entire day if you're interested in reading every single caption, watching the videos, playing the games, and trying out tasks - cracking safes, virtual car chase, identifying fingerprints, etc.

Taan's being dramatic. ^_^

You can look around the live set of America's Most Wanted.

They have a realistic jail cell where you can experience what it's like to be locked up. I felt claustrophobic, and the toilet was right beside your bed. Jail is no joke - unless you're a gazillionaire, then you can have a nice penthouse jail cell with plush furnitures and cable TV.

You can also be part of a line up. Standing in the line up, you can't see out - it's just a mirror, but standing on the other side of the line up is a clear view of the potential criminal. It was just like in the movies and TV shows.

The Twins - Amber & Ashley

A lot of people have asked me if the twins in my profile picture are my kids. No, they're not, but I have played with them since they were newborn babies. One is named Amber and the other Ashley. They are almost two years old now. They can almost talk now - mainly words and semi-words, but they can definitely understand what you're saying. They can walk, run, jump, and climb up to high places now. I really won't mind if they're my kids, but unfortunately, they're not.

Ashley (on the left) and Amber (on the right)

They're very cute and very smart too. They're also pretty brave. They're not afraid to climb up high places, jump off, and do crazy acrobatic stuff ever since they were old enough to be independently mobile. Here are more photos of them when they were about 1-year-old, and they just learned to stand up with the help of other people and furnitures.

Amber (lightly and softly) pushed down on the fluffy couch

Ashley on my shoulders

Ashley and Amber (trying to eat my face) loves me.