KEITH HAS BEEN BANNED

as the title reads
he will have to write a blog to make it up if he wants back in which i doubt

Announcement

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Surrounded by Rain is the latest recipient of Darren Dinh's Seal of Approval.


Darren Dinh's Seal of Approval is your guarantee of quality and satisfaction unlike other blogs *ahem* surroundedbysheep *ahem*.

Reasons why kim's birthday this year was better than last years

On friday was our dear friend Kimberly's big 2-1 birthday dinner. I was actually anticipating the dinner because I needed a break from all the intensive midterm studying I've been doing that week. I even had a midterm/quiz on the day of her birthday, which I am still quite angry about but thats not the point of this blog.

Anyway, without further ado, here are some reasons why Kim's birthday this year:

1. THE PLAN. Now her birthday this year was well planned. She sent out a facebook msg to a bunch of us almost a week before and EVERYONE replied in time; Eric was cutting it close though....4 in the morning was it? Also, it took us 3 days to finalize plans! Thats amazing when it comes to our group of friends, usually we do things on the day of and it usually works out...I think. Congrats to you kim, you should plan more things for us!

2. THE FOOD. Actually this wasn't all different from last year. This year she decided she would like to eat thai food again but at "Urban Thai Bistro" (has some sweet tunes at their site, so fancy) instead of "Tropika"(thanks to Jo for reminding me where we went). Now I don't really remember how much better Urban Thai was than Tropika but according to Dinehere, the ultimate guide to restaurants in Vancouver (except for BC sushi, stupid keith), Urban Thai had a rating of 3.5 stars while Tropika on Cambie (the one we went to says Jo) had a mere 2.5 stars. This year's restaurant beat last years restaurant but ONE WHOLE STAR! Here's a comment I read on their site for Urban Thai:

Added Jul 13, 2009 by dragondrea of Vancouver (43 Reviews)

Good stuff
When I'm in Yaletown and hungry, this is where I go to eat. The staff are super friendly and very social, when time permits, and the food is fresh, delicious and plentiful.

My partner and I usually the dinner specials for 2, which are decent value and let us try a variety of dishes. We usually end up taking some home, and the leftovers are always excellent the next day for lunch!

The interior is clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated.

Thank you dragondrea for your insightful comment.
For our meal, we had a combination order, A dinner for 8 was what it said on the menu. It consisted of a couple of appetizer dishes (spring rolls and skewers) and then probably 10 more dishes of different curries, vegetables, and other things I can't remember. Oh and unlimited refills of rice. Even though we had 9 people, the food was very filling.

3. THE AFTER PARTY. Because Keith is not being helpful cuz he sucks ( F U KEITH) I'll tell you what we did after dinner. We first stood around the restaurant contemplating on what to do as usual. Kim decided that we should go to a lounge but we didn't know where, thus our adventure began. We walked far from where we ate, searchin high and low for a place to sit and drink, all full of course since it was a friday night at 9 o clock. After we decided we would go to EDGEWATER CASINO for some drinks. I didn't go because I had stuff to do the next day but I assumed it was going to be fun. I had the pleasure of sitting next to a guy on the skytrain blasting Miley Cyrus's new hit "Party in the USA." It really was a party indeed v.v

Now what we did last year, I honestly don't remember but it can't beat walking around downtown after a hearty meal, enjoying the night life of VANCOUVER with great friends. It's definately a lot more fun than going to New Zealand and last years party probably.

Thus concludes this blog session, the last party about the after party, Keith MAY fill in but I doubt it because hes a big jerk....like Jeff.

As the weekenders always say "Later Days!"

Date: October 23, 2009, Location: Elsewhere

Last friday was Kimberly's birthday, the plan was to go out for Thai food, dessert, and then find somewhere to chill afterwards. I, on the other hand, had other plans. The guys were getting together and going for hot pot at Posh on the same night (for some odd reason, Allan picked the weekend closest to his birthday to get together). Short story made even shorter, I thought that we needed a blog presence there so I made the sacrifice and bailed out of Kim's birthday. We had Jeffrey and Keith there so we were fine, and I figured I would just meet up with them afterwards. I did feel more like hot pot anyway.

Zooming down the Granville Street Bridge and exiting at Fir, I found parking nearby at around 7:55 and got to Posh at 7:58. Just in time. I walk in, had a look around and didn't see anyone, am I at the wrong place? No, they were just sitting with their backs facing me. PEOPLE, WHEN YOU GET TO A RESTAURANT EARLY AND YOU'RE WAITING FOR OTHERS, SIT FACING THE DOOR.

As usual, there are stragglers who get there 5-10 minutes late but by 8:10 everyone was seated and dining commenced.

Hot pot is simple, four to a pot and eat as much as you can. Dennis and Allan, being losers and wannabe Japanese, wanted to meticulously roll every slice of beef into the pot. But I'm an impatient man - I want all my meat cooked at once and in a hurry. This method was much too inefficient for me so I took over.

WHABAM! Everything in at once, that's how you do it bitches.

Round 2? 3? 4? I can't remember. Oh shit, its overflowing.

Who the hell ordered instant noodle? (I think they call it ramen to trick you)

Sometimes, you realize how fine the line is between boring and entertaining. For example, watching paint dry - boring, watching beef cook - entertaining.

Watching beef cook:

BEFORE
(looks like someone is also taking pictures for a blog)

DURING

AFTER

AFTER AFTER

Yes, towards the end of the night your soup thickens into a really potent sludge because you stop adding water - even moreso if you ordered the udon. And I finally fixed the white balance in that final shot if you didn't notice.

I can't say I regretted skipping Kim's birthday dinner because hot pot was tons of fun. Not to mention Posh hires cute waitresses, they're like the Asian equivalent of Hooters. At the end of the night though, its really about the people. So here are some shots of everyone there.

Stuart, Dennis, Darren, Ern (Thanks for the shots Ern!)

Jose, Sunny, Allan

Yours Truly

Addendum: Just got around to installing Windows 7 yesterday.

Ooo... Pretty

A Better Playlist

Sometime shortly after I started driving to school, I compiled a music CD for my daily commute consisting of The Smashing Pumpkins, OLP, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and a few dozen other artists. Safe to say, it grew old on me, I found myself on the verge of falling asleep at the wheel far too often and some of the tracks are just plain depressing (The Fray, I'm talking about you guys). It was time for a change, I needed something more vibrant, something more colourful.

So I set out to compile my current CD based on "dem rap music", "dem black music", and booty shakers. In essence, douchie tracks with a simple message: "I want to fuck you and cum all over your face".

1. Akon - Smack That
2. Baby Bash ft Frankie J - Suga Suga
3. Lil' Jon - Get Low
4. Mystikal ft. Pharrell - Shake Ya Ass
5. 50 Cent - Candy Shop
   
6. Akon - Bananza
7. Akon - I Wanna Fuck You
8. Chingy - Right Thurr
9. Juvenile - Back That Ass Up
10. Massari ft. Belly - Rush The Floor (Rule #1 for a douchie soundtrack: must have Massari)
    
11. Methods of Mayhem - Get Naked
12. Lady Gaga - Love Game
13. Sisqo - Thong Song
14. Snoop Dogg - Drop It Like It's Hot
15. Snoop Dogg - Sexual Eruption

So far, the Douche CD has been working wonders - I haven't fallen asleep at the wheel since. It's still a work in progress and I've been promised a few recommendations from Jeffrey, but if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.

Edit: I'm pretty sure I'm missing some songs so the list will be updated

Massari exemplifies the essence that I wish to capture on this CD

Post #2

I've had this post drafted for a few days now but I've been too lazy to finish it up. Anyways, last Friday started slow but ended with strong. When I look back, I think of the song Get Low by Lil Jon. Probably only because it was playing at one point when I was driving that night but whatevs.

7:30 AM - Wake up.

9:00 AM - Work.

1:00 PM - Lunch.

1:?? PM - Back to work.

5:30 PM - Gym.

7:30 PM - Pearl Drops Tea House. Pearl Drops Tea House?! WHAAAAAA? So we finally went to Pearl Drops yesterday after Keith brought it up and my friend told me it was good. I have no idea why people say this place is expensive because it's roughly the same as Estea and Tea Works. Guess people like their cheap and dirty $3.00 night market bubble tea. Here is a pretty good review with pictures.

8:00 PM - A little bit too early for late night sushi so to Brentwood Mall it is. Brentwood has absolutely got to be the worst mall in Greater Vancouver, there's absolutely nothing there. Oh wait... I forgot about Kingsgate. Jeffrey inquires about the iPhone, Keith bitches about his plan, I feel indifferent. Whatever. Off to sushi we go, that was our main purpose tonight. We broke tradition by not going to Tomokazu *gasp* since Keith found a place called Toyama that seemed to be getting pretty good reviews on dinehere. One problem: it's in downtown. And you know what that means, parking is going to be a bitch.

Behold, the second worst mall in Greater Vancouver

9:00 PM - As usual, I find a parking spot right outside the restaurant and Jeffrey drives around looking for parking. Meanwhile, I find out Allan, Dennis, and Stuart haven't even left yet. I wandered around for a bit (because I am sure as hell not going to sit alone at a table for 7). Jeffrey eventually settles for a spot by Davies and Homer. I laughed. little did I know, his terrible parking would come to screw me over. I conceded. I walk into Toyama and sat alone at a table for 7.

9:20 PM - Everyone eventually arrives. Dinner consisted of Dennis getting a bunch of random fish dishes that he had to finish himself (salmon head, various grilled smelly fishes) and Keith getting his fill on mango pudding. Darren, who none of us know where he was all night, arrives after last call to make out with Keith.

Some hour and a half to two hours after I first sat down - We finally paid the bill and left. Oh look, it's pouring rain. Oh look, I parked just outside the restaurant. Oh look, I have to drive Jeffrey to his car. Fuck. Oh look, I thought Homer was west of Seymour. Double fuck.

Driving Jeffrey to his car in the pouring rain (he parked in Yaletown but the restaurant was at Robson and Seymour, typical)

Opening Post

It seems that Jeff, judging from his overly enthusiastic blog posts, is slowly becoming disillusioned. So, tired of reading his ravings about New Zealand, that shithole of a country, I feel it is my obligation as a friend to give him a rude awakening.

Seriously, there's a reason the country only has a population of 4.3 million. How often do you hear about people illegal immigration to New Zealand? Hell, how often do you hear about LEGAL immigration to New Zealand? Sure New Zealand is developed, but its also one of the last places you would consider. People want to go to GOOD countries; places where future generations will actually have a future, places where they can be proud to live in.

Only in New Zealand would people proudly call themselves fruits.

To conclude the opening post of this blog, I'd like to list a few great things about Vancouver. Not the great scenery, the multicultural vibe, or how the ski hills are only a short drive from the beaches; you can read a travel brochure for that. This isn't a list for tourists.

1) The Canucks don't play when you're at work
2) Bao Chau
3) Canadian beef (which owns New Zealand lamb)
4) Asian girls
5) Ian Hanomansing (what a stud)

There's definitely more, but an extensive list would be longer than the last Lord of the Rings trilogy.