To My Favorite Sister

They say that the longest relationship you will have with another human being in your life is the one with your sibling. I'm so glad I get to share mine with this girl.

HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, MEI!

We are two peas in a pod, Jessica and I. We get along so well and enjoy each other's company so much some friends think we're weird.

"I can't stand my brother. You actually like love your sister? Weird."

Yea, it's weird but then again, so are we.

I adore my sister's awkward sense of humor, her flair for the dramatics (she is a theatre major, you know), her sunbeam of a smile, her tendency to make you feel guilty for anything you do, and most of all, her exceedingly large heart. She always cries when our family parts ways at the airport, she remembers little details like what kind of perfume I like, she always makes the extra effort for those she cares about and out of the two of us, she is definitely the better sister.

When I have good news, bad news, any news, she is always the first one I try to call. I've mourned over broken hearts with her, giggled about ridiculous situations, solicited advice, and can even sit in silence just observing how utterly cool this girl is.

See, so cool, right?

We have our differences; she can't stand it when I try to introduce her to "the best book ever" or "the song that will change your life!" but she tolerates my overall dorkiness and even tries to give me advice on how to pick up boys. (Dude, girl is a pro with the men.)

That's her modeling in a magazine!

Jessica, I can't wait until you become an international superstar, dazzling the world with your charm and beauty. Then, you can play me in a movie about my extraordinary life and we will both live happily ever after...with each other. We really probably would have to because nobody else will ever get me like you do and tolerate me like you can. Love you to death, little sis. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Remember, when you become a movie star, I get first dibs as your personal assistant!

Unforgettable 2009

KoreAm Journal threw a classy shindig by the name of Unforgettable last night. It was a star-studded gala held at the historic Park Plaza Hotel in downtown LA.

The ballroom was exquisitely decorated under the guidance of the ultra-fab event coordinator, Joyce and guests were treated to an amazing meal provided by Lawry's. I have been having a hard time cooking for myself at home that I wolfed my entire plate of spinning salad, prime rib cut, creamed spinach, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy and yorkshire pudding. My entire table clapped for me. I felt embarrassed but proud. (Ma, if you're reading this, I'm back to eating spinach and salmon fillets!)

I was brimming with anticipation to watch the entire show, so excited because I actually wrote the script for the show (with editing help from the ever-eloquent Julie) Words that I wrote, sentences that came out of my brain, ideas that I conjured up, were going to be uttered by hotshots like Sandra Oh, Daniel Henney and Joy Osmanski.

I think they did a pretty fine job interpreting it, don't you think?

Funnygal host Amy Anderson is so grateful for Unforgettable's sponsors that she sang a song for them. Okay, so it's to the tune of Sixpence None The Richer's Kiss Me. I'm not a musician, so sue me.

For your sing-along pleasure, below are the lyrics:

Thank you, thank you Park Plaza Hotel

For this, this big and lovely room

Where we, we can eat our ribs

Given to us by Lawry’s, where’s the bib?

Oh, thank you, Willow Hotel and Tiger Asia

So do, so do you Verizon Wireless

Can you hear me now

Premier Plastic Surgery and Ocean Radiation Oncology

We thank you

Time Warner, Kamsahamnida and SeAh Steel

Also, Sans Souci, Intertrend

K-T-A-N channel, Net Kal

Can’t skip Radio Seoul and Korea Times, oh

Oh thank you, to all our sponsors tonight

We couldn’t have asked for any more.

I lied, yes we can

Ten Communications, La Premiere, and Kollaboration

We thank you

There’s one more, group that’s really special

And that’s the, alcoholic beverage group

You know you love them too

So dear Johnnie Walker, lovely Jinro and delicious Hite

We thank you

We thank you

[seems like she’s done with the song, then strums up again]

wait there’s more

[strum guitar]

like Pan Com

[strum guitar]

or TVK24

[strum guitar]

KOTRA

[strum guitar]

IW Group

[strum guitar]

Waking up Media

[PAUSE so it seems like she’s really ending the song, but strums again]

and UNI Insurance

[strum guitar]

Insurance for you and I

[strum guitar]

And Future International

Wilshire Bank

[strum guitar]

and ABC Disney

[strum guitar]

and J.P. Morgan

[strum guitar]

and Wilshire Dental

[strum guitar]

And Kanye West

[strum guitar]

should get up here

[strum guitar]

and stop me nooooooooooooow

Sandra Oh teaches Daniel Henney a thing or two about being a television doctor.

Justin Chon is "Just Like Us!"

CS Lee wants to wrestle Daniel Dae Kim.

The show also featured beautiful performances by Priscilla Ahn, Lena Park and the hottest b-boys ever, Last 4 One.

As if the evening wasn't enough of a blast, there was a pretty sweet (if cold) after-party where I got to reunite with old friends.

And make new ones.

And shamelessly ask celebs to take pictures with me.

Near the end of the night, I chatted with Sandra Oh for a little bit. After I subtly (of course) mentioned I had written the script for the show, she told me that she thought it was the best Unforgettable script she had heard in the past 6 years.

"I usually have to edit the hell out of these things but you made it work," she told me.

Sure, she may have just been polite and was trying to make me happy but dude, the words came out of her mouth! I don't care if she was drunk, lying or crazy when she said it, she said it! Sandra Oh, one of my most admired and respected acting idols, said I made it work!

And that is truly unforgettable.

*Edit: Oh yea, and I also worked as red carpet interviewer. Check out what I got the celebs to say here.
*Edit Edit: We also ran into Rex Lee from "Entourage" at Hodori after the after-party. I'm so grateful he's not freaked out of his mind by my deathgrasp.

Yup, That's Me!

The facade that I have been masquerading around as a "journalist" who's "on assignment" and "working" finally comes off as my editor sent me an email with an incredulous, "is this you?" on the subject line and this picture attached.

Obviously, I can't pretend any longer and say that I had been hard at work reporting and observing this particular wedding ceremony when it is plainly shown here that I have sipped a little too much gin and tonic at the open bar (and thus resulted in that unfortunate, "too cool for school" face) and is actually just dilly-dallying, jumping and jiving with the bride's little sis and a particular Asian acting wonder.

It would be nice to be a full-time wedding correspondent. Then I could do this all day. Sigh... I think I dream about that career more than I dream about my own actual wedding!

Hollywood High School

This was awhile back but I just realized I had never posted about this. I post about almost every other single thing going on in my life including the state of cleanliness my bedroom is in so it would be a shame to not blog about this.

This being that my sister acted in a movie this past summer! She was part of the cast of Easy A, a teen dark comedy coming out in 2010. The movie is almost like Scarlet Letter but set in modern-day high school times and boasts an amazing ensemble cast. (and I'm not just saying that 'cause Jess is in it.) Lisa Kudrow, Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Hayden Church, Penn Badgley, Emma Stone, the list is impressive. Take a look-see for yourself at some of the pictures we took at the after-party.

Star Emma Stone - she was in Superbad, The House Bunny, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Former stars of "Aliens of America." I heard this was an awesome show but like all awesome shows, it ended up being...cancelled. *sigh

Aly and AJ! OMG I totally listen to their music! (They rock, ok?)

Me and my new best friend/lover, Tyler! He's a cutie!

So when people say that Hollywood is like high school, they aren't exaggerating. Some of my sister's behind-the-scenes stories are unbelievable. A star of the movie with a total nice girl/guy reputation acted like she/he came straight out of Mean Girls(slash Guys?).

It makes me mad because unfortunately, my sis was one of the poor lambs getting picked on but what can you do? Our ultimate payback will be for Jess to become a mega-star and watch that bully's face one day as Jess sashays past her on a red carpet as people are screaming for my sister's name and ignoring her/him. When that day comes, it will be sweet!

But until that day, we just gotta suck it up and do the best work we can.

Jess, keep it up. You're amazing and I have every confidence that you win over the world with your acting talents. Cheers to the future!

PS. You should check out my sis' IMDB page. I can only link you to that since someone still hasn't purchased their domain name from Mr. Creeper. Get on it, girl!

Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist

The world is in shambles.  Left and right, my friends and acquaintances are getting laid off.  I can hardly find an internship, let alone a job. (Well, that's not true, I just turned one down last week.) Everything in stores are always on sale-which should be a good thing-until I realize why they are on sale in the first place and why I would be better off not buying it.

My favorite TV shows are also not doing very well.  Ugly Betty just got pulled from the schedule so the network can try out a couple new shows.  Nothing good is ever on the tube.  If I see that annoying Lisa Rinna asking inane questions like, "how does it feel to play a vampire on TV" and have the guest she's interviewing reply, "I don't play one" again, I swear I will throw the remote at the screen.  

I seek solace in my Google Reader, where I can peruse some carefully hand-selected blogs from the vast Internet world but even then, things look dismal.  Bloggers left and right are writing about all the lay-offs and closings, shut-downs and non-employment rates.  Even pretty pictures can't replace the iron-hard words that jobs pickings are getting slimmer and slimmer.

Despite knowing all of this. Despite understanding that I need to be doing something to prevent a future of unemployment, instead of working on my internship applications, job applications, visiting the career center, or even attending networking functions, I keep trying to find an illegal copy of Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist to watch on-line.  

I know...what is wrong with me???!!  It's not even a classic, nor a masterpiece, nor a huge blockbuster.  It's just a simple love story starring two fairly ordinary-looking young adults playing ordinary high schoolers.  

Yet somehow, I can't seem to get it off my mind. I want to watch that movie so badly.

They say movies are a form of escape and if so, then I am running away in the worst way.  I keep trying to find places where I know the lovers will end up together, where I can seek solace that normal people will reach happiness and where I don't have to think about my impending future.

My mom tells me the older I'm getting, it seems the less responsible I've become. I've given up my car, I don't have a job, I keep doing things like improv comedy and making up stories in my head.  And she's right. I've retreated, and I don't like it ONE BIT.

The old responsible, motivated Janice came back a little a couple of days ago when I was spontaneously assigned to interview Dat Phan, a famous Vietnamese-American comedian.  The Janice who had her act together, who sought out opportunities and sniffed out good things to report.  Let's hope-no, let's make sure-she makes more of an appearance in the future.  

I know I can be whatever I want to be as long as I work on getting there.  I pray that He will instill that will and longing back into my heart again.