Here I am sitting in front of my computer listening to The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on cd, not paying attention, writing the list of things that makes me happy.

Lisa practically forced me to do it. Even though she’s over 1200 miles away, she has this particular control over me, having me sit down and type. Type out my list of things that makes me happy. Like I said in yesterdays post, it is supposed to be a simple list, a list of finer things. Lisa said it is a exercise that will make me view life in a totally different way, to have me not take what I have for granted.

She wants a complete list, but I don’t know how complete the list can be considering different things at different times makes me happy. So today at work, she commanded me to make a list of 30 things. Well should I go Letterman style, or just list a list? It is simpler to list a list. Here goes:

1. Jeans. They’re comfortable. Boot cut, they actually look good on me. Go figure.
2. Sandals. Come on, my toes need to breath.
3. Post it notes. They are a life saver.
4. IM, most ingenious way for people who hate phones to keep in touch.
5. MP3s. Great mixed CDs. Cheap too, especially if you don’t get caught.
6. Walking in the rain. It cleanses the soul. I miss the rain in sunny California.
7. Having a conversation with someone (especially a girl) without awkward pauses. It shows that I can actually socialize. Yeah!!!
8. Laughing. It heals the soul.
9. Weird dreams. It helps me think.
10. Children. Their innocence and carefree nature just puts a smile on my face.
11. The time Lisa and I went to Jenny’s house last year. Well, I got drunk off of 3 Mike’s Hard CranLeomonade and Jenny had 2. It was fun, 3 old friends living 3 different lives just catching up and eating cat food and cheese.
12. My traditional outings with Lisa. It’s good to hang out with an old friend and just talk, drive, watch movies, and reminisce. It started sophomore year in college. It was winter break and she called me up to go out and catch up. We saw Waking Ned Devine that night. A enjoyable movie. Afterward we went to Jenny’s house to see what she was up to. She got engaged, but my how things have changed. Lisa and I kept that tradition every year since. It was Being John Malkovich the year after and Best in Show the year after that. Now every time I go home, I try to make room for her.
13. My first 3 months down in LA with Suong, Stacey, Vicky, and Kathy. There’s just something about living with 4 girls. I was actually social, because I actually had to.
14. The crew at work. Great people.
15. The time I had my first real drink. I was with Loretta and Kimmie at Rams at the U-Village. I had a Tiffany’s margarita on the rocks. After my first sip, I was gone. Everything was in slow motion, and I was swearing like a sailor, a little to loud too. Ahhh the memories.
16. Seeing people laugh because of me. It means I’m funny.
17. Word processing. Oh, how I hate writing long hand and I can’t read my own handwriting most of the time.
18. Watching movies alone.
19. Family get togethers, especially now-a-days. I really like going back home after a long time down south and seeing family, catching up with them, hearing about what is happening in their lives.
20. Sing, “Tool”, “Little Girl”, and “Cloud”. New additions to my life. These kids are just cute and adorable. They never cease to make me laugh or smile.
21. Walking for the sake of walking. Exercise and time to think all at the same time.
22. Whenever I write something that I think is good. It gives me a feeling that I’ve accomplished something.
23. When I finished my first feature screenplay. I thought that day would never come. Even though no one liked it, I really enjoyed what I wrote. It was back during a time when I didn’t think about writing or what I wrote; I just wrote. Didn’t think about the structure, or be so self conscious about what I wrote. Words just flowed on screen, to paper and it created something.
24. The day I left my old life and started a new one. The day I moved down to California. My parents drove down with me, supporting this move, my dream. It was liberating.
25. Albertson’s fried chicken meal. $5.99 for 8 piece of really good chicken, a pound of salad and four rolls. Can’t beat that. It is a weekly staple.
26. Jack-in-the-Box’s $0.99 menu. $4.00 + change and you are good to go.
27. The times I make Monica smile and laugh. She’s a tough woman to please most of the time. Glad to know that she thinks I’m funny, even though most of the time it is at my expense.
28. Talking with Monica. She’s still as paranoid as ever though.
29. 4th of July back in the 80’s. When my brother and I would go to 2nd Uncle’s house or Dat’s house and we would just play with fireworks all day. Ahhh I was young, carefree, and stupid back then.
30. The first day that I went out drinking with friends from the Zoo Store. It was Todd’s birthday party, and Krista invited me. I got drunk, wasted, almost got in a bar fight; it was fun.
31. Bunny ears/TV antennas. It gives me pictures when the cable doesn’t work. Cheap too.
32. My daily emails with my brother. Never talked to him as much in my whole life until these past two years corresponding through email…talking about movies, music, television.
33. Television. It gives me a excuse to not exercise and to not write.
34. Once in a while taking a picture that actually looks good. Cause it sucks to waste film.
35. Stephanie. She pushes and pushes me to do better. She brought me under her wing at work when I first came in. She’s my mentor, even though most of the time she annoys me.
36. How I got to dance with Amber, my highschool crush, during the prom. It is a sweet story.
37. My dance with Lisa at the prom. She brightened up a terrible evening.
38. Bell review in Ms. Bohna’s class in the 8th grade. I was unstoppable.
39. My sense of humor. I need it.
40. Music. It helps me think.
41. The first time I watched Amelie and Moulin Rouge. They just brought a big smile to my face.
42. Watching Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express I have a greater appreciation for film because of it. It change the way I look at film. That was in 1997.
43. The day that I decided that I was going to move down to LA to try my way in the film industry. It gave my life direction.
44. The summers I was working during college. It gave me a feeling I was on my own, making my own way. It prepared me for what I’m doing now.
45. The night Kevin, Julio, Stephanie, Heather and I went out to Don Antonio’s for $0.99 tacos and Margaritas after work. Later Kevin, Julio, Stephanie and I went to get some beer and went ka-ra-o-ke-ing. We sang, and sang; felt Like a Virgin and I Touch Myself. Great night, but the aftermath was terrible. All the tacos came back up.
46. April 10, 2003. Best birthday. I actually had fun. Aftermath, didn’t care for. The Pico-de-Gayo scared the crap out of me, floating in the toilet.
47. Gong back home and watching the Food Network. Best channel ever. Bar none. To bad I can’t afford cable.
48. Seeing my father loosen up and get drunk last year during my grandmother’s memorial feast. I’ve never seen him like that before. He was happy, he was free.
49. January 2003. When I really started to feel better about myself and began my process of becoming happy. It was also around that time when I actually felt home sick. It took me a year and a half down here before I got home sick and wanted to go home and I did. I went back for Chinese New Year’s. That was the last time I saw my father.
50. The day that my parents finally arrive at Fresno when I first came down two summers ago. That night Maggie took Dat and I to Yoshinos for some sushi, beer, and some saki bombs. Afterwards, drunk, red, and giggling like a little school girl, I had dinner with my parents and Dat’s parents. It was funny, it was dangerous, and I couldn’t stop laughing.
51. February 2002. Went up to Fresno to visit Maggie and Loretta who was down in Fresno for something. We went out to dinner and I asked for a beer. Ever since, Gi Fu buys beer for me whenever I go up to visit.
52. The day I moved out and lived on my own. One dream checked off.
53. The day I got home after my grandmother died and I saw my father next door. He gave me a big smile and a big wave. It brought a smile to my face.
54. To know that I’m not angry with my parents anymore, especially knowing that before my father died.
55. The weekly calls from my father, hearing his voice. He sounded happy.
56. Knowing Nick is like me, afraid to go for it.
57. To see how surprised everyone at work was to see I have hair after I came back from my grandmother’s memorial. They all liked it. To quote Jordan, I was “pimping it.” Danielle said I actually looked cool. Then I had problems and shaved it off.
58. My hair now. I wouldn’t be able to wear it 3 years ago, because I wouldn’t have the self-esteem to.
59. Photography. A old hobby I am trying to pick up again.
60. Singing. It just eases the mind.
61. My very eclectic and piss poor taste in music. It makes Monica laugh. According to her, I have the sensibilities of a 13 year old girl. Ahh so true, so true.
62. The Britney Spears concert. It’s a guilty pleasure.
63. My first Thanksgiving up in Fresno. Wow, ate to much.
64. This journal. It helped get a lot of things that needed to come out out.
65. Even though I hate it, but hearing my mom call me “Baby.” I am no longer Phong to her, but “Baby.” I don’t even think she remembers my name.
66. The Thanksgiving that I went up to Whistler mountain with some family and the Smith’s. I almost broke my back, but it was fun.
67. The first time I rode the Goliath at Six Flags with Luigi and Michelle. That was a big mutha.
68. To know I’m not a lone.
69. Boxers. They are very liberating.
70. Assistants. I could push work on them. Also, it makes me feel important.
71. Pens, cause I can’t write in pencil anymore.
72. The 20 dollar bill. The best denomination.
73. To know that some girls actually have a crush on me. Even though 3 out of the 4 are pre-highschool. It still means something. I think.
74. Keira Knightly and Natalie Portman. One blonde, the other brunette, but they both look alike. One in each color. They are purdy.

All right, judging by the last entry, I’ve ran out of things. I’m sure I could think of more, but I think I went over what Lisa asked for, which was 30. Now Ms. Spink, are you happy now?