Thank you for all of your answers to "For LOVE or MONEY?" It seems as though the majority of you picked MONEY--not very many romantics in the audience, huh? But that's ok. Just so you know, I did end up eating Josh's steak and he suffered through my sad sausages. But after all love never means having to eat bad food if your boyfriend offers you a steak.

As for a winner, all last week's comments were too good to pick a favorite, so everyone reading this site should take a look at the comments. Very good stuff.

So, let's get on to the next entry...
It's about that time of year that you can go on walks in the late evening and see right into your neighbors well-lit houses. Oh, you know what I am talking about--don't act like you never take a quick peep to see how other people have set up their living rooms, or wonder
what prime time tv shows your neighbors watch. I don't happen to find it THAT creepy, but rather an intense look into a slice of Americana. But before I go on and sound like a complete voyeur, the point I am trying to make is that sometimes we want to look into other people's
lives, after all isn't that why Reality TV has become such a success?

While traveling to Japan I experienced many lulls in airport lobbies and train stations that forced me to people watch and take in a few brief priceless moments of Japanese culture. My most favorite place to people watch on my trip to Asia was in the Hong Kong Central Library in Causeway Bay. Built very recently, the multileveled structure housed not only books, but also a Chinese Literature Reference library, gift shop, french cafe and, my favorite, the Toy Library, where families could come and check out toys and educational tool kits for their children. Moms, dads, asian babies, university students, cute little old men, and one tourist (me) weaved in and out of the book shelves and computer terminals, among the large clean marble floors. Unlike the rest of the fast pace overwhelming concrete city of Hong Kong, the library was a place where real people went and lived their real lives, taking time out on a Sunday to look up information for their school reports, find out more facts about their hobbies and catch up on local news in the paper.

However, there are other times when we are the one's being watched and the reverse of roles isn't quite as exciting. For instance, now back in Portland, where we are somehow experiencing an unexpected heat wave, I decided to wear a nice light linen skirt. Unlike expensive skirts that are put together nicely and lay perfectly on your hips, this cheap linen skirt looks nice, but is oddly uncomfortable. When walking, the skirt likes to curiously twist, so that ultimately the front is the back and the back is the front and the top button somehow pops loose to expose too much of my front underwear covered area. So, on this hot day in Portland, I decided to walk from PSU to Powell's, the city of books, the biggest and best book store in the world. Upon arriving however, I realized that this short walk had completely off-centered my skirt and created an awful "wedgie"--it looks like I have experienced a tornado in the lower half of my body. It seemed as though every one in the book store was glancing at me over the top of their novels and feminist e-zines, curious as to what I would do next. I figured I had two options 1) attempt to adjust my skirt, even though it may expose more of me than I would like; or 2) wear the skirt as is because after all I am a fashion goddess with the most avante garde outfits, isn't that right Louis Vutton? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Find out how Jolina gets her undies out of a bind in the next entry of What would Jolina do?

I know you were all dying to know who won the Japanese eating contest of the century--Jolina or Abra?! But first let me tell you that Emily wins for best comment. She wrote..."my bet is that jolina would keep eating the sushi! abra is a formidable opponent, but beatable." Oh, Duffy, YOU FLATTER. However, I must admit that Abra DID out eat me at the sushi fest we had with Jo and Jocelyn in Shimoneseki. But do not weep for me...I made a strong come back in Hong Kong when I out ate Abra in lamb kabobs. Yes, Gillian--lamb. It was the best lamb I have EVER had.

So, now on to my latest entry...
My original intent was to continue writing stories from my Asia Adventure. However, after showing my photo album to millions of people, I suspect that everyone is tired of hearing about my trip. So, instead I am going to write about a major life change that is about to occur. Upon my return home, my boyfriend Josh and I decided to move in together. Not as a result of my trip away, but rather, the house he was renting is being sold to new owners. This got me thinking a
little bit about our relationship and how lucky I was to have a rather rad boyfriend. I mean, honestly, I realized that I had found a cool dude when one night at dinner I had made the wrong choice and ordered tasteless, unappetizing beef sausages at the Horse Brass on Belmont. Typically, when dining at the pub, I get my favorite salad and a New York steak cooked
rare with a side of hearty homemade potato wedges, however on this odd night, Josh decided to order the steak. Frustrated and sad about my disappointing beef sausage letdown, Josh kindly gestured for me to switch dinners with him. "You want me to eat that yummy, juicy red meat beef steak, and instead make you suffer through this rubbery excuse for meat?" I asked,
amazed at his offering. "Yes, I love you." He replied. "You are the most beautiful women in the world and I want you to eat as much good tasting steak as your heart desires!" Ok. I might have parapharsed that last part, and this may not be the world's most romantic example of true, genuine care for another human being but he DID put my happiness before his and that is something that I find extremely cool.

But I'll tell you one thing that is even cooler than finding someone to love and to have love you--that is FINDING money!
The other day I was going through an old purse I hadn't used since middle school and I found 5 whole dollars. It was such an exciting experience I almost swallowed my tongue.
Finding money is great...and I will take this time to recall my favorite money finding moments in order of favoriteness.

3) I found $20 outside of a chinese restaurant when I was having lunch with my dad on Thanksgiving day. When it came time to say what I was "thankful" for, I said "I am thankful for the foolish, dumbass who dropped this $20 bill. Because NOW it is MINE!"

2) When riding my bike over to my grandpa's house, I realized that I had to take a detour to the ATM so I could get some money to put into my brother's Christmas card as a present. After this thought crossed my mind, I crossed the street and there laying in an icy puddle was a $10 bill. "Merry Christmas Bro!" I said under my breath and with that my Christmas shopping was done. (Don't even ask what I got him for his birthday.)

AND my number one most favorite-est money finding moment...(drum roll please Brian)
Outside of Popeye's chicken. Where I found enough money to buy not only my two piece fried chicken meal, side of corn AND a large strawberry soda, but some of Abra's fried chicken lunch as well!
So, now I ask you (a personal question)...WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BETTER...finding LOVE or MONEY?
Find out what every thinks about this topic in the next posting of "WHAT WOULD JOLINA DO?"

My witty brother, Jake, wins the cake for the best comment from my last story about Hagi. HOWEVER, even though he was the ONLY person to leave a comment on the site, he still wrote a great comment. And I have to admit, he
may win for best comment EVER written on my site.
Here is what he said...
"well if i could understand the samurai's country accent and the japanese that he would have spat forth far faster than i can understand, i'd probably go as he directed. but knowing that i cannot understand a great deal of japanese, i'd probably try to ask for his sword and some how samurai battle him until he starts to speak english. then i would ask him what he said, and he would tell me, because i have earned his respect by battleing him along the dangerous mountain side. after following the path in which he instructed i would then be granted with a golden, shimmering yukata and a daisho set fit for a samurai. after finding true samurai enlightenment i would fly away, dragon ball Z style, back to america where i would show off my new found samurai skills to my friends and family. thats what i would do... yep... "

Well...Abra and I didn't end up getting the "golden, shimmering yukata" Jake speaks of, but we did continue to walk up the path. At the top of the hill we came to the ruins of a lookout post where there was a wonderful view of Hagi, in all directions. We told each other we were proud of our hike, then we linked arms and flew away, dragon ball Z style!

Here is the next story from my "Trip to Japan and Hong Kong" series...

Abra and I have been best friends since grade school and after about five years of not really seeing each other, I forgot a few things about her. Like, I
forgot how much that girl can eat. Back in our younger years when we
spent a few days of our summer breaks at my dad's restaurant in
McMinnville, Abra and I would often impress my parents with the amount
of steak and other food items we could consume at one setting. Yes, we
were quite a sight. Upon Abra's arrival my dad would prepare a proper
meal of a t-bone steak, medium rare, and as many baked potatoes as Abra
wanted. I, of course, passed on the starch, and headed straight for the
juicy red meat goodness.
After I finished college, I have to admit my appetite began to slow. I
don't want to necessarily blame old age from robbing me of a bottomless
stomach, but after I turned 21 I just didn't seem to have the capacity.
While in Japan, however, I often times wore my "big pants," in order to
stuff in those last few pieces of sushi.
It was in the quaint whaling town of Shimoneseki that Abra
brought me to a wonderful sushi restaurant. You've all seen the type of
restaurant I am about to explain--instead of ordering your meal, sushi
just floats heavenly along a whimsical path toward your table where you snatch it up before your neighbor has a chance to look at it. The first time I
was at a conveyor belt type restaurant I was so scared that all the salmon
sushi would be taken before it got to me, I ended up grabbing 6 plates!
After Josh told me that what I had done looked rather rude, I decided to
put my faith in the conveyor belt and leave it up to fate to delivery
the fresh fish goods, instead of hoarding it.
After about 3 plates of the freshest shrimp I have ever tasted, 2 salmon
plates and a large bowl of miso with clams in it (YUM!) I was starting to
slow down. I looked across the table at Abra who hadn't really noticed
that anyone else was around. Instead she joyfully consumed salmon and
cheese sushi in a state of utter bliss. It was a pleasant sight, until she looked
up at me and said "Aren't you going to eat any more?" Ashamed of my poor
showing thus far, I trekked on, asking Jo to grab more plates off the conveyor
belt for me. "Looks like I win!" Abra said gleefully, as she sat back and
patted her belly, looking at the tower of empty plates she had built during the
meal. I glared at Abra's tower of plates and then at my short stack and
sweat formed on my brow. I wasn't about to let her out eat me, but then again, the raw fish in my stomach uncomfortably swam about.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Would you let your best friend win at eating this time, but take the lead in
Hong Kong when you out eat her during a lamb dinner?
OR, do you continue to stuff you face with SUSHI until your eyes start to look like the color of salmon roe?
OR, (a rare third option) do you really not care about eating as much as Abra and I obviously do?
Find out what Jolina did next time in "WHAT WOULD JOLINA DO?"

Yes, I know. I am the world's most inconsistent blogger. However, it turns out that I went to Asia in search of some new material for my "What would Jolina Do?" website and that is why I have been neglecting my audience. After a wonderful week and a half in the land of the rising sun (Japan) and my Asian motherland (Hong Kong) I have much to share! Turns out I also have been suffering from a little "insomnia" due to a sleepless plane ride and an unforgiving time change. But good news for you...when I am tossing and turning in my bed at 4 am, I can always just head to the computer and update my blog with a few entertaining and heartfelt stories of my travels. Oh yes, and a short programming note...the winners of my last contest (when I turned the tables and asked readers to give me some "What would Jolina Do?" scenarios) are Ernesto and Kail. Your scenarios will be answered in the upcoming weeks AND your free beverages from Twin Paradox await you!

So, let me start my "Trip to Japan and Hong Kong" Blog series with this cute and adorable story.

After a few days of Kyoto sightseeing and rest in Mine, Abra and I decided to head to the small town of Hagi in search of a historical Japanese experience. We visited a wonderful temple, silently tucked away in the middle of Hagi, down a narrow road. There we encountered a very colorful bug that had a long body and a colorful protective cover. I was convinced that it was some sort of blood sucking, disease ridden insect, so we decided to leave the temple and head to the famous Castle Ruins of Hagi. Anxious to discover the ways of the Samurai, we decided to explore every nook and cranny of the sacred castle grounds. After a short walk and meditation session around a serene pond and a visit to the former site of the main castle house, we decided to head closer to the large mountain that was set on the back of the castle grounds. "Is it possible to climb that mountain?" I asked Abra as we walked near the bamboo covered mound. "It looks really, really tall," I said in bewilderment. I dropped my head back to look at the full extent of the enormous landscape. "Here is a path we haven't gone down yet," Abra said, as we headed toward the only spot of the castle we had not yet explored. To our right there was some sign in Japanese that state some sort of metric measurement (but we didn't quite know what it said but we didn't know what a lot of things said due to the fact that we don't really KNOW the Japanese language, nor do I KNOW anything about the metric system). Assured that this short path would lead to some sort of Samurai style enlightenment and true historical Japanese experience, we decided to continue on the windy path upward.
After about 15 mins or sweat, tears and exhaustion we realize that we really were in fact CLIMBING the mountainside, rather then strolling down a mild nature hike. Our Pocari Sweat Sport drinks and water bottles were tapped dry. Poor Abra and her non-hiking Dansko clogs stumbled over tree branches and rolled her ankles on the unkept mountainside path. And, me, in a pair of clean, light colored J Crew Chinos kicked up dirt riddled with ancient Samurai sweat and blood. Clearly we were not ready for the journey we had set out to complete. But honestly, were the ancient Samurais of Japan ready for the bloodshed they witnessed in Imperial Japan? (Well...probably.) As the air got thinner due to our change in altitude, we decided to take a rest at a small clearing. Should we continue on up the hill in search of reward promised on the sign at the bottom of the hill? Or should we head back? Weakened by the upward climb, we began to fade...but then as we were about to turn back, a vision appear before us. The spirit of a great Samurai encouraged us to follow the path, for that is what he would have done...Abra and I looked into each others eyes and knew exactly what we had to do...BUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Would you take the Samurai's advice and continue the journey, or run down the hill as fast as you can, because you just saw a vision of a dead samurai and he was talking to you and you are clearly dehydrated?
Find out what Abra and Jolina did in the next entry of "What would Jolina do?"
Now it's time for me to try and get some more sleep before I head to work.
Kwong, Out.