I guess yesterday was “meet-people-you-don’t-see-often” day. I had my Instant Messenger on (I use Trillian) when I saw Vicky come online. It had been ages since I last saw her - almost a year. I remembered her birthday in January but did not call as I didn’t think she would remember me. She was at home, not feeling very well, but that didn’t stop us from having fun. We chatted for a long time online, and then I called her just to hear her voice a bit. She’s got this very sexy voice with a delicious British accent. Of course she says otherwise, but it’s true. She also insists she is not beautiful. Well, I think she is. And I bet Mike, her boyfriend thinks so too. They have been together for a long time now. He’s a good fellow and they make a nice couple. I was very sad to hear he was hospitalized with some not so common physical condition. Doctors were considering operating, which would be very bad. But Vicky says he’s going to be fine.

I also met Monique online. Now, this is a story I have to tell you… A few days ago, I got out of bed very early and was browsing the Net looking for WebCam softwares that I could use at home as an unsophisticated surveillance system. I already have one, but it hangs from time to time which makes it very ineffective. So, I was searching the Net at the usual places for software (e.g. downloads.com, hotfiles.com etc) without much luck. I went to Google, typed “Free Web Cam Software” and waited from the results. One of the URLs I got was this Video Chat web site. I followed the link to find no trace of software but lots of webcams available. Amongst the “big this”, “huge that” and “gonna do whatever” webcams, there was one named “From The Heart”. Being the silly romantic I am, that was the one that called my attention.

I joined the chat to find one of the sweetest persons I have ever met. Monique (not her real name, of course) was so kind, so attentive and so sweet we kept chatting for a long time. I told her her camera wasn’t working (at least, not for me) and she sent me pictures by email. She is GORGEOUS! Now, if you have been reading my posts, you know that I do appreciate beauty but I am not shallow. I value honesty, kindness and intelligence over good looks. But when you put all those together plus beauty, you get me hooked. And Monique is exactly like that. She’s charming, smart, gentle, understanding and incredibly beautiful. She’s got a big heart, cares for homeless people, helps her community, works in a humanitarian job and seems to be one of those people who really get touched by others’ small gestures of sympathy or cruelty. The kind of girl I could easily fall in love with. I later discovered she’s from Romania, a country I have always been curious about and always wanted to visit; that only added to my attraction to her. Again, yesterday we talked for a long time. And time flies when I am talking to her…

I was supposed to meet her online this morning, but I over slept and lost my appointment. Argh! To think that some people actually regard me as an intelligent guy! How stupid was this? I missed my appointment!

Well, Yo called me yesterday and asked if I wanted to go have dinner in China Town. It would be interesting with all the festivities for Chinese New Year and all (four days of festivities). So I went. There was a big parade. Lots of people. We had dinner, I took some pictures of the place, the Chinese dragons, the lanterns and decoration and then I got bored of being squeezed while trying to walk. Too many people. And I don’t quite appreciate crowds. I returned to the hotel after dinner and finished the night watching “Shrek” on TV. But then it was already – I don’t know – 3am? Yeah, maybe. That’s why I missed my appointment with Monique. I hope I see her tonight or tomorrow morning. I miss her already! (grin)