I was randomly surfing through some personal websites, some of which have received quite a lot of hits over the years. But what inspired me to start my own was following Mark around during his whirlwind tour of Asia. He was documenting his experience through his personal website, and I found myself drawn to it every DAY just to see what he was up to. I even worried about him on the few days that he didn't update it!

My website PALES compared to Mark's, but I figured I needed to start from somewhere. I have seen enough personal websites to know that I can RANT with the best of them, and I'd certainly be up for the challenge of generating interest in what I personally have to say. Porque no? Maybe I'll learn a thing or two, and who knows what opportunities it may bring. A job offer? A DATE maybe? OK I'm there!

So then I started to think... hmmm... real-life drama.... Sex in the City... Friends... The Truman Show! And off my mind went into a mad frenzy. Laurie and Adella, for better or for worse, got to witness this madness. For days I had this distracted look in my eyes, even when we were having a conversation about something unrelated. "Uh oh," they'd say, "her mind's going at it again". Not good. I owe them a big thanks, since they were the ones who encouraged me to go for it.

Naturally, I got it in my head that I needed to have the URL "Christine.com", which at the time was for sale and appraised at US$7,000. Since I did not have that kind of cash on me (April market crash took my coat, and whatever I had left went into ORIENTED), I drafted up a very rough business plan and hit up my friend Wayne for a chunk of money. Good thing I did.

The process of defining the site design, its content, and my objectives, was a great exercise to go through, and getting Wayne's feedback was equally important. First, the restaurant he took me to at the Mandarina Hotel had the best Thai food I've ever had in Taiwan! Oops. What I meant to say was, first, he made me realize that the Christine.com URL just wasn't worth US$7,000, even if I could turn a profit. I hadn't thought so earlier.

Second, he himself was quite removed from the concept of 'real-life' television shows and websites, which forced me to better understand who it was I would be targeting, and what they would want in a 'real life' website. Third, having to explain, convince, and compromise with him as a potential investor started to get on my nerves... Wayne can you just pass me the green curry chicken please... and it made me realize that, at least for my personal site, I didn't want to have to contend with that element.

Most importantly, as I delved deeper into all that I could accomplish with my own personal website, I also realized that it was much more than just a cheesy, quick-and-dirty, commercial endeavor, and that what I really wanted to do had nothing to do with money. I wanted to build my very own, permanent mark on the world wide web, whatever that might be, and I wanted it to have meaning.

That's when I said, Wayne, I'm sorry to have troubled you but I realize now that I actually don't want your money. Thank you for taking time out for me, for helping me to flush out my ideas, and for even considering my proposal in the first place. But most of all, thank you for the lovely dinner. It was yummy!

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