the art of flattery

my brilliant niece (age 4) and nephew (age 2) have already learned an important life lesson, that in almost any instance, can win over a woman's heart.

my sister was about to lose it- tired, cranky, and had it up to here with the kids. sensing that their momma was about to lose her lid, the kids cranked up the charm.

my nephew decides to cheer up vern with song.

nephew: jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle all the mommeeeeeee. aww fun to ride with mommeeeee.

my sister's steam begins to cool.

my niece then turns up the charm.

niece: mom you are so beautiful mom you are not fat at all!!

how do they know??? needless to say, it worked like a charm. my sister's anger melted into laugther. besides, it's hard to stay annoyed at two such adorable munchkins.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

whether you're relaxing with family, friends, or a loved one- i hope you are having a merry christmas!!!

what's in a name

i was standing near a register and dealing with an associate problem when an older woman caught my attention.

crazy customer: YOU! SALES PERSON!!!

is she f**king serious? who would go into a restaurant and say- YOU WAITER! come be at my beck and call. . i'm no one's b***h. but it's not even so much what she said but how she said it with such a condescending tone that implies that being a sales person is something lowly . . . my blood was boiling.

v: yes ma'am, i'll be with you in a minute. k can help ring you up. do you have a question?

k was busy ringing up another customer, but crazy customer obviously didn't want to wait.

crazy customer: can you help ring us up?

ahh. . she's obviously so important that she doesn't have to wait in line like anyone else.

crazy customer's daughter: MOM!!! can't you see she's busy?

crazy customer: what! she asked me a question. i'm not crazy.

hmmm

highlight of my day

saw a couple wandering around. i approach them.

V: can i help you?

lady (L): yes, do you have the wine coaster that matches this?

she holds up a modern looking, silver wine bottle holder. i check the style of the piece.

V: let me check in the back.

i take a deep breath before i disappear into the stockroom. it's hit or miss. . either you find it right away or spend minutes (what feels like hours) looking for the desired piece. EUREKA!!! i find it. i carry the box triumphantly out to the couple.

V: YES! here it is!

l: hmm. . great! what do you think? she turns to her boyfriend.

Boyfriend (B): it's great. your tastes are changing and i hope to be around when they do.

l: i am moving from a french country style to something more modern.

V: yes, that is a big change.

l & b spend half an hour debating between two different coasters. he's starting to get a little frustrated.

b: just pick what you like.

l: but your opinion matters too. what do you think?

b: i dunno. . it's kinda modern/MOMA like and that's not me. (to me) what do you think, not that it matters.

V: they are both nice but they are completely different styles. i actually have modern/MOMA-like tastes. . . but that coaster is not too crazy or out there. . .

b: that's true.

l wavers back in forth, looking at other pieces. he starts to get impatient.

b: look, just pick whatever you like, i'm sure this nice sales person has other things to do.

V: no no, take your time.

b: wrong anwer!

V: laughing, sorry! i'm actually very busy, can you hurry?

l: i also need to get a gift for his sister.

V: what does she like?

l: i have no idea!

V: (to b) what does your sister like?

b: girls!!!

l: i am soo embarassed.

V: no no, it's fine.

b: honestly, the only thing i know for sure that she likes is girls. . . we used to cruise for girls together. . . actually only once, years ago.

l: i can't take you anywhere!!!

27 going on 72

christmas is right around the corner which means (1) longer work hours (i have to be at work at either 8 AM or until 11:30 PM), (2) the crazies and grumpies are out in droves, and (3) the patience of all have worn thin.

which means, i'm tired and never feel like going out after work. especially with an hour drive back home. in traffic. with my notorious road rage and metamorphosis into the angry little asian girl. regardless, i feel lame.

it's saturday night and i had a lovely evening out planned with theng, her hubby, qq, and another friend. i got home around 10pm, hungry, and beat. registry returns totally over $4000. customers up the wazoo each vying for attention and immediate service. although i kept my game face on throughout the night, it drained me. i need to sleep and wake up in a few hours and do it all over again. . until i have another day off. . five more days. . a stretch of 10 days without a break. . .

sorry for all the complaints. . i'll be better after the holiday madness ends. . .

the kindness of strangers

paycheck has been burning a hole in my pocketbook for the past week. finally got up early enough to go to the bank before work to make my deposit and get some cash.

got to the bank before its opening at 7:45 AM and used my debit card to get into the atm area. went to make a deposit and realized i had forgotten to bring a pen. luckily there was another customer at the neighboring atm machine and lent me his. made my deposit. got my cash. got my receipt and left the bank, in a rush to get to work in time.

just as the door closed behind me when i realized that i had forgotten my atm card. luckily the pen-loaner saw my predicament and let me into bank. unfortunately, it was too late. the machine took the card back because the wait was too long.

i called the number on the screen as i got into my car and drove to the associate parking lot. found out that i had 24 hours to retrieve my card from the bank before it was deactivated. what a start to the day. . .

post office nazi

feeling a bit run down of late. . .my days off are for the most part errand days, running around all over town tryin to take care of odds and ends. mostly dealing with stuff for my new apartment.

given that i am technically homeless for a month, i had decided to put my mail on hold from the end of november until the end of december. nonetheless i have still been getting some mail in my mailbox. . .monday morning after hitting the gym, i decided to walk to the post office. . mind you, my old apartment is equidistant from two post offices.

so first i went to the one in greenpoint. after waiting for half an hour i was told that i had to pick up my mail at the other post office. once i got there. . i waited for yet another half an hour just to get to the front of the hold line. . . mind you, there were only three people in line before me. . the attendant was extremely slow. . during the wait, i questioned what the pay system is at a post office. i figured there must be very little incentive to actually work efficiently.

once i got to the front, i told the extremely slow attendant (ESA) that my mail was on hold and showed her my ID and a bill to verify my mailing address and asked if i could pick up my mail. she disappeared for fifteen minutes.

ESA: your mail is on hold until the end of december. you can't pick up your mail until the end of december.

v: (incredulously) but i'm physically here at the post office and requesting to get my mail.

ESA: i'm sorry. you can't pick it up.

v: can i cancel the hold.

ESA: no. you're going to have to catch up with your mailman on the street and tell him. he left already.

wtf? how am i supposed to do that?

v: i don't understand why i can't cancel the hold.

ESA: i already did you a favor by going upstairs to look up information for you.

wtf? you are doing your J-O-B, not doing me a favor.

v: i appreciate that. could you please notify the mailman that i want to cancel my hold.

ESA: i'll make a note of it and get to it when i can.

so essentially, after wasting my entire morning, i still have none of my mail. i really am going to have to rank the post office as one of the most annoying places right up there with kinkos. . .

vultures

had very much been looking forward to a girls' night out with Q2. with the new job & the living situation, outings with my girlfriends have become a rarity.

we met up at variety, which has gotten a lot of buzz in the media. . .huge wine lovers, Q2 and i were pretty excited about checking out the venue. . .what we expected to be a laid back, casual spot to grab a glass of wine ended up being a bit aloof, stuffy, and pretentious. while the owner was friendly and eager to please, the food was underwhelming and overprices, the waiters were stingy with bread, and they commited the V pet peeve- overpushing bottled water. . please, water from the sink is fine by me and don't try to trick me by offering "still or fizzy?" and ommitting the tap water option!!!!

that being said, variety seems like a great place to grab a flight or glass of wine. . much more my speed was our second stop, in vino. a cozy wine bar in the east village that is remiscent of a cavernous restaurant in florence. our server was knowledgable, laid back, and friendly. in vino espouses my philosophy towards wine, it is a beverage that should be enjoyed on a daily basis, as determined by one's individual taste buds, without fanfare and fuss. we had an excellent bottle of docletto, bread, and meatballs.

by the last glass, kb joined us. we headed to china1, a spot i hadn't frequented in some time. the crowd was a bit stuffy and we only stayed for a brief while as Q2 started feeling ill. after kb made sure Q2 got home and in bed ok, we headed to our tried and true favorite, verlaine. i don't know what was in the air, but the vultures were definatley hunting. first there was the indian bloke that couldn't stop staring and making awkward conversations that were more silences than actual words. then, there was random scott who pretended to be best friends with one of my bartender-friends just to have a chance to interrupt our conversation. next was some guy who invited us to join their table. . and in the last maneuver, a group of guys invited us to have a shot on the house with them while we were obviously exiting the bar. . .is this really what the singles scene is like???

winter time

winter is here, i feel it when. . .

all i want to do is stay curled up in my warm bed under my down comforter topped by my fuzzy heavy blanket

it takes an additional mental push to walk the three blocks to my gym

i'm cursing the cold as my car heater warms up

the christmas playlist goes on high rotation

i see lines out the door at toys r us with parents queing to buy the hottest toys for their kids

ordering take-out sounds a lot more appealing then dressing up and going out for a night on the town with my girlfriends

the boy and i agree to watch animated christmas classics rather than fight for the remote

empty fridge

during my preparations to move, i packed up almost everything in my kitchen and cleared out my cupboards and fridge. so for the past few days i have been eating out/ordering take out. while the food is tasty, it's rough on the wallet and waistline. . so this morning after i hit the gym, i decided to stop by the grocery store to pick up enough food to get me through a week.

turkey bacon
eggs
cereal & milk
sandwich meat
frozen veggies
etc

the cashier rings me up. i hand over my credit card. the cashier tries to swipe the card and finds that their system is down. she calls the manager. they both fiddle around with it. it's goin to take some time before they figure out what's wrong and get the problem rectified. . . wanting to get goin with my day, i decide to leave without my groceries. a couple minutes into my cold walk back home, the bagger runs out calling my name.

b: it's okay!!! the machine is working.

v: GREAT!

we start walking. as soon as we get back to the store, the cashier waves her hand motioning, no no. the machine is still down.

hopes dashed, having wasted half an hour, i go home starving. . good thing i have some muscle milk powder and almonds to tide me over, otherwise i'd be really grouchy!

stroke of luck

thought i should clarify my living situation on my blog for my friends that i talk to less regularly(v. good point ahamoud).

i had been expecting to move to the UES dec 1st so i notified my landlord that i would be moving out at the end of november. at the end of october, i found out that the new apartment would not be ready for move in until the end of december. unfortunately my landlord had found a new tenant.

via my landlord's real estate broker, i worked a deal with the new tenant and i would sublet my old room and use it as storage for the month of december. then i found a sublet for 3 weeks in december until i could move to the new place.

come dec 1, i finally talked to the new tenant directly and it turns out that he would be out of town for business dec 2nd-15 and he generously told me to take my time moving out. so essentially, i'm squatting at my old apartment until the 14th after which i will bounce around with friends for a couple weeks.

feeling a bit nostalgic

wake up. long ass commute to work. work. long ass commute home. pack. gym. pack some more. sleep for a few hours.

repeat.

needless to say i'm a bit exhausted. i'm moving to the city at the end of the year and will be subletting a room for three weeks.

after a hearty 45 minute cardio session at the gym, i decided to treat myself to dinner and stopped to get take-out. as i walked down bedford, passing my laundromat, anna marie's pizza (perfect for a bit after a late night of carousing), the deli where i pick up milk and snapple, i began to feel nostalgic. williamsburg has been a wonderful place to call home for the past year and change and i'm sad to say goodbye to her.

from the first moment i laid eyes on you, i've loved you. you trendy hipstery place you.

mcarren park where i have had many a therapeutic runs. teddy's, my favorite brunch spot and an unbeatable bloody mary. my beautiful apartment. tops grocery store. my favorite boutiques (pema, red pearl) and vintage shops. maxim where i finally whipped myself back into shape. old polish lady sitting outside with her fat daschund. my fabulous landlord who speaks broken english but always repairs things and never got mad when i repeatedly blew the fuse. black betty. the bagel store which has the best bagels in all of new york. the lazy L train that never works on the weekend.

williamsburg, i'll miss you.

Trip Highlights

1. Drive-in: For the first time in my life I went to a real drive in, the kind you see in old movies and television shows. We borrowed the boy’s dad’s truck, loaded up on snacks, blankets, and were geared up for a double screening- Casino Royale and Stranger Than Fiction. It was loads of fun and definitely a novelty. The only downside is that it was so comfortable that I found myself drifting in and out of sleep.

2. Berryessa Flea Market: Claiming to be one of the largest flea markets in the U.S., this place rocks! How could you not love a place with mariachi bands, cheap tasty foods, an awesome produce market, and everything that you could ever want to buy or never thought you’d need but it’s so darn cheap you want to buy it anyways?

3. The Mission: Met up with M, his partner (who looks an awful lot like Will from Will & Grace), and another couple for dinner in the Mission. Went to a fabulous Mexican restaurant which reminded me how far superior Mexican food is in California vs. the East Coast. . no comparison really. After dinner, we wandered in and out of a few stores and made our way to a French café for crepes. The outing was wonderful but the drive home was brutal. As usual, I was asleep almost instantaneously (I have the uncanny ability to fall asleep on any mode of transportation) and the boy struggled with fatigue the whole drive home. This reminded me of how great mass transit is in NYC.

All-in-all a great trip to No-Cal. It would be great to live there for a few years. . in due time, perhaps when VK makes her move, for now, NYC still has a strong hold on mel.

Forgive the lack of photos for my posts of late. . I’m missing the cord for my camera to upload photos! I will update these with photos once I buy a card reader.

Thanksgiving in the city of Mexicans and Vietnamese

The first thing I noticed when the boy was driving me around on a hunt for coffee (turns out neither of his parents are coffee drinkers) are telltale signs of Mexicans and Vietnamese. From taquerias to banh mi and pho, san jose is comfort food heaven for me!! It also amused me that the boy had to go all the way to NYC to find a Vietnamese girl when he grew up in one of the largest communities of Vietnamese in the states.

Breakfast was cooked by the boy’s dad who turns out to be a foodie and great chef . . . hmmm . . . chorizo scrambled eggs served with the best homemade chili sauce and greasy yet crisp home potatoes. We were stuffed but luckily had 7 or 8 hours to recover our appetites before Thanksgiving dinner.

While I chatted with the boy’s dad and step-mom, the boy and his step-brother attempted to fix his mom’s backup car. Apparently, the car gets infrequent use and every time the boy visits his mom he has problems with it. This visit proved no different- from windows that refused to roll up to doors that temperamentally locked up! Having grown up driving used cars, I just took it in stride.

The rest of the day was a haze of introductions and chitchatting with the boy's family, napping, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and overeating. . .

Traveling to San Jose

i can count on one hand the number of times i've had the urge to file a letter of complaint. . the first time was with a horrible dentist in beverly hills, the second was during my continental flight from newark to san jose. i was fast asleep on the flight, but woke up during the first beverage service. . the boy had been waiting for the flight attendants to announce that passengers were free to move around the plane so that he could use the restroom.

that never happened. . .so the boy was waited another 40 minutes for the flight attendants to finish the beverage service to get up. his plan was foiled when he realized they were immediately starting the food service!!

nasty flight attendant (NFA): steak and swiss sandwich?

the boy was trying to distract himself from his urge to use the restroom by listening to music on his ipod

the boy: sure (the boy glances at the sandwich and realized there is cheese on it). actually no thank you, i don't like cheese.

NFA: rolling her eyes. i said steak and swiss. as in swiss cheese.

i looked up apalled. was this b**ch serious? i could not believe she was so rude!

after they finished the food service, there was a ten minute window to use the restroom. . the boy was the first in line. . after he got back i got up to go. apparently, a lot of people had been waiting to go because the line was long and people were s-l-o-w! i finally get my chance and while i'm in the stall i overhear the NFA complaining that she couldn't start the second beverage service with people in the rows.

what? they just served a beverage service!

NFA then gets on the loudspeakers and tells everyone to get in their seats so they can start the beverage service. by the time i get out, i realize they had already started. . so essentially i was blocked. i walk up to the two flight attendants and ask if i can get in my seat. mind you, i'm sitting in the row behind first class and they could have easily backed up to let me sit down. . instead, NFA complains loudly to her co-worker about how difficult the passengers are making it for her to serve beverages by standing in the aisle. i stifle my urge to slap her and instead proceed to tell her that they made the announcement while i was still in the restroom and i didn't understand why she was being so rude.

she looked right through me but eventually moved the cart so i could sit down. . . seriously, i don't understand their timing was extremely poor and i was just floored by how a flight attendant could be so unhospitable and nasty. in the end i never got the NFA's name, but i still have the flight number and intend to write a letter to customer service.

we arrived at san jose international airport around 8:45 pm on wed night. the boy’s dad picked us up and insisted on taking us to dinner. being the night before thanksgiving, most restaurants were closed which ultimately left us with the option of denny’s and various fast food restaurants (sadly, not in-n-out). we opted for denny’s, where the boy and i discovered it was a study spot for the both of us during our college years. service was s-l-o-w and during the long wait, jetlag set in. the two of us struggled to stay awake and eat our food. after that the boy’s dad dropped us off at his mom’s and headed back to his house. first impression of the boy’s dad was that he was exactly as he had been described- loud, outgoing, brash, a character if you will, and utterly likeable!

NFA:

the screamer

work has been especially hectic of late, and i imagine will be increasingly so with the holiday season drawing near. during this time, i am developing some useful attributes, namely:

1. the ability to say "no"

2. thicker skin

3. the patience of a saint

regardless, i still witness behavior that simply astounds me. on saturday, it was "the screamer".

this particular customer came in to receive help with an order she placed with another company. my company uses the same shipping center so i offered to help. the woman was distraught and upset that several of her orders had been botched up by the other company. after offering my condolences and apologies for the woman's troubles, i called customer service to find out what was happening to her order. this process took about half an hour during which the customer repeatedly worked herself into a frenzy, calling the associate and manager that had helped her at the other store "stupid" and "idiots", yelling on the phone with the poor customer service rep, all the while proclaiming "poor me poor me". while she talked to her daughter on her cell phone, settling another matter, she began screaming to her "SHUT UP" while she was on our phones yelling at the manager at the other store. this scenario played out for another good half hour as she retold her story to every associate that passed her way.

this is why work leaves me drained. but hey, at least it's good blog material.

so hard it hurts

there are only a handful of comedians that can make me laugh so hard it hurts. among this motley crew (dave chapelle, chris rock, will ferrell, and my brother) is russell peters. known for his amazing ability to perfectly mimic any accent and ethnic jokes, i feel that his humor has broad appeal while not resorting to excessive use of profanity or crudeness.

indian-canadian, he has made a name of himself via youtube and his jokes about stereotypes.

http://letsget.bz/fun/Russell%20Peters.wmv

needless to say, when theng, q2, and i went to see him perform live friday night, there was a hugely diverse (i don't recall seeing a single caucasian) audience. haven't been around so many asians since 2005 halloween party!

the show was worth every pennny and i was relieved that much of the material was new. i completely lost myself in laughter for two hours, forgetting all my day to day stresses and troubles. . .

bowl no-mor

as many of you know, i do not have the best hand-eye coordination. . . a fact i attribute, perhaps unfairly, to a childhood in which i was discouraged from playing sports (e.g. scarred knees and legs are not attractive and you should be studying). despite that, there are things that i love to do but that i'm not very adept at. namely, iceskating/roller blading, bowling, tennis, billiards, and etc.

so last night's outing with the boy, his co-worker & his date, + date's friends at bowl-mor near union square was at once fun and nerve wracking. in the beginning, i was relaxed and all about enjoying myself after everyone assured me that they weren't very good. . . plus how bad could it be, we're just a bunch of adults throwing a bowl down lanes and trying to knock some pins down.

in the first round of the first set, i did ok. i got 7 pins and some people got none. then the second round came and everyone started playing better, having warmed up. . .except for me. initially, everyone was super supportive, cheering anyways and giving pointers. . . but at some point, it just became embarassing.

to make matters worse, the boy has great form and was picking up spares left and right. and his form of encouragement?

come on honey, you can do it.

alright, you need to pick it up a little.

if you get a spare, you won't be last.

argggg.

of course i came in dead last. but we all decided to play a second round -me somewhat grudgingly. . bowling isn't fun!

my turn. i found a ball that had larger holes and released more easily than the ones i used in the first set. i slowed down and consciously made sure that my wrist didn't twist as i released the ball. bingo!!! i got down most of the pins and picked up the spare!!!

my game turned around and i managed to bring my score to the middle of the pack. . .yay, bowling is fun! don't be surprised to find me at bowl-mor during "happy hours" styling in my bowling shoes and perfecting my game!

the hot new dance???

http://video.umrg.com/webstar/chickennoodlesoup/

cheers to trinidad

monday afternoon i decided i had to get my hair re-highlighted, the roots had grown in and it was starting to drive me crazy. i try to go only 3-4 times a year, it's not easy on the pocketbook. . . although my salon is reasonably priced for manhattan.

in any case, i was able to schdule an appointment for tuesday afternoon at 3pm. getting my hair done is an event. usually, it takes beau a good 3 hours (minimum, once i spent 4 hours having my hair colored) to work his magic.

i walked in armed with two photos of hair colors that i liked. sat down in my chair and while beau started playing with my hair, i announced, "i want to go back to blonde!" we discussed hair color and cut for a bit, then he started working.

one of the newbies offered me coffee. about 30 minutes into the coloring job, i heard petra, the salon owner talkin to the receptionist.

P: Mix me some grape juice and white wine

R: That's so ghetto

P: It's GOOD! V do you want some?

V: thinkin for a second. . sure, why not?

P: Great!

an hour and a half later, petra's sister and nephew come to visit. he's an adorable little boy. they all fawn over him. i'm tryin not to move while i'm sitting with my hair resting in the sink, hair slathered with toner.

petra walks around with a short glass. rum (from trinidad) and coke.

P: V want to try some? it's unbelievable!

B: it's really great. . . the distillation process is so good that even low grade alcohol is good. i never feel sick after drinking it.

V: sure, i'll try it. take a sip . . it's really smooth!

by then, beau had finished cutting my hair. . it was time to blowdry and i walked out with my hair looking great and a little buzzed. . . i love my salon!

the idealistic architect

met up with Q2 at our old standby verlaine last night. . . it's nice to have a go-to place where you start to see the same people and know the bartenders. in any case, this ladies night was all about catching up and dishing about relationships rather than having a crazy night out.

by the middle of the night, we ended up making conversation and befriending Harc, an architect born in taiwan, raised partially in texas, and now living in nyc. Harc had quit his job that same day and was at verlaine, a day early to see a photo exhibit- photography being a hobby of his. we ended up discussing past failed relationships, taking risks in life and love, aspirations, finding balance in life, and etc with a degree of earnest that only strangers or close friends could.

while we may never see Harc again, it's somehow comforting to know that living in a big city of strangers, you can connect and meet interesting, friendly people when you least expect it.

p.s. i love you

so, warner brothers is filming p.s. i love you on my street. . in theory this is cool, the celebrity stalker in me is kinda excited i may spot some stars. . .the downside is no street parking on my block and near vicinity. major inconvenience especially given the cold and already limited parking spaces. not only that, but my favorite brunch spot, teddy's is closed for a couple weeks!!! that being said, i'll still watch the movie so that i can try to spot my apartment and favorite willie-b haunts!

anyways, a synopsis of the movie provided by http://thecia.com.au/reviews/p/p-s-i-love-you.shtml:

Everyone needs a guardian angel...

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly (Hilary Swank) and Gerry (Gerard Butler). Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other. Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry's death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He's left her a bundle of notes, one for each of the months after his death, gently guiding Holly into her new life without him, each note signed "PS, I love you".

As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows her better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on.

With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing - and being braver than ever before.
Life is for living, she realises - but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you.

an asian girl walks into an oyster bar. . .

last night VK treated me to dinner at the oyster bar at grand central terminal (VK rocks!). i took the train into the city and realized how much i miss the subway and the hustle and bustle of manhattan. . . more motivation for me to work hard and towards a transfer into the city. in any case, i arrived at the oyster bar early.

V (speaking to the maitre d'): i have reservations for two at 7pm

maitre d': last name?

V: K

matire d': would you like to be seated or have a drink at the bar?

i glance over to the bar. i have not gotten over my dislike for sitting by myself at restaurants.

V: i'll have a drink at the bar

matire d': great. it's our anniversary and also the bartender's birthday. you can spoil your dinner with some cake!

V: what's the bartender's name?

maitre d': marcello

V: great, thanks!

i walk over to the bar and wait while the bartender, an older gentleman, busily makes drinks, insists everyone try cake. he looks happy. finally, the bartender looks in my direction.

Marcello: how can i help you, young lady?

V: Marcello? (he nods) I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday!

Marcello smiles warmly and extends his hand forward. Assuming he wants my credit card, I put it in his hand.

Marcello: Thank you! I just wanted to say thank you. What would like to drink?

V: dirty martini with Belvedere please.

Marcello: We have Grey Goose, is that okay?

V: sure, that's fine.

I end up making conversation with a couple from Long Island. They lived in the Hamptons for 10 years, now she commutes into the city for work and he, an aspiring musician, wants to move to Manhattan. After chatting for 15 minutes and exchanging names, I notice VK waiting outside the restaurant doors. I step forward and she notices me. I go back to the bar and try to settle my tab.

Marcello: It's on me. I'll see you again?

V: Definately.

Great start to a wonderful evening with my girl. The food was excellent- we enjoyed wine, oysters, MD crabcakes, and boullibase. The waiter was knowledgeable and efficient. . .but the draw will be the friendly company at the bar, the good drinks, and Marcello.

because i don't know how to relax

i decided to help plan my high school's 10 year reunion. . yea yea. . i'm not afraid to date myself!

just b/c a new job and moving in a month aren't enough to keep me busy every single second of the day- i decided to pick up another project. . . have got to keep my event planning skills up, y'know? also need to keep myself busy until another wedding gig comes along.

calling out

when i woke up with crusty eyes sealed shut, i decided i should call out from work. i was feeling pretty sick but would have gone in anyways, had i not cared about getting anyone else sick (conjunctivitis is contagious).

dropped the boy off at jfk around 6:30 and was back at my place by 7am. made breakfast and rested until 9 am when i knew people would be in the office. left a message with my manager than called HR.

fell asleep around 9:30 and woke up at 2pm. ate lunch and talked to Q2 for a bit then went back to sleep from 3:30 to 6pm. folks, that's 7 hours of sleep!! woke up, made some soup and looked online for a bit . . . finally dragged myself out of the apartment to buy some groceries, vitamins, and medicine. got back home, feeling pretty rested, i cleaned the bathroom, cleaned myself up, and in back in bed. i've had millions of cups of hot tea (hmm french vanilla, masala, and white tea) and caught up on news and read some of my magazines.

tomorrow morning i'll make more chicken soup and some ginger-cinamon tea. hopefully, all this sleep, vitamins, and rest will kick whatever bug i've got to the curb, i'm anxious to get well and get back to work.

return of the pink eye?!?

yesterday was a big charity event at work. we were swamped and i found myself busy helping one client to the next. to top it off, i had my first bridal registry which went well. was even able to sell a charity ticket to the mother of the bride and help her with a purchase on another registry. hopefully the bride's sister will be coming into register in a few weeks as well.

by 4:30, i was exhausted and still hadn't had a lunch break. a floor manager insisted that i go take my break, tho i didn't need much convincing. . . i headed over to naturalizer to get more comfortable shoes since it seems that i'll be running around quite a bit! i was spoiled at my last work place where i could essentially dress however i pleased and while i wore heels, mostly shuffled around the office in my sandals and flipflops.

i think the week is catching up to me and this cold which started off with me losing my voice then getting other cold symptoms (headache, runny nose, a cough) might be ending with pink eye. . . yech yech, i've had it once in grad school and it seems to be starting up again.

i guess i'll be able to tell if i wake up with sticky eyes. . . what a way to start the weekend!

birthday girl

the only thing that made turning 27 easier (b/c 27 definately rounds up to 30) is the demonstration of love and affection from my friends and family.

from an 8AM wake up call from Q2 wishing me happy b-day followed by my dad then vern and mom. midway through the day, the boy called and sang me happy b-day. during the afternoon, my brother called to wish me happy b-day. Q2 treated me to dinner and a madeleine peryoux concert (absolutely fabulous!). afterwards, we met up with theng and jpan at the QT for a drink.

was exhausted by the time i got home (battling a cold) but was overjoyed to find a bouquet of flowers from cassanova and emails from various friends waiting for me.

sigh of contentment.

it's been a wonderful birthday and V has no complaints. . . 26 has been good but 27 will be a banner year!

getting my hands dirty - literally speaking

first time closing today. . in a way, it's nice, i have the mornings to hit the gym and run a couple of errands before heading to work. although traffic was a bit heavier than i expected, i still managed to make it to work on time.

headed for the manager's office to look for the schedule and see whose around. no one was in.

odd.

walked by the restaurant area to see the executive team serving food, taking orders, and running around frantically. turns out a couple of the waitstaff called out and they were severely short-staffed. when the rush came, management decided to pitch in. seeing the line of customers waiting to be seated and the seated customers trying to place orders and waiting impatiently for their food, i decided to roll up my sleeves and start bussing tables. . . hadn't done that since sophomore year in college when i worked at a tavern on dog street.

a glass broke in my hand- the glass was hot, straight from the dishwasher and i poured water in it for a customer. . luckily, it broke into two pieces. that was the only major mishap.

after an hour, i went back to my department. . funny, i had no idea my job duties would entail busgirl. . . but, it was kind of cool seeing the management team getting down and dirty to keep things running smoothly!

losing my voice

it started as an itch in the back of my throat on saturday. saturday night went out to verlaine with a bunch of friends to celebrate 3 birthdays- Q2, the boy, and mine. trying to talk over the loud music strained my voice and it started to go a bit hoarse. . .

sunday and monday the itch persisted but i didn't have any other symptoms of the cold. in the past, i've lost my voice as the final stage of a bad bad cold, but i don't know what's going on with me. last night after a day at work and catching up with reesy on the phone for an hour, i could tell it was really starting to go.

i made some chicken soup last night and have been trying to refrain from speaking too much. . this doesn't bode well for work the next few days, how am i supposed to help anyone when i can't talk? luckily i'll have wed off and will take it easy. . . sigh, i'm falling apart and i haven't turned 27 yet (you betcha, i'm holding on to 26 right up until wed)!!

reflections on week one

i can safely say that i have found a job that i will love. will, only because i still have so much to learn! however, once i gain product knowledge and understanding of the company's processi, i can really grow the department and improve the business. i finally met both of my staff members and i think it will be a challenge to manage them. luckily though, both seem like reasonable people and are quite good at what they do.

a funny thing that i've encountered several times during my first week at my new job is that some people really don't care what is on the registry and purchase whatever they want.

"the bride chose this?"

"that's really ugly"

"i don't like that at all"

which really gets me since the registry has products that the bride/groom chose because they like them and it reflects their tastes and will be in their homes!

go figure!

the last straw

was in a great mood this morning. excited about work, got to go to the gym and get a solid 45 minute cardio session in. . . out the door, dressed with breakfast and lunch packed by 7:15. walked out to my car and noticed that the passenger car window was down.

hmm. . .that's odd. i don't recall rolling down the windows at all last night, it was raining all night.

got into the car. shit. the radio is gone. fuck. there is broken glass everywhere. i pause for a few seconds. not wanting to miss work during my first week, i decide to hit the road regardless. thoughts racing through my head.

when is the soonest i can go to a repair shop. have friday off. will have to cancel lunch with theng. cancel appointment with the lawyer. shit, it is going to rain?

so that was the first thing that went wrong. i was shaken up. had thought willie b was safe. . and kicking myself for not taking the stereo face off. . granted i was tired, i was on the phone, and had just forgotten, but still. . .it was stupid and caused me a huge inconvenience.

got to work half an hour early. went to the housewares seminar. found a good glass repair shop that comes to the customer. was able to get it fixed by the time that my lunch break was over.

afternoon was okay. did a lot of computer based training. scheduled my first appointment to set up a new bridal registry. after i clocked out, decided to check out the women's since there is a big sales for workers. managed to get a stuck in a dress (the zipper broke) and had to go to alterations to get it fixed. rushed out since had an evening planned with the boy. got to my car only to find that THE BATTERY HAD DIED. i saw a mall security guard driving around and began jumping up and down and waving my arms frantically. . did the security guy stop?

nope!!! just whizzed right by. in fact it seemed like he sped up! went inside to talk to ruby and he notified the security of the situation. got my car restarted and FINALLY made it back to the road.

but NO the story is not over yet. got off at the midtown tunnel to A TRAFFIC JAM!!! evidentally, a lot of the roads had been closed down. . why? i dunno! but it took me forever to get to the boy's place. finally got here. . now i can relax. . let's just hope the car starts okay tomorrow.

first day

i'm beat.

woke up at 6 AM so i could leave the apartment by 7 AM to give myself plenty of time to get to work by 9. got to huntington by 8:15 AM and luckily there was a WAMU nearby so i could go to the bank.

went by the group manager's office. had breakfast with the execs. started some general training with the group manager. then went with the housewares manager for a tour of the floor and some procedures. had lunch with both group managers. completed a sexual harrassment course online. got an entire store tour with the group manager and met a lot lot lot of people (i'm really bad with names, yikes!) then i spent the rest of the afternoon with the housewares manager. dealt with a fussy bride (yay, my first. . .) who wanted to return items from her wedding that was two years ago and became upset when she couldn't get credit on her store charge card. . go figure. . . i suspect this is fairly common.

started feeling slightly overwhelmed around 4 so spent some time cleaning & organizing my desk. turnover meeting from 5:30 to 6pm. then hung around to chat with one of my bridal consultants until 6:30pm. traffic wasn't too bad and i was back home in 40 minutes or so.

i think there's a lot to learn but i'm very excited

reminder: must get a coffee travel mug to make my morning commute bearable and some books on tape or foreign language learning cd's so i can use the time productively!

will fill in about the remaineder of my weekend in NN when i'm better rested!

party time

have been spending quite a bit of time helping vern prepare for my nephew's birthday party. all i have to say is MOONBOUNCE! for that alone, my sister is a rockn mom.

since wessy's b-day falls mid-october, the theme tends to lend towards halloween/costume parties. last night we made and decorated sugar cookies, made "spiders" out of black pipe cleaners, and little ghosts from white tissue paper. today we went to the grocery store and stocked up on goodies, stopped by dean & don's to pick up pumpkins, and i worked on a couple simple flower arrangements. . . during this process, i realize how similar my sister and i are.

both like to throw theme parties. cook from scratch. and go overboard with the quantity of food.

we sat down to a delicious dinner prepared by mom of grilled steak, salad, veggies, and fresh rolls. when i saw about 3 or 4 whole steaks, a bowl of veggies, and a fridge full of more steaks, it kind of hit. . .like mother like daughter(s).

the adorable things they do

1. my niece calls me ma ni and my nephew calls me ohmni because while he can say ma and ni properly when spoken separately, he just can't put it together properly

2. my nephew tells knock knock jokes whose punch line is his own laughter.

nephew: knock knock
V: who's there?
nephew: candy
V: candy who
nephew: candy, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

3. my nephew repeatedly calling an orange an egg after both my dad and i tell him 6 times that its an orange

4. my niece wants to hold my hands when we walk anywhere

5. my nephew clinging to my leg for dear life

6. my niece shaking her tush and singing "shake shake shake. shake shake shake. shake your booty. shake your boooteeya." to make her little brother laugh.

7. my niece talking like an adult "i haven't done that since i was three years old."

8. my niece acting as translator for her little brother's needs

9. my nephew kissing his sister on the shoulder and telling her to sit in his automatic jeep with him

10. my newphew mumbles most of his sentences but can say in the most clear voice "but i don't want to"

home sweet home

little tj jumping up and down, grinning ear to ear, waving enthusiastically, and yelling ma ni ma ni. . . mom and dad standing by her side, then wes gunning up from the side trailed by vern. . . .home sweet home.

a home cooked meal. stewed fish. stir fried bamboo shoots and cabbage. shrimp a la mom. coconut soup with tomato, fish, and pineapple. . . home sweet home.

a pantry stocked with diet sodas & tasty treats that can rival any convenience store. . .home sweet home.

a huge tv with nice speakers and enough channels to keep my surfing fingers happy. . .home sweet home.

it's a short trip in bad news. three full days then i'll fly back to nyc on sunday. better get my chick-fil-a, cracker barrel, cheeseshop, pierce's pit bbq fix while i can! yes. . .i always have food on the brain.

soho sightings

my celebrity radar has been going nuts today. met up with VK for lunch in soho. we had planned on going to ivo & lulu but that was nixed as it turns out they only serve dinner. instead, we settle at some french restaurant on spring. over the course of lunch i spot famke jansssen, campbell scott, and ewan mcgregor. famke was walking her dog, talking on her cell phone, and looking tall and fabulous as one would expect of jean gray. campbell scott looks like he does on the new show, six degrees, but i swear he's had some work done. . kinda shiny skin. the icing was ewan mcgregor of whom i've been a great fan of ever since trainspotting. . .all within an hour or two, almost more than this unabashed US, OK, gawker, defamer reader can stand. . .i said almost.

Weekend of Foodie Heaven

Vern and big-M arrived around 2:30 AM on Friday morning, an unfortunate consequence of the Verrazano bridge being closed, poor detour signs, and being armed with only mapquest directions and no map. After I got them settled in, I spread out on the couch and rapidly asleep. Woke up around 7:40 AM to move the car and by the time I got back to the apartment, Vern was up making tea. While I made eggs and bacon, we chatted and planned out the day.

After wandering around Gramercy/Flatiron we decided to eat lunch at Gramercy Tavern. Walking through the immense doors, autumn engulfs you- towering branches with russet colored blossoms hug the long wooden bar, pots of tulips and other seasonal displays gather around the hallway leading to the tavern. We are quickly seated and eye-catching servers sharply dressed bring us menus, water, and bring us thick slices of delicious, hearty bread- perfectly crusty on the outside and soft in the center. The fish stew caught my eye while Vern ordered the lentil soup and rabbit sandwich and big-M ordered the lamb sandwich. The server did a wonderful job pairing wine to our dishes and the food was splendid. The fish stew, essentially, a refined boullabaise with chunks of lobster, mussels, and white fish was expertly balanced. The broth and seafood neither competed nor overwhelmed the other. I did not sample the other dishes but based on the blissful expressions on Vern and big-M’s faces. We shared a slice of blueberry cake served with vanilla ice cream. Good but nothing memorable. Overall, I quite enjoyed Gramercy Tavern and recommend it for out of town visitors for its old New York air. Moreover, the wait staff is friendly, skilled, and doesn’t rush you out the door.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Soho and doing some window shopping. We stopped at Lombardi’s for an afternoon snack which became a meal once we realized they only serve whole pies. We ordered a small pizza- half with anchovies and half with sweet Italian sausage. The consensus- great sauce, flavorful and not too sweet, and just enough cheese to add flavor but not dominate the other topics.

After resting our feet and warming up, we headed up to Central Park. There we walked around, took pictures, and happened upon a practice session for a concert at Center Stage. We met up with the boy around 7:30 at the starbucks at astor place and headed for Curry Row. We found a little hole-in-the-wall, chili pepper lights strewn haphazardly all over the restaurant. We ordered nearly half of the menu and over the feast, Vern and big-M got acquainted with the boy, we shared some laughs and good conversation. However, by 9:30 we were all fading. The three of us got in a cab and headed home, I was fast asleep by 10:30.
























10.5 hours later, I woke up refreshed. Vern & I got up around the same time, made some eggs and bacon, tea and chatted. After big-M got up and we all got dressed and ready, we headed out to the Marcy Ave stop to take the JMZ into Manhattan. Along the way, we stopped at the Bagel Store so Vern and big-M could sate their bagel craving. Three transfers later, we were in Chelsea and onto our second food stop for the day. Pastis. Very much a blend of Balthazar and Schillers in decor and menu, Pastis nonetheless managed to maintain its unique identity.

Vern and I both ordered the nicoise salad with seared tuna and big M ordered poached eggs with prosciutto topped with bearnaise sauce, all served on two slices of bread. The salad was delicious, the tuna was seared exactly according to my taste- rare, and the anchovies were incredibly fresh. Paired with champage, it was a very decadent brunch.

We walked off our full bellies, walking up along the west side and eventually crossing back over to the east side. The weather was beautiful, sunny and not too hot. We got onto the 6 uptown and I showed Vern and Matt some fo the apartments I was interested in. By then, the boy was done with his class so we all met up at 77th and lex. The four of us walked to Central Park and strolled around, stopping at the Alice in Wonder Land statues and then near the petting zoo where a woman was selling little signs that she painted children's names on. Vern got two for the kids.

We headed to Union Square afterwards hping to catch a showin of the Departed but everything was sold out. Instead, we headed to the Sri Lankan restaurant I mad been meaning to try. Along the way, we picked up a couple bottles of wine since the restaurant is BYOB (all the more reason to love it). This was probably my favorite restaurant of the whole weekend. A hole in the wall, peaceful atmosphere, warm and intimate. The food was amazing, very spicy and flavorful, not totally unlike Indian and with hints of asian elements.I can't remember the names of the dishes except for the black pork curry that was hot hot hot and was in a curry broth sans coconut. We shared an appetizer platter with assorted fried delicacies. The boy ordered a lentil curry and rice meal cooked in banana leaf. Vern ordered a chicken noodle dish and big-M ordered coconut rice. The desserts were exotic and delicious as well. One was a yogurt with honey, the contrast of sour and sweet was enticing. The other dish was a more standard custard but filled with nuts and surprisingly good. Will definately be going back there. 

surviving on redline

somehow i manage to be more sleep deprived and busy when i'm not working then when i am. i'm thinking about buying an apartment (renting just feels like throwing money away) and thought i'd use some of my time off to look around and get a feel of the market, etc.

coincidentally- if you believe in coincidences-the ex-girlfriend, babs, of one of my oldest friends happens to work at a large real estate company. this may not sound so odd in an of itself. . .BUT (1) the two had not been in touch for months, (2) my friend had actually lost babs' cell phone number, (3) and a day or two before i asked my friend if he knew of anyone in real estate, babs had called my friend.

in any case, we spent all of tuesday trekking up and down midtown east and the upper east side.

tuesday afternoon i went to talk to a mortgage consultant to see what the buying process would be like. then i stopped by the grocery store to buy odds and ends for "bachelor night" with VK. after the stop at whole foods, i went to enterprise to pick up my rental car and drove the car to park near the boy's apartment. then i rushed to VK's place to eat dinner and watch the bachelor.

wednesday morning i dropped the boy off at work and went back home to dress and go to long island to talk to HR of my company. traffic was hellish but i made it to my appointment on time. talked to HR for a bit, filled out paperwork, and discussed some things with management. then it was off to manhattan to return the car, go back to brooklyn, hit the gym, then meet up with DJ for drinks. one drink turned into two/three drinks. it was a fun time, different crowd of people, interestingly enough, lots of fashion/beauty industry peeps.

thur morning went to meet up with babs to check out places in the LES was amazed at how expensive real estate is there. talked to a couple other mortgage brokers before heading back to brooklyn to go to the gym. was supposed to meet up with ddt for drinks but luckily (b/c honestly all i want to do is take a nap) she postponed for next week. . now am lazying around, cleaning up the apartment before vern and big guy arrive.

the wedding planner gets her start

it's a perfect rainy, lazy sunday. the boy is 1/2 reading the times and 1/2 watching football.

it's been an exhausting few weeks, but all the late nights, effort, and stress paid off as the wedding came together beautifully. deliveries were made on time. the buses showed up on time and transported guests from the church to the botanical garden and back to manhattan. the weather held out. the ceremony went well despite not everyone being at the rehearsal. although there was little or nonexistent contact with the maitre'd, MC, dj, or photographers, we all managed to work well together and stayed relatively on schedule. the bride & groom looked beautiful, managed to actually sit down and eat for a bit, and the guests all seemed to enjoy themselves.

the logo- stylized initials of the bride and groom's name intertwined in fuschia and black designed by Q2- was incorporated into the church decorations, the place cards, and the programs. the color scheme displayed by fuschia table cloths overlaid with tan textured paper and orange & fuschia paper flowers, provided a sharp contrast against the white, brightly lit glass house at the brooklyn botanical gardens.

























a couple minor problems provided important lessons for the future. . . but all in all a successful event, providing me with a great sense of satisfaction and the best feeling was being complimented by the guests. in particular, the DJ's wife who said that she's been to many weddings before and has rarely been to one that was run so well and suggested that i make a career out of it!

the most memorable moments:

1. during the sermon, the pastor reminding the groom and bride that "love is not irritable. love is NOT irritable. love is NOT IRRITABLE!"

2. the mother/groom dance during which all of the groom's sisters came onto the dancefloor and danced with arms intwined. it was perhaps the most touching and personal moments during the entire wedding.

3.the groom's mother complimenting me on a job well done and saying "i know you've been working hard and didn't sleep. your eyes are puffy!"

later in the evening, the bride, groom, theng & kev, q2, and a few other friends met up at yello for some karaoke. it was a bittersweet moment as it sunk in that jpan was leaving us and moving to shanghai. . .like we are losing a sister. . .but there will be other reunions, other weddings, and perhaps some baby showers on the way. . .

eye of the storm

the past few nights have been rough as i've been preparing last minute decorations. ran into some difficulties.

wednesday my goal was to finish the reception decorations- place cards and framed photos of the bride and groom. thursday was to finish the church decorations and print out the wedding handbooks.

problem 1. i had purchased a printer and proceeded to set it up only to find that the cable connecting it to my laptop was not included with the printer. so i had to come into work early yesterday morning to print out the placecards for the bride and groom to take to the botanical gardens. luckily, kev was able to lend me a spare which the boy so kindly went to pick up, so i was able to do last night's printing at my apartment.

problem 2. i ordered the photos through kodak to have it delivered to a nearby cvs by wed. went to the store on wed (after receiving an email confirmation saying it was there). somehow they managed to mess up the delivery so my photos are nowhere to be found. plan b was to print them out on my laptop but b/c of technical difficulty Q2 was not able to send them to me. (plus problem 1, my printer wasn't working yet). in the end, Q2 printed them out and i'll work up these table displays tonight.

. .to top it off, i managed to catch a cold which has left me with a (not yet red) runny nose and headache.

i don't know what happened, but somehow this morning a strong sense of calm came over me- just a sense that it's all coming together and while i'll stress over the little details today, come tomorrow, i'll have a big smile on my face ready for showtime!

eagle has landed

being the superstitious cat that i am, i held off mentioning my own interviews of late. . . i had 4 rounds of interviews for a position as bridal manager. i'll be in charge of the bridal registry, manage two sales associates, be responsible for driving/increasing sales volume, planning monthly events, familiarizing myself with high-end home furnishing products & other registry items, work with brides, etc. . . essentially, the job is a great transition into the work i want to get in and is with a large corporation with the potential for upward mobility and relocating to other branches if desired.

i got an informal offer on monday night and the formal offer yesterday, which i readily accepted.

the new job starts mid-october which gives me time to go home and visit the family in badnews.

i have been blessed with great timing and "coincidences" this past month. firstly, i learned of this job through a formal co-worker at the florist i used to work at. she was offered two positions and was not interested in the bridal manager position so recommended me. that happened right as my desire to leave my current job was peaking. three weeks and four interviews later, i have a job that i'm ecstatic about and is heading me in the direction i want.

also recently, my lease went up and my current roommate and i decided not to live together going forward. i've been debating what to do- feeling as though i'm throwing money away with rentals. so after consideration, i've decided to look for an apartment to buy. i spoke with one of my old friends and it turns out his ex-girlfriend is a real-estate agent!! looks like i'll also be devoting my two weeks "off" apartment hunting!!

final round?

final round of interviews today.

now i understand why interviewers start of by saying- so tell me about yourself. basically, the interviewer does not want to take the effort (in my case, really doesn't have the time to re-read) to read the resume that you spend hours laboring over and wants you to summarize in concise but interesting sound bites.

today's interviews were fine. both arrived just a couple minutes early. good. on time but not so early i feel obliged to interview them early.

met with the woman for a good half hour. seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, take action type of person, firm, capable, etc.

now the man. . .oh jeez. . .granted, i didn't get a lot of sleep last night, but i really had to supress my yawns!!! i asked him to tell me a "little about himself".. this turned into a20 minute speech about his previoius experience.. i suppose i should give him some credit for being thorough, but pul-ease, don't bore me!!! every answer he gave was so long winded i almost forgotwhat the question was!!!

after that interview, i narrowed it down to my top three. hopefully bigB will do callbacks tue and wed and we'll have someone hired by wed. ideally, i can have someone in to train on friday, though it's looking more like monday or tues of next week... .

DIY bride

saturday went with jpan and theng to find a makeup artist for the wedding day. first stop was bloomies where we were helped by the very fabulous, energetic, and friendly S from CT. after the makeover, the three of us decided to walk around and see how the makeup looked in natural light and evolved as the day wore on.

the next stop was blow in the west village, unsurprisingly known for their blow outs. the trip was fruitless as their store was not open early on saturdays and the best they could do is call their roster of freelance make up artists to see if anyone was willing to take the job. there were no photos of their work to review and the receptionist would not get back to us until sometime during the week.

unimpressed with her choices and eager to move forward, jpan decided that it would be better to buy high quality make up from sephora and have Q2 or myself do her makeup.

sunday morning, the three of us reconvened at the sephora on e.67th and 3rd ave. i spoke with a sales associate and we found ourselves in the very skilled, patient, and friendly make-up artist red. with her assistance, we pulled together a fresh, natural, and polished look.

after 2.5 hours at sephora, we were all famished and finally found our way to le steak cafe. over lunch, we dished about wedding classes and various wedding details. while jpan rushed back to brooklyn to get her car to head back to northern virginia, theng and i hopped back and forth between kate's paperie and papyrus. nearly an hour later, i had purchased the seating placecards and materials for decorating the church pews.

now just relaxing a bit at the boy's place before i start at it again.

must be something about the month of september

nearing my one year anniversary with new york, i find myself once again in the midst of a lot of change.

so, i decided to pull out my risk seeker card and give my notice a couple fridays ago. it's been a long time coming, i just needed a kick in my derriere to get the ball rolling. managed to leave on good terms with the company and promised to stay til the month's end, find a replacement, and train the new hire to ease the transition.

altogether, i've interviewed six candidates and have a few lined up for monday morning. i must say it's strange being on the other side of the table and asking probing questions rather than being the one with sweaty palms, fumbling around trying to think of smart witty answers that attest to my hire-ability. i never realized how difficult it is to conduct a successful interview- that is asking questions that actually give you insight into a person's character, work ethic, etc.

top grievances at an interview:

1. scary makeup. please ladies, polished make up is great, but leave the stage make up at home!

2. not knowing what the company you are interviewing with does

3. pretending to be something you are not. it's one thing to be creatively boost up your past experiences, etc. but if you are outright lying about something, chances are that the interviewer can see through it.

4. being late or too early.

5. postponing the interview. look, i know emergencies arise, but it indicates that the job is not important to you. so why should i hire you?

paper flowers

this weekend i made 72 paper flowers. got about 78 left to go.

friday night i made 12. (1) cut the paper. (2) fold. (3) cut the wire. (4) wrap the wire around the middle of the fold. (5) pull the tissue paper layer by layer to shape into a flower. repeat . i was pretty discouraged after friday night thinking that at that rate, the flowers would be done after jpan's wedding was over!!

saturday i figured out a faster system. (1) cut all the paper. (2) fold. (3) cut the wire. (4) wrap wire around the middle of the fold. (5) pull the tissue paper layer by layer and shape into a flower. repeat (2)-(5). 20 flowers.

sunday morning i figured out the most efficient system of all. (1) precut all the stacks of paper, grouping it into stacks of four sheets. (2) precut all the needed wire. (3) fold the paper. (4) wrap the wire around it. repeat (3)-(4). (5) pull the tissue paper layer by layer and shape into a flower. 40 flowers

the other convenient thing about the third method is it makes transport easy. the boy and i went to union square and listened to some music. i was able to bring my work and prep at least 20 flowers.

ok, i just realized how incredibly boring this post was for someone that is not into crafts. but am nervous and trying to distract myself. . . more later!!!

in search of the right restaurant

thursday night, went to grand sichan with the girls- vk, q2, jpan, and theng. a potential restaurant for jpan's wedding rehearsal dinner. we ordered ma po dofu or "house tofu", a typically spicy dish, double cooked pork, garlic stir fried dou miao a green vegetable, and chicken with chili peppers. while the food was good, jpan was worried about the space and ambience. jpan and i decided to meet up friday after work to continue our quest.

after dinner, i did some research to find the city's best chinese restaurants. . . sadly, i have only been to a handful of chinese restaurants in nyc. . . something i hope to do more of this fall. instead, i had to rely on my standbys, citysearch and nymetro, which i did with some wariness as the goal was to find an authentic chinese restaurant (since half of the guests would be flying in from taiwan) and most reviewers are non-chinese.

nonetheless, i came up with the following contendors: shun lee palace, wu liang ye, tse yang, our place shanghai tea garden, and oriental garden. except for the last, all of the restaurants are in midtown.

because of the steady downpour on friday, we decided to minimize our search radius and focus on shun lee palace, wu liang ye, and our place shanghai tea garden. after walking around for twenty minutes dodging pedestrians wielding umbrellas like they were weapons, we gave up looking for wu liang and trekked 11 blocks to e. 55th street. after peeking inside shun lee palace and our place shanghai tea garden, jpan decided that we should try the latter.

she ordered shanghai syled fried rice cake with chicken, broccoli and mushrooms, and beef in a spicy/sweet sauce. the ambience and decor were beautiful. unfortunately, the portions were tiny, the food was unremarkable, and the prices were too high. . .

after dinner, we parted ways and jpan decided she would check out chinatown restaurants. third times a charm, she went to jin fong and was pleased with the food, atmosphere, and got a great deal.

just another reason to move to spain

Spanish fashion show rejects too-skinny models: Women with very low body-mass index not allowed on runway

MADRID, Spain - Spain’s top fashion show has turned away a slew of models on grounds they are too skinny — an unprecedented swipe at body images blamed for encouraging eating disorders among young people.

Organizers of the pageant, known as the Pasarela Cibeles, used a mathematical formula to calculate the models’ body mass index — a measure of their weight in relation to their height — and 30 percent of the women flunked, said the Association of Fashion Designers of Spain.

The association said Friday it wanted models at the show running from Sept. 18-22 to project “an image of beauty and health” and shun a gaunt, emaciated look.

The decision was made as part of a voluntary agreement with the Madrid regional government, said Jesus del Pozo, a designer who is part of the association, said Thursday.

Last year’s show, also called Madrid Fashion Week, drew protests from medical associations and women’s advocacy groups because some of the models were positively bone-thin.

'Mirrors for many young women'This time the Madrid regional government decided to intervene and pressure organizers to hire fuller-figured women as role models for young girls obsessed with being thin and prone to starving themselves into sickness, said Concha Guerra, deputy finance minister of the regional administration.

Fashion shows, Guerra said, “are mirrors for many young women.”

Del Pozo said this was the first time skinny models have been snubbed at a major international fashion show.

Ryan Brown, director of marketing and public relations in North America for the Elite modeling agency in New York City, agreed. “It is very unprecedented,” said Brown, who has nothing to do with the Spanish show.

He welcomed the decision, saying “I think it is great to promote health.”

Madrid’s show, which features mainly Spanish designers, is not as prestigious as catwalks in Paris or Milan but “it is not at the bottom of the pile,” he said.

Hoping to change the industryThe impact of rejecting skinny women would have been greater at those other glitzier venues. Still, he said, “I am sure the industry is taking note.”

The body mass index is a tool for doctors who study obesity. It is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared, and multiplying that total by 703.

If the resulting number is between 18.5 and 24.9, the person’s weight is normal. Below 18.5 they are underweight. In the case of the Madrid show, organizers rejected women with indices under 18.

Brown of the Elite agency said fashion shows reflect the tastes of clothing designers, who for now prefer the Kate Moss look as opposed to the curvier dimensions of models such as Cindy Crawford in years past.

“They don’t want voluptuous girls any more,” he said. “It would be nice if fashion got back to that.”

damn technology

went to the gym this morning. . as i got to the door i reached into my bag to look for my keys which has my membership card hanging from it only to realize they were no where to be found. it quickly dawned on me that i had left them on my bed.

damnit!

weighed my options. . as it was 6:30 and it was way too early to wake up my roommate, i did the practical thing and proceeded to go for a 45 minute cardio work out. . luckily, i'm a regular so they waved me through. unfortunately, i rely on my cell phone's address book and do not have any phone numbers memorized (except my parents).

i decide to go back to the apartment and ring the buzzer to see if it'll wake my roommate up. alas, it does not. i head back to the gym and explain what happened and ask if i can use the internet there. fortunately, there is an old email with my roommate's phone number. so i call a couple times and finally get through. i go back home and she lets me in.

thanks k-flo, you are the BEST!!!!

still made it to work on time.

lesson of the day: memorize roommate's, the boy's, and q2's phone numbers!

wading (i mean) rowing in central park

went with the boy to central park to relax with the paper, do some row-boating, and catch up on a bit of side work.

was very excited about rowing. we have been talking about if and had planned to go last month but it never happened. the weather was beautiful, sunny but on the cooler side. we made our way to the park around 11 and were one of the first people to get a boat.

since the boy was going to do most of the rowing (i just wanted to try my hand at it), i was supposed to go in first. i eagerly made my way toward the back seat and all of a sudden, WHOOMP, my feet go flying up in the air and i land on my butt. somewhere in the background i hear the attendant say "walk from the front end of the boat towards the back".

yea, thanks buddy. . a millisecond too soon. as i try getting up, the slippery algaefied ramp causes me to slip again. the water is soaking quickly up my right leg and starting up my left. suddenly i feel the boy's strong grasp pull me out of the water.

the boy: are you ok? ha ha ha.

v: um. sure.

ok. i just fell on my ass in front of everyone. hard.

the boy: do you still want to go?

v: yes of course.

i'm not a wimp. of course i'm goin to go.

the boy: don't worry, no one saw you fall.

v: silence.

can we stop dwelling on the fact that i just fell on my ass in front of all of central park?!! so much for a romantic afternoon of rowing and gazing into each others eyes. . .
























(see my soaked right leg?) 

only holly would

the boy is out of town until next weekend. . so i thought that it would be a great time to catch up with all my friends that i've been neglecting as of late (sorry peeps, promise to do a better job of balancing). . of course, that means i have a pretty jam packed weekend.

on the agenda- interview, dinner with rickitintin, brunch with george, return the rental car, fall preview for a designer, drinks with vk. . .

sunday morning woke up to go to the gym. get a call from jpan around 11 and plan to meet to discuss wedding dets.. . so had to cancel with george (which i hate cancelling on people) to prep. after meeting, we go return the car, and go to grand central terminal to grab a snack. walked around the greenmarket for a bit admiring the fresh produce before settling on some dried snacks. sit down and chat about her pending marriage and how she's handling everything. then we go our separate ways.

met up with ddt to go to the fall preview for hollywould line. stopped at epistology beforehand for a glass of wine and made our way to the event. great set up. in a little garden/park in soho on elizabeth street, lanterns hanging from trees, statuettes, a bar set up with beer and wine sorbet (yum!). . the deejay was a bit off- playing some random stuff. . but it was definately a cool experience. very thin tallish types wearing expensive shoes although most of the outfits were not so impressive. we took off after an hour with our swag bags (nothing too exciting except a $50 gift certificate for $700 shoes). stopped at a nearby restaurant and had dinner.

after dinner, ddt and i made our way back to union square. called up vk and decided to meet up for a nightcap. hung out for an hour with her and rosie before heading back home.

worked on the bridal shower plans for a bit then hit the hay. . all in all, a fruitful but exhausting day!

resurfacing

no no. . not talking about the sarah mac CD. . stalker no.1 decides to email me?!!!

didn't he get the hint???

here's what he has to say:

Hi, how's it going? Hope all is well with you…I'm just bored here at work. Have big plans this weekend? Hopefully the weather stays as nice as it did today. Anyways, looking forward to chatting with you! Take care and have a great weekend :)

mind you this is after threatening me then months of no word (thank the heavens above!).

don't know what this character is thinking.

have been swamped with work and life has been out of balance but am currently working on correcting that. . . details of the past week to follow!

heartfelt moments

the boy and i went to DC this weekend for one of my best friend's wedding. reesy. . we go way back. i still remember sitting in my parents' house working on campaign posters with her. now, she's a beautiful, young, accomplished woman.

really moments like this that make me realize how much we've all grown up and changed.
























a beautiful weekend filled with heartfelt moments. two moments stand out in my mind.

1. the rehearsal dinner. as typical of all rehearsal dinners, the bride and groom-to-be presented the bridal party with gifts. however, what made this moment special was that the bride and groom took the time to explain the relationship, history, and importance the individual played in their life. it was sincere, honest, and touching.

2. the bride's entrance. over the course of a year and some heft change, i consulted with the bride on the numerous wedding details, witnessed the high degree of stress and anxiety the bride endured. the moment when it all came together was when canon in D began to play and the bride began her walk down the aisle. my heart was bursting with joy and happiness, knowing that this was the moment the bride and groom was waiting for. . . the actually "getting married" part. the pure joy on R's face was simply beautiful.

the wedding was just as a wedding should be . . . a great party. everyone had a blast. the wine was flowing the food was tasty. every one was relaxed and happy!

best of all, i learned how to do the bus stop and danced up a storm with my honey. 

reality check

nothing like coming back to the daily routine after a fabulous vacation to jolt your system.

as i sat in my nice office space on monday morning and busied myself with my usual tasks, the monotony of it all began to sink in. . .

don't waste your time.

what are you doing at this job?

is this what you want to do with your ife?

in short no. i have no pretenses. this job is a means to an end. . something stable to keep me afloat while i pursue my dreams and build up some experience and capital to take the plunge.. the reminder was swift kick in the arse that i needed. . i think i've gotten comfortable and a little lazy. that's also dangerous b/c my responsibilites have increased as the company is restructuring (read: lost an employee and hiring a new one) which has taken away some of the flexibility previously afforded to me.

my dad has taught me so much about being an entrepreneur. he and my mom managed to scrape together a sizeable amount of start up money on very low salaries meanwhile raising three hellions.

jpan's wedding is rapidly approaching so i'll be busy til end of sept preparing. . . after that, no excuses. my only consolation is knowing my dad was in his early 30s before he started his first business. . .

Goodbye Barca

It's 2:30 AM on Saturday morning and with sadness I reflect on this trip to Barcelona.

Top 5 Things That I Will Miss:
-Amazing architecture
-Street culture and graffiti art
-Exploring the barrios
-A city that truly doesn’t sleep
-Incredible wines, cheese, bread, and cured meats

Top 5 Things That I Will Not Miss:
-The advances of overly eager Spanish men (e.g. hissing noises, guttural noises, and other types of cat calls)
-Almost hourly shouts of “Chinois” “Ni Hao!” “Konichiwa” or “Japonis”
-Not being able to find a store open between the hours of 2 and 4
-Being stared at (guess Asian girls are still a novelty here)
-B.O.

One week is simply not enough time to even begin to know its complexities and contradiction, its culture and soul. What I take away, is the impression of Barcelona as a city of proud individuals that have a true love and appreciation for beauty, art, food, music, and life.

Day Six in Barcelona

Famished at 1 pm, Q2 and I set out on a hunt for a fine lunch. Our first stop was Commerc 24, a new Catalan restaurant recommended by Anna. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed until the second week of September. Next we decided to try Agullers, a tapas restaurant run by Cal-Pep’s cousin (Cal-Pep is closed in August). We were sad to discover it too was closed. . maybe a family vacation. . .Luckily, the third time was a charm and we stopped at Petra, recommended by a UCLA colleague.

Cozy. Blue. Innovative in their décor. Menus are printed on the labels. Chandeliers using forks, spoons, and knives.
























One of our best meals with simply prepared dishes using fresh, high quality ingredients. We started with a salad of lentils, cured ham, and mesclun greens. Next was carapacchio, squid dressed in zesty orange sauce. Very fresh. Our main dish was duck served with poached slices of pear in a rich, red wine sauce. The duck was succulent, cooked to perfection. We ended the meal with duck pate, thinly sliced and layered across a large plate, and drizzled with a sweet raspberry dressing that provided just a hint of tartness which contrasted beautifully with the decadence of the meat.

During the afternoon, we went back to Massimo Dutti whose window display we had admired a couple days before. Their clothes are high quality and quite affordable, a genuine find. Zara and H&M lost their appeal afterwards and we were both (if you can believe it) shopped out.
We made our way back to the apartment and cooked dinner. After dinner we watched “Happiness” which is one extremely twisted movie and which I have not gotten my mind around. Q2 fell asleep for a bit. Then, we packed most of our things up to get it out of the way. I can hardly believe that tomorrow is our last day in Barcelona. It’s been an incredible trip, perhaps one of the best I’ve taken thus far. Am feeling like a very very lucky girl. . . 

Day Five in Barcelona

What a beautiful way to end the day! Q2 and I were walking back from visiting Sagrada Familia and saw a sign for a wine tasting at a boutique wine shop called Seleccio Natural just steps away from our apartment. We walked to Seleccio Natural to find out more information and discovered that the tasting would be featuring local Catalan wine and other boutique vineyards. We decided to stop by the pharmacy to pick up some toiletries, drop off our bags at the apartment, and head back to the wine store.

We sampled four wines from different regions of Spain including Ribera del Duero, Penedes, and Montesant. We learned about the oaking process and the different grapes and climates for producing wine in Spain. The goal of Seleccio Natural was to educate people about Spanish wines outside of Rioja and in particular the boutique vineyards. The best of the four wines that we tried was from Montesant, a young but spicy red wine, produced by the son of a famous French winemaker.

Like many of the individuals that we’ve encountered in the past few days, the woman helping us had moved to Barcelona from another European country. Originally from the northernmost region of Sweden, she moved to Barcelona with her boyfriend who is Columbian. She shared her outlook on Barcelona, the people, and culture. A proud people, Catalonian people are considered the “Germans” of Spain- hard working, private, and socially conservative.





























Over the course of the tasting, we also made conversation with a San Franciscan that had moved to Barcelona to live with his boyfriend and a vacationing Spaniard. The communal feel (and four healthy servings) left us feeling quite warm and fuzzy! 

elusive sleep

listening to the sounds outside the thin walls. people coming back from a late night of partying. rain drops. dog running around outside.

church bells chime.

one. two. three. four. five times.

fleeting thoughts of my parents. work. relationships.

church bells chime.

one. two. three. four. five. six times.

now 6:39 AM. decide to stop chasing sleep, turn on my trusty laptop, and surf the net.

Day Four in Barcelona

Today forecasted for rain. Q2 and I made our way out of the apartment around 2 PM to grab lunch. Unfortunately, Cal Pep is closed for all of August so instead we went to Euskel Etxea, a bar/restaurant that serves Basque style pinxtos.

The dining experience in Barcelona has been wonderful. Q2 and I have been on a tapas/small plates craze for the past several months- scouring nyc for the most authentic tapas restaurant. While we’ve found some great restaurants, nothing has compared to the real thing. Here, tapas are in its true form, simple but exquisite bar snacks. Plates of delightful and exotic creations served on small sliced baguettes: smoked cod, roasted red peppers stuffed with seafood, tuna cakes topped with grilled green peppers, succulent spicy sausage, and etc. All the tapas have toothpicks in them, so after you finish eating, the waiter/waitress counts up all the toothpicks and bills you accordingly.
























Q2 and I laughed about how this honor system would never work in NY or China. . .the fact that it works in Spain is a beautiful thing! You can see the remains of our meal!!!

After lunch, we made our way to La Pedrera and were again wowed by Gaudi’s genius. One thing that struck me was his inventiveness and creativity in problem solving. He devised a model using weights and strings to simulate the arches in his designs to calculate how much weight they can sustain because he did not know how to mathematically calculate this. Even more, the pure beauty of his work is breathtaking. Against the stormy sky, the structures on top of La Pedrera, twisting, undulating up to the sky is simply unforgettable.

Day Three in Barcelona

Shopping, shopping, and more shopping. Ahh, the beauty (or danger) of traveling with a fellow shopaholic!! We woke up on the earlyish side, around 10AM, ate breakfast and made our way to Bar Gothic which had a million little boutiques featuring the designs of local artists. Q2 and I make great shopping partners, we both have a lot of patience when it comes to sorting through racks to find hidden treasures, trying on clothes, and critiquing fashion.

We chatted with the saleswoman from Depeche BCN for a bit, seems to be an interesting story there. She’s from London but of Portugese descent and had moved to Barcelona 3 months prior. She recommended a nearby restaurant that had a good prix fixe lunch so we stopped there around 3:30 pm for a bite to eat. Q2 ordered the gazpacho, bacalau carpaccio and I had the chicken and mozzarella salad, beef steak. We shared a bottle of the recommended rioja and finished off with apple pie. The whole meal was 22 euros each which considering the wine, was a great value.























After lunch, we walked around a bit more and ended up on a crowded rambla lined with chain stores. Both of us were feeling a bit claustrophobic so we veered off onto a smaller alley. We slowly made our way back to the apartment, stopping at a couple stores to buy milk, bread, and cereal.

Back in our pad, we unfolded the pull out sofas and relaxed. While I watched LA Confidential, Q2 napped. Around 9pm, we got up and prepared dinner and planned our evening. We decided to go to Jamboree for Monday night WTF (what the fuck) jazz session.

http://www.masimas.com/MENU/default.htm

Supposedly jazz greats had performed there which added to the appeal. The venue was underground, dimly lit, and crowded with young hipsters swaying and bopping to the beats. the performance was quite good and after the session ended we went upstairs to the sister club of Jamborree and danced for a good long while the DJ was very good -at least he played the type of music I dig dancing too (R&B/hiphop). . .i had forgotten how much I love to dance!!!

We left around 2AM and there were still masses of people milling around. barcelona is truly a city that never sleeps. . it even beats NY in that regard.

Day Two in Barcelona

Slept in until 2pm!!! Those that know me well will know what a rarity that is!

Q2 and I showered up, ate breakfast, and planned out the remainder of the day. We decided to spend the day worshipping Gaudi and made our way to Casa Batllo. Given our shared love of shopping and food, it was a given that we had many detours along the way including jewelry shopping at Nature Art and sampling a heavenly chocolate macaroon from Xocoa. It is these little adventures, wandering random alleys, when we discover interesting storefronts, vibrant displays of graffiti, and local restaurants that have made this trip so remarkable.

After exploring Pricessa Avenue we strolled down Las Ramblas (a little too touristy for our tastes) and eventually found our way to Casa Batllo. All my friends had insisted that I see Gaudi’s works and extolled his genius, and after two hours of walking around Casa Batllo and photographing every amazing angle of his masterpiece, I am completely sold. The design completely unique, modern yet timeless was also aesthetically breathtaking and purposeful. I felt as though I was transported in time and space.
























After leaving Casa Batllo, it was close to 8pm and too late to go to Sagrada Familia. We took a short break and stopped on the rooftop of the Hotel Majestic. Then we started to follow the suggested Walk on Modernisme from Time Out Barcelona. We saw the Casa Comalat, Casa Terrades, Casa Dolors Xiro, Casa Josep Thomas, Palau Ramon de Montaner, Casa Villaneuva, Casa Jaume Forn, and Queviures Murria. By then, we were both a little weary from all the sightseeing and decided to hop on the metro back home.

We got off on the Jaume stop and planned to buy some bread from a bodega before stopping back at our apartment. . But halfway back, we were lured into Sagardi, a tapas joint on Argenteria Street. We shared a plethora of tapas including amazing blood sausage, tuna cake topped with green peppers, and a couple glasses of cava for twenty euros each. A perfect end to a perfect evening!!