For the first time ever, I get to actually watch So You Think You Can Dance when it's on TV! Amazing! First year it was on, I was stuck at Gramma's apartment where she had no cable. Second year, I was in China. Fortunately, since everything in China is pirated, I was able to keep track until Youtube locked down on all of it. And now, well, I only get to see the first few weeks, but that's more than I ever got to see before!
So...early favorites:Lacey, Anya, and Sara. No great boys this time. Maybe it's just because the dances showed off the girls more, but the boys just didn't pop out at me. And all the other girls, some were just not so good (I feel bad for the first girl who had to do hip hop) and the rest were pretty stuck up and didn't dance well enough for me to think they could be that way. We'll see. O yes, and by far my favorite dance was Lacey and Kameron's contemporary. Love it!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Back in Pittsburgh
Well, I'm back in Pittsburgh. My parents and sister saw me off at the airport yesterday morning. I was kind of sad to leave them. Well, at least now there's peace and quiet.
I was a little horrified when I got back to my apartment. I know Zach is particularly fastidious about his personal space, but I didn't realize he was THAT fastidious. When I first walked in the door, I thought we'd been robbed or something because the hallway was so bare. My hall table was moved, my phonebooks are gone, all the small appliances as well as my cooking implements have been hidden away somewhere. I suppose it looks cleaner, but it's kind of a shock. And really, did my cooking stuff absolutely have to be moved? My bedroom wasn't too bad, fortunately.
When I looked in the bathroom, all of my things (shampoo, toothbrush, etc.) were missing. Zach told me he threw them all out because they were covered in a thin film of mildew. In fact, the entire bathroom was covered in mildew. I definitely scrubbed through the entire bathroom before I left. Somehow my ex-roomie and her boyfriend managed to take the bathroom from pristine to fungal-infested. I thought Japanese people were supposed to be clean... Well, at least Zach got rid of the blue carpets. Those really weren't to my taste and the yellow pollen-stuff coming off the toilet cover scared me enough that I never tried to change them. I am annoyed, however, that he threw out my shampoo and my razor. The shampoo bottle was only half-used and the mildrew was only on the outside. As for my razor, that was one of those ones with replaceable heads, so I could have just rinsed off the handle and replaced the head part. O! And he threw out the pumice stone I got in CHINA!!! WHY!!!!???
I was a little horrified when I got back to my apartment. I know Zach is particularly fastidious about his personal space, but I didn't realize he was THAT fastidious. When I first walked in the door, I thought we'd been robbed or something because the hallway was so bare. My hall table was moved, my phonebooks are gone, all the small appliances as well as my cooking implements have been hidden away somewhere. I suppose it looks cleaner, but it's kind of a shock. And really, did my cooking stuff absolutely have to be moved? My bedroom wasn't too bad, fortunately.
When I looked in the bathroom, all of my things (shampoo, toothbrush, etc.) were missing. Zach told me he threw them all out because they were covered in a thin film of mildew. In fact, the entire bathroom was covered in mildew. I definitely scrubbed through the entire bathroom before I left. Somehow my ex-roomie and her boyfriend managed to take the bathroom from pristine to fungal-infested. I thought Japanese people were supposed to be clean... Well, at least Zach got rid of the blue carpets. Those really weren't to my taste and the yellow pollen-stuff coming off the toilet cover scared me enough that I never tried to change them. I am annoyed, however, that he threw out my shampoo and my razor. The shampoo bottle was only half-used and the mildrew was only on the outside. As for my razor, that was one of those ones with replaceable heads, so I could have just rinsed off the handle and replaced the head part. O! And he threw out the pumice stone I got in CHINA!!! WHY!!!!???
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Endless Chatter
After four weeks of being home, my mother's endless talking is REALLY getting on my nerves. Not that it never did before. If I'm sitting in the living room, CLEARLY reading a book, she'll still keep talking the whole time. And it's not anything new or important she talks about. She's told me about some lady whose husband wanted a divorce about five times already, and every time I remind her she's already told me, she says, "O, I thought I only told your father."
Today I thought I'd try something different. Hide upstairs in my room to read. Mom FOLLOWS me upstairs and starts talking about more useless things. I really need some earplugs or something...
Today I thought I'd try something different. Hide upstairs in my room to read. Mom FOLLOWS me upstairs and starts talking about more useless things. I really need some earplugs or something...
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Never EVER Sublet
When one of my roomies for next year suggested we sublet to someone over the summer, I thought it'd be a good idea. The subletter is someone we all know, and someone we knew valued personal space and therefore would take good care of the apartment over the summer. UNFORTUNATELY, we've had one problem after another.
First, my former roomie decided to let her boyfriend stay in the apartment after her part of the lease was over, encroaching on my subletting friend's space and time. When we got the boyfriend to move out, I thought, "Good, my problems are over."
NOW, MORE PROBLEMS HAVE SPRUNG UP.
1) The basement key is lost?!! I don't want to have to pay for a lock cutter...?!!
2) My subletting friend has managed to piss off the apartment building people and now if his car is so much as seen in the vicinity of the building, it'll get towed...?!!!
At least former-roomie's-boyfriend was polite enough to return my call as to how to return the apartment keys...
First, my former roomie decided to let her boyfriend stay in the apartment after her part of the lease was over, encroaching on my subletting friend's space and time. When we got the boyfriend to move out, I thought, "Good, my problems are over."
NOW, MORE PROBLEMS HAVE SPRUNG UP.
1) The basement key is lost?!! I don't want to have to pay for a lock cutter...?!!
2) My subletting friend has managed to piss off the apartment building people and now if his car is so much as seen in the vicinity of the building, it'll get towed...?!!!
At least former-roomie's-boyfriend was polite enough to return my call as to how to return the apartment keys...
Monday, June 04, 2007
Supersized
Yesterday, my sister and I had a lovely day out. We went to get the car washed, we went to her comic book store, went to the mall. I decided that I was in the mood for some McDonalds so we went to the one in the food court. As I stood there, I thought that I was seeing things wrong. What happened to the six-piece chicken nugget option? Maybe I needed my glasses. I put on my glasses and realized that not only was six-piece gone, the only options now are 10 and 20!! 10?!!! 20?!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the small fry? I thought a small fry came in those little white paper bags. What I got is what used to be a medium. Scary....
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Ups and Downs
These past couple of days have had their ups and downs.
I think I'll talk about the downs first because that's what depressed me enough to induce me to write off some steam. So, my former roomie has moved out. Her lease expired May 15, and I let her stay a few extra days so she could graduate. Unfortunately, when she left, she also left behind her boyfriend without telling me. He is staying until the end of the month at which point he leaves for Japan. What is not good is that we have a subletter coming in who started his sublet least on May 15 and he is very finicky about private space. This means he cannot move in until the former-roomie's-boyfriend moves out. Technically, my subletting friend has every right to kick former-roomie's-boyfriend out as my subletting friend is basically paying to let former-roomie's-boyfriend live in my apartment. So I need to call my former-roomie so she can vacate her boyfriend out of the apartment so that my subletting friend move in, or he can pay the rent for half a month. That seems to make sense to, as my subletting friend is currently making a 90-minute commute until he can live in the apartment. Except that when I try to get in touch with my former-roomie, she's never available to answer my calls or emails. So...I'm annoyed and frustrated.
On the upside, I had a satisfying trip in New York. I didn't buy anything new. In fact, the only thing I spent money on was a can of ground Japanese tea to keep me happy in Copenhagen. Delish. I did get a creepy Chinese chef stare at me in that creepy creepy way while I was waiting for my mum outside a butcher shop. I think he thought I was looking at him, while I was actually looking to see what my mom was doing. Yah, he wishes. Dirty old man...
I think I'll talk about the downs first because that's what depressed me enough to induce me to write off some steam. So, my former roomie has moved out. Her lease expired May 15, and I let her stay a few extra days so she could graduate. Unfortunately, when she left, she also left behind her boyfriend without telling me. He is staying until the end of the month at which point he leaves for Japan. What is not good is that we have a subletter coming in who started his sublet least on May 15 and he is very finicky about private space. This means he cannot move in until the former-roomie's-boyfriend moves out. Technically, my subletting friend has every right to kick former-roomie's-boyfriend out as my subletting friend is basically paying to let former-roomie's-boyfriend live in my apartment. So I need to call my former-roomie so she can vacate her boyfriend out of the apartment so that my subletting friend move in, or he can pay the rent for half a month. That seems to make sense to, as my subletting friend is currently making a 90-minute commute until he can live in the apartment. Except that when I try to get in touch with my former-roomie, she's never available to answer my calls or emails. So...I'm annoyed and frustrated.
On the upside, I had a satisfying trip in New York. I didn't buy anything new. In fact, the only thing I spent money on was a can of ground Japanese tea to keep me happy in Copenhagen. Delish. I did get a creepy Chinese chef stare at me in that creepy creepy way while I was waiting for my mum outside a butcher shop. I think he thought I was looking at him, while I was actually looking to see what my mom was doing. Yah, he wishes. Dirty old man...
Loneliness
Is it just me, or am I running out of blogs to read? I think that my sister is the only person I know of who still regularly updates her blog, other than me. May, are we lagging behind? Have people found a new way to entertain themselves that we haven't yet caught onto?
In other news, I went to New York with my mom and my aunt yesterday and we were unsuccessful in finding the mysterious antique shop my mom read about somewhere. Poor mommy. O well. We had lunch in Little Italy which was nice. I had a $7 cherries jubilee for dessert, and it was tasty. Not sure if it was truly worth the $7, though. It wasn't really a fun trip to NY, it was mostly to give me something to do to make my time up in the northeast go faster. I can't wait to go back to Pittsburgh where there's public transportation!
In other news, I went to New York with my mom and my aunt yesterday and we were unsuccessful in finding the mysterious antique shop my mom read about somewhere. Poor mommy. O well. We had lunch in Little Italy which was nice. I had a $7 cherries jubilee for dessert, and it was tasty. Not sure if it was truly worth the $7, though. It wasn't really a fun trip to NY, it was mostly to give me something to do to make my time up in the northeast go faster. I can't wait to go back to Pittsburgh where there's public transportation!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Ready to Go
Being at home is starting to get to me. Today, dad gets home and is fine for about half an hour. All of a sudden he starts to yell at me, calling me lazy, saying I'm home all day and I still can't manage to help around the house. I sit and wonder what he's talking about. Apparently a package got delivered today and the person just set it outside the front door. Well, how was I supposed to know? 1) I didn't know he was expecting a package, and 2) I didn't know to look out the front door because no one rang the doorbell. If someone did, I don't remember hearing it in my sleep.
Also, at my old home, I was used to having some measure of privacy. We've gone from a tree-surrounded 1-acre plot to an open-lawned .25 acres. Children are wandering through our backyard, and everytime I so much as look out the window, I feel like I'm spying on the neighbors. Funny thing is, I feel like I have much more privacy in the city, where everyone is supposedly so much more crammed than I do here. And for some bizarre reason, it's 75 degrees outside and our house is STILL freezing. We don't have air conditioning or anything. I think I will forever associate being in Connecticut as being cold.
I'm so ready to go back to Pittsburgh.
Also, at my old home, I was used to having some measure of privacy. We've gone from a tree-surrounded 1-acre plot to an open-lawned .25 acres. Children are wandering through our backyard, and everytime I so much as look out the window, I feel like I'm spying on the neighbors. Funny thing is, I feel like I have much more privacy in the city, where everyone is supposedly so much more crammed than I do here. And for some bizarre reason, it's 75 degrees outside and our house is STILL freezing. We don't have air conditioning or anything. I think I will forever associate being in Connecticut as being cold.
I'm so ready to go back to Pittsburgh.
Monday, May 14, 2007
New House
So, its been a couple of days since I got back to Connecticut. So far its been COLD. Well, by cold I mean upper 60s since Pittsburgh has pretty consistently warm these past few weeks.
So this is what I think of my new house: It's HUGE. I didn't think it was very large when it was empty, but once all the furniture is in, you realize its a long long walk from the stove to the dinner table. It's okay, I suppose, if you don't think of all the architectural travesties that our professors teach us not to do in high architecture. I think I'll get used to it eventually, but right now, I still feel somewhat like a guest.
So this is what I think of my new house: It's HUGE. I didn't think it was very large when it was empty, but once all the furniture is in, you realize its a long long walk from the stove to the dinner table. It's okay, I suppose, if you don't think of all the architectural travesties that our professors teach us not to do in high architecture. I think I'll get used to it eventually, but right now, I still feel somewhat like a guest.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Freedom!
At last, freedom! This years hell week wasn't nearly as stressful as previous, probably because this time around there was help. I managed to get five hours of sleep every night except this last one where I got 20 minutes on the green cushion in the corner of the lab.
I think that the first time I had to work with a partner, it really scarred me. Fortunately, this time's partner and I got along better and I think that together, we made a really great project. Part of it might have been because of guilt from my last parter experience where I basically hid from work because the social aspects of it weren't to my taste.
Our reviews went alright, I suppose. I was annoyed when, yet again, everyone got stuck around one design element, the same one every time. I don't think architects understand that prison is not lollipops and summer camp. I got a little annoyed in after the first ten minutes and after another ten, Brian started getting offended. When he spoke up, I finally got a chance to speak up and I think the critics realized just how offended we were, so we changed topics. Thank god.
Not the smoothest reviews, but they ended on a good note. One of the critics said she loved my section (kudos to me) and the elevations (kudos to Brian). So, something for everyone. I just hope we don't have to present again on Friday. I shall keep my fingers crossed because that was just hell.
I think that the first time I had to work with a partner, it really scarred me. Fortunately, this time's partner and I got along better and I think that together, we made a really great project. Part of it might have been because of guilt from my last parter experience where I basically hid from work because the social aspects of it weren't to my taste.
Our reviews went alright, I suppose. I was annoyed when, yet again, everyone got stuck around one design element, the same one every time. I don't think architects understand that prison is not lollipops and summer camp. I got a little annoyed in after the first ten minutes and after another ten, Brian started getting offended. When he spoke up, I finally got a chance to speak up and I think the critics realized just how offended we were, so we changed topics. Thank god.
Not the smoothest reviews, but they ended on a good note. One of the critics said she loved my section (kudos to me) and the elevations (kudos to Brian). So, something for everyone. I just hope we don't have to present again on Friday. I shall keep my fingers crossed because that was just hell.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Heck Week
So, this semester's Hell Week for some reason doesn't seem particularly stressful. The watered down version has been dubbed by me as "Heck Week" where the work load is high, but the stress just doesn't seem to be there. That's why I'm happily typing away on my blog instead of slaving away on those horrid sections.
I think last semester had me scarred where I started my Rhino model the week of and ended up scrambling for crappy plans on the DAY OF. So, to keep the fear of that away, Brian and I had our plans set two months in advance and everything now is just a matter of tweaking.
O yes, and one of my favorite professors stopped by the lab just now to tell us that she bought $500 worth of Chinese food for the first years and we should help ourselves. Lo Mein for everyone!
I think last semester had me scarred where I started my Rhino model the week of and ended up scrambling for crappy plans on the DAY OF. So, to keep the fear of that away, Brian and I had our plans set two months in advance and everything now is just a matter of tweaking.
O yes, and one of my favorite professors stopped by the lab just now to tell us that she bought $500 worth of Chinese food for the first years and we should help ourselves. Lo Mein for everyone!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Homeless
Today, my parents and sister moved our things out of the home I lived in since I was four. It's very strange that within two days, my home will no longer be my home, but the new home of a little Indian girl. My new home is in a very bland place that I don't know so well.
I used to know exactly how much longer it would be till we got home. I'd see the gas station, the atrium, the high school and then, within minutes, we'd be pulling up the driveway.
It's funny - I haven't felt homesick in years.
I used to know exactly how much longer it would be till we got home. I'd see the gas station, the atrium, the high school and then, within minutes, we'd be pulling up the driveway.
It's funny - I haven't felt homesick in years.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
I don't think I ever mentioned: Ben took me out to the Cheesecake Factory a couple of weekends ago. It was very sweet of him. First, we asked for a table, got a beeper thingy and wandered the mall for a good 50 minutes. By then, we were starving and my poor darling was starting to lose his patience. I got back in line to tell the receptionist that we give up and we're going to eat elsewhere when the beeper went off. Perfect timing. We got seated in a nice little booth and our server had to be just about the nicest server ever. She even asked me where I got my jacket (Louise, if you're reading this, the brown ruffled shirt is awesome - I love it). Ben ordered a quesadilla thingy of some sort, and I ordered a breaded chicken with lemon sauce, which comes with a side of mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. While we waited, we munched on bread. Did you know Cheesecake Factory has chocolate bread? Tasty! I ate all the chocolate bread and Ben ate all the regular bread and then the food came. Amazing food, worth every dollar Ben spent (mwahahah). The meal actually only came out to be about $5 more expensive than eating at TGIF or Applebees, but I think the quality was much better. I ordered a Chocolate Raspberry Truffle cheesecake to go. I ate it later that evening while Ben played video games and I think I nearly died of sugar overdose and went to heaven. All in all, a nice late-birthday dinner.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Aging and Decrepit
I think I'm getting old. Indications are as such:
1) I turned 22 recently.
2) I can't pull all-nighters all the time like I used to.
3) I feel like a mom sometimes with the house-cleaning and cooking and loving cute little babies and all.
I think the worst is this though:
I was talking to a freshman the other day when she commented on how much she liked my black and white striped socks, to which I replied, "Yah, I really like them. They remind me of Beetlejuice." I got a blank stare in response. Apparently the "younger generation" doesn't remember the depraved cartoon wonder of Beetlejuice and Lydia Deets.
I'm old...
O and Lily is coming over to Pittsburgh this weekend. So exciting. Hope she doesn't mind my insane hours.
1) I turned 22 recently.
2) I can't pull all-nighters all the time like I used to.
3) I feel like a mom sometimes with the house-cleaning and cooking and loving cute little babies and all.
I think the worst is this though:
I was talking to a freshman the other day when she commented on how much she liked my black and white striped socks, to which I replied, "Yah, I really like them. They remind me of Beetlejuice." I got a blank stare in response. Apparently the "younger generation" doesn't remember the depraved cartoon wonder of Beetlejuice and Lydia Deets.
I'm old...
O and Lily is coming over to Pittsburgh this weekend. So exciting. Hope she doesn't mind my insane hours.
Friday, March 30, 2007
?!?
Tonight, Ben took to the mall for dinner. As we were walking towards the food court, a couple of kids that looked to be around 13 walk by and one says something that sounded derogatory that ended with, "...at least we're not that white guy with that chinese girl." To which the other replied, "Man, that's totally racist." At which point I turned to look, noticing that Ben and I were, in fact, the only present white guy/chinese girl combo. Then the offending kid yelled, "Yah, you heard me." Turning back, I saw two Asian women walk by and kind of glance at me with that look, kind of like, "Wow....yah...did that just happen? Wow..."
On a funny note, Ben quote of the evening - "MM...dinosaur. MM... tire rotation..."
On a funny note, Ben quote of the evening - "MM...dinosaur. MM... tire rotation..."
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Life as I Know It
I think it's been an incredibly long time since I've bothered to write in my blog. In fact, it's been about a month. I have no idea how a month just passed, but it has, and it's scary. I'll try to catch up on things that have been happening, but I think that most likely, I'll forget something...
Studio: working on the "New Orleans Community ReIntegration Center" with Brian is good so far. We seem to be at a good place in the project and seem to be in relative agreement as far as form and function concern. Little fights appear over things such as structure. I blame it on him, of course.
Roomie Search: At the beginning of March, I entertained the possibility of living with Estee, but she backed out because she wants to live ALONE. Why would anyone ever want to do that? I did for a summer and it was depressing, I tell you. Depressing! Anyhoo, after momentary panic, I managed to find not one, but two roommates. Yes, starting on May 15, Ken and Brian will officially be my roommates. It should be good.
Spring Break: This year for Spring Break, I decided to bring home Waz. I figured she can sort of shield me from my mother and her incessant lecturing. It worked out quite well. I spent most of my days with May, and Waz spent most of her time in CT unconscious. We got to see my new house and mom took us on a little tour of suburban America (Waz fell asleep during the tour). In the end, Waz came away with two important revelations: "Your mom is very loud," and "Your dad is very reserved." I think that's pretty accurate. Then we were off to NYC.
Day 1: Emergency room for Waz - I, being a know it all, forced her to go see a doctor about a UTI. Getting a kidney infection is a sure-fire way to ruin your break. We called my cousin Ni-ni at work at around 10:30 and she said we could catch a ride back to Flushing with her. She showed us a nice little Japanese restaurant just outside her building where we stuffed ourselves with donburi until Ni-ni and her little sis, Lily, showed up. Then we went to their home where Lily, still in high school, stayed up WAY late and we all watched an episode of "The Black Donnellys."
Day 2: Hanging out with Ken and Mike C. We woke up early, had a "small breakfast" at my favorite NanBeiHe in Flushing and explored Flushing mall where I nearly died of happiness when I found out a store there sold Cop Copine, and nearly died of sorrow when I found out that since they were unofficial retailers, everything was about double price. Then we took the Chinatown Express and met up with Ken and Mike for dimsum, walked on the Manhattan Bridge, explored Soho and went to dinner at a Texan BBQ place near NYU. We waited there for Waz's physics teacher from high school, who arrived pretty late. We all chatted for a bit before Mike and Ken got going. Then, Waz's physics teacher took us to a sake bar practically right next door to Cooper Union. I was tempted to break in to the building to see what their studios were like. Ken attests to the fact that their spaces are much smaller than ours. I suppose that's some consolation. Evening ended with us getting home around midnight and Waz meeting my aunt who greeted her with a "OOOO, you're so skinny!!!" (which, I would like to note, was the exact greeting my mother used).
Day 3: MOMA with Waz. Ni-ni got us free tickets and we explored the museum for three hours and then played around in the store for another hour. We met up with Ken in Soho to see the Hess exhibit at Fuse Gallery and then Ken's dad was kind enought to drive us down to the South Ferry. We rode on that for about an hour, taking many many photos of the Statue of Liberty. Then we wandered the entire southern tip of Manhattan forever. Ken took us around Battery Park, Winter Garden, Stuyvensant, Ground Zero, Wall Street - we finally ended up in Little Italy where we ate a wonderful Italian dinner while people were filming an episode of "The Sopranos" across the street. Later, Ken's dad drove us up to Times Square. Ni-ni was still working so we entertained ourselves at Virgin Records which was surprisingly still open at midnight. Then we rode home with Ni-ni.
Day 4: Waz had to leave real early. REAL early and neither of us were feeling particularly well rested. After she left, I went back to sleep, woke up and typed out my resume and cover letters. I couldn't get them printed, unfortunately, so I had to wait on that. I managed to make it over to Archi-tectonics after searching half of Chelsea and was rudely greeted. Fat chance of ever working there, I think I'm too friendly for them. Then I met up with Nestor at Whole Foods, the one I worked on, and he walked me through everything. It was a wonderful bit of reminiscing and it was cool to get to see all the stuff I designed actually made. Nestor, his employee and I went back to their brand new, spacious office where I said hello to Fabian and met the new girl. I sort of stuck around a bit until my other former boss, Jonathan, showed up, at which point more reminiscing ensued. I noticed that when greeting them, both my bosses kissed me on the cheek, Euro-style. Is that the new NY way? After that, I wandered over to Rawlings where I dropped off another resume and coverletter. Hopefully I have more luck with that one... Then, I bought some gelato, hopped on a train and went back to blissful, sleepy CT, which I quite enjoyed.
My Birthday: I convinced Ben to take me somewhere nice for our Birthdays. Somewhere REAL nice. We couldn't last weekend since his family was celebrating his, my and his gram's birthdays all at once, so perhaps this weekend. For me, he got Dreamfall. For him, I bought a glass from Urban Outfitters, a business card holder from MUJI, and a cute little voodoo doll I like to call winkie because of something on the doll's pants. Ben likes Winkie best too. My birthday started off on a poor note this year - I taught an extra recitation from midnight to 1:30am and then worked until 3 am, and I had a cold besides. But, the actual day of my birthday was good. I cooked taro nian-gao and egg drop soup for Ben and he actually enjoyed it, much to my relief. Then we watched Rounders, which was most entertaining though I was tired enough that I nodded off for parts of it. All in all, a good birthday, though.
So, I suppose that's it? I suppose so. I feel like everyday is just work and dance, work and dance, and I collapse in a pile of exhaustion around 2 every night. I suppose 2 isn't that bad. I think I'm getting old...
Studio: working on the "New Orleans Community ReIntegration Center" with Brian is good so far. We seem to be at a good place in the project and seem to be in relative agreement as far as form and function concern. Little fights appear over things such as structure. I blame it on him, of course.
Roomie Search: At the beginning of March, I entertained the possibility of living with Estee, but she backed out because she wants to live ALONE. Why would anyone ever want to do that? I did for a summer and it was depressing, I tell you. Depressing! Anyhoo, after momentary panic, I managed to find not one, but two roommates. Yes, starting on May 15, Ken and Brian will officially be my roommates. It should be good.
Spring Break: This year for Spring Break, I decided to bring home Waz. I figured she can sort of shield me from my mother and her incessant lecturing. It worked out quite well. I spent most of my days with May, and Waz spent most of her time in CT unconscious. We got to see my new house and mom took us on a little tour of suburban America (Waz fell asleep during the tour). In the end, Waz came away with two important revelations: "Your mom is very loud," and "Your dad is very reserved." I think that's pretty accurate. Then we were off to NYC.
Day 1: Emergency room for Waz - I, being a know it all, forced her to go see a doctor about a UTI. Getting a kidney infection is a sure-fire way to ruin your break. We called my cousin Ni-ni at work at around 10:30 and she said we could catch a ride back to Flushing with her. She showed us a nice little Japanese restaurant just outside her building where we stuffed ourselves with donburi until Ni-ni and her little sis, Lily, showed up. Then we went to their home where Lily, still in high school, stayed up WAY late and we all watched an episode of "The Black Donnellys."
Day 2: Hanging out with Ken and Mike C. We woke up early, had a "small breakfast" at my favorite NanBeiHe in Flushing and explored Flushing mall where I nearly died of happiness when I found out a store there sold Cop Copine, and nearly died of sorrow when I found out that since they were unofficial retailers, everything was about double price. Then we took the Chinatown Express and met up with Ken and Mike for dimsum, walked on the Manhattan Bridge, explored Soho and went to dinner at a Texan BBQ place near NYU. We waited there for Waz's physics teacher from high school, who arrived pretty late. We all chatted for a bit before Mike and Ken got going. Then, Waz's physics teacher took us to a sake bar practically right next door to Cooper Union. I was tempted to break in to the building to see what their studios were like. Ken attests to the fact that their spaces are much smaller than ours. I suppose that's some consolation. Evening ended with us getting home around midnight and Waz meeting my aunt who greeted her with a "OOOO, you're so skinny!!!" (which, I would like to note, was the exact greeting my mother used).
Day 3: MOMA with Waz. Ni-ni got us free tickets and we explored the museum for three hours and then played around in the store for another hour. We met up with Ken in Soho to see the Hess exhibit at Fuse Gallery and then Ken's dad was kind enought to drive us down to the South Ferry. We rode on that for about an hour, taking many many photos of the Statue of Liberty. Then we wandered the entire southern tip of Manhattan forever. Ken took us around Battery Park, Winter Garden, Stuyvensant, Ground Zero, Wall Street - we finally ended up in Little Italy where we ate a wonderful Italian dinner while people were filming an episode of "The Sopranos" across the street. Later, Ken's dad drove us up to Times Square. Ni-ni was still working so we entertained ourselves at Virgin Records which was surprisingly still open at midnight. Then we rode home with Ni-ni.
Day 4: Waz had to leave real early. REAL early and neither of us were feeling particularly well rested. After she left, I went back to sleep, woke up and typed out my resume and cover letters. I couldn't get them printed, unfortunately, so I had to wait on that. I managed to make it over to Archi-tectonics after searching half of Chelsea and was rudely greeted. Fat chance of ever working there, I think I'm too friendly for them. Then I met up with Nestor at Whole Foods, the one I worked on, and he walked me through everything. It was a wonderful bit of reminiscing and it was cool to get to see all the stuff I designed actually made. Nestor, his employee and I went back to their brand new, spacious office where I said hello to Fabian and met the new girl. I sort of stuck around a bit until my other former boss, Jonathan, showed up, at which point more reminiscing ensued. I noticed that when greeting them, both my bosses kissed me on the cheek, Euro-style. Is that the new NY way? After that, I wandered over to Rawlings where I dropped off another resume and coverletter. Hopefully I have more luck with that one... Then, I bought some gelato, hopped on a train and went back to blissful, sleepy CT, which I quite enjoyed.
My Birthday: I convinced Ben to take me somewhere nice for our Birthdays. Somewhere REAL nice. We couldn't last weekend since his family was celebrating his, my and his gram's birthdays all at once, so perhaps this weekend. For me, he got Dreamfall. For him, I bought a glass from Urban Outfitters, a business card holder from MUJI, and a cute little voodoo doll I like to call winkie because of something on the doll's pants. Ben likes Winkie best too. My birthday started off on a poor note this year - I taught an extra recitation from midnight to 1:30am and then worked until 3 am, and I had a cold besides. But, the actual day of my birthday was good. I cooked taro nian-gao and egg drop soup for Ben and he actually enjoyed it, much to my relief. Then we watched Rounders, which was most entertaining though I was tired enough that I nodded off for parts of it. All in all, a good birthday, though.
So, I suppose that's it? I suppose so. I feel like everyday is just work and dance, work and dance, and I collapse in a pile of exhaustion around 2 every night. I suppose 2 isn't that bad. I think I'm getting old...
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Moola
Yay for income! One of my professors offered me a TA postition for next fall teaching at the Heinz School! Yay!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Happy Chinese New Years!
Xin Nian Kuai Le! I think this is a great way to start off the new year with fluffy white snow falling outside and much less work to do.
Last night, Waz and my two months of intensive frustration and labor paid off as we watched out models strut their stuff at the Lunar Gala show last night. I think that the moment the first models started out, I decided it was well worth the trouble. No more sewing knowing there's a deadline approaching, no more working at Waz's till 2 or 3 am. No more hurried trips to JoAnn Fabrics. It's done and it was great.
So far, we've had offers for the hoodie, the word tunic, two pairs of pants and my assymetric sports coat, so maybe we'll make back some money. So exciting. Not only did we show our collection, apparently its still wearable enough that people are interested in buying. I think we ought to just start making lots of clothes for ourselves. We'll be our own advertising boards and everytime someone asks where we got that badass shirt, we can say, "Well, we made it. If you would like one, just let us know." Or something. It'd be cool. Though I told Waz that I don't want to design officially next year. "I'll help you out, but I don't want to be a designer." Mostly, I think I just want to dance, or maybe model. I should model just to say I've done it all for Lunar Gala. Except I'm nto too good at walking...
All in all, a wonderful experience.
Happy Chinese New Years!
Last night, Waz and my two months of intensive frustration and labor paid off as we watched out models strut their stuff at the Lunar Gala show last night. I think that the moment the first models started out, I decided it was well worth the trouble. No more sewing knowing there's a deadline approaching, no more working at Waz's till 2 or 3 am. No more hurried trips to JoAnn Fabrics. It's done and it was great.
So far, we've had offers for the hoodie, the word tunic, two pairs of pants and my assymetric sports coat, so maybe we'll make back some money. So exciting. Not only did we show our collection, apparently its still wearable enough that people are interested in buying. I think we ought to just start making lots of clothes for ourselves. We'll be our own advertising boards and everytime someone asks where we got that badass shirt, we can say, "Well, we made it. If you would like one, just let us know." Or something. It'd be cool. Though I told Waz that I don't want to design officially next year. "I'll help you out, but I don't want to be a designer." Mostly, I think I just want to dance, or maybe model. I should model just to say I've done it all for Lunar Gala. Except I'm nto too good at walking...
All in all, a wonderful experience.
Happy Chinese New Years!
