Sunday, July 26, 2009

Grey's Anatomy: random associations

I bought the Grey's Anatomy Season 4 and 5 boxed set for my 9 hour layover in Qatar. I've been resisting the urge to start watching it and I finally gave in tonight. I told myself I was just going to watch one to check the quality. Five episodes later...

I'm totally loving Season 4 already (I know I'm so behind!) and am reminded of how much I love Sandra Oh and her character Cristina Yang. I just love her facial expressions. If there ever was a movie made about my life Sandra Oh is the first person I'd pick to play me. A while back my girlfriend told me that the character, Cristina Yang, reminded her of me. That was actually why I started watching the show, to see what she was talking about. And then I was hooked. I just watched the episode where Dr. Yang calls all her interns by numbers because she couldn't remember their names. It reminded me of when I taught swim lessons to kids when I was in college. I couldn't for the life of me remember their names so I also called them by numbers. I am so Cristina Yang and I take that as a compliment!


Miranda Bailey, played by Chandra WIlson, is my second favorite character on the show. I also think her facial expressions are hilarious. Is it a coincidence that my two favorite characters are competitive, sarcastic ballbusters?

Another random association; every time I see the Space Needle in the beginning of the show I am reminded of how I almost moved there for my (now ex) boyfriend. I never thought I would leave New York. Not any time soon at least. He asked me to move with him and I lost sleep for over a month trying to decide whether I should go. I weighed the pros and cons with Bionic Woman and she asked me, "Years from now, are you going to look back and regret that you didn't get in that car?" Yes, I decided to move cross country based on a line from Transformers.

The month leading up to my move, though, my stomach was in knots. It wasn't nerves. I knew I had made the wrong decision. I wasn't ready. He was a great guy, but he wasn't the one for me. Now when I see images of the Needle I think 1) Oh how lovely and 2) I'm glad I didn't get in that car. I have no regrets.

So my questions today are as random as this post. Who would you have play you in a movie? Is it because they look like you or have the same characteristics as you? Have you ever listened to your gut on a big decision? Was your gut right or wrong? Would you move across the country/border/ocean to be with someone?

Lastly, isn't it the best feeling in the world when you look back and realize you've made the right decision?

Friday, July 24, 2009

Do you believe in love at first sight?

I stayed in last night because I had a long day. I was running errands all afternoon in the Bangkok heat and I met my sister for dinner, sangria, and crepes. Yumm. I had a blast catching up with her on life, men, work, and family gossip. My friends were going out to a club but I was just so tired and I had nothing to wear.

I sent out a few email correspondences and decided to snuggle in bed with the fan on full blast and watch Closer, starring Jude Law (yumm!), Julia Roberts, and Natalie Portman.

I watched this movie years ago and I just loved the questions it raises. The tagline of the movie is, "If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking." Do you guys believe in love at first sight? I think I do. (more on this later : ) )

I was reading the back of the DVD box and it asks the questions, " Are humans meant to mate for life? What drives someone in a perfectly good relationship to cheat and risk losing the on that they love and loves them? Is it possible to love more than one person at the same time? How well does anyone really know the one that they love?"

What do you guys think?

PS: the Damien Rice song in the beginning of the movie is so going to be my wedding song. Erm. I just have to find a man first, huh?

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Celeb crush: Ed Westwick

I'm sitting here at my computer trying to work on my book which, of course, means I'm surfing the internet and daydreaming. I randomly thought of Ed Westwick when I came across this funny little clip from NY Mag's Daily Intel. I usually try to do the New York thing of being too cool to notice celebrities but I would break down with Ed and have the same rambling profession of love.

I think my crush first developed when I was living in Murray Hill and would walk past this 3 story ad (near Herald Square). I literally stopped a drooled until a passerby told me to get the fuck out of the middle of the sidewalk.

On top of being hot he sings, like, in a band. And to top it all off he's British. Yummmms!

PS. reading NY Mag has brought back some warm fuzzy feelings of missing NYC. Or maybe it's just the thought of having an EW sighting.

Monday, July 20, 2009

finally!

I finally installed a ($4) bootleg photoshop on my laptop and am able to get rid of my old header. What do you think of the new one? Yay or nay?

PS. the photo was taken by the amazing Kate Connolly.

Rest in peace, Mr McCourt

"I learned the significance of my own insignificant life." -FM

(photo courtesy of NYTimes)
One of my favorite authors, Frank McCourt passed away today at age 78. He lived an incredible life, as recounted in his memoirs, "Angela's Ashes" and "'Tis," persevering through an impoverished childhood in Ireland and returning to New York to make a life for himself. I wish I could have been a student in his creative writing class.

A tip of the hat to you, Mr McCourt, I remain truly inspired.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

ZEN Body Sense 2009 fashion show

Last night we attended the Body Sense 2009 fashion show at Zen, boasting “the year’s sexiest innerwear extravaganza.” The event had a bedtime stories theme but you’d have to look further if you were expecting to see Little Red Riding hood strutting her stuff in red garters. The show featured innerwear by a variety of designers such as Calvin Klein, Guy Laroche, Aussiebum, and John Henry but I was too distracted by the rock hard abs to look at the labels. I definitely would have trouble sleeping if these guys were in my bedtime stories.




taking it all in...


For the past two days I've been catching myself sitting back, looking around, and thinking, "Wow, I am so incredibly happy right now." Have you guys ever had moments like that? I am feeling so perfectly content right now, I wish this feeling could last forever. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Hello Kitty Heaven

As you know I am currently in Asia and among the millions of things I could indulge in here (cheap food, partying, shopping, summer romance) is Hello Kitty. The adorable little white cat with the yellow nose and a tilted red bow can be found everywhere here; pillows, stickers, water bottles, shoes, clocks, umrellas, etc.

I was shopping at Platinum today and I came across a Hello Kitty motorcycle helmet. It was pink with a black stripe down the middle, HK's face on the side, and it comes with cute black goggles. Oh my god, I was obsessed. Since I don't own a Vespa yet I tried to think of all the places I could wear this helmet. Riding a bike? Hiking? Walking under scaffolding in New York? I had to be pried away from the store.

Then I got to thinking. I couldn't have pink helmet and a red Vespa. I would have to coordinate my bike around my helmet. Look what I found! I could put my french bulldog puppy in the sidekick seat!


Wifey promised me a belated Hello Kitty birthday party upon my return back to NYC in 3 weeks. Aren't these pops cute?

they would go great with the HK cake she promised me : )

Little Zoe is so lucky to get this cake for her 3rd birthday!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Full Moon- the sequel

D and I went back down south to the Full Moon party last week. It was our second in 2 months (which is a bit indulgent even for me) and I think it might have to be my last. I'm starting to feel like I might be too old to be painting my body in day-glo paint, playing childhood games like jumprope and limbo (granted the rope and poles are lit on fire), and drinking until the sun rises and it gets to hot to still be dancing in the afternoon sun. I caught myself, at one point, saying to someone, "When I was your age..." That may be a sign that it's time to hang up my paint splattered Full Moon clothes.

I thought this picture was hilarious since people keep presuming that I'm a ladyboy. It seemed only fitting that I posed as Jeroen's Thai half-brother.


30,000 people on this beach

fire limbo

a safe, secure, and free designated sleep area should anyone need a nap


still dancing at dawn...



This sign was mocking us as we had the worst journey home ever. It was pouring rain from the moment we left our bungalow. It rained the entire hour while we waited on the pier for the boat and we were soaked, along with our bags, causing them to double in weight. The boat was overbooked because they counted the seats on the sundeck but since it was raining all 350 people crammed inside the boat, standing where ever they could, like soaking wet sardines. The aircon was on, or else there would be no ventilation, and we were wet and freezing. The waves were so rough that I kept getting mental images of White Squal and the Tsunami. I made a note to always tell someone where I was going as the only person who knew that I was on the boat was D, sitting right next to me. Then, all of a sudden, the fire alarm went off. I definitely thought we were going under because there were more people than life jackets on the boat. The alarm was turned off after a few minutes and we were told that it was "nothing." Great. Our attention was focused back again on the rocky boat that sent bags sliding from one side to the other. Shortly after, I began to hear the sounds of people vomiting all around me. The sound, and the smell that followed, made me so sick that my lunch, too, came up. Except, I didn't have a bag ready, and being the courteous person that I am, I had to swallow it back. (Read: cringe). There were green faces everywhere holding clear bags filled with brown liquid. I put on my ipod, stared at the horizon, and prayed for the boat ride to be over soon, with all of us, safely on shore.

Once we got to the pier we had another 6 hour bus ride awaiting us and no dry clothes. My ipod died with 5 hours left on the bus. The reading light was broken. I had never been so happy to return to Bangkok, back to Nick's house, be greeted by my friend, Massive Cockroach, and change into dry clothes.

Dear massive cockroach,

that could survive an apocalypse like your mate in Wall E. Please leave peacefully and I promise to stop screaming and swatting at you with Nick's size 12 shoes.

Regards,
N

Yummmmm!

Kao Mun Gai (chicken rice) - another Thai favorite

Iced Dessert (ice with coconut milk and tapioca-esque stuff)

Dinner and dessert = $2. Fantastic.

Do opposites really attract?

After the end of one of my relationships, my friends would always comment that they never really saw us as a fit. This usually surprises me because I’ve never had a physical type. The only connection between the exes was that they had great senses of humor and that they were nothing like me; different backgrounds, religions, and interests.

I always looked for someone different than me so that they could show me new things, have different interests, keep things interesting, and balance me out. Hence why I’ve never really dated an Asian, a writer, or someone who is unpredictable. I’ve always gone for someone who was more down to earth and works more conventional hours.

I love it when I meet someone who has a different passion than me whether it be someone who snowboards, goes to punk shows, or loves hiking. All things that I don’t do on my free time but would love to if I had someone to go with and share their passion with me.

The other day I asked my male friend, P, how his last date went. He took a swig of his beer, shrugged, and said, “We didn’t have that much in common.” I pressed a little more and he says she was more of a socialista on weekends while he preferred more low key nights. How hypocritical I thought. I mean, they met while they were both out at a fashion show after party. Had she been home having a movie night, they never would have met.

One of my last dates dismissed me the same way, citing we didn’t have that much in common. Are men looking for clones of themselves? My guy friends pick out the most glamorous girl in the bar but then wished she enjoyed beer and pizzas in a pub.

My ex boyfriend from years ago was my best friend in the world and we were as different as night and day. He was laid back and I was impatient. He loved fattening take out and I wanted fancy dinners. He was calm and I always worried. He was a music snob and my Napster playlist consisted of Nelly, Boyz II Men, and really bad pop, something he continuously ragged on me about. He had this romanticized idea of moving to the Midwest and living on a farm. I wanted to own the entire island of Manhattan. He was an inner child. I had the soul of an 80 year old. I always felt we lasted as long as we did because we were so different. We always ended up compromising and had a great balance. He bought me tickets to Zootopia for my birthday one year, and smiled at me as if I was the most ridiculous girl alive, singing my heart out to Britney Spears, amongst a sea of tweens. We would order enough Cluck U to cater a frat party and eat happily with our pants unbuttoned in front of the telly. We were always doing things, even as simple as getting greasy takeout, that we wouldn’t normally be doing if we weren’t together.

Morals and values are the only things that I require to be in sync. I was raised with Thai and Buddhist beliefs and while my kids don’t have to be Buddhist I need them to understand the respect for elders and community. I dated a guy who rewarded his daughter with whatever her tantrums desired. She became a spoiled brat, learning to cry and scream until she got what she wanted. I would be more strict, the way my parents were with me (and look how great I turned out : )).

In the end though, my Opposites ex and I aren’t together. So, I wonder if what I thought had kept us together for so long, was ultimately also our demise.

I am just looking for someone who can be the common sense to my nonsense. Wouldn't that be found in someone who's opposite of me?

What do you guys think? Do you look for someone who is just like you and has the same interests? Are any of you in a relationship right now with someone who is your opposite?

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Ps. Happy Fourth of July!




Daydreaming

Uggg. I'm struggling today with a massive hangover. I should be working on the book but I'm just staring blankly at the screen hoping the room would stop spinning. Instead I'm daydreaming about owning the following:

A red Vespa


I like this one too, designed by The Gap. Maybe I could have 2 so that I could have a friend come riding with me.


Paul Frank pink Scurvy cruiser


And of course, all of these bikes would be parked at my beach house, just like this one.


And maybe Shayne Ward to keep me company. Yummmm.



Otherwise, I'd settle for this cute little French Bulldog puppy.


What are you daydreaming about?

Ok, back to work...

Thursday, July 2, 2009

My new toy


Two weeks ago I was on Koh Samet and I dropped my Kodak point and shoot camera and, not surprisingly, it stopped working. I was pretty upset, I had it for less than a year, but I couldn't let a material thing ruin my night. It was time for a new one anyway. Prior to being dropped the zoom and lens was already not functioning properly, most likely from all the sand that was inside the camera.

I was at Pantip last week and bought this Canon ELPH camera, mostly because it was red (I'm that easy), and I absolutely love it. It's small, takes great pictures, and I bought a cute little camera strap for it that has dangly charms on it. I'm so Asian right now.

Wildwood circa 1992

I swear I lost a few brain cells while watching this.

I hate adding to the stereotypes that people have of Jersey, but this is still too funny not to post. "I mean, it's different, because it's different. This is going to last till the end of summer." How glad are you that you're not a teenager anymore?