Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Since when is the internet public??

Today has been an interesting day. I woke up still feeling sick but a bit better than yesterday. It's the damn body aches that make it so hard to get out of bed. What else would a sick person rather do than wake up early and pack 800 tons of childhood memories into a van and drive them to Queens? Well, I was in luck! That's exactly what I got to do today!

I couldn't find a parking spot in front of my apartment so I had to lug these boxes from a block away and up 2 flights of stairs. Not that I was all that surprised, but the Middle Eastern men who sit at the Balkan restaurant next to my apartment just sat and watched as I made 10 trips back and forth to my car, obviously struggling. Had they offered to help I would have said no.

Driving in NYC was super frustrating but I think getting out and about, (partially) breathing (semi) fresh air made me feel a bit better. I'm definitely relieved to finally (!) be done packing and moving my stuff from my moms. Now I'm free to spend all the quality time with her. Erm, I'm blogging and she's somewhere in the house. I feel her presence though!

I'm feeling emotionally better today as well. Mom seems to be in good spirits which makes me feel more positive. I decided to check facebook while she was making dinner and I always get excited when I get a new friend request. (Another fun person from the past to reconnect with? The guy I met at a bar last week? A friend of a friend who thinks this is a dating website? Bring it!) To my horror (understatement!) I saw my mom's face smiling back at me next to the boxes "Confirm" and "Ignore". Eeeeeeeyikes!!!! I never thought this day would come! Mom can't even handle text messaging! She still types with one finger! She still "stores" phone numbers, addresses, and email address in a tiny little book that she's had since 1987. She's run out of pages in the book but she'll write the info on a small scrap of paper and put it in between the pages. How did she manage to find me on facebook, let alone to "turn on" the internet? Freaking out. I look over at her and tilt my laptop away from her, hoping she wouldn't see the page pulled up. Fuck's sake! I can't deny my own mother! Nor can we be "friends"! Twenty minutes later she says to me, "Oh, I asked to sign up with you on book face? Something book book?" Oh goodness, I had to look away (I always do when I lie -total dead giveaway!) and tried to answer as nonchalantly as possible, "Oh, I haven't checked that in ages!" Lies! I tried to add in a scare tactic, "Do you even know how to use it, Mom? Be careful what you write and click on there." I think it's now time to take my own advice.

As if the night couldn't get stranger, I was downstairs working on some things when I heard a noise I've heard many times before in my life. I can only describe it as a cat that's being stabbed to death but really enjoying it. Also known as my mom SINGING. Only this time it isn't god awful Thai love songs. It was... The Beatles. What. The. Fuck. My mom is playing Rock Band. I would have been crying from the painful noise I was hearing but I was laughing way too hard. God bless my mom. For those who have had the unfortunate opportunity to hear me sing, I can tell you where I got my pipes from.

Perhaps this is how it would be if I spent more time with my mom. Maybe she would keep surprising me. Maybe I would laugh at the things that used to make me walk away and slam the door. Maybe we'd be facebook friends trying to out tag each other in the most unflattering photos. We don't often have much to talk about so "spending time together" usually means sitting in each other's vicinity. I'm doing just that tonight, sitting in her vicinity, comforted by her presence, when she stops what she was doing and turns to me again, "Oh you know what my friend just told me?" I turned to her, only half interested, thinking she's going to tell me about the latest thing her friends heard on the news that I should be worried about. Swine flu? Terrorist plots? Teen pregnancy? She continued, "She said that her son found something that you write online? Like a personal website or something?" I froze. "She said it was interesting. You wrote about our trip to Grandma's in Thailand?"

Um...slowly registering what she's saying...Panic. Attack. I let out a nervous chuckle. Oh. Ha...Ha...Um. "Wow, that's funny that he found it," was all I could reply. Very often these days I try to tell my friends a story and they'll let me finish, looking bored out of their minds, and then tell me, "Yeah, I read your blog," and I'd apologize and ask them why they didn't stop me sooner. I don't realize that they actually read what I write. Then I'd get a random text from a friend who would ask me if I was OK. I would ask why and they would respond, "I read your blog. You do realize that's open the the public right?" I am amazed that I am still caught off guard, taken by surprise when someone tells me they've read something from my blog. Huh. What a concept. Lost in thought over this concept. Mom loses interest.

Today was a better day for me.
A strange day.
I feel better.
Mom is on the internet.

To be con't: Nina. Censored.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Going for a ride

I've been on an emotional roller coaster lately. It doesn't help that I came down with a terrible cold Sunday night which has left me barely functional. I came to stay with my mom in Jersey early yesterday, my last few days here with her before she moves. I wanted to spend some quality time with her but I've mostly been in bed. I've been trying to get up here and there to sort through the never ending amount of crap I have left here. I keep getting caught of guard by random objects that would elicit memories that I've buried. Mostly I keep finding more pictures. Hey, what can I say? I'm half Asian. I found yet another photo album of me and the Ex. This one made me a bit sad because it was the last roll of film before we broke up, and the the album was only a quarter of a way filled.

I dug deeper and deeper and found more photos; some that made me chuckle, smile, and cringe (come on, you remember the "ugly years"). There were some pictures that I don't even recall but looking at the pictures started bringing back the blurry memory. But then I reached a box that my mom had saved for me filled with childhood photos from Thailand. These opened the floodgates. As I flipped through them I just cried and cried. I really miss our life that we had there and our home. I guess I'm nostalgic for the simpler times.

I dragged myself out of bed last night to meet up with fellow bridesmaids and get some secret bridesmaid duties done. They gave me a glimpse of what my life would have been life had I joined a sorority. Tee hee. It was good to see the girls even though I had to sit far far away from them in quarantine and not breathe in their direction. (Probably also how sorority life would've gone for me).

Around 11PM, as we were about to leave, I got a call from an unknown number. I've been getting a lot of telemarketing calls lately and was about to rip them a new one for calling so late. To my pleasant surprise, it was S, my Suit(or). I hadn't heard his voice in some time, I almost didn't recognize it. It was so so great to hear from him. I wanted to reach through the phone and hug him. Actually, I wanted to teleport through the phone and hug him in person. The call definitely lifted my spirits for the night.

Roller coaster. Up. Down. Down. Down. Up.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Where were you at 22?

I just bought a new printer/scanner last week so I'm sure for the next few posts I'm going to be a little scanner happy. I have been cleaning out stuff from my mom's house and came across this spread I did for CosmoGirl! when I was 22.

A few months ago, I bought this book called Where Were You at 22, a compilation of stories by famous people about what they were doing at that age. I have yet to read it because my friend just lent me On Writing by Stephen King and I'm totally loving it even though I haven't had much time to read in the last few days. It's part memoir, part art of writing.

Anyway, it got me thinking back to what I was doing at 22. I had just graduated from Rutgers, still trying to glue my broken heart back together after my college boyfriend broke it into pieces,was going on a million magazine interviews, and left for 4 months to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, lost and in search of some direction in my life. Aside from the graduation part my life right now seems pretty similar to what it was 5 years ago. Hmmm.

What were you doing at 22?

Falling back...


I saw TA again this past week. I know, I know, all that talk two months ago about how I'm so over him and how I'm ready to be with someone who deserves me...blah, blah, blah. It was only for drinks if that makes it any better. I thought I was over him. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose. But now I'm back and when he's in sight he seems to have this hold over me. I don't know what it is but I just always have such a good time when I hang out with him. I find myself wondering what it would be like if I had more from him. What would it be like to lay in bed with him all day on a lazy Sunday afternoon? What would it be like to stroll around downtown holding hands? What would it be like to sit across from him at dinner, trading stories over a cold bottle of wine?

Le sigh. I would never know the answer to these questions.

(Adorable embroidered fabric by My Needle Habit)

Etsy therapy

I've been feeling a bit blue lately, just falling deeper and deeper into this funk that I can't seem to get out of. I was browsing through Etsy and there's just so much cute stuff for sale right now. Money is super tight at the moment and I really shouldn't be shopping but I found these adorable pendants by Hello Brown Eyes and I just had to have them. It's a cut out of vintage maps from my two favorite cities in the world, Bangkok and NYC, pasted onto a scrabble piece. They weren't that expensive, just the price of 30 ramen packets, and it brightened my day just a tiny bit. I can't wait till they arrive in the mail!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Missed Connection....

I went out last night and at the end of the night when I was standing at the bar waiting to close out my tab a guy approached me and said, "You've gotta let me buy you a drink." I had had one too many by that point and thanked him but said I was closing out and just about to leave. I turned to look at him and to my surprise he was pretty cute. Unfortunately I could barely form coherent sentences at that point. We made small talk about where we live, where we work, where we were going next, until his friends tapped him on the shoulder and said they were going. He told me where he worked and said I should stop in to say hi. I remember exclaiming with sincere enthusiasm, "I love it there!"

Of all the things I can't remember from last night, I can't for the life of me recall the one word from the night, where "there" actually was. I woke up today, remembering meeting a cute guy, and tried my best to think of where he could work that I also loved. Was he a server, bartender, retail associate? Was it Forever 21, Jamba Juice, or Shake Shack? Nothing is coming to me. Seeing how drunk I was, why would this guy trust that I would remember his place of work?

Nina + Drinking = Single Forever. : (

*UPDATE: So I was looking through my wallet the other day and found his business card. (At least I think it's his, I don't remember his name). I didn't remember him giving me his card, yet another thing I forgot eh? So I had the (genius) idea to look him up on facebook to confirm the face with the name. He's even cuter than my drunk eyes remembered! Now what to do? I don't want to friend him on facebook, but is it stupid to message him through that? Should I just stop in his place of work? I think I'd feel stupid. What should I do?

For those who aren't single, don't I make you miss being single?
Not.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Happy Birthday, Rich!!



I can't believe how time flies. My big brother turns 30 today. He's the best brother I could ask for and he means the world to me.

* I wish I was there celebrating with you! I hope you're having a great day!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Feeling blue...

I met up with an old friend last night who had some heartbreaking news to share. I was at a loss for words at how injurious life can be. Why do bad things happen to good people?

We sat at the bar for a while, one drink after another, catching up on each other's lives. Isn't it strange how you can lose touch with someone, have so much time pass between seeing each other, yet feel so comfortable and comforted the moment you two speak again?

I woke up today feeling a range of emotions. Obviously I was hungover so I was also feeling like death and had the post vodka blues. I was hurting for my friend but as I laid on his couch, unable to move without being hit with a wave of nausea, I thought of my mom. She moves next week. Reality slowly sinking in. I realize I'm scared. I'm scared of how much I am going to miss her. I'm angry with myself, regretting not spending more time with her when I had the chance. The thought of her leaving makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry like a little baby.

I'm sitting here, actually, crying uncontrollably as I type this. I actually wish I could go with her and be there to help out with my grandma. I just signed a lease on my apartment so this doesn't seem likely.

I realize this post is a bit all over the place, starting with my friend's pain and now mine. I guess I'm just a bit down today...

Monday, September 21, 2009

The British are here! The British are here!


For once I can say my weekend was not hectic and stressful. Hooray! It was actually super fun and even relaxing (gasp!) at times. I had friends from London visiting and the weather here in NYC was absolutely gorgeous, we decided to have everyone over for a rooftop BBQ.



Once the sun set and it got a bit chilly on the roof (the manly boys who refused jackets were freezing!) we decided to take the party to a bar a few blocks away.



It was super fun weekend of overindulgence. I've got the guys for another 7 days so I'm looking forward to a week filled with touristy activites and dry British humour. : )

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Thoughts on cohabitation

I was talking to a coworker who told me he recently got married. I asked how long he had been with his girlfriend before they got married and he said two, living together for one. He added that he thinks living together before getting married is very important and that every should do the "test run" before they decide to marry.

"Really?" I asked. After living with my ex boyfriend a few years ago, I vowed never to live with someone again until we were married or getting married.

He said, "No way. There are so many things you need to learn before you decide to spend the rest of your lives together and you only learn that through living together. Like, how do you fall asleep? Do you need to watch TV before bed? Or do you read a book? Do you need absolute darkness and silence? What type of toothpaste do you guys use?

"I like to read. And why can't you just have 2 different toothpastes," I asked. "I need to have to use Sensodine because I have sensitive teeth."

"But then are you going to have 2 of everything? Will you have extra pulp and no pulp OJ? Will you have Whole Milk and Skim? You need to jive and living together is the only way you can find out whether or not you can jive. Who will do the cleaning? Who takes care of the finances? I suck at cleaning, my wife sucks at bills. I watch TV before bed. She needs total darkness. She wears an eye mask, I use earphones."

I talked to Wifey about this and we both agreed that cohabiting would have worked out better if we had more of a commitment with our at the time live in partners. With each argument, each obstacle, the fact that we weren't married led us to the most obvious, lazy solution. "Let's move out." Whereas if we were married, we might have worked harder to make it work.

Also, contradictorily, I might not have stayed in the relationship as long had we had separate mailing addresses. I loved the home we built together more than I loved my ex boyfriend. Each time we broke up I confused feelings of missing my home for missing my boyfriend. I often thought, "Can we make it work so that I wouldn't have to find a new place to live?"

I vowed never to put myself back in that situation again; being miserable just to have a sense of home.

What are your thoughts on cohabitation? Do you think it's essential before marriage? Have you ever been stuck in a relationship because you live together?

Who needs a boyfriend when you have a Wifey?


(Image via Le Love)

I got off work early today and gave Wifey a call to say hi. She said she was just about to make dinner and invited me to come by.

She made delicious steak with spanish rice and zucchini that I gobbled up in seconds. She decided to make cranberry muffins afterwards and we sat in the kitchen talking over a bottle of wine while I waited impaintiently for the timer to buzz. I decided now was a good time to take a look at an article of NYC's most eiligible bachelors and have Wifey decide which one was best for me.

Wifey's roommate walked in and asked what we were doing.

"Oh nothing. Just deciding who I should date," I answered as if this was as normal as saying I was just doing the dishes.

She laughed at us at said, "Sometime's I wish I was single."

Wifey and I, both a little tipsy by now, started cracking up. "What about this scene makes you nostalgic for your single days? The fact that we are having dinner, baking, and searching online for a single man?"

"Oooh look! Naked boy is in the kitchen again!" Wifey noticed, and we both rushed to press our faces against the window, trying to get the best view of the neighbor across the way who walks around in his underwear. "I wonder what he's eating now."

"Yeah, maybe I don't miss being single," Roommate decided afterall.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Sleepy Gus

Am I becoming one of those people who posts pictures of their cat daily?





Yes. Yes, I am.

A New York Moment


It's been a rocky transition for me when I returned to New York. I've never wanted to live anywhere else but since my return I've been having a hard time remembering why.

Today I went on a bike ride with my friend Tim. Our only plan was to catch the sunset at High Line but our one hour turned into five! We rode from Queens, over the Queensboro bridge, crosstown to the West Side, and down the West Side Highway. We watched the sky change from blue to orange to pink to black over the New Jersey skyline. As I was riding alongside Tim on this nice, cool evening, taking in the view, I finally felt the love for this city again.



We rode all the way down the West Side and cut back across, headed to Chinatown for some Pho. As we were parking our bikes we stumbled upon the San Genaro Festival in Little Italy and opted for sausage and peppers, arancini, and funnel cake instead. Mmmmm. We walked down the street, past all the food vendors and carnival rides, and saw a sign for a viewing of a lady who has the body of a snake. I looked at the sign and said to Tim, "I never understood these carnie shows. How is that even possible?" Well for $1 each we found out. I'm not going to spoil it for you though. You'll have to waste your own dollar.

After we stuffed ourselves at the festival, we hopped back on our bikes (our faces covered in grease and confectionary sugar) and headed over the Brooklyn Bridge. On our way up the Queensboro bridge there was a guy riding in the opposite direction of us, zipping down the incline with his feet out to his side and his head ducked low and he was yelling, "AHHHHHHHHHHHH" as if he was having the time of his like on a roller coaster ride. Tim and I decided to try this as we reached the middle of the bridge and headed down the incline we both stuck our feet out and yelled all the way down. People thought we lost control of our bikes and jumped out of the way. I was laughing so hard my eyes teared up and I could no longer see where I was going, so it was a good thing they dodged us. The screaming made the bike ride so much more fun. I felt like I was 11. You have to try it! It's liberating like the scene in I Love You, Man where Sydney Fife tells Peter Klaven to give his best yell under the pier.

We rode all the way through Brooklyn and over the Pulaski bridge back to my apartment in Queens. My knees are swollen and throbbing right now but it was definitely worth it. It was really nice to ride around without a plan or a destination. Sometimes, in life, you have to go a little off course.

My love for this city has returned.

Monday, September 14, 2009

My weekend

I had another super busy weekend (I know, I say this every weekend). I was pretty exhausted on Friday but had been home all day battling writers block and still trying to get my apartment to look organized so I needed to get out. I went over to Wifey's for some vino and then we had a low key night out at Sweet Afton, my new favorite local bar.

Saturday, I bartended at a private party in a sweet Flatiron loft. I met so many interesting people at this party and ended up having a blast while working.

I woke up early Sunday morning to catch the train to Jersey to help my mum pack for her move (for good) back to Thailand (in 2 weeks). This is also when the fun stopped. I still have some boxes of miscellaneous junk that I stored in her shed that I needed to sort through and move to my storage space. Being that I was already overwhelmed with how much stuff I've moved to my new apartment, I had underestimated the amount of stuff that was left at my mum's. It was a gorgeous, warm, and sunny afternoon and I spent it sweating, battling spiders and cobwebs, rifling through memory lane (which should be renamed Pack Rat Avenue). On top of my junk, I had to go through my mum's, trying to convince her of all the things she doesn't need to save. We were both pretty miserable by the end of the day; tired, stressed, and sneezy from all the dust.

I was so frustrated and cranky last night; tired of never having enough space, tired of packing, storing, and moving, and the reality that I will no longer have family here in the states started to sink it. I've taken the fact that my mum lives an hour and a half away for granted. I know she'll be much happier back in Thailand, I've been wanting her to move back for years, but I am going to miss her terribly.

Just before I went to bed, my mum remembered there was a package for me. I saw that it was from a certain cutie in London, ripped open the box, and was pleasantly surprised to find a gift hiding in a little teal box.

Seeing his name on the tiny little card made my entire day. *Smitten.

Today was another beautiful day wasted on more packing and moving. Here and there I would come across cards, letters, and gifts from ex boyfriends which brought some weird feelings up to the surface. I was emptying out an old wallet when I found a sweet note from an ex that I had put in there so I could read it whenever I needed a pick me up. I put it back in the wallet, still unable to throw it out. The only bright part of today was finding several old photo albums, seeing pictures that I thought I had lost when my computer crash last year. Yay to non ex related good memories!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Hang up! Hang up! Hang up!

Bionic Woman sent me this link over the weekend of a voicemail a guy left for a girl he met at the bar.

It's usually us girls who get pegged as the pathetic voice mail leavers a la He's Just Not That Into You but this guy definitely takes the crazy cake!

Looooong, rambling, pathetic VM? Deadlines? Threats? Come on!

I had a guy a few months ago leave me a similar type of message. He wouldn't leave me alone until I gave him my number. I figured, he'll give up if I never answered. After about 10 phone calls he ended up leaving me a 20 minute message about how rude I was for not returning his calls and that I shouldn't have given him my number if I was going to be playing games. Eeeeek!

Hey guys, leave the crazy to us!

Kitty Love




Gus, already making himself at home on my bed. (sneeze!)

Gus, spread eagle, waiting for a belly rub.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

from slightly ajar to wide open! (no pun intended)


(Image via Le Love)

Last week I met up with TA for the first time since I got back from Thailand. We had agreed to be just friends but I was surprised that I was still insanely attracted to him. He is the antithesis of a nice guy. He is emotionally unavailable and breaks plans constantly. I could always rely on him to be unreliable. He will never be more yet I enjoy hanging out with him. He doesn't pretend to not be an asshole. He is always up front with me about where we stand. He's known me at my worst, yet he still finds me "cute."

Wifey tells me I can't meet anyone new unless he is out of my life. I agree. I told Bionic Woman that I didn't want to open this door again. She commented, "Sounds like the door is a bit 'ajar' if you will but not yet 'open'." Maaaaybe just a crack but I'm trying my hardest not to open it again.

Fast forward.

I saw TA again this week. I had a great day at work and felt like celebrating. We met up for drinks at an outdoor bar. As I sat there across from him, I thought, "Uh oh."

I texted Wifey under the table: I am with TA. Why do I find him so attractive?

She texted back: Look away! It's an illusion!

It is isn't it? The intimacy that we have, it's all an illusion; the forehead kisses, the tucking my hair behind my ear, the spooning, the perfect nuzzle spot in his clavicle...

It's not real.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Wall decor

Ok, I decided on the pictures I wanted on my wall. I am between these 2 of Paris or the world map below, all from IKEA (love them and hate them at the same time!). Housewarming gift, anyone? Anyone?


My weekend

I had a very low key weekend yet it was still very stressful. Is that possible? For me, yes. My movers arrived late on Saturday and I worked into the late hours of the night trying to finish unpacking before my other roommate moved in (because my stuff was all over the living room, hallways, and spread into her room). It was such a gorgeous weekend, and I rarely have the weekends off, so I snuck in a bike ride over the Queensboro bridge to Central Park.



I spent the night unpacking and organizing again on Sunday night. While everyone was dancing the last weekend of Summer away at the Hamptons or Jersey shore (or Ibiza [if you're Brit] and Puerto Rico [if you're Tim]) I was untangling necklaces from my jewelry box that had been packed away for months, sneezing up a storm over the dust that had collected on these boxes. Isn't my life extremely fabulous? I'm certain you're jealous.

I woke up early today to lay out on my rooftop before our guests arrived for our very first BBQ. We had a great turnout and no one went running after Jaydee (my roommate) tried to serve them these seriously charred weiners.

I still have quite a ways to go with the organizing , but at least, now that I have my home office set up, I can start working again. I hope you guys had a fantastic weekend filled with fewer back aches, dust bunnies, and charred weiners than mine!

The new man in my life


His name is Gus. He's a lovely shade of orange and slightly overweight (a total fatass), loves chasing balls, is completely content hanging in a cardboard box, and sits by my side all day while I work (mimicking [mocking?] me as I stare at the wall for hours). I'm in love. : )

Friday, September 4, 2009

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

It's 10 pm: Do you know that I'm making dinner for 1 on a friday night? This Labor Day weekend I plan on laying low, staying in, unpacking, organizing, and having a BBQ with my new roommates on Monday.

This is what my room looks like right now. Eeeek! Hopefully I can post an updated picture with a cleaner more livable space after the weekend!

Hope you guys have a wonderful holiday weekend! I'll live vicariously through you!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Free compliments


I was having a bit of a frustrating afternoon yesterday when I walked past a man on the street who turned to me and said, "You look adorable today." Not, "Hey Ma," not, "Hi sexy," no kissy noises, just a simple, kind compliment. These sweet words from a stranger brightened my day.

Compliments are free, my dears. Won't you go out and brighten someone else's day today?

Holy Cuuuuuute!!!

OMG I want him!!!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Letters to...

Dear Children playing outside my window,
Must you sing and laugh so loudly?

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Heaven and Hell...at Sonic

Wifey and I crossed the (NYC/NJ) border today to run an errand and stumbled upon the first Sonic that I've ever seen north of the Mason-Dixon. We were so excited, we made a U-turn to get to it and the line was so long that a police officer made us keep going so that we didn't hold up traffic. We made two more U-turns to try again and this time we got in. (more difficult than getting past velvet ropes in NYC!)

We were so excited we ordered enough food for an overweight family of six. We ripped open the bag and inhaled the burgers and fries, smiling to each other, declaring, "This is heaven!"

Five minutes later our stomachs hurt so bad, we regretted eating so much so fast, and thought, "Oh god, I'm in hell right now."

Wall decor

I know I've been blogging about my apartment a lot over the past few days. I'm just so excited to finally have a home and to decorate my space again. I've got this lovely exposed brick wall in my room that I'm in love with.

My left wall is going to be covered by my bookcases which leaves one wall to play around with. I was debating putting up one of my old paintings but lately I've been obsessed with stencils and wallpaper. I'm debating between this streetlamp stencil (wouldn't it look cute with the brick?):

Or this world map wallpaper:

What do you guys think?

Housewarming wishlist...if you insist!

Everyone's been asking me what I want as a housewarming gift but after moving 3 times this year I really don't want more items to move around and add to my perplexing amount of clutter. (Where does it all come from?) I say, save that money and just come over and have a bottle of wine with me on my (private) rooftop.

BUT if you still insist on buying me something, I'm really dying to get a bike. I wanted this Paul Frank beach cruiser with basket but I'm sure it would get wrecked or stolen so any hand me down would do.

Or I'd really love a house plant to put out on my fire escape.

Or this really cool thought bubble chalk board to hang above my desk. Isn't it cute?

Other than that, I don't really want anything. : ) Just come over and have a glass of wine with me.