Asobi Seksu

Another band that I am enjoying.
Asobi Seksu - "Thursday"
Download the single and have it be your weekend soundtrack.
Fyi: Asobi Seksu is "playful sex" in Japanese. The band is based out of NYC.

Update: Found the band's record label site and found more goodies.
Hi-res poster photo of the band here:



Also another enjoyable single, aptly titled, "New Years"

Holy $*(# this is creepy

Tell me what you think.

My Chemical Romance

I fell in love with this band again after listening to their new single off the Black Parade album...and on YouTube I found the original video that started it all.
You gotta love a band that has this twisted sense of humor ~ I can totally identify with this.

What I was for Halloween

This one's for Nick

Conversation Overhead: Miami Beach

While waiting in line to pay at the News Cafe bookstore on 8th & Ocean.

Older Man: "Umm...excuse me, are these all the swim trunks you guys carry?"
Female cashier: "Yessss...there are some more right across there"
She points next to the doorway at some tropical colored board shorts.

Older Man rolls his eyes at his male friend standing next to him.
Older Man: Urgh, I could never bring myself to wear those old-man swim trunks.
Do you have anything shorter?
Cashier: (Shakes her head no).
Older Man: You know where I can get something like Speedos? In Prada?





And all I can do is think to myself, This is so South Beach.

The best 'do ever

Blogging to: New Pony Club's "Ice Cream"
Please Press Play to Listen to While Reading this Post:

On Monday, I got the best haircut ever from Teal and Melvin at Vidal Sassoon. For the past year and a half, I've been sporting longer layers with bangs that I've been too lazy to ever maintain/trim back. It got to the point where I had a pony mane and you coulda jumped on my back for a ride. That, or I could have been mistaken for that ghost-girl from The Grudge.
I knew it was time for a haircut when my co-worker asked me, "Did you get extensions?"

At VS, I told them I wanted to keep my hair long but to still do something creative because I was open to new things. The class instructor, Melvin, nodded, said he had something in mind and instructed Teal to start hacking away.


Getting comfy, I settled in with some magazines to read and after an hour of cutting looked up in the mirror to check my progress. This was my reaction:

Me: "Um...are you giving me a mullet?"
Hair stylist: "Aha ha ha ha...noooooo!"
Me: "Are you sure?!"

The end result was an asymmetrical, sleek hair cut with sharp, sideswept punky bangs.
The stylist maintained the sleek look by reducing my hair's volume by shearing the back and left side. Took a chunk outta my bangs to ensure they'd naturally part at a side-swept angle.

Very low-maintainence 'do, I'm loving it tho' it took a lil time to adjust to it. But I feel it captures more of my personality then my other hairstyle did. Next, I think I'm gonna dye it. :D

I Pity The Fool

This photo just about made my day. From Crafters Blog.
Enough Jibba Jabba and get back to work Monkey says!

Lists

I picked this up from my old buddy at UM, Stan. Feeling spontaneous, I decided to fill it out which makes me laugh because when I get these in emails, I always delete'm.
Meantime, any friends reading this, I'd love to see what your responses are on your blogs.

Top Five Ways to Make Me Frown
1. Bad manners/inconsiderate acts
2. Asking me a question I don't know
3. Others being superpicky about food
4. People who leave rubbish in public spaces
5. Act pretentious

Top Five People Who Have Changed My Life
1. My dad
2. My journalism teacher, Ms. Sandi Scaffetti
3. Bruce Lee
4. Abra
5. My grandma/Publix

Top Five Emotions I Have Felt
1. Sadness
2. Vengeance
3. Contentment
4. Contemplative
5. Glee

Top Five Ways to Be More Like Me
1. Question everything in life.
2. Try different ethnic cuisines
3. Read the NYT and LA Times everyday
4. Be a kid on Halloween!
5. Take artsy photographs

Top Five Things I Believe With All My Heart and Soul
1. There are more worlds then this
2. Reincarnation
3. Family is everything
4. McDonalds french fries are the best
5. Stephen King rocks

Top Five Things I Wish Would Just Disappear
1. World hunger
2. Boho fashion
3. My bills
4. Homelessness
5. Windows XP


Top Five Things That Scare Me
1. Horror movies
2. Dirty rooms
3. Raw seafood
4. Winn-Dixie brand products
5. Wire hangers


Top Five Rules My Parents Enforced on Me
1. Do your homework first
2. Don't have sex
3. Never get into fights
4. Conserve, conserve, conserve
5. Buy it when it's on sale


Top Five Ways to Make Me Smile

1. Share a bad joke with me
2. Feed me something delicious
3. Do a dorky dance
4. Be honest
5. Perform a kind act to others

Playing with Spirits

In time for the spooky holidays, a night of experimentation ensued.

late night tossing

i couldn't go to sleep last night.
so i created this.
enjoy.

renovating myself

I'm trying to take care of myself by getting back into shape.
That means forking out membership dues to LA Fitness and hitting the ellipticals, treadmills, and weight machines. That and modifying what I'm eating from...the idontcarehowmanycaloriesthishas to amireallyhungryoramIjustnoshingallthefrickintime? mentality.
oh how the mighty have fallen is what i gots to say. woe is me.

Food tip: I discovered a delicious salad dressing thanks to an old college acquitance, Nourah, who's Saudi. I modified it a bit but this is the recipe:

Buncha salad greens (I use spinach leaves)
Dash of olive oil (no more then 1tbsp)
Generous spritz of lemon juice
Dusting of garlic powder
Dash of salt
Handful of raisens

Mix it up and serve. The salad hits all the 5 tastebuds: salty, sour, sweet, tangy, and savory.
Plus, it's pretty light and not heavy or oily at all.

Voices

The loveliest voice I've heard today.
Listen to Imogen Heap's "Just for Now"

Cosmetics, anyone?

Lo and behold, someone must have been listening to my rants on my previous posts.
The folks at MAC Cosmetics--the makeup company that actually endorses diversity with their celebrity models, Mary J Blige, Missy Elliot, Lil Kim--have came out with a new line.
See it here:



This look, above, I am sortof interested in, especially the hairdo with the cheongsam (which is painted on by MAC cosmetics). I love the makeup coloring here and the hair ornaments, also.



I do like the chestnut colored hair the model sports here. And the icy turqouise is definitely working for me here...



See the rest of the China Dress collection here:

Update to Makeover

Silly me. In my wish for a total do-over, I forgot about my friend, Kim, who is a professional photographer in DEEEE-TROIT!!!! That city sure was filthy but it was fun...
This is her:



Anyway, she read my post, laughed at me and I remembered that she takes awesome photos so she would be a person I could trust to take photos of me. Glamazon photoshopped black and white photos of me. Hear me roar.

See her work here

Makeover, Makeover

Every day I look at the mirror and am tired with what I see in there.
From my head to my toes, I want a makeover along the likes of Andy in Devil Wears Prada.

[Scene: Heroine standing at a corner of Lincoln Rd., looking lost and forlorn in her American Eagle v-neck sweater, pinstriped pants]
(Fairy godmother walks up, takes her by the hand, pats it sympathetically]
Godmother: Girl, you need an intervention. Stat. We're going to Barneys Co-op now.
Cindy: Wheeeeeeee...
[Duo skips happily down the boulevard]

Through random Internet searching, I found this Korean girl who has great hair.
I want hair like this:



In color:


Her name's Hyori and she's a pop idol over in Asia. She look like she has double lids eh? Do you want to see what she looks like without makeup really?



Still somewhat pretty but plain, in fact, I knew some Asian girls back in middle school who look like her in this photo. Amazing what makeup can do right?
See the difference here:



My favorite photo of her has to be the one at top in b/w. It reminds me of Mario Testino's black and white ads he did for fashion magazines and ads like the Guess campaign in the 90s.

I love fashion photography, I remember back at UM, I would have friends pose for me for various photo projects. Sigh, if only I got to have a chance on the other side of the camera. But you know what they say, the camera adds 10lbs. And it's rare to have friends as good as photography as yourself and as narcissistic.
Where's a friend I can claim as my Kevin Aucoin?
Bleh.
Maybe I'll do a series of self portraits.
We'll see.

Snakes on a plane

This one didn't make it into the paper [conflicted with another Snakes on a plane promo]
so I'm posting it here. In fact, I think some of y'all already know about this cause of me [wink]














Samuel L. Jackson, of Pulp Fiction fame, wants me to tell you, dear reader, something mighty important: that if you don't go see his latest flick, Snakes on a Plane, he will come after you. Seriously, I even got a phone call from him about it. See what I mean at: http://snakesonaplane.varitalk.com/.

It was only there that I found out I was the latest victim of a popular viral marketing ad that ingeniously disguises itself as a phone prank. All that's necessary is for you to input your name, a victim to call, and fill in some special details (interests, job field, relationship to sender) for Jackson to personalize his message to. Co-workers are especially ideal targets. Just sit back and spy on their slack-jawed reaction, it'll be priceless.

MIAMI = MONEY IS A MAJOR ISSUE

Blogging to: Nelly Furtado's Maneater

I've officially taken an offer with my company.
Doing what I'm doing now only with a much appreciated salary hike.
But amazingly enough, the salary bump will be almost invisible with taxes, rent, utilities, etc etc. MIAMI = MONEY IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

Why does Miami have to be so expensive? And why couldn't my mom have settled in Miami versus Broward? If I were working in Broward County, I'd be set with a free place to live, a minimal commute, and much more in savings.

I talked to my brother about it today and he placed it down to numbers.
If my cost of living (rent/house bills) amounts to $800...$800 x 12 mo. = $9600.
Ohmygawd. $9600 x 2 yrs = $19,200....Oi oi oi, that's like grad school tuition or a good deposit on a house?

I love living in Miami for obvious reasons--my friends are based here, more things to do, independence and establishing my own living space, etc. etc. but it's tough even with living with a roommate. I don't know how police officers, school teachers, and other working class folks do it.

Is living at home worth it? It's tempting and I know my mom would love to have my company.
Here are the pro's and con's

PROS:
1. No rent, utilities.
2. Having mom's company
3. Ability to save up for the future.

CONS:
1. Longer commute: 45-65minutes (depending on rush hr)*
2. Away from friends
3. Lack of personal space
4. No hi-speed internet/cable (tho' I could remedy that)

*the commute is the major hesitation factor here...

Reading the Comics

This was the laugh of the day for me.

Side Gig

Blogging to: Lupe Fiasco's "Kick Push"










That's right, I've dipped my lil' bitty toe back into the writing pool.
The gig's pretty sweet, I get to write one blurb a week about the cool website of the week, whatever catches my fancy, say Chuck Norris or Bunnies or YouTube nonsense. Most of time, I've been a longtime fan of the site or I stumble across it accidentally late at night (like Google's SMS service). My personal fav had to be about Angry Alien (above), its priceless.

How'd I land the gig? The weekly "Cool Website of the Week" feature was designed to engage more to younger readers (ie, folks like us). Of course, the websites I kept seeing by design were pretty lame in my book. Constant nagging. Constant "Hey, I think this is pretty cool..." and "You heard of this one?" the editor just got fed up and gave it to me. End of story, eh.
I like writing these pieces, short and sweet, keep it funny if you can, smart if you can't.

So, if you guys know anything interesting, water-cooler worthy, shoot me a comment and lemme know, who knows, maybe I'll post it here. Har.

Hanging with a Homie

My friend, Horacio, his beau David, and I kicked it back at The Big Cheese. Good times, good times.

I Heart Ninjas

The Flying Car

iPod Shuffle Song Game!

My iPod contains about 400-500 songs collected from iTunes, nefarious peer-to-peer servers, and ripped CDs from various sources (libraries, siblings stash). I've got a hodgepodge of songs that if you looked thro' my collection, you would think I've got a schizo musical personality. So when my friend Horacio blogged about this game and I saw his results, I was intrigued to see what I would get.

Here's how the game goes:
The directions are: You turn on your iPod. Shuffle. Play. The songs that come up answer the following questions in order (You can't change the questions and you can't skip songs. Be honest).

1. How does the world see you?
Interpol [Obstacle 1]

Brooding. Intense. Pensive. Interpol's all about intensity. I can be intense and brooding. Depends. When I was in school, fulltime, I was pretty intense. Once I got out of class and into summer, I relaxed, kicked back, and took on another persona. But at work, yeah, you can call me intense and broody.


2. Will I have a happy life?
Coldplay [Square One]

"You're in control, is there anyplace you wanna go?"
Hell yeah! One of my more favorite songs from the X&Y album that doesn't sound wussy. From the rocking guitar synths and riffs to Martin's lyrics, this song is straightforward to me: you're in charge of your own life, no matter how small you may appear to others, what life puts in your path, it doesn't matter who are, don't let anthing hold you back
This song just adds more fuel to my fire. Life is hard but its what you make of it.

3. What do my friends think of me?
112 [Dance with Me]
According to the song, I'm flirty, like having a good time, and telling boys that they should be here with me, chilling with me, freaking with me (according to Dru Hill at least). Well, I know that when I'm in the mood for a good time, I definitely don't hold back and don't care if I look like a fool while doing it. This song definitely brings back memories of being single--oh those were the days! Hahahahaha. This song also reminds me of AASA Asian Date Auctions and partying in the clubs. And also, apparently, I'm sexy because I'm clapping to this song. Clap, clap, clap!
:)

4.Do people secretly lust after me?
George Michael's [Too Funky]

I am a hottie tamale. I'm not making this up, this did actually come up and yes, I do listen to George Michael! This song makes my booty twitch and reminds me of the video that I saw on VH-1 in the 90s: Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks, Naomi, Linda Evangelista walking along the catwalk looking sexy as hell. Well, since I was named after Cindy Crawford, apparently, I am lustable, drive men crazy, and can get funky. Lyrical choruses include:
"Would you like me to seduce you?" + "Everybody wants a lover like that!"
How flattering.

5. How can I make myself happy?
Elastica [Connection]

Ahhhh. This was one of the first songs that connected me with my alternative feminista self-identity. How can I make myself happy? Easily... make others fall for me for who I am [and the connection was made]. Very short song. Otherwise I can interpret it as being a rocker chick, taking no shit from other people, and breaking walls down cause that makes me happy.

6. What should I do with my life?
Kelly Clarkson [Walk Away]

Wow. Haha. Apparently, I should just walk away if I don't have the answer to my question. In my life right now that would mean leaving my job. Kelly Clarkson's no-nonsense, wailin' voice is saying, "Should you stay or should you go? Hey, hey, hey, hey! Just walk away!" Does anyone really know what they want to do with their lives, jobwise? I think for alotta us, myself included, we can always count to rule out what we don't want to do.
That's what I want to interpret it as...lol.

7. Will I ever have children?
Paramore [Whoa]

"We gotta everybody singin' Whooaa, Whoooaa, Whooaaa....We can do this on our own! We got everybody singing' Whoa Whoaaaa!!" "I don't want you to get me through this....I don't want to start over again..."
Wow, I think this question makes me think I'm going to have kids, justfinethankyouverymuch! Either way, it looks like I got the whole damn rock band cheering after me. Either I'm going to be a single mother or I'm gonna have problems getting pregnant, then I'll finally achieve pregnancy, and have, like, septuplets.
Whooaa indeed.

8. What is some good advice for me?
Justin Timberlake [Cry me a River]

Always take revenge on those who do me wrong.
You're so right JT! Never, ever, date cheaters. When, not if, I find out they were, those bridges will burn and they'll cry me a river for all I care.

9. How will I be remembered?
Madonna [Hung Up]

Those who run seem to have all the fun..."
Oh my god, this is one of my favorite Madonna songs, right after Bad Girl and Nothing Really Matters. How will I be remembered? As a chameleon? A phoenix rising from the ashes of disco glitter? I prefer being remembered as a person who doesn't tolerate waiting on others and grabs life by the roller skates. As a girl who's fed up with people who can't commit and has friends who understand that mindset. I hate indecisiveness but I can be very indecisive just like Madonna's predictament in the beginning of the song. But once I straighten out, I go all out. I have little patience.

10. What's my signature dance song?
Coldplay [Shiver]

Hmmm....one of Coldplay's more optimistically sweet songs from the Parachutes album.
Romantic, shy, shuffle-side-step, shuffle-side-step type of song. Its the type of song you can belt out to your boyfriend, in the car, hand motions timed to the lyrics....how do I know this? Cause I've actually done it! Ha ha ha! This song played at Revolver, back when it was near Sunset Place in my freshman year. I swayed with the crowd, singing with everybody at the top of our lungs. I love this love song...

11. What's my current theme song?
Queens of the Stone Age [Go with the flow]

Hard guitar thrumming....cool detached voice of the singer dreamily singing along: "I can goooo with the flow...don't say it doesn't matter with the floww...you believe it in your head.... "I want something to die for to make it beautiful to live."
This song sums up my attitude in life. Go with the flow, don't sweat the small details, and life is too short to be stressed.
More advice I should take to heart.

12. What do others think my current theme song is?
DJ Amin Van Buren [Burned with Desire]

This whole song's about mourning a love lost and being the one left behind.
iPod, are you trying to tell me something I'm not getting?!
Ummm...not too sure about that. I'm happy in my current relationship.

13. What shall they play at my funeral?
Scissor Sisters [Take Your Mama]

Wow this is eerie. I would actually play this song at my funeral. Its a cheeky, piano-banging Elton Johnish tale of living large, not afraid of shaking your hair out, and celebrating.
Lyrics go like this: "We're gonna get your mama out, we're gonna show her all what it's all about get her jacked up on some cheap champagne and let the good times roll out....and if the music gets cut out, we're gonna sing it out....

14. What type of men do I like?
Bjork [Hyperballad]

I like men who like Bjork. No, no. I like men who can understand this song. About understanding my sense of loneliness, whimsicalness, melancholy, curiousity, and the desire for feeling safe in someone's arms. I played this song on Bjork's Telegraph CD till it got scratched. I love Bjork's wonder-child voice and her lyrics, she's unique, one-of-a-kind ingenue, truly original.

15. How's my love life?
Franz Ferdinand [Take Me Out]

This song makes me feel hot. Quick, somebody get me a leatherclad guy so I can wrap my leg around him (fanning self furiously). This whole song's about anticipation and I am big about anticipation. That's the spice of life and thats all I can afford to say without going X-rated.
Let's just say I am happy about my love life.

She works hard for the money

[Blogging to: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gold Lion +
The Killers, Mr. Brightside (Thin White Duke remix)]

To more serious matters.
Every summer I always had a predictament when it came time to internships. No, it wasn't the "Am I prepared?" or "Will they like me?" or the usual, "Where am I gonna live?" phase.
It was about bags.
Finding the perfect work bag that I could wear on a day-to-day basis that could carry me through the gauntlet of interviewing, commuting, workplace scrutinizing that will either sum me up as a dowdy, frumpy intern or as the hip, fashionable, respectable youth that I am (or envision myself to be, naff). I always looked forward to the the workbag quest then I ever did getting the work wardrobe, urgh.

Right now, where I work, I could sum up my attempted fashion as clever downtown prep.
That means, lotsa v-neck sweaters, button-up blouses, and pin-striped pants. Occasionally, I'll throw in some graphic tees and skirts with heels.
Oh, and my Converses and Diesel sneakers. I try to keep it down-to-earth, clean, and most of all, comfortable.

Meantime, my taste in bags has varied but there's almost always one constant thing:
I buy one personal bag and wear it to death. One year, it was a silver tote bag my mom got with a free Lancome gift purchase. Another year, a red crochet Old Navy bag. Last year, a Gucci hobo bag I got on Canal Street.
My work bags haven't fared so well. Usually bought for one purpose, getting me through a summer's work, I usually stash them in the back of my closet and forget them till next summer comes.

This year, I think I finally broke my streak. I got a Marc Jacobs Venetia bag from NYC (don't ask where) and I love it. It takes me through day-to-night and matches my style with function.
Anyway, this inspired in me a desire to share with others some bags I thought would take you from work to play.

Here's Cindy's choices:



Botkier, Bianca bag




Lush Fashions, Big Buckle Bag




Hayden Harnett, Ibiza tote




Chloe, Edith tote




Marc Jacobs, Venetia

To my Asian Sisters - n/ Sistas

Watch this short film.
Winner of the Jury Award, Media That Matters Film Festival

"Slip of the Tongue": “What’s your ethnic make up?” A young man makes a pass at a beautiful stranger and gets an eye-opening schooling on race and gender.

Ed note: This made me laugh so hard. The film's done in 4-5min. and is shot very well. Everything done in Final Edit Pro. The director? A high school teen girl.
Girl power!

Feeling the lurv

[Blogging to: Zero 7's Waiting in Line]

Thank you.
To my friends who've wished me Happy Birthday on my 24th year of existence. Especially to the ones who rang me up and who, I know for certain, knew it from memory alone. It puts me to shame that I can't do that for many people.
I'm not a very good friend to be honest.

Friendship is something I value and I know I don't have that many people I can call true friends. I've always applied the practice of knowing many acquintances but keeping few friends--it keeps life simple.

Does it sound ruthless? I don't frankly care.

I'm not the most trusting person and I have no patience for people who I consider stupid--or who I perceive artificial. Different friends may know different personas about me, sometimes I wonder what they see in me that's worth associating for?

Have you seen what this girl just wrote above?

I know I'm not a fool but sometimes, I swear I deserve a slap upside the head.
I forget this rule sometimes. I'm done with holding on to old friendships, the phone calls that don't get returned, and to ambivalent phone conversations from the other side. My inner self has been chiding me to clean out my acquintance closet for the longest time; my inner self doubt's been holding court too long and I am done.

It's back to the old rule.
Time to really take care of the friends I've neglected too long. I'll reflect on my inner qualities another time. I think my navel's pretty clean right now.

Instead, dear readers, I leave you with this last quotation for the day:

"Don't be humble. You're not that great."
--Golda Meir, former prime minister of Israel


PPS: For those curious, I've updated my radioblog entries on the right hand side. For your auditory pleasure, check out some of the singles I've posted. They go great w/ a side of blog reading....I recommend Gnarles Barkeley + Bloc Party.

Big Apple - Part II

Okkkk....
So here's what happened when I went to New York for Memorial Day Weekend for those who were curious to ask.

Day 1: Touchdown
Had an uneventful flight through American Airlines. Will decide to not fly AA again because the plane was plagued with technical problems, ie. tv didn't work, seats were cramped, and the plane must have been from the 80s. Will probably pay the extra to fly on JetBlue since Song is no longer around...

Checked into Club Quarters hotel in the Wall Street district and decided to grab lunch at, where else? Chinatown!

After lunch, I started my massive search for bags. After my conscience made me return my Marc Jacobs Sienna hobo bag 2 months ago, I decided my new favorite MJ bag would be THE VENETIA. Since EBAY was flooded with knockoffs of it, I figure I could find it in NYC.
My search was unsuccessful for the first round so I decided to give Nick a poor break and we went to MoMa (Musem of Modern Art).
Since I am the Queen of Frugality, I did some research beforehand and knew MOMA has free admissions Friday nights after 4pm (it closes at 8pm).
I prefer the MOMA over the Met Museum, modernism over traditionalism. I especially liked the industrial design exhibit it had on its top floor + and its design gift shop across the street.
Check out these salt + pepper shakers... :)



Afterward, we decided to explore the Midtown area as it turned into dusk. Walked along 5th avenue and passed Louis Vuitton, Bergdof Goodman, Bottega Venetta and found the new Mac Store. From the street, the store's designed as a clear glass cube with the Apple logo suspended in the middle. To enter, you walk into a glass elevator or take the glass stairs that takes you down into the huge basement that displays the wares.



Hunger drove us out of Midtown and into the East Village. Nick heard of this British-Indian restaurant and when we got off the subway, I felt like I was in the real New York. East Village is populated with hipsters, punks, and college students from nearby NYU. The nightlife was phenomenal here, open-air bars, basement restaurants, indie shops, and brickstone architecture. We arrived at Bricklane Curry House and had some of the best Chicken Tikka Masala....

Day 2: Touring West Village, Greenwich Village, East Village
We didn't make it to Magnolia Bakery but the West Village apparently is Sex in the City territory. My bf's sister was in town and commented that when she passed the bakery where Carrie Bradshaw frequented, the line was a block long. Heeelll no, I'm not waiting that long for $3-$4 cupcakes!

Fav food find: Belgium Pomme Frittes Shoppe
I've heard about Belgium pomme frittes for the longest--they're basically steak french fries that are fried, wrapped in wax paper, and served alongside a variety of delicious condiments (the BPFS had over 90+ flavors to choose!). We got a free sample that included: Irish curry, white peppcorn cheddar, and pineapple chutney. They were all good but the pineapple chutney won me over.

Greenwich Village: NYU George Washington Park scene.
NYU has a great vibe. Those kids are lucky to go to school there!

East Village had the best indie design/toy/graphic shops around--I made a trek to Giant Robot's NYC store (GR2) and bought a design book and mini-qeebear. The store clerk recommended me to visit Tokyo Toys where I got some pretty awesome indie toys for myself (more cubicle decor!).

Afterward, we hit up the Metropolitan Museum of Art....
My favorite exhibits were the medieval armory and Egyptian wing. We only had 1.5 hrs to spend here and we didn't crack even half of the museum. You could have spent days inside here.

Dinner find: Yakiniku Juju
Korean BBQ...this place was a mix of Japanese/Korean food and was frequented by 99.9% asians.

3rd Day: Legs are killing me
More Chinatown! Nailed 2 bags. The MJ bag I wanted in black leather and white stitching. AAA+ replica with genuine leather, suede interior, and 99.9% identical to what the Venetia does look like. I saved $850 dollars buying this version versus the real one.
The other bag I found was a white Chloe Paddington.

Had brunch with Nick's sister in Midtown near Rockefeller Center. Nick and I stopped by Kinokuniya where I bought Abra a Japanese fashion magazine and some stationary for myself. Saw Dean & Deluca (Whats the fuss? Just some nicely packaged wares). Went to Bloomingdales briefly, saw H&M (nothing I liked).
Explored the Lower East Side and went to TEANY, the teahouse that Moby co-sponsored.

Last dinner place: Little Italy.

Big Apple Trip

**** Mugshots ****

























Still recovering from trip. Will post later.

All Together

I went home to celebrate my mom's birthday over the weekend. While waiting for her to get ready to go out, I went into my old bedroom. Inside, I found my Sailor Moon trading cards, an old Kabuki comic book, and a small family photo you see here.
What separates this photo from others are a few things:
1) All 5 siblings are in the shot 2) It was taken at my mom's house 3) We're all engaged in a spontaneous moment. No forced smiles, canned laughter, or sullen expressions that usually follows a family foto...

Mostly, what really caught my eye was myself in the middle, age 7 or 8 with that grimaced face that captures it all: "There goes my kooky family again..."

(Even at 23, I still wear that face. And yes, its mostly preempted by my family.
How funny is that?)
On a sidenote, for those who are curious about my brothers and sister, here they are, and yes, we all look different from each other. Kinda makes sense in how that shapes who I am today eh?

Blogging for Breakfast

Unusually alert at this time. Somehow have found more inspiration to blog.
For my friends, I thought I had to share this story.
You know that MTV show Super Sweet 16? Its gotten a huge TV following, I among them, but now I feel more relieved that I'm not the only nonteeneager who's watching this show. According to Neilson ratings, even 30somethingyearolds+ watch this show!
Anyway, so these kids have become semi-celebrities, hated or worshipped for their exposure. I do admit, I do have a love/hate relationship w/ this show.
The over-the-top fabulousness of the parties, the selfcenteredness, the catfights w/ parents...drama people! drama!

The New York Times reports on the phenonmenon of the show and the attention the teens have gotten since they've appeared plus more on others who will appear on the show.
MTV's 'Super Sweet 16' Gives a Sour Pleasure : Here's a funny exerpt I've included:

Dr. Srinivasa Rao Kothapalli, a prominent cardiologist in Beaumont, Tex., is more than willing to relinquish his checkbook. His daughter Priya turned 16 earlier this month, and she is in the throes of planning a joint birthday-graduation party with her elder sister, Divya, 18. "If you can afford to have a grand celebration, then why not," said Dr.Kothapalli, who immigrated to the United States from India in the mid-1980's. "It's the American way. You work hard and you play hard."

Born with silver ladles in their mouths, his daughters have certainly mastered the latter. Their Bollywood-themed party for 500 guests will be held in the family's backyard — all 4½ acres, behind the 10,000-square-foot house. The Format, their favorite band, will perform. And they will make their grand entrance on litters, during an elaborate procession led by elephants.
...Priya, who received a Mercedes convertible and an assortment of diamond jewelry for her birthday...Her sister's graduation gift package included a Bentley, diamonds and two homes in India. "I was really surprised," Divya said, "because I was only expecting a Bentley and one house."

Asian Desserts

Why I love Asian Desserts:


1. They're not too sweet. Most desserts are light, delicately flavored, subtle.
Ex: Sweet Almond Tofu w/ fruit or honey.

2. They're rare.
Most Asian restaurants don't serve ethnic desserts and green tea ice cream and chinese fortune cookies don't count. Why?
Because when you visit the home countries, desserts over there aren't as a majority either of two. Go to Vietnam, people eat fruit or icy mungbean-coconut milk confections. Go to Hong Kong, its red bean pudding or egg custard tarts or something else not made in America.

3. Not overly processed.
No corn fructose syup here. Easy to digest and with not too much weight on your diet consciousness.

4. Because they remind me of my childhood.

All very simple reasons. Y'all know that I'm a boba tea fanatic. I think the best bubble tea you can get is in the San Jose/Bay area of California. In Miami, the best bubble tea is at Lan Cafe in South Miami in the Dadeland Station (1st floor).
The worst bubble tea? Easily Ann Arbor, Michigan followed by New York City.

If you're a foodie, you'll find this San Francisco Chronicle article by Jeff Yang engrossing at the least: Don't Miss the Mango Mochi
He's mentioned the latest Asian dessert fads on the West Coast and goes briefly into NYC.
Here's an exerpt:
The fact is, dessert, in all of the intoxicatingly intricate and calorie-choked ways that Westerners enjoy it, is just not a part of the Asian culinary vocabulary. As my foodie friend Wendy Chan -- co-author of the recently published cookbook "New Asian Cuisine" -- notes: "First of all, in Asia, people usually eat sweets as a snack, rather than with their meals. And secondly, you have so many beautiful varieties of fruit available in Asia -- rambutans, longans, durians and so on -- that there just isn't the same incentive to create more complex sweets. In a lot of tropical countries, you put a mango on a stick, and there you have it, that's your dessert."
It shouldn't be surprising, then, that the history of Asian sweets in the United States has been pretty fallow -- a sort of dessert wasteland, if you will. Chinese bakeries, while everywhere in metropolitan ethnic enclaves, haven't exactly spread into America's malls and suburban shopping strips. People aren't lining up on street corners to consume Filipino bibingka or Malaysian chendol or Indian gulub jamun. In fact, there's really only been one major Asian sweet-tooth fad, and it's one whose prime is long past.
The Boba Bubble

French Ninja Workout

Le Parkour: Parkour (also called PK, free running and le parkour) is a physical discipline of French origin in which participants attempt to pass obstacles in the most smooth and fluid manner possible, using skills such as jumping, climbing, tricking or the more specific parkour moves. The obstacles can be anything in one's environment, but parkour is often seen practiced in urban areas because of many suitable public structures that are accessible to most people, such as buildings and rails, according to Wikipedia.

Or as Cindy puts it succintly, "Those without MAJOR SUPER NINJA SKILLS NEED NOT APPLY"

I first saw Le Parkour in a Nike commercial shot in Paris where an athletic man is pursued by a chicken that follows him as he darts, flips, climbs, and leaps around the labriynth of Parisian buildings with the chicken showing up at each turn.




Then I found out that this sport, which started in France, has recently become more popular in the United States. Go figure, I was reading the LA Times and saw that urban sprawl of a city has spawned its own Le Parkour practioners: No Strings Attached
I don't know if it could work in South Florida, some of the hot spots for Le Parkour in LA is around UC Irvine. I can easily see it being practiced at UM ~ The Physics building, Cox Science , and School of Business.

I just wish I could practice this. When I was a little kid, I'd pretend to be a ninja but these guys are totally free with their body movements. I'd just break into a sweat thinking about doing a back flip. Into a pool. LOL.

The guy in the video above is one of the cofounders of this sport. The guy in the video below is the other cofounder. He explains more about this sport and shows off
more jawdropping stunts around his neighborhood. French w/ subtitles.

Hmmmmm....

Heya...

For those far and away, I'll let you in on some news I've told those near me.
Brace yourself....
.
.
.
.
I have to give up my car!
LOL. Nothing too serious! Well, my mom told me a month ago that since my little brother's heading off to UF this summer, that he'll need a set of more dependable wheels then the current car he has (96 Camry). Where is this mystery car supposed to come from? Moi. Of course.

Meantime, I've been perusing thro' Edmunds and other sources to figure out what I want.
I've narrowed it down to about 3 cars and now its about price, whether I want to deal w/ loans, gas efficiency vs. comfort, safety features, etc.

I threw this question out to my coworkers: "What car can you see me in?" Based on a few months of knowing me, some spewed out horrible responses:

"A Volkeswagon beetle!"
Grimace.
"A Scion XB"
Scowl.

Their theory being, she's a girl, she's petite, she's gotta love one of those cute, petite girly mobiles.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

So readers, what car can u see me in?
I'll let you know what it comes down to. I have till late June to decide.

Fake it till you make it

Why I would never make "employee of the month" at work.

1. Technically, I'm not an intern, I'm an employee with benefits, a living wage, and cough, cough, I've graduated, but people keep asking me, "So....(insert long pauses)
how long you here for?"

2. When I comment to a fellow coworker about their fitness and add that I'm interested in dropping weight, suggesting, oh 10lbs as an ideal achievement, they roll their eyes and say, 'You can never be too thin, just like you can never be too rich.'
When I repeat it to my paunchier coworkers without even thinking about it, they look at me and say, "Girrrrrrl, best to step away now."

3. I hate working more then 40 hours a week.

4. I'm starting to realize I'm more antisocial then I thought I was.

5. I could never disguise my dislike for someone therefore I'm not management material nor a sycophant.

6. At the end of my 6-month work evaluation, my boss concludes the mostly positive meeting in which he states, "You just don't seem enthusiastic enough."
Damn, I'm not wearing enough flair already?

For anyone curious to see what I have been doing at work, go to News Page Designer and look me up under 'journalist' category. My work's on there.

And, to go off topic here, this site greeted me when I walked along Miracle Mile w/ my friend Jillian Friday right next to a pop-art gallery. Is this fake or real?

Mmmm...Mashups

I was online looking for some music on iTunes when one thing led to another and I was testing out some singles to hear on Radioblogclub! Breakdance iTunes compilation (iTunes) > Kraftwerk (radioblogclub) >
COLDPLAY vs. KRAFTWERK mashup on this random person's radioblog. In fact this person's radioblog was filled w/ tons of mashups that were fantastique. I love'em and wish I knew where I could the mp3s of'em.
Here are the ones I really enjoyed

1) Fischerspooner vs Pussycat Dolls**
2) Gorillaz vs The Bravery
3) Nirvana vs Basement Jaxx**
4) Coldplay vs Kraftwerk
**Would totally recommend these 2 for a hard workout soundtrack.

If you want to find this dude's radioblog list, I found that by searching under "Fischerspooner vs Pussycat Dolls" will pull up his radio list.

Enjoy!

This asian chick looks pissed.
Bet who in these 2 photos would win in a fight?
The shirt on the right can be your's for $17.95 here
Spotted it at Angry Asian Man.
Man I wish I had one of these while I was in college,
anyone want to give a girl an early birthday gift?

Flash from the past

Can you believe this photo is a snapshot of my mom?
What a foxy, cool mama. Sometimes when you're looking at old photos, you can't imagine where life will take you and how you'll end up. Here, my mom's in her mid-20s, living in Maine, in love, and adjusting to her American lifestyle. Looking pretty, carefree, and relaxed.
When I look at my mom now, I can't imagine what she must have been like, as a teenager, young 20something, etc. Family photos from Vietnam were a rarity.
This photo is the best portrait I have of her at this point in life.
Just looking at this photo reminds me to enjoy my life while I have it good at this age. It doesn't last forever.




















Oh and these fly boys, above, are my 2 older brothers.
Don't they look like they could have tried out for The Goonies?
I'm digging the 80s jacket on the left and the pilot pants on the right.
Hoo-yeah.

Occupational Blogging

For the past few months, I've immersed myself into the world of bloggers.
Here are some of the most entertaining blogs I've found from those who write about their work. Kind of like "Career Day" at school except you get to hear grittier stuff then what they would tell you during Parents Day.


A Day In the Life of:

Waiter - Waiterrant
Top read. Funny as hell, behind-the-scenes looks at what working in the restaraunt biz can be all about.

Club Bouncer - Clublife
This guy actually scored a book deal.

Model - Elyse Sewell
Elyse from America's Next Top Model Season 1 is modeling in Asia and she's far more hilarious then I gave her credit for with what I saw on TV. She's got photos to prove it.

Lawyer - Opinionista
Formerly lawyer, this girl made me feel glad I never pursued the law school path. Some great blog entries if u check back in archives. She escaped litigation hell to pursue writing her true passion.

Current Mood

Contemplative.
Brooding.
Adrift.

Listening to Interpol's Evil on repeat.
You can hear it for yourself for a free download of the single here.
Doing some thinking that I want to put off but not sure if I should.
How much can you trust your gut?

-------------------------------------------

On another note...have you heard of Radioblog? Its a blog addition that you can add to your site where you can feature streaming music in its entirety. Visiters can see your music selection and listen live on the internet. If you visit www.radioblogclub.com you can search any song, artist, album and pull up a list of radioblogs that contain'em. I like it because you can sample entire songs @ work, the library, etc. PLUS you can then choose to buy it from iTunes versus being limited to only hearing 30sec clips of songs.
Search these songs:

1. MIA - Galang
2. Bloc Party - Banquet
- Like Eating Glass
3. The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary

I think all these songs would be great to drive to.

GIVE ME A BABY!!!!

I love my baby niece to pieces.
She knows how to work it.
Watch.
.
.
.
Exhibit A: Off


.
.
.

Exhibit B: On



Work it.
Love it.
Own it.

She's got my 'tude. :)
I lurv it!

ATLANTA

My epic quest to Atlanta has reached its end:
One girl.
One guy.
One bigass Chevy Trailblazer.
1260 miles.

A weekend getaway fueled by an itch to escape work and IKEA fetishes, we plotted our point of attack, struck, and came away victorious and flushed w/ memories.
Here are some anecdotes, photos and recaps.

Scene: Pitchblack night on Florida Turnpike.
Cindy, in driver seat. Nick, passenger seat.
Cindy: I wonder if there are any other headlight options other then daytime running lights?
(fiddles w/ steering wheel knobs, headlights turn off, roadview turns pitchblack. SUV at 80mph)
Cindy: OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD
(turns knob again, headlights appear)
Nick: Whew.
Cindy: I wonder, what I do if I turn the switch this way?
(headlights turn off. Road view turns pitchblack)
Cindy: OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD
(turns knob again, headlights appear)
Nick: Don't do that again.

Scene: Flashing blue and red lights fill up SUV's interior
Nick (wakens up from nap): Cindy, what have you done?
Cop: Ma'm, can I have your license, title, and insurance card?



After dropping dead for 2 hrs at hotel, we stopped at IKEA.
Notice the slightly delirious smile on my face.



IKEA's cafeteria.

SUV is fully loaded.


Swanhouse in Buckhead


WTF?
This was the third of a series of bad Oriental signs I saw posted around town.
1st) Chin-Chin's Chinese Takeout
2nd) Mama Fu's Chinese Buffet
3rd) Miso Happy
::::puke::::


Swanky looking noodlehouse called, what else, Noodles. Don't let the decor fool you, this place was pretty affordable. 2 thumbs up! Asian run also, unlike Miso Happy (see above).