The Color Purple

Damn! The color purple kicks ass! I so want this phone!!! It costs a pretty penny though since it's one of those special unlocked phones without service. But it's justifiable because it's so darn pretty! Man, I am going to kick Verizon and their crap phones to the curb soon. Now if only they would make a purple iPod that looks just as chic...






Interestingly enough, check out this honey gold Dolce & Gabbana Razr...how luxurious! Not really. I tell ya, metallics are out this season! Didn't D&G get the memo?

Shakespeare's Blogosphere

I do love the blogosphere. Apparently, my Shakespeare in the park review landed on a fellow blogger's page that celebrates the work of Jennifer Ehle, the actress that played Lady MacBeth.

Since folks are reading my review, I'll have to add a bit more to it. My favorite line in the play is actually delivered by Ms. Ehle. In Act III, Lady MacBeth is trying to persuade her dinner guests that MacBeth often goes off in crazy tirades and that it is a "thing of custom." But MacBeth continues his feverish rambling and goes absolutely nuts speaking of murder and seeing the ghost of Banquo. Finally, MacBeth sobers up and tells everyone to resume the frivolity of dinner conversation. A moment of silence passes and Lady MacBeth, with raised eyebrow and an "oh-geez" air of sarcasm says...

"You have displaced the mirth..."

It was Ms. Ehle's deadpan delivery that made the entire audience laugh out loud. Forget all the famous lines in this play...that was the one that made me enjoy the show. She was great throughout - the type of scheming woman I'd imagine that would be running her own company as CEO...a worthy counterpart to Larry Ellison. In any case, a good portrayal of Lady MacBeth lends the sentiment that she is indeed the woman we all love to hate. And that, Ms. Ehle certainly did deliver.

Just the Girls

Me & Alison Lee...I just wanna hold her all day long!!!














Look at her fat baby forearms! It's got two segments of roll!

Quote of the Day - 7.10.06

"The compromise will always be more expensive than either of the suggestions it is compromising."

— Arthur Bloch

Uber-Cool Notetaking Gadget

DigiMemo 692

This digital notetaking pad looks awesome. You write on a paper pad (since it's what people are used to) and then you can save each page as an imaged digital file. It would be nice to have this so I don't have to carry around 50 different notebooks that I have to flip through to find my scribbled notes in. Wish I had this during my analyst days. The only drawback is that it is a 6"x9" pad...if only they can make it 8.5"x11"...then it would be super-functional. Nevertheless, kudos to the Taiwanese! =)

Quote of the Day - 7.9.06

"You are to food what Godzilla is to Tokyo..."

- J.K.

My response as I hover over my Penne Bolognese:

"Hmmm...To-ky-o!"

Shakespeare Summer Night

Part I

I just got back from watching Shakespeare in the park. MacBeth was playing and Liev Schrieber had the lead role. Having only read Shakespeare and never having seen it performed, I was awed. Really, now I see why a play is meant to be acted out and not just read in a classroom. There were parts that required emotion and actual acting...things you really don't think about when you're just trying to decipher that old english in print. It was quite enjoyable seeing it. Plus, it was modern too...lots of feminist undertones. What was surprising was that it had exciting parts...like the climax at the end. Amidst the backdrop of the trees in the park, the lighting and the set, it was perfectly executed.

Part II

See my entry, Shakespeare's Blogosphere

Outsourcing

Workin' hard...

















or hardly workin'??








In the words of Homer Simpson:

"Doh! I should never have left you in charge!!!"


...Hmmm...although I think he's just checking his email account at misohuang@yahoo.com

Quote of the Day - 6.25.06

"I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice and then going away and doing the exact opposite."

- G.K. Chesterton

Knightsbridge

Santorini

Yummy in the Tummy! =)

Quote of the Afternoon - 6.23.06

"When it rains, it pours"

-American Proverb

Red Hot Gaucho!

Here are runway pics of my new Dior Gaucho!!! I'll pose with it myself next time! =P

Hmmm...I can envision Gaucho + dress + cowboy boots (perhaps a bit of Western overkill...let's stick with heels!)

;)

Learn English

My new favorite resource is Merriam-Webster...it has audio files for proper pronunication! No more FOBBY talk for me! BUT...I am right about "ogle." HA!

ogle

Main Entry: 1ogle
Pronunciation: 'O-g&l also 'ä-
Function: verbInflected Form(s): ogled; ogling /-g(&-)li[ng]/
Etymology: probably from Low German oegeln, from oog eye; akin to Old High German ouga eye -- more at EYE


debauchery

Main Entry: de·bauch·ery
Pronunciation: di-'bo-ch&-rE, -chrE, -'bä-
Function: nounInflected Form(s): plural -er·ies


respite

Main Entry: 1re·spite
Pronunciation: 'res-p&t also ri-'spIt, British usually 'res-"pIt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English respit, from Old French, from Medieval Latin respectus, from Latin, act of looking back -- more at RESPECT


oblong

Main Entry: ob·long
Pronunciation: 'ä-"blo[ng]
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin oblongus, from ob- toward + longus long -- more at LONG


dachshund

Main Entry: dachs·hund
Pronunciation: 'däks-"hunt, -"hund; 'däk-s&nt; esp British 'dak-s&nd
Function: noun
Etymology: German, from Dachs badger + Hund dog: any of a breed of long-bodied, short-legged dogs of German origin that occur in short-haired, long-haired, and wirehaired varieties

My Favorite Lullaby

Heard this on an episode of "Medium" and it totally captured me. Everytime I listen to it, it makes my heart feel full...and I just want to crawl into a comfy nook, drifting away in peace.

Dixie Chicks
"Lullaby"
(Taking the Long Way)

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

Quote of the Day - 6.22.06

"You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear."

-Anonymous

Okey Doke

:P

Snow Globe

Here's a pretty cool poem I read:

Snow Globe

It’s winter in the tiny motel.
The man and woman lie down
naked and freezing. A blizzard

streaming on the television,
gloss of ice on the windows,
the bourbon a bottle of fire.

After love she licks
his cold sweat, trying to seal
herself into him.

Smoke from their cigarettes
rising, disappearing as they sink
into sleep. If I shake them

awake now they’ll tumble
from the white bed,
ashes swirling and searing

their skin. Already
my hands, numb from holding them,
begin their painful prickling.

Already I’m remembering
his breath on my face, hot
as an animal’s, his insistent tongue.

Better to let them
lie there, then. To let the chill
of the deep drifts bury them.

-Kim Addonizio

A Kiss

From the very first time that I touched you babe
Couldn't find the words to say
You set me free

And every time that I kiss your lips
Nothin' ever tasted quite like this
Or got so deep

- Brian McKnight, from one of my all-time favorite songs,"Everytime You Go Away"

On Truth - 6.20.06

To quote three famous sages:

"Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away."
(said Elvis Presley)

"The truth will set you free!"
(said Jesus) and;

"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off!"
(said Gloria Steinman)

I Need Some Joe!

What's a girl gotta do to get a good cup o' joe around here?? I just can't seem to find good coffee.

I'm drinking Lavazza right now and it's just off. Maybe it's the drip filter or my really really old sugar. Perhaps I need to go back to my Bodum French press. I like seeing the swirl of oil on the black surface, signaling a taste of decadence awaiting me. Or maybe I need to just go back to drinking Dunkin Donuts. I do have some Greek coffee in the cupboard. Greek coffee is dark and yummy, with a coated yellow froth on top of the dark elixir. I was shocked to find out it was actually instant coffee. Weird.

What I wouldn't do right now for a rich, smooth dark roast with a hint of cream and sugar...hmmmm...

Luxuriating Madness

I lived like a queen this weekend, ate like a king, and hob-nobbed with celebrities.

Jerms and I went to Koi and some other fancy joints for grub and walked around the 5th ave shops. Shopping at Fendi, Bergdorf and all the other snooty stores was actually kinda fun and not intimidating. We visited the new I.M. Pei Apple store...kinda neat but I wasn't that impressed. Got a makeover done at Henri Bendel and then I finally splurged and got my Gaucho bag. We also saw Chris Rock and Steve Buscemi filming a movie right next to the Penn Club and Harvard Club. They both looked really skinny and lanky. Chris was sporting a scruffy beard and Steve was looking real pasty and white. Both were donning suits and saying their lines as the camera crew glided backwards. Pretty cool to watch. It's like when they filmed Mystic River on St. James Ave when I worked at Yankee and you just watched Clint all day filming across the street.

We also got some lemonade to cool off on a hot hot summer afternoon at the street fair on 6th ave. and strolled through Central Park. So pooped now. I'm just sitting by a window right now waiting for a cool breeze that ain't ever gonna come. Just gushes of warm air. Oky dok, time for lunch...

The Cat's Meow

Seriously, can I be more excited about turning 29???

The Lady Who Lived in a Shoe

My goodness, I can't stop this retail therapy! I've bought so many pairs of shoes in the last two months, I can probably dress the feet of an entire army ...of course, it would be an army that only poses (no marching!) I got something like 15 pairs. Including a snakeskin Jimmy Choo stiletto, a Dior platform wedge sandal, and Gucci bamboo-adorned slides. Ohhh, I just love looking at them. Priceless (or rather pricey) works of art for display only in my new shoe organizer. I'm so sick of wearing flats and ugly work shoes for comfort. I want glamour, I want shape, I want height. Yet, 90% of the time, my feet are actually bare. So sad, such a waste! Ok, ok, I'll stop being such a girl (uh-hum, woman). =) Cuz' only successful, independent-minded women could afford designer shoe fetishes.

I still remember that episode of SATC when Carrie's Manolos were stolen at a friend's party and she made the friend repay her for the $600 shoes. But of course, not without first getting a reprimand for paying an arm and a leg for such material possessions. At first, Carrie was all sheepish but then she realized she would not apologize for how she lives her life. So I'm takin' a stand, literally. =P

Quote of the Day - 6.15.06

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?

- Frank Scully

Underbelly

Rough
exterior, tanned
sun-drenched
yellow hand,
Belies its owner
Hidden grace
carved beneath

Fine-etched contours
Shape beer-battered fish
Mold soft breasts
Render love
in electronic ink

Palm to upturned lips
Bite gently into
round flesh

Want to consume him
Touch
his touch
in a spot so public,
no one notices
Contemplating
that warm morsel,
that secret underbelly,
that private song

Reaching out, hand open—
“Are you nervous?” it asks.

Damp sweat-seeped
skin replies—
Tips now touching,
Fingers weaving,
Interlaced until
Deep lines
Cover both


Kosin Huang

Renaissance List

• Kiddie pool
• Japanese kitsch
• Youtube
• etc.

Boston Common Ducks

Phil and I just took a stroll through the Public Gardens after a nice French dinner at Beacon Hill Bistro. I can't say I've ever walked through the Commons after dark but it was really nice. We were both reminiscing about our Yankee days and how lousy and stressful it was. It's very cool to hang out with old friends. One thing we share is the love of eating duck. So we both had foie gras and duck tonight. Then we happened on some cute little ducks along the pond. I started cooing at them and he was like, "yea, you just ate one." I gave him a stern but guilty look and we moved on.

Beacon Hill is a cute lil' neighborhood to live in, especially on nice summer nights like this one. I think I'll miss some spots here and there just cuz' of different memories I've had. I'm sure I'll have one last hurrah at all of my fave restaurants before I head outta here.

Red and Black Sand Beaches

Hypnotic Standstill

I was driving home before and I couldn't help being captivated by the full moon as I sped towards it on 93. It was such an amazing sight that you just wanted to stare at it endlessly. Entranced by this gigantic golden orb and its glow, I almost drove off the highway. Apparently, this dramatic full moon is called a "lunar standstill" and I understand we're in the midst of a rare season of these that begins shortly after sunset each day. When I got off my exit, you could see this huge yellow circle right above Hancock street. It was quite a sight. What a nice ending to a gorgeous day.

Decisions, Decisions

I've decided. I think I need to get out of here. I need a fresh start in a new place, with new people, and new things to do. It's pointless to stay. I guess I could do without all this space....sigh, who knew I'd be back to living in a studio apartment again? A little dorm-room like closet? What I'll miss the most is driving my car around (especially during the winter months), that and the relative serenity and familiarity of the burbs. I've had a lot of fond memories here but it's time to move on. Time to move forward towards all the new possibilities awaiting me. Not many people actually have the freedom and wherewithal to go anywhere, do anything they want. I've got nothing stopping me, the idea in itself is liberating I suppose. But sometimes when you've got too much freedom, you're not quite sure what direction to head in. But the truth of the matter is that there are a million places on this planet to go to, a million people to meet, and countless experiences to be had. The only thing that limits me is myself. But no more. =)

A Revolutionary Idea...MTV Chi

OMG! They have an MTV for Chinese Americans!!! It's the new MTV Chi channel. I LOVE videos and of course, Leehom...who by the way is all over the front page! How the heck do I sign up? Finally, MTV is getting international - well, yes it's in Asia but there's no Asian-US version. Looks like they're launching an MTV K (Korean) version too. Wish I could sign up for this service but I think it's DirectTV. =(

Mykonos and Santorini

Purse Forum

This is the only forum I am a part of. Ok, maybe I am also a member of one or two others but I'm only active on this one. We don't discuss cage fighting, nor do we chat about cars...but we do argue the merits of slouchy bag trends, the quality of goat leather, and Tom Ford's legacy as a designer. We also provide loads of moral support, as in "ohhh, nice bag...congrats!"

I thought it was bizarre at first. But it saved me from buying a fake Balenciaga on Bluefly. Bluefly suddenly had an influx of new merchandise that turned out to be fakes. Of course, it was the ladies on the PF that recognized the ill-fitting bales on the bags and called it in. Luckily I checked the PF before I made a purchase. And since only women with high-earning potential (i.e., of higher education) tend to be on this forum, the lawyers of the bunch were calling Bluefly corporate and the attorney general to alert them to this critical matter. So now, all of Bluefly's credibility is completely shot. Everyone thinks twice about buying from them, for fear of knockoffs. Definitely not good for business. Bluefly should have stopped all sales immediately and issued a public apology. That's what I would do if I were managing Bluefly's marketing communications. It's poor form.

Anyhoo, another interesting story is this thread about this lady who bought like 7 purses since January - each about $2K. She was saying her therapist warned her that she was trying to fill a void. Everyone on the forum was like, "well, we're a bunch of enablers" so you might not want to visit this forum everyday." hehe. Crazy, crazy.

Well, long story short, forums are kinda fun and entertaining...but a bit psycho at times.

Ohhh Gucci shoes...

Hmmm...should I get these shoes? I like the D'orsay style and the contrast in colors. They're on sale but still a hefty price tag. Would be good with jeans, capris, AND skirts. =)

Netflix for Bags

So this is an interesting business model... totally works for trendy "it" bags. Borrow a bag for as long as you want, return it and get another on your waitlist. Sounds familiar? BagBorrowOrSteal
lets crazy women like me get their hands on Balenciagas, Fendi Spys, and quilted Chanel numbers. But I noticed they didn't have the latest sought after bag I'm considering - the Dior Gaucho. Nor do they have the uber-bag - the Birkin. I guess you really can't borrow a $4000 bag for $9.95 a month.

Well, I still think it's a bit gross to use someone else's used bag....eeek it's dirty and you don't know where it's been. Sure, it's fun to try new bags but there's also something about owning it that gives you a better, bigger rush. Oh jeez, this is a sickness! Well, my objective opinion as a consultant is that this is a great biz model. But the consumer bag-lady blood coursing through my veins says "ohhh..look at all the beauties."

=P

Athens

OMG! This is my life!!! BOO! :P

(Click on the picture to enlarge view.)

Quote of the Day - 6.01.06

"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for—in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it."

-- Ellen Goodman

Hmmm....this is why I don't get dressed for work or go to the office or live in my own house. ;)

Hint #1

My favorite flowers are irises. ;)

World Issue

I was told that I should blog about world "issues." But I really don't care much for politics and such so here's one issue I'm actually passionate about:

Statistics

Millions of dogs, cats and other animals domesticated as pets in the United States are homeless.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates the number of animal shelters to be between 4,000 and 6,000. The society estimates that each year:

• 6-8 million cats and dogs enter shelters
• 3-4 million are euthanized by shelters
• 3-4 million are adopted from shelters
• 600,000-750,000 are reclaimed by their owners

Source: Humane Society of the United States. All numbers estimates.


I heard that for the Olympics in Athens, they killed thousands of cats because of the overpopulation problem. People need to be responsible and spay! That's a world issue for ya!

AllLookSame Results

AllLookSame

I scored a 11 out of 18, the average score is 7. Apparently, I am "pretty good" and "may have a talent." But alas, I was bragging about being able to score high...'tis not the case.

Belly-dancers & Fort Lee

We're studying at Border's right now. So many Koreans here in Fort Lee. I counted only 3 white ppl. It's crazy. It's kind of like Quincy but a tad classier b/c they have Starbucks instead of Dunkin Donuts and they can boast about having a Ruth's Chris here.

Anyways, Sat. night we went to L'Orange Bleu, a French-Moroccan restaurant in Soho. It was really really good...I highly recommend it. Such a lively little joint, complete with belly dancers and such. The highlight was a novice belly-dancer -- a gay guy who lifted up his tank top and folded it into a belly shirt and started maneuvering around all the tables. J's like, "dude, I've lost my appetite!" But the seafood paella and the baby butterfly roast chicken were superb, they were still yummy when we had it the next day. I was like, hmmm...I don't think paella is French or Moroccan...but whatever.

Afterwards, we hung out at this condo in Fort Lee where apparently Jay-Z used to live. The view was absolutely gorgeous across the Hudson. I couldn't believe regular folks live here in style like this...the weather was so good that people were sunbathing the next day at the pool/jacuzzi overlooking the river. It was like something out of a postcard. Anyways, hopefully one day I'll have a place like that. Close enuff to the city but suburban enough to be livable.

Learn Chinese

Ohhhh...I found this awesome blog - Learn Chinese Through C-Pop. Now, why didn't I think of this? I mean, I'm the target audience here! This is how I've learned any Chinese at all in the past few years...and it's all been self-taught!

For instance, if you look at my one of my favorite Leehom ballads - "Kiss Goodbye," it explains a lot of the significance behind the lyrics. I was pretty sure I understood the song in its entirety but there were a few holes here and there - this fills in the gaps. Then there's the crazy raps and such that I shall never learn, but at least now I have an idea of what they're about.

I remember when Hsin-ying spent like two hours explaining to me the lyrics of "Hua Tian Cuo," which was so academic I could barely stomach it. It's basically a Chinese poem about an opera. But I loved the song so much, I HAD to learn how to sing along! But every word was like "huh? what does this mean???" Gosh, if only I had just looked at this site. I think Albert was rolling his eyes into the back of his head during this whole thing.

Same goes for Jay Chou's "Snow-Like Hair", which I also love but is so freaking hard!!! My mom tried explaining it with many more Chinese words that I didn't understand. Anyhoo, it's fun practicing and I like learning it on my own and then surprising her. =)

At Least It's a Small One...

Ugh. I'm so tired this morning. Too early to wake and too late to bed.

So yesterday morning, we all met at Hudson Diner for breakfast. We're happily eating our omelettes and then suddenly I saw out of my peripheral vision a mouse scrambling across the room! I pointed and shrieked, "Oh my God, there's a mouse!" We all turned and then a guy in the booth next to us shrugged in amusement, "Eh, at least it's a small one!"

Everyone then turned back to their breakfasts as if nothing at all had happened. Only in NYC where the rats outnumber the people is this a daily occurrence. In any other city, they would be shutting down the place for health code violations. But oh no, in NYC, it's like, "eh, so what?"

;)

My Namesake

Apparently, my Apollo nickname has an alcoholic association with it. By the way, Paco, jealously does not become you!

"Mad Dawg" 20/20

I love this line:

"MD 20/20 is is reputed as being extremely popular with both "winos" and teenagers wanting to drink illegally, due to the fact that it is both inexpensive and has a high alcohol content. MD 20/20 has also found a loyal customer base in college fraternity members."

Quote of the Day - 5.22.06

"The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had."

-- Beantown Dogs

The Family Aquatic

J called my family "aquatic." Yes, we've been living an "aquatic" life ever since my Mom and Dad became bonafide fishing fanatics. I even got them matching fishing shirts for their outings. Mom's all buff from standing all day, casting lines and pulling in nets. Couple that with digging for clams and she's got abs of steel. Hmm...maybe I should go with next time. They're always returning home with huge 40 inch sea bass and bucketloads of clams and crabs. There's literally fresh fish to eat at every meal.

The funniest thing was when our refrigerator crapped out a while back and all the fish we had in it went bad. Dad commented despairingly, "Oh my, what are we gonna do? We've got no fish for the winter!!! How are we gonna live?!" Lynn responded dryly, "Uh, Dad, we live in NYC, you know we can buy fish, right??"

Yes, self-sustaining the Huang family is, even in Brooklyn.

Kennel krazy

I'm waiting to board my flight at the airport and taking a breather. Man, this morning there was some crazy cat wrangling. I took Miso and Tofu to the kennel for the first time. They were completely freaking out and meowing up a storm. Miso broke out of the carrier and I had to catch him and stuff him back in by force. My hands were all scratched up by the time I had them secured. I was like, I hope I'm not bleeding to death by the time I get to the kennel. I think it was traumatic for all involved. Sigh. I felt terrible leaving them but at least they have each other. That's what my mom used to always say--make sure you have two kids so they can stick together. Anyhoo, I felt like a terrible mother. At least social services won't be calling me up when they run out of water like last time!
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Rain

Rain, rain, go away...

Actually, I'm kind of enjoying the rain. Ludicrous maybe? Perhaps. But sometimes, you want the sky to reflect your mood...rather than impact it. I guess I feel a bit gray, a bit drab, a bit cloudy. It's one of those days when I just want to huddle in a ball on my couch and close my mind. Probably not the best way to start the day at 8:30am but I suppose I'll reserve my right to do so for later.

I'm sad I missed all the flooding and all the rain. I like looking out and seeing a monotony of gray color, an indication that this is real life. It washes away all that is seemingly perfect, all the fake sunny pleasantries and replaces it with a different kind of idyllic sentiment.

I hope it keeps keeps on rainin'. =)

I Wanna Go "Home"

I'm in love with this song. So simple in its lyrics but so pure in thought. Reminds me of how sometimes you just want to go back to where you feel at "home."

Home
by Michael Buble

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
That this is not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Skills

by Jonathan Aaron
Journey to the Lost City, published by Ausable Press

Blondin made a fortune walking back and forth
over Niagara Falls on a tightrope—blindfolded,
or inside a sack, or pushing a wheelbarrow, or perched on stilts,
or lugging a man on his back. Once, halfway across,
he sat down to cook and eat an omelette.

Houdini, dumped into Lake Michigan chained
and locked in a weighted trunk, swam back to the boat
a few moments later. He could swallow more than a hundred
needles
and some thread, then pull from between his lips
the needles dangling at even intervals.

I can close my eyes and see your house
explode in a brilliant flash, silently,
with a complete absence of vibration. And when I open them again,
my heart in my mouth, everything is standing
just as before, but not as if nothing had happened.

"I complete me" and "I love you for free"

"When we're incomplete, we're always searching for somebody to complete us. When, after a few years or a few months of a relationship, we find that we're still unfulfilled, we blame our partners and take up with somebody more promising. This can go on and on--series polygamy--until we admit that while a partner can add sweet dimensions to our lives, we, each of us, are responsible for our own fulfillment. Nobody else can provide it for us, and to believe otherwise is to delude ourselves dangerously and to program for eventual failure every relationship we enter.”

-Tom Robbins (American Novelist. b.1936)

I thought this quote of the day was spot on. Most people will say, "yeah, yeah, of course..." but in practice, it's much harder to do. I think because it's really about developing yourself and getting to know yourself as you grow up. That's a very tall order. I think most of us are under the delusion that we know ourselves -- only to continually be surprised. But that's really the key to happiness. It takes a while, but one day you have to realize that only you can make you happy -- no one else is responsible for that. Which is why it's insane that one of the most "romantic" lines from Jerry Maguire is "You complete me." What a bunch of misleading baloney. No wonder we're all so lost. Relationships are a nice-to-have, they can even be really important (well, one would hope)...but in the end, you gotta be a complete person. That is the hardest thing to do though. Sometimes getting there can take an entire lifetime.

Here's another Tom Robbins quote I like. If only all marriages could work like this:

“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as its accomplice. Instead of vowing to honor and obey, maybe we should swear to aid and abet. That would mean that security is out of the question. The words "make" and "stay" become inappropriate. My love for you has no strings attached. I love you for free.”

Harrod's Gastronomy

We landed in London and boy oh, boy was it a trek. We set our sets on Harrod's in Knightbridge and even though it was a hassle, it was still worth it. I've never seen a department store of such breadth and scale. I can't believe there's nothing like that in the US. I would go there everyday if I could. They had a huge food market right alongside all these food counters (sushi, delis, italian, etc.) and then you walk a bit further and there's the Marc Jacobs and Chloe bags. Then upstairs, there's a pet store, a refrigerator section, furniture, clothes, and a chocolate cafe where you can paint portraits in chocolate. The place must have taken up 20 blocks and 5 stories. Crazy. I ended up spending most of my time in the food section - trying cheeses, pates, and jams. Then I had even better gelato - pear and blueberry and also a mango flavored one. Amazing. I bought some meat pies to take back home but sadly, they were confiscated by customs. =( At least they didn't take my scones and cheddars. =)

Athens' Stumps

I didn't expect much from Athens, having heard it was mostly leftover stumps of rock that people visit. However, when we did finally see the Parthenon and all the ruins, it was pretty cool. I was sick of museums and such so just being able to walk through these architectural marvels with all of its history was pretty neat. You also see a myriad of devices the Greeks made for elections and the democratic process -- very impressive for that time I must say.

Anyways, it was like we were finally in civilization again - a high-rise hotel, a highway, and mobs of tourists. At last I got my street gyro with tzatziki sauce and some real kick ass baklava gelato. Then I spent way too much on some Byzantine jewelry and we had our last meal of moussaka, pastitsio, octapus, and leek croquettes. Not to worry, I got a touristy cookbook. Maybe one day it will inspire me enough to at least make a fried egg dish...or at least dip some bread in olive oil. =)

Chania, Crete

We arrived at Chania, a little fishing village in Crete after a 2 hour cab ride from where the ferry dropped us off. Ironically, it was the most bustling island we had been to thus far. It's a less touristy place so it was nice to be among the locals. We stayed at this cute bed and breakfast overlooking the harbor. After a day of unavoidable fighting and disagreements, we finally sat down to a nice dinner. That dinner was my salvation - sardines in olive oil, fried cod, pastitsio, spinach pie, squid stuffed with feta and tomatoes, and of course, saganaki. Then the really nice waiter, an older greek man with a moustache brought us some ice cream and a little pitcher of Cretean wine. It tasted like rubbing alchohol but I didn't care. After saying "yamas" which means "bottoms up" several times with the waiter, we were pretty pooped and ready to leave. I fed a cute cat my leftover sardines and we retired for the night. Oh, not before more gelato of course. Then we realized that our cute bed and breakfast was right on top of a really happening club on a Friday night. Oy. Hip-hop all night rattling the windows but I still managed to fall asleep, being the weary traveler I am.

Santorini Sunsets

...Are absolutely stunning.

Our apartment suite has an amazing view. I am envious that people take in this gorgeous scenery everyday from their homes. It seems like most days, folks just sit outside by the cafes and enjoy the sunset from the top of the mountains. What a life. You watch the sun and marvel at how it slowly changes over time, the rays of light bouncing off the water below. As nice as it is, I'm sure that after a while though, you would still start to miss civilization and city life.

The main drawback to living in the middle of nowhere is the curvy, windey, unlit roads. Narrow and dangerous as they were, we still rented a car and made our way around. We weren't sure whether we'd make it back after the sun set...but we're still alive so that's good.

What else? What else? Well, the people here are really really nice...it's very refreshing. We made friends with these twins, Andreas and Alkiv, that own a jewelry store and we chatted them up everyday. They were super-helpful. We also made friends with some girls from Calgary and went clubbing with them. It's like, gee...we knew the entire town already by the time we were leaving.

All the locals are really laid back and people take siesta for a few hours midday. Everyone knows each other and it's got a nice small-town feel. What I also noticed was that all Greek guys are universally cute (we didn't see ONE ugly man). However, none of the Greek women are lookers. Even the ones I saw on this awful Greek variety show did not impress. You would think they would at least showcase the few beauties on t.v., but I guess not.

Anyways, after some awesome meals at Nicholas Taverna (a great little hole in the wall), we really didn't want to leave. But onwards to the next destination. Hopefully it will be as fun as Santorini was.

Ferries and Scarlet Letter

We're awaiting the arrival of our ferry to go to Santorini. These ferries look more like cruise ships...they are monstrously big. I thought they would resemble the Staten Island ferry for some reason. All this inter-island travel is going to be very taxing...I can tell already.

So anyways, I got burned by the massage I had yesterday. The masseuse put two very HOT stones on me - one on my forehead and one on my chest. I literally thought I was being branded! Now I have a scarlet letter on my chest to prove it. Eek! Needless to say, I bitched them out and got my euros back.

Aegean Tanning in Mykonos

I'm lying right now on a tanning mattress on a beautiful deck overlooking the Mediterreanean Sea. It's really amazing to be here. I'm sippin' a fresh fruit cocktail (non-alcoholic of course) and chatting with this lady who's on her honeymoon. She's got a huge rock and a very progressed tan (she's from Miami). There's not a whole lot of people at the resort so it's nice and quiet. Anyhoo, we're gonna hang in the jacuzzi outlay above the beach, then get massages. Then it's off to town to see the sunset and get some grub. Mykonos is supposed to be a party town but it doesn't seem like it...but we'll find out tonite.

Chinese Article Quoting Me

I searched for my name on Technorati, the blog search engine and up pops this Chinese article quoting me! I have no idea what it says:

"Gartner并不是唯一跟踪数据质量问题的研究公司。数据仓库协会估计公司每年由于错误的数据损失6000亿美元。其中有400亿要归因于消费品工业与零售供应链的孤立，Kosin Huang说，他是ankee集团的一个高级分析员。根据Forrester研究公司最近的一份研究报告显示，37％的公司把复制数据和备份文件作为重要的数据管理问题。

“脏”的数据对你的商业的每个方面都有危害。在客户服务方面，坏的和过时的信息意味着市场促销失败和导致顾客的生气。在供应链方面，不准确的产品数据会导致生产瓶颈，降低运送货物到零售商的速度，增加新产品首次展出时出现故障的可能性。“当然，你可以跟踪诸多情况和不同的货盘，”Huang说，“但是你可能是跟踪一个错误的事情。”

Ok, ok, if you click on the original eWeek article...it's translated. But I just thought this was uber-cool in Chinese! hehe.

My Wheels Are Bigger

Oh my goodness. The other night, I got back to my parking space and was horrified. Right next to me was another Mazda 3 in the same Strato Blue! Previously, I was flanked my two non-descript silver Corollas or something...then suddenly -- wham! Someone decided to copy my taste in cars. What the heck??? Did my neighbor see my shiny new car and think -- "hmm...that seems like a nice choice...why don't I be original and get the same one in the same color??" She even has one of those stupid yellow signs with a suction cup on her window that says "bitch." Yes, that's right.

Ok, so upon inspection -- it's a used car and it's all scratched up and mighty dirty. It's also a 2.3 engine but a slightly different trim. I have the touring model so yeah - MY WHEELS ARE BIGGER! My alloy wheels make her stupid knockoff car look whimpy. There's a certain grace to having bigger, bolder wheels. Now I see the difference. It's analogous to women and their shoes. Your shoes can make a statement more than anything you're wearing -- if you had on the right pair of shoes, say...Manolos, then all else pales in comparison . Anyhoo...it irks me everytime I drive into my spot now to have to park next to my lesser twin.

Fluffernutter

So I went to the mall tonight, walked around and had din din with my friend. I said "let's go get some fro-yo." So I pick chocolate (of course) plus coffee frozen yogurt. He, on the other hand, got a flavor called "fluffernutter." Innocently enough, it's really just marshmallows and loads of peanut butter. But I could not get over the name. Now, if that ain't X-rated ice cream, I don't know what is. Frankly, unless you're over 18, I don't think you should be able to order up a cup o' fluffernutter. I was thinking...that's a great pseudonym for someone in a certain profession. But alas, since I am not affliated with anyone in that line of work...the name may just go to waste. Unless...I hereby dub my friend, "Fluffernutter." There you go.

Test First Email Blogging

Good Morning via email!

Quote of the Day - 5.4.06

In Las Vegas, there's a saying:

"You can never win when you have to..."

Crabby Exterior

Here's a somewhat "apt" description of me from Cainer (ok, I'm not a saint). Hehe. Funny, because J called me a "tough-cookie"...whatever the hell that means!

Kosin H. - A very special Cancerian

Kosin is a tough cookie. You can't pull the wool over Kosin's eyes and you had better not try! Kosin was born under the sign of the crab and she can deliver a very nasty nip! Cancerians may not be the fiercest creatures in the zodiac but they are blessed with a brilliant set of self-defence mechanisms. They have impenetrable armour and sharp, scary claws. Kosin's shell is especially strong. She won't let anyone come anywhere near to her heart unless she knows for sure that they mean no harm. Her impeccable instincts inform her of this and alert her to act accordingly. This is why the world around Kosin is divided into two sorts of people - those who don't know quite what to make of her and those who have been fortunate enough to meet the real Kosin.

The real Kosin is soft, kind, caring, loving and giving. So soft, so kind, so special as to deserve a sainthood. All praise to 'Saint Kosin the Caring.' 'Saint Kosin the Caring.' It has a ring to it does it not? It is fair comment, is it not? Indeed it is, as all who know the true nature of Kosin will willingly and eagerly confirm. There's only one problem with being a saint. It is what it does to your ego. Kosin is a true saint and true saints are not just naturally loving and compassionate, they are also naturally humble. But true saints have a tendency to turn into martyrs. Sometimes, just sometimes, Kosin can be a little too good for her own good.

Here's to My Germaphobic Tendencies...

"Nobody cleans the desktop, usually, until they stick to it."

-- Charles Gerba, amicrobiologist and clean water expert at the University of Arizona, reminds office drones that the average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. (Gerba also uttered the immortal quote, "Never fear a doorknob.")

I dunno about that doorknob comment...

Friendster Power

Man, I have to say Friendster is one social phenomenon...a positive one or a negative one -- the jury's still out. All I know is that it fucks with you and everyone else around you. If you Friendster, you would know. I have one friend that REFUSES to log in to her account unless she had to. I have another friend with crazy stalking issues. And yet another that was freaked out by that sudden introduction of the "who's viewed me" function. Ha, I love how Friendster screws with people. That was like the best invention yet. What better way to create havoc??? On the positive side, I've hooked up with old flames, new flames, and far-flung buddies through the damn thing. It's nice to know people are around if you ever need to get in contact...

Now, another social phenom that is unique to Friendster which makes it "oh-so-powerful" is something my friend D noticed:

"Revelation: The new way (apparently) to declare something official is to change your profile on Friendster."

Well now, isn't that great that we all give over so much power to this one entity? For something that started out as such innocuous fun, it certainly took on a life of its own.

What's crazy is how often some people log in. (Again, a function introduced by Friendster to extend its almighty hold over people). Oh well, whatever...I guess you could say blogging is just as addictive. eeek! Seriously, I wonder what our kids will be doing online by the time we're old and gray!!!

Poetry Kick

I think I'm on a poetry kick. Reading lots of poetry - stimulates the mind...stirs up feelings and such. I've noticed that I like contemporary poets much better. They tend to take everyday observations, mundane situations, and common artifacts and turn them into something heftier - something with weight and feel. Perhaps I'll dabble a bit more in writing my own. I already have some ideas. Images I want to employ. Words I want to use to stir.

What Do Women Want?

by Kim Addonizio

I want a red dress.
I want it flimsy and cheap,
I want it too tight, I want to wear it
until someone tears it off me.
I want it sleeveless and backless,
this dress, so no one has to guess
what's underneath. I want to walk down
the street past Thrifty's and the hardware store
with all those keys glittering in the window,
past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old
donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers
slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly,
hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders.
I want to walk like I'm the only
woman on earth and I can have my pick.
I want that red dress bad.
I want it to confirm
your worst fears about me,
to show you how little I care about you
or anything except what
I want. When I find it, I'll pull that garment
from its hanger like I'm choosing a body
to carry me into this world, through
the birth-cries and the love-cries too,
and I'll wear it like bones, like skin,
it'll be the goddamned
dress they bury me in.

The Shirt

The shirt touches his neck
and smooths over his back.
It slides down his sides.
It even goes down below his belt—
down into his pants.
Lucky shirt.

--by Jane Kenyon
from Collected Poems by Jane Kenyon

State of the Union

Life is very interesting. Frankly, I don't think anything surprises me anymore. Least of all, myself and the things I think, feel, or do. And that old adage about how nature abhors a vacuum -- it's true in a weird, almost cosmic way. I guess I'm grateful for the random voids that nature fills or I'd be a swiss cheese for far too long.

It's peculiar, I think I've aged by a decade or so in the last 9 months. I don't feel old - on the contrary, I feel younger. But I think my perspective has broadened considerably. Don't ask me to explain it, I don't think I could. It's been an interesting time. A wild, crazy ride in a way. I think I will always remember this phase in my life. It's a quasi-turning point, you could say. Again, a turning point in what direction, I couldn't begin to tell you.

So what part does this blog play? Why, a central one of course! Har.

I was hanging out with my friend yesterday and we were chatting about Kosin's Chocolate Boxxx - the one with the triple x. ;) He professed his shock at my prolific blogging. I was like, "Dude, I don't only write in my personal blog but I've got a corporate blog too....AND a journal where I take pen to paper every night." I think he was like, "Where the hell do you find the time???!" Well, the thing is, it's like any other kind of expression...it's its own reward.

--- What it really is -- is a process of finding your own voice. You don't even necessarily have to have anything all that relevant to say. It's just an imprint of how you feel or what you think at a given moment in time, expressed through your own personal voice. Whether that voice is whiney or it rants and raves (as in my journal) OR it's rational, reflective, and analytical as in my corporate blog...it's still an imprint. I like that. I really enjoy it. It's something I do for myself, I guess that's why it's important.

Overcast

The day, of no great merit,
ended — a dandelion gone to seed,
minutes squandered, hours spent,
no bright gold. Yet in the ledgered

plainness of the day, overcast, common,
some subtle brush of meaning
held me. Was it those unexpected
words of thanks, or the single lilac

plunged in a paper cup,
there on a stranger's desk?
Something, a fragrance,
lingered well past dusk.

--Jean L. Connor
A Cartography of Peace

Airplane

I'm not tired one bit. Despite doing all I can to burn off as much energy as possible tonight, I'm still wide awake. I'm in a weird mood. It's like something's amiss and I can't quite put my finger on it. Well, actually I can...it's a number of things.

Let me use a metaphor. It's as if I am an airplane circling around in the sky...going nowhere. At some point, I will run out of gas and will either have to land or refuel. I don't think I'm ready to land anywhere yet though. It's perplexing. Well, we'll see. I know I'm supposed to enjoy the view while I'm up here but frankly, I'm sick of the view. It changes ever so often but it's really all the same scenery. It passes the time, it's entertaining and all that, but so what? To what end? Sigh.

Maybe I'm just in a pensively shitty mood. I hope at least tomorrow is sunny - last weekend it was raining cats and dogs. I need to bottle some sunshine this weekend so that I can release it intermittently throughout the rest of the week.

Waiting to Exhale

Can't wait to go on vacation. I think I need some breathing room...expansive surroundings with open air. Somewhere vastly different from my everyday life. It'll clear my head hopefully and help me escape from the doldrums of daily existence. My vacation policy resolution was a good one. Now it's time to execute on it. Bring on the infinity pools, draped cabanas, and white-washed stone wonders overlooking the Mediterranean. =)

Quote of the Day - 4.28.06

"If we begin with certainties, we
shall end in doubts; but if we
begin with doubts, and are
patient in them, we shall end in
certainties. "

-- Francis Bacon
Irish artist, 1909-1992

Quote of the Day - 4.27.06

"There was a mango lassi machine. As if everyone is entitled to a mango lassi. What kind of world is this? Mango lassi is special, exotic, meant for only those who deserve such a treat. Unless you are at Google, where it's mango lassi madness."

-- A recent visitor marvels at the exotic wonders of Google's Mountain View campus.

...At SAP, we get Coke AND Pepsi! Whoo-hoo!

Me & Chiabear

Quotes of the Day - 4.24.06

“I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes- it is inevitable. But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, 'well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all. So you say to people who you think you may have injured, 'I'm sorry,' and then you say to yourself, 'I'm sorry.' If we all hold on to the mistake, we can't see our own glory in the mirror because we have the mistake between our faces and the mirror; we can't see what we're capable of being. You can ask forgiveness of others, but in the end the real forgiveness is in one's own self.”
-Maya Angelou

Babies Galore

Boy, finding baby gifts is really difficult. It's an entire sub-culture of diaper genies, Baby Einstein, and trendy diaper bags. You can really spend a bundle on this stuff. But I do love hearing that the baby loves the toy I gave or the book I selected...especially since it likely took me hours to research this stuff. It does warm my heart though. Ahh...the joy of giving. It does seem like babies are popping up everywhere - I guess we're getting to that age.

The other day, we went to Chia's family friend's house for Easter dinner. We played with the two little girls - one was 6 years old and the other 18 months. They really were sweet. It's interesting to watch these emerging personalities. Julie, the big sister loves to cook and could NOT stop laughing at her own joke about filet-o-fish (which she accidentally called souffle-o-fish). I've never seen anyone chuckle endlessly like that. What a riot she was! We had a lot of interesting conversations throughout the evening - mostly about mustard pretzels, easter eggs, and cream puffs. And the baby, Alicia, was so damn smart. (What do you expect with 2 doctors as parents?) Well, she was quite a handful to hold. Very squirmy and pudgey. But she had the cutest outfit on - this pink and green number - with these adorable tights that had ballerina slippers painted around the feet. =)

After we left, Chia made an offhand comment about how good I was with the kids. I was a bit taken aback. Me? Good with kids?? Well, I guess anything's possible. But I actually did really enjoy spending time with them, that's the odd thing. I suppose it's just another thing to look forward to. =)

At Long Last...INFJ

Since I couldn't sleep, I finally took those Myers-Brigg tests. Because I never worked for McKinsey or BCG, I had to take the poor-man's version - the free adapted online one. The results varied a bit depending on which test I took but it looks like I'm definitely an "I" and without doubt an "F." The other two are the variants. But overall, I guess I can live with being an INFJ. Not sure how this impacts my career choice and my team "culture" but I'm sure Mark will be very interested in commenting. ;)

Here's a summary:

Your Type is INFJ

Introverted	Intuitive	Feeling	Judging
Strength of the preferences %
33	12	38	11

• I = moderately expressed introvert
• N = slightly expressed intuitive personality
• F = moderately expressed feeling personality
• J = slightly expressed judging personality

Here's my fave description (tho I'm definitely not claiming to be Gandhi!)

Bon Voyage!

Bye Carrie! Just wanted to wish you luck on your new journey. I'm so proud of you for finally making the move! I'm sad you won't be around anymore! I'll be sure to visit you and James - you guys can give me a proper tour - no Vietnamese Hooter cafes a la Allen. =)

Lost and Found

Man, I love that show "Lost"...sometimes it's just okay but when it's good, it's good. I love the backstory of Jin and Sun. So few shows and movies really depict Asian-Americans. But boy oh, boy do they make Korean guys look bad! Well, the culture is male-dominated and guys can be controlling and domineering over women. (I'm not talking about anyone in particular, so no offense Jerms!) Oh but when Jin is bad - it's not his fault! It's only because he loves Sun! How frustrating to watch! How addictive! Jin & Sun's story is actually really very sweet. I swear, one episode totally made me cry. Oh I'm being so sentimental...but how nice to be stranded on a deserted island so you're given a second chance to love each other right - away from the pressures of the real world. I wish they would do more episodes about them instead of the crazy crap about the hatch and the "others." The show has the potential to descend into X-files retardedness with obscure storylines no one can follow anymore. Eek! Well, just keep showing Jin and Sawyer shirtless on the beach and we're ok. ;)

Indie Flicks

http://www.iffboston.org/

These look pretty cool. Do action flicks indie style have enough budget to make them look cool? Or perhaps it's the lack of budget plus trick camera angles that differentiate them? And can the French do action movies? I really wanna watch District 13!

Edmond looks like it could be a hit or miss. I dunno, a David Mamet work...but William H. Macy always does good.

Has the Virtue of Arrogance Landed?

Hey Jerms, don't get sucked into the cognitive bias of drowning in too many pints and too much hagaas. Also, no spreading of endogenous diseases - keep taking that hydrocodeine. ;) Besides that...hope you had a safe flight. =)

Quote of the Day - 4.19.06

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift."

-- Albert Einstein

Quote of the Day - 4.18.06

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

-- Helen Keller

Yay!

Here's to the celebration of my 100th post....and it's about some thoroughbred pigs!

Go Baaaaabe!

Pig Olympics

Hundreds of Russians gathered for the first day of the annual "pig Olympics" on Saturday, cheering a field of 12 piglets who competed in three events: pig-racing, pig-swimming and "pigball".

In pigball, contestants chase a sweet-tasting soccer ball around an enclosed arena with their snouts, scoring when the ball goes into a goal.

Alexei Sharshkov, vice-president of the Sport-Pig Federation, which claims 100 members, said the competitors had a happy future ahead of them, win or lose. "They go on to produce a new generation of sport pigs. They don't get eaten," he promised. "How could you eat a competitor who is known around the world?"

Marathon Bandits

"I'm hanging out with the bandits. We are probably about 200 yards from the starting line and haven't moved. They stream in the runners from the side streets ... kind of like a railroad shipping yard.

It's always an interesting mix with the bandits. School cross country and crew teams, people with babies, people in costume, bunch of people running with their dogs. There is a guy wearing a full wedding dress. Would be a challenge to run in that. I'm not wearing a costume and I wasn't allowed to run with the baby, although we just picked up a sweet running stroller called “the bob.” More shocks than an SUV."

- Rob's periodic updates from the Boston Marathon trail...blogged via Blackberry. Oy!

Quote of the Day - 4.17.06

"My wife has cancer -- can you take a picture with her?"

-- My friend, Kelly's small-town "fan," requesting a picture with the local "celeb" anchorwoman.

Regression/Progression

Man, I feel like I'm finally doing all the things I never did before. Things I should have, experiences that I missed, all with an open-mindedness I didn't possess before. It's so liberating in a sense. It's as if I'm 18 again all over and looking at the world wide-eyed. Well, not so wide-eyed, maybe "open-eyed" (or something to that effect). Thursday night I was driving through Times Square at 4am in my own car and it was just surreal. Sure, it was something I should have done...might have done years ago, but the fact is that I didn't. Then last night, I stayed out all night -- had a great time -- feeling like I was my younger self, but somehow more grounded. It's as if I should have gone out every Saturday ages ago but did not. Well, I suppose time's a wastin' and to do all the things I've ever wanted to -- both the frivolous and the meaningful -- I'd better get crackin'.

Quote of the Day - 04.08.06

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly know how far they can really go."

-- T.S. Eliot

Heirlooms

My mom just gave me some jewelry she has but never wears anymore. What I didn't expect were all the stories and history that came with each piece. Some were gifts that my grandmother had given my mom when she graduated high school and then college. Others were wedding gifts. The prettiest was an antique jade ring that I took a liking to which turned out to be somewhat of a family heirloom. My mom said it was from my great-grandmother, passed down to my grandmother and then her. I was impressed because it's not the sort of thing my family is known for but it warmed my heart. Now I get to have it and hopefully my daughter will too. My mom also dug out this gold snake pendant she got me when I was born...I had been looking for it over the years but could not find it and was so glad to see it because I remember she had told me all about it when I was younger. Then she turns to my sister and says "Do you want to see the doggie pendant I got you when you were born?" Lynn replies, "Nah." And my mom responds with, "Good, because I haven't purchased it yet!" Haha. Sucks to be second-born. Well, at least my mom got us both baby rings....which she showed us...tiny little gold rings that barely fit on my pinky. So cute. She said she'd save them for me to give to my kids. It's so nice to sit here and listen to my mom reminisce. You just don't appreciate it until you're an adult I suppose.

Layers of Armor

After some crazy shopping, Kelly and I retired for the night and decided to watch Unfaithful. I had originally watched it with Lynn and the second time was just as engrossing. It is such a well-made film. Not much happens and not much is said but there is so much subtext going on because of the great acting. It'd dare say it's one of my favorite movies because it speaks of ordinary people leading ordinary lives only to suddenly, massively collide into mutual- and self-destruction.

Based on a 1968 French film called “La Femme Infidèle," it is obviously a story of betrayal but more interestingly, it's about breaking points we all have and how little it takes for us to get there and destroy what we know. Lynn made a great point about how she loves that the husband and wife love each other, have a great marriage only to have something like this happen. How scary things like that can "just happen." Diane Lane, who plays Connie commented that one of the opening scenes where the bicycle is just easily blown over by the great gust of wind is a fitting metaphor for what subsequently happens to her.

Richard Gere, who I like more and more remarked:

“I’ve always been interested in the idea that we’re all unknowable to each other. In this case we’re dealing with a normal, recognizable American family that has somehow stopped growing. They’ve settled into something that is very nice and it works for them, but it’s not taking them anyplace forward. It’s not bringing more love; it’s not bringing more intimacy; it’s not bringing more truth. So in their separate ways, these people are discovering some kind of black-hole areas inside themselves. There are levels of intimacy that just aren’t being dealt with between them. We’re all closed up on many levels. We all have layers of armor around us, and I think that’s what we all liked about this story: If we look in the mirror of the movie, we can see ourselves.”

How right he is. We all have many layers and subconsciously choose what we show to the outside world and as well as those who we are close to. On some level, there may be layers that we, ourselves may not even know...these so called, "black-hole areas."

Diane Lane discusses why her character strays: "In a certain way, her relationship with Edward is taken for granted. But I think that what often happens with relationships in the long term is that you stay within the frame of the person that you knew; that you met. And suddenly you may feel that you’re not only that person all the time. We go through changes, and you don’t always realize that until something sparks you to see yourself in a different light. That’s what makes Connie vulnerable.”

This is what makes this movie so palatable and so real. Emotions and changes occur and what happens is that they are mired in doubt--submerged underneath, hidden in layers. I often feel like I am that person, that someone can get through to some layers but not reach others. Perhaps we all protect our innermost core with those "layers of armor" for a reason. Perhaps it's just instinct, whether it's well-reasoned or not.