Not to be selfish or anything.... But this is MY blog. lol And I've already been asked by a couple of people to hand over the Christmas With List. So I figured to make it easier for everyone I'll just post it up here. Who knows, maybe some random do-gooder will want to get me something just for the heck of it. This post is mostly intended for close friends and entertainment purposes and you are under no obligation to obtain all or any of the items on the list and gift them to me.
My list, as always, is as absurd and all over the place as can be. I'll add to it as I think of more stuff that I want. So if you are, in fact, one of the people who are looking at it for the purpose of getting me a present, please make sure to check back once in a while :) And please feel free to post YOUR Christmas wish list in the comments section for my benefit.
1. The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo in French. (They're called "Les Trois Musketeers' and "Le Comte de Monte Cristo'). The point is in French. I do already own both novels in English and in Russian...
2. Gift Cards (ALWAYS a good choice!) Right now especially to Ross, TJ Maxx, and the Container Store, as I'm still in the process of cozying up my apartment and am not yet in the stage of my career where I'll be spending money on stuff I can buy cheaper elsewhere. Nordstrom gift cards, however, are also very much appreciated, as no matter in what stage my finances are, I seem to always end up pouring a good chunk of them into their business. A gift Card to Century Ballroom (http://www.centuryballroom.com/) would be extremely useful as well. (I take classes there). Sephora is a favorite too. Make up seems to end at the most unexpected moments in life.
3. This is random and I don't know why the heck I've been wanting it so much... but: "I am not a Paper Cup." http://www.dcigift.com/product.cfm?productID=763&catID=14 They have them at the Seattle Art Museum gift shop, as well as at the Acquarium.
4. Perfume (Ralph Lauren "Romance.") I'm almost out.
5. A foot pedal and charger for my keyboard... http://www.keyboardstoday.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ac5_deluxesustain&Category_Code=PD&Store_Code=CK
6. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall." by Anne Bronte.
7. A nice straightener... Fried mine in Latvia :(
8. Lip Gloss http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P204721&categoryId=S10605&shouldPaginate=true I want the one in Acai Boost.
9. EyeLiner in Black http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P35082&categoryId=S10505&shouldPaginate=true
10. This is wishful thinking, of course... but hey... it's a WISH list, right? But ultimately this eyeliner set.... Oh the things I could do with it.... http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P246905&categoryId=S10505&shouldPaginate=true
11. Eyeshadow. Lancome in "Color du Jour." http://www.lancome-usa.com/makeup/color-design-eyeshadow.htm#anchor001
12. Movies w/Jennifer Aniston. "The Break-Up." "Marley & Me." "Love Happens."
13. Classic films: "Sabrina." (With Audrey Hepburn...) "Breakfast at Tiffany's." "Paris -- When it Sizzles." "The Greatest Show on Earth."
14. Ok can't think of anything else specific.... but anything cool looking for home or office will work.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Power of a Best Friend
I'm psyched because I just got my ticket to PA to visit my best friend. Which made me realize that she, more than anyone else, deserves a separate post simply because she is AWESOME. And also because for some reason some people in my life are not aware of her existence. Maybe it's because she's far away. But that definitely doesn't make her less valuable to me!
We met while working at a Christian kid's camp and had that instant connection that can't really be defined, but is vital for any friendship to work. It's the kind when you just trust the person right away and find that you can talk to them forever about anything and everything. A bunch of visits to each other's houses later -- we lived a couple hours apart -- our friendship was sealed. The "best" part of friends just kind of naturally emerged a little later. Perhaps it was because of the colorful memories and situations we were thrown into together. Like a historic snow storm that suddenly fell on Massachusetts the weekend I went to visit her, in which we went driving around an empty town until finally finding one open coffee shop where we sipped on earl grey tea and talked for hours. Or her meeting her now husband at a conference where we went together. Or us shopping for engagement rings, just for fun, and her being proposed to only a few days later, getting that exact ring that we've picked out, and asking me to be her maid of honor...
All of these memories though can't even compare with how much she's been there for me. From sound advice when I was about to settle for less in relationships, to random gifts and hilarious cards I'd receive in the mail JUST at the moment I'd need them most. The last time I went to visit her -- after two years of not seeing each other -- was probably the biggest blessing that deserves a separate mention. She didn't know it at the time, but that was the beginning of a long healing process from a bunch of destructive relationships that I was in.
Fully immersed in the drama of people who should never be allowed to be as close, I was codependent on a few of them, and utterly lost. My identity was in the wrong place. My heart was in the wrong place. Myself was nonexistent -- I forgot who I am and what I'm like. I lived through others and didn't care for relationships in my own life. Visiting her brought me back down to earth. I remembered why I value what I value. Why I think like I think. Why I believe what I believe. And why I act how I act. And I won't even mention how much love I received from her family through material things (such as covering 100% of my expenses while I was there, putting me in their brand new master bedroom with a jacuzzi, and hand-holding me through my very first time snowboarding). I've never had anyone genuinely take such good care of me before (or since).
Some people in our life just want to much off of what we have. Others become idols that feed off of our insecurities. But I've been blessed with a best friend who is truly THE BEST. And I'm super happy that I get to be a significant part of her life forever and that she's such a big part of mine. And that I'm finally going to visit her again so soon! I love you Jenny :)
We met while working at a Christian kid's camp and had that instant connection that can't really be defined, but is vital for any friendship to work. It's the kind when you just trust the person right away and find that you can talk to them forever about anything and everything. A bunch of visits to each other's houses later -- we lived a couple hours apart -- our friendship was sealed. The "best" part of friends just kind of naturally emerged a little later. Perhaps it was because of the colorful memories and situations we were thrown into together. Like a historic snow storm that suddenly fell on Massachusetts the weekend I went to visit her, in which we went driving around an empty town until finally finding one open coffee shop where we sipped on earl grey tea and talked for hours. Or her meeting her now husband at a conference where we went together. Or us shopping for engagement rings, just for fun, and her being proposed to only a few days later, getting that exact ring that we've picked out, and asking me to be her maid of honor...
All of these memories though can't even compare with how much she's been there for me. From sound advice when I was about to settle for less in relationships, to random gifts and hilarious cards I'd receive in the mail JUST at the moment I'd need them most. The last time I went to visit her -- after two years of not seeing each other -- was probably the biggest blessing that deserves a separate mention. She didn't know it at the time, but that was the beginning of a long healing process from a bunch of destructive relationships that I was in.
Fully immersed in the drama of people who should never be allowed to be as close, I was codependent on a few of them, and utterly lost. My identity was in the wrong place. My heart was in the wrong place. Myself was nonexistent -- I forgot who I am and what I'm like. I lived through others and didn't care for relationships in my own life. Visiting her brought me back down to earth. I remembered why I value what I value. Why I think like I think. Why I believe what I believe. And why I act how I act. And I won't even mention how much love I received from her family through material things (such as covering 100% of my expenses while I was there, putting me in their brand new master bedroom with a jacuzzi, and hand-holding me through my very first time snowboarding). I've never had anyone genuinely take such good care of me before (or since).
Some people in our life just want to much off of what we have. Others become idols that feed off of our insecurities. But I've been blessed with a best friend who is truly THE BEST. And I'm super happy that I get to be a significant part of her life forever and that she's such a big part of mine. And that I'm finally going to visit her again so soon! I love you Jenny :)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Writer Reads
My prolonged silence on this beautiful outlet of expression can be once again explained by a desire to catch up at work. But realizing that this will never happen in a million years (for the most of which, unfortunately, I wouldn't be here to live...), I have decided to finally come back. It's no matter though. Since I specifically never promised to write any number of times a day/week/month, I'm free to have absolutely no guilt about not doing it for such a long time. So I'm not sorry that I haven't been writing, and I don't apologize. :)
In the past couple weeks I have made a capital improvement on the affairs of my mind. I've determined to spend the time at work... working, to spend the time at night sleeping, and to spend the idle minutes on the bus reading for pleasure (the horror!). So, equipped with a library card, I ventured out for a walk around Fremont one rainy afternoon (the first and the last of many planned walks, as darkness literally unexpectedly fell upon me due to time changing, thus nipping in the bud any good intentions I had for exploration of the city or for exercise.) The final destination was Fremont Public Library -- a Mediterranean style, artsy casa, that miraculously held the book I researched and wanted to read next.
The book is written by Anne Bronte -- the youngest of the Bronte sisters (Charlotte Bronte -- "Jane Eyre" and Emily Bronte -- "Wuthering Heights,") slightly overshadowed by the other two's successful works. But authors like her are exactly my specialty: not as famous siblings, not as popular works, and not as explored countries are all the types of literature that totally enthralls me! Most of the "weird" works I've read ended up being just that: weird. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," however, was impressive, and so much more. The fact that it's not as highly acclaimed as the works of Charlotte and Emily Bronte leaves the world completely missing out on the talent of the author and the brutal reality of her time period.
Highly controversial in its time, the novel is about a woman who chooses to flee her alcoholic and emotionally abusive husband and support herself and her child by selling art. The rumors of the town in which she settles, however, quickly find their way into her lonesome abode, as she becomes the center of speculation and gossip of nosy neighbors. Perhaps the most controversial part of the novel is the fact that its main character, Helen, THINKS independently of any male who tries to dominate her life -- be in uncle, husband, friend or pastor. For most of the novel, her body is subdued in obedience and humility. But it's her spirit that can't be broken by anything that comes her way. Anne Bronte's style is amazingly ahead of its' time as well. And such expressions as "she was seriously annoyed" are almost amusing to find in the book, considering it was written some 150 years ago.
Helen's character is definitely easy to relate to, especially in her thoughts on faith and legalism. She is a model of strength and independence, both of existence and of thought. And unlike Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With The Wind," Helen keeps her values and principles intact while fighting for that independence. Instead of going on and on about the virtues of the author and of her character, I'll just list the quotes that I liked most from the book. They're applicable. That's the best part.
"...and if he had kept his distance I never would have hated him. As it was, it was almost impossible to help it; for he not only bothered me with the infliction of his own presence, but he kept me from the enjoyment of more agreeable society."
"Is it that they think it a duty to be continually talking, and so never pause to think, but fill up with aimless trifle and vain repetitions when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves? or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?"
"I am so determined to love him -- so intensely anxious to excuse his errors, that I am continually dwelling upon them, and labouring to extenuate the loosest of his principles, and the worst of his practices, till I am familiarized with vice, and almost a partaker in his sins. Things that formerly shocked and disgusted me, now seem only natural. I know them to be wrong, because reason and God's Word declare them to be so; but I am gradually losing that instinctive horror and repulsion which were given me by nature, or instilled into me by precepts... "
"I was infatuated once with a foolish, besotted affection, that clung to him in spite of his unworthiness, but it is fairly gone now -- wholly crushed and withered away; and he has none but himself and his vices to thank for it."
All quotes from Bronte, Anne. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall." The Modern Library: New York. Random House, Inc., 1997.
In the past couple weeks I have made a capital improvement on the affairs of my mind. I've determined to spend the time at work... working, to spend the time at night sleeping, and to spend the idle minutes on the bus reading for pleasure (the horror!). So, equipped with a library card, I ventured out for a walk around Fremont one rainy afternoon (the first and the last of many planned walks, as darkness literally unexpectedly fell upon me due to time changing, thus nipping in the bud any good intentions I had for exploration of the city or for exercise.) The final destination was Fremont Public Library -- a Mediterranean style, artsy casa, that miraculously held the book I researched and wanted to read next.
The book is written by Anne Bronte -- the youngest of the Bronte sisters (Charlotte Bronte -- "Jane Eyre" and Emily Bronte -- "Wuthering Heights,") slightly overshadowed by the other two's successful works. But authors like her are exactly my specialty: not as famous siblings, not as popular works, and not as explored countries are all the types of literature that totally enthralls me! Most of the "weird" works I've read ended up being just that: weird. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," however, was impressive, and so much more. The fact that it's not as highly acclaimed as the works of Charlotte and Emily Bronte leaves the world completely missing out on the talent of the author and the brutal reality of her time period.
Highly controversial in its time, the novel is about a woman who chooses to flee her alcoholic and emotionally abusive husband and support herself and her child by selling art. The rumors of the town in which she settles, however, quickly find their way into her lonesome abode, as she becomes the center of speculation and gossip of nosy neighbors. Perhaps the most controversial part of the novel is the fact that its main character, Helen, THINKS independently of any male who tries to dominate her life -- be in uncle, husband, friend or pastor. For most of the novel, her body is subdued in obedience and humility. But it's her spirit that can't be broken by anything that comes her way. Anne Bronte's style is amazingly ahead of its' time as well. And such expressions as "she was seriously annoyed" are almost amusing to find in the book, considering it was written some 150 years ago.
Helen's character is definitely easy to relate to, especially in her thoughts on faith and legalism. She is a model of strength and independence, both of existence and of thought. And unlike Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With The Wind," Helen keeps her values and principles intact while fighting for that independence. Instead of going on and on about the virtues of the author and of her character, I'll just list the quotes that I liked most from the book. They're applicable. That's the best part.
"...and if he had kept his distance I never would have hated him. As it was, it was almost impossible to help it; for he not only bothered me with the infliction of his own presence, but he kept me from the enjoyment of more agreeable society."
"Is it that they think it a duty to be continually talking, and so never pause to think, but fill up with aimless trifle and vain repetitions when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves? or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?"
"I am so determined to love him -- so intensely anxious to excuse his errors, that I am continually dwelling upon them, and labouring to extenuate the loosest of his principles, and the worst of his practices, till I am familiarized with vice, and almost a partaker in his sins. Things that formerly shocked and disgusted me, now seem only natural. I know them to be wrong, because reason and God's Word declare them to be so; but I am gradually losing that instinctive horror and repulsion which were given me by nature, or instilled into me by precepts... "
"I was infatuated once with a foolish, besotted affection, that clung to him in spite of his unworthiness, but it is fairly gone now -- wholly crushed and withered away; and he has none but himself and his vices to thank for it."
All quotes from Bronte, Anne. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall." The Modern Library: New York. Random House, Inc., 1997.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Vote on or before November 3rd!!!
Please navigate to my other blog to read what I have to say today. http://blogaboutfaith.blogspot.com/2009/10/r-71-you-signed-for-it-to-go-on-ballot.html
Thank you.
Thank you.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Off The Beaten Path
In my attempt to re-discover Seattle, I googled a bunch of places that are "off the beaten path" around town. Ironically, half of the ones that I already discovered were mentioned absolutely nowhere, making me feel extra special for knowing about them. But some others looked quite enticing, so I drew up a mental map of all the spots I'll visit and explore after work. Instead, I stayed home and watched a movie. I could assign that to general laziness or being tired. But I think the secret lies in the fact that my place is exactly like one of those little-known spots around town that you just hang on to and keep visiting because they are so gorgeous.
In my city explorations I mostly seek out places with views and beautiful sunsets. Or the ones that bring out the calm and serenity in me. My apartment does both -- only in addition to everything else it's heated. The view from my windows hardly could be beat by any other place. Sitting on top of a hill and facing west, the sunsets that the house shows are astounding. And the setting around my street in the fall is nothing less than fairy-tale like. In addition, my place offers a cozy blanket, warm tea and great food. No wonder I don't want to go exploring after coming home after work!
The kinds of places I love:
The way from the bus to my house:
The sunset out of my window:
What's not to love?! :) :)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Moburg
In the two months of living in Seattle, I have successfully managed to get stuck in the rut of routine. Instead of using the time to explore the city, as I surely thought I would after moving here, I find myself going to work, coming home, and going out to the same places over and over again on a daily basis. I've stopped taking walks around downtown at lunch. I've stopped noticing coffee shops, to the point that when a friend from Canada came to visit I ended up taking him to... Starbucks. Nothing less than embarrassing for a Seattleite. I've stopped walking into random antique shops and boutiques in search of original treasures. I've stopped being fascinated.
But coffee with a friend last night rekindled my interest. We met up at Grand Central Arcade - a historic building that originally hosted Watson C. Squire's Opera house -- Seattle's first formal theater. It is now the home of a number of eccentric shops, as well as the famous Grand Central Bakery with its out-of-this world butter croissants. The Arcade is a bubble of the past where a movie-like setting of red brick walls and wooden railings meets modern day technology in the form of laptops and i-phones plopped up on the tables of mid-day snacking freelancers, researchers and interviewers.
But the most fascinating item living in the romantic lobby is actually a painting. With all creative interests filling up my life, I somehow never developed any interest in art. I've had the privilege of visiting many famous Russian museums, hosting myriads of incredible art galleries. But the sections I usually skipped to were royal fashion expositions and decorated rooms. No art gallery or single painting could ever hold my attention for longer than a few seconds, and none of them have really stood out to me enough to stick with my mind for a long time.
This said, I did have two random love affairs with artistic creations. One of them was a wooden sculpture of an ostridge with its head hiding underneath whatever surface was hosting it. When I was about 11, it was for sale at a small shop in old Riga -- my hometown -- and I went to "visit" the ostridge at least once a week until it was sold, much to my disappointment. My second love affair came my freshmen year in high school, when as part of a writing class we had to complete an assignment on abstract art. It turned out to be my most successful assignment, as the painting that I got to write about was Kandinsky's "Yellow-Red-Blue." The vibrancy of the colors, as well as the "lion head" so clearly sticking out to me from the picture, made my imagination run wild. Since then nothing has really stuck with me. Until last night when I saw THE painting hanging on one of the walls of Grand Central Arcade.
The painting depicts a foggy, dimly lit Pioneer Square station. It's empty, except for two dancers. A woman and... a rat. The rat is wearing a suit and evokes feelings of pity for having to hide in the night rather than disgust or mistrust. I couldn't stop staring at the piece in fascination, actually interrupting my friend's conversation to point it out once I noticed it. The painting stirred up real, genuine, emotion. We sat in front of it and talked about all the possible scenarios depicted for a good ten minutes. Only about three minutes into the conversation I noticed that the woman on the painting actually has rooster legs. I came up closer to the item that captured my attention after so many years of disinterest in anything paint-related. The inscription in the bottom right corner read "Moburg."
Needless to say that the next morning the Sherlock inside got the best of me, and Grand Central and Moburg were googled in all possible combinations. There wasn't much info on the latter. What I've managed to find out is only that the artists name is Bruce Moburg, and that he was a Seattle based artist who won some 1999 pi contest for postcard prints. From the looks of it, Mr. Moburg passed away on November 22, 2007, but his art can still be found "around the city." My curiosity is at it's peak as I can't wait to explore the town more in depth in search of more of his creations. I'd also love to know who is in charge of decorating Grand Central, and how they got a hold of the mouseman and one other Moburg painting.
I can imagine starting up an expensive, eccentric, and random collection. I will search for Moburgs and try to buy them off from current owners. People who come visit will be fascinated by the mouseman -- the one that started it all -- and wonder who Moburg is. It will be something my own, something unique, something Seattle-only... just like the Arcade and the painting currently hanging on its wall. But I'm thinking that will only happen once I am rich, and own a living room as big as the Grand Central Arcade patio which currently hosts the dancers in the fog... For now, I'm just happy that something managed to renew my fascination and curiosity for the city.
But coffee with a friend last night rekindled my interest. We met up at Grand Central Arcade - a historic building that originally hosted Watson C. Squire's Opera house -- Seattle's first formal theater. It is now the home of a number of eccentric shops, as well as the famous Grand Central Bakery with its out-of-this world butter croissants. The Arcade is a bubble of the past where a movie-like setting of red brick walls and wooden railings meets modern day technology in the form of laptops and i-phones plopped up on the tables of mid-day snacking freelancers, researchers and interviewers.
But the most fascinating item living in the romantic lobby is actually a painting. With all creative interests filling up my life, I somehow never developed any interest in art. I've had the privilege of visiting many famous Russian museums, hosting myriads of incredible art galleries. But the sections I usually skipped to were royal fashion expositions and decorated rooms. No art gallery or single painting could ever hold my attention for longer than a few seconds, and none of them have really stood out to me enough to stick with my mind for a long time.
This said, I did have two random love affairs with artistic creations. One of them was a wooden sculpture of an ostridge with its head hiding underneath whatever surface was hosting it. When I was about 11, it was for sale at a small shop in old Riga -- my hometown -- and I went to "visit" the ostridge at least once a week until it was sold, much to my disappointment. My second love affair came my freshmen year in high school, when as part of a writing class we had to complete an assignment on abstract art. It turned out to be my most successful assignment, as the painting that I got to write about was Kandinsky's "Yellow-Red-Blue." The vibrancy of the colors, as well as the "lion head" so clearly sticking out to me from the picture, made my imagination run wild. Since then nothing has really stuck with me. Until last night when I saw THE painting hanging on one of the walls of Grand Central Arcade.
The painting depicts a foggy, dimly lit Pioneer Square station. It's empty, except for two dancers. A woman and... a rat. The rat is wearing a suit and evokes feelings of pity for having to hide in the night rather than disgust or mistrust. I couldn't stop staring at the piece in fascination, actually interrupting my friend's conversation to point it out once I noticed it. The painting stirred up real, genuine, emotion. We sat in front of it and talked about all the possible scenarios depicted for a good ten minutes. Only about three minutes into the conversation I noticed that the woman on the painting actually has rooster legs. I came up closer to the item that captured my attention after so many years of disinterest in anything paint-related. The inscription in the bottom right corner read "Moburg."
Needless to say that the next morning the Sherlock inside got the best of me, and Grand Central and Moburg were googled in all possible combinations. There wasn't much info on the latter. What I've managed to find out is only that the artists name is Bruce Moburg, and that he was a Seattle based artist who won some 1999 pi contest for postcard prints. From the looks of it, Mr. Moburg passed away on November 22, 2007, but his art can still be found "around the city." My curiosity is at it's peak as I can't wait to explore the town more in depth in search of more of his creations. I'd also love to know who is in charge of decorating Grand Central, and how they got a hold of the mouseman and one other Moburg painting.
I can imagine starting up an expensive, eccentric, and random collection. I will search for Moburgs and try to buy them off from current owners. People who come visit will be fascinated by the mouseman -- the one that started it all -- and wonder who Moburg is. It will be something my own, something unique, something Seattle-only... just like the Arcade and the painting currently hanging on its wall. But I'm thinking that will only happen once I am rich, and own a living room as big as the Grand Central Arcade patio which currently hosts the dancers in the fog... For now, I'm just happy that something managed to renew my fascination and curiosity for the city.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Bus Gossip 2
It's like the 'loudspeakers' on the bus heard me and decided to give me a present: more hilarious things to tell the world! Yesterday's conversation was over the phone, so naturally I only picked up half of it. But from what I heard I think I can extract a pretty accurate storyline. After all, what hasn't been deduced by my impeccable perception skills can be easily substituted by my imagination. The story "relayed" to me was by a younger woman, apparently on the phone with her friend. Here's enough to know about her to completely scare the crap out of the girl if you should ever meet:
Apparently she is either a very close friend of, or dating, a man who has a small child with another woman. Last week it was his birthday, for which his parents threw him a party. He asked the girl later why she didn't come, and she had to endure the awkwardness of the moment in which she told him it was because the parents haven't invited her. Apparently, the guy has shared custody of the kid and either lives at home or just drops him or her off at his parents a lot, because to answer the question whether the grandparents mind, she said that they don't because at least this way they can ensure that their grandchild is fed and has everything.
An unusual answer, but apparently the mother is slightly crazy. To save money, she disconnected electricity, which is what heats up the water in the house. In order to bathe, she boils water in pots on a stove. For lighting, she uses candles. The girl was dismayed about a lifestyle like this with two elementary school age kids in the house. (She should try living in Russia... Nothing unusual about that there!) From this I deduced that the mother also has a child with someone else.... oh the drama of life! Why the girl would want to get involved in a situation like this remained a mystery to all on the bus... Juicy as the story was, the second one she blabbed was just as good!
The girl told her friend that she doesn't work "there" anymore and has a new job now. Apparently, there was something fishy going on at "the French place." The owner was also the manager because nobody else stepped up to the position. This was annoying, because she let people go for no apparent reason. After about a month of working at the place and being very helpful, the girl got called into the owners' office and told that "it's not working out." She was given reasons that in her mind were simply irrelevant. The reasons were that her coffee service is too slow and that she stands around too much. (Is it just me, or does this sound like a pretty relevant reason?!) She was offered the option of staying on call. But apparently has found other employment. She also suspected that half of the employees at the place worked under the table, since the owner never asked her to fill out any W-2's or anything. (I think she meant W-4's though....)
I think that it's time for me to make business cards that say "read about this conversation tomorrow at this link," and pass them out on the bus. I'm sure people would get a kick out of it.
Apparently she is either a very close friend of, or dating, a man who has a small child with another woman. Last week it was his birthday, for which his parents threw him a party. He asked the girl later why she didn't come, and she had to endure the awkwardness of the moment in which she told him it was because the parents haven't invited her. Apparently, the guy has shared custody of the kid and either lives at home or just drops him or her off at his parents a lot, because to answer the question whether the grandparents mind, she said that they don't because at least this way they can ensure that their grandchild is fed and has everything.
An unusual answer, but apparently the mother is slightly crazy. To save money, she disconnected electricity, which is what heats up the water in the house. In order to bathe, she boils water in pots on a stove. For lighting, she uses candles. The girl was dismayed about a lifestyle like this with two elementary school age kids in the house. (She should try living in Russia... Nothing unusual about that there!) From this I deduced that the mother also has a child with someone else.... oh the drama of life! Why the girl would want to get involved in a situation like this remained a mystery to all on the bus... Juicy as the story was, the second one she blabbed was just as good!
The girl told her friend that she doesn't work "there" anymore and has a new job now. Apparently, there was something fishy going on at "the French place." The owner was also the manager because nobody else stepped up to the position. This was annoying, because she let people go for no apparent reason. After about a month of working at the place and being very helpful, the girl got called into the owners' office and told that "it's not working out." She was given reasons that in her mind were simply irrelevant. The reasons were that her coffee service is too slow and that she stands around too much. (Is it just me, or does this sound like a pretty relevant reason?!) She was offered the option of staying on call. But apparently has found other employment. She also suspected that half of the employees at the place worked under the table, since the owner never asked her to fill out any W-2's or anything. (I think she meant W-4's though....)
I think that it's time for me to make business cards that say "read about this conversation tomorrow at this link," and pass them out on the bus. I'm sure people would get a kick out of it.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Bus Gossip
Apparently a good profession to be in Seattle is a therapist. Yes, there are several in this great city, but they all have waiting lists. And how do I know? Bus gossip. What exactly is that? It's when two friends, completely oblivious to the rest of the people on the bus, tell each other their deepest, darkest secrets, all the while thinking that nobody can hear them or is interested in what they are saying. Unfortunately, those types are usually only few on the bus, so their voices carry REALLY well, making the others interested even if they weren't in the beginning. They just have no choice. And yesterday's story was pretty entertaining.
Apparently the two friends both have only recently moved to Seattle. From what I understood, one of them was from New York (Why would someone do that to themselves?!). Both have joined meetup groups and went to several meetings around the city in hopes of finding friends. Instead, they got constantly clogged e-mails. Both have now stopped going. One of them works in a medical profession, which I know because she was talking about referring clients to a therapist. That's when the story got good.
The two women griped about how there aren't any good therapists in the city, at least that insurance covers. And how it's a shame that to see them there is a huge waiting list, and when you finally make that appointment, you never hit it off. One of them then proceeded to tell a story of her friend Katie, who, apparently, wouldn't mind her telling it because she told a room full of people. (Probably completely unaware that the entire city will soon find out!) To an open heart-to-heart about relationship issues, Katies' therapist proceeded to tell her that she has a good friend that Katie would be perfect for and that she can hook them up! After Katie didn't make any more appointments, the therapist called her and asked if it was something she said. The women went on and on about how unprofessional that was. I sat nearby "not listening" intently.
I have to say, I love when stories like this happen. And I just wish that the whole Seattle read my blog and wondered who the heck I am. Because then they would all be careful about relaying confidential information to each other on busses and trains and keep it down. And the rest of us commuters would have an opportunity to listen to our i-pods and read our literature without having to become involuntary witnesses to stories about people we've never met. No matter how entertaining they might be.
Apparently the two friends both have only recently moved to Seattle. From what I understood, one of them was from New York (Why would someone do that to themselves?!). Both have joined meetup groups and went to several meetings around the city in hopes of finding friends. Instead, they got constantly clogged e-mails. Both have now stopped going. One of them works in a medical profession, which I know because she was talking about referring clients to a therapist. That's when the story got good.
The two women griped about how there aren't any good therapists in the city, at least that insurance covers. And how it's a shame that to see them there is a huge waiting list, and when you finally make that appointment, you never hit it off. One of them then proceeded to tell a story of her friend Katie, who, apparently, wouldn't mind her telling it because she told a room full of people. (Probably completely unaware that the entire city will soon find out!) To an open heart-to-heart about relationship issues, Katies' therapist proceeded to tell her that she has a good friend that Katie would be perfect for and that she can hook them up! After Katie didn't make any more appointments, the therapist called her and asked if it was something she said. The women went on and on about how unprofessional that was. I sat nearby "not listening" intently.
I have to say, I love when stories like this happen. And I just wish that the whole Seattle read my blog and wondered who the heck I am. Because then they would all be careful about relaying confidential information to each other on busses and trains and keep it down. And the rest of us commuters would have an opportunity to listen to our i-pods and read our literature without having to become involuntary witnesses to stories about people we've never met. No matter how entertaining they might be.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Secret Shelter
On some days a person just deserves a break. Morning comes too early, work is too hectic, financial discipline unbearable, and lunch forgotten to be made. On days like that I allow myself a little indulgence: eating out at my favorite place downtown. With the entrance being tucked away in the maze of Pike Place Market, the small Bar&Grill is actually smack in the middle of all the action. Never crowded at lunch, and almost empty, if you arrive a little before or after, the place is a people-watcher's heaven. The windows face the market, and from the height of the second floor, I can observe everything that's going on down on the street without any fear that anyone will notice. People run back and forth, homeless walk around begging for change, and tourists take endless pictures by the sign, by the fish, and by the huge metal pig placed in front of the entrance.
There's a building across the street which holds the sign "La Salle Hotel" on it. From the posters on the windows, as well as the different kinds of curtains and blinds on every floor, I have deduced that it no longer serves as a hotel. But the building almost hauntingly draws me to itself. I have walked around pike place trying to find the entrance several times now, with no luck. No online searches on the title have given back any satisfying results. The place seems depressing and sad from the outside. But my imagination runs wild thinking what the inside holds. It brings to life several scenarios:
~A hardwood floor suite with curtains on the windows and a boudoir in a dimly lit room; a cabaret performer is doing her make-up in a pink velvet robe and silk stiletto slippers. Playing in the background is an old record of classical jazz. Her emotions are all over the place: happiness from success and the anticipation of the rush that takes over her body whenever she first steps on stage is mixed with a sadness and a longing for something deeper and more meaningful. A tear glides down a perfect face as she stares in the mirror and doesn't recognize herself in the reflection.
~ A carpeted room is filled with clutter made up of books, papers, paintings and cd's. The couch is overtaken by boxes of documents, maps, and clothes. A guy in his late twenties is sitting by the couch with a pen in his hand, staring thoughtfully into the notepad on his lap. He's wearing a hat, t-shirt and corduroy pants, and hasn't shaved for a while. There's no point, since he's not planning to go outside, into the rain, and into the influence of the bustling world... It's unclear if he's a song writer or a novelist. But the thoughts he is trying to express have taken over his mind and body. He sits still, biting his pen, and concentrating on the empty lines that his heart is ready to fill but the mind isn't ready to find.
~ There's no light in the room. All it holds is an empty bed with worn-out linens that smell like grandma's closet. Lightning strikes. No one occupies this place. Somehow the room has been forgotten from the past. The furniture is still the same as it was when the place was a hotel. It sits still and silent, not giving away any of its secrets, with only the bed and dresser aware of everything that has happened within the four walls. It gives out a chilly vibe. No one has lived in it for years -- an unexplainable phenomenon on Seattle's housing market. Somehow the landlords don't care. Or maybe they have been getting rent for the place for years now from a Mr. Smith who holds the place for himself but never goes anywhere close to it. Or maybe the unit somehow slipped through the accounting cracks of a large property-management company and nobody has noticed that it has been empty for so long...
These thoughts occupy my mind every time my eyes see the sign from across the street. Before long I have to step out of my daydream and go back to work. But the forty minutes I have to muse and wonder give me the energy to deal with real life situations for the rest of the day.
There's a building across the street which holds the sign "La Salle Hotel" on it. From the posters on the windows, as well as the different kinds of curtains and blinds on every floor, I have deduced that it no longer serves as a hotel. But the building almost hauntingly draws me to itself. I have walked around pike place trying to find the entrance several times now, with no luck. No online searches on the title have given back any satisfying results. The place seems depressing and sad from the outside. But my imagination runs wild thinking what the inside holds. It brings to life several scenarios:
~A hardwood floor suite with curtains on the windows and a boudoir in a dimly lit room; a cabaret performer is doing her make-up in a pink velvet robe and silk stiletto slippers. Playing in the background is an old record of classical jazz. Her emotions are all over the place: happiness from success and the anticipation of the rush that takes over her body whenever she first steps on stage is mixed with a sadness and a longing for something deeper and more meaningful. A tear glides down a perfect face as she stares in the mirror and doesn't recognize herself in the reflection.
~ A carpeted room is filled with clutter made up of books, papers, paintings and cd's. The couch is overtaken by boxes of documents, maps, and clothes. A guy in his late twenties is sitting by the couch with a pen in his hand, staring thoughtfully into the notepad on his lap. He's wearing a hat, t-shirt and corduroy pants, and hasn't shaved for a while. There's no point, since he's not planning to go outside, into the rain, and into the influence of the bustling world... It's unclear if he's a song writer or a novelist. But the thoughts he is trying to express have taken over his mind and body. He sits still, biting his pen, and concentrating on the empty lines that his heart is ready to fill but the mind isn't ready to find.
~ There's no light in the room. All it holds is an empty bed with worn-out linens that smell like grandma's closet. Lightning strikes. No one occupies this place. Somehow the room has been forgotten from the past. The furniture is still the same as it was when the place was a hotel. It sits still and silent, not giving away any of its secrets, with only the bed and dresser aware of everything that has happened within the four walls. It gives out a chilly vibe. No one has lived in it for years -- an unexplainable phenomenon on Seattle's housing market. Somehow the landlords don't care. Or maybe they have been getting rent for the place for years now from a Mr. Smith who holds the place for himself but never goes anywhere close to it. Or maybe the unit somehow slipped through the accounting cracks of a large property-management company and nobody has noticed that it has been empty for so long...
These thoughts occupy my mind every time my eyes see the sign from across the street. Before long I have to step out of my daydream and go back to work. But the forty minutes I have to muse and wonder give me the energy to deal with real life situations for the rest of the day.
Career Realizations
The past year has definitely been one of self-discovery for me. Straight out of college and in this economy, I got the first job that came my way -- an admin position. But I was lucky to get it at a good company, which gave me plenty of opportunity to figure out what exactly I'd like to do in life. By opportunity I don't mean options handed to me on a silver platter with a cookie-cutter explanation of exactly what I'm doing. It was more like a chance to get involved in a bunch of various projects doing a lot of different things. Because of that, I now know that I love to write, hate busy work (who doesn't?) and enjoy interacting with customers in person. Paradoxically, for professional communication I prefer e-mail... But that's not that relevant.
Through the process of self-realization I've discovered that I have a couple problems. Although I'm a creative person who loves photography, writing, dancing, singing, playing piano, decorating, fashion, editing and translating, none of these "hobbies" would ever turn into a flourishing career because of a certain mindset I have towards things I HAVE to do. The moment something I like turns into something I promised, a natural aversion to the project suddenly appears. Thus, I browse websites and ads looking for editors and writers and never hand in any work. Maybe it's because I have an aversion to rules and limitations. I have no clue how to deal with this problem, but realizing that you have one is the first step to solving it, right?
For me to function well, I have to be inspired. And inspiration comes at the most random moments in my life! For example, I had quite an experience this morning when a photography urge suddenly came over me and I started taking pictures of all the staff from my office (we all had to help out at an event). Conversely, I will admit that I don't react well to criticism -- at least initially. After I dwell on it for a while, I do realize that a lot of things that people say are constructive and I should act on them. But the slightest hint of negativity can make me abandon creative projects for week. Suddenly I feel like I'm not qualified to do what I'm doing. Maybe that's why the best of me comes out when no one has any expectations... And once again, I realize that that's a problem, but don't know how to deal with it yet.
If you are a qualified problem-solving expert, please feel free to leave a comment suggesting how to deal with this. But even with problems, becoming aware of everything you like and don't has been a great experience. Life is an interesting thing :)
Through the process of self-realization I've discovered that I have a couple problems. Although I'm a creative person who loves photography, writing, dancing, singing, playing piano, decorating, fashion, editing and translating, none of these "hobbies" would ever turn into a flourishing career because of a certain mindset I have towards things I HAVE to do. The moment something I like turns into something I promised, a natural aversion to the project suddenly appears. Thus, I browse websites and ads looking for editors and writers and never hand in any work. Maybe it's because I have an aversion to rules and limitations. I have no clue how to deal with this problem, but realizing that you have one is the first step to solving it, right?
For me to function well, I have to be inspired. And inspiration comes at the most random moments in my life! For example, I had quite an experience this morning when a photography urge suddenly came over me and I started taking pictures of all the staff from my office (we all had to help out at an event). Conversely, I will admit that I don't react well to criticism -- at least initially. After I dwell on it for a while, I do realize that a lot of things that people say are constructive and I should act on them. But the slightest hint of negativity can make me abandon creative projects for week. Suddenly I feel like I'm not qualified to do what I'm doing. Maybe that's why the best of me comes out when no one has any expectations... And once again, I realize that that's a problem, but don't know how to deal with it yet.
If you are a qualified problem-solving expert, please feel free to leave a comment suggesting how to deal with this. But even with problems, becoming aware of everything you like and don't has been a great experience. Life is an interesting thing :)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Suddenly Cold
Seattle is a fun place to live. One of the best things about it, of course, are the unexpected weather changes. Two days ago it was hot and sunny. Now we're into day three of the usual: cold and rain. Nobody really knows how long that will last. And I don't really mind, except for the fact that it totally took me by surprise this time. It's my first winter out of my own. And I never realized that the things on windows called curtains actually serve a bigger purpose than hanging decoration.
My mom warned me too. She said I'll need some heavy curtains to keep out the cold, as well as a bed, which would make me warmer because I'd be further away from the floor. I brushed her off. Summer was a comfortable time, and I thought it's always gonna be like that. But i was wrong. For the past couple days I've been going to bed and waking up in freezing temperatures, (which I'm sure are the reason for the headache that persistently won't go away for the past twelve hours). My empty space feels extra unwelcoming and uninviting now. Suddenly a lump sum of money for a bed and a mattress seems like a good investment. As always, mom was right.
Moving out on your own will make you realize all sorts of things you didn't know before! One of them is that parents are much smarter than you think. Not that I ever doubted that... just that once again it has been confirmed. If you just moved out on your own... listen to mom and get some curtains and a bed! Because once winter comes, you'll need both! Trust me!
My mom warned me too. She said I'll need some heavy curtains to keep out the cold, as well as a bed, which would make me warmer because I'd be further away from the floor. I brushed her off. Summer was a comfortable time, and I thought it's always gonna be like that. But i was wrong. For the past couple days I've been going to bed and waking up in freezing temperatures, (which I'm sure are the reason for the headache that persistently won't go away for the past twelve hours). My empty space feels extra unwelcoming and uninviting now. Suddenly a lump sum of money for a bed and a mattress seems like a good investment. As always, mom was right.
Moving out on your own will make you realize all sorts of things you didn't know before! One of them is that parents are much smarter than you think. Not that I ever doubted that... just that once again it has been confirmed. If you just moved out on your own... listen to mom and get some curtains and a bed! Because once winter comes, you'll need both! Trust me!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
My Building Never Sleeps
Almost done with a very intense and important meeting with my supervisor, all of a sudden I heard a.... marching band. In the middle of the afternoon on a thursday. Of course, if you're working in my building there's technically nothing that you should be surprised at, because in a year of working here I've realized that the most unusual things tend to happen right next to it! Below, are just a couple examples:
Example #1: The marching band, along with a set of cheerleaders, arrives in front of my building in a Seattle Duck Tour boat/bus... whatever that thing is called. All those people pour out of it and station themselves in front of the entrance. The cheerleaders do their routines and a steady stream of passers-by walk right in the middle of them. The whole shebang is there because of the opening of the new U-W floor and the fact that they just won a football game. Totally understandable, but hilarious nevertheless considering the time of day and the fact that the rest of the offices in the building are attorneys and medical professionals.
Example #2: The traffic is off the hook. Police have blocked out Union St. starting from 6th Ave. and down till 4th Ave. The SWAT team truck pulls up. There's been a bank robbery on the corner of 6th and Union involving a bomb threat. My entire office gathers by the window on the 11th floor that overlooks Union perfectly to watch what will happen. The SWAT team truck doors open and out comes a... Robot. It's gonna go into the building and try to disharm whatever explosives it may contain. Not that curious about what will happen next, and concerned more for my safety than a happy ending to the story, a bunch of us quickly pack up and leave... Better safe than sorry.
Example #3: We look outside draws by an unusual amounts of smoke in our windows. Across the street there's a bus on fire! Firetrucks fill the street making traffic really BAD. I really have nothing more to add to this one actually.
Example #4: Starbucks people downstairs talk about a client who streaked by in the morning in nothing but a speedo. They say he lost a bet... I guess that's something you'll only see from the first floor instead of eleventh...
It's a fun working life in Seattle!
Example #1: The marching band, along with a set of cheerleaders, arrives in front of my building in a Seattle Duck Tour boat/bus... whatever that thing is called. All those people pour out of it and station themselves in front of the entrance. The cheerleaders do their routines and a steady stream of passers-by walk right in the middle of them. The whole shebang is there because of the opening of the new U-W floor and the fact that they just won a football game. Totally understandable, but hilarious nevertheless considering the time of day and the fact that the rest of the offices in the building are attorneys and medical professionals.
Example #2: The traffic is off the hook. Police have blocked out Union St. starting from 6th Ave. and down till 4th Ave. The SWAT team truck pulls up. There's been a bank robbery on the corner of 6th and Union involving a bomb threat. My entire office gathers by the window on the 11th floor that overlooks Union perfectly to watch what will happen. The SWAT team truck doors open and out comes a... Robot. It's gonna go into the building and try to disharm whatever explosives it may contain. Not that curious about what will happen next, and concerned more for my safety than a happy ending to the story, a bunch of us quickly pack up and leave... Better safe than sorry.
Example #3: We look outside draws by an unusual amounts of smoke in our windows. Across the street there's a bus on fire! Firetrucks fill the street making traffic really BAD. I really have nothing more to add to this one actually.
Example #4: Starbucks people downstairs talk about a client who streaked by in the morning in nothing but a speedo. They say he lost a bet... I guess that's something you'll only see from the first floor instead of eleventh...
It's a fun working life in Seattle!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Living in Seattle -- a lot of randomness and nothing in particular.
Something occurred to me on the bus this morning. The only people qualified to write about cities are those who don't live there. Because the dwellers of the city aren't as fascinated by it as those who want to move there. Maybe it's the mentality of wanting what you don't have and not valuing what you do. But since I've moved to Seattle, all I do is go home after work. Am I exploring the city like I thought I would when I move and have 'more time?' Not so much.
But of course, it might be because the exploration money I had before is now all being used up for Rent. This said, I should technically be writing a lot of posts entitled "free things to do in Seattle." But since I'm not being forced to look for them, I'm not finding them. A post I've had in the works for a while are "places with great views." But all work on that piece of literature ceased once I moved into my one-bedroom. Because the most spectacular view ever is right out of my window. Oh the laziness of man...
Maybe I'm just going through a change of values and routines though. After all, before, I knew enough about things to give helpful advice. Right now I don't know enough about anything, pretty much. I've exhausted my stories about apartment hunting and retail therapy. But I don't know jack about grocery shopping and bill juggling yet. People have mentioned that they feel they are reading about a celebrity when they are on my blog. I don't see how. Right now my life is pretty boring. Work-home-cook-sleep. Maybe rollerblade and go Salsa dancing. But lately it's been sleep. Maybe I'm sick.
Wow, this is an unusual post since it really doesn't have a point. It just proves that I can ramble on forever if I had to. Let's just say this was practice for "stream of consciousness." But I'll also say that while writing it I got a few excellent ideas for future posts. In this sense, it was worth it for me, as boring as it must have been to read this for you. Oh well. It's my blog :)
But of course, it might be because the exploration money I had before is now all being used up for Rent. This said, I should technically be writing a lot of posts entitled "free things to do in Seattle." But since I'm not being forced to look for them, I'm not finding them. A post I've had in the works for a while are "places with great views." But all work on that piece of literature ceased once I moved into my one-bedroom. Because the most spectacular view ever is right out of my window. Oh the laziness of man...
Maybe I'm just going through a change of values and routines though. After all, before, I knew enough about things to give helpful advice. Right now I don't know enough about anything, pretty much. I've exhausted my stories about apartment hunting and retail therapy. But I don't know jack about grocery shopping and bill juggling yet. People have mentioned that they feel they are reading about a celebrity when they are on my blog. I don't see how. Right now my life is pretty boring. Work-home-cook-sleep. Maybe rollerblade and go Salsa dancing. But lately it's been sleep. Maybe I'm sick.
Wow, this is an unusual post since it really doesn't have a point. It just proves that I can ramble on forever if I had to. Let's just say this was practice for "stream of consciousness." But I'll also say that while writing it I got a few excellent ideas for future posts. In this sense, it was worth it for me, as boring as it must have been to read this for you. Oh well. It's my blog :)
Friday, September 18, 2009
blogaboutfaith.blogspot.com
My new blog, dedicated entirely to my faith has been born. That topic is really something I can talk about non-stop, but since this blog is supposed to be a lighter read, I've touched upon it too briefly for my personal taste. I will attempt to be faithful to both blogs. (Today, it obviously hasn't worked...) But as always, I promise nothing, as that tends to permanently hinder any progress I accomplish in the tasks I take on. I won't feed the second blog on my page (at least not yet.) So if this is the part of my life that you're interested in... just go find it under "My Profile."
Happy reading everyone!
Happy reading everyone!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Smart Finance
I'm not an expert at this by any means. But this is definitely an area that I am very interested in. This interest was probably sparked by the fact that I spent two years working for a financial advisor. If nothing else, it has placed me at a comparatively good place for a year-and-a-half out of college, and living in a city considered one of the most expensive in terms of income to cost-of-living ratio. This post will probably be nothing new, other than a person in her early twenties actually following certain guidelines which WORK. Here they are.
1. Pay off credit card debt.
Duh. Easy. Done. I actually have nothing more to say about this line other than I don't understand why people keep dept on their cards. It makes me personally VERY uncomfortable and I strive to always have the balance paid off in full. What can you POSSIBLY need in your twenties that would be worth the headache of debt?
2. Don't charge stuff to your credit card.
This one I actually struggle with. And technically charging less than 1/3 or your total credit to a card is O.K., and even good for your credit history, so no biggie. But for me it's a matter of personal discipline and living within my means. Since I'm not about to purchase a house or anything else that would require a stellar credit score, I can afford not to charge stuff right now.
3. Pay off your loans.
My family helped a lot. But I allocated a HUGE chunk of money to paying off my student loans before interest rates kicked in. That was the reason I chose to live at home and commute for an hour and a half each way for a year instead of moving to Seattle right away. Some would think that's a waste of life. But the lack of "freedom to do whatever I want" for a year now allows me to REALLY have that freedom. Without being obligated to a bank and without the load of a loan on my shoulders. It required iron discipline, but the result is priceless!
4. Keep your old car.
Unless your job requires you to look rich (consider switching jobs then by the way.) But if you're fresh out of college, and your car gets you from point A to point B, stop trying to live a life you can't afford. That car is good enough to get you to work, is probably really efficient in terms of gas and mileage, and is probably not even that needed if you live in a city with public transportation. If you're trying to impress people... you know what's impressive? Wisdom and genuineness. Eventually people will find out that that you're really head over heels in debt because of that BMW. And that just comes off really really immature.
5. Live in a place that you can afford.
I WOULD advise to get a roommate, but that'd be somewhat hypocritical since I don't have one. What i DO have is a small (but happy) one bedroom that I pay just a little over 1/3 of my total gross monthly income for. I practically don't feel the pinch on my paycheck. It's great! If you have the opportunity, take the time to look around, because you CAN find a good place in your price range. Mine doesn't stink with that old-apartment-building scent, and is otherwise an excellent combination of new renovation and old-world charm. It's small, but has a killer view of sunsets and the Puget sound. (Can you tell I'm in love with my place? :)
6. You DON'T need everything at once.
As much as my mattress annoys mom, I will wait until I have money saved up to buy a bed, instead of charging it. I already got a couch. Everything else was jacked from parents. If you're moving out for the first time, see how much stuff you can get for free from loving relatives and friends. Then go on craigslist.com and find the "free" section. True, it has a bunch of junk there, but you can also find some really cool stuff! Then invite your friends for a housewarming party. (If your place is small, invite them one-by-one.) See what they get you. THEN buy stuff you still need. (At TJ Maxx and Ross, mind you, not Bed, Bath and Beyond and Pottery Barn.) Buy as you can afford. Makes stuff more valuable.
7. Know your prices.
Before I knew them only on clothes. Now I'm starting to learn about food. It's important to know how cheap you can get things and where they are sold. It's important to shop around and figure out where good deals are. If you live in a city, take the time to walk into private shops and international supermarkets. Not only do they have cool food, but they also often carry things cheaper than the American chains. Knowing prices applies to services as well. Regularly check what cell-phone companies offer. Bargain to lover your bills. Mention competitors' rates. Dispute questionable fees. Cancel items you don't use. Take the time. It's well worth it.
8. SAVE
I don't have this one down yet. My savings account is unimpressive. But it makes me uncomfortable to be locked into a year-long lease with nothing to back up my promise to pay up on a monthly basis. So I'm striving to build up my savings to have at least the amount of rent, gas, and electricity until the end of my lease. I wish I could just put the money away all at once, but unfortunately I have to make baby steps. For now I'm disciplining myself to avoid certain things I'd like to do that would be unwise. What I would've spent on those, I put on my savings instead. My account isn't growing fast, but it's definitely growing. Hopefully I'll be able to allocate a set sum to put away into savings every month in addition to these little drops of cash.
9. Plan ahead and shop ahead.
Christmas usually a difficult time? Buy presents throughout the year! Most likely you'll find a better deal and a better present as well! This way, you won't have a big chunk of money missing right away, and Christmas time will be joyous instead of spiteful. Same goes for birthdays. I buy presents for all my girls at Victorias' Secret semi-annual sales. I pay less than if I would've gotten it right on the date of their day. But I can get them MORE stuff this way, and I save the time it requires to drive to a store and find a good gift.
10. Tithe
(Please note my strategic placement of this one under number 10 :)
Sounds redundant? Religious? Weird? Backward? It works wonders! It's not your money anyways. It's God's money, and He was gracious enough to give some to you. I will admit, sometimes I delay my tithing, but this one I feel most guilty about, because this one actually brings me the most blessings and the most income! I always pay off what I owe God, and I strive to pay Him back first. Why? Because I practically see that it works! Because whenever I've talked to people who are clearly wise about their money, successful in their business, and abundantly blessed, they all told me the same thing. Tithe. And give over that, if possible! Don't make enough to give extra? Give the stuff you have instead of money! You probably won't even miss it. And the person will be blessed like sometimes you don't even know. This paragraph is getting long, so I feel like I will have to make a separate post on giving. :)
These are my general guidelines for smart finance. What they offer you is peace of mind. And that's worth all the small financial sacrifices in the world! (I'm sure that an even wiser person would add investing to this, but I'm not at a point where I'm comfortable enough to try it yet.)
1. Pay off credit card debt.
Duh. Easy. Done. I actually have nothing more to say about this line other than I don't understand why people keep dept on their cards. It makes me personally VERY uncomfortable and I strive to always have the balance paid off in full. What can you POSSIBLY need in your twenties that would be worth the headache of debt?
2. Don't charge stuff to your credit card.
This one I actually struggle with. And technically charging less than 1/3 or your total credit to a card is O.K., and even good for your credit history, so no biggie. But for me it's a matter of personal discipline and living within my means. Since I'm not about to purchase a house or anything else that would require a stellar credit score, I can afford not to charge stuff right now.
3. Pay off your loans.
My family helped a lot. But I allocated a HUGE chunk of money to paying off my student loans before interest rates kicked in. That was the reason I chose to live at home and commute for an hour and a half each way for a year instead of moving to Seattle right away. Some would think that's a waste of life. But the lack of "freedom to do whatever I want" for a year now allows me to REALLY have that freedom. Without being obligated to a bank and without the load of a loan on my shoulders. It required iron discipline, but the result is priceless!
4. Keep your old car.
Unless your job requires you to look rich (consider switching jobs then by the way.) But if you're fresh out of college, and your car gets you from point A to point B, stop trying to live a life you can't afford. That car is good enough to get you to work, is probably really efficient in terms of gas and mileage, and is probably not even that needed if you live in a city with public transportation. If you're trying to impress people... you know what's impressive? Wisdom and genuineness. Eventually people will find out that that you're really head over heels in debt because of that BMW. And that just comes off really really immature.
5. Live in a place that you can afford.
I WOULD advise to get a roommate, but that'd be somewhat hypocritical since I don't have one. What i DO have is a small (but happy) one bedroom that I pay just a little over 1/3 of my total gross monthly income for. I practically don't feel the pinch on my paycheck. It's great! If you have the opportunity, take the time to look around, because you CAN find a good place in your price range. Mine doesn't stink with that old-apartment-building scent, and is otherwise an excellent combination of new renovation and old-world charm. It's small, but has a killer view of sunsets and the Puget sound. (Can you tell I'm in love with my place? :)
6. You DON'T need everything at once.
As much as my mattress annoys mom, I will wait until I have money saved up to buy a bed, instead of charging it. I already got a couch. Everything else was jacked from parents. If you're moving out for the first time, see how much stuff you can get for free from loving relatives and friends. Then go on craigslist.com and find the "free" section. True, it has a bunch of junk there, but you can also find some really cool stuff! Then invite your friends for a housewarming party. (If your place is small, invite them one-by-one.) See what they get you. THEN buy stuff you still need. (At TJ Maxx and Ross, mind you, not Bed, Bath and Beyond and Pottery Barn.) Buy as you can afford. Makes stuff more valuable.
7. Know your prices.
Before I knew them only on clothes. Now I'm starting to learn about food. It's important to know how cheap you can get things and where they are sold. It's important to shop around and figure out where good deals are. If you live in a city, take the time to walk into private shops and international supermarkets. Not only do they have cool food, but they also often carry things cheaper than the American chains. Knowing prices applies to services as well. Regularly check what cell-phone companies offer. Bargain to lover your bills. Mention competitors' rates. Dispute questionable fees. Cancel items you don't use. Take the time. It's well worth it.
8. SAVE
I don't have this one down yet. My savings account is unimpressive. But it makes me uncomfortable to be locked into a year-long lease with nothing to back up my promise to pay up on a monthly basis. So I'm striving to build up my savings to have at least the amount of rent, gas, and electricity until the end of my lease. I wish I could just put the money away all at once, but unfortunately I have to make baby steps. For now I'm disciplining myself to avoid certain things I'd like to do that would be unwise. What I would've spent on those, I put on my savings instead. My account isn't growing fast, but it's definitely growing. Hopefully I'll be able to allocate a set sum to put away into savings every month in addition to these little drops of cash.
9. Plan ahead and shop ahead.
Christmas usually a difficult time? Buy presents throughout the year! Most likely you'll find a better deal and a better present as well! This way, you won't have a big chunk of money missing right away, and Christmas time will be joyous instead of spiteful. Same goes for birthdays. I buy presents for all my girls at Victorias' Secret semi-annual sales. I pay less than if I would've gotten it right on the date of their day. But I can get them MORE stuff this way, and I save the time it requires to drive to a store and find a good gift.
10. Tithe
(Please note my strategic placement of this one under number 10 :)
Sounds redundant? Religious? Weird? Backward? It works wonders! It's not your money anyways. It's God's money, and He was gracious enough to give some to you. I will admit, sometimes I delay my tithing, but this one I feel most guilty about, because this one actually brings me the most blessings and the most income! I always pay off what I owe God, and I strive to pay Him back first. Why? Because I practically see that it works! Because whenever I've talked to people who are clearly wise about their money, successful in their business, and abundantly blessed, they all told me the same thing. Tithe. And give over that, if possible! Don't make enough to give extra? Give the stuff you have instead of money! You probably won't even miss it. And the person will be blessed like sometimes you don't even know. This paragraph is getting long, so I feel like I will have to make a separate post on giving. :)
These are my general guidelines for smart finance. What they offer you is peace of mind. And that's worth all the small financial sacrifices in the world! (I'm sure that an even wiser person would add investing to this, but I'm not at a point where I'm comfortable enough to try it yet.)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Smart Shopping
I'm back. See what happens when I promise to do something? My little friend "Stubborn Procrastination" visits. But to tell you the truth, I was utterly uninspired to write, since things occupying my mind right now are not to be made public. But alas, today I'm back with a neutral topic, full of inspiration and creative juices!
Over the weekend I've been blessed with a visit from a close friend from Portland, with whom we were supposed to shop for stuff to make my apartment cozier. Instead, we spent the time shopping for clothes. Typical girlish behavior. But while helping her decide on stuff, I realized that I would make a very good personal shopper. As we all know, I excel at opinion, and constructive criticism (when asked.) Selling that would be a PERFECT job for me! This said, I will save all you faithful readers some money on my services and give out a few tips on how to buy things that won't end up in the back of your closet collecting dust. To score a good deal, ask yourself these questions before buying. Be HONEST. You probably hate when people lie to you. Why lie to yourself?!
1. Do I already own this?
Of course you don't already own exactly what you're holding in your hand, you're not stupid, right? But think about it hard. Is there a VERY close version of it in your closet? If it's the same style in a similar color palette, put it down! You really don't need two pale yellow pencil skirts with silver buttons in the front. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating. But you really don't need two grey pencil skirts. One's enough. If the answer to this question is "yes," don't even bother taking an item into the fitting room. Save yourself some time.
2. Do I need this?
True, $7.99 might be a heck of a deal on an H&M t-shirt. But how many t-shirts do you already own? A penny saved is a penny earned. For $7.99 you can eat a nice lunch, buy two cups of coffee, or feed a kid somewhere abroad for a month. Or you can start a savings account. Gotta start with something, right? Why not this $7.99? If all of a sudden you realize that you already do own 15 turquoise t-shirts, put this one down and don't take it to the fitting room either.
3. Where would I wear this?
If you don't have an answer to this question you shouldn't be in the store in the first place. I'm going to assume that you are being good to your bank account and shopping for some specific place or event instead of just for the heck of it. "Just for the heck of it" shopping never leads to anything good... Trust me.
4. Does it fit me?
This question is tricky. Because technically anyone can squeeze themselves into a stretchy pair of leggings. "Can I squeeze myself into this" does not necessarily answer the question of fit. If you look like European sausage instead of a person, most likely the item on you does not FIT. Get a bigger size. Conversely, if you feel inspired to pretend you're a ghost and scare your kids... the item does not FIT. Get a smaller size.
5. Does it fit EVERYWHERE?
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if the sweater you're trying on is an XS and your hands end halfway before the sleeve does, you are in the wrong store to buy sweaters. There being no smaller/bigger size is no excuse to purchase an item that doesn't fit perfect. Yes, there are tailors and all glamour magazines advise you to get one. But seriously, are you gonna? I have yet to find a person who was unable to find a store where things fit their body type. Whether it's Guess, H&M, or Fred Meyer, is a different case. But hey, to each his own!
6. Does the color look good on you?
This one is self-explanatory, but might require a second opinion. And please, please don't trust the sales-person on this. They are called that for a reason -- they're there to SELL you stuff. Ask a person trying stuff on next to you. Or the person you're with, who hopefully is a trusted friend who won't lie to you, and also possesses a great taste in clothing! You probably already know some colors that go well with your look. But don't be afraid to try new ones. It can cheer you up, if nothing else.
7. Does the style look good on you?
If you have no clue, seriously do consider hiring me... But assuming you are at least somewhat dressing-yourself conscious, be honest on this one. You might love A-line skirts, but if they make your legs look half the size they should be, A-line is probably not the style for you. If high-waste short skirts make you look like a giant baby who is only missing a binkie, avoid the trend!
8. Does it go with a lot of things you already own?
If you are having trouble putting the ornamented cardigan that hits your hips and has three buttons in the middle together with anything in the store... chances are there are only two things in the entire universe that you can wear it with. Even more likely is that those two things aren't in your closet. Save yourself the headache, and don't buy stuff that requires extra effort to match up with anything.
9. Will the material stay the same after washing/wearing?
Some items tend to come out of the washer... deformed. Don't buy a sweater that will shrink or get those little balls of wool on it after its first night out. That shouldn't happen if you're taking care of the item the right way. Most of the time you can tell just by looking at the item in the store, or reading the content label.
10. Is the item easy to care for?
Did it wrinkle just from traveling from the hanger to the fitting room? There is nothing that looks less put together than a wrinkled skirt. Investing in a better quality material is probably well worth the embarrassment of looking like a mess. Is the item dry-clean only? That's not the worst scenario if its one of those that will only need a couple visits to the dry cleaner a year. A worse scenario would be a "wash separately with like colors on warm on the night that the full moon coincides with Friday the 13th on years that end with a 7." O.K., I get carried away again. But seriously. If the color of a skirt is bright orange with blue flowers, picking out "like colors" might be a problem. Check that tag.
11. Is the item worth the price?
A black dress that can be worn to church, work, date, or dinner is probably well worth the money. But a grey t-shirt shouldn't cost any more than $10.00. Trust me on this. I'm no cheapskate in clothes (we all know I've recently almost shelled out bank for a pair of Lanvin flats.) And I did go through my phase of $80.00 t-shirts, realizing at the end that they fade/stretch/wear out just as fast, if not sooner, than the ones from Ross I've purchased for $5.99.
12. Do I have the money?
If there's a toss-up between rent and a pair of Prada boots, I say go with rent. But seriously, don't buy it if you can't afford it. No matter how well it fits, how good it looks, or how much it's worth. You lived fine without this item up until this point, right? You'll do fine without it later as well.
13. If you bought the item, don't take the tags off!
I've said this before and I'll keep repeating it again and again. Sleep on it. Don't take the tag off until you're ready to wear the item. Unless it's your wedding dress, return the item if it's close to the return deadline and it still has the tag attached to it. If you haven't worn it within 30 days, you'll NEVER wear it.
Over the weekend I've been blessed with a visit from a close friend from Portland, with whom we were supposed to shop for stuff to make my apartment cozier. Instead, we spent the time shopping for clothes. Typical girlish behavior. But while helping her decide on stuff, I realized that I would make a very good personal shopper. As we all know, I excel at opinion, and constructive criticism (when asked.) Selling that would be a PERFECT job for me! This said, I will save all you faithful readers some money on my services and give out a few tips on how to buy things that won't end up in the back of your closet collecting dust. To score a good deal, ask yourself these questions before buying. Be HONEST. You probably hate when people lie to you. Why lie to yourself?!
1. Do I already own this?
Of course you don't already own exactly what you're holding in your hand, you're not stupid, right? But think about it hard. Is there a VERY close version of it in your closet? If it's the same style in a similar color palette, put it down! You really don't need two pale yellow pencil skirts with silver buttons in the front. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating. But you really don't need two grey pencil skirts. One's enough. If the answer to this question is "yes," don't even bother taking an item into the fitting room. Save yourself some time.
2. Do I need this?
True, $7.99 might be a heck of a deal on an H&M t-shirt. But how many t-shirts do you already own? A penny saved is a penny earned. For $7.99 you can eat a nice lunch, buy two cups of coffee, or feed a kid somewhere abroad for a month. Or you can start a savings account. Gotta start with something, right? Why not this $7.99? If all of a sudden you realize that you already do own 15 turquoise t-shirts, put this one down and don't take it to the fitting room either.
3. Where would I wear this?
If you don't have an answer to this question you shouldn't be in the store in the first place. I'm going to assume that you are being good to your bank account and shopping for some specific place or event instead of just for the heck of it. "Just for the heck of it" shopping never leads to anything good... Trust me.
4. Does it fit me?
This question is tricky. Because technically anyone can squeeze themselves into a stretchy pair of leggings. "Can I squeeze myself into this" does not necessarily answer the question of fit. If you look like European sausage instead of a person, most likely the item on you does not FIT. Get a bigger size. Conversely, if you feel inspired to pretend you're a ghost and scare your kids... the item does not FIT. Get a smaller size.
5. Does it fit EVERYWHERE?
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if the sweater you're trying on is an XS and your hands end halfway before the sleeve does, you are in the wrong store to buy sweaters. There being no smaller/bigger size is no excuse to purchase an item that doesn't fit perfect. Yes, there are tailors and all glamour magazines advise you to get one. But seriously, are you gonna? I have yet to find a person who was unable to find a store where things fit their body type. Whether it's Guess, H&M, or Fred Meyer, is a different case. But hey, to each his own!
6. Does the color look good on you?
This one is self-explanatory, but might require a second opinion. And please, please don't trust the sales-person on this. They are called that for a reason -- they're there to SELL you stuff. Ask a person trying stuff on next to you. Or the person you're with, who hopefully is a trusted friend who won't lie to you, and also possesses a great taste in clothing! You probably already know some colors that go well with your look. But don't be afraid to try new ones. It can cheer you up, if nothing else.
7. Does the style look good on you?
If you have no clue, seriously do consider hiring me... But assuming you are at least somewhat dressing-yourself conscious, be honest on this one. You might love A-line skirts, but if they make your legs look half the size they should be, A-line is probably not the style for you. If high-waste short skirts make you look like a giant baby who is only missing a binkie, avoid the trend!
8. Does it go with a lot of things you already own?
If you are having trouble putting the ornamented cardigan that hits your hips and has three buttons in the middle together with anything in the store... chances are there are only two things in the entire universe that you can wear it with. Even more likely is that those two things aren't in your closet. Save yourself the headache, and don't buy stuff that requires extra effort to match up with anything.
9. Will the material stay the same after washing/wearing?
Some items tend to come out of the washer... deformed. Don't buy a sweater that will shrink or get those little balls of wool on it after its first night out. That shouldn't happen if you're taking care of the item the right way. Most of the time you can tell just by looking at the item in the store, or reading the content label.
10. Is the item easy to care for?
Did it wrinkle just from traveling from the hanger to the fitting room? There is nothing that looks less put together than a wrinkled skirt. Investing in a better quality material is probably well worth the embarrassment of looking like a mess. Is the item dry-clean only? That's not the worst scenario if its one of those that will only need a couple visits to the dry cleaner a year. A worse scenario would be a "wash separately with like colors on warm on the night that the full moon coincides with Friday the 13th on years that end with a 7." O.K., I get carried away again. But seriously. If the color of a skirt is bright orange with blue flowers, picking out "like colors" might be a problem. Check that tag.
11. Is the item worth the price?
A black dress that can be worn to church, work, date, or dinner is probably well worth the money. But a grey t-shirt shouldn't cost any more than $10.00. Trust me on this. I'm no cheapskate in clothes (we all know I've recently almost shelled out bank for a pair of Lanvin flats.) And I did go through my phase of $80.00 t-shirts, realizing at the end that they fade/stretch/wear out just as fast, if not sooner, than the ones from Ross I've purchased for $5.99.
12. Do I have the money?
If there's a toss-up between rent and a pair of Prada boots, I say go with rent. But seriously, don't buy it if you can't afford it. No matter how well it fits, how good it looks, or how much it's worth. You lived fine without this item up until this point, right? You'll do fine without it later as well.
13. If you bought the item, don't take the tags off!
I've said this before and I'll keep repeating it again and again. Sleep on it. Don't take the tag off until you're ready to wear the item. Unless it's your wedding dress, return the item if it's close to the return deadline and it still has the tag attached to it. If you haven't worn it within 30 days, you'll NEVER wear it.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Vacation
I'm on vacation. Next post when I come back -- probably around September 8th... Unless I get unbearably bored here (fat chance :).
Friday, August 21, 2009
Traveling Light -- Tips and Tricks
I feel like I have more right than anyone else to write about this. After all, I'm known for taking one carry-on bag literally anywhere I go -- no matter for how long. My record was a small Nike sports bag -- one of those that can be passed for a purse with some ladies -- for a weekend of snowboarding in L.A.. Things I brought included gear (I rent boots and board though) and a couple unnecessary items that I never even used on the trip (don't we all wish that never happened....). Needless to say, I've extracted surpsised faces many-a-time upon arrival and proclamation that I have no baggage to claim. It's not even that people are surprised that it's possible to travel with just one luggage item. It's just that for some reason noone ever imagines that it's ME who can manage to do that. But then again... people also don't realize I own very little clothes, cook, and bake.
But once again I diverge... Why would I inflict such pain upon myself? Here are a few reasons to travel light:
1. This eliminates any chance that your luggage will get lost. This has never happened to me (for obvious reasons...), but I've heard way too many horror stories of people being stuck on their honeymoon with only what they had on during the trip.
2. Now that airlines started charging for extra luggage, you save money. And everyone likes saving money!
3. There is no waiting time at the end of the trip. Sometimes luggage can take up to an hour and a half to arrive after you have landed. Having none saves the time for both you and whoever is picking you up.
4. As awesome as muscles are... back sprains aren't a favorite of mine. On my last trip I brought a small bag packed with gifts (mostly books) and checked-in both my carry-on and that bag with full assurance from my departing point agent that I will receive the bags upon arrival back home. Surprise: they lied. Chicago is merciless when it comes to customs. There, I was told to take my luggage and bring it with me to the next check-in point. Dragging even a small bag filled with books for two hours through a huge line of customs and crowds of people isn't exactly a pleasant experience. I'm determined to avoid it at all costs in the future.
So how DO I manage to pack into a small carry-on? Below are a few tips to get you started.
1. Travel in the summer. Or when it's summer at your destination. O.K., so I admit that this tip is a little redundant, but seriously... Summer clothes are much lighter than winter ones, so you can fit more of them into a smaller space.
2. Get a good carry-on size suitcase. There's no point to have just a carry on, no matter how small, if you still have to lug it around on your shoulder or in your hand. A small suitcase that fits in the overhead compartment and has wheels is what you need to find. It needs to have an expandable hanger compartment coming out of its top -- that way you can bring suits/dresses without wrinkling them. Extra pockets on the outside are definitely a bonus -- mine has two in the front.
3. Plan ahead. I've been thinking about my trip ever since I came back two years ago. I've been buying clothes for a year with consideration for the trip. I've been brainstorming on SMALL presents for a couple months as well. (Small doesn't mean cheap by the way. i-Pods are small. So are diamond bracelets.) I'be been analyzing the settings I'll be in and figuring out if any of my clothes can be used in more than one. If you're not thinking the stuff through, you're bound to end up with a pile of stuff on your bed the night before, and bring crap you'll never use on the trip while not having half the stuff you need.
4. Shop ahead. This year I started a week early, and BOY am I happy I did that! I spent my first two days just walking around every store in Seattle and looking at prices and merchandise available. This gave me some pretty good ideas for presents. It also saved me money. I know that if I shopped last minute I would've grabbed the first thing available, and not necessarily the best deal. This also gave me an opportunity to figure out what I need. I'm about to return $300 worth of merchandise I realized I can perfectly do without, after owning it for a couple days. (NEVER throw away receipts or take tags off until you are actually putting an item on to wear!) Laying out all the presents ahead of time also allowed me to realize that some kids are getting way too much crap while others are getting too little, and that I have more shopping and returning to do.
5. Pack ahead. Take some time to sample-pack everything you are taking a few days early. Doing that made me aware of the fact that some presents are simply not the right shape for the suitcase and should be exchanged. And that all the new stuff I bought for myself doesn't fit so I have to return it all (Sigh... of relief for my credit card ;). It took a couple hours, but now I can sleep without worrying that something won't fit.
6. Use every nick and cranny available! My suitcase has its two handle rails showing on the bottom. Instead of just putting big items on there, I first stuff the space between the rails with small t-shirts, socks, and underwear. I also stuff shoes. Yes, it's tempting to put it all in one big bag. But much more efficient to stuff it here and there (just make sure nobody's watching while you're unpacking).
7. Wear heavy things on yourself. On my snowboarding trip I was able to bring a pair of boots with the fur because I wore them on the plane. This time I'm able to take two pairs of jeans instead of just one because I'll be wearing one of them. Coat rides on my shoulders as well. As do sneakers (on my feet).
8. If you absolutely need toiletries, bring sample sizes. You are only allowed one clear plastic bag of them anyways, so seriously pick and choose what you need and what you don't. Most likely your favorite aunt DOES own shampoo.
9. Trust your instincts. If the inner voice is telling you to take something out or put something in... Do it! You'll sleep better, and most likely you'll need or not need exactly that thing that you thought about.
10. Don't kid yourself. You will NOT be reading your extra-large size family bible with illustrations on the plane. If you're a christian, chances are people you're going to visit own enough bibles for you to read on location. You will also NOT finish work on your vacation. So don't bother bringing the laptop. Even if it's for showing pictures. Chances are the people you're visiting have a computer, so bring a flash drive instead. But seriously, I've learned that a small album with carefully selected photos that you can leave for your grandma after your departure works much better. More personal, and takes less time/space. Because trust me, even people you haven't seen for a while don't want to see 500 images from your recent trip to a small village in Idaho. And any work you do end up doing... well the amount is likely not enough to justify lugging a laptop around.
11. Be aware of current rules and regulations. Chances are security won't let you bring an expensive bottle of champagne/shampoo with you in the carry on. Think ahead. This way you'll make the line move faster both for yourself and for the people behind you.
HAPPY PACKING!!!!
But once again I diverge... Why would I inflict such pain upon myself? Here are a few reasons to travel light:
1. This eliminates any chance that your luggage will get lost. This has never happened to me (for obvious reasons...), but I've heard way too many horror stories of people being stuck on their honeymoon with only what they had on during the trip.
2. Now that airlines started charging for extra luggage, you save money. And everyone likes saving money!
3. There is no waiting time at the end of the trip. Sometimes luggage can take up to an hour and a half to arrive after you have landed. Having none saves the time for both you and whoever is picking you up.
4. As awesome as muscles are... back sprains aren't a favorite of mine. On my last trip I brought a small bag packed with gifts (mostly books) and checked-in both my carry-on and that bag with full assurance from my departing point agent that I will receive the bags upon arrival back home. Surprise: they lied. Chicago is merciless when it comes to customs. There, I was told to take my luggage and bring it with me to the next check-in point. Dragging even a small bag filled with books for two hours through a huge line of customs and crowds of people isn't exactly a pleasant experience. I'm determined to avoid it at all costs in the future.
So how DO I manage to pack into a small carry-on? Below are a few tips to get you started.
1. Travel in the summer. Or when it's summer at your destination. O.K., so I admit that this tip is a little redundant, but seriously... Summer clothes are much lighter than winter ones, so you can fit more of them into a smaller space.
2. Get a good carry-on size suitcase. There's no point to have just a carry on, no matter how small, if you still have to lug it around on your shoulder or in your hand. A small suitcase that fits in the overhead compartment and has wheels is what you need to find. It needs to have an expandable hanger compartment coming out of its top -- that way you can bring suits/dresses without wrinkling them. Extra pockets on the outside are definitely a bonus -- mine has two in the front.
3. Plan ahead. I've been thinking about my trip ever since I came back two years ago. I've been buying clothes for a year with consideration for the trip. I've been brainstorming on SMALL presents for a couple months as well. (Small doesn't mean cheap by the way. i-Pods are small. So are diamond bracelets.) I'be been analyzing the settings I'll be in and figuring out if any of my clothes can be used in more than one. If you're not thinking the stuff through, you're bound to end up with a pile of stuff on your bed the night before, and bring crap you'll never use on the trip while not having half the stuff you need.
4. Shop ahead. This year I started a week early, and BOY am I happy I did that! I spent my first two days just walking around every store in Seattle and looking at prices and merchandise available. This gave me some pretty good ideas for presents. It also saved me money. I know that if I shopped last minute I would've grabbed the first thing available, and not necessarily the best deal. This also gave me an opportunity to figure out what I need. I'm about to return $300 worth of merchandise I realized I can perfectly do without, after owning it for a couple days. (NEVER throw away receipts or take tags off until you are actually putting an item on to wear!) Laying out all the presents ahead of time also allowed me to realize that some kids are getting way too much crap while others are getting too little, and that I have more shopping and returning to do.
5. Pack ahead. Take some time to sample-pack everything you are taking a few days early. Doing that made me aware of the fact that some presents are simply not the right shape for the suitcase and should be exchanged. And that all the new stuff I bought for myself doesn't fit so I have to return it all (Sigh... of relief for my credit card ;). It took a couple hours, but now I can sleep without worrying that something won't fit.
6. Use every nick and cranny available! My suitcase has its two handle rails showing on the bottom. Instead of just putting big items on there, I first stuff the space between the rails with small t-shirts, socks, and underwear. I also stuff shoes. Yes, it's tempting to put it all in one big bag. But much more efficient to stuff it here and there (just make sure nobody's watching while you're unpacking).
7. Wear heavy things on yourself. On my snowboarding trip I was able to bring a pair of boots with the fur because I wore them on the plane. This time I'm able to take two pairs of jeans instead of just one because I'll be wearing one of them. Coat rides on my shoulders as well. As do sneakers (on my feet).
8. If you absolutely need toiletries, bring sample sizes. You are only allowed one clear plastic bag of them anyways, so seriously pick and choose what you need and what you don't. Most likely your favorite aunt DOES own shampoo.
9. Trust your instincts. If the inner voice is telling you to take something out or put something in... Do it! You'll sleep better, and most likely you'll need or not need exactly that thing that you thought about.
10. Don't kid yourself. You will NOT be reading your extra-large size family bible with illustrations on the plane. If you're a christian, chances are people you're going to visit own enough bibles for you to read on location. You will also NOT finish work on your vacation. So don't bother bringing the laptop. Even if it's for showing pictures. Chances are the people you're visiting have a computer, so bring a flash drive instead. But seriously, I've learned that a small album with carefully selected photos that you can leave for your grandma after your departure works much better. More personal, and takes less time/space. Because trust me, even people you haven't seen for a while don't want to see 500 images from your recent trip to a small village in Idaho. And any work you do end up doing... well the amount is likely not enough to justify lugging a laptop around.
11. Be aware of current rules and regulations. Chances are security won't let you bring an expensive bottle of champagne/shampoo with you in the carry on. Think ahead. This way you'll make the line move faster both for yourself and for the people behind you.
HAPPY PACKING!!!!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Faith Revived
A miracle has happened. Or I really REALLY want to believe that it happened. I am now an owner of comfortable flats. Just like "fashion in Seattle," that notion has been a paradox for me for many years. I am a lucky owner of a few pairs of heels that I can wear comfortably for days at a time. (Ok, that's a slight exhageration... but I can at least get through a day in the office in them without major pain.) Comfortable flats on the other hand.... I have almost stopped believing in the notion. But my friend Nordstrom revived the faith.
My first experience with flats happened about five years ago, when after searching far and wide I finally settled on a pretty pair of brockaded Nine Wests. They were made of hard leather, which didn't stop me from getting them, because my hope was that they'd expand, just like the pumps that I got from Nine West did. Those 6 1/2 stillettos (I'm a solid 8 in pretty much all other brands) were the most comfortable shoe I've ever owned. And I absolutely killed them to a point of no repair. Another reason to get those flats were my favorite sandals. Also made by Nine West, those babies have served me faithfully for seven years. That's right. I've owned only one pair of black sandals for seven years, and I do not wish to part with them anytime soon. Granted, I've spent more on repairs than on the shoes themselves, but they are worth every penny. No surprise then that Nine West was a promising investment for flats as well. But I was mistaken. The leather was so hard that only an elephant would've expanded it, and probably only after twenty years of wearing them on a daily basis. The shoes have collected dust on my rack for three years. (Would anyone like to buy a pair of beautiful brockade Nine West flats?)
Next up -- a pretty black pair purchased for a good price in a boutique in Riga, Latvia. They were comfortable enough. More so than the elephant brockades. And I've absolutely worn them out, despite the fact that the sole was made out of wood, which gave me calluses, and the leather was man-made, to which my feet did not react in a good way. They were great, but not to the point of wearing them day in and day out without damage to my poor toes and the area which the "expandable" top hit. My feet looked like they had round zippers on them after I took the shoes off. Needless to say, I kept up the search.
My next attempt at comfort was also a pair from my friend Nordstrom. (One that today I'll attempt to return.) Hypothetically so comfortable that I was gonna get them in three different colors, they were a hidden torture. Hidden because the pain was caused by nothing predictable. Their shape just didnt mesh with my foot. The tracktion of my knuckles against the leather caused scrapes both on the knuckles and the shoe! It was the kind of pain that you can't bear -- the annoying, burn-like sensation that was made only worse with an addition of a bandaid. I couldn't SIT in the shoes, much less walk around. They were kept in the office for emergencies only -- like unexpected meetings with the public. The rest of the time I lived in flip-flops (I mean.... Sandals with a strap....)
Well, my trip to Latvia is coming up, and low and behold I realized that the aforementioned flip flops might not due there in the beginning of fall. Walking is the primary means of commute back in the mother country. And even though a lot of girls bravely trott about in four-inch heels, I'm just not up to par to handle that on the streets of old town paved with hand-made brick. (Did I mention the city's 800 years old?) So out I went again yesterday in search of comfortable flats.
I almost hit a jackpot with a pair of gold Seychelles on sale at Nordstrom Rack for $30.00 (wouldn't that have been nice...) But upon acquisition of the second shoe, it became apparent that only one foot feels comfortable in them. And not comfortable enough for long-term walking either. Another attempt was made at Ross, where, I thought it was a sure thing, a pair of burgundy flats with a buckle would satisfy my lust for comfort for a mere $21.99. But comfort is elusive, and upon return to my office and clearing of my head (and walking around for 20 minutes) it was evident that those shoes were not it.
After some research online, I found a blog on comfortable flats that raved about the ones from Lanvin. Not quite being at that point in the morning, by the end of the night I was just about ready to hand over $550.00 for comfort and design. But low and behold, Barneys did not carry my size in the magic color that went with everything. (Literally. I'm not kidding. Go check them out. The color seriously goes with EVERYTHING.) My friend Nordstrom, on the other hand, did not have the magic color. But to see my size I still tried the Lanvins on. Were they comfortable? No.
Knowing his product, and ready to wipe desperation off my face, the wonderful "Daniel" next opened a box with THEM. He claimed there is no flat that gets more comfortable than the beautiful creation he held so gently in his hands. After a day of trying on footwear that felt like chains, slipping into these felt like slipping into slippers at the end of a long, difficult day. The chemistry was there from the get-go. The price was less than half of the promising but non-delivering Lanvins. It was meant to be. I got them.
And I'm happy. Granted, I wasn't planning to spend that much on flats. But if these babies hold up and deliver what they promise, I will never regret the investment. So far I've walked up the hill to the bus stop in them (twice... forgot the coffee at home), and have not taken them off in the office for almost three hours. I'm still trying to feel out where they hurt. But the fact that it's difficult to determine leaves me with hope. My faith in a comfortable flat has been revived! And if I live through my trip in them... Well, i just might have to get a second pair!
My first experience with flats happened about five years ago, when after searching far and wide I finally settled on a pretty pair of brockaded Nine Wests. They were made of hard leather, which didn't stop me from getting them, because my hope was that they'd expand, just like the pumps that I got from Nine West did. Those 6 1/2 stillettos (I'm a solid 8 in pretty much all other brands) were the most comfortable shoe I've ever owned. And I absolutely killed them to a point of no repair. Another reason to get those flats were my favorite sandals. Also made by Nine West, those babies have served me faithfully for seven years. That's right. I've owned only one pair of black sandals for seven years, and I do not wish to part with them anytime soon. Granted, I've spent more on repairs than on the shoes themselves, but they are worth every penny. No surprise then that Nine West was a promising investment for flats as well. But I was mistaken. The leather was so hard that only an elephant would've expanded it, and probably only after twenty years of wearing them on a daily basis. The shoes have collected dust on my rack for three years. (Would anyone like to buy a pair of beautiful brockade Nine West flats?)
Next up -- a pretty black pair purchased for a good price in a boutique in Riga, Latvia. They were comfortable enough. More so than the elephant brockades. And I've absolutely worn them out, despite the fact that the sole was made out of wood, which gave me calluses, and the leather was man-made, to which my feet did not react in a good way. They were great, but not to the point of wearing them day in and day out without damage to my poor toes and the area which the "expandable" top hit. My feet looked like they had round zippers on them after I took the shoes off. Needless to say, I kept up the search.
My next attempt at comfort was also a pair from my friend Nordstrom. (One that today I'll attempt to return.) Hypothetically so comfortable that I was gonna get them in three different colors, they were a hidden torture. Hidden because the pain was caused by nothing predictable. Their shape just didnt mesh with my foot. The tracktion of my knuckles against the leather caused scrapes both on the knuckles and the shoe! It was the kind of pain that you can't bear -- the annoying, burn-like sensation that was made only worse with an addition of a bandaid. I couldn't SIT in the shoes, much less walk around. They were kept in the office for emergencies only -- like unexpected meetings with the public. The rest of the time I lived in flip-flops (I mean.... Sandals with a strap....)
Well, my trip to Latvia is coming up, and low and behold I realized that the aforementioned flip flops might not due there in the beginning of fall. Walking is the primary means of commute back in the mother country. And even though a lot of girls bravely trott about in four-inch heels, I'm just not up to par to handle that on the streets of old town paved with hand-made brick. (Did I mention the city's 800 years old?) So out I went again yesterday in search of comfortable flats.
I almost hit a jackpot with a pair of gold Seychelles on sale at Nordstrom Rack for $30.00 (wouldn't that have been nice...) But upon acquisition of the second shoe, it became apparent that only one foot feels comfortable in them. And not comfortable enough for long-term walking either. Another attempt was made at Ross, where, I thought it was a sure thing, a pair of burgundy flats with a buckle would satisfy my lust for comfort for a mere $21.99. But comfort is elusive, and upon return to my office and clearing of my head (and walking around for 20 minutes) it was evident that those shoes were not it.
After some research online, I found a blog on comfortable flats that raved about the ones from Lanvin. Not quite being at that point in the morning, by the end of the night I was just about ready to hand over $550.00 for comfort and design. But low and behold, Barneys did not carry my size in the magic color that went with everything. (Literally. I'm not kidding. Go check them out. The color seriously goes with EVERYTHING.) My friend Nordstrom, on the other hand, did not have the magic color. But to see my size I still tried the Lanvins on. Were they comfortable? No.
Knowing his product, and ready to wipe desperation off my face, the wonderful "Daniel" next opened a box with THEM. He claimed there is no flat that gets more comfortable than the beautiful creation he held so gently in his hands. After a day of trying on footwear that felt like chains, slipping into these felt like slipping into slippers at the end of a long, difficult day. The chemistry was there from the get-go. The price was less than half of the promising but non-delivering Lanvins. It was meant to be. I got them.
And I'm happy. Granted, I wasn't planning to spend that much on flats. But if these babies hold up and deliver what they promise, I will never regret the investment. So far I've walked up the hill to the bus stop in them (twice... forgot the coffee at home), and have not taken them off in the office for almost three hours. I'm still trying to feel out where they hurt. But the fact that it's difficult to determine leaves me with hope. My faith in a comfortable flat has been revived! And if I live through my trip in them... Well, i just might have to get a second pair!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I'm BACK!
After a weeks' worth of silence, I'm finally back! This long absence is due to my stupid habit of procrastination -- don't get me wrong, not procrastination to write on here. This blog is probably the highlight of my day every time I steal a minute to write. What I was procrastinating on is a project at work. But I made the mistake of promising myself that I won't write on any personal sites until I'm done with that project. Well, today I finally get my long awaited reward!
I always thought that if I begin posting, most of it is going to be on fashion. But it's been two months and a fashion post is amiss. Maybe it's because "Fashion in Seattle" is still a paradox, despite the dedicated efforts of the three design schools in the city and a small chapter of Fashion Group International. Yes, fashionable specimens can still be sighted on the streets of this energetic city. But they are few and far between. And usually not from Seattle.
But I get carried away. This is supposed to be yet another rant about something that is not going right in my life. Namely, it's been two years since I've started trying to find a basic tan (but I'll settle for brown) trenchish jacket, all in vain. I have an extreme necessity for it, especially during times of travel (my departure date is this Sunday.) What I'm looking for is so simple, that nobody makes it! It has to work both with dresses and jeans, so it can't be too long. It has to be made out of a material that's rain proof. And it has to fit.
So far I've found the stores in Seattle to carry the following:
#1.
My perfect coat in numerous colors other than tan or brown. You'd think that the merchandisers would have enough common sense to get a coat in grey, green, AND tan. But no. We've got yellow, red, purple, turquoise, indescribable... just no tan or brown.
#2.
A tan coat that's structured to fit a person with no curves in the chest area, but a large curve in the abdominal area. And no, I was not in the maternity section. Along the same lines, I've found many coats constructed to fit a board. So far the luck has been that if it fits in the waist I can't zip it up, but if it fits in the chest, I look like I'm about to give birth (NOT the case!). Similarly, I've found many coats for people whose hands apparently end at their upper hips. And once again... no, I was not trying coats on in the petite section
#3.
A tan coat that fits perfectly. And is made out of suede. (Seriously? in SEATTLE?)
#4. A tan coat that fits perfectly and is made out of rain-proof material. But is either a little long, (as in hits midway between hip and knee) or a little short (as in ends right below your chest.)
So here's a free business idea for all aspiring and established designers. Get some common sense and make a simple, versatile, tan, water-proof, normal length half-trench that fits! You'll be a millionaire!
http://www.imeem.com/sinna/music/zfrHMi6H/tony-dize-quizas-salsa-version/
I always thought that if I begin posting, most of it is going to be on fashion. But it's been two months and a fashion post is amiss. Maybe it's because "Fashion in Seattle" is still a paradox, despite the dedicated efforts of the three design schools in the city and a small chapter of Fashion Group International. Yes, fashionable specimens can still be sighted on the streets of this energetic city. But they are few and far between. And usually not from Seattle.
But I get carried away. This is supposed to be yet another rant about something that is not going right in my life. Namely, it's been two years since I've started trying to find a basic tan (but I'll settle for brown) trenchish jacket, all in vain. I have an extreme necessity for it, especially during times of travel (my departure date is this Sunday.) What I'm looking for is so simple, that nobody makes it! It has to work both with dresses and jeans, so it can't be too long. It has to be made out of a material that's rain proof. And it has to fit.
So far I've found the stores in Seattle to carry the following:
#1.
My perfect coat in numerous colors other than tan or brown. You'd think that the merchandisers would have enough common sense to get a coat in grey, green, AND tan. But no. We've got yellow, red, purple, turquoise, indescribable... just no tan or brown.
#2.
A tan coat that's structured to fit a person with no curves in the chest area, but a large curve in the abdominal area. And no, I was not in the maternity section. Along the same lines, I've found many coats constructed to fit a board. So far the luck has been that if it fits in the waist I can't zip it up, but if it fits in the chest, I look like I'm about to give birth (NOT the case!). Similarly, I've found many coats for people whose hands apparently end at their upper hips. And once again... no, I was not trying coats on in the petite section
#3.
A tan coat that fits perfectly. And is made out of suede. (Seriously? in SEATTLE?)
#4. A tan coat that fits perfectly and is made out of rain-proof material. But is either a little long, (as in hits midway between hip and knee) or a little short (as in ends right below your chest.)
So here's a free business idea for all aspiring and established designers. Get some common sense and make a simple, versatile, tan, water-proof, normal length half-trench that fits! You'll be a millionaire!
http://www.imeem.com/sinna/music/zfrHMi6H/tony-dize-quizas-salsa-version/
Monday, August 10, 2009
Settling In
I've been trying to completely quit my credit card since I've moved out. But I failed miserably over the weekend. For this very reason, you are now looking at a proud owner of a couch. Ok, fine, it's a futon. All my aspirations to have "real" and "grown up" furniture went down the drain with the purchase of this useful piece. It ALMOST looks like a couch. It's definitely not the "mattress on a frame" kind, although I almost bought that... but then my self-respect would've completely been destroyed.
Of course buying the thing was only half the task. The other half was getting it into my new apartment -- particularly from the car to the unit. For the weekend I borrowed my mom's pimp mini-van -- the couch fit snuggly in the back. Since the parents weren't available, I started looking for help amongst Seattle-dwellers of acquaintance. (Of course offers to help came largely AFTER the couch was already in the apartment.)
I woke up too late for my guy friend with muscle to help, and my girl with muscle woke up too late to help me. Fortunately, my "twin" Anna rushed to the rescue as soon as I called her. That's when all the fun began. There's technically only one way the couch would've even fit into the narrow openings leading into my unit. This way, naturally, was not at all the most comfortable to hold the couch for two frail women. It was also, of course, not the way we first figured we need to hold it.
One of the features that sold the futon to me was the fact that it folds two ways -- horizontally and vertically. A very versatile and useful combination for sitting or laying down. Not so much for moving it through narrow spaces. The only way it would've fit was if it was completely unfolded, standing vertically up on one of its sides. The couch, of course, had a mind of its own. It was determined to exhibit all its usefulness before it was set down on the designated spot. Both sides kept folding on their own at the worst possible times. At one point it was a toss-up between ruining the couch and ruining the railing around the apartment. Somehow both survived.
After 20 minutes of Herculian effort and hysterical laughter, the futon was finally in my living room. Of course, the thing looks A LOT bigger in my apartment than it did on the show floor in Fred Meyers. But it fit. And we got it in. Now I can have people over with a place for them to actually sit. I'm also now a proud owner of my first large piece of furniture, as well as worthy, serious, life expense related, grown up, credit card debt :)
Of course buying the thing was only half the task. The other half was getting it into my new apartment -- particularly from the car to the unit. For the weekend I borrowed my mom's pimp mini-van -- the couch fit snuggly in the back. Since the parents weren't available, I started looking for help amongst Seattle-dwellers of acquaintance. (Of course offers to help came largely AFTER the couch was already in the apartment.)
I woke up too late for my guy friend with muscle to help, and my girl with muscle woke up too late to help me. Fortunately, my "twin" Anna rushed to the rescue as soon as I called her. That's when all the fun began. There's technically only one way the couch would've even fit into the narrow openings leading into my unit. This way, naturally, was not at all the most comfortable to hold the couch for two frail women. It was also, of course, not the way we first figured we need to hold it.
One of the features that sold the futon to me was the fact that it folds two ways -- horizontally and vertically. A very versatile and useful combination for sitting or laying down. Not so much for moving it through narrow spaces. The only way it would've fit was if it was completely unfolded, standing vertically up on one of its sides. The couch, of course, had a mind of its own. It was determined to exhibit all its usefulness before it was set down on the designated spot. Both sides kept folding on their own at the worst possible times. At one point it was a toss-up between ruining the couch and ruining the railing around the apartment. Somehow both survived.
After 20 minutes of Herculian effort and hysterical laughter, the futon was finally in my living room. Of course, the thing looks A LOT bigger in my apartment than it did on the show floor in Fred Meyers. But it fit. And we got it in. Now I can have people over with a place for them to actually sit. I'm also now a proud owner of my first large piece of furniture, as well as worthy, serious, life expense related, grown up, credit card debt :)
Friday, August 7, 2009
Off Balance
I didn't exactly have an "off" night yesterday at Salsa, as much as it was an "off balance" night. My shoes have been due for repair for quite a while, and not finding the time to do it has effectively translated into me feeling like a cow on an ice-skating rink. I'm too lazy to write today, so I'll keep this short and sweet and just say that people aren't the only ones who have "off balance" moments. Check out this poor guy:
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Apartment Hunt Tale
The apartment I have is a perfect first place. It's quirky, bright, cozy, colorful, and a perfect combination of old-world charm and decent renovation. It was the first place I found after a month break from looking, the first one I went to see, and the only one I filled out an application for. But before resuming my search at the end of July, I spent half of May and the entire June looking at different places almost every day. Sometimes I'd cram three or even four apartments into a night, and some were good, but out of my price range. Others were just not somewhere I wanted to come home to after a long day at work. During my search I've met with various managers, situations, and owners... Below are a couple of my chance encounters.
Encounter #1
I walk past a charming red-brick in Belltown. The exterior is as classy and romantic as it gets. Clearly, the building holds a lot of history within, and as I pass it I imagine a cozy little place with mozaic tile in the bathroom, hardwood floors with a pattern, and red brick showing on one of the walls. The entry holds a sign "1 bedroom and studio for rent. See manager six doors down (arrow pointing in the right direction included.)" I start counting the doors. The sixth one is a small shop that sells something so old that I can't even tell for sure what it is. To me it looks like a hybrid of a camera, telescope, and shotgun. An archaic relic is standing behind the counter. I approach.
"Is this the right place to see the manager for the apartment building down the street?" "That would be me!" I turn on as much charm as safely reasonable to entice an older gentlemen without turning him into an older creep. He absolutely falls for it, and soon the relic is telling me the story of his daughter leaving her company, including all the juicy details of office rivalry, backstabbing, drama, and gossip. I won't name the company, since it's one of the huge ones based in Washington, along with Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon. All I'll say is that their coffee is GOOD.
Patiently I listen, smile, and nod my head for a good forty minutes. The unit in my imagination is totally worth the time I'm wasting. Finally, he takes out the key and murmurs the seven long-awaited words: "So... you want to go see it?" YES!!! We walk down the block to the building. We enter. A strong smell of old and garbage immediately penetrates my senses. We pass through what used to be a door into the hallway and the smell changes. Now it's smoke. I look around. Oh the judgments we make based on exterior appearances! How strongly they mislead us. The 120 year old building has clearly never seen any renovation. The carpet in the hallway, where there's still any left, is drained with stains of variety comparable only to species in a rainforest. A ghostlike creature slowly descends down the stairs and greets the manager without moving a single muscle on its face. I'm ready to bolt out of there immediately, but decide to stick it out until the end, out of respect for age and wisdom.
Age and wisdom proceeds to slowly walk to the unit, stopping at every turn to recount the many moments of its long life. Finally it lets me into the studio. I feel like I stepped into a movie. Into a horror 1920's silent film with an abandoned castle and Frenkeinstein looming around that is. A thick layer of dust and dirt is covering the floor and walls. There is spider web in the corners. The closet containing a pull-out bed is dark enough to hold hundreds of monsters who will surely come out and get you in the night. The paint on walls and kitchen... let's call them cabinets... is chipped to the point that it looks like graffitty on the streets of Brooklyn -- all colorful and dreary.
"I usually rent it out for $950 but I'll lower it down to $850 for you." Is he blind or in denial? And who the heck would be dumb enough to pay that much for a hole like this? The answer soon emerges as the relic tells of numerous raids that went through the building in search of illegal immigrants residing on its premises and drug busts. To be polite, I ask about the electricity bill. It's $150 a month in the winter. He's crazy. But once again, the reason emerges almost immediately as I inspect the windows and find that they are placed into the frame at somewhat of an angle. About 45 degrees I would say. Large enough of an angle to fit my entire hand through the "crack" between the frame and the window! "So, what do you think? You want it?" "I will sleep on it" -- my standard answer. No need though. All I want is to get out of the smelly, shady place. But my new painfully developed contact in the business of telescope-shotgun-camerathingys doesn't need to know.
Encounter #2
On my way from a friends house to work I pass another charming old-style building and imagine how cute it'd be to live in. (You'd think i've learned my lesson from the haunted house, right?) Low and behold, craigslist that day holds an ad for a one bedroom in my price range in that exact location! I don't waste a second, and make an appointment to see it that afternoon. Taking a risk of running slightly over the lunch hour, I arrive early to make a good impression and call the manager to let me in. No response. But I figure he'll be there by the time of our appointment. Exactly on the hour I call again. Nothing. But once again, the charm of the building is strong enough to glue me to my spot and wait, wait, and wait.
Twenty minutes later the manager calls me back, apologizing, and stating that he forgot about the appointment but can be there in ten minutes. O.K. I'd have to see the unit VERY quickly. Twenty minutes later he finally arrives. "I am SO sorry for being late, can I take you out for coffee or something to make up for it?" He's young, and not too attractive, but taking advantage of his immediate reaction I turn on my charm and get into the mode of playful dismay in attempt to get what I want. "And how would that benefit ME?" I ask with a smile. "I was thinking more like you should lower the advertised rent." He's game, and immediately takes off $50 a month. Score.
We enter the apartment, and its nothing special. It's not bad, but the pink bathtub (did Seattle go through an insanity phase or something? Who makes tubs PINK?!) and the water knob installed in such a way as to allow for hot water to only passively trickle out, makes me depressed. Unfortunately for the manager I'm not into cold showers. But he doesn't need to know. I tell him I'll think about it, and he asks again if he can take me out for coffee. I politely refuse one more time. He asks if I would like an application, and I politely agree to take one. We step into his office, and he once again asks if I'd like to have a cup of coffee, or lunch or something. No, I would not like that.
To keep the conversation going, I get on my usual safe topic of electricity bills. "Well my girlfriend and I have lived in a unit just like this for a year and it was no more than $35 for two months. But we moved to a bigger place now." Hmm... I wonder what she'd think about him making up his being late to our appointment by taking me out to lunch... I take the application, thank him, and proceed to leave. At the last minute he checks one more time if maybe I'd like to grab something to eat with him sometime. Oh the bond of loving committed relationships!
Encounter #1
I walk past a charming red-brick in Belltown. The exterior is as classy and romantic as it gets. Clearly, the building holds a lot of history within, and as I pass it I imagine a cozy little place with mozaic tile in the bathroom, hardwood floors with a pattern, and red brick showing on one of the walls. The entry holds a sign "1 bedroom and studio for rent. See manager six doors down (arrow pointing in the right direction included.)" I start counting the doors. The sixth one is a small shop that sells something so old that I can't even tell for sure what it is. To me it looks like a hybrid of a camera, telescope, and shotgun. An archaic relic is standing behind the counter. I approach.
"Is this the right place to see the manager for the apartment building down the street?" "That would be me!" I turn on as much charm as safely reasonable to entice an older gentlemen without turning him into an older creep. He absolutely falls for it, and soon the relic is telling me the story of his daughter leaving her company, including all the juicy details of office rivalry, backstabbing, drama, and gossip. I won't name the company, since it's one of the huge ones based in Washington, along with Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon. All I'll say is that their coffee is GOOD.
Patiently I listen, smile, and nod my head for a good forty minutes. The unit in my imagination is totally worth the time I'm wasting. Finally, he takes out the key and murmurs the seven long-awaited words: "So... you want to go see it?" YES!!! We walk down the block to the building. We enter. A strong smell of old and garbage immediately penetrates my senses. We pass through what used to be a door into the hallway and the smell changes. Now it's smoke. I look around. Oh the judgments we make based on exterior appearances! How strongly they mislead us. The 120 year old building has clearly never seen any renovation. The carpet in the hallway, where there's still any left, is drained with stains of variety comparable only to species in a rainforest. A ghostlike creature slowly descends down the stairs and greets the manager without moving a single muscle on its face. I'm ready to bolt out of there immediately, but decide to stick it out until the end, out of respect for age and wisdom.
Age and wisdom proceeds to slowly walk to the unit, stopping at every turn to recount the many moments of its long life. Finally it lets me into the studio. I feel like I stepped into a movie. Into a horror 1920's silent film with an abandoned castle and Frenkeinstein looming around that is. A thick layer of dust and dirt is covering the floor and walls. There is spider web in the corners. The closet containing a pull-out bed is dark enough to hold hundreds of monsters who will surely come out and get you in the night. The paint on walls and kitchen... let's call them cabinets... is chipped to the point that it looks like graffitty on the streets of Brooklyn -- all colorful and dreary.
"I usually rent it out for $950 but I'll lower it down to $850 for you." Is he blind or in denial? And who the heck would be dumb enough to pay that much for a hole like this? The answer soon emerges as the relic tells of numerous raids that went through the building in search of illegal immigrants residing on its premises and drug busts. To be polite, I ask about the electricity bill. It's $150 a month in the winter. He's crazy. But once again, the reason emerges almost immediately as I inspect the windows and find that they are placed into the frame at somewhat of an angle. About 45 degrees I would say. Large enough of an angle to fit my entire hand through the "crack" between the frame and the window! "So, what do you think? You want it?" "I will sleep on it" -- my standard answer. No need though. All I want is to get out of the smelly, shady place. But my new painfully developed contact in the business of telescope-shotgun-camerathingys doesn't need to know.
Encounter #2
On my way from a friends house to work I pass another charming old-style building and imagine how cute it'd be to live in. (You'd think i've learned my lesson from the haunted house, right?) Low and behold, craigslist that day holds an ad for a one bedroom in my price range in that exact location! I don't waste a second, and make an appointment to see it that afternoon. Taking a risk of running slightly over the lunch hour, I arrive early to make a good impression and call the manager to let me in. No response. But I figure he'll be there by the time of our appointment. Exactly on the hour I call again. Nothing. But once again, the charm of the building is strong enough to glue me to my spot and wait, wait, and wait.
Twenty minutes later the manager calls me back, apologizing, and stating that he forgot about the appointment but can be there in ten minutes. O.K. I'd have to see the unit VERY quickly. Twenty minutes later he finally arrives. "I am SO sorry for being late, can I take you out for coffee or something to make up for it?" He's young, and not too attractive, but taking advantage of his immediate reaction I turn on my charm and get into the mode of playful dismay in attempt to get what I want. "And how would that benefit ME?" I ask with a smile. "I was thinking more like you should lower the advertised rent." He's game, and immediately takes off $50 a month. Score.
We enter the apartment, and its nothing special. It's not bad, but the pink bathtub (did Seattle go through an insanity phase or something? Who makes tubs PINK?!) and the water knob installed in such a way as to allow for hot water to only passively trickle out, makes me depressed. Unfortunately for the manager I'm not into cold showers. But he doesn't need to know. I tell him I'll think about it, and he asks again if he can take me out for coffee. I politely refuse one more time. He asks if I would like an application, and I politely agree to take one. We step into his office, and he once again asks if I'd like to have a cup of coffee, or lunch or something. No, I would not like that.
To keep the conversation going, I get on my usual safe topic of electricity bills. "Well my girlfriend and I have lived in a unit just like this for a year and it was no more than $35 for two months. But we moved to a bigger place now." Hmm... I wonder what she'd think about him making up his being late to our appointment by taking me out to lunch... I take the application, thank him, and proceed to leave. At the last minute he checks one more time if maybe I'd like to grab something to eat with him sometime. Oh the bond of loving committed relationships!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Pedicure
I have never undertipped in my life. There is something inside me that feels bad for people even when they don't meet expectations. So no matter how horrible the service, I always pay up, and usually more than expected. I like to give people the benefit of a doubt. After all, the waitress might just be having a bad night while dealing with being a single mom with three mouths to feed. But I guess even I have my limits, because a couple days ago I didn't tip the girl who did my toenails a single penny! Here's how it happened:
Gone are the days for me when a monthly french manicure and pedicure wasn't a big deal for my wallet (but hey, having my own place in Seattle is TOTALLY worth it!). But after two incredible but very difficult on my poor feet nights of Salsa in addition to skipping out on my monthly ritual for the past three months to save up for my apartment, I decided to indulge myself in just a pedicure. Not french. Just color. (sigh.)
Although I've always known that Myano nails on third and pike aren't that great with color, I'm a sucker for the foot massage they give, including a sugar scrub, lotion, and hot towels. Since it was for the relaxation that I was going, and not a good color (who cares, it'll be off the next Salsa night anyways...), I happily trotted into the spa after work, all in anticipation of the wonderful experience awaiting me. Or so I thought.
It all began when they didn't have my favorite lotion. But oh well, not a big deal, I will live. But it only got worse from there. Ok, I realize my feet weren't exactly in stellar condition, and they might have been extra sensitive from dancing... but the girl seriously should've considered that.
I settled down into the massage chair, set up the settings the way I wanted, and closed my eyes.... POKE. Ouch. I jerked. She was using a sharp object on my cuticles, and not too carefully either. But I let it go the first time. One mistake - no big deal. So once again I closed my eyes. POKE. POKE. POKE. Still giving her the benefit of a doubt, and blaming my dancer feet for the trouble causing her to be not-so-gentle, I decided to just keep my eyes open and stay alert. Well, she poked every single toe that she touched! And it was painful. And the worst thing was that it didn't end there!
After finally being done with my cuticles, the woman buffered my nails. Normal procedure, but she proceeded to buffer my SKIN along with the nail. On the little toes. So now, in addition to poke wounds, I had a burn from buffering on the knuckles of my toes. It kept going. While working on my soles, she tickled me. Once again I jerked, and explained to her that I'm ticklish. But since once again it's normal procedure, I let her finish the sole in any way she wanted.
It was finally time for a massage. Before it she generously poured some oil on my feet. She let one go back in the water, but when I asked if I can wash the other one real quick she insisted to grab onto it and said no. I hate oil. It doesn't feel soothing or relaxing to me. It feels greasy and dirty. So there went the good experience of the first leg. In addition, she insisted on massaging my sole. Wouldn't you catch on to stay away from that area when a person is ticklish on their feet?
The second leg/foot started out a little better, it being clean and all. But then another customer came in and caused a commotion, so my pedicurist stopped paying attention and started massaging JUST my sole! So for my massage I pretty much got about five minutes worth of non-stop tickling. You'd think that was finally it? Time it came for the color.
And the pretty pink that I picked out ended up being more of a pearly-ultraviolet blue. Now the norm for the worker would be to ask if I like the color. Did she do that? NOOUUU. So I had to interrupt and ask if I can change my polish choice. She let me, but her face expressed such annoyance that it felt at least uncomfortable to go pick a different color.
Needless to say that by the end of this session I was mad. I didn't complain. I just didn't tip. And the guys over there know my style of tipping well. So I guess that will be punishment enough for her for inflicting all this pain on me. My toes are still throbbing from all the buffering and poking. The color has bled into the sides of my toes (fixed at home.) And if you ever decide to visit Myano nails, please ask that your nails aren't done by Linda.
Gone are the days for me when a monthly french manicure and pedicure wasn't a big deal for my wallet (but hey, having my own place in Seattle is TOTALLY worth it!). But after two incredible but very difficult on my poor feet nights of Salsa in addition to skipping out on my monthly ritual for the past three months to save up for my apartment, I decided to indulge myself in just a pedicure. Not french. Just color. (sigh.)
Although I've always known that Myano nails on third and pike aren't that great with color, I'm a sucker for the foot massage they give, including a sugar scrub, lotion, and hot towels. Since it was for the relaxation that I was going, and not a good color (who cares, it'll be off the next Salsa night anyways...), I happily trotted into the spa after work, all in anticipation of the wonderful experience awaiting me. Or so I thought.
It all began when they didn't have my favorite lotion. But oh well, not a big deal, I will live. But it only got worse from there. Ok, I realize my feet weren't exactly in stellar condition, and they might have been extra sensitive from dancing... but the girl seriously should've considered that.
I settled down into the massage chair, set up the settings the way I wanted, and closed my eyes.... POKE. Ouch. I jerked. She was using a sharp object on my cuticles, and not too carefully either. But I let it go the first time. One mistake - no big deal. So once again I closed my eyes. POKE. POKE. POKE. Still giving her the benefit of a doubt, and blaming my dancer feet for the trouble causing her to be not-so-gentle, I decided to just keep my eyes open and stay alert. Well, she poked every single toe that she touched! And it was painful. And the worst thing was that it didn't end there!
After finally being done with my cuticles, the woman buffered my nails. Normal procedure, but she proceeded to buffer my SKIN along with the nail. On the little toes. So now, in addition to poke wounds, I had a burn from buffering on the knuckles of my toes. It kept going. While working on my soles, she tickled me. Once again I jerked, and explained to her that I'm ticklish. But since once again it's normal procedure, I let her finish the sole in any way she wanted.
It was finally time for a massage. Before it she generously poured some oil on my feet. She let one go back in the water, but when I asked if I can wash the other one real quick she insisted to grab onto it and said no. I hate oil. It doesn't feel soothing or relaxing to me. It feels greasy and dirty. So there went the good experience of the first leg. In addition, she insisted on massaging my sole. Wouldn't you catch on to stay away from that area when a person is ticklish on their feet?
The second leg/foot started out a little better, it being clean and all. But then another customer came in and caused a commotion, so my pedicurist stopped paying attention and started massaging JUST my sole! So for my massage I pretty much got about five minutes worth of non-stop tickling. You'd think that was finally it? Time it came for the color.
And the pretty pink that I picked out ended up being more of a pearly-ultraviolet blue. Now the norm for the worker would be to ask if I like the color. Did she do that? NOOUUU. So I had to interrupt and ask if I can change my polish choice. She let me, but her face expressed such annoyance that it felt at least uncomfortable to go pick a different color.
Needless to say that by the end of this session I was mad. I didn't complain. I just didn't tip. And the guys over there know my style of tipping well. So I guess that will be punishment enough for her for inflicting all this pain on me. My toes are still throbbing from all the buffering and poking. The color has bled into the sides of my toes (fixed at home.) And if you ever decide to visit Myano nails, please ask that your nails aren't done by Linda.
What makes a good Salsa night.
I already wrote about what makes a bad Salsa night. And as I don't really want to come off as a horrible pain-in-the-butt complainer, I feel like it's my duty to write the reverse of that story and break down what makes an "On" night. Plus, as if to make up for that extra-horrible one, I've had good ones for the last week and a half. But last night was exceptional. So naturally what else would I be inspired to write about?
A good salsa night starts inside you. You'll never have one if you're feeling too sad/fat/skinny/clumsy/overdressed/underdressed/guilty/jealous or anything else that'd restrict you from being your natural bubbly self. I've found that a genuine smile goes a LOOOOOOONG way and the only way to produce one is to completely not care what anyone else thinks and just enjoy the music, dancing, and atmosphere.
I tried to think of more criteria for what makes a good salsa night, but quickly realized that all it is is a few milestone moments that put a smile on your face. I have three in mind from yesterday, which, of course, won't be applicable to anyone else, but oh well. It's my blog :)
A good night is when you can act like ten-year olds with a bunch of your friends at a practica and pretty much do whatever to just have fun. (Anna, Carlette, Michael, Jim, Tuo and Jim.... you know what I'm talking about ;) After all, toning up the skills of cutting in on a dance, as if to practice for your birthday, is equally as important as perfecting your turns. And then there's all those body rolls and hip-hop moves to master! Those, if synchronized, or done for the first time (or the fifteenth that looks like it's your first), will get you lots of laughs of approval. That's what practicas are for anyways, right?
Then there is a moment that makes you feel like you're in a classic film. Live Jazz is playing, and the music is so moving that you simply can't sit still. Luckily, your favorite lead is right in front of you, so you can just grab him and lose yourself in the dance. And then another one. And another one. And your dress is twirling, and that genuine smile automatically comes on and stays until your cheeks start hurting. Because the rhythm of the music is so good, and he is so completely comfortable to dance with...
And of course there is that moment of unexpected excitement when someone you never thought you'd EVER be good enough to dance with asks you for one (without a prompt). What makes it even better is that somehow you manage to relax and enjoy yourself instead of being anxious and nervous. And that's when the magic happens and you can fully appreciate his incredible skill and sense of timing -- a rare find on the floor. Leading your first step on a five instead of one after a combination? Not a chance! And the preps for the spins are timed precisely to a mille-second, so you know exactly how many he's going to fit in there, because it works so well with the music. When the lead has such an impeccable sense of timing you start to appreciate Salsa on an entirely different level. The experience is priceless.
Lastly... of course I couldn't leave even one post without a complaint. This is for all the leads out there who keep holding on with their thumbs... please stop hurting me! Nobody will die if I slip away from you during a turn. But there's really no reason for me to be leaving Century with bruises on my hands after an otherwise perfect night.
But even pain can't spoil a good night :)
Bruises:
In case you missed them:
A good salsa night starts inside you. You'll never have one if you're feeling too sad/fat/skinny/clumsy/overdressed/underdressed/guilty/jealous or anything else that'd restrict you from being your natural bubbly self. I've found that a genuine smile goes a LOOOOOOONG way and the only way to produce one is to completely not care what anyone else thinks and just enjoy the music, dancing, and atmosphere.
I tried to think of more criteria for what makes a good salsa night, but quickly realized that all it is is a few milestone moments that put a smile on your face. I have three in mind from yesterday, which, of course, won't be applicable to anyone else, but oh well. It's my blog :)
A good night is when you can act like ten-year olds with a bunch of your friends at a practica and pretty much do whatever to just have fun. (Anna, Carlette, Michael, Jim, Tuo and Jim.... you know what I'm talking about ;) After all, toning up the skills of cutting in on a dance, as if to practice for your birthday, is equally as important as perfecting your turns. And then there's all those body rolls and hip-hop moves to master! Those, if synchronized, or done for the first time (or the fifteenth that looks like it's your first), will get you lots of laughs of approval. That's what practicas are for anyways, right?
Then there is a moment that makes you feel like you're in a classic film. Live Jazz is playing, and the music is so moving that you simply can't sit still. Luckily, your favorite lead is right in front of you, so you can just grab him and lose yourself in the dance. And then another one. And another one. And your dress is twirling, and that genuine smile automatically comes on and stays until your cheeks start hurting. Because the rhythm of the music is so good, and he is so completely comfortable to dance with...
And of course there is that moment of unexpected excitement when someone you never thought you'd EVER be good enough to dance with asks you for one (without a prompt). What makes it even better is that somehow you manage to relax and enjoy yourself instead of being anxious and nervous. And that's when the magic happens and you can fully appreciate his incredible skill and sense of timing -- a rare find on the floor. Leading your first step on a five instead of one after a combination? Not a chance! And the preps for the spins are timed precisely to a mille-second, so you know exactly how many he's going to fit in there, because it works so well with the music. When the lead has such an impeccable sense of timing you start to appreciate Salsa on an entirely different level. The experience is priceless.
Lastly... of course I couldn't leave even one post without a complaint. This is for all the leads out there who keep holding on with their thumbs... please stop hurting me! Nobody will die if I slip away from you during a turn. But there's really no reason for me to be leaving Century with bruises on my hands after an otherwise perfect night.
But even pain can't spoil a good night :)
Bruises:
In case you missed them:
Friday, July 31, 2009
First Stuff
I've waited for at least 10 years to finally have my own space to decorate exactly how I want. I now have the place, the money for the stuff, and the time to go buy it. So after a long trip to a couple stores tonight I came home with... NOTHING. And I don't understand what the heck is wrong with me! But I have my theories.
Theory #1: There's too much stuff to buy and I don't know where to start. I practically don't have anything to move into my apartment, except for my clothes. Ironically, clothes are the only thing that even made it into my shopping cart today. I walked up and down at least a dozen isles, some of them several times. I touched the towels, took out the laundry hampers, compared prices for the coffee makers, and couldn't decide.
Theory #2: It's unfamiliar territory. I mean, throw me into clothes or shoes and I'll be able to tell you exactly what's worth what, what's a good bargain, and what's a worthy investment. By now I'm instinctually able to pick out quality. Even in places like TJ Maxx and Ross I still manage to get drawn to the only purse in the store that costs $299.00 (on sale!). Household stuff? Not so much. I have no clue how much pots and pans cost, and which ones are good quality. And my usual modernish style definitely doesn't mesh well with the quirkiness of my new place. Plus, I haven't stayed there long enough to know the dimensions and to figure out exactly what I need and don't need. I also don't know how much stuff I'll be able to comfortable jack from home, and I definitely don't want to invest in duplicates...
Theory #3: I'm resenting leaving home now that I have to do it. I think this was most strongly evident today when out of a line of dishes in target I was only attracted to the white ones with... PINK FLOWERS!!! If you know anything about me, you'll remember that I'm all about clean lines, weird shapes, and classy or bright colors. Flowers... not so much. I've successfully killed several plants in my office, and about half of my mom's potted flowers while she was gone. I'm just NOT a flower person -- live or decoration. But I'm imagining them hanging from the hook outside my window! Am I turning into mom?!
Theory #4: I'm being smart about money. Maybe the difficult part is choosing what I get right away and what I get later. But the looming sense that rent is due September 1st and on the first of every month for the next year is... overwhelming. And I'm not about to get into credit card debt just so I can have all my stuff right away. That'd make it fun only for one night anyways. There'd be no gradual acquisition of treasures... No history of my household. So pick and choose I must.
Theory #5: It's that mentality of opposition. Now that I have to actually buy everything, I don't want to do it! It's the same in working and writing. I only enjoy it when I don't have to. I've had so many days when I'd start outputing crazy amounts of work the minute it's time to go home! And accomplish more in several hours on a weekend in my office than I've done the entire week... I guess it's called stubborness. I should work on that.
All I'm hoping for is that tomorrow will be a new day, I'll be well rested, and think better than tonight. Because right now I can't stop thinking about those dishes with flowers... Which just shows I really need some sleep.
Theory #1: There's too much stuff to buy and I don't know where to start. I practically don't have anything to move into my apartment, except for my clothes. Ironically, clothes are the only thing that even made it into my shopping cart today. I walked up and down at least a dozen isles, some of them several times. I touched the towels, took out the laundry hampers, compared prices for the coffee makers, and couldn't decide.
Theory #2: It's unfamiliar territory. I mean, throw me into clothes or shoes and I'll be able to tell you exactly what's worth what, what's a good bargain, and what's a worthy investment. By now I'm instinctually able to pick out quality. Even in places like TJ Maxx and Ross I still manage to get drawn to the only purse in the store that costs $299.00 (on sale!). Household stuff? Not so much. I have no clue how much pots and pans cost, and which ones are good quality. And my usual modernish style definitely doesn't mesh well with the quirkiness of my new place. Plus, I haven't stayed there long enough to know the dimensions and to figure out exactly what I need and don't need. I also don't know how much stuff I'll be able to comfortable jack from home, and I definitely don't want to invest in duplicates...
Theory #3: I'm resenting leaving home now that I have to do it. I think this was most strongly evident today when out of a line of dishes in target I was only attracted to the white ones with... PINK FLOWERS!!! If you know anything about me, you'll remember that I'm all about clean lines, weird shapes, and classy or bright colors. Flowers... not so much. I've successfully killed several plants in my office, and about half of my mom's potted flowers while she was gone. I'm just NOT a flower person -- live or decoration. But I'm imagining them hanging from the hook outside my window! Am I turning into mom?!
Theory #4: I'm being smart about money. Maybe the difficult part is choosing what I get right away and what I get later. But the looming sense that rent is due September 1st and on the first of every month for the next year is... overwhelming. And I'm not about to get into credit card debt just so I can have all my stuff right away. That'd make it fun only for one night anyways. There'd be no gradual acquisition of treasures... No history of my household. So pick and choose I must.
Theory #5: It's that mentality of opposition. Now that I have to actually buy everything, I don't want to do it! It's the same in working and writing. I only enjoy it when I don't have to. I've had so many days when I'd start outputing crazy amounts of work the minute it's time to go home! And accomplish more in several hours on a weekend in my office than I've done the entire week... I guess it's called stubborness. I should work on that.
All I'm hoping for is that tomorrow will be a new day, I'll be well rested, and think better than tonight. Because right now I can't stop thinking about those dishes with flowers... Which just shows I really need some sleep.
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