My Anniversary

Let the record state that today is my one-year anniversary with Stephen Colbert.

It was on this 31st day of January last year that Kathleen and I waited in the snow to see the Colbert Report where we got front seats, got to shake his hand, and I subsequently went off and pierced my nose afterwards to mark the occasion.



Awww a whole year and heart bubbles still come flying out the top o' my head! ♥

Blogality Show

The below is from a late night gchat conversation yesterday

Ronnie: omg
you updated!
i'm reading it RIGHT NOW
i love HANGING OUT WITH YOU
and then reading about myself afterwards!
it's like I'm performing for an audience
and you're siskel and ebert!!!
or it's like a
BLOGality Show

This is me and Ronnie from June 2008. Man do I look fabulously tan...

In light of Ronnie's über-excitement of my blog, I wanted to share my favorite Ronnie anecdote (Ronecdote!) from Sophistication Day 2012, spoken at the end of the sushi meal as we were kicking back and still downing the sake.

Betsy: I hope my cats haven't killed each other
Ronnie: Well they don't have their claws yet, do they?
Betsy: Ronnie, are you serious? Children are born with fingernails...
Ronnie: Sorry I'm not a marine biologist!

True story 2012.

Sophistication Day!

Yesterday was a day of refinement, the better things in life, and SOPHISTICATION.

...this was at least the hope that Ronnie, Betsy and I had when we planned out Sophistication Day 2012 as we planned to get fancy, go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then sip on wine or martinis afterwards. I think our only rule was "No wearing Forever 21". And on that account, we certainly did succeed in our sophistication. But not by much else.

It was my first time to the Met, and even though we beelined to the cafe, we still saw a lot, including the New American Wing (The Crossing of the Delaware is massive and very impressive!) plenty of Van Gogh's (my FAVORITE), medieval art (which I also LOVE) suits of armor, swords, and modern art.



(Below is the field of armor of King Henry VIII. Is anyone else appalled that he was considered obese and today this is practically fit?!)




(I thought this was in Chicago? Doesn't this scream Ferris Bueller to you?)




After the Met we traded in martinis for sushi and unlimited sake (to be fair, Ronnie did have white wine) and a walk to the Village where Ronnie treated us to gelato. All in all it was fabulous, although to sum up, below are some of the ways we succeeded and failed yesterday:

SOPHISTICATED:
Seeing almost all of the Met!
Sipping coffee at the Met cafe overlooking Central Park!
Heels and stockings and the Royal ring!
Sushi!
Gelato with fancy spoons!
Being comfortably in bed with a book and a cup of tea by 10:30 p.m.!
No hangover on Sunday morning!

UNSOPHISTICATED:
Taking the crosstown bus.
Ignoring the first half of the Met to go to the cafe.
Blisters and sore feet bones.
Unclassy dinosaurs on first dates spitting sushi out while she talked next to us
Certain stores in the Village we found ourselves in

So as you can see, we were more sophisticated than not. And as I have just narrowly remembered that I have homework for my creative writing class tomorrow, I shall be off.



Til Sophistication Day 2013, my friends

The Sound of Defeat

Last weekend I went to a talk with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein of Portlandia (amazing!) and it was snowing that day, and it continued to snow all night. It was so beautiful and perfect! I love the snow and it was kinda the first snow of the season and I was so warm and after the Portlandia thing I sat in a Starbucks reading and looking out the window down the Avenue of the Americas at West 57th Street, before walking home through Central Park.







I love the snow, and it's been really devastating it hasn't snowed more than the one day. I mean, if you have to suffer through the cold and wind and rain of winter, might as well give me some snow to look at. (Today it's going to be up to 51. What the hell?!)

But the TRUE topper of the weekend was that damn Giants / 49ers game. Let the record state that I go for the Chargers #1, but if ever they're out, I'm happy to support the West Coast and all my best friendys back home with the 49ers. I was on the way to Betsy's to watch the Patriots / Ravens game first and stopped in a market to pick up snacks and saw this:



Why would they sell this in NYC when they were playing against the Giants?! Who cares. And here's the kicker... how confusing was my shirt?!



It was my only San Francisco relic... so I wore this for the San Francisco Giants in support of the other SF team, the 49ers. I figured it had to be okay because Sri wears an SF Giants baseball hat in 49ers colors so... right? Too bad I was wearing it against the New York GIANTS, aka for like the one match you can't. Well anyway we relocated to a bar for that game and I had a lot of people come up to me when I started cheering at SF touchdowns "Wait... are you going for San Francisco??" I made an unusually large amount of friends at that game considering I was going against New York, but it was really very fun! Even if it was nail biting agony to have a 17-17 score and go into overtime... and lose. It felt like that Chargers/Jets game back in 2009 SO DISAPPOINTING! But as one of my new friends told me: "I think they'll be okay. They're still going home to their million dollar paychecks and mansions." Touche.

After the game was over the bar started blasting New York songs and everyone was going crazy. Betsy just looked at me and said "The sound of defeat, eh?"



Well after the stupid Superbowl I can go back for cheering for the Chargers.

Cause I'm Thinking All The Time

This fire grows higher

When there's a burning in your heart
An endless yearning in your heart
Build it bigger than the sun
Let it grow, let it grow
When there's a burning in your heart
Don't be alarmed

When there's a doubt within your mind
Because you're thinking all the time
Framing rights into wrongs
Move along, move along
When there's a doubt within your mind

When there's a burning in your heart
And you think it'll burst apart
Or there's nothing to feel
Save the tears, save the tears
When there's a burning in your heart

And if you feel just like a tourist in the city you were born
Then it's time to go
And define your destination
There's so many different places to call home

Because when you find yourself the villain in the story you have written
It's plain to see
That sometimes the best intentions are in need of redemption
Would you agree?
If so please show me



This fire grows higher
When there's a burning in your heart

PORTLANDIA

It is the best show you're not watching.

I caught a glimpse of it when I was visiting Mat out in California, and I love Fred Armisen so I asked him about it and he kinda explained it but now I see he didn't do a very good job because it's even more amazing than what he described. I caught an episode at Jayna's and last night I watched just about everything on Netflix. I haven't laughed so hard at a TV show in a long time.

It's incredible that it's just TWO people, with 4-5 different sketches or stories in EACH episode. And they always have such great guest stars... (Steve Buscemi for one!) But I guess the hipster culture gives us endless good things to laugh about.



"I'm sorry to interrupt but I had exactly that same question"

"I am so weird with that gas pedal! It just-- moves the whole vehicle forward..."

LOLOLOLOLOL This Carrie girl is my new hero, and Fred Armisen is my new celebrity love.

It Was Sunny in Philadelphia

I feel like I really "get" that whole "working for the weekend" sometimes, especially when I have wonderful, fabulous (long!) weekends and come back to the grind on a gray and rainy day like today. Baker Street Pub on the East side, fabulous dinner on the West side, hanging our tails between our legs in a Packers/Giants game, late night pho and bubble tea in Queens, and (the kicker) the day trip to Philadelphia with Jayna!!

I have been so disappointed in myself that I never made it to Philadelphia sooner since it's even closer than Boston, but I don't really have any connections there and couldn't seem to get anyone on board to go with me. That is... until NOW. Jayna brought her car back from DC and we decided to take our free Monday to ROAD TRIP IT! to Philly. I spent the night at her place and we leisurely got up, ready, and on the road. The worst part was just getting out of the city, but we did have beautiful views of Manhattan, such as this one across the Williamsburg Bridge from Brooklyn



Nothing like driving, talking, stopping for gas and coffee and capturing the road signs.



We got into the inner city, parked, and just started a-walkin'! We were in the shopping district and were about the turn around before we spotted a park and figured we might as well check out. We alternated our statue pictures





After this we went down Market to the historical district, but not before stopping in to get some Philly cheesesteak sandwiches! When in Rome...! Philadelphia is quite proud of their history and had signs everywhere telling you what happened, at just about, oh every 5 feet. Suffice is to say that something historical happened everywhere in that damn town.



Now the difference between me and Jayna (who grew up in Germany) is that she didn't know much American history, but didn't pretend to either. I pretended to know it, but I don't think I actually did. I would offer up explanations but then they didn't sound right and so I second guessed everything I said, and in the end I gave up and stopped trying to explain anything. Lolololol. Here was me at the Liberty Bell.



And this was Jayna making fun of my picture and trying to imitate it. Let's just say that my face will not be mocked!



Independence Hall and Plaza was so quaint and cute. It really helped that the day was so beautiful (and SUNNY!)









There are two things I'm obsessed with when it comes to Philadelphia: Ben Franklin (Thank you, "Ben Franklin" episode of The Office!) and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. We didn't quite make it to Ben Franklin's grave, even though the whole city is just Franklin'ed out, but this statue made me happy. And happy birthday to Ben Franklin TODAY!



(That is NOT the real Ben Franklin. I am 99% sure.)

Aaaaaand as for Always Sunny, Jayna and I looked it up like the great little toruists we were, to our disappointment learning that it's all on a soundstage in LA (is nothing sacred anymore?!) BUT came to find that Mac and Dee actually did buy a pub in real life, calling it Mac's Tavern, and was right around the corner from where we were. It was only appropriate to stop in for a drink. You know, because Philly has over 200 years of American history and it's our civic duty to seek out the pop culture Philly references that have surfaced in the last 5.



Inside was pretty cool and all Always Sunny'ed out and lots of their own personal pictures in the place. Not bad. We followed the historical district down to the riverfront at the Delaware River



They have a small Chinatown, lots of history, but overall a nice skyline of historical and modern buildings which is neat to look at



There was also this plaza in front of city hall with all these game pieces everywhere. Dominos, checkers, chess pieces, the tokens from Monopoly... it was really cool but I have no idea why it was there. Unless Mattel owned that building or something? But there was no indication of this sooooo who the hell knows





We saw a picture of this LOVE Sign, which you may recognize from New York, but the new York one is substantially bigger than I am, and is just randomly on a street corner. This whole park was called the LOVE Plaza, and the sculpture practically fit in my hand. Ohhhh Philadelphia.



I had such a nice day and was so happy to finally visit Philadelphia and actually, it was my first time in Pennsylvania too. Next trip I'll climb those Rocky Steps... assuming of course that those aren't hidden somewhere on an LA soundstage next to Paddy's Pub.

Yer A Muggle, Kiki

Years. And years. And years and years! ...of me actively and adamantly refusing to read Harry Potter have finally turned against me and I have caved. Why was I so against it? I don't even know. I'm not against childrens' books (admit it; they started and were marketed that way!) I'll carry around the Baby Sitters' Club or Boxcar Children, I have no shame! And I LOVE magic and Disney and fairytales. What was the inward aversion?? I still don't know, but I can tell you what finally broke me down. Reading this:



I read that and FINALLY sighed and kicked myself mentally and said FINE. FINE, J.K. ROWLING, I WILL READ IT. And I have to admit that not understanding anything Harry Potter is like not having the internet... you are just completely oblivious to like 70% of the jokes and pop culture out there.

So on January 9, 2012, my descent into the 7 wizarding volumes of Mr Potter hath begun. And they really are very creative and cute. AND I won't have to wait a summer or a year for the next volume or movie to come out. So take that to Hogwarts and put a spell on it, suckers.

To Anyone Who Needs It

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

-Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Learn As You Lose (And You Will)

I am in a love affair with "A Sunday" by Jimmy Eat World. I think i only heard it through a fluke of shuffle on iTunes. It was a serendipitous fluke again that it came on last night as I walked twenty blocks down Broadway in the Upper West Side.

I keep these vignettes as lighthearted and nice as possible, but I guess it's no secret that (we all) deal with themes deeper than lack of coffee creamer, new bars and lakes in Queens regularly.

"A Sunday" was just what I needed to hear. It is simple, maybe 10 lines of lyric. It can make me want to cry, or make me feel empowered. To me, it's a song of loss, acceptance and revelation.

When the ride's done, the hopes that you have carried
They fall out from your hands back to the ground
Live with that
And the haze clears from your eyes on a Sunday

What gives me strength to accept things I don't want to, to let go of the things I should is, the line "Learn as you lose, and you will." I guess I like accepting and confronting the fact that there will absolutely be things in life and times that you will lose, and that's okay... and all you can do is learn from them. (That all sounds so cliche, but I guess it makes the difference when you feel it inside). I just want this song on repeat and I want to shout it from the top of a mountain. Or on the stage at a karaoke bar? Just kidding... it would be a horrible crowd pleaser.



It probably doesn't help that we used to drive to the top of Van Buren Boulevard and look at the winding palms and lights of Riverside while listening to Jimmy Eat World in his truck. But I can lock those memories away at home where they belong.

Applications Season

So it is the time of the year when slackers come out of the wordworks and claim their kingdoms of laziness and excuses with Threat Level: Midnight. I am still wading through hundreds of unread emails sent with pleas and excuses of why applications were late, materials weren't submitted, or frantic crazed questions of what do they do if their recommender hasn't submitted yet and they just e-mailed them again and the out of office reply came on?

Because I just finished applying to a degree program with Columbia myself, you'd think I'd be more sympathetic but noooooope! Many of the excuses are valid, but after reading hundreds after hundreds, I just have to wonder why on Earth anyone leaves anything to the last minute?!

ANYWAYS I found the way to get through this mental frustration is Regina Spektor radio on Pandora. Upbeat yet soothing, calm yet new, original and work appropriate. You will be greeted with The Postal Service, Air, The Kooks, Feist... do yourself a favor and put it on.

Forest Hills to Flushing

I will never forgive the city (or state for that matter) of New York for naming that neighborhood at the end of the 7 train in Queens "Flushing". What kind of a name is that? And why have I still not learned to put any other mental image in my head other than a toilet or pipes?

Friday night was potluck family dinner with the fam at Betsy's: a veggie tray, enchiladas, red velvet cupcakes and white wine... all over the trashiest of trash straight-to-$5 DVD bins DVDs that are the result of middle school kids getting their hands on a camera and a no-name production company agreeing to make it for NO good reason other than the economy was probably slow. Chatterbox and Minor Details. And by the way, we never did find out what a Chatterbox was.



On Saturday I overslept a brunch date (oops) and relegated myself to Ronnie's plans of me going to Forest Hills and us walking from there to Flushing together! It was a shockingly beautiful walk with the balmy 54 degrees (I think?) around the lake and through Flushing Meadows.



This Instagram picture may have even destroyed the original view, it was so gorgeous there! Who would believe that this was New York City?



We walked all through Flushing Meadows, where you will see here what the New York Queens residents do for a skate park:



And we walked right to the Flushing Meadows Globe outside the US Open venue and across from Citi Field where the Mets (and my high school friend Lucas Duda!) play



By the time we got into the crowded Asian streets of Flushing, we were starving and stopped in a dumpling restaurant where a plate of 10 pork and leek dumplings were only $3.50! Two orders of that, noodles with minced meat sauce, and boba was our meal. I was literally the only white person there and so out of place. I had ordered the first plate of dumplings for us to share and when they called the order there was 1 white plastic fork laid on the tray, for 1 little white me. I asked if I could also have 2 pairs of chopsticks, and she took the fork away and replaced it with the 2 cellophane wrapped chopsticks. I shrugged it off, but when Ronnie and I were eating the dumplings, I dropped one onto the plate, and we had covered them in soy sauce and hot peppers and sauce so that when I dropped it, the soy sauce splattered all on the front of my WHITE lace top. Ronnie said that the woman serving me probably put a dragon spell on me for refusing her fork. I have no proof to suggest otherwise.

After that we wandered around the streets and malls and mused about how like Asia it was. We were in a mall on the second floor with a glass wall over looking the streets and I really felt like I was in some backroads of Shanghai or something. Tiny, bright, green and red signs all in Asian characters, tiny streets and huge hustling crowds of little Asian people, dumpling and noodle shops with windows open the sidewalk, boba cafes and Hello Kitty stores EVERYWHERE, and markets with huge slabs of fish heads, cuts of swordfish with the innards still inside, wooden baskets of still-live crabs... you really could convince yourself that you were somewhere else.

This is what Flushing looks like by day



In one Hello Kitty store we were looking at some calendar of some Korean actress or something, who really was beautiful. Ronnie says she was on a show where she played the ugly sister, so there was an even-more-beautiful Korean girl in the show. "Wow" I said. "Well, it's Korea" Ronnie replied. "Beauty is abundant." I don't think that was a biased response but what do I know.

Lastly, on Ronnie's Flushing Bucket List was a Flushing bar that he INSISTED we have a beer at and make it our new place. I was insistent that bars didn't exist in Flushing. We saw a light for a Kelly's Pub down the road and I thought it was a perfect sign but it was so shady with 1 closed wooden door that we just kept on walking. At a corner, Ronnie exclaimed in frustration "Where are the bars around here?!" and some random man said "Oh you look for bar? Just right here, then left, then you are there." And who doesn't take advice from random strangers? So we ended up at an empty Korean Beer House and each had a Tsingtao beer. All in all not bad.

By the end we came to the conclusion that, based on the Flushing neighborhood, Asians care about only 3 things: food, bakeries, and Hello Kitty. And Ronnie is Asian so he is allowed to say this, I am only reporting this. I feel legally obligated to make this distinction.

Lucky 13... DEGREES

A few days ago I was actually tanning... TANNING in my backyard. I never once used a jacket and I even spent New Year's Day on Coronado Island's BEACH where people were swimming and volleyball games were going on in bathing suits. Just look how happy we all were at family brunch in the sunshine





And this morning I woke up to THIRTEEN DEGREES. Within five minutes of being outdoors, my glasses frames were cold to the touch, and within ten minutes when I got to work my face was freezing and I couldn't feel my chin! (Can you ever feel your chin?) West Coast girl problems!

I do believe in the supposedly Scandinavian saying I read recently that said "There's no such thing as bad weather... only bad clothes." I mean really, with the right jacket, with a head scarf... when you're dry and dressed for it, it's really not that big of a deal! And honestly I enjoy the change and the cold, and I like when your core is warm but your face is cold. And I love when, after this, you start wearing light jackets in the 40s. But when that wind kicks up... I for get all that, and it's too cold to even curse in my head.

Well I took a picture of me walking home from work today, I thought it turned out really well!



Haha, just kidding. There was no snow. I photoshopped that in.

Happy 2012!

Second half of what's been going on lately





















I never cared for 80 degree weather on January 1st of any given year until knowing it would be 28 degrees the day I land back in New York City. But who would say no to a sunshiney 80 degrees on Coronado Island... ever?