Delusions of grandeur.

I have to search Craigslist for a new job, but so far it's been unsuccessful. Many entry-level offers say that experience is imperative, which I lack, so frustrations have been reigning high. Once in a while, I come across a really appealing post and I daydream about landing that job and finally living at my apartment full-time instead of commuting back and forth across state lines.

In the mood for some pasta and diced tomatoes with soy sauce.

Looking back on the last few months of absence, I realize that the holiday season has seemingly flown by.
To sum it up:
1. Christmas @ the Mills: Jack Daniels (for the "adults"), wrapping paper-ball throwing, national lampoon's christmas vacation movie, desserts and especially my new light lime pie creation, and a warm fireplace
2. New Year's party at my house: SSBros., Uno, Apples to Apples, nachos, Papa's pizza, noodles, mochi, and Wanted.
3. Super sales absolutely everywhere. Fave deals - H&M's buy one get one free! Uniqlo flannel shirt, Shoemania 50% sale - flats and moccs for $10! (Occurred before the holidays, but still awesome --> Kim's 30% off all DVD's sale where I got a whole boatload of Korean movies).

Random tidbit: I was eating at O.K. 218 in Chinatown and I heard an Asian waiter speaking Spanish to a group of tourists. Hurrah for globalization!

"present for you, my heart..."

Ahhh today was a long day. My feet are so sore but I think it was mildly worth it. A friend and her little sister came to the city to see a Versailles concert at the Knitting Factory. They are self-professed otakus so I took them to a few Japanese stores including Kunokuniya, JAS Mart, Tokyo Toys, and got a quick lunch at Men Kui Tei and an avocado shake from T-Kettle (mmm). I explained a few things about the neighborhoods we came through and the basics of the MTA. I spend a bunch of dough yesterday already so I decided not to buy anything unneccessary today (a bunch of Kera, lolita, fruits, and hairstyle mags at Kuno, and a bunch of blind boxes at tokyo toys). The strange thing about Toy Tokyo is that it seems like you have to enter through someone's apartment. The only thing that distinguished its storefront was a sign on the sidewalk. We also tried looking for J1 Pan toys but apparently it doesn't exist anymore. We went to the exact address listed on Yelp but it was just an apartment building. period.

So we arrived at the Knitting Factory at 6:00 and were let in at 7:30 (I picked up Subway for the other two and a Clif bar for me because we were hungry while waiting in line). We had to wait another hour and a half inside however, because the opening band cancelled. The band members were gorgeous in their Victorian-esque costumes, especially Hizaki (who is the most feminine man I have ever seen in VK and that's saying a lot). I also figured that Jasmine You, the only other member who cross-dresses, was also a man by his facial features. The band played around 8 songs and then came out for TWO encores, performing 2 songs and 1 song respectively. The posters at the band merch stand were huge (and would probably take up 1/4 of my wall) and so I purchased a sticker of the band for a couple dollars instead. The above post title is just one of the many lines of Engrish the lead singer tried on the crowd, in which each time there was an somewhat awkward silence while people tried to decode what he had just said before wild cheers from the crowd. At the very end of the 2-hour concert the members flaunted their stuff (especially Jasmine You) and let the front-row fanatics touch their hands. I found it really nice of them for interacting with the crowd and throwing freebies into the crowd (like Hizaki's guitar picks). Oh, and last but not least, their American spokesperson said "see you in February" which could mean they they're coming back to NYC!

I love the word "brunch".

We went to Wild Ginger on Broome today and I finally satisfied my pumpkin craving with one of their delicious vegan soups. It consisted of a light peppery broth with chunks of pumpkin and white beans. Mmmmm I can't wait to get it again.

My sister gave me a bunch of hand-me-downs and I selected a few really good pieces including a cute black shirt-dress with large blue buttons and a really soft yellow tee. Almost made me as happy as the sale items I got last weekend at UO and Uniqlo, jeans and shirts for $10 each. (^_^)

reality check: I am so pumped up for the Versailles concert tomorrow!

"the chic-est person you know is from kansas"

Finally a post about my move to NYC. It's been a long, excruciating process that I am still in the middle of. The above quote is one of the many truths I've realized about living in the city. I was never a stranger to NYC having been to Chinatown often in my childhood. I finally "ventured" out to the rest of the diverse neighborhoods (I found myself drawn to the East Village in particular, I guess it's my inner "hipster" though I don't want to be stereotyped...), when I was a freshman in high school. Luckily, I lived next to a station on the Metro-North so it only took 45 minutes to get to Grand Central (which is probably one of my most favorite buildings in the world, next to the JFK airport*). When I was depressed, I would play hooky and go off to the city where I found comfort in absorbing the masses of people bustling on the streets in total disregard of everything around them. It matched my mood.

So I began searching for a place in July solely using Craigslist (where I also got my loft bed for cheap). It took 20+ e-mails, 8 actual replies, and 5 viewings before someone finally chose me to room with her. I decided that with the job I had, $700-$1000 was my budget. Then I got wiser and took it down to $900-. I wanted a place close to transportation (particularly the 6 so I could commute from G.C.). I found places right on St. Mark's, Upper East Side but I finally realized that Spanish Harlem could do as well.

Memorable things about my apartment search:

1. asking for a virtually silent room mate
2. asking for a person with interest in S&M
3. pot-smokers
4. literally a door, closet and an old sketchy English guy with a fetish for Japanese girls
5. dark&dreary, "furnished", two big mutts, Park Ave., $1000 not including utilities
6. rude people who obviously made a decision about you as soon as the door was opened
7. 6-floor walk-up

I finally found the perfect place and the perfect roommate. It's a beautiful building with cheap rent, and super convenient to the LES, next to dozens of restaurants and groceries. My roommate is very similar to me in terms of personality and tastes, though my mother still scares her (but then again, she scares everyone).
I'm torn when it comes to furnishing the place, since it seems like my stay is only to last for a year but oh, do I love the freedom.

* I have always been fascinated by buildings that house systems of mass transportation. I find it fun just watching people hurrying towards unknown destinations and the wild aggregation of all kinds of different people ranging from fashionistas to hippies to business people.

Reality check #1: my mom's boyfriend's daughter finally figured out that our parents were dating (...they've been together for 5+ years). She's angry and I'm trying to sympathize with her but it's hard even though I am in her exact same position when I first found out. Arghhh!!!

the true me #1: I am passive-aggressive.
the true me #2: Though I liken my writing style to that of Virginia Wolff (albeit not as polished) I cannot stand her stories.

Well at least now I can get a credit card....

It's my birthday today.
But it doesn't seem like it.
I woke up at the usual time and ate the same cereal I've been eating every morning for the past month.
Now I'm at work doing exactly what I did yesterday, and the day before, and the day before....

I do realize that you're not supposed to take a day off from work or school just because it's your birthday but...

I decided to go to Taco Bell tonight for my "birthday dinner". Honestly today couldn't be any more normal so I don't want to do anything special. If you don't have high expectations, it's hard to be disappointed. That's my philosophy.