Tuesday, September 30, 2008

In Memoriam

In Memoriam:

In loving memory of Raymund Wu: hardworking businessman, loyal husband, loving father and grandfather. There is no better legacy than enduring love. All who knew Raymund spoke of his generosity, care, and good spirit.

In life, you are lucky if you can grow and learn in the presence of positive, loving family. I can't say enough how much 'Gunggung' adored his grandchildren, and vice versa. On the day of his wake, I saw his wife, Stella, staring dutifully down at her husband with whom she'd shared her life. I couldn't help but think, that despite having to part, reminding us all of our human condition, she must have felt so happy knowing she got the most out of her life with him: two beautiful daughters, 5 gorgeous grandchildren, a lovely home their work and strength provided.

In death, the only solace is to remember the joys in life and to continue to honor the people who bring us this joy.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Topshop, America?


I will definitely say one of the best things about being in Europe is coming back to America with Topshop items and bragging to friends in this sort of tone:

'Oh, yeah? You like my (insert item here). Well, it's only sold in Europe. Yeah, sucks you can't get your own.'

Oh wait, only I do that, you say? Whoops!
In any case, this was all before the stock market crashed and I could actually think about going to Europe on vaca. Seems like a sad, sad, long and distant dream now. Anyway, come to find out Topshop is opening an American element to their website.


Now, you can browse in prices inflated to match our dollar! Thanks, Topshop!

I've already purchased two hats and a bag! I would show you a pic of the bag, but for some reason, it's no longer on the site (british or usa version). I take it to mean it's sold out?

I freakin love Kate Moss' line. I would buy every single thing cept as I mentioned before, we're in a sever recession. Check it out, though, in case you want to splurge before we all end up in dust bowls again ;)

wwwwaaaaa

waaaaaaaaaaaaa

The Importance of Being Earnest, Redux

Annotated Bibliography

Here are some things I want:

1. Insurance (so I can get my bum leg to physical therapy.)
I still don't have this and need it desperately. I was thinking of going shopping, but it puts a damper on things when it hurts to walk. It says so much about this country that I'm a working citizen, but don't have insurance. Makes me want to puke. It's going to make me really puke once I somehow get insurance and find out what's actually wrong with me.

2. a hair cut (so that dryness and tangling will no longer halt my daily schedule.)
So I ended up getting a hair cut by the stylist of a friend. I've always loved my friend's hair cuts, but she definitely has differently textured hair. Nonetheless went and got a lazy haircut. I hate having to explain in full detail what I need a stylist to do, but turns out I should have done just that. I mentioned thoroughly layering my hair in a choppy fashion to get out all the old dead odds and ends. I left with my hair still full of split ends and and a general dryness signature of my hair after months of not getting a cut. I finally chose my own place, which I should have done instead of taking the easy way out. Mousey Brown on Lorimer in BK. Jenn totes knew what I needed and now my hair feels so fresh and so clean clean.


3. wax: legs and bikini (shaving for like 14 years has finally gotten to my skin.)
Eh, I got new razors. Does that count? I did though find a place I felt would wax my legs at a decent price. As per nether regions, still being incredibly shy and fearful.

4. an apartment (again, can't tell if i'm being picky.)
Shoot me in face. That's how much I really want to talk about this topic.

5. a brand new wardrobe (I feel like I haven't gotten new clothes since last fall.)
After throwing what I would call a growns-up person tantrum, M took me to Woodbury Commons. I made a killing at Espirit and definitely got some classic winter/fall gear. Still desperately need shoes, boots, and a down coat.

6. new glasses (I love my glasses now, but need an update.)
I still have to make time to do this. Not sure when. I also need some new contacts. It's somewhat low on the priority list.

7. a puppy (for good measure.)
Mr. Bojangles, when are we gonna meet? I was watching some god show on the Animal Planet last night and really got the dog itch. M says we can get a dog once I pop out two kids. Um....riiiiiiigggghhht.

8. a new ipod (I haven't had one since...06? Can't even remember.)
I caved and got a 'classic' black ipod. Let's see how long til I run it into the ground. I needed it though. I can't stand New Yorkers on my commute to work: the hissing assholes, the wailing children, the moaning preacher. They can literally all go to hell.

9. gym membership (i'm fat.)
So being that my knee is an absolute wreck, I've taken to just not eating! That solves that! No, but really. I'm eating a lot less in an attempt to fit into the clothes I have. I literally don't fit into some of my clothes and I find myself appalling disgusting. Like, who the hell let the fatty into my body? Oh right, that was me and my penchant for wine, bourbon, cookies, cakes, pasta, cheese, mexican food, pastries, pernil, rice. I can go on.
xoxo

The Purse Dig

Hot dangit do I hate the inevitable purse dig.

Ladies, y'all know what I'm talkin' 'bout!

You have a handful of groceries and get to your front door only to have to set all the bags down to search for your keys. I hates it!

Or, you're getting your morning tea or coffee and decide to pay cash. Teller asks you for like, 3 extra cents, and there you are holding up the line for 3 freakin pennies...cos you know they are in there, somewhere.

I tried to alleviate the purse dig in large totes by employing the 'pouch system' where everything is neatly stored away in its own pouch.
1. money items: wallet, change, receipts
2. beauty items: tissues, lip gloss, eye drops, mirror, bobby pins
3. electronics: ipo (yeah, i got a new one; that's for another post), Blackberry

Seemed like a pretty solid plan that worked well when changing bags. Here's the issue: I found myself endlessly digging through pouches!

When will it end?

The Other M bought me this awesome cowhide, reversible shallow purse with accordian-style pockets. It was much easier to organize in a shallow handbag.


I was all excited to have everything in its right place, as the song says. Then when I was in shoe shop trying to pick out some new fall shoes and noticing how terribly fat I've gotten, the strap to cow purse broke!

I have to get a new strap. The bag is vintage and had a janky strap to start, but I'm sure my fat arm tugging on the thing all dang day didn't help matters.

Does anyone know a good leather worker?! I could bring it to Honduras, but...that's a long trip.



Sunday, September 14, 2008

I Love That Song, Too!

When I lived in SF (which pains me to say, mind you), our neighbor would wake me up at roughly 9:30AM every Sunday with Madonna's Hung Up. Sometimes he'd let the whole Confessions on a Dancefloor album roll through but mostly it was Hung Up--on loop!

I can get down with that album. I owned it. I shook my sassafrass to Hung Up all the time--in 2006. Not sure what place that song and album had on a Sunday morning in 2007.

Anyway, those days are behind me and since the excitement of my return to New York is all but faded, I take comfort in the little things. Yesterday I woke up to our upstairs neighbor playing the new Radiohead album, In Rainbows. I quite love listening to any Radiohead album straight through. When I lived alone, I'd play a setlist from my itunes or seeqpod.com before I went to bed. Radiohead was often included in those mixes so it was a nice return to form on a weekend after a long, long week.

This morning neighbor pal played Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode, another of my favorite songs. After that he played Blur! I don't know you neighbor, but I love you.

Ps, Welcome to the new subscribers to Get Up On This!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Waitress


I just saw Waitress for the first time. You know, that movie with Keri Russell where she makes pies and gets degraded by her swine of a husband. It combined my two favorite things, yummy pies and bitter, sad stories.

At first I just put it on cos nothing was on Food Network, but was hooked by the first scene in which Jenna finds out she's preggers with aforementioned terrible husband.

The Other M was in the living room watching football. I came out of our room to give him an update on my wonderful premium cable find and he said, 'Wasn't that the one with the actress who got killed after making it?'

WHAAA?, I said. NO WAY.

Sadly, turns out he was partly right. The writer/director, Adrienne Shelly, was murdered by her illegal construction worker Ecuadorian neighbor. She caught him stealing from her home.

This brings conflicting issues for me.
1. Talented women getting murdered by desperate men.
2. The plight of illegal immigrants.

True, I don't feel much sympathy for anyone who chooses murder above any other problem solving method, but I wonder what her killer's life was like before he came to the USA, and even after.

What a terrible tragedy. Watching the film, you get the sense immediately that this writer has empathy for anyone dealing with the absolute shit life deals you. Oh, the terrible irony.

If you are so inclined, check out the movie. It's a terrific piece.

Family and friend have set up a foundation on her behalf, ASF (Adrienne Shelly Foundation.) It benefits female filmmakers and their endeavors.

Just Cos Steven Tyler Is Away at Rehab


Doesn't mean Fergie Fergalicious can traipse around filling the void pretending to be him. SICK.

Friday, September 5, 2008

No Creo En El Jamas

Cuando la vida me da golpes
Y me manda para el suelo
Es cuando yo mas siento
Que tengo que levantarme
Que dar la cara al miedo
Es una forma de vencerlo

No voy a darme por vencido
No voy a darle mi vida al miedo
El miedo es un asesino
Que mata a los sentimientos
Se que no estoy solo
Yo se que Dios esta aqui adentro

Y necesito silencio para poder encontrar...
Mi propia voz y mi verdad
Y al final de la oscuridad

(Chorus)
No me siento solo
Se que estas conmigo
Hoy voy a levantarme y no voy
A resignar mi corazon
Hacer lo que quise y no pude
No lo voy aceptar
Hoy voy a buscar estar mejor
La vida tiene solucion
Aqui no hay nada imposible
No creo en el jamas
No..
No creo en el jamas
Noooo...

Si darte por vencido es una forma de morir
Entonces yo jamas voy a darle gusto a la muerte
Pienso en mi familia
Y el corazon late mas fuerte
Que no se puede vivir pensando cuando se va morir
Y dicen soƱar es tanto como morir estando vivo
Yo creo en el presente
Y eso me aleja de la muerte

Y necesito silencio para poder encontrar...
Mi propia voz y mi verdad
Y al final de la oscuridad

(Chorus)
No me siento solo
Se que estas conmigo
Hoy voy a levantarme y no voy
A resignar mi corazon
Hacer lo que quise y no pude
No lo voy aceptar
Hoy voy a buscar estar mejor
La vida tiene solucion
Aqui no hay nada imposible
No creo en el jamas
No creo en el jamas

-Juanes
One Art
by Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.


--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Back by Popular Demand!

Ok, to be fair, it's just the one subscriber asking what's up with the cute factor of my blog. I can bore you with the usual answer: I live in New York now.

BUT...I'll just serve what the customers ask!

Meet 'Cute lil Otterkins'!
That lil furry head, those cute lil fingers, those floppy cheeks, and teeny eyes. In love? I am. I want him in my purse so I can pet him while I'm on the train or walking home from work. We'd be best buds.