Considering how much I love How I Met Your Mother and how often I watch the show, expect this post title to come up somewhat regularly from now on.
In Season 4, Episode 20 of HIMYM, "Mosbius Design," half of the episode storyline was devoted to Barney and Marshall devising ways for Marshall to have a "thing" in order to keep his job. That "thing" that will make him be known as some sort of "guy" and keep him from getting laid off. In a hilarious montage moment, they started listing all the guys with "things." There's the "food guy," the "Youtube guy" and even the disturbing "backrub guy" (ugh).
Given my previous worries, I started wondering what kind of a "thing" I could develop. What could be my secret weapon?
Earth Day (the official one) has come and gone and I celebrated it wonderfully with the one and only fanciful gal pal in the cinemas, watching "Earth." Disney will be planting a tree for every ticket bought so our outing was both for business and pleasure.
Today's tip to recycle, reduce, re-use:
Bicycles!
I really wish I had gotten my bike when I first decided I wanted one. That was back in July, when I was still trekking across Europe (travel stories can be found here) and we would rent bicycles and carelessly cycle to and fro, passing this national monument and that historical artifact. Then, on the train to Switzerland, I talked to a 76-year old cyclist for 45 minutes and thought to myself, "Wow, if a man this old can continue biking and stay active, I need to start a hobby like that." From then on, I vowed to find myself a bicycle for Westwood.
Fast forward to six months later and I was still bike-less and traveling around Westwood either by foot or by car. No good. My angel came in the form of my friend Jenn Lim who graciously and generously gifted me her unused bicycle.
Everyone, meet Ruby. (She's the one on the right.)
She's a beaut, ain't she? Yea. She makes me happy. Even though it's hella scary wheeling the streets of Westwood, what with our crazy drivers and even crazier pedestrians but everyday, I can't wait to push pedal to the floor and ride around, wind blowing in my hair (but not so much when I wear my wretched helmet.) I thank God for these pleasures. These small joys bring so much happiness (to me at least) and people constantly forget about it or take it for granted. Well people, don't!
Oops...this is beginning to resemble somewhat of a philosophical issue. Changing subject...ride a bike! Look how much fun I'm having. Don't you want that smile on your face?
Yesterday I was supposed to interview James Kyson Lee of "Heroes" fame and his mom for a Mother's Day feature of KoreAm Journal next month. I was super-excited, had all these questions prepared and was so ready to wow him but at the last minute, his mom got camera-shy and decided to cancel. Bummer. Big time.
Fortunately for me, God is very gracious and decided to offer our sister publication, Audrey an invitation to a designer jeans launch party. The editor there asked me if I wanted to go. (heck yea!) So off I went to check out some swell denim blues instead.
The jeans are called Kasil and designed by David Lim. They go for about $200 in stores so just being in their presence made my head spin. I think the most expensive pair of jeans I own cost $60 and those were a gift. The icing on the cake was that I got to take a pair of those designer jeans home with me! When the PR rep asked me what size I was, I said, "__" (you think I'm going to tell you what size I am? HAH!) and she eyeballs me and exclaims, "you are tiny! You can't be "__" You're at most a "__-1 size" Then she forced the smaller sized-jeans into my hands and shoved me into the bathroom.
I forced myself into those Kasils and lemme tell ya, it was hard. At one point, I was even debating lying on the ice-cold tiled floor to try to zip myself up. But after sheer will and force, I did it! I squeeeezed into them! I looked myself in the mirror and even though there's a slight muffin top portruding, I told myself I would lose enough weight so that I'd look good in these jeans. For this $200 piece of denim, I will do it. I then came out of the bathroom and told the PR rep, "I guess I do fit into size 28."
She smiled confidently, "I told you so!"
I wanted to ask her if I could look like this in my jeans. All in due time.
The latest blunder by yet another beauty queen has been making the internet rounds these days. At the Miss USA pageant a couple of days ago, Miss California was held under fire for answering Perez Hilton's question about how she feels about gay marriage by calling it "opposite marriage" and then going on to say that she thinks marriage should be between a man and a woman. Most people seemed to show outrage on the "opposite marriage" comment, passing her off as yet another ditz who has no idea what she's talking about.
Normally, I'd be the first one to catch wind of this news and probably have the infamous speech memorized already so that I can re-tell the story to my friends and acquaintances (I'm kind of a gossip girl like that) but there's been so many of these that I didn't even pay close attention to the story for the past few days.
But a couple of minutes ago, I finally watched the Youtube video (shown above).
First thought: "What the hell, I KNOW HER!!"
...flashback...
The year was 2004. It was sweltering hot at the Fresno Convention Center where over 100 girls and their various pageant parents and coaches gathered for the orientation of the Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA 2004 Pageant. I was overwhelmed by all the flowered sun dresses and heavily hair-sprayed blonde tresses. Me in my stark blue and white retro-printed polka dot top and jet black straight hair seemed so out of place, with my petite mom beside me. Some girls seemed to have already known each other, catching up and giggling over this and that as they waited in line to sign in. I turned to the girl behind me.
"Hi, I'm Janice, what's your name?"
The girl beamed a toothsome grin and very easy-goingly replied, "Caroline. Caroline Prejean but you can call me Carrie."
She was from Southern California (San Diego) and it was also her first time competing in Miss Teen California USA pageant but that was pretty much where our similarities ended. For the rest of the weekend, she racked up so much popularity points, making friends with all the "cool" pageant girls and I mainly tried to disappear into a wall. Caroline-excuse me-Carrie went on to score second place in the pageant. She was a favored shoo-in to take the crown but her last question screwed her over (deja vu...).
...end flashback...
When I first saw the video, I didn't even recognize her. This girl is my age! But she looks like she's 30! And when I heard her speak, gone was the mellow and breezy San Diego tomboy I remembered and in her place was this Nashville cowgirl. Where did she pick up that twang from?
As for her actual claim to 15 minutes of fame speech? I do find that she made a mistake in saying "opposite marriage" because it shows a lack of knowledge on her part on the terminologies of one of the hottest topics in society today but I feel like she is entitled to say how she feels about the subject that was asked of her. I even give her props for saying how she feels even though she is aware of the state she is representing and who is asking her the question (Perez is homosexual and one of her judges.) I don't personally agree with her convictions but I find her respectable to be able to speak her mind.
Perez has been very open in his reaction to Miss California, calling her a "dumb b*tch," and even Prejean's own pageant managers including Shanna Moakler, former pageant queen and ex-wife of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, have turned their backs on her but on the other hand, she has been given invitations to speak with FOX and various other news outlets and it's also rumored that she is now dating Michael Phelps (maybe he doesn't believe in opposite marriage either?) I don't know whether this will be beneficial or harmful to Prejean and her career in the future but as for now, it is what it is. I still finding it weird that I knew her. Who's the next tabloid fodder that I'm going to know?
U.S. has initiated today as the day where we inspire awareness and appreciation for this round globe of ours.
As previously posted, I have decided to do a little feature each day for about a week on ways that I recycle, reduce and re-use in order to contribute my bit to helping the environment. Today is about...
Clothes.
Last year, when I decided to travel to Europe and then Asia for half a year, I realized that I had to save up some money. First splurge to disappear from my budget: Clothes shopping.
It was hard to nip the habit in the bud but slowly, I no longer missed trips to the mall and coming home with shopping bags every few weeks. Even in Europe, I kept my purse strings shut. Only when I hit Hong Kong did I finally let loose and fill up my suitcases with bright-colored tights and comfy flats because c'mon, it's Hong Kong! How do you not shop there? After returning home, I also returned to banning shopping from my monthly itinerary. Now, I never crave shopping trips and find it a waste of my afternoon and hard-earned (financial aide) money.
You may ask, "But, Janice, how do you stay so stylish and cute (and humble) without any new clothes every couple of weeks? How do you keep up with the trends?"
My secret? I do still get clothes from time to time but they aren't new. They are select pieces accumulated from various thrift stores, mom's closet, gifts, hand-me-downs and my favorite: consignment shops like Buffalo Exchange.
At Buffalo's, I can go in with old clothes I no longer wear (but are in fabulous condition and still retain some sort of style to them. Those Old Navy fleece? Forget about it. That pair of gold lame ballerina flats? Bring it in!) If the store does decide to take my stuff, they offer me either a small sum of money or store credit. I always take the store credit and then I pick out clothing from their shop with it.
Buffalo Exchange only stocks their store with the hippest, trendiest clothing and most of them are very good quality. Looking through my closet, I would say that 70% of my favorite pieces of clothing are from that shop. I also tend to be a lot more daring with the outfits I choose from Buffalo's since it's often cheaper, I tend to be more willing to experiment with different styles.
My mom's closet also has some long-lost gems that I recently unearthed. I love vintage clothing 'cause you know no one else will be showing up in that same purple and teal ruffled skirt because it was from a shop that no longer exists.
As I grow older, my wardrobe is also maturing and so I've been slowly updating my closet with more high end, designer brands. But until I can afford those Christian Louboutins with my own hard-earned money, the leopard print pumps selling for $15 at Buffalo's will have to do.
Why settle for Earth Day when you can celebrate Earth Week??!! Or better yet, Earth Month! How about Earth 24/7?
Because I, alas, cannot all my time to writing about ways to save our globe (but why not?), I shall try, for this week at least, to devote one entry a day to finding ways to recycle, reduce, re-use. First up:
Bottles.
Errr..not those types.
These ones.
The New York Times has a sunny little article out about the costs and benefits of water bottles, comparing plastic ones with those made of stainless steel.
Up until last year, I'm ashamed to say that I was a user of plastic bottles. I always recycled but every week, I would still use up tens of twenties of bottles (hey, I'm a thirsty girl). But I finally saw the light when I was traveling around Europe and Hong Kong and didn't have luck to find water everywhere I went nor the capacity to lug gallons of water up the hills to my dorm room. So I started using a plastic canteen to quench my thirst. And you know what? Best idea of my life.
With a more durable and sustainable water bottle, you can:
1) Drink water WHENEVER you want! Just fill it up at a nearby fountain.
2) Save money. Do you know how much packs of water in plastic bottles cost? Last time I checked my sources (Sheila), it was $3.00 +$1.20 in CRV (the charge for the plastic bottle) and you constantly have to buy a new box every week. Know how much a bottle costs? Anywhere from $5-$10. Save that extra cash for something that really matters, like that cup of coffee you so badly need at 8 in the morning.
3) Drink at whatever temperature you like. Durable bottles are far more useful for when you want that piping hot mug of green tea or that ice cold lemonade. They keep the temperature of the liquids longer and you can buy different types so you won't burn your hand. Yay for pro-choice!
These days, you'll hardly see me without my convenient blue and silver bottle (far right in the picture above). And I haven't looked back. Drink up!
The journalists are paid a small amount, but the plan is to turn them into minipublishers under the True/Slant umbrella. They will be offered a share of the advertising and sponsorship revenues their individual pages generate and, in some cases, equity in True/Slant, which is backed by venture capital.
These contributors are allowed to keep writing elsewhere, either online or in traditional media, and even to promote these outside efforts on True/Slant. But they are expected to post original commentary and analysis to True/Slant. They also are allowed to arrange for their own advertising or sponsorships, in addition to what True/Slant can sell, and even, in some cases, to add other authors to their pages.
In another unusual move, the contributors also are required to actively engage with readers on the site. They must post a minimum number of comments in reader discussions about their articles and curate the comments, giving prominence to the most interesting. They are even expected to comment on each other's posts.
Journos forced to be social? Eegads - what a horrible future we live in.
I'll bet I'm even more awkward than you, Michael Scott.
I always seem to take a awhile before I actually feel comfortable at my internship/work place. During the first couple of weeks, I'm kind of like the passive, slightly autistic younger sister who just does what she's told and speaks in an unbearably saccharine voice. (Hah, if only they knew the real me...)
I suppose it's because I've always been taught to treat my elders and strangers with a large amount of respect and filial piety and to never forget that I'm always the younger, more innocent- and hence less wise-one. So when I'm around the office, I feel strange to joke around my editors or tease them. Mostly I just giggle a lot and agree with what they say and do as I'm told.
Does anyone else out there have a period of time they go through being meek, shy and quiet before establishing a more non-awkward rapport with their co-workers and bosses? And when does this usually take place? Soon? Please?
He's sporting a grey knit beanie, his raven-black locks tucked under for a not-trying-too-hard look that obviously took a long time to perfect. He's tall for an Asian man, with broad shoulders-the kind that feels really good when you wrap your arms around them because you can't exactly reach all the way around. He has a smirk on his face, his eyes wrinkles up and his dimples popping.
As he walks past, he knows many pairs of eyes are following his every step-he just has that kind of presence. In one quick-paced moment, he smoothly flicks her navy fedora in a teasing, flirtatious manner. It's his way to vie for her attention, his little "look at me, look at me" cry. She lazily turns her head back and generously gives him one second of her time. But that's all she can give him. In a blink, she's already tossed her head back and strides forward towards the door. Like an eager little puppy left wanting more, he can only pant and trail after her.
As I observed that little exchange in the dim and cool space of The Standard on Sunset, I realize that I know her. I've grown up with her. I've heard her name uttered by many a friends and acquaintance, I hug her and exchange pleasantries when we happen to be at the same parties and gatherings.
We've had similar upbringings and backgrounds. How is it that she ended up-for lack of a better word-so cool and me, well, how come I ended up being so me? How come she feels like she was born to be here, at this place full of hipsters and movers-and-shakers and I can't seem to shake that uncomfortable and out-of-place feeling out of my body? Does she even have one goofy bone in her petite frame? She's the girl everybody wants to know, every boy wants to buy a drink for, every eyes want to stare at.
I'm weak. I feel envy and unworthiness and hopelessness and failure constantly. This is not a whine, not a cry for your sympathy or empathy. It's merely a self-observation.
Sure, there are good times. There are times where I feel like I'm at the top of the world and God's greatest gift and then there are times like this. Times like this makes me hate L.A.
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the body (Pr. 14:30).
*photo courtesy of The Sartorialist. A site that makes me aknowledge the extent of my un-coolness but I still can't get enough of the pretty people in their pretty clothes.
This may or may not be forever. And as of right now, most likely for forever, but I have officially about 10 more weeks as an undergraduate. Once I get my diploma, I'll be shoved out there into the working world, full of vicious, bloodsucking bosses and incredibly badly congested traffic commutes... AND I CAN'T WAIT!
I'm getting a slight taste of the brief-case carrying life right now: As an intern for KoreAM Journal and Vertigo Entertainment. It's going to be a heavy load on top of my 11 units, 4 hours of salsa and swing classes, LCC and oh yeah, enjoying my senior year but I can handle the pain. (Not sure about the lack of sleep though) BRING IT!
Everything is better when it's a musical. (Even the possible demise of my future career.) I found this little gem on the site Rock Cookie Bottom where Jonathan Mann creates a song a day.
I have a need to share with the world my passions and interests and hope that they will also enjoy it. Hence, this blog is born- to showcase some of the things I'm most fascinated with.
Most of the posts relate to the media as it relates to me. (Blame the early twenties neurosis of thinking the world revolves around you).
I really wish I had gotten my bike when I first decided I wanted one. That was back in July, when I was still trekking across Europe (travel stories can be found 
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