I gave up cable late last year for a couple of reasons, a) it's expensive and I hate giving Comcast more money than they actually need, b) the number of "quality" (guilty pleasures don't fall into this category) shows on standard cable (this excludes Showtime, HBO and all those other channels you have to pay extra for) is about 1%, c) the amount of time I've wasted being sucked into the tube, instead of reading, cleaning or doing something a lot more productive, is more than I would like to admit (TV show marathons are, oh so, evil), d) the delusional lives characters lead in even the most esteemed quality of shows is so far from any reality it leaves itself being so misleading and so much an overly absorbing fantasy that it leaves one (well, me at least), way too hopeful of a nonexistent lifestyle.
Although I hate to admit it, I still watch my corny television shows. The internet leaves a consumer without cable, i.e. someone like me, with entirely too many options to watch TV shows -- it's "pirated" streaming (who knows these days anymore, hence the quotation marks), Netflix, Hulu, and oh so many other resources. It's really difficult to cut complete ties with this addiction to watching fictional lives (and I'm going to include the Real Housewives of Everywhere in this category, because seriously, that shit ain't real) of characters who are developing their personalities' strengths, weaknesses, unique qualities and their overall paths in life. There's something about escaping into someone else's fabricated world that makes me, and about 90% of the rest of America (because that's why Americans are fat, lazy and watching 10+ hours of the boob tube a day), craving more. Now while I'm taking steps to break away from getting sucked into more unnecessary fantasy lives I don't need to know about, I'm still having a difficult time giving up my go-to's that I started watching before I cut ties with the cable box. This includes It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (this show, BY NO MEANS, falls into the fantasy life category, it's just hilarious and brilliant and the best goddamn show on the damn tube), Top Gear (also doesn't count), Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Glee, Rescue Me, Real Housewives of...New York, Atlanta, Orange County, eek, New Jersey aaaand, Beverly Hills (gah, don't judge, I've cutback, I swear), and while I've always found my way to watch certain Showtime shows including, Californication, Weeds, Dexter and now Shameless, Entourage (non-Showtime obviously), and maybe some others I can't think of off hand. What is it about these shows that have us coming back for more?
Take for instance an oldie, but goodie, Sex and the City -- it's one of my all time favorite shows and I watch it when I'm in need of overdue girl time, relationship therapy or if I want to compare how small my shoe collection is to that of Carrie Bradshaw's. With this show, I'm drawn to the fashion, OH THE FASHION. All the unattainable Chanel, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Dior, Cholé, Yves Saint Laurent, Vivienne Westwood, Lanvin, Valentino, Kate Spade, Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos, Christian Louboutins, god, you name it, the fashion, the sheer AMOUNT of fashion is endless in this show. In reality, there is absolutely NO WAY, that a 30-something writer for a newspaper, not even the New York Times, just the New York Observer (not even the Post or something!), lives in a chic New York apartment in whatever fabulous neighborhood as the same as Barneys, goes out to endless amounts of cocktail hours and dinners at the chicest of chic NY restaurants and has the spending leeway to splurge at Saks, Barneys, Bergdorfs, on thousand dollar dresses, hundreds of dollar shoes and handbags worth the $5k bracket. It just doesn't work that way, unless said person is a trust fund baby with Daddy's/Mommy's credit card and expense account OR they married some fantastically self-made millionaire (lets hope he/she is also not a hedgefund baby) and thus has money to burn. Seriously though, credit cards don't go away, nor does rent, health insurance, incidentals or life in general. So while the fashion on it's own is already an indication of a fantasy life, the show goes on develop upon the love lives of four ladies in their thirties. They go on dates dressed to the nines for often times amazingly attractive or sometimes adorably attractive men, they gossip, dissect and contemplate each prospect, they have endless amounts of amazing sex (all orgasms included, for the most part at least, or otherwise there is some hilarity involved if not) and then if they get hurt, there's some fantastic therapy session involved to make it all better. Would these, or do these rather, scenarios play out in the real world? Seriously though, do they? I've never really been near a situation where something remotely related to this type of fantasy life could blossom. Sure, I have my shoes, they're ALL paid for in full except for one pair which I'm currently paying off ($100 for $565 Just Cavalli shoes won't break the bank and yes, I really did need them), but I own no wildly expensive haute couture designer dress, nor do I have an endless calendar booked with dates with fantastically attractive men, I just live my life, day to day, in a job where I find myself dissatisfied (not complaining, still working on the next move), but with friends I love that I always feel I never see often enough, family I adore and a sister I never get sick of seeing (her hubby is bundled in with the never sick of seeing, 1 becomes 2 with marriage! and not in a bad way of course), a home, including the kitten, I love despite its price tag, a car I love just as much despite its monthly payment, but there's always something missing. The mere idea of life falling into place with the career, home, love life would be great. Sure I'm young, but TV shows like Sex and the City aren't helping me realize reality, which is why it's probably a good thing that I haven't watched it in over a year.
So Sex and the City is an extreme when it comes to the material (clothes, apartment, dining, etc.) and relationship department, but there are shows out there which don't even stress on the materialistic consumerist cravings, but still manage to depict a fantasy life to some extent. I just finished watching Season 1 of the British version of Shameless. The American version is just starting and already, with the first episode, I was completely absorbed and wanting more. This story portrays a broken family with 6 children, a missing mother and a drunken, government scamming father, all of who live in a small house with quite limited means where everyone pitches in to make ends meet. From this description, in no way does it sound like a fantasy life. No one actually wants to be poor, have a father who is brought to the house late a night only to pass out in drunken state in the middle of the floor, and try to keep a family of 6 children of various ages straight. If this were the mere focus of the story and no other characters were incorporated, you would think, well that's not anything near a fantasy. BUT, the minute you incorporate the boy meets girl, OH MAN, the fantasy starts. Never, never ever, is there a moment where a guy sees a girl at a club, is too shy to buy her a drink, but then sees her again a month later at another club, only to attempt a chivalrous move of chasing down the thief who stole her purse (and then punch out the bouncer for not doing his job) and then woo her into going to her home and proceed to turn on the charm full blast where she falls for him (obviously) and then thereafter, they blossom into having a healthy relationship. Really? Who are we kidding. For one, what guy actually does that for a girl he's never met? The days of love at first sight are oh so far away and even lust at first sight, who does that?? But say, this guy actually does exist, girls are generally suspicious of any guy trying to put on the moves, despite how "knight in shining armor" it is, and in their right mind wouldn't invite him home to their house containing 5 other younger family members. I mean, come on, who are we kidding. Only in TV does this sort of scenario take place and that, right there, is a fantasy. Men will love the show for it's raunchy nature and occasionally crude, yet witty humor and women will like it for the same, but then, there's the fantasy element where we go, "Aww, that's so sweet! Look how he just does that and oh look, they're going to hook up and then he's going to charm her and send her a washing machine and prove he's a legitimate guy and wake up spooning." WHO DOES THAT. No one I know and if there is some guy out there that actually reenacts this scene wholeheartedly without ever seeing the show, I'd like to meet him and possibly send him to a shrink. Maybe I'm just cynical. Cynical about relationships especially because that department has never been particularly lucky for me (I'm still optimistic, it'll all work out...I'll swoon and find myself foolish for writing a blog entry such as this...my cynicism about love will evaporate and all will be bunnies and roses and rainbows. ok, maybe not the latter, but you get my point). Even with a completely dysfunctional family at the forefront of a show, we still have the fantasy.
This is why I'm trying to break away from TV. It's not to say I can't get my fantasy fill from other sources -- there are cheesy romantic comedies, even solemn movies have the element of fantasy, books, old school books (helloooo Pride and Prejudice), and the memories that haunt us. Everything around us can eventually turn into a fantasy, a long lost dream, an escape. And while I can't hate TV too much for giving content that's entirely too unrealistic, I still can try to distance myself from it and only resort to it when I really feel the need to indulge, so I can continue to focus on what's actually real -- bills, career, relationships and life in general. We can use the fantasies to fuel the healthy of our imaginations, but too much indulging will leave us delusional and wishing too much for a life that can't possibly exist (and heaven forbid if we try to reenact such life...can you imagine your credit card bills if you tried to be Carrie Bradshaw? and no, not even selling every article of clothing you have to pay off your debts like in "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is anywhere near reality).
It's difficult to live life realistically, but it's even more difficult to believe in a life so wildly unrealistic that you'll end up failing yourself and your perception of life in the long run.
I leave you with Yelle's, A cause des garçons. Oh those damn boys.
17 January 2011
27 December 2010
The End of Year Vent.
I'm slowly getting my bearings on this thing called life. It's funny, college teaches you to be confident, to be a sponge of knowledge, to be able to conquer all because you went to a fantastic school; BUT, in reality, this whole life thing is way more difficult than it actually seems. You know the disclaimer on the rear view mirrors on a car, "Objects may appear closer than they seem," well, it's the same for life. You really don't know when it's going to hit you and it'll hit you hard and it may seem closer than it is, but it'll bite you before you know it. It's like a speeding train. With no brakes and way too much grease on its wheels. Wham. Bam. Boom.
I find myself in a mid-life crisis. I've been in this crisis for some time now...always restless, always trying to figure out my next steps, but still somehow lacking the motivation to kick myself in gear and just got for it, whatever "it" is.
And then time. Time just flies by like it's on some sort of raging case of adrenaline mixed with confusion. I still don't know why it finds the need to whoosh past me and not let me take a breath. Sometimes, I feel like so many opportunities are passing me by, but I just don't know what to do with them because for one, I'm not inspired, two, I find myself in a rut, and three, I feel like I'm not in control. There isn't a hold on my destiny that I can realize. Maybe it'll hit me later. MAYbe, I'll finally come to terms with the hidden part of myself that I can control more than I know. It's challenging because in this day and age, you feel like you're set up to know everything that can possibly cross your path whether it's a career, relationship or some other mind boggling situation, but in actuality, you're just blindly working your way through life, making mistakes, trying to uncover realizations about yourself and everything you encounter is so foreign and bizarre that you know in your bones you weren't ready for this.
So this is where I find myself. No I'm not depressed. Well, maybe to a minute extent I am, but really, I just want to figure it out. How does one find happiness? When do things finally fall into place and you finally come to terms with the fact that you are content, satisfied and now have the ambition to explore other parts of yourself by taking care of the immediate survival needs? It's so frustrating growing up and being told you're on the right track, doing the right thing, making the right choices, and then when all is said and done, you're in this life and you feel like you've learned absolutely nothing. Nothing makes sense, nothing goes how you want, you thought you made the right career choice, but now you've wasted four and a half years realizing you hate client services and there's nothing you can do to get that time back. And don't even get me started on relationships. I just want answers. How do I ultimately control my destiny? How do I find happiness? And HOW do I get myself out of this rut?
There. I vented. Now I leave you with a little falling without knowing.
I find myself in a mid-life crisis. I've been in this crisis for some time now...always restless, always trying to figure out my next steps, but still somehow lacking the motivation to kick myself in gear and just got for it, whatever "it" is.
And then time. Time just flies by like it's on some sort of raging case of adrenaline mixed with confusion. I still don't know why it finds the need to whoosh past me and not let me take a breath. Sometimes, I feel like so many opportunities are passing me by, but I just don't know what to do with them because for one, I'm not inspired, two, I find myself in a rut, and three, I feel like I'm not in control. There isn't a hold on my destiny that I can realize. Maybe it'll hit me later. MAYbe, I'll finally come to terms with the hidden part of myself that I can control more than I know. It's challenging because in this day and age, you feel like you're set up to know everything that can possibly cross your path whether it's a career, relationship or some other mind boggling situation, but in actuality, you're just blindly working your way through life, making mistakes, trying to uncover realizations about yourself and everything you encounter is so foreign and bizarre that you know in your bones you weren't ready for this.
So this is where I find myself. No I'm not depressed. Well, maybe to a minute extent I am, but really, I just want to figure it out. How does one find happiness? When do things finally fall into place and you finally come to terms with the fact that you are content, satisfied and now have the ambition to explore other parts of yourself by taking care of the immediate survival needs? It's so frustrating growing up and being told you're on the right track, doing the right thing, making the right choices, and then when all is said and done, you're in this life and you feel like you've learned absolutely nothing. Nothing makes sense, nothing goes how you want, you thought you made the right career choice, but now you've wasted four and a half years realizing you hate client services and there's nothing you can do to get that time back. And don't even get me started on relationships. I just want answers. How do I ultimately control my destiny? How do I find happiness? And HOW do I get myself out of this rut?
There. I vented. Now I leave you with a little falling without knowing.
21 October 2010
This is the Now Generation...or Something
The Black Eyed Peas have a song called the "Now Generation" which predominantly focuses on our generation's need for immediacy. We want things now. We don't want to wait. There are all these tools out there to allow us to get things now -- Wikipedia, blogs, Facebook, Google, our mobile devices wired with internet, apps and Words with Friends all allow us to get anything we want to know in a matter of seconds. My generation is guilty of having a full blown addiction to the internet and all the insane nows it has to offer. If you can't find something, Google it. Just search the interweb and you'll be hooked up with everything you needed and didn't need to know just by clicking "GO". So what is it about needing everything right now? Why is there so much pressure on the now? Why can't we be patient, get what we need in due time; perform quality research to render valuable results? It's because we're told by society and the media that we just can't wait. Life is too short -- live fast, live hard and get everything you want before it's gone. Because lord knows, that new $1,500 TV is going to be replaced by another $2,000 TV next year, and OH SNAPS, I need that shit NOW.
My generation is so brainwashed by this thing, this plague of immediacy. We rush through things and we burn out and we get frustrated because in life, nothing happens immediately. The internet is our immediate satisfaction because it gives us everything we want, BUT, in life? Life takes time. It's frustrating and challenging and has so many ups and downs that half the time you can't even figure out if you're in a peak or a valley, because either way, something isn't happening right now. Our influence from getting immediate satisfaction is blinding us from what life really is. In life, you don't get things now. You have to work at it, and unless you're insanely fortunate and can warrant being spoiled with everything you need and don't need within a matter of minutes, you're stuck with the rest of us being unsatisfied, unspoiled and annoyed that the key aspects of life don't happen immediately.
Don't worry, I'm not pointing the finger. I'm wholeheartedly guilty of impatience, especially when it comes to my career. After working in a place for 4 years and hitting every single possible peak and valley that I could while working there, I now realize that if I don't feel like I'm in a place that can offer me what I want now, I need to switch. This trend is common in our generation. The average 20 something has about 7 jobs in their 20s, most of which are hopped through within a matter of 2-3 years. It's amazing how we selfishly gobble up a position only to let it go because it doesn't fit. Are we just job hoppers? Are we just too anxious to know what else is out there instead of trying to settle and conform to an environment that might not fit, but you know you can try to squeeze into it despite it being slightly uncomfortable and hideous? I sure think so. I know my angst. It makes my back hurt and I find a pit in my stomach aching because my head and my heart's resistance to conforming to it takes over every muscle in my body (by the way, it really is an awful feeling). The resistance part is interesting. You can feel your whole body just say "No. I don't want to do that," because we're so used to being able to fix dissatisfaction, no matter how big or small, almost instantaneously. But somethings you just can't fix...not instantly at least and it's such a frustrating concept to try to understand.
A highlight of the Peas' song is needing "cold hard cash," obviously NOW since this is the now generation. And honestly, who doesn't want cold hard cash now? I hear the phrase, "If I had a million dollars..." or "If I found a million dollars..." all the time with a whole laundry list of things that person wants to do following. "Expedi-ate and improve my situation." It's amazing how we're all told to think and truly believe that money can solve so many of our problems. Once you have money you can do what you want, when you want, how you want. Earning it? Eh, who cares as long as you just find a way to have it you're set. I'm not going to lie, if a million dollars magically showed up on my doorstep, I'd quit my job in a heartbeat, pay of my bills, travel for a bit and start my own company. I don't like to think I fall into the category of cash cow without at least working for it because I do value the importance of working and contributing to some cog in some wheel to make the world a better, more interesting place. And it's not like I even need a ton of cash -- I just want to have enough to support my future family and my future aspirations (that being a winery catering to a casual environment meant to bring people into a home, enjoy some really good wine and some munchies on top of that (no tools allowed though)). But that concept of needing money is still embedding in my brain. It hits me and I get so frustrated on how many aspects of my life it controls. Why does money have to be such a bossy decision maker?
Well, in America, our capitalist / consumerist / materialist society embeds the "want" in our brains. The "want" being money to buy us what we're told we "need," more money to buy us more things that we "need," and the ultimate goal of having a cash cow cushy life to aspire to all of our hopes, dreams and who knows what else. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what life would be like without all of this pressure? I mean, less than 100 years ago, people still enjoyed life and remembered what it was like to breathe and not kill themselves for something they're not meant to have. On the flip side, industrialism did spark all of this need for things now. Our industrialist forefathers realized efficiency is beneficial -- make things faster and people will be satisfied and more productive. Can you imagine how fast this concept mushroomed? It started with factories, turned into cars, telephones and went lightening speed into computers, the internet and insane mobile devices that give one person entirely too much power.
Half the time, I find myself torn. I aspire to be efficient and adopt all the tools needed to make myself more efficient, but then I crave isolation and cutting off from the "now" just to catch my breath and figure out what the hell it is I'm trying to accomplish. My parents raised me well and there's nothing they could have possibly done to adjust my views on life seeing as all the resources I need to be influenced are so readily available...unless they put me in a cave or something. ... But, they encouraged me to be successful, go to a good school, a great school, ensure that I can stand alone, be financially secure, and not rely on anyone but myself to survive. In theory, this is fantastic advice, but when it comes to life now -- life that demands immediacy -- is the concept of aim for success always now a flawed concept because we lose sight of so many other important aspects of the world and what life in all of its ups and downs has to offer?
I will leave it at that to ponder. ...and get ready to rest upon this idea.
But don't forget to listen to the Now Generation:
My generation is so brainwashed by this thing, this plague of immediacy. We rush through things and we burn out and we get frustrated because in life, nothing happens immediately. The internet is our immediate satisfaction because it gives us everything we want, BUT, in life? Life takes time. It's frustrating and challenging and has so many ups and downs that half the time you can't even figure out if you're in a peak or a valley, because either way, something isn't happening right now. Our influence from getting immediate satisfaction is blinding us from what life really is. In life, you don't get things now. You have to work at it, and unless you're insanely fortunate and can warrant being spoiled with everything you need and don't need within a matter of minutes, you're stuck with the rest of us being unsatisfied, unspoiled and annoyed that the key aspects of life don't happen immediately.
Don't worry, I'm not pointing the finger. I'm wholeheartedly guilty of impatience, especially when it comes to my career. After working in a place for 4 years and hitting every single possible peak and valley that I could while working there, I now realize that if I don't feel like I'm in a place that can offer me what I want now, I need to switch. This trend is common in our generation. The average 20 something has about 7 jobs in their 20s, most of which are hopped through within a matter of 2-3 years. It's amazing how we selfishly gobble up a position only to let it go because it doesn't fit. Are we just job hoppers? Are we just too anxious to know what else is out there instead of trying to settle and conform to an environment that might not fit, but you know you can try to squeeze into it despite it being slightly uncomfortable and hideous? I sure think so. I know my angst. It makes my back hurt and I find a pit in my stomach aching because my head and my heart's resistance to conforming to it takes over every muscle in my body (by the way, it really is an awful feeling). The resistance part is interesting. You can feel your whole body just say "No. I don't want to do that," because we're so used to being able to fix dissatisfaction, no matter how big or small, almost instantaneously. But somethings you just can't fix...not instantly at least and it's such a frustrating concept to try to understand.
A highlight of the Peas' song is needing "cold hard cash," obviously NOW since this is the now generation. And honestly, who doesn't want cold hard cash now? I hear the phrase, "If I had a million dollars..." or "If I found a million dollars..." all the time with a whole laundry list of things that person wants to do following. "Expedi-ate and improve my situation." It's amazing how we're all told to think and truly believe that money can solve so many of our problems. Once you have money you can do what you want, when you want, how you want. Earning it? Eh, who cares as long as you just find a way to have it you're set. I'm not going to lie, if a million dollars magically showed up on my doorstep, I'd quit my job in a heartbeat, pay of my bills, travel for a bit and start my own company. I don't like to think I fall into the category of cash cow without at least working for it because I do value the importance of working and contributing to some cog in some wheel to make the world a better, more interesting place. And it's not like I even need a ton of cash -- I just want to have enough to support my future family and my future aspirations (that being a winery catering to a casual environment meant to bring people into a home, enjoy some really good wine and some munchies on top of that (no tools allowed though)). But that concept of needing money is still embedding in my brain. It hits me and I get so frustrated on how many aspects of my life it controls. Why does money have to be such a bossy decision maker?
Well, in America, our capitalist / consumerist / materialist society embeds the "want" in our brains. The "want" being money to buy us what we're told we "need," more money to buy us more things that we "need," and the ultimate goal of having a cash cow cushy life to aspire to all of our hopes, dreams and who knows what else. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what life would be like without all of this pressure? I mean, less than 100 years ago, people still enjoyed life and remembered what it was like to breathe and not kill themselves for something they're not meant to have. On the flip side, industrialism did spark all of this need for things now. Our industrialist forefathers realized efficiency is beneficial -- make things faster and people will be satisfied and more productive. Can you imagine how fast this concept mushroomed? It started with factories, turned into cars, telephones and went lightening speed into computers, the internet and insane mobile devices that give one person entirely too much power.
Half the time, I find myself torn. I aspire to be efficient and adopt all the tools needed to make myself more efficient, but then I crave isolation and cutting off from the "now" just to catch my breath and figure out what the hell it is I'm trying to accomplish. My parents raised me well and there's nothing they could have possibly done to adjust my views on life seeing as all the resources I need to be influenced are so readily available...unless they put me in a cave or something. ... But, they encouraged me to be successful, go to a good school, a great school, ensure that I can stand alone, be financially secure, and not rely on anyone but myself to survive. In theory, this is fantastic advice, but when it comes to life now -- life that demands immediacy -- is the concept of aim for success always now a flawed concept because we lose sight of so many other important aspects of the world and what life in all of its ups and downs has to offer?
I will leave it at that to ponder. ...and get ready to rest upon this idea.
But don't forget to listen to the Now Generation:
04 October 2010
It's Autumn...Again.
Ah, epic failure again. I've neglected the blog, but somehow for the past, almost 3 months, I've been so utterly distracted that this blog has fallen by the wayside. Perhaps I'm just not the devoted writer I hoped I would be...who knows. ANYWAY I've learned a couple of things lately:
1. I really like photography and am ACHING for a glorious digital SLR. Greedily, I was hoping for some minor financial help from the parentals for the upcoming b-day and X-mas; however, they have decided to opt for home remodeling and have repeatedly, explicitly stated that birthdays and Christmas no longer exist. SAD. I'll now have to magically have to figure out how to make $700+ appear all on my very own. The woes of being an adult.
2. I need goals. Goals for my career; goals for my personal life; goals for quite nearly everything. I realized I'm restless, unsatisfied and antsy, thus, I need to set some goals for myself on what I want to accomplish and when. To start, I need to finish my paintings. Both are due by December 31, 2010...granted, they've both been started, therefore, it's not too terribly painful to finish them...except for the smoke on the shoe. There's a reason why it's take FOREVER to finish.
3. I will focus my energy on crafting a business. There is no other way to feel self-fulfilled than becoming your own boss and forming a business that you feel ownership over, that you drive and that you in every shape and form love. It's time to blend wine and the interweb and boy do those two need some serious love in their relationship.
4. Zolite still remains to be epic cuteness (I had to throw her in somewhere, she's just too flippin' cute).
5. I have way too many ideas in my head. I want to read, paint, write, research, explore, cook, relax, sleep, drink, wander, roam, who knows what else all at the exact same time. I need to learn to FOCUS. Focus and prioritize and breathe while doing so.
6. I need to treat my job as only a job and not my life. I do not own this company; my impact is all I can hope it to be; and I'm not so attached to mobile that it can warrant the stress and anxiety it currently does.
7. I'm BORED. Therefore, to cure boredom, I need distractions and hobbies...and various things that excite me. Finding all of those things are a challenge...especially when not trying to spend a lot of cash; therefore, creativity is key.
8. I need to not be scared of my finances as I currently am. They're just so daunting and real that dealing with them is scary. I'm not bankrupt or anything...I just don't want to deal with them at the moment. (I know, bad, bad, bad, shame on me).
9. I will clean the pile of papers on my abandoned desk that keep staring at me, as I know that as much as I've willed them to magically disappear, it just won't happen. This also goes for the various objects in my closet I really don't need anymore, the useless TV I have and don't know what to do with -- recycle? trash? compost? special plastic dispensary? Who can figure it out anymore??
10. I will learn to not require as much sleep as I currently do. As much as I love it, crave it, crash so easily, I will learn to not rely so heavily on rest and will push myself to be more productive during various odd hours. How does one learn to be an insomniac? Endless amounts of coffee? Is it actually even possible?
11. I will not be so absorbed in my email, music, iPhone, what have you, to not stop, observe and enjoy the various characters roaming the glorious streets of SF.
OK, that's all I have for now. Next post, I promise, will be an analysis between Jango and Pandora.
Give me some inspiration dear world!
15 July 2010
Les Doux Souvenirs de Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier. A delightfully perky spirit with the sweet hints of orange balanced with the sharpness of cognac.
When I was younger, my father would enjoy sipping on his brandy or cognac in the winter months, whether it was at home in Pinole during chilly weekend evenings or up at our glorious cabin in Tahoe, playing Zolīte (the card game, not the cat) around the dining room table, making jokes about my mother always needing to stretch out (I think it was an excuse to go to sleep early) and listening to ABBA. At the young, tender age of we'll say 15 (could've been 14, but we'll play safe here), brandies and cognacs were a bit too strong for me. My initial reaction to them was "it tastes like cardboard...with a kick." I have since primed my taste-buds to appreciate such apéritifs; however, back then, I needed a little sweetening to my beverages. Alas, I was introduced to Grand Marnier. Probably a bad idea, but oh man, did I enjoy sipping on Grand Marnier. Not only did I feel cool with my little brandy sniffer taking appreciative sips like my Dad, the sweetness of the liqueur satisfied my sweet tooth and the sharpness (and alchohol level) of the cognac gave me that nice light, buzzed feeling of enjoying the moment. So when I saw the latest commercial for Grand Marnier, a very 60s style cartoon with a backdrop of classic french music, it brought back some memories.
Ah, to feel so chic sipping on Grand Marnier! Just saying it makes you sound a bit swankier. I definitely appreciate the vintage feel of this commercial. It honestly made me think, "Hmm, I haven't had Grand Marnier in a while...and it is tasty...and it does have that Parisian nose in the air appeal." I haven't gone out an purchased it yet (the $20+ for a fifth price tag is a bit daunting); however, if it was offered to me, I wouldn't turn it down because I would like to think that I'm wearing a chic black cocktail dress with a fabulous party hat and a cigarette stick recalling those memories from my youth, enjoying this fantastically satisfying spirit.
When I was younger, my father would enjoy sipping on his brandy or cognac in the winter months, whether it was at home in Pinole during chilly weekend evenings or up at our glorious cabin in Tahoe, playing Zolīte (the card game, not the cat) around the dining room table, making jokes about my mother always needing to stretch out (I think it was an excuse to go to sleep early) and listening to ABBA. At the young, tender age of we'll say 15 (could've been 14, but we'll play safe here), brandies and cognacs were a bit too strong for me. My initial reaction to them was "it tastes like cardboard...with a kick." I have since primed my taste-buds to appreciate such apéritifs; however, back then, I needed a little sweetening to my beverages. Alas, I was introduced to Grand Marnier. Probably a bad idea, but oh man, did I enjoy sipping on Grand Marnier. Not only did I feel cool with my little brandy sniffer taking appreciative sips like my Dad, the sweetness of the liqueur satisfied my sweet tooth and the sharpness (and alchohol level) of the cognac gave me that nice light, buzzed feeling of enjoying the moment. So when I saw the latest commercial for Grand Marnier, a very 60s style cartoon with a backdrop of classic french music, it brought back some memories.
Ah, to feel so chic sipping on Grand Marnier! Just saying it makes you sound a bit swankier. I definitely appreciate the vintage feel of this commercial. It honestly made me think, "Hmm, I haven't had Grand Marnier in a while...and it is tasty...and it does have that Parisian nose in the air appeal." I haven't gone out an purchased it yet (the $20+ for a fifth price tag is a bit daunting); however, if it was offered to me, I wouldn't turn it down because I would like to think that I'm wearing a chic black cocktail dress with a fabulous party hat and a cigarette stick recalling those memories from my youth, enjoying this fantastically satisfying spirit.
11 July 2010
Oh, Hello Blog, It's Been Too Long
Wow, no blog for 4 months. I've failed miserably; however, I will make up for this failure by starting over, starting fresh and keeping as much activity on this blog as I possibly can. For starters, I'm making some changes to my way of life. Now that I've been enlightened that money sadly does not grow on trees (actually, I already knew it didn't, but I just binged on a careless spend-happy month, so shame on me), I'm going to make an effort to clean the lifestyle, get organized and budget properly. What does this all entail? Well, a couple of things:
1. I joined mint.com and will now have friendly push notifications bombing my iPhone when I go over the budgets I've set for myself.
2. I will adjust my budgets each month so that I don't go on careless spending sprees, but will allow myself wiggle room in the important categories like spending time with friends (dinners, bars, random adventures, etc), museum trips and retail therapy (not excessive, but just enough so I don't get withdrawals and turn into a crazy person).
3. I will sell things I no longer need, use, wear, etc. That means any objects ranging from books, electronics, clothes, even shoes, will be sold. My first attempts at eBay haven't been wildly successful, but I'm not giving up. Someone will buy by $600 Christian Louboutin's because Lady Gaga has the exact same pair. I know she's hot right now and so are these shoes!
4. I am giving up TV. Yup, saying goodbye to the boob tube. Any shows I want to watch can most likely be streamed online in some shape or form and that is much better than spending $50-$60 a month on channels and programs that I don't need to be losing brain cells on. Sorry Real Housewives, you were a guilty pleasure, but I can do without. Anyone that is interested in my small pathetic television (could be good for a garage or some obscure setting not requiring a 36" panel screen), I'll sell it to you for $15.
5. I am going to finish my paintings. Without TV, there's now absolutely no excuse for me to not get in the zone after I come home from work and execute on this cobwebbed talent of mine.
6. I will read more. Books are stimulation of knowledge and my brain needs to be reinvigorated. Green Apple is calling my name (they did send me, and 5000 other people, an email saying they missed me...aww, how sweet) and I will return the call...after Madame Bovary and Atlas Shrugged...and possibly War and Peace (eek.).
7. I will prepare lunch for myself for the week and not spend $8-$10 everyday on expensive FiDi food...though I will allow myself an 'out' lunch once a week, if needed, so I don't feel too pathetic with my daily tupperware tucked in the office fridge.
8. I will blog more. Yes, I've neglected this page and I feel bad. Granted, I did start a new post, but never finished it because it rallied too many emotions all at once; however, it may present itself at some point in the near future.
9. I will be healthier. Healthier in food and beverage (the beverage part will be difficult because I love beer and wine and liquids with calories in them); healthier in mental state of mind (my brain is emotionally exhausted and is in need of repair); healthier in physical form (perhaps pilates will return as long as Zolite leaves me alone and doesn't attack me when I'm doing the one hundred on the floor...or maybe evening walks when I come home...we shall see); just healthier all around.
10. I will watch more foreign films and form a stronger bond with Netflix. I've always loved the foreign cinema -- the films are just a bit more stimulating and since Netflix has online streaming, hellooooo movie time. Don't worry, I'll still need silly films to take a break from intellectual overload.
I know I can make changes in my life by setting goals for myself and sticking to them, and hopefully, these goals will help me guide me on this long path of life, because right now, I've lost my way and I need to get back on track. And with that, I give you one of the bubbliest songs I can possibly think of. A little Hall & Oates:
1. I joined mint.com and will now have friendly push notifications bombing my iPhone when I go over the budgets I've set for myself.
2. I will adjust my budgets each month so that I don't go on careless spending sprees, but will allow myself wiggle room in the important categories like spending time with friends (dinners, bars, random adventures, etc), museum trips and retail therapy (not excessive, but just enough so I don't get withdrawals and turn into a crazy person).
3. I will sell things I no longer need, use, wear, etc. That means any objects ranging from books, electronics, clothes, even shoes, will be sold. My first attempts at eBay haven't been wildly successful, but I'm not giving up. Someone will buy by $600 Christian Louboutin's because Lady Gaga has the exact same pair. I know she's hot right now and so are these shoes!
4. I am giving up TV. Yup, saying goodbye to the boob tube. Any shows I want to watch can most likely be streamed online in some shape or form and that is much better than spending $50-$60 a month on channels and programs that I don't need to be losing brain cells on. Sorry Real Housewives, you were a guilty pleasure, but I can do without. Anyone that is interested in my small pathetic television (could be good for a garage or some obscure setting not requiring a 36" panel screen), I'll sell it to you for $15.
5. I am going to finish my paintings. Without TV, there's now absolutely no excuse for me to not get in the zone after I come home from work and execute on this cobwebbed talent of mine.
6. I will read more. Books are stimulation of knowledge and my brain needs to be reinvigorated. Green Apple is calling my name (they did send me, and 5000 other people, an email saying they missed me...aww, how sweet) and I will return the call...after Madame Bovary and Atlas Shrugged...and possibly War and Peace (eek.).
7. I will prepare lunch for myself for the week and not spend $8-$10 everyday on expensive FiDi food...though I will allow myself an 'out' lunch once a week, if needed, so I don't feel too pathetic with my daily tupperware tucked in the office fridge.
8. I will blog more. Yes, I've neglected this page and I feel bad. Granted, I did start a new post, but never finished it because it rallied too many emotions all at once; however, it may present itself at some point in the near future.
9. I will be healthier. Healthier in food and beverage (the beverage part will be difficult because I love beer and wine and liquids with calories in them); healthier in mental state of mind (my brain is emotionally exhausted and is in need of repair); healthier in physical form (perhaps pilates will return as long as Zolite leaves me alone and doesn't attack me when I'm doing the one hundred on the floor...or maybe evening walks when I come home...we shall see); just healthier all around.
10. I will watch more foreign films and form a stronger bond with Netflix. I've always loved the foreign cinema -- the films are just a bit more stimulating and since Netflix has online streaming, hellooooo movie time. Don't worry, I'll still need silly films to take a break from intellectual overload.
I know I can make changes in my life by setting goals for myself and sticking to them, and hopefully, these goals will help me guide me on this long path of life, because right now, I've lost my way and I need to get back on track. And with that, I give you one of the bubbliest songs I can possibly think of. A little Hall & Oates:
11 April 2010
There's Something About Flowers...
Flowers have a delightful way of cheering up even the most melancholy of souls, for their perkiness and unique personality just have a certain way of making their admirer smile. People purchase flowers for occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, dinner parties, those, "I saw them and thought of you" instances, when someone feels the need to make up for something bad, weddings, funerals, even Macy's in Union Square transforms themselves into a jungle of blooms. Their purpose on these occasions is to brighten, beautify, add bursts of color in every corner possible. Flowers are so coveted because the vast variety of them makes it impossible to not be quite pleased with one, or a bunch, smiling right back up at you. It really is undoubtedly remarkable how nature's way of cultivating soil and keeping the bees busy making honey can also bring so much simple joy to a person.
As a super fan of these friendly buds, I do make it a point to keep fresh cut flowers in my apartment to keep the space bright and add a dose of nature to my backyard-less 6th floor studio. Currently, I have ranunculus flowers on my book shelf and in my bathroom. They were nodding at me at Trader Joe's, saying, "Buy Me!" in the most sing song way possible. Now that I have them in my Strauss Milk glass bottles, they are spreading their petals most delicately and were definitely worth the $3.99/bunch.
Image courtesy of me.
Aside from the flowers in my apartment, I recently took a much needed therapy trip to the Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park. These gardens are not only huge and still expanding, they are also free which is amazing seeing how SF's latest trend is to suck as much money out of you in any way possible. Nonetheless, on a gorgeous Spring day, flouncing around in a skirt, tank top and digital point and shoot (Konica Minolta, Dimage G600, yes I'm working on saving to purchase a digital SLR), I wandered about the gardens capturing as many photos of flowers, leaves, greenery, whatever I could find that had a unique balance of color and shadows to further expand my growing collection of botanical photography.
To walk about the gardens, through the grass, dirt paths, in-between trees, brush, flower beds, ponds, swamps, all sorts of elements you would find in tucked away corners of the earth are what make the Botanical Gardens so much to enjoy. Some may ask, "Why do you just want to go look at plants all day?" Why not? Nature is something so precious to this earth that we have to cherish and respect the organic beauty it has. In everyday life we see processed beauty -- from industrial architecture, to beautiful clothes and shoes, to pretty pieces we find in shops -- but natural beauty, that which can only be provided by the sun, terrain and rain, is how we as people are able to process and create beauty.
Have a little look-see at the photos from my recent trip here,
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| SF Botanical Gardens |
If you haven't yet been to the gardens, or have, but haven't been back in a while, I encourage you to take advantage of a gorgeous Spring day, and enjoy getting lost in the stunning world of plants, trees, flowers and everything in-between.
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