Dating Dilemma - What is the most unusual date you've ever been on?

Sorry guys, I'm a bit late with this.  Got tied up with a fascinating music appreciation course from Yale open learning.


So the other day, while passing a cemetery, I had a flashback to a night almost 14 years ago, when I was out on a first date with the boy who would become my Freshman Year boyfriend.  After a lovely dinner at the Iowa River Power Company (one of the fancier restaurants in Iowa City) he asked what I wanted to do next, and me being a quirky ingenue (at least in my opinion) immediately suggested we pay a visit to the Black Angel in the local cemetery.  Clearly he liked me, as he obliged and off we went.  Although it wasn't the best date ever, its unique-ness made it memorable and something that comes back to me every time I pass a cemetery.


This week's survey question: What is the most unusual date you've ever been on?


HL:I was just supposed to go out to dinner with this guy and then he told me he forgot something back at his house and we drove far away to his farm and I had to meet his parents and it was like the 2nd or 3rd date.  It was so awkward, because I think his plan was for me to meet his parents.


NW: I instructed my annoying date to wait outside on a park bench while i shop at old navy for an hour.  (He waited, and yes, it was the first date, and yes the was the first time we'd ever hung out) and do you know that fool had the NERVE to ask me why i wasn't going to kiss him at the end of the date? and proceeded to call me days later asking why I didn't want to go out again?


LL: This isn't crazy for LA, but friends in other parts of the country find it weird to screen movies at a cemetary.  I did have a date to one of those.  Other then that it's been the pretty standard dinner and movie or an improv comedy show.


NJ: I once told a guy that there was a house for sale I really wanted to see, but that no one ever called me back when I left a message with the broker. So he hopped the fence, picked the lock and got me in the house. 

Another time in college I went cemetery hopping. From the outside it seems weird, but our school was known for them – so much so that History, Discovery and Sci-Fi came to do the very same thing on a regular basis. Still not really a conventional date though.



BS: I went on a third or maybe fourth date to a wrestling pay per view event.  I had tickets with a friend and he couldn't go at the last minute, so the girl I was kind of seeing at the time went even though she had never seen wrestling before.  She loved it!  WE sat next to an older couple who also were not wrestling fans, but had just come for something to do.  I filled everyone in on the storylines all night, and they kept buying us drinks.  It was a good time.

PocketFuzz visits the Arboretum...

One of my favorite places to visit on a quiet Sunday is the Los Angeles Arboretum.  I like to bring a book and a lunch and take my time wandering through the various gardens.  Sometimes I go to sketch flowers, other times I bring my buddy PocketFuzz, to help with some picture-taking.

Have you ever seen the butt of a peacock?  Me neither.

"Catawampus" by Patrick Dougherty

Random gadgets found at Marukai 98

I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately.   I think all the rain we have been getting is throwing me off balance.  I'm not used to cold, damp Los Angeles,  my body only knows hot, sunny LA.  But what can you do? My solution is to get a face mask to help prevent my office mates from getting my germs.  So I went to my favorite Japanese store to see what they had in stock for me.  

Although there were many different masks to choose from, I decided this would work best.

At least my co-workers are spending more time discussing my accessories and less time talking about my cold.

Dating Dilemma - What are the best/worst pickup lines you have used/heard?

I was out with the girls at El Chavo, last Friday night, celebrating Eric's birthday.  After the restaurant closed, he took over the space, brought in a DJ and had a big dance party.  It was a lot of fun AND the perfect opportunity for us to meet new people.   Unfortunately, we had to siphon thru a few drunken DBs before meeting some quality, new friends.

Upon introducing himself to me, one of the drunks proclaimed, "What kind of work do you do?  You must be a model, because you are HOT!"  Stinky beer breath and slurring words aside, there was no way I'd ever fall for a line like that from this middle-aged hot mess.  As I quickly ducked out of his sight (trying hard to dodge the bullet of having a longer conversation with him), I started to think about all the great and horrible pickup lines I had heard over the years.   So this weeks survey question is: What are the best/worst pickup lines you have used/heard?

BS: My friend, the degenerate, likes to use the line: "Nice shoes, wanna fuck?"  It's a great ice breaker and tends to get the girl talking.
JB: The cheesiest/silly lines usually get the girl to talk to you, although if the girl actually falls for any of them, she probably isn't very smart. "Is that Windex in your pants because I can see myself in them."  Or the guy grabs a girl's shirt from the back and she asks, "What are you doing?" And he responds, " Looking for the made in Heaven tag."
JH: "You look bored."  (If she says she is, you're in!  If she says she isn't, you walk away, and didn't actually hit on her.)
HL: "I like your dress!"....The guy that said it to me made me want to find him and talk to him.
MS: The worst Match.com headline I ever saw: "A boy can love a million woman but it takes a man to love a woman a million ways." - Yuck!
BS: I don't use pickup lines, but my I've heard guys use the "my friend thinks you're hot!" line.
AA: Best Line (disclaimer I saw this on Jay Leno, but think it is great) "Do you know how much a polar bear weighs?"  Answer: "Enough to break the ice!"
Worst Line: "Want to get a schnitzel and go back to my bungalow?" (courtesy of a backpacker in Thailand.)
NJ:Best (maybe I just loved it because I got such a good laugh or because the guy was so handsome he literally glistened):
Boy: "Hey NJ, how ya been?"
Girl:"Good, but tired.  You?"
Boy: "Tired, too.  Maybe we should sleep together some time."
Worst lines: - Man, there sure are a lot...
Guy in a bookstore: "Hey baby, I'd sure like to flip your pages." (I gave him a dirty look) "I guess I'd better check myself before I wreck myself, huh, sweetie?"
Guy in a bar: "Are you looking for a man who's extraordinary in every way?  Because you just found him."

My favorite things from this week...

-Solstice Canyon, perfect for a rainy day hike with Ray...we went to splish splosh through the puddles and creek!

-The Kitchen in SilverLake.  Everytime I eat there I feel completely satisfied and comfy, like I just ate a really good home cooked meal.

-Thai Elvis: cheap, delicious, entertaining!
-Nana: my favorite Japanese Manga series.  The girls are cool, the clothes are cute, and it makes me want to be a rockstar.
-Rain...I love curling up to a good book when its pouring outside.
-Academic Earth!  I love that I can listen to Yale and Harvard professors lectures in my PJs.
-Strange Maps may not help my wanderlust, but it does make me smile.
-Betsy McCall paper dolls (because I love all their cute outfits!)

Random gadgets found at Marukai 98

Although there are many, many places where I love to shop when I visit Japan.  My most favorite, is the 100 yen store.  It's a bit like the .99 cent store on crack.  Thousands of things, you never knew you needed, all for the bargain price of US$1.05.  And lucky for me, I don't have to go all the way to Japan to shop at my favorite store.  Torrance and Gardena are both home to Marukai 98,  America's imported version of the 100 yen store.  Granted, everything starts at $1.89, and some things are even more expensive, but the junk you never thought you needed is the same, which is why I like to visit the store on rainy days to test out random gadgets for entertainment purposes.

Take today's amazing product:  The Star/Heart hard-boiled egg shaper.  Here we go....

Simple enough instructions.  Take an egg, boil it, then peel it.

Stick it in the mold, buckle the side latches, let it sit for 5 minutes.

Voila! You have a 3D Heart or Star shaped egg.

Cut in half and serve in salad or make cute deviled eggs.

Not to be a downer, but...

About 6 years ago, my family was vacationing in Thailand when the tsunami hit.  Luckily, at the time we were in Chiang Mai, which is in the northern part of the country.  As we watched the BBC footage from the safety of our hotel room, my mother recognized the balcony of one of the restaurants they had just visited, 2 days before the tsunami.  As we watched that balcony became engulfed with water, my family wondered about the fates of all the nice people they had met only a few days before and we counted our blessings that we had been fortunate enough to be in a safe place.

So now, when I hear of horrible natural disasters, such as the recent earthquake in Haiti, I am reminded of that trip to Thailand.  And I take a moment to count my blessings and realize how fortunate I am to be in a safe place. Then I try to donate money or time to help with the relief aid, because you never know when or how something catastrophic will effect yourself or your family, and if you are like me, you want to believe that someone out there will be available to help.  So, today instead of posting a random blog entry, I thought I would put up a list of links to reputable organizations who have vowed to help with Relief Aid in Haiti:

Oxfam America 
American Red Cross
Food for the Hungry
Doctors Without Borders
International medical Corps

Indiefixx is an awesome blog that is doing a silent auction where 100% of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross response fund.  So you can shop and donate money (I love multi-tasking!).

Dating Dilemma - What are your deal breakers?

Last night, I was having drinks with a group of old friends.  When one of the guys mentioned that he had been dating a girl for a few weeks, before she let him in on a little secret...she is a professional dominatrix.  He acted cool and took it all in stride and on some level probably enjoyed it.  But it got me thinking about deal breakers.  What personality quirks or social habits would be the end-all for a new relationship?


My deal breakers are pretty simple and common:
-self-chosen ignorance towards people, cultures, and the environment.
-rudeness towards service people (waitstaff, valets, gardeners, shopkeepers, etc)
-lacking an interest to try new things, visit new places, taste new foods
-inability to spend time doing their own thing (lack of a hobby)
-smokers, spitters, and alcoholics need not apply


Of course I had to ask a few of my friends about what they wouldn't put up with.  Here are the answers to this weeks email survey:


LL:  Short temper and littering (I think it says a lot about a person if they are willing to litter...just a lack of respect and expecting someone else to clean up there crap and I am not that person. :)  I'm not a smoker, but was willing to keep hanging out with this guy because he didn't throw his cigarette butt out the window...he kept it in his ash tray and cleaned it out when we parked he passed by a trash can. And you could tell it was something he always did, not something he just did because I was around...I was impressed.)

NJ: I'm free of all predjudice, I date men equally - so long as they don't talk like women, wear skinny jeans or eyeliner. The one caveat may be that I do try to avoid guys under 6ft. I'm a tall girl. It's not a deal breaker, but the poor chap really would have to work that much harder in my book.
 (This is all assuming he's not a criminal, in a relationship already, homeless or Michael Vick).  

NW:  bad hygiene, rude behavior,general lack of intellect/desire for more knowledge/ignorance
blatant homophobia/racism/prejudice (i guess that's rude behavior)
slapping my ass i public when you don't know me ;-) - again, i suppose this is covered under the rude clause, and yes, that one JUST happened to me recently.  

HL: I'm pretty open minded, but it would definitely be hard for me to date someone without a job or someone without a car. Yeah. Those are mine off the top of my head. 

AA: They have to have hobbies/do something (I don't care if we share hobbies or what his hobbies are--as long as it's not only video games--the dude needs to do something with his free time). Needs to be smarter than me, must have a passport, must have goals of some sort (sorta goes back to the hobby thing), cannot have something inherrently wrong/be creepy or weird/not an axe murder! Must be slightly eccentric (everyone in my life whom I really love spending time with is a bit eccentric)

A few of my favorite things...

-Shaun the Sheep:  I love all the little shorts from this series.  Shaun is so cute and watching this is way better than counting sheep at night!
-Children's book illustrations:  I always find inspiration in children's books.  I often stop by the library on the weekend and load up on kid's books to look through over the upcoming week.
-Breakfast for dinner!  I was gifted some pastry dough by a chef friend, so the girls and I decided to meet up and have a breakfast for dinner party.  Bloody Mary and Mimosa station, blueberry cupcakes, farmer's market fruits and veggies, and egg and bacon empanadas.  What could possibly be more delightful?
-100 things to do before you die list (a list by some guy named Chris):  I've decided to create a new list for myself, but can't believe that the majority of the list is about visiting countries that I haven't been to yet.
-This little bit of magic made my whole morning!
-Rob Dunlavey's Crystal Cities sculpture makes me want to build my own city!
- Clogs!  While in Japan, I saw the cutest pair of clogs in Harajuku, and think its time that I considered getting a new pair...but whatever happened to that cute clog store on Fairfax?
-Hurt Locker: I think more than anything, this is a commentary on how people become conditioned to crave the insanity in their lives as a survival mechanism. Then have trouble relaxing and enjoying the quiet mundane everyday things.  Peace and quiet can sometimes be a letdown.
- Lost in Translation Blog:  Returning to Japan and seeing friends from my life in Kagawa, has left me pensive about choices I've made in my life, career, and travels.  Vivian's blog reminds me of the parts of living in Japan that I loved.  And the fact that she lives very close to my fishing village, makes it even more relatable.  Just in case you are curious, here is a link to my old blog about my life in Nio (It's best to start from the end and work chronologically to the beginning).
-Finally...my favorite picture from a shopping day in Harajuku:

My Tomodachi PocketFuzz!!

PocketFuzz loves Tokyo.  And Tokyo loves Pocketfuzz!

Asakusa shrine.  PocketFuzz wasn't quite big enough to block out the other tourists in this photo.

PocketFuzz ate so much Japanese curry, he gained an extra 2 pounds on his trip!

PocketFuzz was dazzled by the lights of Akihabara!

PocketFuzz meditated on the state of our world at the base of the Kamakura buddha.

Even though the sunset was gorgeous, PocketFuzz was bummed to leave the beach.

PocketFuzz loves Odaiba!

Cardboard children love PocketFuzz!!

So do plastic grandpas!

Ringing the shrine's bell for New Years is good luck!  Good luck, PocketFuzz!

Hey PocketFuzz!  Please give my New Year's wishes to the Emperor!

My Tomodachi PocketFuzz!

Dating Dilemma - Where to meet a guy/girl?

The New Year is finally here and with it comes new beginnings.  I thought this week, I would put out a random survey to my friends and find out their best places to meet new people.  Here are the results:

Best place to meet a girl/guy:

Brian: Book Club (find a bookstore with a monthly book club and read the book. Then you're having conversation in the group before you've officially met, which gives you a chance to get a feel for somebody.  Then usually they have snacks and drinks after so you can introduce yourself and you already have a conversation starter....I met a really good girlfriend that way!)

Heidi: Bars

Koffeman: At friends' house or birthday parties.

Benji: If I knew that, I wouldn't have to call and ask you out all the time..... But seriously, where do all the local high schoolers hang out?

Marissa: Online dating sites

Joe: House parties

Kevin: No fucking clue.  If I knew, I'd be there now.

Niki: The grocery store actually has proven an interesting place to have easy things to strike up a "no pressure" conversation.  There or pretty much anywhere there is a line.

Ray: I usually have the best luck with setups from friends.  Also, clubs...anywhere with lots of people and alcohol.

Lani: Setups and through friends...although in my younger days I used to meet guys at the ski hill.

Nancy: Home depot, 8 oz burger bar or Big Wangs
Kimberly: Wherever the guy works.  Think about it.  Every guy you come across, whose job somehow interacts with you, is a guy who is talking to you and open to a conversation with you.  I've been asked for dates by - my mechanics, my baristas, my co-workers, my grocers...anyone I've had to speak with in a business capacity.  As long as I've been open, friendly, and in a good mood, I'll often get asked out.

Craziest place where you have met a girl/guy:

Brian: Work

Heidi: Reality show premier party... I ended up dating one of the contestants.

Koffeman: I once picked up a girl on a tracking board.

Benji: My apartment...there was a short film shooting there, and I asked out one of the actresses.

Marissa: Reality show premiere party.

Joe: an airplane

Niki: Returning a car to Hertz - in said rental car with the guy who was about to wash it. Yeah. Probably wasn't the wisest choice, but it was an attempt at proving I wasn't a snob.

Lani: I have had guys stop me on the street and ask me out and had notes sent to me on airplanes and in restaurants.  But getting approached out-of-the-blue by a stranger, kind of freaks me out, so I haven't actually given my number to any of those people.

Nancy (aka my friend, the Pickup Artist): My apartment, I once picked up my cable guy.  And in other apartments, the plumber and the carpet layer.  I also got picked up in traffic.  Actually, I dated the bellboy from my hotel in London for a long time and I've been dating a guy I met on the subway in Spain.
Kimberly: Trader Joes.  "You know how if you bring your own bag, you get a ticket for their grocery raffle?  Well, one day, he handed me two tickets and said, 'After you fill out that one, if you want to go out sometime, fill the other one out for me."  He was cute, so I did!

Ni Hao PocketFuzz!

It was a cold, snowy day when PocketFuzz and I visited Beijing.  Check out our photos!

A few of my favorite things from the past 2 weeks....

I've been away visiting family and friends in Tokyo and Beijing for the past 2 weeks.  Here is a list of some of my favorite things from those two fabulous cities:

-Gonpachi Sushi in Shibuya.  Apparently, this location inspired Quentin Tarantino, to create a similar setting for Kill Bill.

-Omakase at Kaikaya: By the Sea (We had the most delicious Christmas Dinner at this cute little Izakaya.  The chef is amazing and EVERY one of his choices were spot on!)

- Comiket 77: the fan-drawn manga and cosplay convention at Tokyo Big Sight was a great place to take photos...

-Sou Sou shoes (I love their modern take on the Tabi!)

-Okonomiyaki (my most favorite food from Japan!) 

- Muji!!!

-Yokohama's Ramen museum (even the mini bowls were huge!  So delicious!)

-No Man's Land exhibit in the former admin buildings of the Tokyo French Embassy.

-798 Art District in Beijing

-Napapijri's Marat down jacket (which was the perfect coat for 50 degree weather in Tokyo and 15 degree weather in Beijing...plus it folds up and fits into its left pocket!)

-Holidays spent with ALL the members of my family.  We live all over the world so its very difficult for everyone to be in the same place at the same time.  I feel very fortunate that we were able to pull it off this year.

-Lastly, now that all the gifts have been unwrapped and the paper recycled, here is an interesting list of packaging facts from Mother Jones to ponder for the next year's holiday spectacular!