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!).
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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).
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.)
(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.
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)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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:
-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:
Monday, January 11, 2010
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!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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.
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!
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!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Ni Hao PocketFuzz!
It was a cold, snowy day when PocketFuzz and I visited Beijing. Check out our photos!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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...
-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!
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