Waxing Gone Wrong

This is my eyebrow after some lady (who charged me $21) maimed it. I have no words for the wise here, no lessons to learn. How could I have anticipated that, in all my years of waxing, some random person would rip my skin off? How can you tell if someone's going to do this just by looking at her (evil) face?

You can't, so, my friends, my only piece of advice (I actually DO have some words now) is: get a recommendation from a friend who's had good work done somewhere and go there. Not to Extreme Salon on 3rd Ave between 88th and 89th Sts in New York City.

In Praise of the Glorious Avocado

Behold the glory of the avocado/cucumber roll, made fresh before my very eyes this afternoon by an affable Japanese man at the deli next door:

If I could, I would eat avocados every day. (Oh, who am I kidding? I DO eat them every day.)

I made guacamole last night and forced people to eat and offer opinions of it since I was too full of sushi to tell. Verdict? A tablespoon or so of salsa makes it perfect.

Then there was the Turkey Burger from Heaven: turkey burger, Romaine lettuce, two thick slabs of avocado, American cheese, toasted bun.

From where do these cravings come? Do I lack fat in my diet? Potassium? Other vitamins? According to Wikipedia (the ONLY source for info these days--screw you, Encyclo!), "About 75% of an avocado's calories come from fat, most of which is monounsaturated fat. Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas. They are rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K.^[19] They have the highest fiber content of any fruit - including 75% insoluble and 25% soluble fiber.^[20]"

Therefore, I'm actually craving something healthy--as opposed to Pop Chips--so I should give into it moderately, right? Okay, thanks; that's all I needed.

Rather Spend $20 on Cheese than an Eyebrow Wax

If given the choice, I would spend $20 on fine cheese instead of an eyebrow wax. Give me a nutty, crunchy, slightly bitter, creamy, brittle, crumbly, caramel-colored wedge of 3+ year-aged Gouda (or Gouda-like) and I will eat it happily while my eyebrows grow to 1990's-era lengths.

Pair it with some Zabar's Provencal Olive Rosemary crisps and I'm in heaven.

Spoils:

Surfer Chic Shills

What do Joel Madden, Sophia Bush, Brody Jenner, Bow Wow (dropped the "Lil'"), Solange Knowles (B's sister), AnnaLynne McCord and someone named Cody Linley have in common? Besides their residency on the E-List, they are shilling OP--that's Ocean Pacific, the brand you hearted in the 80's!

This less-than-dynamic group of youngsters (you're four months into your 30s, Joel Madden) has teamed together to overtake Perez Hilton's Web site today and tomorrow... the world.

While, I still don't understand exactly what these kids are promoting (OP at Wal-Mart? A Summer Music Tour? Fall 09 clothing? Anorexia?), it all just seems so damn fun. Frolicking in the sand with your brand-new besties, loosely promoting music and pretending you're in college. Recounting memories from the past few days in ways that make them seem like memories from the past decade.

If there were a Wal-Mart in my area, I actually might stop by and scan the OP collection for a cheap bathing suit and cover-up while the sun takes its last breaths (it's the beginning of July, but I don't have high hopes for this "summer" season). But for now, I'm going to continue puzzling over the theme of this ad campaign. I'm going with anorexia.

Who Doesn't Love Bubbles?

So why not wear them? I bought this Nanette Lapore suit last year and am obsessed with the sleeves. Must. Find. More. Bubble. Sleeved. Jackets.

I love jackets. They help to frame my petite figure. Plus, they add an air of authority, and what 5-foot chick doesn't need that?

So, just as I was embarking on my mission for jackets (which began about 20 minutes ago), @shefinds posts a "Deal of the Day" on 60% Banana Republic short-sleeved jackets here.

Kismet, we meet again.

Oooooh, I have been remiss!

Just realized that I haven't blogged in EIGHT months! Whaaaaat! A lot has happened since then:
- I got promoted to Senior Account Executive (wooo)
- I moved to the Upper East Side (clutch!)

I guess that's it, really, but still. They are two very significant events from two important areas: career and shelter/social life. After spending almost 5 years in a spacious, somewhat messy/college-y 2 bd apartment in Astoria, I took advantage of the economy and found an affordable* studio on 89th St (take THAT, recession). Painted it beautifully, moved in over a week ago, still unpacking boxes and rearranging. Still have to buy a pullout couch and figure out what and where to hang various pictures and such. The location absolutely cannot be beat, though. Cuts the commute in half, if not more.

The promotion? Well, that's self-explanatory. Who doesn't like being recognized for hard work with a title change and more money?

Speaking of hard work, I gotta get back to it. Promise my next blog post won't be so banal!

xoxo



*the concept of "affordable" in Manhattan is drastically different from most U.S. cities. essentially for what I'm paying per month for a studio w/ separate kitchen on the Upper East Side, I could rent a 2 bd house with living rm, dining rm and basement in Newport, RI. *sob*

9/11/08

TODAY

8 years ago: I was starting college at Mount Holyoke

7 years ago: I was sitting in Psychology Statistics class when the World Trade Center towers were destroyed. After class, a few friends trooped over to Wilder Hall for breakfast, blissfully unaware of what had occurred while we were safely learning in Reese Psychology & Education Hall. Peers gathered around the TV watching fire and dust and buildings on the news, and we stood there, frozen, forgetting about food and time.

6 years ago: I was settling into my apartment in Amsterdam and beginning class at Universiteit van Amsterdam, meeting new friends

5 years ago: I was beginning my senior year of college, excited but scared, unsure of where I was going but knowing I would be okay regardless

4 years ago: I had been living in NYC for 4 months

3 years ago: I had been promoted to the next level at MS and was enjoying the life that afforded, in a serious relationship and sort of finding my way in the city

2 years ago: I was preparing to leave my job at MS and the advertising world for a new career in public relations

1 year ago: I was traveling, learning and praying in Israel

Today: I am still living in NYC, feeling more affected by the 9/11 memorial services and tributes than ever. Perhaps I feel the spirit of this city more deeply. Just a sort of somber, sobering day

Ginza: TV Debut, Shiseido & Shopping. Then, Dance Festival & Yukata Party!

Since we didn't go to sleep until 5 AM Friday night, we didn't wake up until 1:30 PM on Saturday. Ha! So lazy. But it was okay, since we were relaxed and after the long, hot days, it's nice to sleep in a little.
This is what I had for brunch in Ginza. Tempura rice bowl with miso soup. So delish!
Oops, skip back in time to where we're still at Daryl's in Akasaka and not at brunch in Ginza. Daryl accompanied us to Ginza for a little shopping and siteseeing because he's a stand-up guy and wanted to hang out with us. Plus, he had to purchase a yukata (summer kimono) for the party that night. This is Vanessa and Daryl on the Metro (Chiyoda line) towards Ginza:Evidence that we made it to Ginza St. :)
Ginza is like the Fifth Avenue of Tokyo, complete with wide streets and upscale shops. It's also the home of Shiseido, which, as you may know, was a client of mine for a while. I learned to know every single U.S. product and love the aesthetic, so I was excited to see the "headquarters." There is also a great gallery there as well as a pastry/chocolate shop (which I didn't know at the time!).

We finally arrive at Shiseido!Shiseido Gallery exhibit featured a contemporary take on antique menus and place settings. It was kind of weird. The best part was these lady and gentlemen outfits made from the tablecloth that you could pose in. There was even a tripod. Naturally, we obliged.
With no people:
With Daryl and me:With Vanessa and me (I'm the dude here):Once we departed the Shiseido Gallery, we headed north to Mitsukoshi, a huge department store in Ginza that boasts an underground marketplace full of fresh fish, fruit, veggies, desserts, breads - you name it, it's there. HOWEVER, as we were crossing the street, we were approached by a a TV crew who was interested in interviewing us tourists about our budget and interests while in Tokyo. I really hate being on TV and filmed and whatnot, but I resigned myself to it. Here's me displaying my budget to the camera:That actually made it onto the segment, which aired Monday morning at 7:21 AM JST (Japan Standard Time). This is me encouraging Vanessa to talk to the camera about her budget, etc. The dude with the mic didn't speak English, but his translator was off camera.
After all this hoopla, we went to Mitsukoshi department store and moseyed around. Then went back to Daryl's apartment in Akasaka to shower and get ready for the yukata party that Daryl's friend Tomoe had some friends who were throwing that night. Unforch, we didn't really know how to dress ourselves in the yukata. Basically it's a long, light cotton robe with two long cotton ribbons and a long wide sash. Luckily Tomoe came over to help. She rocked! Here's the process and the final result:

And from the back. She was an excellent bow tier! Then we went to a dance festival in Ebisu, where we drank cheap Sapporo , danced some traditional dances and ate delicious ramen.(Video of the dance to come!)
After that, we went to a house party in Azabu, an elite neighborhood where celebs and diplomats live. The kids there were nuts, drinking and setting off fireworks. Here's Vanessa and me after our crazy sparklers wouldn't work:

Temples and Technology: Rest of Asakusa, all of Akihabara, Yakitori dinner & Karaoke

Vanessa holding Asakusa-jinji by the...

Asakusa is the place where you see all the well-known temples (oh my gosh, MORE temples??! it's like Gettysburg and cannons; you really can't escape them) and huge lanterns. You know the ones from the movies? They are here. It's the place everyone goes and takes her picture under (at least one of the lanterns - there are two temples with I think 3 or 4 huge lanterns in total), and we were no exception. Here is me under Senso-ji temple lantern:(I look like I'm throwing gang signs! But was really in the middle of pointing/doing the peace sign.)
There's also a wicked open air market mostly full of tourist crap like wooden shoes, cheap yukata, cell phone trinkets and stalls upon stalls of sembei (rice crackers), pastries, candies, all sorts of yum-ness. Needless to say, I was in heaven there. So were the throngs of tourists. Check out this video of red bean pastries being made in and distributed... also listen to me sound like a valley girl when talking about shoes... ughh

While in Asakusa, Vanessa and I dined at what Japanese like to call "fast food." This consists of figuring out what dish you would like from an outside display case, then punching its corresponding number on the adjacent machine, paying and receiving a ticket that you then take to the cook inside who makes your dish fresh and quickly. Genius, really. Here's me outside the ticket-vending machine after being stuffed full of soba noodle and eggs and pork over rice. Yummm:
After wandering the streets of Asakusa, getting somewhat lost among quieter streets littered with stray cats, trinkets, old men and eateries, we headed back to the Metro where we came upon this funny sign. It's a wonderful example of "bad English":
We headed down towards Akihabara, but first ventured towards the Meiji University Criminology Museum because I'm fascinated with crime and punishment (not the book; couldn't get through that). It took FOREVER to walk there, and didn't help that we'd walked about 1/4 of the way in the wrong direction. According to our friend Daryl, this isn't rare or due to our tourist ignorance: street names in Tokyo are rarely clearly noted and so everyone just has GPS. Wish I could've used my iPhone to triangulate our location! We broke down and got a cab b/c it was hot and dirty and we were tired. The Meiji University Criminology Museum (which was more like an exhibit, thanks for exaggerating, guidebook) was great once we found it. We stumbled onto an Open House for summer classes and went up three flights of escalators, and visited an awesomely clean bathroom before a nice student who knew a little English guided us towards the museum. Although more English descriptions would've been great, you really didn't need to understand how the torture devices in front of you were used.

After an hour in the museum, examining torture devices and copper plates, etc., we sauntered towards Akihabara. Akihabara is where you want to go for all technology and anime/manga/etc.-related items. It's full of insanity and Vanessa wanted me to experience it.
(Oh, look, we found the Big Apple in Tokyo!)

We saw the future of technology and it's this: larger cell phones to accommodate television watching, cell phones with antennae to access this TV (and I'm pretty sure Tokyo Metro's wired for connection) and so many fun colors.As you may be able to tell, it's quite humid here in Tokyo. Verrry humid, but it's been overcast, so not completely unbearable. We knew the weather would be like this coming into the trip but honestly it's not that bad. I just drink my Green Apple flavored Volvic water and chug some yogurt jelly drink, and we're all good!

That night we met Daryl's friend Tomoe who took us to a kick-ass yakitori (skewers!) restaurant where we enjoyed lots of chicken and shrimp, tofu and drinks with real fruit you squeeze yourself!Delicious. None of the food I've eaten here has been anything but extremely delicious. Then we went to karaoke with some of Daryl's colleagues, who proceeded to spank us with their amazing singing abilities. The Japanese are NOT to be trifled with when doing karaoke, in case you were wondering. They will sing better, louder and more songs than you could ever imagine. Here's the crazy menu that comes in every room you reserve.
We went to bed at 5 AM that night/morning. LOVE TOKYO!