Thursday, March 28, 2013

There's always enough goodness and positivity to go around for everyone.
It's funny that even though it's illegal for them to do so, a lot of NYC taxi drivers frequently do seem to have these spirited and/or sometimes pensive conversations on their cellphones---usually clandestinely and in a foreign language---while transporting their fares. 

Wondering about what all these Chatty Cathy cabbies could possibly be talking about has always been perplexing, because I noticed that whenever this happens, many times they'll be on the same phone call while dropping me off as they were on when they picked me up, with no signs showing that they're even close to hanging up anytime soon. I often imagined these drivers being on that same conversation for hours, just gabbing about as they do their rounds in the city.

Here's this week's SHOUTS & MURMURS section of The New Yorker that so aptly captures this.


(I thoroughly enjoyed this week's edition of SHOUTS & MURMURS and it took it upon myself to produce these images to post on my blog with my digital subscription to The New Yorker. All rights are reserved by The New Yorker and will be removed upon request).

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The ability to get married should be my right.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

"I make a conscious decision about when I'm gonna, you know, open up the bitch tap and let the water run. It can be really effective when I need it to. I've gotten through to people who are far more important than me by being, you know, a real bitch to their staff on the telephone."

From the June 1999 New York Observer article titled, Christine Quinn Sets it Straight: 'I'm a Lesbian. Yup. 100 percent,' by Greg Sargent.
When my body wants to stay awake, all I can do is go along for the exhausting ride.
I was able to check out Venice Beach for the first time today. 

Any grown ass adult who deliberately tries to act cute always seems to accomplish the exact opposite.
"Maybe it's her countenance, every bit the cat who got the cream."

From the article, Cult of Cara, by Frances Kan in the April 2013 issue of Vogue.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

It's such a sunny and beautiful Sunday morning here in LA.

Friday, March 22, 2013

"What kind of fuckery is this?"

From the song Me & Mr. Jones by Amy Winehouse. 
Content does not equal news or facts.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

I've been doing some research online for restaurant jobs here in L.A., and I just wanted to say a big FUCK YOU to every restaurant that requires a headshot with a resume.

Seriously, get over yourself and just worry that your food is legit.
Show me the facts.
Hi.
"We can fly away... fly away together like in the movies and shit."

From the song After Love by Clazziquai.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

"I'm out for Presidents to represent me,
I'm out for Dead Presidents to represent me."

From the song Dead Presidents II by Jay-Z featuring Nas.
Crazy ain't cute.
"I was freein' my hair."

From the song Hair by Lady Gaga.
Stupid behavior is exhibited by stupid people.
It's all bullshit.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

"하루 하루
조금씩 나아질거애."

From the song 비밀의 화원 by 이상은.
Words can't describe how much I miss eating Bangkok's street food on a daily basis.

Here I am taking refuge from a downpour with the warm goodness of Thai food a few years ago while still living in the country's capital.

Relevancy.
Picking up the pieces of your life sometimes takes time.
It's just you and me...

Monday, March 18, 2013

Friday, March 15, 2013

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Food always tastes so much better when it's cooked in an oven.
"Don't let it bring you down... it's only castles burning..."

From the song Don't Let It Bring You Down by Annie Lennox.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Liar liar, pants on fire...
It feels good to be back in L.A., and with my friends Jenn and Daniel again.

Looking out the window into the nighttime lights of L.A. on the plane ride here definitely felt different than the first time a few months ago coming from Asia. Going back to New York and having been able to spend some quality time there really helped me feel like my old self again. The past month just flew by and it was good to be back in the pace and comforts of home. I feel like I learned so much more about a lot of my friends too, which I didn't think was possible even after more than a decade of friendship. Overall, returning home after three years and being able to celebrate my 30th birthday there was an absolute dream, and I feel excited about whatever it is that's to come next.

Most of my friends live in Brooklyn, so I basically couched surf between Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, and Downtown Brooklyn. Being able to walk from place to place was nice because I hadn't ever really explored that part of the borough much by foot, so I was able to get a better sense on how the neighborhoods are. I also got to go to Astoria again to crash at my friends Susy and Ricky's place, which was a good reason to go check out my old neighborhood.

Since I'm perpetually broke, I ended up meeting up with friends and eating in Chinatown a lot. I've never appreciated that area of town so much, and can't wait to go back and discover some new places. Eating chicken over rice a countless number of times was also great, because man I always can't help but salivate every time I pass by a halal food cart on the streets of NY. I also had a lot of $1 pizza, which always hits the spot as well.

Getting a cellphone again in NYC was also pretty helpful, and I also learned that so much has technologically changed within the past three years. Everyone I know seems to prefer texting over email now, which is odd because I never thought email would be on the road to becoming obsolete. I myself prefer writing emails on my computer any day, and find it difficult to correspond and communicate by phone because typing away on the small keyboard just doesn't seem practical. On my last day in NYC, I met up with my favorite college professor again and he mentioned that he always prefers to stay in touch by email as well, so it's nice to know that there are others out there like me.

But now I'm back in sunny L.A. and ready to keep moving forward with my life. My next step is to find a job here... anyone know of places that are hiring?

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Thank you to everyone who was able to make time and meet up with me during my trip back home to NYC. 

I feel completely reinvigorated and ready for whatever lies ahead in Los Angeles. 

Until next time, I'll see ya, NYC.