"Oh! That man makes my Ovaltine boil!"

Said by the character Rose in the sitcom The Golden Girls. Season 3, Episode 16.

After too many years apart, it was SO GREAT to hang out with my old college bud again!

Magali, spending time with you on your visit to NYC was such a treat. I hope the rest of your time here is fantastic, and hopefully I'll be able to visit you in Texas one of these days.

Until then, I'll miss you!

Rest in peace, Maya Angelou.

Dear friends,

If you have the time, please check out my latest story for VICE's new food channel MUNCHIES: CHARGING YOUR CELL PHONE AT A RESTAURANT IS RUDE.

Thank you.

Sometimes, there's nothing like a cool afternoon rain storm to clear your head and wake you up.

Happy Memorial Day weekend, America!

As we take the time to remember all of the brave soldiers who gave their lives for this great country, I hope everyone is out enjoying the holiday with friends and family. Get some sun, scarf down BBQ, kick back a few beers, and let's finally start this summer off right.

I feel fortunate that I actually have the entire weekend off. It's been a few months since I've had 2 days off in a row, so I'm trying to figure out what sort of fun I can get into. My friend Junho arrived at our new apartment a few days ago, so I've actually been spending the morning just organizing and cleaning up. But now I'm all washed up and ready to head out the door.

Yeah for the weekend!

Just like a sitcom, in actual life, a baby always enters the picture somehow.

"Despite all my rage,
I am still just a rat in a cage."

From the song Bullet With Butterfly Wings by The Smashing Pumpkins.

Dear friends,

If you have the time, please check out my latest story for VICE's MUNCHIES: SEXISM IN THE KITCHEN GOES BOTH WAYS.

Thanks.

Tonight is very special.

I'm currently spending my first night ever in the new apartment I'm moving into with my best friend. 

Today is the first day of our lease and I'm here alone until Junho moves in in a week. After couch surfing and wandering around since I arrived back in NYC last July, I finally have my own space. 

It's nice to feel like I'm home again and can relax for some time. 

The past few weeks or so.

Sometimes, it's so much easier to think in absolutes. But in life, there is nothing absolute when it comes to people.

A few days ago, I was working my weekend gig waiting tables in Brooklyn. During my shift, there was a table of four customers who casually asked what my name was after I had helped them with something when they first arrived at the restaurant.

Now, when they initially asked for my name, I didn't really think anything of it because they were nice and customers sometimes ask for a variety of reasons. However, what made this group of diners different was that anytime they needed something throughout their meal, instead of getting my attention by locking eye contact, motioning physically somehow or even by saying a simple "excuse me" when I was nearby, I would hear them calling out for me by my first name instead.

As someone who works in the service industry, I have to admit that yes, sometimes it can be nice when customers take the time to learn my name and address me by it. But that's only if they use it once or twice and in a discreet manner. What annoyed me about this group was one particular girl who continually would beckon me by name. After the first handful of times she did it, I got really irritated because I started to feel like I was their personal butler of some sort.

"You've used up all your coupons,
and all you've got left is me..."

From the song Underneath It All by No Doubt.

I just realized that my problem of overthinking things is more serious than I thought.

Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Exhaustion.

"Butter is elemental, just churned cream, but the very best ones hold flavors so sophisticated and elusive that they dazzle your palate while comforting you like a child."

From the article, Solid Gold, written by Oliver Strand in the May 2014 issue of American Vogue.

Don't let other people's experiences and opinions become your own. You should always see for yourself.

The past few weeks or so.

Winter in NYC is officially over, and it feels so invigorating to be able to enjoy the city and just walk around again. This past winter was pretty damn brutal, so not having to step out of the house into frigid and tortuous temperatures anymore is a real treat. I can't even bear to look at my peacoat another day until it gets cold again, and so I therefore happily bid it its long overdue farewell.

And with a new season comes some new changes in life. A little more than a month ago, I started a side weekend gig waiting tables in Williamsburg. I'm still working my regular office job in TriBeCa from Monday-Friday. Not having any days off in the week can be grueling at times, but eh, I'll live. The transition of working this new weekend job has been pretty smooth though, luckily because I'm working with some old coworkers and acquaintances from an East Village restaurant I used to work at years ago. This new restaurant I'm working at is cozy and pretty low-key, which I really like and appreciate. I've also never worked in the neighborhood before, so it's been nice seeing all the locals and folks who chill around the area. For the most part, the majority of customers are friendly and easygoing, but then of course there will always be those certain guests that are just a pain in the ass. I haven't waited tables since I was working at a restaurant in Venice Beach last year, but it really is like riding a bike. The unfamiliar newness of any job can be daunting, but having been able to get used to things in the past month has helped me finally find my own rhythm and pace of work. And then of course I can remember all my old methods on how to deal with specific types of annoying customers. Most of the restaurant's diners are really nice though, so striving to provide them with good efficient service and a quality experience is something that I'm more than happy to do. In a weird way, I usually have moments where waiting tables can feel extremely fulfilling when I know people leave the restaurant feeling merry and satisfied after having an awesome time. However, if I never in my life had to explain gluten-free options from a menu again or bust my ass for some dickhead who will just always be an asshole when they dine out, well I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Something else that I'm really excited about right now is that in a few weeks, my friend Junho and I will be moving into a new apartment together! Since returning to NYC last July, I've basically been couch surfing and living in somewhat unconventional living arrangements. That's why I'm beyond happy to finally have a place to call home, and have those simple things like a bed and my own room. Our new apartment is downtown in the Financial District and close to City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge. I've never lived in that area before, so getting to know the neighborhood really well is going to be great. And one of the best parts of the new apartment will be the fact that I can walk to work within 10 minutes.

Alright, well it's passed 2am and I've got work tomorrow morning. The adrenaline from working a shift earlier tonight is slowly waning, and it's probably time that I try and hit the sack.

Good night, and happy Monday to you all.

"Enough about you,
Let's talk about life for a while."

From the song All I Really Want by Alanis Morissette.