Happy Valentine's to Me

Happy Valentine's to Me
Originally uploaded by misocrazy

This may have been the best Valentine's Day I've ever had.

I didn't even intend to celebrate the holiday, but by the end of the day, it felt like I did.

I planned to leave the house early, but then my roommate woke up, announcing that I had to stay for waffles she was going to make, because her sister and sister's boyfriend were visiting.

I couldn't say no to that, so while I waited for brunch, I found some crochet supplies to bring with me on the subway. We enjoyed some delicious waffles with fresh berries and syrup on top. In exchange, I offered them my Netflix of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist to watch as they digested their yummy brunch.

Finally I got out of the house. While I attempted to crochet on the subway, two very fluffy-haired, young men in skinny jeans and scarves hopped on the N and were continuing a very enthusiastic conversation over whether something was Apollonian vs. Dionysian. One of them spoke in a British accent, but I thought the other dark-haired fellow was cuter. But I also suspected he wasn't straight, possibly too hipstery, and either not interested in a girl who had no idea what they were talking about, or too caught up in his own brilliant studies to know what to do with a girl, so I continued crocheting my little pink heart. Also I didn't want to interrupt their fascinating conversation.

Finally found the New York Public Library, which is as beautiful and majestic as my art history teacher described. There are old sculptures and frescoes all over the building, so I had to stop and take photos like a tourist, even though I live in Manhattan.



I got an access card and started to research games from India (for my art history class and games class). Of course, the friendly old librarian chatted with me about types of games I could look at, maybe a little too long, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

But time was running out for me to make it to the Whitney Museum. I got there just in time, about an hour before it closed. It was Alexander Calder's early works, in Paris, which involved a lot of mechanical wire sculpture. There were even scraps of art from when Calder was a child and created Valentines and wrote the sweetest letters to his mother.



A big portion of the exhibit included his mechanized wire and fabric circus, which he performed like a puppet show. It was all very charming and related so well to toy design. Some of the wire sculptures were really funny and referenced other art. He even made wire facial portraits of people. And I learned that he started as a newspaper illustrator, which I once did myself. It was so inspiring! I loved it and was so happy to see it before it closed.

Then I tried to rush over to FAO Schwartz before it closed, to get a thank-you token gift to a friend. But on the way there, I ran into Dylan's Candy Bar, a fancy candy shop I had never been to. So I stopped in to look, partly because I had to design a candy-based toy anyway. And I decided I would just get candy instead as the thank-you gift, since it was much easier to share. Plus I could get candy for myself and my friends.



I left with almost $60 in candy, chocolate, fudge, Jelly Bellies, and a pair of gummy-bear-shaped earrings.

On the way home, I passed a McDonald's, where I picked up 3 Happy Meal Sanrio watches! Woo!



Exhausted from the fun, I enjoyed some delicious local Chinese takeout, from "Excellent Dumpling House" at home. Then my roommate came home with some friends who just saw a horrible play about love stories, so I shared some candy with them.

Also, in that same weekend, I bought a pink Domokun plush, pretty underwear, and Hello Kitty MAC makeup for myself.



So I feel like I had a very romantic "quirkyalone"-style date with New York City, with all the traditional gifts that come with Valentine's Day (except for boring roses). Surely it was better than all the Valentine's Days I've ever spent with a boy! Boys were always disappointing on Valentine's Day. ...And I suppose in general. I keep hoping one will surprise me, but I guess I'll be doing okay if it never happens!

Hmm. This is going to make it harder for me to want to date again.

5 Bits of Dating Wisdom

If you are happily in a relationship, congratulations to you and your Honeybunches of Oats. Have a lovely Valentine's Day weekend. You can skip this entry.

While I have been trapped in a social cave called Toy Design school, I think I've had enough time to distance myself from my dating history to reflect with more clarity on what's happened in my life and among my friends' dating stories. So I offer you some thoughts on dating and relationships, that may or may not be helpful.

I think these principles really do apply across the board, (even if they are mostly supported by pop culture references, where I gain most of my wisdom). But if you already know all this or just don't find that it's useful, well here's a cute music video for ya that sums up my last tip:



***

Apparently Steve Harvey, the comedian, has a book about relationships that is #1 on the NY Times bestseller list.

I'm not that familiar with this Harvey, but based on this short interview, I'd say he's rather astute. I very much have come to the same conclusions as he has stated, primarily that:

1. Women have bizarrely lowered their standards with mens' behavior, allowing men to act like jackasses. (Just look at the popularity of "He's Just Not That Into You" and the growing genre of appalling dating reality shows.)

2. Men need to get their lives together and be mostly self-actualized (have a positive career path, satisfying social life, etc. contributing to generally comfortable self-image) before they are fully prepared to contribute to a real relationship. (This may be true for women as well, but for some reason this is more commonly an issue for men, maybe because women are better multi-taskers and place a higher priority on relationships in general.) As I told an ex, after our breakup, "You must love yourself before you can love others." He is now married, so I guess that worked out!

Ladies! STOP lowering your standards. If a guy doesn't have it together, he is not serious dating material. Maybe you can give him some time to work on it, but if it's not improving after a specific amount of time, you really need to move on. Do not make excuses for him, especially if you are living with him or if you have been dating him for a long time. What may be difficult in the short run (like moving out on your own instead of staying in a relationship that goes nowhere) may be much better for you in the big picture.

Men! Get it together. If you don't have it together, you are not ready to date a woman seriously. And if you are lucky enough to have a nice woman be really into you when you are not ready for it, be honest and have the decency to let her know so we don't have to make these painful movies like "He's Just Not That Into You." I know, communication is hard, especially when you make a pretty girl sad or mad. Wah, wah. Get over it.

But if you are a guy who doesn't have it together, you need to start somewhere. Make some male friends (who have gone on dates and can support you a la the movie "Swingers" or "40-Year old Virgin," not guys who are equally troubled or worse than you are in the dating department) and female friends (who can offer their own dating perspectives so you can learn from them) and talk to them. You can also start to date casually, while you work on those other aspects of your life. If it's still too difficult, get a life coach. Or a therapist! It's a positive thing to get help! You have to start somewhere!

Another tidbit of dating/relationship wisdom that I heard recently from a dying professor's last lecture (not as somber as it sounds), which I also think is true:

3. Do not listen to anything a guy says. Look at what he actually does.

A guy (aka "asshole") may have selfish, shitty intentions, and fool you with his sweet-talk when he's there with you and then forget about you the next day, maybe even next hour.

A guy (aka "nice guy") may have good intentions but not follow through with what he says, for whatever reason (he is confused, doesn't have his priorities straight, or is stupid).

So, whatever his intentions or words are, the only thing to consider is what he really does.

I appreciate that two men were willing to be frank about these bits of wisdom. Maybe this is why I foolishly manage to be optimistic that there are some good men left out there to meet, even though the men I seem to run into tend to prove me otherwise. Which brings us to meeting the right person:

4. You are not going to meet that person if all you do is sit around at home, dreaming of "the one." It also is not going to happen if all you do is hang out with the same people all the time. You need to make time to get out and see your friends' friends that may interest you. Or pursue interests and activities that allow you to make new friends! Or use a dating service: online dating, speed-dating, whatever. Don't think it's beneath you to try something like that.

My brother, the physician (who ballroom dances and cooks and lectures about ecology-while-scuba-diving-at-the-Shedd-aquarium), who was super social, well-traveled, and met all kinds of creative, interesting people at jazz clubs and rockabilly dance venues, had to go full-force into using at least three different dating services after his divorce. He finally found his lovely wife through Match.com. So if he had to put that kind of effort into it, so do you!

(Take it from someone who has lost the option to make that time to go out, for the next three months. But when graduation comes, believe me, I will be making time to go out! Call me after May, okay?)

And finally, since "4" is an unlucky number, here's a tip from that "Lollipop" song by Mika:

5. "Live your life until love is found / 'Cause love's gonna get you down"

Love involves a lot of risk and therefore a lot of disappointment (Oh yes, I know), so it's going to get you down. But you can't let that hinder you. You have to realize that you can be happy on your own as well. Whether or not this dating thing pans out, you have this one life to live, so you better make it good. And if it isn't good, you better do something about it.

If you are complaining about your life, quit it, because you are probably annoying the crap out of your friends. Do something about it. If you don't know how to do that, get a therapist or a life coach, or talk to a buddy. Get a role model. After all, you are NOT A CHILD. (Unless, of course, you are a child.)

Have a Happy Valentine's Day, everyone, single or not!

Enough with the Stupidity

I just got a message on MySpace, from a 19-year old, asking if I would take his virginity away. Ahh, deluded (deranged) youth!

Not even I, who cannot find the time to meet anyone new, am desperate enough for that!

I was hoping that as men got older, they would be less stupid. But I think they just find other ways to be stupid. Take this recent response I got from a 30-year-old on an online personals service:

"I have some misgivings about your name (I mean because like what is it a reference to--peanut butter cups? Regular ones?) and I can't really teach you any kind of interesting athletic stuff (the best I can do is try to teach you to ice skate or convert you to into a Steelers fan) but we are both, unquestionably, year-oriented, and there aren't too many of us floating around."

So... what he's trying to tell me is that he thinks my screen-name is lame, and he can't teach me anything fun to do, but he's reaching out to me because we're both over the hill?

Bear in mind, this guy had listed himself as a writer. I think he's actually trying to sound charming. Hrm.

I'd like to note that I've always dated nice guys. But "nice guy" is not enough anymore. When we were young, I figured the nice guys I dated had time to evolve and mature into a nice guy who was also the kind of man I'd want to be with for life. ...Meaning they'd keep me inspired and be the kind of person I could count on. (And I'd do my best to offer the same for them.) But... that didn't happen.

Also, how hard is it to be a nice guy anyway?

(This does not mean I will start dating "bad boys." I am not that stupid. I still require thoughtfulness in a future partner.)

At this point in life, (over 30s), if a guy is immature, unreliable, or uninspiring, I don't expect them to figure that out anytime soon. It maybe too late for them, without some professional help (like seeking therapy). To me, it also shows a lack of priorities in their lives. Or simply stupidity. Unless they have Asperger's Syndrome (That would still require some therapy training.).

But this is all moot, because I don't have time for meeting new people, much less date!

So bye-bye online personals! I've taken my last ad down... and now I should get back to work. I've got some monster-drawing and gorilla-building to do.

Is that a Full Moon Out?

Cuz all kinds of craziness is happening!

1. I impulsively ran out to buy a Playstation 3 last Saturday for some emergency karaoke. Yes, in my world, there is such a thing as emergency karaoke. At least this time I didn't break my tooth doing it. Phew!

Like I told Lilo, you laugh at me now, but you will thank me later.

2. Not only does Dubbledubs know all the lyrics to Corrine Bailey Rae's "Put your Records On," but he sings it like a champ.



Like a real pre-teen girl scout champ.

3. My friends and I consumed 80 pounds of amazingly delicious food at Fatty Crab, and we were still hungry for dessert (at Chickalicious –so much more satisfying than Magnolia Cupcakes).

4. The Emotion Eric and my other friend Kawabunga came over and helped to get the Internet working on my new PS3. (It only took two days for them to figure it out, even though they supposedly work in "tech-no-logy.")

And WELL WORTH it, as I was then able to download Singstar karaoke videos of Spandau Ballet's magic hit wonders, "True" and "Gold," as well as "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips for our eternal singing pleasure.



Jealous, no?

5. A sleazy weirdo from my long-ago past commented on my recent entry about sleazy men! Funny, disturbing, or ironic? Maybe all of the above. (Sorry Nick, just bein' honest there. You're not gonna change my mind on that one.)

6. My 2 classmates, Jee & Lilo cannot get that stupid "Beep-Beep" song by PCD out of our heads. Thanks, KP. Bum-bum, BUM-BUM, bum-bum-BUM!

(BTW, karaoke-ing to this is so much better if you replace the beeps with "crotch," "boobs," "butt," and the like, as demonstrated by Lilo.)

7. I passed on drinking cider and playing speed-Scrabble at home with my roommate and out-of-town friends just so I could study 3 problems for an open-book math test. WTF is wrong with me.

8. I took that math test, in which I calculated the number of Parsecs away an object is in outer space from earth, based on its positioned angle between the earth and the sun, also known as a stellar parallax. Oh yes, say it with me: SOH CAH TOA!

9. Two couples I know got engaged. I think Princess Tater & Prince Dodger started a trend! Congrats to Amy & Mark and Kevin & Coley!

10. Oh, one more thing: dogs can walk like people.

The Mad Men of 2008

Today I got an email from a personals service, with the subject, "5 Ways to Wow a Guy."

Excuse me? Are you saying that I don't have enough to wow a guy? Okay, so I like to sleep in, and maybe I have a belly, and I've got a messy room and I haven't cooked in ages, but I am not about to fall for that demeaning marketing email shit for a second.

I don't think you understand the problem here. You need to start finding some guys who can wow me.

The last two responses I received for my online ad were from a married couple who wanted to propose a threesome ("Not your cup of tea? Well hopefully you will take it as flattery" is how they put it), and an actor/bartender (albeit a hunky & cute one) in an open relationship.

Well at least I am getting some colorful responses, instead of the usual guy who doesn't know what they want (other than someone cute and local), or is just kind of not attractive or boring.

And just to add to my growing cynicism about men, I found out through the gossip grapevine (see tip #6 in the last blog entry), about how one of my teachers ruined his marriage (shortly after having their baby) in a profoundly sleazy and retarded manner, involving making a wildly inappropriate move on his friend's girlfriend (who was left shocked, traumatized and crying).

This also surprised some of my classmates, because they assumed he was gay anyway. (This does not mean he is cute. At ALL. And if you are a Toy Design student, dying to know who I'm talking about, feel free to ask me in person, but I won't reveal it here.)

And recently another friend revealed her own damaging affair, with a manipulative man who continues to take advantage of women by professing his love to them, especially whilst cheating on another woman. And he's not even CUTE. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN??? I'm not going into the sordid details, but I'm just relieved to hear that my friend came out of it alive.

Ladies, listen up. Sleazy, deceptive, selfish, irresponsible dickheads come in all kinds: cute, sweet, handsome, ugly, hunky, lanky, meek, cocky, rich, and poor.

If a man is ballsy enough to profess his love for you, you could be that lucky special one, orrrr... he could be full of shit! Just make sure you know the difference.

Wait, I don't think I've known anyone who dated a mean guy. Maybe I should. Maybe they're at least honest.

Oh, right. I don't like mean people. Guess that won't work.

Well, at least I feel like I'm not missing out anymore while I'm busy with school!

So my cute little nephew's prospects of getting any cousins is growing dim. I'll just have to spoil him with toys to make up for it.

Back to the Nuthouse

School started this week, and already I am feeling the abuse. My ass is feeling sore from sitting on that hard, wooden chair ALL DAY LONG. The a/c is always too low or too high. Teachers are warning us of the impending workload and to stay on top of things. Carrying my laptop and supplies to school is already straining my shoulders.

On the first day, the chair of the department talked to us with an ever-present, encouraging smile, but she let it slip that several of the models made by our class last semester ended up looking like "shit" and that we weren't going to let that happen this year. We were also given the grand opportunity to tackle an extra assignment this year for the Toy Industry Association, an assignment that was already failed by a world-famous graphic designer. Just like last semester, we have classes for most of the day, from Monday through Saturday, and 4 out of those 6 days, we don't finish classes until after 8 or 9pm.

This year, our major project is to write, design, illustrate, and create childrens' books, based on our storybook plush character that we designed last semester. And then we design licensed toy products based on the books we create.

So on Wednesday, we each took turns presenting our outlines and rough plots for our story characters. Very quickly, it became apparent that everyone's invented storybook character was a mirror of themselves. It got to the point that my BFF and I had to refrain ourselves from cracking up, because as soon as each person started to talk about their characters, it sounded like them talking about their autobiography. And most of them didn't even seem to realize it!

After each character was presented, the class would ask questions, give feedback, and brainstorm to help them develop their stories, in case it didn't feel complete or needed more direction. In the end, it seemed that this process helped everyone quite a bit.

But there were a few storylines that sounded a bit flawed and unbalanced, which felt very awkward and uncomfortable, because it seemed to reveal unresolved issues about that person! And so toward the second half of the day, it began to feel more like a group therapy session that would never end. Or a painful Alcoholics Anonymous session that needed to be picked up another day.

For example, one story involved two main characters, who were part-human, part-animal (drawn much cuter than it sounds). Basically the story starts with them being ostracized by people in the city, so the main characters escape to the forest to find each other as best friends, who bond through their different but complementary personality traits. But they never reconcile with the people they escaped from!

So basically the story makes it sound like people will forever be evil. Or that you should just run away from your problems. Another student asked for clarification on what the message of the story was about. The answer was, "Well I see it as a story about acceptance, like people should accept other differences." Really? Huh. Because it sounded like the message was that different people should be segregated. Luckily after some brainstorming, we helped her balance the story out and she agreed to leave out the "evil people." Phew!

When I shared my character's story with my class, K-boy asked me if there was a romantic interest in the story. I said, "No. Princess Mooki is too young. She probably thinks she's too good for boys at this point. Maybe that'll be for Volume 5." I didn't even realize until later, that I had basically outlined an unusually feminist princess story, where she wasn't going to be saved by a boy; boys didn't even enter into the plot, and it was all about her learning to be the ruler she was destined to be.

It was a little exhausting to go through a whole day of this. But at the same time, I think it will be exciting to see everyone's finished work at the end of the year. After that class ended, already my classmates were acting loopy, goofing around and making strange voices like they were drunk or high. Except nobody had ingested any alcohol or illegal substances. And this was just the FIRST WEEK!

You see why I am a little concerned.

And THEN, today it verged into physical abuse when the chair of the department actually smacked me on the arm! This was over a totally normal question I asked about what was due the next day. I think she must have misinterpreted the question, (to mean that I expected another student to do more work than she had to?). I believe she smacked me jokingly, but it was kind of hard! Half of the classmates that witnessed it gasped, and then laughed nervously, because they all already kind of fear her.

I don't fear her (because I'm old and I know I can already get a job, which gives me the opportunity to not really give a shit about what people think, and I already have a degree so I don't really care about getting a 2nd BA). But I was weirded out all the same, and so my reaction was, "Uh, WOW." It was totally uncalled for, and not really that funny.

But I have learned from a very early age, that there will always be crazy people around me, and I am not fazed by them. They are temporary distractions, and I don't let them get the best of my good energy. Nonetheless, wish me luck this year!

Oh, in other news, the girls in my class have decided that our MIT-alum, Ph.D-earning math teacher is this semester's eye candy. Well, except maybe for his buck teeth. We like his brains, humor, hair, clothes, and that he noticeably works out. But he ruined it for me today though, when he revealed that he was born in 1980. Holy crap I am old.

Anyway, I've decided to be a Golden Girl. I recently came to the revelation that dating and relationships don't do it for me, even if I did have the time for it. I'm a really contented person on my own, as long as I have my friends and my creativity. (Either way I figure it's inevitable that I will become a crazy old lady, probably not much different from the chair of my department!)

So, thank you for being a friend. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidante...

P.S. I am an old lady

Three somewhat unremarkable things to note:

1. I am over the office cutie.
   
   It was weird. I had a one-on-one meeting with him, and I was strangely unattracted. Maybe he needed more personality. Maybe hearing his voice from afar made him more alluring. Maybe it was that ring on his pinky finger. I don't like a guy who wears more jewelry than I do on a regular basis. Whatever it was, I just somehow wasn't lost in his eyes.
   
   It's just as well, as he is likely far too young and I live in that other distant country normally. But Toronto is running out of time (three weeks!) to seduce me back into its clutches after I graduate! Guess I'll have to find someone in NY or Cali after all...


2. My B-boying career will have to wait.
   
   I had my second appointment with a trainer at the gym. As she was stretching one of my legs, I felt a shooting pain. I told her that I thought it was from the breakdancing class. So she said that maybe I should hold off on continuing that class until I build up my strength/flexibility more. Plus she said I should take a bath in some Epsom salt to ease my muscles. Probably wise advice.
   
   But I am sad and old.


3. I don't care what you say, I love those dance competition shows!
   
   I can't believe Will was voted off So You Think You Can Dance. He's probably the best dancer on the show. And I already miss Gev. But I do like all of the remaining dancers on show, so the rest of this season is just going to be really upsetting every time they kick someone off.
   
   As for the judges, I love Nigel's classy British critiques, and Toni Basil is pretty rad too. But sometimes I want to strangle Mary and her spastic screams. And I love Cat Deeley's dresses and accessories. And I commend her on keeping her distinctively crooked nose.
   
   Also, America's Best Dance Crew is even making me sad as they kick off whole teams of sobbing b-boys and b-girls. Why can't they ALL WIN??? Waaah.

Not-so-deep thoughts

I just went to my first trainer session at the gym. Luckily she went pretty easy on me, given my history of disregard for the gym. She showed me some nifty ab crunch exercises that I like much better than sit-ups. But they still hurt.

Now I am contemplating an ice cream sandwich.

Other things I have been contemplating:

• I'd rather buy new dresses and toys than buy an iPhone (which is precisely what I did last weekend). Oh yes, envy my new, awesomely cuddly Sasquatch, designed by the always amazing (and Canadian) Meomi:




• Fine artists who make no effort to master their medium are rather irksome. (as witnessed at a recent art reception where someone made art out of her crap-tastic cellphone video. She admitted she didn't know how to use actual video equipment.)


• The selection of men on Match.com makes me think I'd be much happier dying single.


• The selection of men-in-my-building-elevator who-are-mostly-headed-to-the-gym makes me think maybe I don't want to die single... until I realize that most of them are gay.


• Don't the folks at beautifulpeople.net (–a Canadian dating/social site for "beautiful people only," which I heard about from Canada's MTV) know how easy it is to fake their online beauty? Oh, maybe that's because these retards built the site to work on IE only, for punk-ass PC users. What is this, 1999?


• Thank goodness Drew Barrymore realized she could do better than Justin Long, but I can totally understand her temporary lack of judgement. I'm sure she'll find her way back into love. (God I love that cheesy-ass song and movie!)




• I watched this funny video blog (vlog?? blehgh), called Pot Psychology for the first time. It's an advice column that used to be in text. One of the questions they answered was "How much coke is too much?" One pothead answered, "There is never enough coke. That's why you don't start."
  
  This is the same reasoning for my ears not being pierced. There are never enough cute earrings.
  
  But my god, this pothead chick is the most stylish girl I have seen. I want all her clothes and accessories. This does not mean I will start smoking pot, but it may mean I will pierce my ears to rock big, gorgeous hoops like she does. And I really do need big bangs again.


• Some may find this hard to believe, but I have never tried pot (unless you count the the second-hand pot smoke at various concerts). I never was inclined to, because I giggle way too much as it is, nothing really stresses me that badly (anymore), and I already have a tendency to laze about at home all day long. So the last thing I need is something that exacerbates this. I might die giggling.
  
  So basically, I am already a pothead, without the pot. If I needed to be on a drug, it would be speed. But coffee will have to do for now.


• Why is the best women's magazine in Australia and only available to U.S. subscribers for over $100? I guess I'll have to subscribe to MissBehave for ten bucks instead.




• I am having a pho lunch tomorrow with the office cutie... and about ten other coworkers. He joked about stinking up the office with Durian shakes.
  
  
  
  Later, I sent him and my supervisor this link to an awesome Transformers birthday cake. He replied (to all) that he would want a Transformers wedding cake someday. Holy crap, is he talking weddings already!? Whoa, there mister.
  
  This could be love.
  
  Unless he already has a fiancée. Which really just means I'll have to take her down with my newly gym-trained MUSCLES!




• Pixar created yet another touching, adorable, and funny film with Wall-e. Don't get distracted by the fact that he looks like the "Short Circuit" robot or that Eva looks like a baby storm trooper. It is a really sweet love story... that also makes me feel guilty for making toys that will likely fill the landfills of the world. Sniff.

Photo of durian-avocado shake by foodie.jenius.

B-Boys, Pink Yarn, and Cute Engineers

Sorry, I've been busy shopping, enjoying Canada Day weekend, free concerts (Ladytron at the Harbourfront Centre), free breakdance battle shows, knitting a cat-eared hat (for a second cousin), working on girly toys, visiting the gym, getting addicted to Scramble (Facebook's version of Boggle), buying scented dolls, and avoiding homework.

Also there's a ridiculously cute engineer at work. I have no idea how old he is, because he's Chinese, and you know how hard it is to tell with us Asians. I probably don't even register as a blip on his radar, because I am a lowly intern from New York.

I learned today, that he is a fan of Transformers. I was thinking I could leave a trail of Transformers to my desk. Except that would probably attract just about any male in the building. Basically, I am resorting to the tactics of a 9-year old, trying to lure an alien.

How about this plan? I was going to find some cute stationery and write the following:

Hey, I think you're cute.

Please check one of the following and return this note to me:

[] Are you high? I will burn this and pretend this never happened.
[] Aww, that's cute, but I'm gay. You can be my faghag though.
[] Let's not and say we did.
[] I don't think my girlfriend would like that. Please don't look at me anymore.
[] Well, that's cool, but I'm waiting to see if five other hot chicks are into me.
[] Aren't you an intern and moving to NY in about a month? Hmm, let's just be friends.
[] Aren't you an intern moving to NY in about a month? Sweet! Let's go dancin!
[] Hmm, aren't you old? Sorry, but you ain't no Demi Moore.
[] Well... let's just be friends until you graduate and I transfer to the L.A. office, and you get a job there to support me with your absurd double-Bachelor's degrees, while I rise to fame as the new hot Asian-Canadian actor, and then we can marry and have adorable little Chinese kids that the other celebs will want to adopt.
[] Uhh, I don't know if I like you yet. Wear a really hot dress and we can try dinner.
[] I am sports-obsessed and won't touch a karaoke room with a 10-foot pole, so really, it's not meant to be.
[] You're cute too! Let's go see Wall-e or something.
[] Who are you?

xoxo, the intern

Actually, I nearly did something like this with Keroppi paper, when I was ohhh, 20 years old. Except that one just said "I think you are cute." I ended up ditching that tactic and ended up calling the guy at the office to invite him to a movie. It turned out he liked me all along. A lot. I showed the note to him later, which he put in his pocket as he left our first date. We ended up dating for... 3 years!

Hello Summer!

I am so happy summer is here. It's my favorite season. Today I joined the other Toy Design intern to check out the local street festival, and thanks to my first paycheck, I got myself a shirt, purse, and some books. Guess I'll be shipping stuff back to New York later!

I'll say more about Toronto later, but for now I will say it's been treating me quite nicely, and it's a lovely place to live –in the summer, that is. The temps range between upper 60s and low 80s, which is just about perfect for me. The only thing is that I can't read the freaking weather reports on tv because they're all in CELSIUS! Thank goodness for the internets.

On a downer note, I am already behind on my goddamned summer homework. Can't a girl get a break!?

Also: that guy I liked so much... apparently now has a girlfriend!? Goddamn!

Okay, I admit, I am not entirely surprised. And I don't even want to know when this happened. But doesn't he know that I am the one???

Well, if he's anything like my exes, he'll snap out of this cloud of stupidity in a year and ask to be with me again. Except, from past experience, I'll have to make it clear that I'm over it by then, and then he'll marry the next person he dates. Apparently that is my lot in life. In the meantime, I am doing my best to forget about him. –Like, pretending that he's dead, so I can still look back at the memories with some remnant of fondness.

ANYhow, Spin Master is a great place to work so far. Oddly, it shares some striking similarities with my old days at Yahoo (as opposed to its more somber days now), which is a good thing:

• The company was started by a few young guys, now in their mid thirties


• People work in open cubicles, mostly decorated with piles of toys


• Everyone who works there is super friendly and likable, and people are free to wear jeans or summer dresses to work


• When you start your job, they give you your name printed on a purple star (Yahoo! prints it on a gold star)


• Free bagels and various shmears/spreads on most mornings


• Employees are super nice to the interns, giving them real work, inviting them to big meetings and throwing them fancy dinners


• Marketing folks do their best to make designers antsy at their jobs


• Designers struggle to balance meetings with time to actually design


• Engineers like to tell Designers what can't be done


• They manage to recover from PR disasters (like selling date rape drugs by accident, or pushing porn online)


• I end up having to decline contract work, because I have enough work to deal with as it is, and I like to keep my free time free


• I often get away with free lunches (for things like open brainstorms and presentations)


• They offer volunteer opportunities to employees, to give back to the community


• It's part of my job to play with things


• We produce things that bring general goodness into the world (At least, I like to think so)


• It's fun to answer strangers who ask what you do


• I found myself watching the other designers try on wigs and afros (Some of you might remember that an afro played a key role in an early Yahoo! commercial)


• There is an upcoming tropical-themed office party, luring us with a limbo stick and karaoke video games

Things at Spin Master that are not like my old job:

• No free espresso bar (but of course, we get free drip coffee)


• Lots of women work here


• No free gym, no free commuter bus (but free rent and utilities for interns!)


• Facebook is blocked (which is wise on their part, especially if they knew my habits)


• The other designers like to drink


• The things I work on... probably end up contributing to landfills more than I'd like them to


• Nobody IMs at work... and I don't mind it


• I use colored pencils just as much as I use my mouse, and sometimes more than the mouse


• People don't really care about having the latest gadgets (my supervisor doesn't even own a cell phone!)


• The office generally empties out by 6:30pm


• My vast knowledge of cuteness, fashion, pop culture, and toys comes in super-handy


• People don't presume that this industry is all anyone ever thinks and talks about


• The office is walking distance to the local funky fashion district and all kinds of awesome shopping


• No stock options, no six-figure salary. –Doh! (It's not about the money, right? RIGHT?)

If they get me a Brobee doll, I'm pretty close to being sold on working for them post-graduation. Also they have an L.A. office!

Also, that thing about how the sun doesn't go down here until like 9pm? It completely messes with my head, because then I feel like I should stay up later than I should, and then I don't get enough sleep and I get groggy all week at work. Which leads me to getting to bed now.

(BTW, I am very much digging the album "Shine," by Estelle. You may have heard her single, "American Boy" featuring Kanye West. It's the perfect album for summer listening.)

Hope you're all enjoying your summers too!

Saturday Happy Fun Times

I didn't get to meet the animator last Saturday, but I think it was for the best.

He emailed me recently to say hello. His email address looked related to a website, and being the resourceful ex-tech-professional nerd that I am, I had to check it out. It turned out to be a web page that pointed to some of his animated shorts...

Aaand, unfortunately, I didn't like them. They were not aesthetically pleasing, not very clever, and not very funny.

That's the tricky thing about being a creative professional, when you date other creative professionals. You have to respect the quality of their work. And if it's no good, then it's especially awkward.

Oh well. ANYhoo, I did end up having a lot of fun Saturday with my class BFF. We started with the Michel Gondry "Be Kind Rewind" exhibit, which was small, but still amusing. We wished we had seen the movie first. Maybe we'll go back after seeing the movie.

Then we filled the rest of the day with more fun, including:

• wine-tasting at Vintage, a Soho shop that sells local NY wines. The BFF found a strawberry wine that featured a unicorn on its label. She was pretty ecstatic about that.


• browsing the madhouse of Kid Robot's apparel sale (didn't buy anything)


• delicious chocolate espressos at Aroma Espresso Bar


• browsing the madness of the Marc Jacobs sale (didn't buy anything there either, but we did get a free photo w/ a giant skunk)


• red velvet cupcakes and banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery


• book-shopping across the street from Magnolia (to do some research for our storybook project)

Well that was all the fun I'll have for a little while, because next weekend we have class all day, both Saturday and Sunday. And I have a midterm and a paper due next week, along with a crapload of design projects that need to be completed before spring break. Ack! Good thing it's still fun (except for maybe drafting in Cobalt)!

Speaking of which, I have to run to my Motor-Learning class now!

My sentiments exactly.

To the boys I've kissed in the last year (--who are geeks and yet somehow not geeky enough to find my blog, add me on Flickr, OR check my Facebook profile, maybe because they're old and retarded):


I love a good greeting card.

I'm shifting toward the plan of staying single, happy, and carrying the child of one of my very cute but gay classmates to fulfill any future desire for motherhood.

I shall now return to my technical drawing homework nightmare.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sexual harrassment in the City

On Monday, I walked by a flasher on 17th Street. Actually, I don't know what you call it, because he was fully naked, no coat or anything. He was standing inside the gate of a building, and just as I walked past, he opened the gate toward me and it looked like his hands were reaching for... --well. I didn't want to witness any more of this so I just continued to walk briskly to dinner down the street.

I think I would have been more distraught about it, except that it was in the Mission District, and actually something similar happened to me back in college once. I was just kind of annoyed and disgusted. (They caught and busted the one at UCLA.) Anybody know where I can get a nice taser gun?

BTW, I think I may make it through my whole stay in San Francisco, having never had a date in my house. And yesterday, I woke up to the sound of loud sex from the neighbors again. Like it was mocking me.

I think I'm ready for New York, folks.

I'll be moving to Nolita initially for a 1-month sublet, and if all goes well, I may be sharing a nice 2-bedroom apartment in Tribeca by September. Wish me luck!

(Image above captured from the oldie-but-goodie flash animation, Peanut Butter Jelly Time!)

Various thoughts of the last week.

• How the hell am I going to live a New York apartment, half the size of my San Francisco apartment?
  
  
• Tragically, I've decided to sell the Junebug. Know anyone interested in a 2004 Convertible Turbo VW Beetle in Aquarius blue, with practically new tires? I'll try not to cry.
  
  
• I use mobile texting a lot, but being asked out by a mobile text is a strange thing. I thought it was a Gen-Y move, vs. a Gen-X move, but in fact this has happened to me with older guys! Or maybe this is just the way guys operate these days, where they don't want to make it seem too "datey" but more casual, and if I happen to like the evening it becomes a date? But in the end it's really a date, isn't it?
  
  Getting asked out by mobile text strikes me as a little bit chicken, which is not a turn-on. And it strikes me as a "player" move, (also NOT a turn-on) because you could be texting while you're out with other people or other dates. Texting can be a multi-task sort of thing. I don't like the idea of being part of a multi-task.
  
  Back in the day, 15-year old boys had to pick up a phone and talk to a girl. If you're over 30, can you make the effort to talk to me? If I like you, I'll want to hear your voice. Am I old-fashioned?
  
  Or maybe nowadays, the texting is a early-stage thing, and the voice call comes later? I guess I could handle that. But it better move up to the voice call quickly. Or maybe guys don't like the sound of my voice, is that what they're saying?
  
  
• On my Karaoke Revolution game, I now have a virtual room of heads... of my San Francisco friends. That is, when I play karaoke in New York, I'll be able to pick one of their scanned heads to be on my player/singer. Is that creepy or sentimental? Both?
  
  
• After having about 3-5 cups of sake, maybe I shouldn't follow it with 3 shots of tequila.
  
  
• I know two people who have already shown me their iPhones. I guess they seem nifty, but that little keyboard is hard to type. And I didn't quite get the hang of the resize-drag. And knowing me, I would totally scratch up that screen in about a week's time.
  
  
• Okay, what is up with the dudes? I had like a 2-year dating dry spell, and last week I suddenly got the attention of 3 attractive guys, and this week, I hear nothing from ANY of them.
  
  I guess it doesn't help that I'm in mid-move to a new state. And I guess they know I'm traveling this week. But I am guessing that is not the issue. Is there any romance left in the modern metropolitan world? Thank God I have New York & toys to distract me from this nonsense.
  
  
• I saw that low-budget movie, "Colma." I thought it might be a sleeper-fun-slacker-indie film. But no. It made me want to go to sleep. I think there could be a more amusing musical made about my apartment complex. Or my livingroom. Or my dollhouse.
  
  
• Why do I have to wear a wool coat in JULY? (Yes, I know. I'll be bitching about the humidity next month when I finally move to New York.) At least it'll be warm when I get to Chicago for 4th of July. Happy Independence Day!

New York, New York, it's a helluva town

It's strange visiting New York right now, knowing that I'll be moving here in August. I don't feel the pressure of having to go see the sights. This time I'm actually enjoying just being in the environment and figuring out the strange irreglarities of the subway system.

So far, I'm loving the warm 80-degree weather that lasts way into the evening, the diversity of people, and the bustling activity that exists through every part of town.

When I say "diversity," I don't mean just ethnicities, but I also mean their ages, styles, and the industries they work in. I am staying with my cousin, the psychiatrist, and his wife, the filmmaker. We had dinner with his friend, the writer, and my future roommate works in the insurance business. My classmates come from various educational backgrounds, ranging from Biology, Illustration, and Fashion. None of them work in tech, and I find that to be rather refreshing. As a creative person, I crave this kind of diversity in perspectives and inspiration. So I'm looking forward to living here for school.

I've been kept pretty busy with my school workshop this week, in perspective-drawing and marker-drawing classes. We've had homework, and even after today's last class, they assigned us homework to work on over the summer. I have to design three more toys and color a 3-d shape in markers to practice my blending/shine effects.

But in my free time, so far I've visited Pinkberry two nights in a row, eaten some tasty ramen with my ol' college girlfriend, walked in the rain at night without an umbrella, pigged out on Korean food with ex-coworkers, played with a friend's two little daughters while walking up 5th Avenue, gone on a sushi-&-drinks date on the upper west side (I know! I haven't even properly moved here yet, and I got a DATE!), and gotten lost on the subway (I have to pay more attention to the local vs. express trains).

Today, on my last day of the school workshop, my class had a picnic lunch on the rooftop of FIT with the dean, one of the Toy Design graduates, and one Toy Design senior who was at an internship with Fisher Price. They have all warned us that the program is crazy-intensive, and basically I won't have a life outside of school. Hrmmm. Well, if I'm not going to have a life, at least I'll be busy learning how to design TOYS!

Okay, I'm off to go meet my future roommate in Central Park, in my purty summer dress in this beeeyootiful weather.