Sunday, March 30, 2008

Something makes you smile

High school baseball is huge in Japan. It has two seasons, spring and summer. Now spring season is going on.

In one of the games, a catcher saw a pitcher being nervous. So he decided to kiss him on the cheek. The pitcher regained his concentration and won the game. Isn't is cute?

Saturday, March 29, 2008

The eyes of the beholder

My long time friend, Bala Wala Shi, posted this on her blog.
And I just read about the reaction of SJP to the MAXIM magazine article which named her as "the unsexiest woman alive in the world."
Then I had to think about the issue of "the eyes of the beholder" and stereotyping.

First, SJP. She shouldn't have been surprised. If you look at the list of the women who were also named as "unsexy": Sandra Oh, Madonna, Amy Winehouse. Of course straight men don't like them! They are strong, independent and professional women!

SJP
is right:

"I really like the choices I've made. I am who I am," she says. "Do I have big fake boobs, Botox and big lips? No. Do I fit some ideals and standards of some men writing in a men's magazine? Maybe not."

You go girl! We love you. But SJP, why did you get mad on the article? You know, the article simply reflected its readers' opinion. And I believe it did reflect the opinion or perception of most of the straight men in the U.S. quite precisely. Why do you care? I don't. If I feel sexy, that's all I need. I don't need any assurance from men. Oh, I do care the opinions of my gay friends, though. Because they know about shoes!

About Bala Wala Shi's post. To be fair, we all do stereotype. For example, Jeremy, my American friend (who Bala Wala Shi also knows) lived in South Korea teaching English years ago. He said to me that his Korean students often asked him "Do you play basket ball?" "Do you have a gun?" "Do you want to go to eat at McDonald's?" I have to admit that I thought all Americans cursed all the time like in the movie Pulp Fiction before coming to US. I thought all Argentinean men were romantic. My husband bought me a new CD by Prince for my birthday. Well, it could be considered romantic for some...no judgement. My English teacher in Japan, who was the third generation of Japanese American, told me how difficult for him to find a job at language schools in Japan. Because he is not blue-eyed blond.

The problem is that there are quite a few people who think their perception is universal and do not accept the fact that the things they think "wrong" or "unsexy" may be only the product of "the eyes of the beholder" or cultural difference. I and Bala Wala Shi more often face this issue than others because first, we are Asian and Arab, women, who often become the subject of curiosity, strange fantasy and....you know, misinformed pity, living in the Western countries. Second, because to some extent, Western or American (or North American) culture dominates the world.

Oh, BTW, Japanese straight men are the king of stereotyping. If they find a cute quiet girl, they instantly assume she can cook. They sometimes get disappointed after marriage. Most of my unmarried female friends who are beautiful, professional and sexy, cook very well. Men just don't see them. Idiot.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Manolo Blahnik for Friday

No words necessary.
I love Manolos.

Yey! It's Friday!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Christian Louboutin for Thursday





I was very tired this morning. So I decided to wear my very new "King of Sole" Christian Louboutin white patent pumps. And I paired them with my bright pink suits. Nothing but beautiful shoes and bright color can cheer me up!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Connecticut (or Bradley International Airport) SUCKS!!

OK, I'm on a business trip in Connecticut. I did interviews in Hartford and New Haven. I drove as fast as possible to the Bradley International Airport after finishing the interviews to have some martinis. I had already located a bar in the airport when I had arrived this morning. After going through the security checkpoint, I saw the bar was about to close!!!! It was 7pm, Buddha's sake!! I forced them to give me a glass of beer. That's it. I hate this airport. Everyone, beware! Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, Connecticut!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I told you!

This blog "Stuff White People Like" wrote:

White men love asian women so much that they will go to extremes such as stating that Sandra Oh is sexy,

See? Telling me I look like Sandra Oh or Vera Wang is NOT a compliment.

I'm flying to and back from Connecticut tomorrow. Gah. I'm just hoping I will have time to have some martinis at the airport on the way back.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Spring has come!

OMG! It's spring!!
Look out of the window!
Flowers blooming! Warm sunshine!
I just had a margarita strolling around in our COOP yard. It was great.















































Now I'm having more margarita watching Sex and the City season 4. I just got replacement DVDs from ebay.

This morning I saw the movie "Shoot 'em Up." If you love Clive Owen like I do, you love this movie. Or if you want some pure shooting entertainment with some laughs, it's your movie. When
Paul Giamatti ,who plays a creepy gun fanatic killer in this movie, said "Fuck me sideways," I couldn't help giggling.

No plan

My next door neighbor is getting married with her super-cute boyfriend. They are such a cute, nice and sweet couple. This news makes me smile. They broke the news at her birthday/egg dying party last night. I thought "egg dying" was some sort of killing eggs.....you know, "dying" and "dying"....me no like english. We made many colorful dead eggs. Lots of wine. Fun.

Today I have absolutely no plan. My husband is working and not coming back until 4pm. Which is good. But I was planning to go shopping, maybe to Arundel Mall where Neiman Marcus outlet store is. Then I realized most of the stores are closed for Easter today. Easter sucks. I'm Buddhist, you know?

I may catch up with some reading, watch DVD, and try to say bye to my fellow international bloggers who have been staying at VUBOQ's since last weekend. And I may make some margaritas in the afternoon.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Gomennasai (I'm Sorry) Daikon Radish

I have no idea what he/she is apologizing for, but he/she looks so sorry.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

30 years from now

You know, when I was reading goblinbox's post, I had a thought. Me and my friends having Saturday afternoon margaritas in a nursing home 30 years from now. Fun!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Deja Vu

I was watching TV and found a familiar face in the Fiber One commercial. The store manager endorsing the product in the commercial looked somehow familiar....Yes! He was the Bangladeshi waiter who kissed Samantha after she was dumped by her date! It's one of the Sex & the City episodes.

When I saw the movie Munich, I couldn't focus on the film because the actress who played the Israeli Prime Minister looked very familiar but I couldn't remember from where. After 20 minutes...Yes! She was Magda the housekeeper who worked for Miranda.

I think I'm officially addicted to SATC. Actually I watched SATC DVD too many times, some of them, including my favorite episodes like "Real Me" (in which Carrie modeled in D&G on runway) got scratched. I need to replace them.

My most relaxing time is stretching on my couch, drinking dirty Martinis and watching SATC. Another one is taking bath looking at Victoria's Secret catalogue. You can have heavenly time without cost, at home.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Vera Wang

Today at a liquor store, when I was buying tequila and triple sec (yes, to make Margarita!) , a woman at the register told me "You know, I was thinking you look like that designer woman in Oprah....are you the designer?" I had no idea because I never watch Oprah. To be honest, I hate her. Then the woman asked another store clerk "Hey, you watch Oprah. You know, that woman in the show.....the Chinese or somethin'.....the designer...." He said, "um....you mean, the designer who make wedding gowns? Yeah, she looks like her!" OK, now I got it. It must be Vera Wang. And this was not the first time someone told me that. Last year before Christmas, at my friend Steveandbobby's Christmas tree decorating party, this Cambodian guy told me that. He even wanted to take pictures with me and show them to his sister to tell her "I met Vera Wang!"

Um.....guys, if you think that is a complement, I'm not sure about that. Sure Vera Wang is a great designer. If you are saying I'm as talented as her, that's a complement.

Whatever. What is she doing on Oprah, by the way?