social cues

I own a ring that only fits on my ring fingers on either hand. Given that I wear another ring from my mother on the right hand most of the time, I decided to wear the ring on the left Wednesday.

Today, while wrapping up a phone call with a colleague whom I met with on Wednesday, he asked about it. Oh no, I responded, it was just for fun.

Lately, I have been thinking about social cues. The ring is an obvious example, but there are many subtle signs of how people identify themselves.

Fashion is a prime example. I can always tell whether a woman is older...by the shape of her pants. Very few woman under 35 will wear tapper pants. We are the generation of boot-cut/flare pants. Another tell-tale-sign is purse length. During the 90s, purse straps became shorter in length, so when I see a woman carrying a long purse (the kind that dangles by her hips), I think 40+.

Another sign I have been looking at is eyebrows. My girlfriends fall into two camps, those who shape their eyebrows, and those who maintain their au natural shapes... It's not a big deal, but it does change the way a person's face look.

In the end, it doesn't matter what people look like or how they choose to spend their money on grooming, but I just find it an easy way for people to tell me something about themselves.

celebrity

Today, I heard Jack Foster Jr. speak. The Foster family built Foster City from what was called Brewer's Island strating in 1958.
http://www.fostercity.org/community_info/Introduction-to-the-History-of-Foster-City.cfm

I always thought Foster City as a very-well planned community. Every home had water view and the engineering prevented flooding and liquefaction. I was in awe to listen to the story from the man who was there from the very beginning.

Besides his involvement in a iconic project, Mr. Foster also gained my respect when he said that we must address the housing crisis in California. He pointed out that the real estate market can crash because of 1. too much housing feeding to the economy or 2. the economy restricting b/c workers cannot afford to live here. Right now, we are heading down path number 2, with option number 1 receiving no support from the existing residents and policy makers.

I got into the real estate development business because I want to build affordable housing. Here in the Bay Area, that mission is just to build housing period. I love it here, but I will leave the Bay Area if it means that the people here are not going to support the development that is necessary to increase diversity.

right here, right now

I don't know why there is so much desire for people to be young again. I had a great childhood and have been happy in my younger years, but life has always gotten better for me.

For each person, every stage of life brings a particular set of circumstances and events. The trick to live in the moment is to enjoy that unique set of facts.

I don't want to be anything else but me right now. I don't want to be living in another period of my life but right now.

I feel so lucky because there is no where I rather be than in my life at this particular moment. I love all the good fortunes, but I also embrace all the surprises. There is no good or bad outcome, there are only the facts of my day.

life is like this

I invited 3 people to dinner tonight about a week ago. It was all very up in the air. Of course, as luck would have it, all three people canceled. I am so used to these ups and downs. Started to invite some people last-minute, still no takers. Guess I'll be eating some yummy lunch tomorrow!

Just like the fall on Saturday (that bruise looks so nasty!), life goes on. I firmly believe if I don't dwell on life's ups and downs, I can get so much more done in a day.

Now, time to start planning for the snow season!!

sincere thanks

You were there for me.

You listened and let me rant without judging.

You repeated my words, so I can hear myself.

You pointed out my flaws without hurting my feelings (too much).

You led me to the truth without embarassing me.

Your patience and care brought me much support and joy.

To all the girlfriends who listened and gave me the dose of reality I needed this weekend: thank you for being there.

wall flowers

It was sad to talk to a woman in her mid-20s while taking a dance break and found out that her friends and her drove all the way from San Jose to San Francisco tonight to club. There they were, sitting pretty, in a row, and all looking quite miserable.

At first, my friend and I encouraged them to join us on the dance floor. Then, it occurred to me that they just don't know how to have fun.

Sometime during the night, I fell and had a bruised knee, but I was able to keep dancing. This would not be the first time I fell, and it would not be the last. Still, I moved on and didn't give it too much thought. After all, the moment of the fall was long over, and I wanted to focus on the next moment, which was all about dancing up a storm.

As always, I had a great time. I hope the wall flowers will one day figure out that it's all about what is in the mind and soul and not perception.

no diva

I want to dance with somebody, somebody who loves me....
I want to dance with somebody, somebody who loves meeeee....

NOT.