Went to Berkeley w/a community member who is more of a friend. She treated me to chocolates at Alegio and lunch at Chez Panisse. It was for my b-day, since I picked up the tab for her b-day a couple of months ago. It's been amazing to have all these mentors and older friends over the years who showed me that being successful starts with a frame a mind.
The Gourmet Ghetto is no longer ghetto. It's pretty, and upscale!
The one surprise to this lovely lunch was how the food was great but not as wow as I remembered it. Okay, so it's the Cafe and not the actual restaurant. Still, living in SF has upped my expectations of everything.
It was the perfect break to a busy work week, and now I am ready to head off to celebrate my b-day!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
read this book
Went to my second book reading in a week. Good thing I don't have rules about events.
Actually bought the book at the signing. Fun to have a book signed out to me!
Glad that I have Monday's experience to compare. This is a first-time writer and a fiction book. Also an Asian American story.
Talked to the author Min Jin Lee after about how I don't have much of an Asian American experience b/c I was raised overseas by progressive parents. My parents accomplished so much that I don't have to live out their dreams. I wish I can live their reality!
That's why I want to buy the book. Maybe now I'll finally understand some of my friends better.
It was marvelous to be inspired by someone who is so passionate about fiction. I never read fiction, but now I am going to start. Love it when someone gets me to try something new...
Actually bought the book at the signing. Fun to have a book signed out to me!
Glad that I have Monday's experience to compare. This is a first-time writer and a fiction book. Also an Asian American story.
Talked to the author Min Jin Lee after about how I don't have much of an Asian American experience b/c I was raised overseas by progressive parents. My parents accomplished so much that I don't have to live out their dreams. I wish I can live their reality!
That's why I want to buy the book. Maybe now I'll finally understand some of my friends better.
It was marvelous to be inspired by someone who is so passionate about fiction. I never read fiction, but now I am going to start. Love it when someone gets me to try something new...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
hobby
Went to my favorite store today. Crossroads is a chain of thrift stores all over the country. They buy and sell current fashion, and the key is that they are quite selective about the items that they buy back.
Shopping at Crossroads is part of how I change my style. And more importantly, how I afford my lifestyle.
Rather than just shop at the stores as a retail experience, it is thrift shopping. There is a certain element of serendipidy. One also accept the likelihood of not finding anything, or worst, finding something almost right but for size, color, or defect (tear/stain/etc.).
To make it even more worth while, I usually sell something back and use the credit to buy something. The key is to get rid of things that don't quite work before they are completely outdated.
The buyback can be embarassing, as the buyer rejects item after item. I love it though; if they reject it, I shouldn't have it in my closet anyways. Today, I happen to have a few barely-worn items. Given that I hardly shop these days, even at Crossroads, I have had quite a few trips where they took nothing back...
No one can do this to make a living. Crossroads pays 35% cash value of sales prices and 50% in trade. Which translates to $3-$10. I always trade and even take a credit to use another time. In fact, I learned about Crossroads b/c a friend w/designer taste would go there to get a little something for her 3-to-4-digit purchases. In comparison, I rarely buy clothing for over $50...
After the buyback, if at all, I shop. There are quite a few rules. I only look for one or two types of clothing at once. For instance, today was all about trendy tops, for work and for play. Tops are grouped by colors, and I usually look through 3-4 colors at the most. The limitation helps me stay focused. I don't think the human mind can process too much information at once, so rather than trying to buy outfits, I look for pieces. Somewhat like finding that last missing piece of a puzzle.
I don't particularly love shopping. Supposedly women are gatherers and love the variety of shopping (it's suppose to simulate our food-gathering skills). I find shopping quiet inefficient and treat it as a need, like buying groceries. Shopping is merely finding costume for my life; my true passion is living in the moment.
Back to the rules. I usually have an intuitive sense of what I am looking for, and every article of clothing gets 2 seconds. If it doesn't impress me, it is passed over.
If something catches my eye and doesn't look too big, then I look for the tag. It helps to know that most tags are on the left-hand side seam, except certain brands like Benetton is on the right shoulder seam. Few woman's brands still have it on the back of the neck, but less so these days.
The tag tells the fabric. 100% cotton is a pass. Lycra content makes it less likely to wrinkle and help to maintain the shape. The blended content is also how I only iron once a month.
Dry-clean only doesn't matter. I use Dryel, and most of the stuff can be hand-washed. The warning is just the manufacturer's way of making sure you don't ruin the stuff.
Most of the shopping is done on the floor. I can eliminate 99% of the rack right there at the rack. I don't even have to look at the tags to reject based on style and size on about 70% of the inventory.
Try on is next. This is even more intuitive. Well, sometimes comical. I have had so many things that I could not even zip up or pull down; it's a relief that I am the only one in the dressing room.
Today was rare; I actually found four tops for every occasion. Even a "we're a couple" top! Well, I'll get into dressing for dating another day. Total cost? I actually bought something designer so had to spend money. It wasn't bad. Four tops for under $37 given the credit.
The best part? The entire time spent in the store was 32 minutes, counting the buyback. I think it took me longer to post this entry...
Shopping at Crossroads is part of how I change my style. And more importantly, how I afford my lifestyle.
Rather than just shop at the stores as a retail experience, it is thrift shopping. There is a certain element of serendipidy. One also accept the likelihood of not finding anything, or worst, finding something almost right but for size, color, or defect (tear/stain/etc.).
To make it even more worth while, I usually sell something back and use the credit to buy something. The key is to get rid of things that don't quite work before they are completely outdated.
The buyback can be embarassing, as the buyer rejects item after item. I love it though; if they reject it, I shouldn't have it in my closet anyways. Today, I happen to have a few barely-worn items. Given that I hardly shop these days, even at Crossroads, I have had quite a few trips where they took nothing back...
No one can do this to make a living. Crossroads pays 35% cash value of sales prices and 50% in trade. Which translates to $3-$10. I always trade and even take a credit to use another time. In fact, I learned about Crossroads b/c a friend w/designer taste would go there to get a little something for her 3-to-4-digit purchases. In comparison, I rarely buy clothing for over $50...
After the buyback, if at all, I shop. There are quite a few rules. I only look for one or two types of clothing at once. For instance, today was all about trendy tops, for work and for play. Tops are grouped by colors, and I usually look through 3-4 colors at the most. The limitation helps me stay focused. I don't think the human mind can process too much information at once, so rather than trying to buy outfits, I look for pieces. Somewhat like finding that last missing piece of a puzzle.
I don't particularly love shopping. Supposedly women are gatherers and love the variety of shopping (it's suppose to simulate our food-gathering skills). I find shopping quiet inefficient and treat it as a need, like buying groceries. Shopping is merely finding costume for my life; my true passion is living in the moment.
Back to the rules. I usually have an intuitive sense of what I am looking for, and every article of clothing gets 2 seconds. If it doesn't impress me, it is passed over.
If something catches my eye and doesn't look too big, then I look for the tag. It helps to know that most tags are on the left-hand side seam, except certain brands like Benetton is on the right shoulder seam. Few woman's brands still have it on the back of the neck, but less so these days.
The tag tells the fabric. 100% cotton is a pass. Lycra content makes it less likely to wrinkle and help to maintain the shape. The blended content is also how I only iron once a month.
Dry-clean only doesn't matter. I use Dryel, and most of the stuff can be hand-washed. The warning is just the manufacturer's way of making sure you don't ruin the stuff.
Most of the shopping is done on the floor. I can eliminate 99% of the rack right there at the rack. I don't even have to look at the tags to reject based on style and size on about 70% of the inventory.
Try on is next. This is even more intuitive. Well, sometimes comical. I have had so many things that I could not even zip up or pull down; it's a relief that I am the only one in the dressing room.
Today was rare; I actually found four tops for every occasion. Even a "we're a couple" top! Well, I'll get into dressing for dating another day. Total cost? I actually bought something designer so had to spend money. It wasn't bad. Four tops for under $37 given the credit.
The best part? The entire time spent in the store was 32 minutes, counting the buyback. I think it took me longer to post this entry...
social inequity
Was at Crushpad's happening open house Saturday. It's this wine-making facility in San Francisco. They buy grapes directly from vineyards for customers to create custom blends.
Yes, a brilliant idea: bringing wine making to the amature.
Our group that enjoys monthly wine tasting together considered for one minute on a potential vino joint venture, but then the idea of being stuck with 300 bottles that we all had to agree on...didn't fly.
Random thought: something not right about a place where you can plunk down $4K+ for a barrel of wine, hop on the light rail, and stop at 3 public housing projects en route...
Welcome to SF!
Yes, a brilliant idea: bringing wine making to the amature.
Our group that enjoys monthly wine tasting together considered for one minute on a potential vino joint venture, but then the idea of being stuck with 300 bottles that we all had to agree on...didn't fly.
Random thought: something not right about a place where you can plunk down $4K+ for a barrel of wine, hop on the light rail, and stop at 3 public housing projects en route...
Welcome to SF!
Monday, June 18, 2007
heroine
A friend invited me to a book signing, and I heard one of my heroes speak: Jackie Speier.
Here is a woman who was wounded by gun shots during a political investigation at age 28. Survived that and went on to be a pioneer in California politics. She then got married, had a child, lost an adoptive child (the birth mother wanted the child back), got pregnant, lost her husband in a car accident (by an uninsured motorist) while pregnant, and raised two children on her own, met a new husband, and continued to grow her career all this time.
I asked if she and her co-author could comment on how women of my generation have to chose either career or family while theirs seem to have it all. JackieSpeier said that she didn't get marry until 37, and Michealene Cristini Risley said the same thing, she waited to have kids.
Reading these women's professional bios was awe-inspiring, but meeting them and hearing the personal stories made me proud. Felt the kindred spirit w/these independent women who did what they needed to survive and shine as bright stars.
The best part was that my friend who invited me to this event had heard them speak before, and she thought of me and invited me tonight. T is in her 60s. I am touched by how others continue to lift my spirits despite the uncertainties in career and men.
Here is a woman who was wounded by gun shots during a political investigation at age 28. Survived that and went on to be a pioneer in California politics. She then got married, had a child, lost an adoptive child (the birth mother wanted the child back), got pregnant, lost her husband in a car accident (by an uninsured motorist) while pregnant, and raised two children on her own, met a new husband, and continued to grow her career all this time.
I asked if she and her co-author could comment on how women of my generation have to chose either career or family while theirs seem to have it all. JackieSpeier said that she didn't get marry until 37, and Michealene Cristini Risley said the same thing, she waited to have kids.
Reading these women's professional bios was awe-inspiring, but meeting them and hearing the personal stories made me proud. Felt the kindred spirit w/these independent women who did what they needed to survive and shine as bright stars.
The best part was that my friend who invited me to this event had heard them speak before, and she thought of me and invited me tonight. T is in her 60s. I am touched by how others continue to lift my spirits despite the uncertainties in career and men.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
hard core
Went climbing today. It's been a while. Still, glad that I can just take it up when a friend wants to go.
Saw a female climber who had a serious knee injury that she hobbled around with crutches. Looked like she had knee surgery.
She was climbing regardless! She used her two hands and one leg, climbing 10As! That's what I climb w/all my limbs!
Wow, it's good to see someone who loves something so much that she is willing to participate despite her injury.
Saw a female climber who had a serious knee injury that she hobbled around with crutches. Looked like she had knee surgery.
She was climbing regardless! She used her two hands and one leg, climbing 10As! That's what I climb w/all my limbs!
Wow, it's good to see someone who loves something so much that she is willing to participate despite her injury.
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