Category: the not so single life

2010 in Review

December 30th, 2010 · · Austin, Birthdays, holidays, Houston, letters, lists, love, memory, misadventures, pursuit of happiness, quotations, resolutions 2010, the grind, the not so single life, wanderlust 13 comments - Tags: , , , ,

It’s that time of year again! I share with you my personal recap of 2010. This year was much better than 2009 (which was much worse than my 2008). It was a year of recovery and regaining balance. I feel very fondly of 2010 but I’m ready to embrace 2011. Bring it!

Note: All links open in a new window.

January 2010


Celebrating New Year’s Eve

February 2010

Progressive Meal in Houston

March 2010


Crawfish Boil

April 2009


May 2010


The back of Conan

June 2010

If a June night could talk,
it would probably boast
it invented romance.
– Bern Williams

I touched Anthony Bourdain's tricep.

July 2010


Jon and Me at my Birthday Dinner

August 2010


Aishah’s 27th Birthday

September 2010


Me & Joe Rogan

October 2010

  • I planned and organized a regional conference for work.
  • My dude turned 26! We celebrated for over a week.
  • Tried my first absinthe.
  • My half sister whom I haven’t seen in over ten years found me on Facebook.
  • Dressed up as a cop for Halloween.
  • Auditioned for a travel reality TV show after receiving an email from a casting director. I took Neville as possible partner and he totally outshone me.
  • A close friend’s brother died unexpectedly. Being with her has been a top priority whenever I’m in Houston. I’ve grown deeper in love for and with her.
  • Tried out Breakfast Klub, a culinary highlight in 2010.

November 2010


Brittany & Me at Race for the Cure

December 2010

  • Participated in Reverb10.
  • Road trip to Oklahoma! Why Oklahoma? To cross off another state.
  • Attended annual Christmas Party for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America with my little and her cousin. This is our third year in attendance!
  • Had hot pot on Christmas day twice. Lunch with Mary Ellen and her mom and her brother, and dinner with my own family. I did exactly this last year for Christmas!
  • Tomorrow’s plan is to party on a rooftop downtown in celebration of a new and fresh year. A stretch Hummer may have been rented.


Annual Christmas Party with my Little

That was my year! I’m happy to have shared it with you and have your support, comments, and readership. It means an awful lot to me. Thank you!


Question: What are five highlights from your 2010?

A Modest Memory I Want to Keep

December 29th, 2010 · · love, memory, the not so single life 10 comments - Tags:


photo credit

Last night, sometime after 2 am, I woke up at Alan’s on my side of the bed, which just happens to be against the wall. The lights were on, my glasses still on my face, and my new Kindle rested on my chest. I never have my glasses on me; I just happen to have them this week because of a sexy case of pink eye. Also, the Kindle is a new thing. I tell you this because I always read before bed but at Alan’s, it’s sans corrective lens and with paperbacks. Normally, I would just push the book aside and conk out.

So there I laid, feeling quite sleepy and groggy, and the bedside table on his side of the bed seemed so far away. Just as I was trying to gather up the energy to place my glasses and Kindle far from harm’s way, I heard Alan stirring in the living room.

“Alan?”

“… Linda? You called me?”

“Uh huh.”

He peeked in and I was trying to mentally formulate my ridiculous request. Seriously, what kind of bratty favor is that to ask? Can you please take my glasses and book pleaseeeee? Luckily, he somehow knew and saved me the shame.

“You want me to grab your glasses and Kindle?”

“Yesssss.”

Dude gingerly plucked the glasses off my face and grabbed my reader. He then whispered good night, turned off the lights, and closed the door.

The last thing I remember is smiling in awe and appreciation.

This was such a tiny moment.

So tiny that I felt the need to document it for safekeeping.

Question: What was the last seemingly mundane memory you’ve had that you want to keep?

Moments

December 3rd, 2010 · · lists, love, memory, pursuit of happiness, Reverb10, the not so single life 6 comments - Tags: , ,

I’ve signed up for #Reverb10, a project where bloggers are sent a daily prompt in December aimed towards nurturing a reflection of 2010 and positive manifestations for 2011. Curious and want to join? Click on the badge below.

December 3: Moment

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).


photo credit

It’s not very hard to feel alive. All you need to do is be present. Don’t focus on your never ending to do lists, don’t wish that you’re anywhere else or speaking to anyone else, and revel in the present. To concentrate on solely what’s in your line of vision, what your finger tips are touching, what your taste buds is tasting, and what sounds are vibrating on your eardrums. This is the secret to feeling alive, to be completely present. This could be why today’s prompt is so hard for me. How to choose when these moments are infinite? They remind me of snowflakes. All unique and beautiful in their own right but impossible to count.

So instead, and in no certain order, these are just some of the moments I felt alive and that my heart was swollen in 2010.

♥ Holding hands with Alan as we stroll downtown and hop restaurants on a date night. First crisp cold night of the winter season. We had just giggled and laughed at the first date happening less than a foot away at Kenichi. The guy looked like Fabio and could not stop talking about himself.

♥ Sharing a booth at Chocolate Bar with Sarah. Juicy girl talk, drinking the best hot chocolate of my life, and topping it with a delicious white and chocolate layered cake. Of course, drizzled with syrup. The hot chocolate is practically pure melted rich chocolate. It took its time down my throat. The fluffy whipped cream and half melted marshmallows danced on the tip of my tongue. The fun purple walls of Chocolate Bar. Purple is my favorite color.

♥ Crisp weather on November 7th. It’s 7:30am on a Sunday morning. So unnatural to be up this early on a weekend, yet there we were, Brittany and me, immersed with thousands of people as we walk in solidarity, raising money and awareness for breast cancer.

♥ Camping out in my living room with Hillary and Alex the weekend before my birthday and talking to the wee hours of the moment. It felt like our life has circled around again. We’ve slept on floors before 10 years prior and talked into the wee hours of the morning.

♥ The handful of times with Thomas and various company where we just stuffed ourselves silly with good food, trying out a new restaurant. And then deviously decide to run over to another eatery to try some other famed dish or dessert despite being stuffed silly. It felt like we were literally gorging ourselves on the good stuff life offers. The pain we always felt afterwards was exquisite.

♥ Holding a co worker’s four month baby and making funny faces at him. His body was heavy and cozy. He still had new baby smell.

♥ Late night chat conversation with Kim as we listened to a This American Life episode together and than passed on sad break-up songs to each other. Neither of us going through break ups but both of us wallowing. I felt so drunk and buzzed and not a drop of alcohol was consumed.

♥ All those times I silently rest my head on Alan’s shoulder and can feel the the weight of his head on mine. It’s as if I’m silently saying, “hi” by resting myself on him and he’s saying “hi” back when he rests his head on mine.


Question: When was the last time you laughed so hard you almost peed yourself?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 29)

November 26th, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), holidays, lists, National Blog Posting Month '10, resolutions 2010, savory, the not so single life, wanderlust 4 comments - Tags: , , ,


1.

Create your own visited map of the United States here.

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to visit a new state. Well, we’re entering December and I haven’t done one lick of traveling this year. Abysmal since I vacationed twice in 2009 despite being unemployed for 5 months (Bestie gifted me her miles to visit her for one of those trips, but still!). One thing that impedes traveling by car in Texas is that you can drive a full day and still be in Texas. When Cindy emailed me about possibly helping her spend some vacation days, I immediately recruited her as a road trip buddy. We mulled over New Mexico or Oklahoma. Oklahoma won out because the two of us have horrendous sense of direction and it’s just a straight shot to Oklahoma from Interstate 35. Also, it’s a 6 hour drive as opposed to 9 hours. We’ll be road-tripping to Oklahoma on December 10- 13. Can’t wait!


2.

It’s also decided we’re going to eat and drink at Pops. Located on Route 66 and has 500 soda pop flavors. I am EXCITED!


3.

I told you in last week’s 7 quick takes, how I was late in the game in discovering This American Life. Well, my last night in Austin, Kim sent me a TAL episode about break ups and we listened to it simultaneously while online. It morphed into this virtual date of listening to sad break up songs just because. It felt very much like that Celine Dion’s All By Myself scene from Bridget Jone’s Diary. Except better because it was with a friend and was more funny than sad.

Me:
Seriously, where’s the wine?

Kim:
Oooh girl, it’s not even a wine song. It’s a tequila song.


4.

Tomorrow, I’m meeting up with the Kim for food and movie. I’m not sure where we’re eating yet but we’re watching Love & Other Drugs. Kim sent me a teaser interview that I surprisingly enjoyed. Anne Hathaway is adorable and my notion that Jake’s gay is wearing off.

Also, Kim told me that in another interview, they asked Jake what his favorite love song is. His answer: Willow’s Whip My Hair. A crush seed has been planted from that answer alone.


5.

I was under the impression that Texas trees do not do that pretty orange autumn thing and typically, they don’t. But this pretty tree stands outside my apartment. It’s kind of orangey right? I’m counting it.

Anyway, it’s a pretty view that greets me when I walk out of my apartment.


6.

Because I do not have internet access in Houston, I totally wrote yesterday’s blog post, today’s blog post, and tomorrow’s blog post ahead on Wednesday and scheduled them out. Magic!


7.

I met up with Alan on Wednesday before the work day to do our see you after the holidays hugs and kisses when he surprised me with an early Christmas gift. :) He upgraded my camera.


Question: What is on your Christmas wish list?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 26)

November 5th, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), holidays, in passing, letters, lists, National Blog Posting Month '10, pursuit of happiness, the not so single life 8 comments - Tags: , , , ,


1.


Today is day 5 of National Blog Posting Month. To participate, alls you gotta do is post a blog post every day in November. I totally underestimated how challenging NaBloPoMo is going to be. I thought if I managed alright posting a video blog every day in August for VEDA, I can manage blogging every day in November. I totally forgot that VEDA came with an editorial calendar. It’s only the first week and I’m already struggling! No idea what I’m going to blog tomorrow!


2.


I sent 9 of these note cards out this week. I stumbled on these note cards at a dollar store a while back. I bought 3 packs of 8 and kind of wish I just emptied out the stock. I sent them all as thank you notes. Pink for the ladies and not pictured is the cream colored identical set for the dudes. I finally grew up and converted from expressing gratitude through phone calls and emails to paper note cards. My friend Hillary is my inspiration behind sending out paper thank yous. She’s amazingly diligent in sending out postal notes of gratitude and has been for years.


3.



I started Christmas shopping. This one is for my mom. Regarding the paper: I have a longstanding love affair with penguins and snow globes.


4.

I’m running/walking Race for the Cure with Brittany this Sunday. Still a little shy from my goal. Please consider helping fund research and supplies to breast cancer patients by donating as little as 5 dollars. You can do so by clicking on the link.


5.


Click for bigger image

I was walking on campus when I stumbled on this water bottle. The bottle had a message. I only had my cellphone on me, hence the crummy photo quality. The tag reads:

“66% of the world drinks this water. Go and help: http://adventures.org/reallife.”


6.

A stalker’s worst fear is being found out. I think I gave myself away yesterday morning. There is an old lady who works out at a gym on campus. I’ve come to look for her car at around 8 – 8:30am in the morning when I’m desperately circling for a parking spot. Yesterday, I saw her car is still there and I was still sans parking space. So I started my usual creepy routine of circling the lot with an eye out for her and the other on her car. It took a while and I had just driven past her car to see her coming out of the gym. I totally reversed, planted myself with turn signal on, and waited for her to reach her car. Could the stalking get more obvious?


7.


This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ Being able to lend a helping hand for once to my saint of a friend Dave. He’s usually the helper and not the helpee ♥ Walking hand in hand with Alan downtown in between noshing at a couple of restaurants. Something about strolling hand in hand during one of the first chilly nights of the season got me. Weird, but I’ll go with it. ♥ An email from Jessica. She used to be my neighbor for over 3 years and moved out of town just 3 months ago. I miss her dearly. ♥ Two long online chats with my Solemate, after months without. Click on the link. Her new blog (as with all her blogs) is a treat for the eyes and soul. See! We do know the difference between soul and sole.


Question: What were your moments of bliss this week?

We Blog, We Vlog: First Dates

October 13th, 2010 · · the not so single life, the single life, videos, We Blog We Vlog 10 comments - Tags: , ,

This week’s vlog’s topic as part of We Blog, We Vlog is “First Date.”


Youtube Link

In this week’s video, I started off getting ready to tell you the worst first date story I’ve heard which coincidentally was told to me on a first date of mine. Making my date with the story teller the worst first date I’ve been on. Sadly, it’s not exactly a PG-rated story so I rambled on about first dates in general.


Question: What is your worst first date story?

**** What is We Blog, We Vlog? It’s the new group name for the VEDA (Vlog Every Day in August) kids. Now we do it every week on Wednesdays! P.S. We are an inclusive group so please join in! I think we’re a friendly bunch.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 22)

October 8th, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), in passing, lists, new thing(s) of the week, the grind, the not so single life 7 comments - Tags: , ,


1.


One of my closest friends lost her brother this week. It has me aching for her and her family. She and I lived together for three years, went to high school and college together. Our families ask about each other every time we meet up. My parents think of her as a daughter. He used to visit us in college and take us out for Valentine’s Day. All my memories of him are fond and joyful. Last time I saw him was August 8 and like everyone in his family, he gives great hugs. I wish there was something I can do to alleviate the family’s pain.

Life is fleeting. Live and love hard.


2.

I’m feeling a little tore up. Here’s what my schedule looked like for the past week. It’ll explain why.

Last Friday: Worked 9am – 10pm. We hosted that conference. 5 hours of sleep.

Saturday: Worked/hosted a conference: 7am – 10pm. 4 hours of sleep.

Sunday: Worked /hosted a conference: 7am – 2pm. 5pm-7pm: shopped for Alan’s birthday.

Monday: Worked 9am-5pm.

Tuesday: Worked 9am-5pm. 6pm-8pm: Baked a pretty cake shaped like a big Oreo for birthday boy. 12am: Birthday breakfast/dinner. 5 hours of sleep.

Wednesday: Worked 9am-5pm. 7:30pm: Birthday dinner with Alan and his parents. 10pm: Out for birthday drinks with Alan & his roomies. 1 hour of sleep? If that?

Thursday: Worked 9am-5pm. 8pm: Group birthday dinner for Alan. 10pm-1am out for drinks again.

And here we are. I slept through my alarm but still made it on time for work. I’m feeling tore up.


3.

Some pictures from his birthday:

I must add, I’m so very happy he was born.


4.

Alan’s new place is really close to downtown so we’ve been extra good about taking cabs when we go out instead of recruiting a designated driver. The increase of cab use has widened my experience with cabbies. It used to be just a holiday experience. In the last two months I’ve come across two creepy cabbies. One was a leering creep and the other one was blatantly inappropriate. He went as far as mentioning how women should be so lucky and grateful to sexually service men. In hindsight, we should have grabbed his information but each time we just huffed and puffed (we meaning me and the other girl in both cases) and stormed out.

These newer experiences reminds me of the other pervy creeps running rampant on the dirty side of Sixth St. I don’t frequent the dirty side of Sixth St anymore as it’s a younger crowd and truly just dirty. However, I’ve frequented it often enough to know that when you go out with just girls or if you happen to be separate temporarily, it’s alarming how many gropers will sneak feels and flee.

I’ve newly resolved to throw more scenes and be more vocal and quick to act.


5.

Yesterday, a nice German man thought he could pick me up by telling me he likes Asia and that he knows someone from Bangkok. He was serious, too. And truly, he was a nice guy. Just misguidedly offensive.


6.

I had my first experience with absinthe this week. Tasted like black licorice. It was actually delicious for the first few sips but is too empowering a flavor for me to order regularly. Not that it’s a drink you see on the menu regularly anyhow.


7.

Have you heard about the It Gets Better Campaign? If you haven’t you’re missing out.

Here’s my favorite campaign video.


Question: How do you like to relax?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 21)

October 1st, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), lists, savory, scary thing(s) of the week, the grind, the not so single life 11 comments - Tags: ,


1.

Tuesday morning, a library I spent many many hours in as an undergraduate made national news. A 19 year old student shot a few rounds from an AK-47 on campus, didn’t hit anyone, then ran into the library and shot himself. I work on campus. The university was terrorized the next four hours as SWAT and Texas Rangers searched for a possible second shooter. Everyone on campus had a lot of adrenaline and many unleashed their anxiety onto Twitter and Facebook (An apology to my twitter followers for flooding ya’ll). I remained cooped up in my lab with another lab member as she listened to the radio and I stalked Twitter. The university ceased lockdown when it became clear the shooter acted alone. We were left bewildered and a little emotionally exhausted. I have to say it jarred me and made me grateful for life.

I currently have a bunch of books checked out from that library. Eek.


2.

I finally cooked something after a month of hiatus from my stove. It was so therapeutic to create something delicious. When I make the time to cook something and actually am present through the process and not minding my long to-do list, it relaxes me and pacifies my mind chatter. What did I make? Bucatini All’ Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs.


3.

A girlfriend from Houston came up for a night on Wednesday and we had a sleepover. It always goes the same way when girls have sleepovers no matter the age. At 17 I remember having sleepovers with girlfriends and talking late into the next morning. Many declarations of, “Okay, for real, good night!” were followed with, “Oh, and…” At 27, it’s the same. I have a fantasy that when we’re all married and with families, we’ll steal away once a year to do the same til we’re 37, and then 47. And then, and then, and then. Here’s hoping.


4.


Mister Bossman and his colleague and I have spent months organizing a regional conference. D-Day is today! I’m working the entire weekend and am hoping it all goes smoothly. This is the first experience I have planning a this big of an event and it was quite a learning experience. I gots new skills to hone!


5.


Alan’s birthday is next week. I’ve spent a total of 6 hours shopping for him and still no idea what I’m going to get him. IDEAS are welcomed. He’s been really good to me. Least I can do is get him a gift for his birthday. Ha!


6.


I had a very welcomed “couch and veg in front of the TV” date last night with Alan. I really needed it; my brain has been super mushy at the end of every work day. I had to run some work errands after work so it was perfect when I got a text from Alan. “I won’t be home til 8.” Relieved with more time I texted back a quick, “Cool.”

I don’t know if my dear boyfriend was disappointed I didn’t question him on his whereabouts but his next text said, “I’m at the range, not at the whorehouse.”

Dude makes me laugh.


7.

Speaking of dude making me laugh. He called last night while I was girl-talk-ing with the girlfriend mentioned in Take 3. I informed him I wasn’t alone to kind of cue him it couldn’t be a long conversation. When he found out who was staying over, he told me to tell her “be careful sleeping.”

“What? Why?”

“Just tell her.”

And then I remembered what happened the last time this friend of mine stayed over and shared my queen sized bed. In the middle of the night, I saw her back and just assumed it was Alan. I sleepily and very lovingly carressed her back. Oops! We all laughed and later that night just to be safe, girlfriend and I kept a pillow in between us.

I came home to this note.



Question: What kind of sleeper are you?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 20)

September 24th, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), lists, on the nightstand, resolutions 2010, the grind, the not so single life 17 comments - Tags: ,


1.

It’s been one of those weeks at work. You know, where it’s going by SO slowly and at the same time you can’t believe it’s Friday already and still have a mountain of stuff to do before a weekend work event in exactly 7 days. Panic!!


2.


Dates during the week make the week go by faster. Work’s been supremely busy this week and will continue to be so til after next weekend so it was nice to have a home cooked meal by Deesh and Bing on Monday, a delicious seafood meal on a rainy day with my my man on Wednesday, and a date by my lonesome yesterday. I went to see Easy A on my own. Friend date, boyfriend date, date with myself. Good balance, no?


3.

What’s he thinking about? Football? Fantasy football? Where’s our dessert? Ultimate Fighter episode on the DVR? That he wishes date night was every night? All good guesses. :)


4.

The aforementioned dessert was too pretty not to share.


5.


I finished reading Anthony Bourdain’s Cook’s Tour this weekend putting my year’s total of finished book at 28. 12 more to go before I reach my new year’s resolution of 40. My favorite exerpt from Cook’s Tour is about the spirit of Vietnam. Currently in the middle of Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Work Week, and Eating Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant (Amazon Affliliate links).


6.

A year ago today, Alan surprised me by coming back from Korea about 2-4 months early.


7.


This week’s small indulgences (aside from the dates) include bubble tea, greasy noodles for lunch, pumpkin spice lattes, breakfast burritos, chocolate croissants, and dancing home alone while I clean.


Question: If you could treat yourself to a luxury under 300 dollars right this instant, what would you choose?

I need a dietary cleanse.

September 19th, 2010 · · pursuit of happiness, savory, still-frames, the grind, the not so single life 9 comments - Tags: , ,

It’s not a secret that one of my biggest vices is junk food. Last week, in an effort to not eat out so I can pay off my credit card bill as I do every month (If you’re just tuning it, I had car trouble last month which threw a wrench into my monthly spending), I brought chips and sandwiches for lunch. My sandwich to chips proportion were equal. Then at home, I’d snack on Doritos on the couch. Luckily, it was a short week and I didn’t eat at home for dinner every night. Anyway, I totally overdid it on the chips all week. And aside from the salad Alan cajoled me to eat during our date night last week, I can’t remember the last time I ate something green.

This past weekend, I went to a small town with Alan for a wedding. We stayed up late Friday and Saturday night and small town eats do not cater to night owls. We ended up watching TV in the wee hours of the morning in bed and eating bags and bags and bags of chips. We even took a romantic stroll down the hall to the vending machine to load up at 2 a.m. It was fantastically fun in a juvenile and guilty pleasure kind of way at the time, but now my body is begging me to eat something good for me.

Instead of sandwiches and chips (one last month of tight purse strings), I bought bananas, yogurt, cheeses, and nuts to bring for lunch. I always know when I’ve gone too far in my terrible eating habits when my body is SCREAMING for something nutritional and/or unprocessed, and maybe even green. It’s really embarrassing that I let it get this bad. Once I over did it on the junk food eating (my entire diet for months was different shades of brown), that my body was craving nutrients as soon as possible. I was in the middle of a night time job and couldn’t leave, so I got the only thing nutritional we had in our vending machine, something I find absolutely disgusting normally. A V8. Tomato juice! I gulped that sucker down and couldn’t get it down fast enough.

Yuck. V8′s. I’m not that desperate yet, but I’m getting there.

I’m 27 years old. I should get my eating in control. This is unacceptable.

P.S. The wedding was beautiful. Here are a few photos.




Question: What are your vices?