CATS NOT KIDS

Seeing as how I haven't felt compelled to post since last August, it makes me wonder why this blog even exists. Grr, I dislike it when my things are messy, inconsistent, and unstructured.  Well, here are some updates. Since last fall, these major events occurred:

- B and I went on a 2.5 week trip to Hong Kong and Japan

- I merged teams at work, got a new boss, and got a new officemate

- I became 100% gluten and grain free

- B became unemployed

- B and I started running (!) - Couch to 5k

- I restarted sewing my quilt, after a 1.5 year hiatus

- B started doing the dishes : D

No, but seriously, so many changes in just half a year! It's been quite a ride. I really enjoyed spending so much time with my parents while in HK (we stayed in their fancy condo), and it reminded me that I love them very much, am very thankful for them and how they cared and continue to care for me (and now us), and wish that they didn't work so hard at church and would slow down and enjoy life. It was also wonderful to introduce B to the rest of my extended family, and have some real conversations to build on our new and old relationships. Japan was a whole new world to me without a local as a guide. For the 4 days we were there, even though the sights and sounds were totally exhilarating, I felt completely out of my element and quite helpless. Without B, I would've just given up, really. Next time I'll try harder to share his adventurous spirit and thirst for knowledge in these once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. Link to my clothing blog post for Archival Clothing.

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The trip was also a much needed relief from working. For months, I had felt like I was drowning amidst a sea of incomprehensible regulations and unestablished PM procedures that left me feeling like I was on the hook for everything, and just waiting for the next catastrophe to blow up in my face. I was stressin' big time. Somehow, bizarrely, thankfully, my backup was able to cover for me while I was gone, and the catch up when I got back was manageable.

A big suck was coming back to B not getting paid for his previously approved vacation time (seriously WTF), his previous position being eliminated, and his becoming unemployed (his thoughts on this). Major shock to the senses, and to our finances. At first, my overzealousness took over and I recalculated a severe monthly budget that would keep up going for the rest of the year, but I soon realized, with B's help, that we are humans and not robots, and do need small pleasures sometimes. It's tougher now than it was before, but at least now we learned a lesson on how it's crucial to have lots and lots of savings, and never stop asking "is this a need or a want?" Over these past weeks, we have also sold many books, clothing, CDs and other random unused stuff for a little extra cash. Not only does it feel so right to declutter, every dollar we earn outside of my salary feels like a gift to be treasured. 

On the eating front, yes, B and I are still doing Paleo, now stronger than ever. (Read his post from October.) Fatty thick-sliced bacon, leafy greens, grass-fed meat, sausage, nuts, dried fruit, coffee, tea, water, cider, wine, and the occasional GF cookie, brownie, biscuit- this is what we are now made of. I feel pretty good: I have no more stomach issues, feel generally happier, skin has cleared up, and I eat every meal purposefully. B has lost even more extra weight and looks better each day. I have a few coworkers who have expressed curiousity at my new way of eating, and I make it a point to talk about the benefits I've experienced and not so secretly hope to convert them, as they all have gastrointestinal issues. And as of this week, I have finally ceased to be subject to my awful snacky and sugar cravings. I admit that I used to go to the natural grocery store every day to get "health snacks" and kombucha/coconut water to get me through long stretches at home. And I was basically addicted to the Chocolove 33% Toffee and Almonds Bar in Milk Chocolate and had to have it multiple times a week. I didn't realize how much of a problem this was until I stopped, and it feels great to be free! My current obssession is medjool dates, which taste like vanilla caramel, truly the best example of nature's candy, but I'm satisfied after 2 or 3. We also like Lick ice cream in South Austin a lot, they use high quality organic ingredients and have weird flavors like bacon, cream corn, and cilantro lime, and actual good flavors like eggnog, salted caramel, and peanut butter coconut. 

You may be wondering how we can continue to be paleo and eat local veggies and grassfed beef after more than half of our household income has disappeared indefinitely. To be honest, eating well is the same challenge that it was before. We have gone from grassfed beef steaks to grassfed stew meat, eat storemade sausages on most nights (at $3.99/lb, it comes out to $2 a person), and have stopped buying all processed foods. The only exceptions are packaged grassfed beef/ bison hot dogs and fully cooked sausages for lunch, and surprisingly drinkable $3/ bottle wine from Whole Foods. It's really amazing how much we used to spend on filler. 

We also started running, which is odd, because we both historically hate and suck at running. Our friend Dallas turned us on to the Couch to 5k program, and we decided to go for it. We were both feeling good about our new eating habits and felt that regular exercise was the next step in improving our health. The nice thing about running is that it's free, and on beautiful days (there have been many lately) you get to be around everyone else in your neighborhood who is also outside. It makes Hyde Park feel more like a neighborhood we are a part of. We are currently on Week 3 and it's going well so far, with all the walking breaks and whatnot. It's so effortless with the iPhone app telling you when to run and when to walk. Also, I find it to be quality time spent with B, as we are both engaged in a demanding activity and he has to listen to me talk, lol. No time for looking at Twitter updates, that's for sure.

What else? I started going over to my friend's biweekly sewing night, and under her patient guidance, I am finished sewing together my quilt top squares. Next is putting on the border, getting bright back fabric, quilting it, and finishing it with a binding. I can't say that I actually enjoy sewing (or understand how to troubleshoot a sewing machine), but I am growing excited about the finished product. Who knows, I may even do another quilt based on a pattern after this one. A part of me would like to be the old Quilt Lady who makes quilts for people's babies that become lifelong heirlooms. Wishful thinking. I also taught myself how to handstitch simple vegetable tanned wallets and sewed a corduroy skirt with my friend Mary. 

We also started a 1-dish (1-utensil 1-glass) rule after the dirty dishes became very annoying to come home to. We just wash each of our dishes after we eat and don't let them sit. So far, it's working great! Some notable exceptions are when my brother comes over for a meal, and when B (yes, B!) gets inspired to bake something with his favorite rice blend GF mix. The tide is changing.

Did I miss anything? I guess I'll keep this blog around for now for seasonal updates.

Been doing a bit o' research on how to get a job in Sweden as a non-Swede. The comments in this article are very telling... with the down economy and the higher unemployment rates everywhere, do I really want to exponentially up the challenge by looking in a completely foreign country where I do not even speak the native language? What is it about other faraway places that is so alluring and magnetizing, or, what makes moving around the globe worthwhile? Part of it has to do with how I don't quite feel like I've found a geographic home yet. I crave the national identity, pride and unified culture found in smaller countries like Sweden. In my daily conversations with my Swedish coworker/friend, I realize how her background is uniquely crafted. I am ashamed at how much Chinese culture I lazily neglected to adopt, cherish and keep. I am perturbed that my upbringing carried the strongest flavors of American Christianity, the core of my childhood identity. Now that it has largely faded (a shadow will always linger), I wait patiently for a replacement. I suppose I am exercising some autonomy here... or I'm just acting like most Americans my age.

I've been listening to music using Spotify, the free music streaming app from Sweden that has "recently landed" in the US. It's not too bad, besides the occasional musical ad forcing me to endure through Mastodon, Jane's Addiction, and pop latin music, I've been revisiting past favorites. With this new laptop, I am pretty much finished with managing my iTunes library. I felt such a deep loss when moving over my library, because none of the data, such as "date added" and most importantly, "play count" carried over. I have always identified certain songs with periods in my life, and hearing them or even seeing them in a list brings me back to those moments. After seeking some of those songs out and listening for an hour, I feel so much more whole tonight. It's just sad I don't have that recorded history anymore. I'm starring songs in Spotify in an effort to bring some of that back. 

To continue a long tradition, here are some outstanding new tunes:

"Wild Fire" - SBTRKT (ft. Little Dragon)

"Hold On" - SBTRKT - unbelievably smooth vocals

Favorite song of 2011 so far:

"Helicopter" - Deerhunter

Not new, but very, very good, like a mountain meditation:

"Remember the Mountain Bed" - Wilco (by Woody Guthrie)

We have been very occupied with our work and have a bad case of the homebodies (at least that is my opinion). Now I finally understand what it is to live for the weekend. The thought of the next weekend gets us through the day, we enjoy the heck out of it when it arrives, and droop low come Monday. Repeat indefinitely. I cannot handle the thought of that at times. I read a blog post today titled "If you wouldn't do your job for free, then quit." Haa! If only all of us had that luxury. The actual work, even though my plate is full, I don't mind too much. It's the complicated office politics and passive aggressive emails that I have trouble swallowing. I'm not complaining, but generally speaking, a good boss is hard to find. One who isn't overworked to actually manage you, provide you direction and have your career interests and growth at heart. It's a tall order, and I probably wouldn't jump at the chance to become somebody's superior. Speaking of which, why do people love lording it over you so much? I don't agree with all the layers of organizational hierarchy, so much of it based on years of experience and whose asses you kiss. It's stupid and makes me want to go live in the woods.

B and I went Paleo this week! It's officially Day 3 for him. We were inspired by chatting up a real-life Paleo dude (who is also Chinese/Swedish/Canadian/American and an avid windsurfer) and some techy Paleos, like Austin's own Dan Benjamin. I did not do my research this time, and just looked up a few sites for guidelines before diving in. I was ready for a new challenge. Here are the basics: 

NO:

Sugars (processed), alcohol, salt, dairy, grains, seed oils

YES: 

Lean, local meats (as much as possible), veggies, coconut/olive oil, animal fat, eggs

SOME:

Berries, nuts, dark chocolate (?)

Our breakfasts: Hardboiled eggs, pâté (B), berries (me)

Our lunches: Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, celery, avocado, spinach, protein leftovers from dinner

Our dinners: Protein (salmon, tuna, grass-fed beef from Bastrop) + Vegetables (mushrooms, local zucchini, 3 color bell peppers, sweet onion, kale)

Is it crazy, or what? I had a super short run, giving it up yesterday evening after a wave of gnarly hunger-induced nausea disabled me. Apparently the oatmeal for breakfast, kombucha, and occasional handful of crackers are what keep me going each day. In the end, I decided to eat the Paleo meals we cook, and allow myself some grains, and only naturally occuring sugars. I tried a processed sugar fast for about 2 weeks awhile ago, and it was so shitty for the first few days. I got a good rhythm going, and all the cookies, cupcakes, and candy bars presented to me seemed so ridiculously loaded with sugar. I am not as strict now... But man, is it hard to kick the coconut water and kombucha habit! My favorite kombucha breweries are right here in Austin: Kosmic Kombucha and Buddha's Brew. The vinegary taste used to turn me off, but these two are quite good and low in vinegar taste. 

If you can recall, the last time we went on a strict diet was when we tried to go vegan, and it lasted a pitiful 7 days. Being vegan sucks, lesson learned! Hopefully this change in eating will last longer. As far as eating out, we will have to go to $$-$$$ restaurants: Elevation Burger, Wholly Cow Burgers, Snap Kitchen (?), Somnio's, Olivia, Eastside Cafe, Contigo- any other suggestions? Although, buying local meats to cook at home is significantly more expensive than even the "natural" Niman Ranch meats at Wheatsville. I'm just glad B likes to sleep in on the weekends so we won't make weekly trips to the downtown farmers market for the fancy meat there, haha. Guess we will be postponing our weekend pig-out trips to Houston and New Orleans for a later time.

I've been on a "let's move outta town next year when our lease ends" kind of mood lately, and daily perusal of the travel magazines in the work lunch area is not helping. Currently: Portland OR, Vancouver, Stockholm, Scotland. I've still got the itch to get out of here, but when I think about it, Austin is pretty wonderful. Standouts I have come to appreciate are the low standard of living, vibrant biking scene, Wheatsville Co-op, scores of new food carts each week, passionate healthy/tasty local food companies, the ability to hide out indoors during the summer, Deep Eddy and other city pools, the fitness mentality, and the sometimes weird, mostly awesome different neighborhood flavors you can find in Central Austin. And the fact that there are so other many people here that share our interests. Those are the things I will miss if/when we leave. Along with our hard-earned friends! : ) Maybe the trick is to get a bunch of us to move in a group, and find some way to bring Austin to wherever we go...

I've been scooting to work for about a month now.

First week impressions: "It's so much more work than driving," "It's too hot outside," "I hate being tailgated and cut-off by cars daily," "I prefer riding with B"

And now? "Scooting is fun!" "I still take the turns slow, but I am matching the speed of other cars," "The hard part is staying out of everyone's blindspot, but it's manageable," "...I might be getting used to the heat," and most importantly, "Riding bitch sucks!!"

I even had my first fall last week in my driveway. I was going a few miles too fast when turning in the gravel, and I panicked and squeezed the brakes (worst idea), and landed on my side with the scooter on my foot. I was not wearing any gear, so I bruised my foot; luckily, I landed in the grass and the scooter only had a few minor scratches. And now I take turns carefully. Truly the best fall I could wish for. I wear my new Blundstone 510 work boots every time I ride now, and I still saving up for a jacket and gloves. I have a pretty distinct watch tan from wearing short-sleeves that I don't want to get worse...

I've been working aplenty these past few weeks. My workload has steadily increased each work, so have my responsibilities and expectations. I can handle the latter, but being even close to finishing my tasks each day is maddening. I spent about 50 hours in the office last week, skipping lunch and staying late to try and get a handle on things. I only succeeded in bumming myself out, and felt cheated on the shorter downtime in the evenings. This week I'm taking it down a level and focusing on quality, not quantity. As my coworker pointed out, set the precedent for being are a workhorse and people will expect nothing less. 

ON WORK:

- 2007: What is it? I dunno. Something older people do.

2007 - early 2010: It's sorta dull, but always manageable. I never stay late, have great benefits, and have a boss who is generally happy with me. Google Reader is my good friend.

early 2010 - early 2011: I need it to balance out my life, and to provide financial stability. I simply can't relax without working hard first.

early 2011: The best kind keeps you busy (no matter what it is). The worst? Having too little to do.

Present: Working hard is totally overrated. I fear spending too much of my life slaving away in the office. Work smart instead. My goal is to one day work less than 20 hours (http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/), and spend the rest of the time with my loved ones, traveling, and doing hobbies. Don't know how I'll get there, but the seed has been planted.

Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer. — Niccolò Machiavelli

Also, it's been over 100 degrees in Austin for like what, 30 days?? One day in the middle of it, I decided to stop fighting the heat and to just accept it when I was going for lunch walks, and lately, scooting back home during rush hour. I *think* I am actually much more tolerant of the heat now, due to my attitude change. The only thing is, I now get chills at work when the AC blasts and have to wear jackets- I used to be the only one who complained about everyone's space heaters and laughed when they wore sweaters. Disappointed that I've lost my edge. Meanwhile, I'm am still attempting to wear as little clothing as possible at home, where we have single paned windows and sad lack of insulation. I love Hyde Park, but I look forward to the day we can live in a modern, energy-efficient home.

Just had a tasty dinner of pork chops with lime parsley vinagrette, and a spring mix/ sunflower sprout salad with mother's cashew tamari dressing. We decided to kick it up a bit and start cooking more exciting meals together after work. It's tempting to turn into couch potatoes all night, so we might as well put it some effort making dinner first. Also, to my surprise, I just watched an entire F1 race, the British Grand Prix. Pretty exciting 52 laps (!), and I love that Sebastian Vettel is so boyish and young (only 24). Makes him an easy choice as a favorite. Guess I am getting more pumped about the race in Austin next year. : )

So after all that talk about getting a Ruckus, well, it turns out that they are very hard to find in stores and usually sell the day they come in. Conveniently, I totally change my mind about the throwback Honda Metropolitan, after reading many good things about them, how it is faster than the Ruck, and finding great assurance in the fact that there is an entire forum dedicated to it. I nearly sealed the deal today, and made plans to rent a truck from U-haul to pick up a used one from San Antonio after a timely search on Craigslist. But that didn't happen because B convinced me to take a look at other stores. So late afternoon today, we went to Urban Moto Shop, off South Lamar. Val, the sales manager, provided the most excellent customer service as we checked out the different models and test rode a 50cc and 125cc. And I walked out getting a new red Genuine Buddy 125cc and fancy HJC IS-16 full face helmet, ready for pickup on Tuesday. Yikes, what a turn for me! It was more $ than I had originally planned to spend, which means I will definitely have to sell my car in a few weeks to make up for it (when I decide that I can go fully carless). Why 125cc? Because as of last September, all scooter drivers will need a motorcycle license, not just 50cc and up, so might as well get the more powerful one! More adventures to come, I hope!

Since I recently sold my Chrome backpack, I am thinking about getting this awesome Duluth canoe pack for groceries runs... yea?

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1st 4 images from myfamilysilver. Last one is from nortonfamily.

British coat of arms are so kickass. Proof is above in the details. A little seed has been planted in my mind: a modern Shelley coat of arms tattoo. The rule is I have to wait a year to really be sure, right? Below is Percy Bysshe Shelley's "official" coat of arms- pretty flowery, huh? I'm wondering if I can replace the flourishing mantling with ferns. I wish I had a Chinese family crest or something. Japanese family crests are called monsho. 

Image from shelleyarms.

Or how about the ouroboros?

My coworker told me about her brother who went on Tim Ferris' 4 Hour Body diet and managed to lose some weight. One of the rules is no sugar, and that got me thinking that I am probably really addicted to sugar. Sweet tea, cookies, lollipops, Mexican cokes and pastries all find themselves in my weekly food intake. So today, after work, armed with confidence and with nary a craving, I decided that I would go on a processed sugar fast. Not even 2 hours later, I turned grumpy and had to make a quick bike run to Wheatsville for some fruit. 2 juicy Texas peaches did the trick. I'm not doing this to lose weight (although my pooch hasn't gotten any smaller in the past year or so...); I'm doing this to wean myself off a dangerously addictive substance that will cause health issues in the long run. The real test will be tomorrow, a whole day of no sugar- I even bought unsweetened almond milk for my bulk oatmeal. Here's to hoping I'll feel better in a reasonable amount of time and not just feel miserable without my treats.

Another update: last Saturday, Brook convinced me that I should trade my car in for a scooter. At first, I was vehemently against the idea. 

Cons: 1 Texas summer is scorching! This whole week the highs are in the lower 100's. Need I say more? 2 The winter is sorta cold if you are zipping around 30-40 mph. 3 What do I do when it is downpouring rain? 4 Wearing a helmet might suck. It's so much more massive than a bike helmet.

Pros: 1 Cheaper gas expenditure (by 1/3). 2 Cheaper auto insurance. 3 Upped cool factor, maybe. 4 No more driving!!

Now I am about 80% yes, 20% no. What initially pushed me over the edge was the realization that I too often just toy with my desires and never really muster up the energy or decisiveness to go out and meet them. And that as reliable and storage-friendly as my old Honda Civic is, it's zero fun to drive. And that I keep going on and on about being carless and living an alternative lifestyle that is kinder to the Earth. Can't have all talk and no action.

Here is the scooter that I am currently set on. Unfortunately, I have not been able to test drive any scooters (weird rule at dealerships), so I have to go on user reviews. And the Honda Ruckus is a cult phenonemon in the States and Europe, after experiencing massive popularity in Japan. Sure it's bare bones and I'd have to get a carrier to make the underseat space usable, and it is pretty freaking manly. But after sitting on the petite, playful Honda Metropolitan, I coudn't really stand the cuteness or the flimsy plastic body. Guess I'll have to get a super girly helmet to make up for it. Or not. I adore the look of the first two below, but in reality, I will probably choose to get a full-face motorcycle to protect my chin. See 3rd example: so hardcore tough guy street racey, huh? Yea, I know... But that's one area where safety is first. Anyways, we shall see if any of this comes to fruition. Maybe take ya on a ride soon!

All images from motorcycle-superstore

Don't have a personal answer for that one. There is nothing sacred in our collective culture. Is it terrible that I feel no connection with American soliders, dead or alive? Holidays are just an excuse to rest from all the work we have to do, all the time. I won't gloss over this any longer and feign interest or sympathy; it is time to be honest about the way we feel and stop expending energy trying to look proper. To me, this is a breath of fresh air and also incites further reflection.

We came back last night from Dallas for my childhood friend's wedding. It was not a bad one, except that the ceremony was unceremoniously (or ceremoniously?) one hour long. That is asking a lot of your guests, methinks. Both the bride and groom turned on the waterworks while saying their handwritten vows. (They were so tender and loving I almost felt like I shouldn't have been there. But is that the point of a wedding- to reveal your intimate connection and ensuing commitment as a beautiful thing to your friends and family?) The food was decent, there was alcohol (much to B's relief), and a fun little photobooth with Mario & Luigi props. I relished catching up with some old friends at our table that we hadn't sought out in a while. 

I also had the chance to see everyone else my age I grew up with at church, 5 years older. It was unspoken: we all tried not to make it too awkward, since we were never friends, but polite acquaintances who watched each other with either envy or apathy. It's weird that you can have a long personal history with someone and not know or care about them at all. I do not make this observation with any hidden bitterness or anger. Just the result of my parents' decisions.

We stayed at my uncle and aunt's house in Euless for the first time. That is their couch above. They are pretty awesome and totally left us alone to lounge around and to go as we pleased. It still sorta sucks not having my own house to stay in anymore.

Also, another honest feeling revealed: weddings are tiresome. I think I've been to enough to last me for the next decade, but there are more to come. I'm glad for the couples; the actual events are a chore. At our wedding, we tried to make it as comfortable and chill as possible for the guests, because weddings are for other people, not the couple. If it were up to us, we would've had a quiet little ceremony with 1 or 2 friends, and a destination celebration later on.  

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I'm taking a break from this "searching for my passion" stuff. : ) Far from merely enduring life, also far from being drunk with passion and wanting to work endlessly, I don't believe in this dichotomy anymore. Seems like most self-help just makes you feel bad about yourself, as you are presented with a number of grand ideals or great tasks that few people ever achieve or conquer. Or maybe It will just come to me one day. There is no place for me in the world of ifs. This is the me of today. Why despise it and wish for the future me? Life continues on!

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The new Bon Iver album has been on heavy rotation around my ears. Unlike many fans, I was not falling all over his first album. To me, it is still too raw and emotionally vulnerable to put on in the background. This album has a fuller sound, as he uses electric guitar and horns in a traditional folk way, but still manages to sound completely 2011. OK, so I don't have words for this music that is so good. I hear hints of Coldplay, TV on the Radio, and (was informed of) full-on Peter Gabriel. The masterful harmonies of his falsetto is a treat. Hear the first track, "Perth," so confident and insistent, here. 

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I have been rambling. god natt

All images borrowed from boydknife's instagram.

And, we're back from a 3.5 day vacation to NYC. I had been 10 years ago with my family, and don't remember it being very fun. This was B's first time, and although he wasn't exactly thrilled in the beginning, as the departure date drew near, he grew more and more pumped. So much busyness, good eats, and places to walk! 

We planned the trip as a visit to my cousin, who had moved here almost 3 years ago from Houston. His office is located in Midtown in The Daily News Building, site of where the original Superman was filmed. Thank goodness it was not too far from Grand Central Station, where we emerged, because we spent a good 30 minutes walking around the blocks in circles trying to orient ourselves. 

The famous 5th Avenue Apple Store. It's a mecca for Mac enthusiastics, so we had to take a look. We walked into the giant glass cube and down a spiral staircase. It was completely packed below, so we didn't stay long. It is also located next to the south edge of Central Park, which was a pleasant jaunt even in the rain. Lush green grass and shrubbery, a large pond with resident mallard ducks, an ice skating rink, zoo, and plenty of craggy black stone to climb on. Definitely the best city park I have ever encountered. 

Ippudo NY. My cousin insisted that we wait in line for this special meal. We kept joking that they were unpacking boxes of the 25 cent Nissin ramen and adding not one, but two flavor packets. We only stood around for 30 minutes before they opened, and were treated to the most delicious ramen ever. As a first-timer, I had to order the Shiromaru Hakata Classic: "the original "Tonkotsu" noodle soup topped with pork loin chashu, kikurage, menma, red pickeled ginger, sesame, and scallions." The noodles were made in-house, and the flavors of the broth were so savory and complex that it sort of blew my mind. We had to fight the urge to keel over and take a nap afterwards, and we managed to stumble out, where I bought a pair of my own headphones at AC Gears nearby, and we took a leisurely stop at Brooklyn Industries, where the mens clothing line is quite decent and affordable.      

Subway riding: what we spent much of our time doing. Transporting ourselves from neighborhood to neigbhorhood. Next time we'll just stick to 1 or 2. Coming from a city with very limited mass transit options, the subway system is extremely convenient. Everyone takes it and dons their blank train faces until they emerge from underground (and what a climb that is!). I wasn't used to so much walking either, and my feet were unusually sore at the end of each day. No fat people here! (Or as my cousin remarked, all the fat people stay inside.) I used my GoLite pack as luggage for this very reason, and I cannot imaging toting my duffle bag around instead. I could have even packed less!

B got his smorgasbord at AQ Cafe, where Marcus Samuelsson, a frequent critic on Chopped, is an investor. I don't love Swedish food (funny, right?), but I'll eat pancakes anyday. 

Other highlights: Momofuku Milk Bar. The desserts are a-mazing! They really take their sweets seriously. As someone who isn't satisfied with a cookie, but needs a good cookie, this follows my strict philosophy. I ate the truffles/ cake balls every day. The pretzel kind was revolutionary, a dense taste experience of really salty and molasses sweetness. Their signature Crack Pie, made of flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, was a chewy, rich, slice of joy.

I managed to get some needed work clothes at Japanese basics megastore Uniqlo in Soho, which was a 3-story madhouse of moving bodies. The line to the dressing room was 20+ people long! After that ordeal, we were carried along in the rush hour crowd and made a 5 hour detour at Rockmeisha, a well-kept secret of Japanese bar food delicacies.

We also took the train out to a suburb in New Jersey to celebrate Easter with close family friends. It felt nice to be in a cozy, bustling home and eat a homecooked meal. They even took us out the next day to Wu Liang Ye, the best Sichuan food, reputed to be even better than the original in China. It was right next to 30 Rock, which was amusing, because we watch that show. There was so much we did not get to do (visit the MoMa, stroll through The Highline, watch a Broadway show, eat a pizza at DiFara's, and ride bicycles on the street), so we must return again soon. The city was so big and there was so much to explore... I felt like a small town girl so used to Austin's modestly sized downtown. However, the long bouts of walking and impersonal feeling of the masses of people passing by took a lot of out me, and we were both ready to return home to a much more manageable lifestyle. Home sweet home!  

Www.castlesintheair.org

Later this afternoon, as all those feels of discontent were seeping
in, I had a conversation with my teammate about the hiring process for
my position. Turns out they had the green light to hire 2 people, but
out of 150 applicants, I was the only one who stood out; nobody else
even came close for them to hire as a 2nd person. And that brightened
my day a great deal! She explained that they were looking for someone
who not only had the skills and experience, but the interest and
aptitude to grow out of the position eventually. That gives me hope,
that I should sit tight and explore my options here in the future.