Now That I Think About It...

I really do hate house- and dog-sitting. More specifically, I hate the sacrifices I'm making.

With the dog walking/cleaning/feeding morning and night, I've given up much of my usual habits and hobbies.

For the past three weeks, I haven't had time to go window shopping after work; I've declined dinner and movie plans; I've left happy hours early.

Instead of doing all that, I'm picking up dog poo. But what bothered me the most was that I couldn't volunteer for the AIDS walk this year (after 6+ years).

From that, I've just realized that I love my freedom. Freedom from taking care of someone (or something) else; especially as regimented as a taking care of a dog. Being in a house so far from the city (and my entire wardrobe) just exacerbates the situation.

On the bright side, I've only two weeks left of this responsibility. Which leads into my birthday month. And it's Fleet Week.

Thoughts House-Sitting

Being here, in the middle of the suburbs house- and dog-sitting, there's a lot of time for me to reflect inward - there's not much to do when boiling water for ramen noodles. I've come to a few conclusions:

1. I really like being near the city
2. I'm glad I don't own a dog
3. there's nothing good on cable
4. hot dogs go well with ramen noodles

But most important of all, I've learned how dependable, and flexible, I can be: waking up at 7:30 in the morning to walk the dog, and leaving work and sacrificing weekends to do the same at night.

What's more surprising is that I'm not upset about having to do these 'chores'. Does this mean I'm grown up now? Hm.

With all this retrospecting, I'm more appreciative of the time I spend with my friends and, especially, my Boopy. Just look at how excited I am before we head to Adele's concert!

I hope I keep this optimism by the end of the month.

Oh Glorious!

Have you heard of J&D's Baconnaise? It's a bacon-flavored spread! And did you know you can actually order on Amazon.com? I just put in an order; I'm so excited!

I wonder what the chances are that it will actually taste like bacon and not bacon-like.

Yay for Iowa and Vermont!

Vermont legislates gay marriage! Iowa courts decide against discrimination! Yay!

On the topic of 'gay marriage', I still think that all legal (state/federal) documents should change the word 'marriage' to 'civil union'.

But if the "religious people" want to keep their "religious word" (which naturally draws in peoples' religious beliefs), then I support Vermont's change - hopefully everyone will see it's a legal (and civil rights) issue, not a religious one.

Fat chance, eh?

In the meantime, read this hilarious story about a woman who calls 911 over the lack of shrimp in her fried rice!

Hm.. shrimp, Leviticus, gays, and we've come full circle. Good night everyone!

TopMan NYC Opens!

All I could think about today from 10am to 1pm and then from 2:30pm to 4:30pm was how super hip British clothing brand TopShop/TopMan opens today and I was stuck at work. (I had an extended lunch with two fabulous beautiful black ladies. We decided that black people need to stop giving their kids white people names like Blair and Haley. And that my baby will be called Monique but pronounced moe-nee-kay.)

Cutting out of work at 4:30, I ran down to Soho, jumped on line (that wrapped around the block), waited for more than an hour standing behind a group of gossipy hipsters who bored the snot out of my nose, to be able to prance around the TopMan sales floor picking things and size up the clothes!

Let me break it down:

1. the styles are geared to a younger crowd - H&M should be worried
2. most of the fabrics feel nice, not cheap
3. it's actual European sizing, their XS fits me! American Apparel should be worried
4. they have XXS for men
5. normally a 29" waist, the 30" fits perfectly
6. the pricing is closer to AA than Uniqlo - Uniqlo has nothing to worry about
7. there were TONS of designer collaborations
8. there are stuff in the store that's not online, and vice versa

I ended up with two baseball tees that fit amazing in XS, and two pieces of jewelry. I almost bought a cardigan but decided against it last minute.

I'm going back tomorrow.

Restraint

Where are you? And why are you so hard to attain?

I just can't stop myself. With Uniqlo's amazing surprises: the collaboration with Opening Ceremony, denim sales, colorful undies, and now they sell packaged tanks in XS; I had promised myself not to spend any more money on clothes after my Burberry suit. That's now out the window.

Seriously, check out this neon yellow check shirt; if I didn't get it, I could never forgive myself. Heh.

And Top Man is opening in a few weeks! I can't wait!

Ah well -- what good are promises if you can't break them, right?