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Mon | January 29, 2007

The Stock Market

That guy from writing class, I guess his name is Bill, said something like "it's a cliche but I make money off stocks." Actually he had one of the characters in his story say it. Hearing about that depresses me. It depresses me to hear about people living off the stock market. Because my Dad, who does not appear depressed, must be. You can't lose x large amount of dollars, cashed in from your inheritance of Taiwanese land, and not be a little downtrodden. The whole thing seems like a scam to me, y number of people like my father funding the lives z number of people like Bill. The stock market takes advantage of people who believe in the miracle of free money, this American dream of riches. Millions of Asians immigrated here trusting this promise of wealth and instead there's an incredible lifelong struggle even to subsist at the bottom of an organizational structure. My Dad says he needs something to hope for, and I suppose that's a valid point. But the stock market seems bound to be against him, and therefore not a good thing to store your hope in. Don't store it in me, neither. I don't know where is a safe place to put it.

envies | Posted by Lily at 09:38 PM

Sun | January 28, 2007

goodbye gym

Well, my two-week trial period is almost over. I didn't ask about the 8-week thing. I don't really enjoy convincing people of things, talking my way into things. Perhaps if I were psychologically healthier and more confident. But years of unemployment and job failure kind of wear away at sociability. If I don't go tomorrow then that'll be all. Last time I went they had a bench-pressing contest and I saw someone bench 425 pounds. I would have immediately collapsed and been beheaded by a metal bar.

journal | Posted by Lily at 03:13 PM

Wed | January 17, 2007

notes on the gym

I have just started a 2-week trial membership at the Bally's two towns over. And found out today that what I really wanted to register for (because of a commercial I saw on tv during the Apprentice premiere) was the Discovery Health Challenge. That would give me an eight-week free membership through March 10. Now my only hope is that they will let me keep coming anyway. I will just tell them I am doing the challenge. I dunno. I missed the registration by a day, as it was available until midnight last night. They are pretty lax in their admission policy, anyway. There is a turnstile but you can walk right by the desk and no one stops you. Unless you stop yourself, as I do. There is a NY Sports Club in Springfield also, but they charge twenty bucks for a 2-week trial membership. I will probably visit them after all this Bally's stuff runs out. Just to see, maybe they will have something for free. Even if it's just a day. And then it will be spring and I might just get exercise outside somehow. Or maybe I will join. It's expensive though. I could join the three day a week plan for 30 bucks, that may be the only plan within my grasp. I think the more you think about how little money you have, the more you spend it, definitely. Recently I've been thinking about it and as a result I've gone shopping twice within the space of a week. Finally quenched my thirst for Uniqlo cashmere.

It is nice to be back at a gym, after all these years of not. It's like, there's people there. I am pretty isolated so it's nice just to be around living creatures (as opposed to walking the neighborhood and seeing people inside cars). And in a non-threatening way where I don't feel like I have to perform or feel undervalued like at work. I have no interest in the people at Bally's, for the most part, but they don't annoy me. Unless they are stinky- then they are annoying. But otherwise, it's ok. It's a middle-class, middle-aged crowd, which I almost prefer to the decidedly more affluent Summit Y, who remind me of where I should be, but am not. Bally's also has lots of men with big muscles, who are interesting to look at, but nothing more. And a whole bunch of shapeless middling people whom I would not have expected to see at the gym, but I guess everyone is getting in shape now. Or trying to.

What I find funny about Bally's is that they have a soda machine there, which is half full of water bottles, but still. And they also have a juice bar, which is okay, I guess, but still. After all that effort at burning calories it seems stupid to then consume some. Also, one of the reasons I never did really like the gym is that it seems like such a waste of energy. I never did get over the incredible futility of running in place on a treadmill, or doing repetitions of anything for the sake of the movement itself, without any real purpose. I mean why aren't all these machines hooked up to a generator, or something. All that lifting and running energy could be harnessed to power the lights at the gym.

journal | Posted by Lily at 12:54 PM

Tue | January 16, 2007

still a nice person

Because I have been trying to become a selfish, competitive hater for some time now. All the while knowing on some level it will never really happen. I talk the talk and say some egotistical things sometimes but mostly I just do what the other person wants, or needs, whether they know it or not. Any benefit to myself is coincidental. Case in point: last night I finished right on time with Sarah. Good. Just enough time to get my stuff together and catch the 5:26 to meet some Frenchies at a place called Jadis on the LES. True, I had officially declared an end to French. But what I meant by that was my formal French language studies. Convenient, informal practice or learning of French is completely acceptable and even desirable. For fun, that is. And with a week ahead of me of mostly loneliness I thought I had better get out while I can.

However I also kept an eye out the window, on their minivan which hadn't left, and which was going rat-tat-tat-tat-tat. I could have gone out the side door, the way I usually go, or I could have gone out the front and simply said I was rushing off somewhere... good luck with that rattling noise. But instead I asked what was wrong, and offered the use of my phone, and nearly two hours later, found myself learning the alley cat dance from Sarah outside in the cool post-rain air, while waiting for the tow truck to arrive, its yellow and orange lights flashing. The truck, actually, took just ten minutes to arrive. Most of the time was spent in the kitchen of my house, waiting for the father to drive over from his workplace, because Mrs. H---- didn't want to call triple A without his judgment. When I get married, if I get married, I will not be so deferential to my spouse. Or if I have a bf. Though this may just be talk again. If history is any indication, I will be too accomodating as always.

So anyway then the rest of my night was confused, somehow, and I couldn't decide what to do, and consequently did nothing useful nor fun. I watched the Golden Globes and saw the executive producer of Dreamgirls receive the award for Best Musical or Comedy and wondered why they started to play the music to get him off stage after about ten seconds, whereas others took like thirty seconds or more and were not rushed off. Not that it really matters I suppose.

I'm confused pretty much every day. Don't know what to do with myself. Have a sense of purpose but don't really know what to do about it.

journal | Posted by Lily at 01:19 PM

a well furnished room

It is kind of an Asian thing, to have crappy decor. Not that the decor in my house is entirely crappy. It's somewhat coordinated. The living room is pink. The dining room is browns. But it's not entirely cohesive. And my room, is periwinkle, with lots and lots of boxes and papers and other stuff. I guess the key is to get rid of all the stuff that doesn't match. But I like to keep things. My clothes, I like to keep until they are worn out, which could be forever. If you wanted to just keep wearing them fashionlessly you could keep your clothes for years. Which is what I do... except I don't wear them, I just keep them in the bottoms of my drawers. And the interior decorating, I've thought about for some time as a concept, as something I'd like to do. For at least one of the rooms in my house. It is difficult because no one else is really interested or wants to help me. I keep telling my friends hoping one of them will want to come shopping with me or something, offer some guidance, because I have no experience at it, and don't know what it's like to live in a well-coordinated place. But in the absence of that I turtle along by myself, and maybe eventually something will come out of this idea. Things move slowly when left to only me. I do have the idea that I like earthy things, instead of like, modern stuff. Though I do like the barcelona chair and chaise lounges, which are kind of modern. Maybe I would have one room with the bold colors and another with the earthy ones.

envies | Posted by Lily at 11:14 AM

Mon | January 15, 2007

No Pants 2k7

Well, I went to that no pants thing. When I first read about it I thought it was a fun idea but had no intention of going. Then in a matter of minutes the idea had taken hold of my mind and by the time I went to bed that night about half an hour later there was no question that I had to go, or face torture from my own brain. And so I went. I emailed/IM'd/called a few people, one of whom came with me, so that worked out all right. And then it turns out that I knew one of the organizers. Which was unlikely considering I hardly know anyone anymore. But then again maybe it's not so unlikely.

Ironically I think I would have more to say about it if I hadn't gone. If I had thought about it in theory rather than in practice. In practice it was much easier than I thought it would be. Because there were so many people. It didn't really matter. I'd say the car I was in, was like 80/20 percent participants/ regular passengers. So we didn't get the experience of shocking others, which was not what appealed to me about it most anyway. It was more the experience of sitting on the metro in my underwear. It was very protected and risk-free because they even had a few policemen this year. I suppose that is good. I told Sharif that I would do it again with him just us some random day. He chose to go glasses shopping instead of this. I suppose because he didn't want to go support his roommate. And because he is a jaded too cool hipster and this is a seven year old idea to him.

It would be most ideal, I think, if the percent were more like 20 percent/ 80 percent participants to passengers. If all the people had been spread out over a few trains, instead of all getting onto one train. They did spread people out over the ten cars, of the 6 train, but still. All in all it was fun. Ben was an okay companion even though he did not participate. And then we went ice skating and had soul food at a place he called a "hole in the wall" and I called "affordable." The next day he emailed me a picture of myself that he found on the internet. That was not something I had thought about, and I would wear my hair differently if I could do it again. But mostly pictures of me are hopeless, or so far from right that it's not even worth thinking about.

Actually if I had done what I felt like I would have gotten off that crowded train, and hopped on a different one. Outside of the safety zone, which was kind of what it was all about anyway. But I didn't want to shock Ben any further and I don't think adorable Andrew would have left his responsibilities to come with us either.

At any rate I think I shall add "No Pants Day" to this holiday season. In an ideal world I would have a No Pants party at my apartment next year. Or on my own designated favorite subway line. Since having an apartment is even further away as a concept than having no pants. And actually a private party would be very different than a public event, like this one was. They would achieve different things.

journal | Posted by Lily at 03:10 PM

Sat | January 13, 2007

Sixth Annual No Pants! Subway Ride

Improv Everywhere Mission: No Pants 2k6

I have never just cutted and pasted something, but I find this so perfect, as is the first part of the page in the link above (I didn't read beyond, as it's a bit excessive). But this must be preserved, instead of deleted from my emailbox. And it's tomorrow! Technically today!

Sixth Annual No Pants! Subway Ride

Requirements for Participation: 1) Willing to take pants off on subway; 2) Able to keep a straight face about it. This is a participatory event. Do not show up unless you plan to take your pants off. This includes news media.

Bring: A backpack and a metro card. Do not bring: A camera (don't worry we are taking pictures)

Wear: Normal winter clothes (hat, gloves, etc).

How it works: We will assemble in Foley Square at 3p. Please be on time. Feel free to be early.

When we're organized, we will all head down to the Brooklyn Bridge 6 Train stop together. Do not talk to others once you enter the subway system. No one knows each other. We will wait for a train to arrive on the uptown side of the tracks and all board our assigned cars (follow your team leader). A man with a megaphone will confirm that it is time to board the train. We may let one train go before entering to make sure everyone is ready.

Sit in the car as you normally would. Read a magazine or whatever you would normally do. Your team leader will have already divided you into smaller groups, assigning your group a specific stop where you will depants. Sit near your group.

As soon as the doors shut at the stop before yours, stand up and take your pants off and put them in your backpack. If you'd like to use a briefcase, purse, grocery bag, or whatever instead of a backpack that's fine too. You are responsible for your own pants and they should be with you at all times. If anyone asks you why you've removed your pants, tell them that they were "getting uncomfortable" (or something along those lines.)

Exit the train at your assigned stop and stand on the platform, pantless. This is a new change for No Pants 2k7. You will wait on the platform for the next 6 train to arrive. Stay in the exact same place on the platform so you enter the next train in the same car as you exited the last train.

When you enter, act as you normally would. You do not know any of the other pantless riders. If questioned, tell folks that you "forgot to wear pants" and yes you are "a little cold." Insist that it is a coincidence that others also forgot their pants. Be nice and friendly and normal.

We will exit the train at 125th street. Pay attention so you don't miss this stop. We will then repeat the mission back down to Brooklyn Bridge.

You can wear fun underwear if you like, but nothing that screams out "I wore this because I'm doing a silly stunt." Wear two pairs of underwear if it makes you feel more comfortable. Avoid wearing a thong or anything else that might offend people. Our aim is to make people laugh, not piss them off. If you haven't already, please take a moment to read the previous mission reports for the last five No Pants rides.

Meetup at Foley Square at the black sculpture/fountain
Between Centre and Lafayette, just north of Duane
Manhattan
3p sharp, over by 5:30p

nonsense | Posted by Lily at 12:09 AM

Mon | January 08, 2007

Je stoppe

I have finally come to a decision about French. I am sick of it and I am quitting. I have quit a lot of things; here's one more. Whatever. There is no point. I have no interest in France the country, French the people, French culture, etc. None of it has any application in my life. This is madness. This is doing something for no reason at all. I needed a break from English and I think I took it. It has come to the point that I am dragging myself through my workbook. I dragged myself all the way to almost the end. That's the way it is with me. I didn't finish my first workbook either. I technically can't finish anything. J'ai seulement faire le huitième revision et je sais que je ne vais pas le faire. Better to just stop now. Puis quelque j'aie fait, c'est très bien. I don't get the rewarding feeling of actually finishing, but that doesn't mean everything I did so far is meaningless. If I follow my previous pattern, I will take a year off, then start up again. So it's more like a break than quitting. But if I don't think about it as quitting, I will never go back to it. That's the way it is with me. I must really have left before I can come back. If I know I will go back to it that's not good. I don't think. Maybe I never will go back. It's a pity to "lose" everything I've gained but if there's no point to it there is no reason to keep it.

I have no idea what my level is. Someone asked me last night and I didn't know. Nor did I care. What an irrelevant question. Why does it even matter. We are not in school. And even if we were. Get over it. Do you know French, or not. Do you enjoy it, or not. Does it benefit you, or not. Do you feel better with it, or without it. That's all there is to it.

journal | Posted by Lily at 01:49 PM

Pourquoi je ne souhaite pas m’installer à New York.

Les gens à New York sont trop occupés ; ils vous oublient. Dans les banlieues, c’est l’opposé. Ils se souviennent de tout et de tous. C’est également une mauvaise chose. Je ne sais pas, vraiment, mais je crois que les New Yorkais n’ont pas de considération. Certains de mes amis disent qu'ils seraient de meilleurs amis si j'habitais à New York, mais je pense que c’est des conneries.

Dans les images, New York est brilliant, lumière, grattes-ciel, grandiose. Mais en réalité, c’est sale et pollué. Il y a des sacs de détritus sur le trottoir qui restent là de la nuit au matin ou plus longtemps. La rue sent la pisse et la métro est pire. Si tu habites à New York, tu vis avec les souris dans ton appartment et tu attend le métro avec des rats. L’autre jour, j’étais au resto, et une femme a crié. Il y avait un cafard sur le mur. On dit que si vous voyiez la cuisine d'un restaurant, vous ne voudriez plus manger là. C'est pareil dans d'autres restaurants, mais particulièrement dans cette ville.

Où j’habite, dans la banlieue, je n’ai pas peur que les animaux aient des microbes. Il y a des arbres, et la neige reste sur les arbres et les pelouses. L'air sent fraîs, et les détritus ne restent pas jusqu’au matin dans la rue. Eux les rassemblent à dix heures du matin. C’est calme, et je peux reflechir. Si j’habitais à New York je pourrais avoir plus d’amis, mais je perdrais mon temps, et ils seraient plus ennuyants que jamais.

Le raison principale pour laquelle je ne pourrais pas m’installer à New York est que je n’ai simplement pas l’argent. Le loyer seul serait trop cher, puis les charges, la nourriture, les boissons, le coût de la vie. Et la mode, les New Yorkais sont trop préoccupés par la mode. Ils sont toujours habillés branché et cool, et je ne peux pas, je ne veux pas suivre. J’aime faire des courses, mais c’est un perte d’énergie, et je crois que c’est un gâchi d'acheter tant de vêtements.

envies | Posted by Lily at 09:53 AM

Thu | January 04, 2007

Mitsuba

So this new Japanese restaurant opened in my town. I've been taking a lot of walks and I used to always walk by to see how they were progressing. Somehow I became psychologically invested in them, because, I suppose, there aren't a lot of Asians around here, it's mostly white-dominant, so you look for little nods of recognition. That part of downtown Chatham is becoming a bit of an Asiatown. There is a Chinese takeout place and right next to it, Ott's Karate. Across the street you've got Mitsuba, and then the other corner is Taste of Asia. In the other direction, there's a Thai place. And then back the other way you have Bean Curd, which has been around the longest. I dunno who eats there though. I ate there once and it was just salty.

I ate at Mitsuba today, though, on their opening day, and it was okay sushi. The whitefish was a bit damp but otherwise everything was good. And I'm not sick so they pass the test. I was actually looking at their special rolls and asked for some recommendations and she recommended the lunch special, I think because they didn't actually have any of the special rolls. So I was like ok whatever, it would have been more expensive for me to buy the special rolls but sell me whatever you want. Sushi and sashimi lunch. I think next time I will try the one where you get to choose two rolls. But I went hard core and had some sashimi. I wanted to know right away if their food was good. None of this teriyaki cop out stuff that was going on at the next table.

I am not really that psychologically invested though. Really I just want a place to have lunch. And now I have it. There is even a nice little alcove that I can retreat to if I wish, I think. What's weird is it used to be a movie rental place and it seems smaller now. But the place is still pretty big. I think I just forgot how small the movie place was. And I think they also filled in a lot of space with all the wooden decor that they laid out. I looks great actually especially considering that the contractors were all just friends. I don't know how much they got paid, probably a fraction of the cost. But that chatty loose-lipped waiter guy said everyone who worked on it, or the primary people working on it all had four to seven years of experience putting together restaurants. Each one nicer than the rest. He also told me this was the second restaurant that this woman owned. And told me who the owner was. The host who was at the door. But when I asked her if she had another restaurant she said no. I think she was lying. I'm pretty good at telling, at least better than the average person. I just think she was. She had the same look as Shirley's mom did when she told that buyer at the show, years ago, that she was Taiwanese. I was like you're not fucking Taiwanese. I can't believe you would do that. No ethics. Doesn't know where to draw the line. It was kind of a turning point. Anyway so I think this woman lied to me but we'll see, I'll get her back. I also have a feeling this is the kind of woman who wears the same suit every day. We'll see, I'll straighten her out if she does. I already told her I liked her outfit. If she wears the same one the next time I see her I'll ask her if she's wearing the same clothes, don't you want to change a little? In chinese of course.

But their biggest problem right now is that their wait staff has no system. I asked John motormouth if he had ever waited tables before and he said no. So right there that was the problem. I think they probably never ate out that much at restaurants either. People kept asking me twice about everything, because the tables were not divided. It's crazy that they could miss this fundamental stuff. Maybe it really was her first restaurant. But so I got asked what I wanted to drink twice, and actually that was the only mistake, because I think they recognized me and were more aware of me after that. But it was weird not having someone who was "my" waiter. And at the next table and at other tables, people were being asked two or three times by different people if they needed the bill, etc. And I was asked like, two seconds after I opened the menu, what I wanted to order. They weren't paying attention at all or they had no sense of time. I was like, I just need a minute to read the menu. That's like exactly what I had to say. And she was like gone before I even finished the sentence. Also when I stopped eating for a second and started to read my book she asked me if I was done. I was like, no, no, I-- and she left abruptly. There were a few girls, all pretty much behaving the same way. They totally needed to chill, they were like itchy to always be doing something so they just kept asking you if you were ready for the next thing- drinks, ordering, finishing. Too rushed. But after awhile I think they got the vibe that my lunch was going to be leisurely. And I think others were taking their time too and they slowed down a bit. But mostly they have this confusing, enormous, problem that there are four waiters who don't know what's going on at each table, so you could get asked up to four times the same question. Someone really needs to tell them fast or they'll lose all the momentum that they have right now.

I was surprised at how much business they got on their first day. I kinda figured there would just be a few people there. But the place was like half full. I think I saw about thirty diners during the two hours that I was there. And my dad passed by on the way home from the train station and said it was quite busy inside. I bet that people were not pleased with the wait service though. I mean I could tell from watching people at lunch that they were like what the hell. I mean, I kind of wanted to tell them as I was leaving, because the woman did come over and talk to me. She is somewhat accessible which is good- I think that may be her redeeming factor. And I bet she is a lot more receptive than her two partners, who have day jobs and who will only be coming by at night. I am so amazing I got so much information out of them in one day. It's a good thing I am a friend. There was an ominous moment when I saw this older guy with an Arminio's polo walk around with a slightly worried look on his face. Arminio's is the pizza place across the street. I caught the briefest glimpse of- of someone looking for the first time at an impressive new place, but like, a bit painfully, like, oh shit this place puts mine to shame. But they are not really competitors, I don't think so. It will just drive more people to the area because there are more meal options now. I mean I think I am more likely to lunch in that area now because I have a few things to choose from. Anyway that look was priceless because it was so subtle and so natural. Because the place really is impressive when you walk in there. It's nice. There's a small glass waterfall in the entryway, and the floor is this highly polished red wood. The sushi bar has this neutral, stone tile wall, and the ceiling is highlighted with this bright green light that when they put it up, I looked in the window through the cracks in the newspaper and I was like, oh no, tacky decor. But it looks nice, it doesn't look clashy. I don't know how they made it work. Because that wood is red. It really pops, though, without looking too contrasty, which I think can happen when opposite colors are used.

Anyway so clearly some of the neighboring places are threatened, or feel threatened, but clearly there are people in the community who support it. The old ladies at the next table from me, who came at around 1:30, one of them got a phone call towards the middle of their meal, and all I heard was "I'm here." But evidently her friend had told her to go and she immediately did. I am not very connected within the town but I think that others are and news will pretty much spread immediately. Like, there are people just hanging out in their homes who will be able to come out within the hour if they are so motivated. Plus there were lots of people dressed for work, I have no idea where, but I guess there are some companies in this area that require freshly pressed shirts and dark pants. Who knew. Those were the ones who were most like what the hell. Ironically the servers left the old ladies alone because they didn't feel a need to impress them. But that's what they are supposed to do, to everyone. Constantly going up to the well dressed men and asking them stupid questions was just totally annoying them.

Anyway it was exciting. I am a suburbanite after all. I have lots of dead time and my pace is slow and diffuse. I have lived here a long time after all. It is difficult not to become one. The opening of a new restaurant downtown is a big event. And the degree that I am thinking about it, is nothing compared to the amount of collective micromanaging that the community will do here. There are obviously a lot of people interested in this restaurant, myself included. Simply because sushi is healthy and yummy and I crave it often enough that it's nice to have a place a ten minute walk away. Also because it's trendy and it's a step in the right direction for the town, a bit of multiculturalization. No one wants to be strictly white anymore. It's just not cool. A bit of international interest is in order.

Based on what I observed today, every individual who has any sort of free time in this town, either who works in the area or who lives here, will go to that restaurant, either went today or tonight, or will go tomorrow or Friday and when the weekend hits they better watch out. Which is why I worry about their wait staff because if they are not organized that will be one huge mess, as bad as it was today, it would be much worse if the place were actually full. Which it might very well be on Saturday and Sunday. They should get more waiters for the weekend. Anyway so far it's amazing how much business they already got. Without even actually having everything on their menu. When they do get that stuff it will be fun to try all the different special rolls. I will have new, meaningless goals in my life. No. I will try not to. But maybe I can go there and read like I did today, or even pull out a notebook and write. I don't think they would stop me. They are pretty much pushovers. I could sit there for three hours and they wouldn't give me hints to leave. That's pretty cool. And they are more or less affordable. I think my meal came to like seventeen bucks but you could get udon for like eight.Their dinner menu is more expensive though. No dinner deals. Not that it matters, I will probably not be going for dinner... though I'm looking at the menu now and it's pretty inexpensive for some things. The dinner combos are humongous, that's why. They could easily be split. My lunch was larger than it was supposed to be, based on what I am used to getting in New York.

I just hope the employees are okay. That is what I always hope for. I hope they don't work seven days a week. And if they do, I hope they get well-compensated. Lee Fong should take them out to dinner or something sometime to celebrate their new restaurant. She should take all the people who worked on it, out to dinner. I think a lot of it was just given in friendship and good will. Which is idiotic because they're never going to get anything back from her. I learned that lesson long ago but still need to break myself of that instinct. Anyway we'll see. She seems kind of influensable. Kind of. I think, most so at the beginning, now, is the time to unload all suggestions on her. Because later she will just be like, it's worked up til now, why should I start doing this other thing? That's how Shirley's mom is, and to some degree how George was at A&G. They are trapped by their own former success into thinking that their way is sufficient. Like when George wouldn't let me make a website for the company. He was like, we didn't get one before, why do we need one now. And I was just like, because you need one, and then I'll have internet to look at. That was all it really was. A desire to have internet at work. He didn't want that either. I bet they have it now. I mean the best way, if I had really invested the energy, to get at him would have been to get the clients to say that the company needed internet. I mean seriously. Just have them ask if they can check their email or whatever. I could have swung that. I just don't like manipulating people like Laura did though. But that was the way to do it. And so I think as a customer of this Mitsuba place, I could easily have influence, especially if some of my earlier suggestions prove true, then they will start to trust my judgment more. I could make it into the perfect place for myself. With fresh sushi, and a clean place, and everything. Maybe. I mean, maybe someone else would take care of it. But strangely, I might be the one to do it. After all, I am the only one who could really speak to them because I knew some Chinese. So we spoke Chinglish. I think that's the bridge. And the English speakers, I don't think they could get their point across. And the Chinese Chinese, because there were a few older adult Asians there, I don't think they really know what's needed, or I don't think they'd care enough to chat it up with the staff. The waiters were all in their twenties, I think, or young thirties, I couldn't tell, Asian years, but I think we could relate. Some of those girls really didn't speak good English at all and have a lot of learning to do. Not that I'm going to teach them. Even though I'm capable of it, I am loathe to work for free, either as an advisor to the restaurant or an English teacher. But I could, and I'm a lot better at teaching people English in bits, like I do with Charles, than Charles is at teaching me French. He just doesn't know how you have to talk to someone of limited ability in that language- the way my parents have always talked to me in Mandarin, and the way I talk to a lot of Asian immigrants. I talk to them all the time and I am able to communicate even when they only know a little English. I know how to use just the simple words. Whereas others seem to go more slangy and complicated and instead of simply repeating what they said or rephrasing it more simply, they say something else entirely. I don't know what they're doing. Jerks. Anyway so yeah English. No, talking. To the staff and the manager/owner. I think I might be the best one to do it. Not that I will, necessarily. We'll see. If I decide I hate them and this woman is selfish and will never reward her employees, then forget that. I think I should probably just focus on them liking me so I can sit there forever and maybe occasionally they won't charge me for my tea or dessert or something. That would be a nice perk. Free food. It happens. So I hear. Never to me yet but I have never really been a regular anywhere. Not that I necessarily would there. Getting ahead of myself. It's just that it's so close. To my house. I mean I could go sit at Arminios. But I just wouldn't. It's not as nice there. And there isn't an alcove like the one I have my eye on. And because this place is Asian it's a bit more like home turf. Whereas everywhere else is white, white, white. I am even kind of afraid to go to the sandwich shop. I've been there once. It's so local. Or the lunchonette next door, to Mitsuba. or whatever it is. A small diner. Too local. This new place, I could go there. Maybe. Sometimes. If I feel like it.

journal | Posted by Lily at 01:06 AM

Mon | January 01, 2007

Scrabble

NSA Player Information: Panupol Sujjayakorn

Last night I played Scrabble for like the third time in my life, like with actual people and scoring and everything. I got a 198, which I don't think is considered a high score. If I had broken 200 then that would have been going too far. I did tone it down a little. I didn't use two letter words that weren't in everyday usage. I only went for things like or and do, I think re was as far as I went. If I wanted to be better at scrabble I would go learn all their official two and three letter words.

But I will probably never need them, when playing with most people, as they wouldn't know them either. The question is how I would hold up against devoted scrabblers. I think when I meet them, I will learn those words then, when they use them. Until then, it's a nice handicap, to only allow myself the indisputable two letter words. I also resolved to not take too long for my turns, basically always went right away. This puts pressure on people though to keep up with the pace, and so it isn't such a good equalizing tactic.

Jeux | Posted by Lily at 12:49 PM

happy new year

Dreamgirls. Just read all these reviews. The critics gave it a B average! I have no idea why. This is why I never read reviews. That would have made me not like the movie as much. As it were, I loved it. LOVED it. Like, from the moment I sat down in the sixth row, or thereabouts, which was much better than on the side, where we might have sat, had my wits not been with me tonight. I sat in the front, but not too close, in fact any closer and it would have been headache-inducing. But it was so close that it was basically all I saw, that screen, and the few rows in front of it. And anyway this is all peripheral, the point is that this movie is the best movie ever and I am going to get it on DVD so I can watch it again and again. Maybe I will even go to the theater again and watch it, if I can. Though the second time will not match the first, even though the first was somewhat muted. I watched it in Mountainside with a mostly white audience- in fact, coincidentally the few black people I saw were right around me, to the right, and the row directly in front. I guess we got there at the last minute, is why, whereas the others got there with plenty of time. The theater was full, which Curtis and Chrissa didn't expect, but somehow it didn't surprise me, it seemed perfectly fitting. If they could do it over they would have gone to the late showing. When we got out, whenever it was, there was no one there. In the ticket area. Which had been mobbed at 7:15. But I would not have liked to see the 10:30 as much, as I get tired now, and at 7:15 I had the energy to really enjoy it. So I would not have done anything different.

I don't know why I am writing about administrative details, I meant to write about the movie. I think I just don't know where to begin. Perhaps I will try again tomorrow. I will change the title of this post to something else and "happy new year." That will do. For New Year's saw Dreamgirls with CZ and CL and then we drove through four neighboring towns looking for a place that was open, and then finding no place, went back to CZ's house and he made Spanish omelets, and then I beat the crap out of them both at Scrabble, I mean not really, but kinda, let's say not really, but I probably should have let him win, I think, but I don't know, I don't play that much, sports and games, and so I don't really know, don't have an instinct for that. It definitely occurred to me to let up a bit, which I did, but at the same time I wondered if I could beat them, and what score I could get. So I got 198 in a three person game, probably the second or third time I have played Scrabble in my life.

Livres, films, TV | Posted by Lily at 02:53 AM