I am reporting from across the Hudson River. While everyone is asleep, I am wide
awake. I only had five hours of sleep. I met a few more people at Xe Lua last night. Thu from Hanoi cracked us all up.
Apparently, the new slang now involves using the word "banana" for all things bad. I said something to Huyen that involved
"banana" and she laughed. I also said the same thing to another waitress who is from the South. She didn't get it.
Along the northerners use such slang. We walked over to Dat's in our flip flops and beach bags. He could have easily
picked us up on Kenmare. Granted, we were lazy and wanted door to door service. We sat in crosstown traffic for a good 30 minutes. I forced everyone into listening "lien khuc".
With our bodies sprayed with bug spray, we sat in the backyard sipping on proseco and eating sun chips. It was a good night.
The twins are in Gulfport. Stay away from the oil. Their skanky parents like pawn shops and outlet malls. Addison just wants
a/c. KNT, we keep missing each other. Chang is done with her internship on the hill. Time to party it up for the summer.
Yes, those rice crackers were for you, fool! I love those conversation exchange emails. Keep them coming!
July 30, 2010
Last night and today, we are getting a preview of what's to come. Yes, autumn will
finally be here. July was a killer. I showered so many times in one day. Why bother shower when you are going to sweat
any way. We all got our toes and fingers cleaned, including Dat. It's off to Xe Lua tonight and then to Jersey. Ciao!
July 29, 2010
KNT is my quality assurance person. Any and all edits must go through her.
I went back to the office to scan a butt load of papers. The PDF problem I had in the past is now gone. The scans worked.
Tammy, thank you for saving me a piece. It was very yummy. Rain came down this morning. What is up with Chinese
people and the red plastic bags they carry? On my way to the train yesterday, each person had at least two red or orange-reddish
bags filled with stuff. I hear SF outlawed plastic bags. Do they carry totes in SF then? I used plastic bags as my trash bags. I try
to collect as many as possible. The best ones are from that Astor wine shop. They are big and sturdy. We are never too old
to participate in slumber parties. LOL
July 28, 2010
I cannot sleep past 7AM. The sun shines straight through the blinds. When I don't
need to wake up early, the sun is all up in my face at 6AM. When it's winter time, it really doesn't matter because I need to
wake up early any way. The solar system is not in my favor I tell ya. The a/c debacle from last night was just plain crazy.
The stuff that Jacq gets me involved in is something to tell your grandkids about. She now has three a/c units in her apartment.
A neighbor ran through the hallways almost topless as I opened my front door. She screamed and I screamed. She ran away
and I closed my door. I opened it again and yelled out, "Is it safe now?" She said "Yes!". I saw her coming back up the stairs
with a guest as I walked down. It was hilarious. Apparently, she just got out of the shower and rushed down to let her
friend in the building. She was putting on her shirt while running downstairs. Man, there goes the neighborhood...
July 27, 2010
I can't get rid of this cough for the past couple of weeks. Jacq insists it's my usual
merman cough, but these coughs are different. They tingle in my throat and I have mucus. Merman coughs are mucus-free.
Nathan asked for my address. I wonder if he's getting married. It's about time! When people ask for your address, it's
either to send wedding invitations/announcements or they want to google maps to see what your place looks like from the
outside. My 6:30 went well. Come with no expectations and you leave with nothing to lose. Danielle is crazy. She is going
after a kid because she pulled her hair. Fire Escape Garden Troll at your service...
July 26, 2010
People no longer hug each other to say hello. What I get is a "Oh, hi...no need to come
closer because I'm sweating and sticky. Here's a blow kiss!" Happy Birthday, Alexis. Debriefing is the new verb to describe
get togethers.
July 25, 2010
We went all the way up to Saks. Chang found a great deal right before we were leaving. It was
stinkin hot all day. Yes, everyone was complaining. I left her in Soho because I couldn't take it any more. We got our feet cleaned and
pampered afterwards. I took a 20-minute power nap. Instead of meeting Rafael at the vegan restaurant, we opted for Macbar for some
mac and cheese with lobster. The special power drink kept us up for another 5 minutes. We met everyone on 27th St. Chi Tam and I were
on the prowl. Chang was busy chatting with her Korean deli friend. It was awkward for Henrietta. I woke up just in time to bake oatmeal
raisins for Chang's adopted parents. I'm pissed that I ran out of plastic containers.
July 24, 2010
Fridays are my most productive days at work. I come in extra early and leave early. The entire
8 hours are spent working. Well, I take a few breaks here and there to check my email. Gene thought I was on vacation. I replied to
one of his emails and he freaked out. I could have easily worked from home and no one would know. It rained for a good two minutes
and stopped. Precious arrived with the other DC folks. Yes, that is some shady business going down. I'm still laughing about the
Chinese lady eating her food and attending to guests. LOL to taking a break as if you're on a field trip. We made a pit stop at Zarin
Fabrics. Jill and her gay designer husband walked us around the store. Okay, I'm kidding. The debriefing at Apt #1 was fun. I can't wait
to eat more of her che. I woke up at 6:30AM because my alarm went off. Apparently, I had set the alarm at some point during my sleep.
I could not go back to sleep. Oh well, it's never too early to wake up on the weekend. Time to hit the town and do some serious
95 degree walking around. WooHoooOo!
July 23, 2010
Here's an advice for myself...do not walk 20 blocks with a button down shirt and
pants in the middle of summer. I came in sweating from my head all the way through my back. It was not a pretty sight.
Next time, pack my clothes in a bag and wear shorts and a t-shirt for the long stroll. Nha Hang Son Tra offered pho and fresh
watermelon juice. It was a nice treat. I ate three bowls...granted, they were small bowls and not the ones you find at
a restaurant. On our ride back, I saw all these people out and about on a Thursday night. You know you're done with it all
when you just want to go home and sleep. Mucinex will temporarily get rid of your cough. My mom did not like the
guava candy because it was artificial. Precious arrives later tonight. I did not ride my bike today because it will rain later.
Carter can finally walk, but Carson still can't. Addison drove his bike down to his grandparents' house all by himself.
Grandpa was furious. A hurricane churns into the gulf and will make its way directly through New Orleans. This song gets
me in the right mood. I have a date with Phoenix later in October.
July 22, 2010
Don't fly United Airlines. Their pilots cannot handle turbulence. Vietnam welcomes
Mrs. Clinton. The Vietnamese are excited about Chelsea's upcoming wedding to take place at the end of the month in
Rhinebeck, NY. I was just there last summer. It's a quaint little town. When there's free food, I'm there. I cannot whistle.
Before I die, I want to learn how to swim, whistle, and drive a stick shift. In other news, Miss Jackson and I missed each
other last night. Last night was my only night to do homework. They didn't want to come down to Little Italy. Those out of
town business people never go below 34th St. Addison will only get fat over the summer like he has in the past summers.
The twins love butter. Are you sure it's good for their hearts? I acted too soon and mailed stuff off to Mom. Oh well, at least
she will get them today. I have three more weeks of forum responses and a final paper. After that, I am free for two weeks
and then it's back up again. Pho night at Son Tra's tonight...can't wait!
July 21, 2010
Joel, where you are? You haven't responded to my emails in weeks. Getting rid of
your facebook is one thing, but not responding to emails? What's up? Fahim, when are you moving to NY again? Miss Jackson,
I don't think we are going to connect this week. It's already Wednesday and I have yet to hear from you. I don't want to go out
to Queens and you refuse to use public transit to get to Manhattan. I still see the construction guy on Mott and Broome.
Every time I pass by him, I want to participate in the show and pretend I'm one of the characters. It was a fun interactive
"show". I skipped out on doing homework because Chi Tam decided we need to do hangover. It was okay. It had some
funny moments. I can't believe Ken Jeong went all out. Was he supposed to be a gay Asian gangster or just an effeminate
Asian gangster?
July 20, 2010
Did I tell you I found the "best thing I ever ate"? On top of this, it's only $1.50.
It's this cranberry muffin from Zaiya. It's huge and very cheap. Maia and I discovered it a couple days ago. We went to the
bakery to pick up lunch. She bought the corn muffin and I chose the cranberry. I shared it with Jacq last night on our walk
home. The muffin looks like a cupcake and tastes just right. You have the right texture, moisture level, and sweetness.
The tartness of the cranberry is a welcome contrast to the sweet cake. I'm going overboard with this thing. Eva wants to
take Carson home. Why not Carter too?
July 19, 2010
We are only midway through summer. Should we expect 90 plus degree weather
for the remainder of the season? Lan Cafe was just like any other hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant. I had the
vermicelli with vegetarian spring rolls. I wonder how they make their fish sauce. Do they use actual fish sauce or a "tofu"
version? Yes, you wake up sore because you are old. That's why you wake up sore. Get used to it. It won't get any better.
Quit your crying and walk faster. Hopefully one day you'll catch up to me. Try the coconut doughnut from Doughnut Plant.
I can't believe Jacq made us order five donuts for three people. I think we saved one for Chi Tam. I'm glad we stuck to the
glazed donuts instead of the cake ones. Please don't make me walk on the sunny side. I was melting. Yes, quit my whining
and man up. I am a 100% Nguoi Viet. Get it in your head. Kyvy oi! You were MIA.
July 18, 2010
KNT, I'm glad I started your day with laughter. Addison, are you really coming next weekend?
I will take you to all the candy stores in the city. Noon on a Saturday is not too early for a picnic. If you are not up by at least 10AM, then
you have wasted the rest of your day. I slept until 9AM this morning. It was a much needed sleep because of my sleep-deprived week.
Stand was a hit! C. Mai, I am sorry to make you endure the horrific image from last night. I promise to perform due diligence moving forward.
The mosquitoes bit me nonstop so we went down to the apartment for some "Glee". Flying back to DC one-way? Talk about luxury!
I am 90% there with the paper. Just a few more tweeks and mission accomplished. This is only the midterm paper. I am spending way too
much time. Yes, I still hate the heat and humidity.
July 17, 2010
Con Ed keeps sending me letters that they want to read my meter. The meter is right outside
my apartment door. If you push the building's front door hard enough, you can let yourself into the building. They have sent me
approximately 10 notices now. They insist that my monthly bill is estimated. I saw the same notice in Jacq's apartment not too long ago
and she's been living in the building for probably 4 years now. I came home last night to see a Con Ed postcard notice on my door to
read the meter on my own. Here's the catch...it was in Spanish. Usually, a postcard is bilingual. However, the postcard was 100%
in Spanish. The last time I checked, this is either Chinatown or Little Italy. Is it really Spanish Harlem? If you want to serve a notice in a
foreign language, how about one
that is appropriate for the neighborhood and let's also consider the tenant's name. Do you see Gonzalez, Lopez, or Nunez on the customer
roster?
July 16, 2010
It took me a few days to recover from the heat at Coles. An earthquake rattles DC. Someone
is big out there and is shaking the ground she walks on. The boys look like Buddhist monks. Remind me to get them those orange and
brown robes...oh and flip flops too. They finally plugged the oil spill...for now. I am spending Friday night working on the paper. Yes,
it's quite pathetic. This summer has been hectic. Our teacher is asking additional questions throughout the week. I don't know what to do.
Just stay calm. David, thank you for the Alaskan postcard. Did you say hi to your friend, Sarah? Speaking of which, how are you, Sandrine?
Yes, I'll take you up on your offer to go go to a party and then drag you somewhere else instead. Are you guys coming next weekend?
Let me know. I'll free up the weekend for a royal welcome. Is the head still bleeding? Poor thing...the first few days of training and
you have a crisis on your hands. I hate humidity and heat.
July 14, 2010
Never again, Coles! I tried you this morning and I cannot do a repeat. If we are
complaining about the humidity outside, how about going downstairs into an enclosed space with no ventilation? Precious,
have fun with your white parents this weekend. You are either the foreign exchange student or the adopted Korean child. Take
your pick. Cass, I do have cable...just not the fancy kind where you can record shows. Somehow, I don't get Oxygen
and the Documentary channel. What's the difference between the Cooking Channel and the Food Network? Cao stands alone
against a plethora of Democrats and Independents. May he succeed in his quest to get reelected. KNT, excellent reviews!
You make me want to see them live. My infatuation with Passion Pit continues. Go on sleepyheads!
July 13, 2010
linger = to remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave.
May 10, 2010
I lost my best friend. Alright, I'll end it there. No more sobbing on this blog. This will
be Debbie Downer's last entry until the next one, which should be lively and uplifting.
May 9, 2010
Happy Mother's Day! J, Ca$$ et al, thank you for packing my share of the FC feast!
May 8, 2010
J can't drink. She barely finished two glasses. I could not find a glow in the dark Virgin Mary.
I'm back to where I was more than a year ago. It's never easy. In a perfect world, everyone is happy. It's never permanent.
May 7, 2010
It's Friday. I slept okay throughout the night. I wanted to take down the a/c unit
again but I'm afraid of all the excess water. Melanie wanted to know where I got the spongebob lunch box. Does she want
another one for Addison? Poor guy can't sleep because of his enlarged tonsils. J, sorry I couldn't come down for some
lasagna. I'll pick some up from you today. Thank you again. Rafael, yes, I was pork dumplings for dinner last night. P, I
hope your pickup goes smoothly. Try not to get a parking ticket.
May 6, 2010
No hard feelings. I wish you the best. Today was a very long day.
May 5, 2010
Mama's got some drama. Yes, I will listen patiently like the good son that I am.
Congratulations, Chang! Cleveland and D.C.? So greedy I tell ya! Addison will become Mr. Addison one day. Be sure to color
every empty space or he will come back and make you do it again. Who wants to see Gaga in Atlantic City on July 4th?
Today is a day of mourning because 3 of the Oceanic survivors died. Will they all get killed off in the end? Was this all
a dream that they all shared?
May 3, 2010
Is it really May already? Last night, I thought I heard an explosion in the middle of the
night. Powerful thunderstorms may have caused the rumbling. After watching "Date Night", a street was blocked off with
a helicopter hovering above. On top of all this, a bomb scare in Times Square over the weekend added to the anxiety. When
will it end? Walking from Essex and Houston home was pleasant. I could not wake up this morning. My attempt at waking up
at 6:30AM on a Monday morning failed as usual. I will try again next Monday. Today is the national holiday for pooing at
your office day. Yes, I said it. I, of course, did not partake in such festivities, but everyone and their grandpa on my floor did.
I am so ready to leave the office.
