The Abbey - Nominated Best Gay Bar in the World by MTV's Logo
So how do they celebrate?
Free stoli from 9PM-Midnight. Happy Tuesday!
My friend took me to The Abbey, parking was a breeze and there was no line. It was crowded, but comfortable. I was surprised it wasn't more packed because of the free alcohol, but I guess it was a Tuesday I was introduced to some friends and surprise suprise they turned out to be folks I already knew from the bay. Ugh... let's continue to shrink the gay Asian world. The venue was crowded and of course there were needless muscley white go-go dancers. Blah... get out of the way... you pieces of meat!!
I had such a great time... bonded with some folks who worked in the same industry and planned a hotpot event with them. Got some numbers merely for networking and had a great buzz for the rest of the night.
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After I had Pho in Korea Town. And I was so confused. Expecting to order in Vietnamese, I was interrupted by my friend who ordered Pho in KOREAN!!!!!!!!!
WTF. My people's food is being exploited!!
Did it taste different? Naw, it was still delicious and plenty of noodles were served, but I was still in shock when the only thing I can say in Vietnamese confidently was compromised because the waiter was the incorrect ethnicity. Blasphemy!!!!
But the thing is.. i think it would have been better as a Korean interpretation of Pho.... not some carbon copy... it could have used some Kim Chi or something. It's like plagiarizing. If you're going to copy the essay at least rearrange the words. Gosh.
Such a strange feeling.
I got home at 2AM and got to work at 8:50AM and jammed...
I am excited to come home this weekend and excited to see friends and family!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Going Out on Tuesday
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Switching to Mac????
This is causing me a lot of stress. And with Black Friday/Cyber Monday coming up the pressure to buying a new computer at a great price is rising.
I have always been a PC user and this recent MAC campaign about Windows 7 has really affected me. Bottom line: I want something that lasts.
But why is the cost difference so substantial? For the cheapest Mac I would have to put out 1k. The PC that I'm considering is a Toshiba NB205 which is retailed at $375. 38% of the cost of a MAC!
I'm all getting my money's worth, but considering the difference, is it worth switching computers? My roommate is right, one of the biggest reasons consumers stick to PCs is that they are scared to switch and I'm one of them.
I'm also scared to put out 625 more dollars than I have to.
It's like saying that BMW is nice, but this Civic will do me just fine.
Should I take the plunge?
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Last time I posted this on facebook and people went crazy with their response:
Monday, November 23, 2009
I Guess If You want to be Sexy, you Don't Smile with Teeth
My friend graciously found me a hair stylist that does house calls. In LA I don't know how to do "suberby things" like get a haircut, change my oil and shop at costco... so this house call was much appreciated.
I told the very attractive Asian hair stylist that he could what ever he wanted with my hair. He responded, "I don't want to waste your bangs, so I'm going to keep it and give you a very 'Mod' look." The result: Thick bangs, grown out faux hawk tail and clean sides. I stared at his tattoos and muscular arms as he cut away at my head.
"I have 3 cowlicks."
"I can work with cowlicks" he responded. We continued to make small talk and I found out that he used to be a stylist from San Jose. Awesome.
It was very rebellious to say the least. The response at work was really positive. I could also wear it up if I wanted to look taller:
And like dating ADD, I have hair style ADD and I tried something more adventurous: Curling my hair. Using butterfly clips I twisted my processed hair and left it in for 30 minutes too long.
The result: something 80's, something grungy, something border lining ugly and cool... but probably more ugly since the only one person at work said something while others ignored my cry for attention.
Thank you GeneticBoi for the awesome tutorial! I guess I left it in for too long and it wasn't as fluffy!
Tomorrow I'm gonna slick it back, like I did when I was in Chinatown. I'm thinking it would look good with a vest?
Cheers to not having boring spikes.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Work Keeps Me Busy
...so I don't have much time to blog on the weekdays anymore.
Big project, small project, back burner project, decorate multiple cubes for people's birthday, Thanksgiving Potlock...clean up, set up... it has been endless. A part of my team was at the office until1:30AM the other day.
At least there was time for some Cirque du Soleil
No photography was allowed during the show so I took some at the beginning and end. It was amazing..
Especially the flexible people..yowzah!
Watching My Youth Fad Away
Last night I found myself among undergraduate gay Filipinos at a nightclub on the pier. As they bumped and grind, shook and shaked, touched... kisss... bent over... basically have sex on the dance floor to the tracks of Lady Gaga, I thought to myself- I'm not disgusted, but rather amazed because at one point this used to be me.
I joked to Ern. "OMG YOUTH, ENERGY!!!!" And it's true. Among these children I am an old man and the "body roll" that I was so pretentiously showing off to my office mates the other day did not come close to matching the rhythmic vibrations that resembled music video love making.
I haven't danced dirty in so long. I haven't shoved anyone against the wall and dancing innocently to the sounds of Rihanna in ages and it's reflecting how much older I've become. I was sad, but realistically thinking that once again it's something you don't return to. Like visiting campus... the strange feeling of, "I miss you... but what am I doing here?"
We have better things to do.
==
Before that I shopped, ate, watched Julie & Julia at the 2 dollar theatre and viewed an improv show with Alysia.
Check check check.
Julie and Julia is a great movie. I feel love with the husband who was uber sweet and selfless. I feel in love with Meryl Streep who is a phenomenal actress and I re-fell in love with food...
I was talking to Alysia about all the good food in Berkeley that I haven't tried. In college, eating well was low in priority. I must return to my college town and sample some flavors. But for now farmers market pizza and Birds rotisserie chicken will fill my stomach.
I'm exhausted.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Somewhere....
Somewhere in Hollywood Heights...
I found myself with charming people somewhere in the Hollywood hills. They were much older and established, yet behaved young and vibrant. I arrived late and dinner had already been served at this intimate party. Wine was scattered and cigarettes were shared. The view was breath taking and the residential street was secluded from the noise of Hollywood on Friday.
It felt... European. Women in loose clothing, men with facial hair, jazz in the background, laughter echoed. Topics of discussion revolved around being straight forward, pets and politics. "What's your favorite language?" I was asked.
"French"
"Ahh yes, French is also my favorite language, but as Americans we will never have the right pronunciation...same with reverse... 'Bonk' what the hell is a 'Bonk?'" Charming laughter followed.
"...what is a 'bonk?'" I asked naively.
"BANK!! It's how the French say bank and no one knows what they're talking about!" She sips her wine and smiles again contagiously.
At that moment, the smell of cigarettes that soaked the room did not bother me. I was used to brushing off cigarettes as needless cancer sticks, but at that moment I wanted to share a marlboro just so that I can have smoke rising from my fingers while I talked about the three sensitive topics that are usually avoided: Politics, religion and money. It would only be right... as the sounds of the saxophone leaked from their speakers.
I always thought that women who smoked were unattractive, but my beliefs were proven wrong at that moment because these women were sexy and alluring and the cigarette served as an essential prop to their seduction.
I graciously thanked the host who kissed me on the cheek, "anytime." And I drove to my next destination.
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Somewhere in Chinatown...
I was invited to somewhere in Chinatown for a birthday at a nightclub. I almost killed people while inputting an address on my GPS on the 101 South. Initially I was going to get a cab so that I could get smashed, but I decided that I should save getting smashed for other events where my alcohol is paid for.
The club was in the middle of Chinatown. I felt like I was on the set of Rush Hour because the square was embellished with lanterns, lights, dragons and Chris Rock.
The birthday boy was my coworker and I loaded up on cheap alcohol until 11PM. Loose and ready to go, I found officemates and made small talk. "Do you dance?" I shouted over the hip hop. "a little."
I used my staple lines: "do you body roll?"
"no, show me"
I do my body roll and my officemates gasp, "that was amazing! Teach us." They were conservavtive Asians who've never moved their body so "sexually." *gasp*
I spent 10 minutes trying to teach, but really I was flirting because you can't teach a body roll in 10 minutes, you have to be trained by swimming the butterfly in high school.... loosening your abs until undulation comes naturally. "It looks like I'm dancing, but I'm actually doing crunches." This elicited a giggle. I'm so impressed with how alcohol allows me to communicate confidently.
I met some sexy Vietnamese girls outside while getting a bacon wrapped hotdog. "I love your outfit." And as if I lit her fire she smiled and expressed how I should meet her gay friend Steven who has a "great personality!!!" Apparently only gay guys compliment her outfits. And how interesting looking is this guy that his personality has to emphasized? I was very interested and exchanged numbers.
And of course someone was wearing my staple striped clubbing shirt. It's almost as common as converses. Too buzzed to be mortified... sort of.
==
Somewhere in Echo Park...
I invited some of my coworkers to my house for some after party and I made them my famous quesadilla which they devoured. We played some board games after they took the grand tour of my house. Shit.. I forgot to ask them to sign my guest book. And they left at 4:30AM when my roommate asked us to be quiet because he had work the next day.
I ripped off my clothes, didn't bother to brush my teeth and fell asleep in my Queen size bed...
TGIF.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
While Music is Played
"Ko-Shu: Honey and pear nose. Aged 10 years while music is played"
I wonder if the drink would taste "classic" if Chopin was playing, "rustic" if Garth Brooks was playing or "slutty" if Britney was playing. Either way... I guess it's like tenderizing your meat, but instead it's stimulating your liquor.
RIDICULOUS.
This Cod was amazing
So what is "Peruvian Sushi." Basically it's citrus-y sushi with a ceviche twist. Delicious!
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Wednesday thought:
I get more coworker to visits to my desk because I carry community hand sanitizer.
==
This passed Sunday I had brunch with some fabulous gay people
The dynamic was so interesting because there was so much wit as well as humorous sexual innuendo. It was like a group of gossipy women meets a group of horny men in the locker room. I guess that makes gay.
Some ideas stuck out during the fluid conversation amongst these "queens."
"Do you hug with genitalia?" I guess when you really embrace somethings gotta meet in the middle.
and
The idea of being Geographically Undesirable. I've said it before: gays will travel to see each other, but I guess I'm not much of a minority as I thought when I said that I don't believe in traveling.
"Geographically Undesirable." I like that term. Maybe that's why I'm excited about Grindr... especially in LA- it's such a chore to travel to another neighborhood. I can't wait to discover gays that are in proximity using that app. YAY more visitors to my home, let's have a movie nights and do things on the weekdays!
==
Sorry for the sporadic thoughts as of late. I haven't had cohesive thoughts in a while.
i just got a macbook yesterday!
save money, buy a cheaper PC when windows 7 comes out. its got some really good reviews.
you'll love the mac, don't worry.
YOU CAN SURF PORN WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT VIRUSES.
I've been using this 5 year old Dell Inspiron and the fact that the speakers dont work, the CD drive doesnt work, the fan is busted doesn't bother me at all.
With that said.. maybe I should go with that Toshiba.... and my iPhone can serve all my "mac needs."
Thoughts?