Category Archives: i-can-read

I’m Goofy and I Know It

I saw the most incredible thing while traveling last week:

It’s a dude using a pay phone. A DUDE USING A PAY PHONE. I obviously had to take a picture. What I was unable to capture (to my dismay) were the moments before he picked up the phone, when he read the instructions and then looked for change. HE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Well, either he didn’t read the instructions well enough or no one was home because he never did speak to someone. Poor guy. I probably should have offered my assistance; he seemed to have trouble counting his change, too. I was not a good citizen at the moment. Plus, I was too busy giggling about it.

I caved and bought a pair of TOMS:

They’re comfy but let me warn you that I had to exchange my original pair for a half size smaller than my usual size. I’m a dumbass for not listening to my friend Monika when she told me to get a half size smaller. I do like them, but… how do I put this delicately… I have to be careful what outfits I pair them with because with the wrong pants or look, I basically look like an Asian refugee or female prisoner. This has to do with their slipper-like look, the fact that I’m Asian, and the fact that I have tiny feet (my TOMS are a size 5). TOMS gives a free pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair bought; Monika joked that I was one of the free pair recipients. Yes. That’s how they look on me. I’m wearing them anyway, dammit.

I finally finished reading Zeitoun. Wow. It’s so quietly powerful. I admit that I’m fiction’s bitch; it was Dave Eggers’s name that made me pick up Zeitoun more than anything else (yes, yes, ironic since he doesn’t really write fiction). I think it’s a really important story, and I would encourage you to read it. I started my next book, which was recommended to me by my friend Jen:

So far, so good. I may actually finish this one by next year…

This is nearly blasphemous, but I haven’t been keeping up with TV much lately. Mad Men is the only show I faithfully watch, but I did miss last night’s episode. It’s so good and Sunday nights are a perfect TV night for me. Plus, it’s Mad Men, people. If I’m only going to keep up with one show, it had best be Mad Men. Other than that, I’ve been marathoning Doctor Who. After Martha’s last episode, I wanted to pause before getting into the Donna episodes and the end of Tennant’s run. I feel like such a Who nerd for wanting to prolong Tennant’s run for as long as I can even though I’ve seen it all already and I’m a fan of Matt Smith’s doctor. Hahahaa, are you reading this? I can’t believe I’m talking about Doctor Who. Anyway, I still wanted something British, but more stiff and romantic, so I watched (for the first time) the BBC’s Pride & Prejudice miniseries:

Ewwww, Colin Firth! Stop being so sexy with that look and your dark curly hair and acting all snotty but then being all wonderful… I take it back, Colin Firth, please let me have your babies and is it okay if I call you Mister Darcy? Nothing will ever beat this adaptation! Disclaimer: I am not a Jane Austen nerd so take my assessment with a grain of salt. I loved it so much that I almost watched it again immediately, but there are other things to enjoy, such as Audrey Hepburn. I’ve never seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I know, I know! How lame of me. However, I did start by watching Sabrina and Audrey Hepburn is so pretty and petite and I hate her guts now.

In non-TV entertainment, I was uber elated to hear that the Art Institute will have a Roy Lichtenstein exhibit from May 16 through September 2. I fell in love with Lichtenstein when I saw a huge print of one of his works hanging in my boss’s office years ago. It’s such great Pop Art and I need to make sure I haul my ass downtown to see this one. Who wants to go with me?

Finally, and also in non-TV entertainment, I attended my niece’s dance recital yesterday.

Isn’t she sweet?!

Nah. She’s a goofball, just like her aunt. Alright, gotta go. I’m eating a mango and it needs my undivided attention!

Currently

My department at work is really into engagement. Therefore, we have a book club meeting of sorts tomorrow. Required reading on top of the rest of the crap I have to do is just want I need.

Work has been challenging and there’s no relief in sight. Therefore, I am so glad that I have a weekend getaway planned. Woohoo! I’m going to Toronto to visit one of my favorite people. I will probably be exhausted when I get home Sunday night, which should make work on Monday really interesting, but the change of scenery and face time with a good friend is so completely worth it.

Here I am, looking all confused while wearing my glasses. I wore my glasses yesterday as part of my Professor Melissa costume since I had to give that presentation. What do you guys think? It’s nice to wear glasses instead of contacts once in awhile, especially since I have a pair that I like. I also got my face threaded today. I kind of miss my bushy eyebrows but I don’t miss my Tom Selleck mustache. Threading is awesome and Patty, my threading artiste, is awesome.

Do you like these earrings? So do I! I just got these in the mail from my pal Jen, who handmade them. LOVE LOVE LOVE. There’s nothing listed in her Etsy shop right now, but contact her if you’re interested in seeing more. Yes, really!! I have several pairs of earrings made my Jen and a pretty turquoise necklace, and I love all of it.

April is coming to a close soon. Time passes too quickly. Way too quickly. The good news is that I can see and feel how much I’ve changed in the past week and month and months and especially in the past year. It’s nice to take a step back, evaluate myself, and feel pride in who I am. And I can only get better. I’ve still got more oomph to put into my efforts of getting stuff done and being a better and happier person.

The best way to describe how I feel right now? I kind of feel like Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles, right before this moment:

She had a shitty day that didn’t end so badly and then she started to feel pretty awesome about herself and then Jake Ryan shows up at her sister’s wedding after having looked for her all night and morning. I wonder if my Jake Ryan is looking for me… I LOVE YOU, JAKE RYAN. Pick me up in your cool car. Or, I can pick you up. Despite the title of my blog, I can drive.

Currently…

…Listening To:

It’s been a Personal Jesus/Strangelove/Just Like Heaven type of week. I guess that’s why I streamed Mixed Emotions by Tanlines nonstop on the days that I forgot my iPod at home this week. Thank you for the first listen, NPR! I am painfully behind on The Nerdist Podcast but try to make it a point to listen on my drive home from work. Hey, I have tickets to see The Nerdist guys next month. I need to make sure I’m caught up on all the inside jokes.

…Watching:

I felt the sudden urge to re-watch Everwood a couple weeks ago. I started with season 3 and am nearly done with the 4th and final season. This show was really kind of out there but still entertaining and touching. I didn’t skip any episodes, which I did during a recent Felicity re-watch. However, I do feel the need to say that the character of Amy Abbott, portrayed by Emily Van Camp, is pretty damn annoying: she’s pushy and selfish and presumptuous!

Reading:

I find that people either love Dave Eggers or hate him. I fall into the former camp. I spotted Zeitoun in a bookstore at O’Hare before a flight I took over a year ago. I didn’t start reading the book until three weeks ago. I shamefully don’t make time to read these days unless I’m headed downtown via the CTA. So even though this book is a quick read, I’m still not done with it. That should be remedied on or before my next appointment downtown, which is in a couple of weeks. In addition to this, I’m trying to stay on top of The Week.

…Awaiting The Release Of:

Guys, I can’t EVEN. I rarely watch movies in the theater anymore. I wanted to see a movie so badly this weekend just so I could practice being a movie theater goer. Yes! Really! I’m trying to figure out if I want  to watch with someone else or if I should go alone. There’s a lot of crying potential so I’m thinking I might go alone.

And this has been an update from i-cant-drive.net. Good night/day/whatever and good luck.

I Can Totally Read A Real Book If I Want

I’ve been discussing books with friends lately, and I try to pretend that I know what I’m talking about and that I care about, like, literature or whatever. I do! I like to read brilliant books and have smart discussions.

But, sometimes, I just want to read a book for mindless entertainment. So… the latest book I read was Suck It, Wonder Woman by the delicious Olivia Munn. Don’t judge. She’s cute and funny and, as far as I can tell, she actually has a brain.

This book made me laugh AND cry, which was a little embarrassing since I read it on a plane (cover to cover in less than two hours, people). It may seem a bit: “Seriously you guys, I might be a hot chick but I’m really a big dork–just like you!” But I buy almost every word she wrote. Will it change my life? Not really. And I do have one complaint. It becomes evident that the book is directed toward a male audience, which I guess I can understand, but I felt a little ripped off as a female reader. There are full chapters devoted to giving advice to guys… something for the ladies would have been nice.

I don’t know why I even wanted to read this book. I guess it’s because I just find Olivia Munn to be entertaining. I’m not a crazy fan or anything, but I was interested in what she had to say. Her Asian-ness is another thing that draws me to her. She celebrates her ethnicity—-it’s still a celebration even when she pokes fun at it—-and I think that’s great.

Yeah, so, like… if you’re looking for something light and funny to read, check out Suck It, Wonder Woman by Olivia Munn. I enjoyed it and I hope you do, too. Just don’t tell the ladies in my Book Club.

Kindle Thoughts

I never seriously considered buying an Amazon Kindle until I thought about how nice it would be to take one with me on a vacation. I always like bringing a book or two with me when I travel. The problem is that those books usually become a burden. They’re an extra thing to lug around and I sometimes wish I had brought another book instead.

Thankfully, I do have the Kindle app on both my iPhone and iPod, but I kind of hate reading from it. I hate the font and the devices are really tiny for book reading, but I do appreciate that I can read it without any light. Other things that make me reluctant to buy a Kindle: I prefer to read things in print when possible. Top that off with the fact that I have a ton of print books that I haven’t read yet, and the Kindle doesn’t seem like a practical solution. Oh – and top THAT off with the fact that you still have to pay for the damn books, and you can’t give them away or lend them to a friend when you’re done reading them.

I guess what I’m trying to say is… can someone just give me a Kindle for free and, like $100 toward buying books for it? Thanks.

Read it and Weep… and Laugh

Whoa. I finished reading another book. This is another one that my friend Tammi lent me forever ago. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a funny and touching book. It’s a motivating story, a sad one, a brave one, and one that anyone can relate to. It’s another easy read, but one that I’m eager to read again. I want to give copies of it to everyone I know! I couldn’t put this book down. It made me laugh and it made me cry. My favorite line in the book:

If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing.

The book is full of truths – truths that are simple but easy to forget. Sometimes all we need is encouragement, support, someone telling us not to give up. Life can suck, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t live it and that you don’t deserve better. Yeah, it sounds cheesy. But trust me when I say that this book is an enjoyable (and sometimes darkly realistic) way to remind yourself about all the good and cheesy stuff in life.

Don’t Let My Mama Read This

I just finished reading Don’t Let My Mama Read This: A Southern Fried Memoir by Hadjii. It is a hilarious memoir with great stories about growing up. I may have little in common with Hadjii on paper, but he is extremely relatable as well as sensitive to any readers who may not be able to remotely relate to him. Hadjii’s storytelling style is casual, real, and did I mention hilarious? I am not exaggerating. It is laugh out loud funny–like, if you’re on the bus or train, people will think you are a nut bag because you are laughing like a lunatic. It’s also touching and smart.

I highly recommend that you buy, borrow, or download this book onto your Kindle right the fuck now (unless you hate laughing).

Super special thanks to Tammi for lending me the book. We were together when she bought it and I remember that it was the blurb from Roger Ebert that made it a must-read: “We were reading it aloud during a car trip and were laughing so hard that we had to pull off the road for safety. Honest.”

Reminder: I Like to Read

I like reading and I have a ton of books. I haven’t read most of them. I want to, I intend to, but I have had some for years and haven’t looked at them since I bought them.

Last night, I finally finished reading Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. I started reading this book nearly six months ago. It shouldn’t have taken that long, especially since I enjoyed reading it. Furthermore, this book was given to me by one of my dearest friends (danke, Ms. Watts), which made me want to read it even more.

I finally got through the last third of it in the past couple of days because I scheduled time to read it. I promised that I would spend at least one hour a day reading. Not only do I find that I want to read more, I’m less drawn to watching TV. I tap my foot waiting for a show to be over so that I can turn off the TV and read.

It’s silly but I felt a great sense of accomplishment after completing the book. I was proud to write my name under my friend’s on the inside cover, because I had finally earned it.