Super Awesome Mahjong

Was really bored, so was playing mahjong on Yahoo! Check out this awesome hand that I won! 13-fan! You'll probably ask why I didnt do the highest scoring hand for the game (1 and 9 from each suit + each wind + each dragon). I thought about that, but it wasn't going ot happen because I couldn't pick up the 1 and 9s.

Here's a screen capture of my hand

Next time I'm at the Cask and Flagon, I will pay more attention to the people around me.

This is what John Krasinski (Jim from the Office) said in an interview

"

GMMR: Ok, I can not finish this interview John without asking….I live in Brookline and work in Newton (John’s hometown) - so next time you are home, I think I have to buy you a beer. I mean, it’s only fair. You took your time to answer my questions. You up for it? (ed. I will stop at nothing to meet this boy, or at least get him to call me)

JOHN: I’ll meet you at the Cask and Flagon fah shoa, dude."

I've been there a few times....maybe there's a chance of meeting him!

California

I miss In-N-Out #2 Combo with extra crispy fries. I must have such a combo in my stomach within an hour of arriving in LA.

Update: Also want Pastrami Sandwich from The Hat.

Key Office Quotes

Any single cell living organism has to have a spine.

- Michael Scott

The Office

So I'm sitting at home this weekend and watching a lot of The Office on dvd, both seasons. These DVDs are well worth it. They have commentary on at least half of the episodes (and they're actually funny and somewhat insightful) They have deleted scenes for all the episodes. There are some really funny stuff that you just wish it would make it. The packaging is also pretty cool. If only more shows can have this caliber of bonus material!

On a final note:

Determined
Worker
Intense
Good Worker
Hard Worker
Terrific

One of the best posters ever

Cecily Brown

Saw this at MFA today after class. Her paintings are now one of my favorities. Colors are vivid, the forms ambiguous. It requires both examination upclose and far away. Even when you think you know what you're looking at, you don't. There's constant movement on this static canvas.

The one above is probably my favorite of all in the exhibit today. Although her work often falls into the category of erotica, this painting resonates strongly with my ideals of being in love. It's passionate and innocent. I enjoy how the lovers are distinct and melded together simultaneously.

Early Thanksgiving

Every year, I'm used to having fried chicken at Knott's Berry Farm for Thanksgiving. So really, I dont touch turkey, stuffing, or cranberry sauce at all.

Tonight, I just came back from lunch/dinner at Keith's home. (Keith is Rebecca's boyfriend). His mother had invited our apartment and Keith's apartment for a Thanksgiving dinner. The Food was fantastic. Yams topped with roasted marshmellows were yummy. Of course, my favorite dish is always dessert. Had apple pie and pecan pie. I am stuffed.

Jake Ivory's

Went to Jake Ivory's, a dueling piano bar tonight. Super fun! If anyone from out of town is visiting, I'd definitely go there again. Nothing beats some Tenacious D on piano. You know what song I'm talking about!

Update: Just remembered it was super fun to have All American Reject's "Dirty little secret" mashed with Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, we're going down" played on the piano

MFA and Fashion Show 2006

While LA does have my favorite art museum, The Getty, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts should be able to fill that need to look at paintings and sculptures that I regularly have. It's certainly a rising star in my list of favorite places to visit when I have down time. It's big, modern, and have a pretty good breadth. One of the things I've noticed is that it has devoted more space than other places to non-European art. I look forward to seeing Islamic art because I'm quite fascinated by Islamic calligraphy! There's plenty to see and plenty of talks to attend! I'm super excited!

Last night, my sister, mother, and I also visited the Fashion 2006 exhibit. MFA has invited about 10 Fashion houses to display pieces from their 2006 collections. Being the fashionistas (by way of Project Runway) that we are, it was great fun to see beautiful pieces from haute coulture up close (although some are in the ready to wear collections.)

Of my favorites are the Christian Dior, Christian LaCroix, and Rochas collections.

John Galliano for Christian Dior was inspired by Johnny Depp's The Libertine for this collection. It's full for scarlet red decadence and destructed French Imperial costume. Very much like a glamourization of the violence in the French Revolution. It's provacative and beautiful at the same time. There were plenty of great pieces, but my favorite accent was the pearl necklaces that so many mannequins had. It was a white pearl choker (3 strands) but some beads on the right had been painted red. Strings of red crystals also drip down from it. Together, it mimics the blood coming from a partially severed head!

The Christian LaCroix collection carries a air of Spanish Romanticism. It didn't have the shocking value of Christian Dior, but definitely delicate and young. I cant' remember which piece I liked most, but it was super cool.

Finally,the Rochas collection was inspired by Victorian Chimneys. S black and grey dominated the palette. What I liked most about the collection is the development of this color, slowly shifting the color. It had plenty of great details with tailored mensuits and nice silhouettes. It's feminine, but not in that delicate, virginal way like Christian LaCroix. It's feels more mature.

Anyhow, that was super fun!

Family Time

So my sister and my mom had been staying with me since Monday. Their visit was pretty fun.

Although I could not take time off from school to hang out with them too much, I did have the chance to meet up with them for dinner and walk them around Boston on certain occasions.

I've had the best dinners with them. We went to the following places

Legal Seafood - best place for Boston Clam Chowdah
Some Chinese place with a lobster special - not that good but hey, it's Chinese food
Elephant Walk - French and Cambodian food that is awesomeness
Assagio - Italian restaurant that wasn't superb but wasn't atrocious
Mike's Pastry - Most famous pastry place in Little Italy. The Tiramisu is great, but the Neopolitan is questionable. Coffee wasn't all that great (of course by Italian standards)

Anyhow, I'm especially stuffed from last night's Italian food.

Going the Ethnic Route

I went out to have Pho tonight. My friend and I were really missing the selection of ethnic food. Anyhow, even though it's definitely not as good as it is at home, (overpriced and not exceptional), It definite made it super fun and filled this void.

Afterwards, we had time to kill, so we went to a Lollicup. Boba- good! but overpriced once again.

We later joked that if we popped in a Korean soap opera instead of watchign Grey's Anatomy, it would have been so overly asian!

Stupid papers

I'm reading about fly sperm. Why? Because I have to.

YAY, THERE IS A GOD!

Finally heard news that Britney filed for divorce. There is justice.

Can't wait for Britney to get back to her bad self! Hope she doesn't go the "I wish someone will love me" route like Jessica Simpson.

BCMP retreat

Just came back from BCMP retreat. It was at SUCH a nice place in New Hampshire. Everything was free and the staff was really polite and accomodating. The place had one of these crib-style movie theaters lined with Lazy-Boys. I was supposed to share the room with someone, but she never showed.

It's weird to have professors who teach the class in the hot tub with a bunch of your classmates. I meet the PI for a potential rotation there. Anyhow, really fun time!

Death Cab Concert

Just came back from the DCFC concert and it was pretty good. I really liked their set. It surprises me how produced their sound was live. Anyhow, definitely a good time!

Room Decorations

I think I've mentioned before that my room looked very sterile. Just plain white walls, white bed, and white sheets. If the walls were padded, then it'd be more fun, but alas, it's not.

Anyhow, I printed out many of the pictures that I took in my Euro trip and posted them. Now it's a lot more warmer. See for yourself.

Music Updates

A) I'm going to a Death Cab for Cutie concert. I'm super excited

B) Imogen Heap is also heading to town. Thinking of going.

C) New DAMIEN RICE songs posted. "O" was one of the best albums ever because every song puts me on the verge of crying. He's amazing. His songs are making me want to cry again. I love it.

http://www.myspace.com/damienrice