August 2, 2008......Hot Mess – Mood: Raw

With real summer weather lacking, July’s summer fun had taken the form of a month long birthday party for yours truly. This year I turned thirty, so of course there was no other option than to celebrate this momentous occasion. July, I decided was gonna be the month to do it up, and to do it up proper; a final farewell to my twenties, which has been a decade of enduring challenges, valuable lessons, and enriching relationships.

Oh the parties.…..there was Reina’s birthday party with DJ Zita at Vessel. There was the Best of the East Bay Express party at the Oakland Museum with me, Liz, and Ryan, which was utter over the top over stimulating fun and included performances by Hottub, a breakdance competition, booths of every festival thing imaginable, and mysterious metaphysical elixir testing. There was the Hottub Addias store party and insanely fun impromptu jam session afterparty at Jen’s. Spent Bastille Day at Death Guild and hula hooped at Annie’s Social a week later. The Illiteracy It’s Pop It’s Art art show with the Miss Crew ladies, Gabriella, Liz, and Alex at the Gray Walls Gallery was good lady-bonding fun, followed by some outrageous behavior and hysterical dancing at July’s Bootybassment.


The CB2 Store opening party with Dan, Dee, Teddy, Adrian, Alex, Vince, Wheeler, and Arthur David was a really chill and happy event, felt like we were kickin’ it in someone’s very well lit living room.

Finally, there was my work event at the W. All the festivities have left me feeling good, but a little tired, and have been somewhat stressed, since I found out I have two cysts in one of my breasts, hopefully and probably non-cancerous, but won’t know more until I have the mammogram and sonogram next week. Interesting enough though, Dan F. is doing research on the aging process with worms and says in his lab findings; the microorganisms actually live longer when subjected to stressful environments cause their survival skills are forced into protective action. This theory is interesting, maybe with all the stress I will live to see 3 more dirtaaaay thirtaaaaay birthday parties!



On my mind this week:


1. Just got the memo: The amber colored wall art in Out the Door SF is actually panes of glass filled with honey. Who would have known…hmmm, I wonder if they ever get ants...



2. God is sushi. The Ritsu Roll at Blowfish Sushi TDF

Paula took me to Blowfish Sushi To Die For, and their Ritsu Roll was indeed TDF as was their oyster shooter in sake, and Peach Nympho Nigori sake cocktail. For dessert, we headed to Citizen Cake where we munched on a variety of sweet confections, my favorite of the bunch was the molasses ginger cookie, since I tend to have a Japanese palate (not partial to super sugary tastes).



3. My mom used to always say in the nineties, “Nirvana is playing, why don’t you go see them.”

I feel slightly nauseous when I watch this, only because this performance is so amazing, and I know I’ll never be able to experience what no longer exists.
Sigh, if only I had listened to my mother.


3. Um, these ladies rap in Tagalog, wtf can beat that?!!!



Hottub at the best of the East Bay Express party was off the hook, but even more of the hook was their show at the Adidas store party, Liz has that footage...



4. This reminds me, I’ll be in Vegas in just a couple weeks.



5.

hehehehehe….I would like to eat these for breakfast tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after, and the day after that, just like I did the day before…


6.



Not quite this pastel, but epic nevertheless. Thanks again to all my homies, Hottub and PJ Pooterhoots, and the Uptown for making my birthday party at Le Heat so damn awesome last week. I’m very happy to have made it to thirty, and feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family and multiple birthday luncheons, parties, and dinners. :)

Sex and the City....June 25, 2008 - Mood: Smoky

Over the past two months, my feet have tolerated the worst of vanity pains as my stiletto collection got reacquainted with the outside world. And this dizzying time in heels was spent doing the following activities: Dance – Bootybassment with the BB Crew, Deathguild and Type O Negative show with Colin; Birthdays – Gemma & Gia, Brandan, Aimee, Danny; Miscellaneous – O’Reilly’s Oyster Festival with Wes, Steve, Adrian and friends, All Night Mission Jazz Rave with Elizabeth, Derek, and the Frenchies, Laney flea excursions, Computer Rock, Ruben performing with Gamelan Sekar Jaya at Yerba Buena Gardens, and Faith and Kevin’s wedding. Joey’s birthday party at Heinold’s First and Last Chance in Jack London (the really really old bar with the slanted floor) was an uber fantastic day of a birthday bonding in custom made “Nards and Bewbs” pics of Joey t-shirts for the party. It included a group cheeseburger attack satiated by ¼ lb. Burger Express on San Pablo, me having to regulate once again on some fools….well that is, one geriatric fool in a very inappropriate booty shorts jogging suit trying to steal the ice cream cone birthday cupcakes, then attribute his greed for taking two of the dwindling cupcakes to a retarded girl. Cupcake nazi perhaps, but then again I am Rodney’s daughter.

I randomly saw the Olympic Torch, which is particularly strange cause I don’t do sports and would never even stop to think about Olympian sports, but that day before I went into work, I just somehow knew I would see it. Jesse and I were standing on a corner of Van Ness talking when I turned and there it was. And I’ve eaten some very decadent meals in the past two months as well. Visits to Waterbar, Two, Townhall, Paxti’s, Mocca, and then ate 2 delicious lobster sandwiches; a lobster roll at North Beach Lobster Shack and a lobster club at the Rotunda. Yes, the past couple months have been so full of decadent delights…which are of course my absolute favorite.

On my mind this week:


1. The strangest thing happened to me the other day, but then again, I’m really never surprised by what happens to me. So while walking out of the bus terminal, and minding my own business of course, a homeless man lifted his leg and slowly nudged/kicked me with his foot. Stunned and speechless, I went about my commute.


2. Errico, the club is just not the same without you.


3. Sex and the City. You must go see the new Sex and the City movie if you haven’t done so already. The script is consistently funny, the story line is predictable, but capturing, and Patricia Field’s styling skills are stronger than ever.



4. Sex and fiction are most inspirational.


5. Sexless genius is irreplaceable. R.I.P YSL. Yves Saint Laurent, my favorite fashion designer of all time, died at the beginning of the month in Paris. The world of fashion has suffered a terrible artistic loss. Yves Saint Laurent, master of the modern cut, keeper of class. We are only so lucky to have his legacy.



6. “Don’t touch them, they’re Chanel.”
He,he,he, he....so funny, Miss M.Editrix has said that one a few times...


7. And what is fashion without sex and what is sex without fashion?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0z2TWkwD6M
8. But sexual tension and fashion is the best.

Comfort Food...March 13, 2008 - Mood: Antsy

(She's my favorite R. Crumb character)

February was super low key socially, and all about self help...I helped myself to
some new Chanel glasses, a Marc Jacobs bag, a 1920’s celluloid hair comb with blue crystals I picked up at the White Elephant sale, and some tops for spring here and there. Also helped myself to a couple massages, which did wonders for my back, neck, and shoulders. March so far has been absolutely insane, but really fun, and somehow I have the flu again. So before getting sick, went to the Stork Club with Dee and Anna to see the Belles du Jour burlesque troop and the Gomorran Social Aid, and Pleasure Club show, and oh my god, it was such a good time, guess sometimes you just can’t really beat brass and burlesque, ya know. At the LW caught the Up and Down and caught up with my lovely lady friend Tee, who is moving to Hawaii at the end of the month. I’m sad to see her go, but am happy for her new adventure. Speaking of which, I’m quite overdue for one of those myself.

On my mind this week:

1. Tee I will miss you! And thank god, we are in the same network. I just got some new sunglasses, so I can come visit you on the island and not get blinded by that insane Hawaiian sun, and I’m counting on you to find all the good island eats….

he, he, he….Us on the beach in Hawaii, will be like this, sorta like us in the bars here….he, he, he…;)


2. Vitamin B-12 in liquid form is so amazing. Put it under your tongue for 30 seconds, then swallow. (kinda makes me feel like a teenager again) I highly recommend for anybody who is stressed or whose nervous system may be strained.

3. Yikes, the dirty thirty is coming up in a few months, and I have no idea what to do this year for my b-day…


4. I swear to god, I think I saw R. Crumb two weeks ago. It was a Thursday evening around 7:00 pm, and I had just gotten out of a massage…. So I was on the bus on my way home, when at Post and Montgomery a man caught my eye. In a sea of generic business suits and neo San Franciscan work attire, I saw this older gentleman with a rather large, but well groomed moustache wearing a boater and glasses, and a light colored suit. He definitely looked out of place, but it didn’t seem to faze him.
I was awestruck because the peculiarity of this person and of the moment, it was all so intense, and all together 100% voyeuristic; so selfishly stolen. It maybe lasted for 3 seconds, but it felt like slow motion. Then the thought struck me very randomly, two weeks later: That’s R. Crumb. I mean, after all he was a San Franciscan for many
many years…

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BmeodrEjpvo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlT4QZchxQw

Funny how most people think he’s a total dirt bag, and he very well may be. I think it’s fascinating and somewhat endearing how his sense of blatant honesty is so childlike in its defensiveness...It’s interesting. Sorta reminds me of Dov Charney.


5.

I found this the other day...I love it! My favorite Suede song of all time..."I’m never alone now cause I’m with her and her and her and nobody knows..." :)

speaking of Marilyn, Dee and I love what's about to happen next....


6.

I’m certainly not as moody as Pee Wee when I’m sick…Sick time for me is the only time I have NO appetite, use IM, am quiet, am somewhat docile, and watch DVDs…I can’t wait for my health to improve, life is so boring when you can’t taste or smell it!!

7.

Funny how being sick elicits a regression of the palate…
Comfort foods this week included: Lots of instant noodles (asian kind), Corned beef sandwiches on rye with kraut, pickles, island dressing, mustards and cheese (my grandma used to send loads of these home for us, and I kept seeing pictures of corned beef sandwiches since St. Patty’s day is Monday), cravings for Ramiro and Son’s bean and cheese burritos (Liz and I have been very upset cause they have been closed for a week for repairs), and of course pizza.

Are you there God, it’s me Miss Michelle…February 15, 2008 – Mood: Writer's Guilt.

2008 started out with a bang!! Brought in the new year at Bootybassment at Casanova with Errico, Julia, and their crews. Was a super fun party, definitely got my dance on hard enough for the next month or so. Then me, Dee and Christle had a good time running around Telegraph…felt like teenagers again, especially when I bought this lion hat at the Hat Store, inspired by Christle who bought a kitty cat version. Japanese New Year was filled with a great deal of family bonding and cooking, and catching up at La Pin with me, Dee, Liz, Danny, and Errico, was a hoot. The fun came to an abrupt stop as the January rainstorms catalyzed a most horrific flu, as one afternoon I spent four hours working in sopping wet clothes. However, just hours before getting sick, I enjoyed a superbly delicious chacuterie plate at Spruce with work, and enjoyed Anna’s Moving/Lars’ Welcoming party, which was cheery mingly fun.

Between coughing attacks and foggy brain activity due to being overmedicated with cold medicines, made it out to the Tiki Bar to celebrate Tee’s birthday, and made it out to LA to visit my dear friends, Christine and Sergio in their new North Highland Park house. LA was fun of course, but low key, and a bit challenging considering we were all sick. We did make it out to see the Murakami exhibit at the MOCA, which was on the level of mind blowing incredible. To see his artwork in person and to be able to appreciate the scale, and immense detail, and the genius colorization of his pieces was absolutely awe inspiring. My favorites being, the Reversed Double Helix sculpture and a study on his work process pieced together with scotch tape, swatched with color chips. Tried Pink Berry frozen yoghurt which made me violently ill and then vomit. So it was definitely a trip of artistic highs and health related lows. This past weekend, finally made it out to the LW with Dee and Gerald, and then Sophie cooked an amazing dinner of chili with a subtle, yet strong heat, a green salad with persimmons, and pistachio rice pudding infused with rosewater. I’m totally my happiest when eating, and I’m so lucky to have such good friends to share their foodie love!!



And lunch food seems to be this week’s theme. Dee and I had Petite Robert the other day (best French onion soup ever!) and Jesse came with me to a tasting for work at Ducca today (ambiance and service great! Food, okay).
So after an entire month of being sick, I’m happy to say my health is fine now, my hair is feeling nice as it’s a little cooler and darker, freshly cut and dyed, and I have a couple new pairs of shoes, and some new fancy glasses in transit, so I’m good…well for now. ;)

On my mind this week:


1. Since people hustling me on the street for money has become such a problem in the city, I’ve adopted an Ugly-Betty like approach when it comes to commuting to work; nondescript parka, comfy shoes, an odd head covering…Yep, as the economy gets gradually worse, my outerwear outfits are gonna have to get worse...and more creative as well – hello hobo chic – or should I say hello, “Derelicte!”.

2. There is this new Southwest commercial that has a really amped up dog chasing it tail. When our dog hears this commercial, she goes get all riled up, and lets out these quick territorial barks. It’s really funny, and even sillier to think a million other people must be experiencing something like this too…come to think of it, that is a very strong weapon of mass media. Hmmmm…some crazy person will invent a way to have animals turn on human beings through subliminal messages implanted in TV commercials and internet pop-ups. Yep, mass media and our pets could potentially destroy us all.


3.

And so he butchers the lyrics a bit….but only Trent Reznor could cover Billy Idol and do him proper justice. I think it’s perfect just as it is.

4. Public transit yesterday, (Valentine’s Day), was like a breeding ground for sketch comedy writing.


I saw a tranny that looked like Kelly from Shoes, but somewhat taller. She stood on the bus with a desperately bored expression. She even had the fingerless gloves on, but red and pink striped ones.

Then, within minutes, I was subjected to the most unpleasant auditory experience I think I’ve ever had. From the back of the bus, came a LOUD, wet, nasally voice; a tone of voice with an inappropriate emphasis on each word’s last consonant, and whose carriage was as banal as the words being formed from it. It was creepy and drooly sounding, and people were turning around to see what kind of human being was responsible for the horrible sounds they were hearing. Now during this woman’s painfully dull conversation with her mother I heard, “Oh there are tents pitched in the park at Union Square. They must be having an event there. Yes they must be serving dinner in the tents….. People are gonna start asking me if the store sells fly swatters soon cause it’s that time of the year, and I always tell them we don’t have them. No one really sells fly swatters anymore….. My parents, oh my Mom will cook for my Dad and they’ll eat dinner in front of the TV for Valentine’s Day, catch some late night television and go to sleep…..I’m going to Borders for the next 2 hours cause I LOVE Borders.” And with that, right in front of Borders on Powell, she was gone and the #2 bus was filled with silent relief.

I totally took the asshole card on this one as I tried to capture her voice on my phone’s video camera. Was a failed attempt, and for karma’s sake I’m sure. It’s just crazy how they make people like that.

5. Watched Jesus Camp with Sophie, Jesse, and Patrick the other night. Super disturbing….Like the Hitler Youth, but sloppily dressed.



See, church should be fun, not filled with scared, crying children…
(not really a big Valor fan, but still love this song, it's so dancey, I couldn’t resist!)




6. “Big Louis Vuitton”….limited edition purchase, I did not make at the Murakami exhibit, my willpower was tested, and it was incredibly hard…and while I was looking at the bag, it just didn’t feel right. I told Liz, “It had pink lining, and flimsy handles, and I would destroy it.” I would totally kill this kawaii piece of wearable art….hmmmm, would that classify me as a performance artist?!!


“Smiling every morning, that is life, it is hard job.” And yes, I certainly agree with that statement. :)

Eternal Sunshines of Less Spotted Minds…..December 31, 2007 – Mood: Golden

November came and went faster than a blink of an eye. Started with the Surface Magazine Avantguardian party, pre-Thanksgiving drinks at the LW, Computer Rock at Laslzo’s with Liz to see Ryan and Justin spin. Melinda’s cocktail/Capp’s birthday party was fun, then sat for two photoshoots in Marie Antoinette gear for the Dee. Went to the FIDM alumni Holiday party at Etiquette, had my work holiday party/event at Azie which included seeing Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza. Bought a cool and creepy (my favorite combo)
Pinocchio Sculpture by Alexander Bell at the Creative Growth Art sale. Saw the Up and Down and the Struts play a show, and made gingerbread houses with the fam. Liz’s annual karaoke birthday party was riotous fun as always, and Christmas was full of holiday cheer and good eats, great gifts, and more karaoke. Also got a new mattress this month, and am getting the best sleep I’ve had in many years, which I feel is an excellent way to end 2007. Speaking of which, it was a productive year. My job works, my shoe collection has doubled, dated a bit, and being the Misscrew Beauty Editor has been great fun, so things have made a nice progression. Hopefully 2008 will be a copious year full of happiness, good luck, love and well being, and also of course, smiley faces, unicorns, rainbows, Marc Jacobs and cashmere.

On my mind this week:

1.
It’s not the Christmas holiday for the Kwan girls without some of this:



2. Started the “Ah my Gawd Files ” on misscrew.com. Waaaaaaah! It’s pretty wrong how badly I want the new Chanel earmuffs!! http://www.misscrew.com/blog/?p=1422



3. Liz came over and helped me trim my tree and apparently, according to her, I have naughty ornaments that like to twist around, and not face forwards, and apparently we need “little mini ornament whips” to keep them in line...he, he, he, I’m so lucky to have silly friends!!

4.

I really like this video. And it’s one of the few DVDs I actually own set to two of my favorite artists.

5.

Dee reminded me of this the other day….ha, ha, ha... Gotta luv dem B girls!

6.

I don’t lust for people very often, but ah my gawd….he is god AND a side of muscles.


7. Parts of my life were like this in 2007:


Maybe 2008 will be like this:


8.

American cheese at its best. Cheers to a glorious 2008!!

Ode to...Peanuts....November 3, 2007 - Mood: Diurnal

Did lots of catching up the past few weeks. Started with drinks at the Tiki bar with Ruben and Ryan, then later with Jenny, Matt and Darrel, and drinks also at the LW, and some La Pin with Tee. Anna’s birthday party at Joaquin Miller was a good time, learned how to play croquet despite the rave going on next to us (they actually had a PA system! Wtf?!), which decimated Joey’s plan for croquet and picnicking to 60’s French pop. Bootybassment that same night with the homies, Danny and Errico, and then more late night Lapin. Did a tasting at Azie for work with David; all I have to say is their Kobe beef skewers are like heaven on a stick, and then went to the glam.com event at Etiquette with Misscrewers, Gabriella and Liz. Went to the LW’s Halloween party as Rachel from Bladerunner, deciding Barbarella will get her debut next Halloween. The earthquake a few nights ago had me and Dee hugging in my bedroom doorway like two scared orphans. Hmm, maybe next year we can be Siamese twins or something for Halloween……Went to the De Young with Dee and Ingrid to check out the Nan Kempner exhibit, my favorite pieces included her gold Yves Saint Laurent bubble cape, the Gres dresses, the Halston feather jacket, and a harlequin leather jacket trimmed with mink.



After had tea at Ritual and then ate dinner at Luka’s for the first time in ages. The Chow Nasty house costume/birthday party was a blast and included a dance party, and an impromptu show. One more birthday party to go and I’m officially done birthdaying for this week...Okay, I’m ready for silent retreat time and my aromatherapy now.

On my mind this week:

1. Was so glad to make it out to the last Bootybassment! Always a great party and always guaranteed to run into familiar faces!! I got my dance on hard, thanks to Dimitri, and the homeboys, Danny and Errico, and as evidenced by the condition of my shoes the next morning…and my shirt (bartender split three drinks on it, which usually gets me kinda riled, but I was having so much fun I wasn’t even trippin’!!)

2. The Dee and I and Danny too apparently got caught up watching the PBS documentary on Charles Shulz the other night….by the end of the documentary we were both in tears..... The man was the cleverest storyteller and an absolute genius when it came to dialogue, and his sense of humor was extremely sharp as well. It’s unfortunate his personal life had been so problematic.


3. mmmmmmmm, good ol’ Beethoven.



4. Our Juanita’s sessions are the best! Errico, Elizabeth, Danny, me, and now my sis all converge in the back of the restaurant for our meetings far, far away from any children…I swear, if those walls could talk.


5. I ordered new business cards for myself the other day and was totally reminded of this…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoIvd3zzu4Y


6.

This performance of Heartbeats is so incredible...even better than the recorded version….what the hell was I doing, why didn’t I go to this show?!!!?!

7. Not a bad horoscope for this week:
You’re a star—and so am I. I’m a genius—and so are you. Your success encourages my brilliance, and my charisma enhances your power. Your victory doesn’t require my defeat, and vice versa. Those are the rules in the New World—quite unlike the rules in the Old World, where zero-sum games are the norm, and only one of us can win each time we play.

In the New World, you don’t have to tone down or apologize for your prowess, because you love it when other people shine. You exult in your own excellence without regarding it as a sign of inherent superiority. As you ripen more and more of your latent aptitude, you inspire the rest of us to claim our own idiosyncratic magnificence.

Thieves Like Us…October 15, 2007 - Mood: Curious

Being sick put a quick halt to the type of serial socializing I had been
doing the past few weeks. Was feeling all stir crazy; indoors, congested, and coughing for days on end, so when I started to get my sense of smell back, went to Lanesplitter and the Parkway with Sara, Jason, and Dee to see Fightclub. Later that week, ended up out with Julia, Trang, and Dee at Easy, then at Lucky Lounge in Lakeshore, and then did late night at La Pinata, again. Wellness saw me off to the Folsom Street Fair with Dee, Gerald, and Steven. Last week was a very intense and busy week, work was crazy and my Dad’s 60th birthday party planning took up any free time I had in between. The party itself was a definite success, a Chinese banquet with 50 birthday song party poppers, leis, gummy worms & Swedish fish goodie bags, and life-size sea creature toys. My Dad and the family had a blast, and I was happy that they had such a good time. This past week saw taco truck and brown bagging bonding with Danny and Liz. Worst part of the week was when I pulled a muscle in my shoulder while sleeping, so bending my neck and using my right arm was pretty much out of the question for a few days, but I'm bck to better now, think I was healed by the power of the homemade churro....Hallelujah!! I’m back.

On my mind this week:

1. Sorry to have missed Sophie’s back to School party. Lungs weren’t giving out hall passes that night. Homemade cookies, milk, cocktails…..wahhhh! :(


2. Tee and Dee think I’m gross cause I revealed my secret crush on Criss Angel to them…Yes, so I have a thing for magical wizards…used to have a thing for Houdini too when I was a kid…and yes, a magical wizard to pack my travel bags would work out nicely…


3.

The pressure is on!! Eeeeeeeeeakkk, Halloween is only a couple weeks away!


4.


Absolutely nothing contrived about this at all. Pure loving perfection, as sparkling and beautiful as the first time I heard it, twenty one years ago.

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ndoIgeBZww



I’m a firm believer that things have feelings too…