Monday, July 25, 2011

Playing Ketchup

I've spent the past two days catching up on my writing for The Undeniables. If it weren't for my helpful guide "The Writers Block book" I'm not sure if this would have been possible. Fortunately, it's therapeutic to write fiction and rewrite reality to fiction ;)

My brain feels really spent. I'm going do some editing later. It just feels good to be creating stuff again.

Of course like the rest of the world. I'm consumed with the foreseen death of Amy Winehouse. Her second album Back to Black was the only pop album that I bought in 2006, and at the time I hadn't felt that awakened since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Of course the rest of the world embraced her musical genius, and like I, was unable to fathom why this beautiful girl would squander all of her success on drugs.

It's not that simple. I've avoided reading anything about her in recent years. It was just so sad to see pictures of bloodied fights with her husband and those damn ballet slippers. I remember running into a picture of her walking around the streets on London with nothing but a bra and jeans in tears.

The whole world is speculating on these reasons, and dissecting every possible angle. I can't help, but listen to her albums and get the chills.


AH MAH GAWD!

My friend Alexis.... very talented and very beautiful. Dang girl we should be dating! LOL Jk she's married and has an adorable daughter.

We come from the same artist community, and over the years I've been a fan of all of her plays and just overall pleasant disposition. She's always remains positive and insightful in the most difficult situations. Did I mention she's also funny as fuck?

I follow the MISS Crew blog and when they did a call out for beauty bloggers/contributors. I knew that Alexis would be perfect for the job, so I forwarded her the call out. Yes, everyone... I'm giving myself CREDIT! Damn I should be a talent scout. Teehee.

I always look forward to her meticulous yet accessible beauty posts. She has an enviable medicine cabinet and that I just want to rob. She shares my love for NARS cosmetics and gay men. What a beautiful combo!

Of course it comes of no surprise that Miss Crew snatched her up! She is now a contributing beauty blogger. Check out Alexis' first post for them. If you see Alexis on the street give her a high five. Love you girl!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Grieving Really Extreme

It's been a shiteous week. This past Wednesday I took the GRE and I straight FUBAR'ed that shit. If I took the test with my eyes closed, I probably would have gotten the same score. Remember that feeling you had as a kid whenever you got lost in a store?

You're choked up and confused, with no idea where you are supposed to be. There I was, in an air conditioned room, with a frozen face, and forgetting every single thing I studied for the past four and a half months.

My stomach was grumbling and my head was spinning. I had ten very difficult math questions left with only five minutes on the clock. I guessed the shit out of a section that I probably could have passed if I had more time.

I completed my test, my score was calculated, and I exited my station. The test site receptionist politely asked, "How did you do Christina?"

"Not so well," I replied.

"Oh." Silence.

I walked to my car and cried like someone had shot my puppy and ate it in front of me. A black civic parks next to me and I hear a girl frantically state, " I just want to get this over with!" I put on my shades I cried in a fetal position, because I didn't want my sobbing to ruin her moral.

To say that I'm taking this really hard, is very, super true. I've spent the rest of the week and weekend in my living room, with the shades closed watching Breaking Bad. I've been snappy, irritable, and fragile. My room mate has been delicate in approaching me, and I don't blame him.

I don't know why this is such a hard hit. Well actually, I do know. This time last year I was in a really bad place, which subsequently resulted in my big move to Los Angeles. In the past year I've thrown myself into a fury of self-improvement that would make Tony Robbins proud of me.

As my mom would say, "It's just a fucking test Christina." After I started laughing, she did mention that it was admirable that it was so important to me.

Yes, I know. For some reason it was really important to me. However, as I've learned if something is really important to you, than it takes even more patience and drive to achieve it. I'm taking a month off to give my brain a rest. In three months I'm going to take the test again.

Patience is a beautiful virtue that I wasn't born with, hence why I have to learn it the hard way. Any dream takes an investment. Dreaming about it is the easy part. Working for it is going to take some pain. Oh lord oh mighty let the pain come.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Shabazz Palaces – Belhaven Meridian, directed by Kahlil Joseph


I've been carrying a lot of negativity lately. The triple threat enemies are defensiveness, vulnerability, and self-criticism. On the way to anger-ville, I came across this video via Em C for MISS Crew. Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler, who was 1/3 of the poetically and highly revered Digible Planets, expressed my current emotions so eloquently and unintentionally connected with my inner emo.

"That's what's up."

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Thick Dumpling Skin: The Bootch Edition

Image via: Bicoastal Bitchin

Are you an Asian female who's reminded that she's fat, skinny, losing weight, gaining weight at every family party? Perhaps you were confronted with a scenario where a female family member noted that you were fat and gaining weight, and then proceeded to shove an enormous plate of food in front of your face.

There is a glare on the other side of that plate, even a look of earnestness and approval. So what do you do?

Do you inhale the three delicious helpings of Kare Kare so that your Auntie insensitive will not cry if you don't eat it?

You probably will, because its worth the comfort. You just got called fat. Sure why not, get the extra rice. In fact, grab a fried pork chop while you are at it. Shit, where is THAT cake? Oh there's ice cream? Pile it on!

As much as Asian women use food for approval and comfort we are so quick to call each other fat, the minute someone's body no longer has the silhouette of a 13-year-old boy.

Unlike other cultures, Asians are not accustomed to seeing their families only twice a year. We see them all the freaking time. And as customary as a "Hello," someone is there to tell you the status of your body. You think you have "Thick Dumpling Skin" until you are told you need to lose weight.... from five different family members.

I myself, have punished myself on countless diets and then fell a part at a family party. The spread of fried meats, egg rolls, noodles, makes me feel like a lion set free. Besides, being on a no-carb diet is just ludicrous. I mean the most Asian part about me is that my blood flows with the help of noodles and rice. And hello, stir-fried was not invented by white people so why the hell should I not eat Bon Chon fried chicken!

Hyphen magazine did a great article on Ada Wong, who was a runner up on the weight-loss show The Biggest Loser. Upon reading the article they highlighted a blog called Thick Dumpling Skin. The blog's two founders Lynn Chen and Lisa Lee both talk about their own issues with eating disorders. I was deeply impacted and relieved that two speak about these issues within our culture. In fact, as I'm writing this, I'm devouring a pork chop as we speak.

"Oh you are just too sensitive!" Yeah.. probably. However, these comments cause eating disorders, and just to let you know, people with eating disorders have an earlier death rate than the asshole told them they were fat.

Unless you have inherited the "Asian Metabolism," which is arguably rooted in poverty, farming culture, and possibly war-stricken stress, these issues probably strike you to the core. I would gather that these issues are why an Asian person's relationship to food is rooted in safety and comfort, and not having enough food on your plate would send you in a hunger stricken panic.

It is very American to lament about eating too much food. Whereas many of our relatives experienced famine and war, which could be why our family is so bent on have so much food. Food is beautiful and social. It's such a joy to be around my family and we are all eating, because we take pride in cooking well and being together.

I think every single woman in my family has had a bad day with their body, and even warded themselves before seeing oversea family member. There is an anxiety about being called fat, when you are culturally supposed to be skinny. Fat is a very broad term for Asians. Maybe the rest of American has accepted a size 8, but for Asians that's obese. I'm not sure how issues of body dysmorphia can be addressed in a culture that doesn't even see it. Skinny is the norm, why wouldn't you be a size zero?

We can argue for days about how eating too much is not good, but how about we talk about how snippy fat comments are detrimental? The healthy/unhealthy choices of women are rooted in self esteem. I'm not going to let my daughter, boothebootch Jr, eat a whole bucket of KFC, but damn it. She's not going to be in this madness. I want her to fit other stereotypes such as getting my taxes and finances straight. I'd rather she be a Dr. Boothebootch Jr and not a size zero. See, i'll be a great mother.

My relationship with my family hasn't changed. We are still as close as ever, but it's important that my relationship with food is evolving. Food is beautiful and it brings people together. Asian people shouldn't have a bad relationship with food, it's one of the most beautiful aspects of our culture.

I'm very grateful for Lisa and Lynn and I hope that you all get a chance to follow their blog.

Now eat!


Thao and Mirah

UGH.... I hate the fat head in this picture, but I couldn't crop it out.

Thao and Mirah performed at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles last night.

I've been itching to see some live music, and when I got the invite I bolted out the door.

Los Angeles has plenty of great music, and Thao and Mirah did not disappoint.

They got a great review in the LA Weekly and apparently their show was not to miss. Both women have their own stylish breathiness to their singing. Thao's is very deep and electric whereas Mirah's is very ethereal. While listening to their set I felt a lot of country and folks influences, and there there were some songs where they rocked the fuck out, and it was awesome.

I even got a picture with them! Oh wait.... woops!


There you go!




Saturday, July 9, 2011

Photoshoot with Ann Borja

contact:
e. annaborja@gmail.com
m. 415. 240. 2131
Website

Shot with Canon EOS 50D.








Friday, July 8, 2011

No Facebook Day 95

Peep "Don't 'Like' Me" on KQED's Perspectives.

By Jasmine Ty (Also fellow Bindlestiff Artist)

We no longer live in an age where we have to keep up with the Joneses. No, now with the invention of Facebook, we have the privilege of keeping up with the Garcias, the Spencers, the Changs, the Lees and the Millers. All from the comfort of your own home. We are now in the age of a digital democracy. You have the right to post pretentious status updates, list enviable schools and jobs, show off exotic vacation photos, baby videos and more. You have the right to live the good life for all to see. And because every picture, every post is meticulously selected, everyone has an obnoxiously good life.

I wonder what you do offline. I wonder what your status is overall. Chris is... Dennis is... Heather is... A news feed of what you're thinking, what you're doing every second of the day, political commentaries, pro- and anti-religious sentiments, rambling rants, mundane musings. It's like hearing everyone at full volume, thoughts formerly reserved only for yourself on broadcast for 675 "friends" to hear. Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for what social networking does: reuniting people, helping causes, spreading awareness. But sometimes, I don't really care what you think.

I'm giving up. I cannot compete with your digital self -- carefully orchestrated posts and photos. I cannot keep up with where you are. Karen is at Golden Gate park...in Las Vegas...at the movies. I want a break from "connecting and sharing with the people in my life" as the slogan goes. I want to sit and eat good food without anyone knowing about it. I want to turn off my "share" button and stop announcing my break-ups, make-ups or telling the world "It's complicated." Who cares? I don't want to poke anyone, play Farmville or give you any more access to my digital DNA than I already have. I want to post images only to my mind, only for me to see. Above all, I want to stop referring to myself in third person, stop posting comments and start living a life beyond Facebook walls.

Do me a favor and please don't "like" this.

With a Perspective, I'm Jasmine Ty.


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Favorite GRE Word of The Day

Chimera: An illusion; originally, a fire-breathing she-monster

July Shenanigans

My July has been pretty awesome so far. Although, I've been super stressed about the GRE, I've managed to still have fun this month.

Fourth of July is not really a big deal for me, but in the bay we always go to my aunt's house and she makes steak sandwiches.

My friend Oli had a get together at his apartment in Los Feliz. I'd thought I'd bring bay area auntie flav to party so I bought a shitload of steaks from Vons. The prices for steaks was a steal.

I think I got like 15 steaks for $20. I bought some french rolls and white onions.

Grill the onion and add some mayonnaise and you have a really great steak sandwich. So there were about seven of us, and we killed ALL of the steaks.

Did I mention we also had bacon wrapped hot dogs, bacon wrapped bake potatoes, watermelon, prosciutto and peaches, cucumber salad, and Thai rice?

We were eating enough to feed a village, and my stomach was mooing all the way home. The roof at Oli's apartment is at eye level with the Dodger's stadium, and we were able to catch the fireworks. It was awesome!


The apartment also has peacocks walking around. Here's the alpha peacock finding refuge from all of the noise.
My friend Judith also celebrated with us. One of my favorite bloggers Yoshi did a post about hand pulled noodles, and it's been stuck in my brain since. I inserted the craving into Judith's head, so we headed down to the San Gabriel Area to find some. I played detective Yelper, and found Kam Hong Garden. The food here is AMAZING. Huge portions, fresh noodles, and the dumplings are to DIE for! I'm talking like an annoying yelp review, but I fucking swear this place is the business. Please be jealous of the pictures below.


My amazing shrimp and pork dumpling looking at me and taunting my weakness.

Roommate is KO'd by the Noodles
Slurp Slurp Slurp! Sluuuuuuurp!
My Friend Ava also stopped by LA for the Backstreet Boys/NKOTB concert. She's been a die hard NKOTB Blockhead ever since I've known her. She and I ate at Bottega Louie, which has the best pasta pomordoro this bootch has ever tasted!

Yes, this license plate is for real.
Yes, those are the autographed signatures of all of New Kids, except for Jordan.

Me and Miss Ava!

The Undeniables

I have three blogs now. It's madness, but I swear that I'm not that narcissistic.

All of my UCLA courses have ended, and I'm eager to keep my writing momentum going, so I joined an online writing workshop called The Undeniables. My friend Cindy previously joined the group to showcase academic writing and she highly recommended the series to me. All of the participants are expected to create their own wordpress blog and create a post every day.

One of the biggest challenges about being a great writer, is not making the time to do it. The greatest writers of our time had a schedule. I read that Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway always began their writing at dawn. Well I'm still asleep at dawn, but if I can find an hour a day to write then I shall!

I contacted them sometime in late June about the next session. I thought I would have a month to dilly dally, but then I got an email back on June 29th: We are starting in two days! Are you up for the challenge? Ak! I have my GRE? What am I going to do? Well I made time for it, because that is what am supposed to do as a writer. Make time to write.

The other participants in this series are amazing. Please click here to check out the other scribes.

Here is my third blog dedicated to flash fiction. Enjoy!