Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Why Are Guys Such A Pain In The Ass?

I don't write about my romantic adventures too much for a variety of reasons. First, my romantic life is virtually non-existent. I, long ago, got really fed up with the game-playing, the second guessing of everything about me and that I could possibly offer, and the plethora of losers out there. This experience didn't help either.

The second reason is that I just got got really tired of talking about it and thinking about it and obsessing about it. I even got tired of talking with my single friends about how they're single and looking for that special guy or girl. I just made a conscious decision to stop thinking about it and do the things I enjoy and enjoy them as much as I can--cook, work out, travel, play tennis, etc.

As all my readers know, I had been talking for a while with this British guy. We got on well, engaged in lots of innocent flirting and always had a lot to talk about. Things seemed to be going well. We liked each other a lot. He was creeping into my head more and more each day. So everything seemed rosy, and I have to admit that I was starting to get those funny feelings whenever I thought about him. But there were some warning signs, which I chose to ignore, perhaps because I liked him too much, or maybe because I under-estimated how much I liked this guy. I kept telling myself that this really wasn't a good idea because he lives in another city, had some "being out" issues, and seemed married to his job, which served as excuses for him being less considerate than what I would say is standard.

For example, one time we were talking on the phone, and his phone just cut off all of a sudden. I was like, "WTF?" I tried calling him back, but his phone went straight to voicemail. I gave up after a couple more tries, and just went to bed. I kind of expected an explanation the next day. Well, actually I was expecting an email or an IM that night, but I didn't hear from him until four fucking days later, and he didn't even mention it. Now, if I were talking with someone, and my phone cut off, I would be mortified, and would explain right way somehow and some way.--like send a short email saying my phone died or something like that. My British friend didn't provide any of that, and didn't even acknowledge it, and finally I asked, and he said something about his phone battery running out. Huh? Why can't you just plug in your phone?

This week, though, he got his final strike. My British friend was in New York yesterday. We had talked on Friday about his upcoming visit and talked about making some plans--dinner or something. I didn't hear from him for the rest of the weekend. Then on Tuesday, I IM'ed him, and no answer. I called him, and left a voicemail. No return call. I sent an email, saying "Hey, did you make it to New York?" No reply.

Now I know he was in New York, and I know that he was around when I IM'ed him because of his changing "status" on my IM client. I'm no James Bond, but I can figure that out.

I fucking HATE when a guy tries to put on a disappearing act and completely leave you high and dry and ignores you, without giving any sort indication of where he stands. It ANNOYS THE SHIT OUT OF ME. If you're old enough to date, you're old enough to tell a guy "No thanks." Don't put the burden on me to figure out how you feel.

I'm really disappointed. I mean I wasn't like head-over-heels in love with him, even at the time when I wrote my funny post about my seducing tactics. I was trying to be pragmatic, realist, level-headed and all those sorts of things. But this whole experience just makes me bitter about guys in general...again.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Tuesday Groove

Here's another groove for a Tuesday. This is a performance of one of my favorite songs. And I am not ashamed to say that it's sung by two little girls (and it's from the the Pokemon soundtrack!), one of whom looks like a cocker spaniel in this video.

Anyhow, like most of my favorite songs, this one has a story for me. When I first started working at the law firm, after I first moved to New York, my late nights and 70 hour weeks started almost immediately. Our caseroom always had the radio on and I kept hearing this song. This song kept me company during those late nights.

But to this day during my constant battles with insomnia (oh it's so much fun getting nine hours of sleep over six days), I still turn to the girls of M2M.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Direct From Switzerland

A year ago when I was in Zurich, I stayed at a pretty nice hotel. And when I left, I took one of the water glasses because I loved them so much. I really liked them because they were really wide, and thus held a lot of volume, but not too tall, making them easy to clean.

I've been needing some new cups because for some reason, in the past two weeks, I have been breaking cups left and right. I don't know what is wrong with me, but I either keep dropping them or dropping something else on to them. And I am now down to only one water glass.

I remembered those cups in Zurich and sent an email to the Park Hyatt Zurich. The kind Purchasing Manager of the hotel replied back with this:

Dear Terence Cho

Many thanks for your Email. Please apologize the delay in reply as I was on vacation for a week.

The water glasses in our hotel rooms are made by SCHOTT ZWIESEL and the complete reference is:

Whiskybecher / Old Fashioned Iceberg
Ref. 652360

I attached a photo for illustration.

Hope this information is helpful for you.

Best regards,

[Name Omitted]

Purchasing Manager

PARK HYATT ZURICH
Beethoven - Strasse 21
8002 Zürich, Switzerland
Let me tell you. This made my day. Finding these special Swiss water glass makes me feel like my life is so rich and full of purpose.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

TCho The Wine Guy

I've been buying a lot of wine lately, like bottles at a time. I took a wine class recently, which is one reason for my wine buying spree. Another reason has been that my British friend and I talk a lot about wines, particularly French wines.

Last weekend, I was at Bacchus, a store which I'm a bit ashamed to say that I really like. The whole idea behind Bacchus is "Wines made simple." And to this day, I'm still traumatized by this wine snob who railed at me for liking this store, telling me that stores like that "dumb" down wine and doesn't respect the art of wine-making and tasting. Well, screw her. I'm not a training to be a Sommelier. I like a store like Bacchus where I feel I could pick any bottle in the store, and really enjoy it.

So last Sunday, I was buying a few bottles. While I was paying, the wine store lady had to take a phone call. It turned out to be a delivery order, and I could tell the lady was annoyed because the store was closing in 15 minutes. I heard her say "68th & Riverside", and my Scooby ears went "huuuuuuuhm!" That's two blocks from my apartment! As I was signing my credit card slip, I joked, "I could drop it off on my way home." To my surprise, the woman replied, "Seriously?!?! You'll get a tip!"

So I embraced my Asian heritage last weekend by making a delivery. I got a $4 tip from it all. Not bad for walking a couple blocks out of my way. I assume the reason the wine store lady was so confident in my ability to handle the job was that I clearly look the part. But there was no tension on my part. If Crash taught me anything it’s that freeing a van full of Asian immigrants into Chinatown at Christmas time instead of selling them on the black market is what helping your fellow man is all about.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

It Was A Bravo Kind Of Day

Yesterday, I saw Goil from Top Design asking some woman for directions. He looked exactly the same as he did on TV. In fact, I think he might have been wearing those same clothes on an episode. I don't know where he was headed. My guess is to go spaz out over another giant towel rack or another dog bed on wheels.




Then for dinner, I went with a friend from college to Perilla, Season 1 Top Chef Harold Dieterle's new restaurant. It was one of the better meals I've had in a while. Everything was so yummy. The standouts for me were the Duck Meatballs, the Farro Risotto and the namesake Perilla Frozen Yogurt. If I had one criticism, I'd have to say that he could have done some more work on the interior design. It honestly looked like he ran out of money and started looking for the cheapest shit he could find.





Towards the end of dinner, I saw Andy Cohen, Vice President of Bravo Programming eating dinner, who I think is so adorable and who must have the best job on the planet.

I feel so ordinary.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Today's Stupid Moment, Sponsored By MIT

I was at the gym tonight, sitting on a bench in the weights area. I looked up in the mirror and saw this guy behind me wearing a t-shirt that said "TIM" in big block college-logo type lettering. I was thinking, "What school is called TIM? Or is that his name?"

Then I turned around. His t-shirt said "MIT". I forgot I was looking in a mirror.

And the guy wasn't even hot enough to be worth hitting on with that cute story.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

From My Boring Vacation Posts To My Last Idol Post

It's a well known fact that no one likes to hear uninteresting stories about other people's vacations. It's like starting off every sentence, "Hey, remember the time you weren't there and..."

So I think I bored everyone here enough about my adventures out in Arizona. To sum up my trip, I spent the rest of the week in Scottsdale, playing tennis and enjoying my hotel with its own man-made beach and romantic gondola rides in the golf course lagoons. I honestly don't know how Scottsdale can support all of the fountains, Vegas style hotels and water parks, since it rains like twice a year there.

I also got to be in Arizona at the same time Jordin Sparks got crowned America's Idol. I was literally in the next town over from Jordin's hometown, and I felt like an adopted Arizonan since I love American Idol, and I must have subliminally predicted that Jordin would win so I could be in her home state at the same time as her coronation. Throughout this season, Jordin really never stood out to me that much, but despite my best intentions, I am extremely embarrassed to reveal that I loved her performance of that wretched "This Is My Now" song. I also enjoyed watching the finale, especially such priceless moments as

- The return of Little Miss Sobshine crying like a retard.

- Gina almost falling on her way back to the stage during "With A Little Help From My Friends."

- Kelly Clarkson pissed off at the world.

- Smokey Robinson looking really nasty and scary, like plastic scary.

- Clive Davis reminding us about ten times how Taylor Hicks has done shit for album sales.

- Bette Midler looking like a complete fool while adjusting her mic DURING her performance on the little remote thing clipped to that way too short leather mini skirt.

- All of Brangelina's kids coming out to sing and making me smile.

- Gladys Knight singing with all the female finalists but really only paying attention to Melinda and Lakisha. How much do you wanna bet that Miss Gladys declared, "Only Melinda and Lakisha can stand within 3 feet of me"?

Idol's over now. What am I gonna write about now?

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Sorry To Leave You Hanging...

Been really busy with work this week. Although today, I told a co-worker I was busy and would have to get back to him when the real reason was that my Froot Loops were getting soggy.

Be back soon.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Bridge To Bawl-A-Bithia

On the plane ride home from Phoenix, the in-flight movie was Bridge To Terabithia. I had read this book as a kid, but I didn't really remember much about it. And I certainly did not remember tearing my eyes out at the story. Seriously, the flight attendants should have handed out Kleenex before the movie started.

(WARNING: If you do not want to know what happens in the movie, stop here.)

The movie is actually kind of sad throughout the entire duration with all the family and bullying issues, but you don't worry too much because the kids are having a good time in their imaginary kingdom. As all sorts of good feelings wash over you, you begin to see Jess and Leslie as grade school sweethearts and marrying someday.

And then...WHAM! You're feeling all good because Jess spent the day at the museum, and then all of a sudden he gets back, and Leslie is dead. WAIT A MINUTE! BACK UP! Jess's future wife is dead!?!?

Oh I was bawling, especially at the part when the teacher talks to Jess and the part when Jess starts crying because he think it's his fault. I had completely forgotten about the ending and was in total shock. I was blowing my nose and totally mortified that I was crying my eyes out in the middle of the plane. At least I was alone because I would have died if anyone I knew had seen me crying like a pansy.