Geek in Heels - Page 148

Jun 6, 2010 • In Asian, Personal, Wedding

The Other Dress I Will Never Wear Again

I loved my wedding dress. It was slightly under budget, easy to alter, and it was the first dress I tried on that made me feel like a bride.

Yes, it was bashed on a public, then-popular wedding blog (which I won’t link to here but if you want to read it, shoot me a message) and when I asked them, nicely, why they felt the need to use an actual picture of me from my wedding day without my consent or even making any attempt to anonymize me, and pointed out that they should have at least credited my photographer, they called me a “whiny-assed needy fucking insecure bride who OBVS won’t stay married for long” and took down the photo…wait, I’m getting off topic.

Anyways…

As much as I loved my dress, I know that I will never wear it again. (And if my weight gain continues on its path, I doubt that I can fit into it again.)

I am sure that I am not the only woman whose wedding dress sits untouched since her wedding day.

But unlike the majority of these women, I have an additional dress I wore on my wedding day that I will most likely never wear again…

My in-laws gifted me with a custom-made qipao (or cheongsam) to wear for our Chinese Tea Ceremony. And while I usually hate wearing skin-tight dresses — nevermind one that made walking difficult — I had to admit that having a dress made to custom-fit your body really made a difference in helping me feel less insecure about baring my silhouette in its entirety.



all photos by Danny Weiss

We had chosen a traditional Chinese wedding fabric for the qipao: red, which is a lucky color and thus the color most associated with weddings, and a dragon & phoenix pattern which symbolize the groom and bride.

The fabric was a thick, luxurious satin and the pattern beautifully embroidered. And while you can’t really tell from far away, the embroidery held little patches of deep purples, blues, and greens (you can see a hint of the different colors in the top right photo of my sleeve) which made the material multi-dimensional.

Today, I read an interesting article about the Chinese qipao that prompted me to dig into the back corner of my closet to admire the dress. But because my qipao is so obviously one that is meant to be worn by a bride on her wedding day, I seriously doubt that I will wear it again.

Have you, or do you plan on wearing your wedding dress again? Do you have any articles of clothing in your closet that hold special memories, but would never wear again?

22 Weeks

Once again, I am late with this update as I am closer to 23 Weeks now. There have been some big (well, at least to me) developments between weeks 21-22, so I feel that this is long overdue.

First, the obligatory belly shot:

There isn’t much change there, but I did pack on a couple of pounds in the past week or so because my appetite’s been insatiable. Doh! Time to cut back on the snacks!

You know how many pregnant women have the “pregnant glow”? Well, there is a reason for it: with pregnancy comes increased circulation and increased bloodflow equals nice, rosy cheeks.

However, increased bloodflow also means other things…

Nosebleeds
I hardly ever get nosebleeds, and even if I do, it’s only some bloody boogers here and there.

But this past week I got my first-ever, GUSHING FROM MY NOSE nosebleed for perhaps the first time in over a decade.

The nosebleed couldn’t have happened at a better time [sarcasm]: I was putting on makeup to go out and was nearing the end of my routine when I noticed some red in one nostril…and then a full on outpouring of blood.

For some reason, I was more annoyed at the fact that I had to wash my face and start over, and that I got some bloodstains on my shirt, than be concerned at the cause for the nosebleed. I blame it on pregnancy hormones.

After I was all cleaned up, I calmly did a web search for “nosebleeds and pregnancy” and there it was. Hello, new symptom!

The freeflowing blood only happened that one time (as of now), but I have had bloody snots and boogers regularly since that day. I no longer cringe or flinch in surprise when I see a bloody mess after blowing my nose.

Pain and Pressure…DOWN THERE
Increased bloodflow means increased bloodflow everywhere, including my cooch.

Why else do you think so many women LOVE pregnancy sex?

I admit that I liked it too. Everything was more sensitive and sensual…and if J weren’t so busy with work I would have been jumping him every chance I got.

But sometime between weeks 21 and 22, the pressure increased —

— to the point where it HURT.

Like, walking around can be painful hurt.

I have found that there is a cure for the pain, albeit temporary. The cure involves a release, and I think my readers are mature enough to figure out what that means.

Luckily, the pain is not ongoing. But when there is no pain, there is pressure. The kind that makes me wonder if baby girl is on her way out. But I know she’s not. Because it is concentrated more in the front.

Other than those two new symptoms, everything else has been smooth-sailing. I am now in my sixth month of pregnancy (and last month of the 2nd trimester), but it feels like I’ve been pregnant forever. I realized earlier today that if you count my previous pregnancy, I have been pregnant for 10 months in the past year…it’s no wonder I feel this way!

I have read (and heard from moms) that if we plan on doing anything major to the nursery, we should start it now before I get too uncomfortable. I had assumed that all we need to do is move out the queen-size bed and order the crib, but J is intent on painting, decorating, and making this room pretty and welcoming for our little girl.

“You know she won’t know the difference between an ugly room that barely passes for a nursery and a full-on, wonderfully furnished and decorated nursery,” I protested.

“But don’t you want to make things pretty for our daughter?”

I know he’s going to spoil her rotten. I just know it.

So I guess we will be making a stop by Home Depot in the near future. (“And maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don’t know, I don’t know if we’ll have enough time.” 5 points for anyone who knows where that’s from!)

C’mon LeBron

On July 1, LeBron James will officially become a free agent.

Will he stay in Cleveland? Or do the rumors of Chicago have merit?

I thought that my hopes of New York gaining the two-time MVP had long dissipated, but the city has made it clear that we’re not out of the running yet.

Along with a C’mon LeBron website, a Facebook page and a Twitter hashtag, the Big Apple is making an all-out effort to convince King James to come join the Knicks.

The city has even released a video, featuring Mayor Michael Bloomberg!

Did Bloomberg just quote the Bible? Oh, no he didn’t!

He may be a multi-billionaire with a media empire, but I always knew he has a good sense of humor.

(And I know this from reliable sources, because J was in the same fraternity as him. Apparently, the last time Bloomberg attended Homecoming, he made sure to stop by the fraternity house where he had been Chapter President in 1964. The brothers knew of his visit in advance and so made sure to stock up on good beer and some high-end liquor, but Bloomberg proceeded to enter the house with a six-pack of Miller Lite and drank only that. I can’t say much for his taste in beer, but according to J, he’s a “chill dude.”)

Via Gothamist.

Cookie Monster Cookies

Nom nom nom away, CM!

Via Barnorama.

What if it were MY home?

If It Was My Home is a simple website that overlays the BP oil spill over any location on earth. Its default setting centers in on your location based on your IP address, so the devastation really hits home.

I see, read, and hear about the tragic spill every day but never quite realized the immensity of its spread until now. It’s scary knowing that the area it covers is now bigger than some U.S. states.

Via Flowing Data.

P.S. — Not to make light of the situation, but does anyone else think the spread of the oil looks like Yoshi?

Your Preferred Commenting Medium

If there is one thing that all bloggers have in common, it is that they want to be read.

And let’s face it; receiving comments can be pretty addictive too.

It then comes as no surprise that you will find a blogger publicizing his/her site by linking to new posts via Facebook and Twitter. Heck, I’m guilty of this too — I used to post links to new entries on Facebook and Twitter.

I no longer do this.

Why?

Because more often than not, I would receive more comments on Facebook or Twitter than on my blog.

Am I the only blogger who has had this problem?

I understand why people choose to comment on Facebook or Twitter instead of on the blog itself: convenience.

But I personally prefer to have comments on my blog rather than on Facebook or Twitter, where the comments/replies will shortly be buried under newer items and almost impossible to find after a few months have passed.

I try to extend the same courtesy to my fellow bloggers. Even if I first come across a page via a shared link (whether via Facebook or Twitter or a shared bookmarking service), I will make a conscious effort to click on over and comment on the original post.

I know that sharing links to new blog posts has the potential to draw in more readers and informs existing readers of updates. However, I have found that this is not the case for someone like me, whose friends and followers are already aware of this site.

There’s also the little part of me that feels bad for potentially littering my friends’ feeds with self-promotion. “LOOK AT MEEE! PAY ATTENTION TO MEEEEE!” While I certainly don’t feel this way when I see fellow bloggers linking to their sites, I know quite a few people who find them annoying.

What is your preferred commenting medium?

DSI: Miami may be the greatest Android app ever

1. Open the app

2. Follow the on-screen directions:

3. Listen to the glorious “YEAAAAHHHHHHH!” that comes blaring from your phone and read the one-liner that pops up on screen:

*Sunglasses not included

I have downloaded and tested the app myself and can attest to its utter awesomeness. Horatio Caine rocks.

Via Gizmodo.

The 2010 NBA Finals

Basketball has always been my favorite sport. Maybe it was the plethora of basketball manga I read while growing up (Slam Dunk, anyone?). Or perhaps I am a victim of reverse psychology, because standing at a mere 5’1″ I have a severe disadvantage in the sport.

It’s no big news that my favorite team has not been playing well for the better part of the decade. However, I grew up in NY during the Knicks’ glory days (at least for my generation), and so I remain loyal to my Knickerbockers. I cried when they lost the 1999 NBA Finals, and still hold a grudge against the Spurs and Tim Duncan for this reason. And the day I met Allan Houston was one of the greatest nights of my life.

The 2010 NBA Finals will commence tomorrow night. And being a Knicks fan, I am once again faced with a dilemma: which team to root for? Or, which is the lesser of two evils?

(I will not get into the history of the Knicks vs the Celtics or the Lakers here. But suffice it to say, they are probably the two most hated teams for every Knicks fan. When I ran into Spike Lee — a rabid Knicks fan — a few weeks ago, I overheard him telling his friend, “This is the first and only time I root for Boston…”)

When Boston and LA faced off at the Finals two years ago, I decided to stick with the east coast and go with Boston. I will probably do the same this year, just because I can’t bear to see the Lakers win two Finals in a row.

Who will YOU be rooting for in the 2010 NBA Finals?

To be perfectly honest, I am not quite as interested in the Finals this year. It seems that in the past few seasons, the NBA has not changed much in terms of the power teams. I usually tend to root for the underdogs, so basketball season has been a series of letdowns and predictability for me.

There is also the issue of the playoffs system. J and I both agree that a series of SEVEN games is too much — too time-consuming, too tiring (for both the players and the fans), and at times, tedious and unnecessary. In addition, while the 2-2-1-1-1 system of home court advantage may seem fair, a better solution would be to go the way of NCAA Basketball and choose a neutral location.

Despite the issues I’ve listed above, I will still be tuning in to watch every game of the Finals this year. LET’S GO GREEN!

Real Life vs Online Introversion

Many years ago, I read that being an introvert does not necessarily mean that you are shy. While it it true that many introverts are shy by nature, the main difference between introverts and extroverts is the source of their energy: extroverts get energy from people and objects outside themselves whereas introverts gain energy from within themselves.

Introverts need time to “recharge” after being around others, while extroverts thrive off outside energy.

‘Yes! That’s EXACTLY me!’ I thought as I nodded my head in agreement. I like to go out and I like to be with friends. However, I feel drained after a day of being around others, and often need time alone at home, doing introverted activities, in order to feel like myself again.

And I have found that I have become more introvert as I grow older.

J, on the other hand, is a typical extrovert. His niche is in a loud, crowded room. He needs to be around other people at all times, and when he stays indoors for extended periods of time, he gets restless, fidgety, and cranky.

I think we balance each other well in this respect. J helps me out of my shell and encourages me to try new things and interact with new people. In return, I help J stay grounded and seek solace in solitary activities.

Are you and your spouse/SO on the same spectrum when it comes to introversion vs extroversion?

How do you think it helps your relationship?

Yesterday, I read an article titled Caring for Your Online Introvert. In it, the author discusses the fact that he is an introvert in real life and an introvert online as well.

“Social media drains me like a large party might,” he writes. “I just deactivated Facebook. And I don’t @ much on Twitter. Too often it feels like the ‘fog of [an extrovert’s] 98-percent-content-free talk,’ as Rauch put it.”

The topic of real life vs online introversion struck an odd chord with me. I always considered myself an introvert, and all my friends would agree with me. After all, I am a textbook ISFP.

However, I realized that I am an online extrovert.

I love making conversation via Twitter. I am an active member of several online communities. Before I deactivated my Facebook account, I was on it all the time, consistently updating, commenting, and “liking.”

I would even go as far to say that I make friends easily online, whereas I have always had trouble making friends in the real world.

What about you?

Do you consider yourself an online introvert or extrovert?

Is it different from your real-life persona?

For an old but excellent article on introversion, see Jonathan Rauch’s Caring for Your Introvert.

And for some additional introvert-empowerment in this extrovert-dominant world, check out Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength by Laurie Helgoe.