Ten years of hindsight

I like to people watch (I could spend hours people watching). Last Friday night at the movie theater the place was teeming with teeny boppers, Britney Spears wannabes, bref, just your general teenage population stuck at the movies because they can’t yet drive anywhere. Like I said in one of my previous entries, I’m glad I’m not a teenager anymore. Perhaps with 10 years of hindsight, now I can safely say I’ve made it, and also offer a few words of wisdom.

If I could go back in time, and in the future if I ever have a daughter, I would say:

Your worth is not determined by your low-rise jeans, your glossy lips, your Coach bag, the straightness of your hair, your easiness. Don’t let any guy tell you otherwise.

You might get bored with the same old Friday night at the movie theater and Saturday night at the local coffeehouse. Enjoy it while you can, before you become a slave to the college textbook.

That really pretty girl is probably just as insecure as you are. Don’t judge her, for everyone you meet might be fighting a harder battle.

Less is more: less skin, more intrigue; less flash, more class.

Be choosy when picking your friends; be pickier when choosing your boyfriend. True friendships and the best relationships work both ways: you have to give in order to receive, support in order to be helped. It’s like a rubber band: both people pull equally. But if one or the other pulls too hard, there is too much resistance for it to work and the rubber band will snap.

Someday you will look up to your parents again. You might even start to admire them. For now, just know that your mom is probably always right and your dad most likely has your best interests at heart. In the end, they are the ones who will always be in your corner.

As awkward as adolescence is, and as much as you want to get through it as quickly as possible, make the most of it: you’re only a teenager once. Take your time growing up, and go at your own pace. You have lots of time in college and in your 20s to explore.

In the grand scheme of things, the most embarrassing situations now will be funny to you in ten years. That might not diminish their importance in the present, but it might help you not take yourself so seriously.

Your world might be tiny. Try to expand it, and it’ll put your problems into perspective.

I know you think you’re invincible. But take good care of your body; it’s the only one you’ll ever have.

Talk to me in ten years and I can tell you what I’ve learned from my twenties!

Two rafts

Question: "If you were on a raft and had to choose between saving a baby and a dog, which one would you pick?"

My answer: "I wouldn't have to pick! There would be two rafts, one rescuing the babies and one rescuing dogs. "

Ever notice how people who question why you would volunteer at an animal shelter or make a contribution to the Humane Society (instead of volunteering at an orphanage or sponsoring a child in Africa) don't dedicate their time or money to any charity?

Summer daze

I'm still walking around in a daze after a long vacation in France. It feels like when you were little, in grade school, and the summer was almost over and the entire school year was looming over your head, and you were really worried about who your science teacher was going to be. No more lazy days at the pool and biking to the Soda Shop for a milkshake. Nope, those days are over - now it's time for waking up early, wondering what to wear, downing a Pop-Tart and catching the cheese-wagon, hoping Geoffrey the red-haired kissy monster won't be on it (by the way, there really was this redhead named Geoffrey in the first grade who would chase girls around the playground, hence the name 'kissy monster.'). That's how I've felt since I got back from my trip.

The only fun part of back-to-school was new clothes. Maybe I should do some retail therapy. Oh and buy some pens. I love new pens.

The vacation wasn't a true vacation, actually: we were very productive planning for next year. Planning a wedding has not been as traumatic as it is generally portrayed in movies or on that awful show "Bridezillas" (I can't stand those people). It's actually been quite fun (picking out the dress - the second one I tried on was it) and easy (finding the all-in-one location site). All the big details are taken care of already, and the rest of it we take care of via email. Bada-bing! I should become a wedding planner.

I don't understand how weddings have become such a big production nowadays. I just don't think it's healthy when your obsession with having a monogrammed aisle runner or matching sashes on the bridesmaids dresses have become more important than the ultimate purpose of the wedding (and what comes after the party's over). It's like it's some huge traumatic event that you're supposed to be super-stressed about. How are you supposed to enjoy your day? And I also don't understand the level of extortion that is inherent in the bridal industry. A nice bouquet of flowers at a grocery store? $12.99. Oh, but a bridal bouquet? $120.99. Some of the dresses I've seen can only be described as fugly (like a Barbie doll princess gown that a big pink bird seems to have exploded onto) but they cost upwards of $10,000 and you wear them once. Sheesh! I think I will pick the flowers myself and tie them with a pretty ribbon, thank you very much. As for the dress, it is a tenth of a price of those designer ones and a hundred times prettier, in my humble opinion.

Since coming back from France I have had to catch up on my movie-watching, namely, the summer blockbusters that I can't believe I'm paying $10 to go see:

Superbad was supercrass, and lowbrow, and terribly offensive, but I couldn't help laughing in spite of myself at the hilarity of some of the situations and awkwardness of the main characters. I say in spite of myself because I did cringe...perhaps it's because I can't really identify with the hormone-crazed teenage boy (or college guy, for that matter) whose ultimate goal in life is getting laid. And call me old-fashioned or prude, tell me to lighten up if you will, but I can't stand the p word and my ears got a full dose during this movie. I can say the movie seemed authentic in its portrayal of high school boys, and I'm really happy I'm not in high school anymore. Not the kind of movie I would go see with any of my family members. Especially my 15-year old brother (the Bourne Ultimatum was solid, though, and so was the Simpson's Movie).

Last weekend I went to a Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao, for a friend's birthday. It was a true "meat party:" all-you-can-eat meat - sausage, chicken, filet mignon, roast beef, lamb - served to you on swords by "gauchos" (ie waiters). It was truly gluttonous. And wonderfully tasty. Glad I'm not a vegetarian even though I do sometimes feel really guilty eating meat. Happy birthday Victoriño!

I Love DayQuil

It is almost July and I have a fever of 101, a sore throat, and a NyQuil hangover. Not fun. Especially since my parents, aunt and uncle are coming up tomorrow for the week. We're trying to figure out what to do for the 4th of July. My friend P is throwing a party at his place in Adams Morgan but I don't think it's the kind of party I can/want to take my parents to, much less my 75-year old uncle. We would have a nice view of the fireworks from the rooftop, but that involves shimmying through a bathroom window onto the fire escape and then climbing up a ladder (hello, vertigo).

I was in Houston ten days ago for work. No offense to you Houstoners, but Houston is the kind of American city that makes me depressed: humidity, sprawl, strip malls, concrete, no charm or history...a kind of generic, corporate, overbuilt bland metropolis where there are no pedestrians (we walked back to the hotel one day after our meeting and got honked at at least 5 times in 15 minutes). I saw at least 3 Office Depots and 4 Starbucks on the way from the airport. Oh, and a drive-through Starbucks, too. How lazy can you be, people!

We did have a nice time at the dinner though, where we were treated to some really good margaritas and Texan barbecue. But it's true that I was glad to return to my little Washingtonian enclave where there are trees! - and old houses!! - and sidewalks!!!

In other news, I found the wedding dress of my dreams. It's by a Spanish designer called Pronovias. And no, you can't see it! Wedding plans are in the works...we're going to be married next summer in France, near Bordeaux where my family lives. I hope to have a website all about it up and running soon.

Speechless

A lot has happened since my last entry.
I celebrated my 25th birthday last week and it was one of the most memorable weeks of my life, I think: dinner on Thursday with MF at La Ferme, a French restaurant (delish); tapas and margaritas at Oyamel on Friday, followed by martinis and dancing til 3 at Blue Gin; recovery on Saturday with Red Bull/Gatorade/jasmine tea/Alka Seltzer/greasy breakfast; and then I had about 15 people over to continue the celebration on Saturday evening where we cooked hamburgers/made S'mores/sat under the wisteria arbor with Christmas lights twinkling/ate birthday cake and drank champagne/took group pictures in the studio. And then Sunday we went to Middleburg, VA at Chrysalis Vineyards for some wine, a picnic with leftovers and a walk in the countryside. I can't think of a better way to have spent my 25th, especially in the company of such good people.

Also, I am engaged to be married. AAAAAAA!!! MF flew to Switzerland (all the while telling me he was in Rochester NY for a business trip...sneaky monkey) to get a diamond from his grandmother; and proposed in front of the Tiny Jewel Box in DC. It's impossible for me to get any work done right now...I feel woozy!

Bienvenidos a Miami!

I'm going to Miami tomorrow until Tuesday to visit my best friend from college. Yay! In the very near future I see: cocktails, the beach, a boat ride and flashy cars. And probably sunburn too, although I wear SPF 50, a hat, shirt and sunglasses.

Photos to follow. Cheers!

25

I turn twenty-five a week from tomorrow. Ack!! That's halfway to 50 and halfway in between 20 and 30. Yikes!!

I always thought 25 was so old. I don't feel old now though, I feel like my life is just starting. I am so blessed in so many ways, grateful and humbled by how kind life has been and how many things I shouldn't take for granted: good health, a man I love that loves me, my family, my amazing friends, a job I feel fulfilled in and that gives me a glimpse of what a true career is, and enough money to live comfortably and travel every now and then...I am humbled because I know it's not the same for many, many people I share this planet with. Every now and then I have to remember not to take it all for granted...it's easy to let life pass you by without stopping to appreciate it.

The other day, for example, there was an accident on Canal Road on my way home from work. It wasn't moving at all so I decided to turn around and park near Lock 6 by the river. I had my yoga clothes (a tank and a pair of sweatpants) with me and changed into those in the car, but I had no tennis shoes - although I did have a pair of big blue slippers still in the backseat from my last trip back home to NC. So I went walking down to the river to watch the sun over the water. People on the trails were looking at me like I was bonkers: I was wearing workout clothes with blue slippers. But I could care less. It was better than wearing my black pointy-toed work shoes. I sat next to the water and just enjoyed the scenery and let all of the other drivers back on Canal Road fight traffic.

Tuesday evening MF and I had dinner with our friend G who is an amazing cook: she made curry salmon (the homemade kind where you add each individual spice yourself and let it simmer). And then we watched the movie Kinky Boots: I highly recommend it. It's like the Full Monty - British humor, cross-dressers and bad teeth. It's the story of this little shoe factory in a sleepy town in England that is going belly up, so the owner decides to start making kinky boots for drag queens (basically, patent leather stilettos that are tough enough to hold a man's weight) and hires one as his shoe designer. It's funny but also endearing - especially in terms of social acceptance, identity and open-mindedness. One of the lines that sticks with me is "Change your mind about someone." I'll leave it at that - you should see it.