Normally, I am not that easily tempted to buy things impulsively. But in the last year, I have been barraged by boutiques and saleswomen who know exactly how to target this indecisive consumer with plastic sitting in her wallet.

How do they do that? Just simply, that looks great on you. I have to remind myself that it’s their job to say that and not give into spending money on the next dress that I don’t have an occasion to wear (yet).

At least, I don’t have that many dresses. That is pretty much #6 in the last few years.

Today, I was discussing with Joe about a recent pick-up line someone did on me.

Of course, I couldn’t remember it clearly, but somehow my fuzzy memory came up with:

Oh baby did you crawl out of an oven, because you’re soooo hot.

And the only comeback I could think of was Sorry baby, only great men deserve a taste.

A network of how of.jennism looks like. I am assuming each node refers to a page within my site. The gray circles? Blue circles? Green? Orange?

There are only a few sections to my site. The archives that date back to 2002. Then my bio pages (which have not been updated for months). Then each of the individual posts.

All it’s telling me is that my site is wheeling down a hill at a frantic pace.

EDIT: Sam informs me of the correct mapping of the colors.

Last Tuesday, I ran back to my apartment to get dressed for the opera after moving my car. I threw on the dress I neglected to dry clean, hoping it didn’t smell like smoke from the last time I wore it. In the bathroom, I stared at myself in the mirror, applying the little makeup I had learned to use recently.

My phone rang and I yelled into it, “I am not going to dive into your car yet!” I heard a voice laugh and he said that he wasn’t even at my apartment yet, just had exited the freeway. I got my shawl and struggled to get my stiletto heels on. Did the straps go behind or in the front? About 15 minutes later, I finally emerged (after one more phone call where I insisted that I still wasn’t going to dive into the car while it was moving).

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This morning, I woke up early at 8, an hour before my alarm was set. I woke up with a feeling that I was at home in Lafayette–the birds chirping outside and my mom making breakfast downstairs. There’s no place like home, but I am making my apartment in San Francisco one even if I wake up to the engines of cars rushing by me on Mission Street.

I cooked my breakfast of sunny side up eggs (the only way I like them), peach yogurt and lichee red tea. And made my lunch for the day. Surrounding myself with my favorite songs from Metric and Wolf Parade, ready to start the day.

Nowadays, I talk of working at Rescomp like it was the good old days. One of my greatest moments in Berkeley. The best of friends. Rescomp, that student organization, that I often say if I hadn’t joined, I would be a completely different person, for better or for worse.

But it wasn’t always like that. Tonight, I went through all my old emails from rescomp–the account I still have there as an alumni. I first was involved as an intern my freshman year and finally joined my junior year–more than 4 years ago. Back then, I was still somewhat introverted and socially awkward around most people–often a surprise to people who know me now.

I came across party invitations. Invitations that I had dismissed, thinking that I wouldn’t fit in. I didn’t even try. And then there were the invitations out to random events. At the same time, I had my own things to deal with. For all that I missed, but it’s interesting how I meet people who I used to work with…that I barely knew…but with just this connection, we have something to start with. Even if there’s no “do you remember when…”

what happens the moment when you realize that you are attracted to someone?

Besides the physical knees-weakening moment.

How do you say no, I don’t want to go out with you with someone…who is a bit dense?

Without being mean, of course.

El Dia de los Muertos

Madhu in town!

Oh and company

UCLA vs. Cal Football Game

Widgets Live

Among other things, I also went to see the Barber of Seville Tuesday and Pittsburgh-style sandwiches Wednesday. But plans for this weekend? Two people from Pittsburgh visiting the Bay Area, Riottt!, Sunday brunch, this thing, KOOKI sushi…and of course picking up my parents from the airport…

“Do you miss Berkeley?” I was asked several times over the weekend.

Strangely enough, not so much. When I first went to graduate school, I missed the people and the food. The ability to walk to Durant Food Court (aka Asian Food Ghetto) to get a quick fix of korean food or across the street, cheap wannabe Mexican food. I missed Jamba Juice and how I used to have it for a meal.

But it’s more than 2 years later now and I don’t have a need to return. What it is now isn’t what it is now. Now if I can say that about Pittsburgh. But February 2nd, here we come!