I’M TOO UNISEXY FOR MY SHIRT: How To Rock (& Rob) The Male Wardrobe

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Masculine, Feminine, Unisexy.

Unisex everything is a trend that has been around for decades; not always at the forefront, but always there. I remember my men’s sweatshirt/jacket days back in high school & the huge hoopla surrounding the release of CK 1, the first unisex fragrance (which I would totally still wear if it didn’t evoke memories of nerdy days gone by). And though the days of women in XXL men’s sweatshirts & jeans are mostly long gone, the era of boyfriend jeans & boyfriend tees still prevails. Boyfriend tees are great & all (HELLO, Mossimo at Target, $8!), but there’s just nothing like creeping into my brother’s closet (sorry Boogs, if you don’t know, now you know..) & borrow hoodies & tees that I can then wear over skinny jeans & a sweet pair of flats. So, go ahead & surreptitiously (or if they’re nice, just ask) borrow your brother’s, significant other’s, or grandpa’s clothing (Macklemore style)..OR just go out & buy menswear just for YOU..and be too unisexy for your clothing!

Seen above, sand faux leather & cotton lightweight jacket (21Men), black cotton tee (21Men), indigo skinny jeans (Forever 21), & classic B&W checkerboard loafers ($4.99, Charlotte Russe..a proud buy!). Sustenance consideration provided by Dunkin’ Donuts. 😉

Today’s Interlude: “Man! I Feel Like A Woman,” Shania Twain

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I Tried Carrying The Weight Of The World, But I Only Have Two Hands: The Agony of Anxiety

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Worried, Stressed, Exhausted, ANXIOUS.

This is probably my most personal post yet & I’m hoping I actually hit “publish” before deleting the whole thing. I don’t know about you, but over the past decade or so, I’ve been hearing much more about “anxiety” than I ever have before, or maybe I’ve just gotten older and have had way more experience with it than I’d like. Most of us use the word “anxious” as a substitute for “nervous,” & although they have many overlaps, trust me when I say they’re completely different things. I was nervous before launching my own company, I am anxious all the time.

I’ve always been a relatively confident and logical human being. Yes, it’s possible that I’m more emotional than most & feel things very intensely, but I could always rationalize and understand situations without suddenly feeling like my world was crumbling. Over time however, I’ve realized that I started developing a real anxiety issue. I can attribute this to situations from my childhood & failed relationships & starting medical school and quitting medical school, and a plethora of other events that could cause anyone minor anxiety, but for me, it has ballooned into an unmanageable situation causing dysfunction and deflation. Add those events to the life of an already introverted, hyper self-aware, super-emotional, over-imaginative pessimist & there is only disaster.

Lately, I’ve started worrying about things that have only the most miniscule chance in hell of happening, but I worry about them constantly. My parents’ health woes took a huge toll on me & now I stalk them like a little creepy shadow daughter. The idea is that if I am always there with the people I worry about, then I can control the situation and in turn, the scary thing I fear will not occur. This is not logical because I have not yet been cloned (& I don’t think anyone who knows me would even allow that for the sake of their own sanity) & I obviously cannot be everywhere at once. This fact alone causes me great anguish because lack of control over something I feel deeply about is something that drives me completely nutty (currently, I’m only partially nutty). The lack of control over my negative thoughts (please see header image above..that’s literally me in cartoon form) sends me into an anxiety spiral that I usually need my inhaler to get out of. What’s also fun is that an anxiety attack can mimic symptoms of a heart attack & I usually end up sweating & short of breath, with chest pain & tingling limbs; a fantastic thing to watch in a notorious hypochondriac (someone should really take me on the road as a traveling one-woman emotional circus, might as well cash in on myself).

The problem with anxiety is that it’s sometimes overlooked & treated as though it’s a minor issue that an individual who suffers from it can get past by just changing their thoughts. “Just think positive! Control it! Count to 10!” Hello friends, if changing thoughts & inner processes were that simple, who out there wouldn’t be a perpetually happy, content, self-assured person!? I don’t even know that the worst-case scenario thought is coming before it’s already onto catastrophic proportions-case scenario! It’s an agonizing & literally physically and mentally exhausting condition when it gets too far (a la moi) & even more so when the individual refuses to ask for help and believes that they can sift through their irrational concerns on their own because that’s what they’ve always done (again, a la moi), because then there is an internal battle of why won’t this go away like it always has & will this get worse if I don’t explain it to someone else out there? I could go on & on about the stigma of such disorders that is out there, but honestly, you can just Google that and get more articulate & thorough information out there than I could provide for you. I’m not the biggest fan of therapy or drugs (I know that’s rich coming from an ex-medical student with a psychology major/sociology minor, but..sorry?), but it’s not because of any stigma. I’m an advocate of all of the above..for everyone else. I’m not a talker, I’m a thinker & the idea of having to go through my life story & delve into my past with someone who knows nothing about me is less comforting than it is terrifying. And the idea of them giving me a houseful of Xanax is even worse. But recently, even I have had to admit to the fact that something has to be done for me, & more importantly, it has to be done by me. The 7 years of insomnia, the daily “what ifs,” the negative terror-thought cycle, the improbable scenarios, the sudden dread at nightfall, and the immense need to control situations and people would be beautiful traits written for a character in reel life, but they don’t belong in my real life (but in case anyone in the industry is reading this, I can totally play myself if you decide to bring that character to life; Oscars, here I come!). 😛

What I can say is that I know that I’m not alone. I’m upset about that because I wish no one had to suffer through the constant crippling & paralysis that severe anxiety has on one’s day/goals/social life/entire life, but I’ve finally understood & come to terms with the fact that it can be managed. What we all can do & should do is be people who support one another, empathize with one another, & understand each other to the best of our abilities (this is true whether you suffer from it or not, btw).

In the words of Bastille, “But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all? And if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like you’ve been here before? How am I gonna be an optimist about this?” The new & hopeful words of my inner self are just beginning to form an answer..I am gonna be an optimist about this. I have a fabulous life to live.

P.S. If you suffer from anxiety, there are apparently a million resources out there, check ’em out here.

Today’s Interlude(s): “Don’t Let Me Get Me,” Pink & “Happy,” Pharrell Williams (kind of a before & after thing)

BESPECTACLED SUNDAY OOTD: EXPOSED ZIPPER MAVEN

I thought I’d smile for this one because I was starting to scare myself with the other pics & I have no cute spokesmodels. And since Sunday is the day of rest, my contact lenses are also taking the day off.

Exposed zippers are all the rage on the runways right now & what better way to pay homage to my favorite functional friends than to wear them head to toe? I call this look “No Frills” because it’s a little bit tough guy (BUT there are hidden frills in there..SURPRISE!). I paired a sheer white frilled blouse (Forever 21) with Caribbean green capris (Forever 21) (It’s 50 degrees, ok!? For NYC, right now, that’s summer) & black faux leather peep-toe bootlets (I don’t love the word “booties” with exposed brass zippers (Bakers Shoes). Threw on my favorite little NYC boutique find bomber jacket with more exposed zippers (in COLORS!) to complete a feminine fighter ensemble.

Below are some more detailed pictures of my top half (calm down).

HAPPY SUNDAY, FAVES! 🙂

Saturday OOTD: Granny Schoolgirl Chic

Even though I don’t look so happy I have tired frog eyes (that’s a thing), it’s finally a 50 degree day in New York City, but dropping to 20 tonight, so layers are still a necessity here! Granny schoolgirl chic is my favorite kind of look on days like this. Pair an on-trend patchwork skirtall (Forever 21) with a cotton sweater with a leather & stud pocket in a sand shade (Kara), then add an asymmetrical color blocked cardigan in vivid hues like orange and a midnight blue (Kara). Throw on some suede riding boots (with or without fleece-lined leggings depending on your geography!) & you’re ready to rock & roll (or ideally, grab some chocolate-chocolate chip Haagen Dazs with whipped cream & rainbow sprinkles at the mall & shovel it in your face like I just did).

HAPPY WEEKEND! 🙂

Wanderlusting Wonders: I See London, I See France

iPhone photography

Travel: Wanderlusting Wonders: I See London, I See France

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Nomadic, Nostalgic, Dauntless, Dreamy.

I couldn’t begin to tell you when my obsessive love affair with travel began. I credit my parents who always made it a point to take the family to a new place annually, & from then on, all I ever wanted to do was to be in a new place every week. Out of all of the places I have traveled, & I’m discounting New York & Mumbai/Bombay because they are home, two of my most j’adored cities are London & Paris. Now I know you’re all saying, “Ok, what a cliché, you loser. Everybody loves those two.” And I’m replying, “Relax, that’s mean, and when I mean favorite I mean if I could live in 3 cities at once, I would, & if I could marry a location, I’d say ‘Oui Oui’ to Paree & ‘Hip hip’ to London” (couldn’t make that last one rhyme).

I’ve been to London & Paris 3 times; once in the summer 1994 when I was 12, once in the summer of 2010 when I was 29 as part of a 2 week European excursion, & once in the winter of 2012, when I was 31. Each time I experienced the same thing in the form of adoration & elation, and different things in the form of feelings, things to see, and perspectives. I was born an Anglophile (causation could be that I was conceived in London on Valentine’s Day-sorry for the TMI but I had to know it & so now, do you) and everything about England makes me unabashedly happy; the accent, the whole magical land, the history, the architecture, the people, & so long as the Brits are okay with it, the monarchy. The amount of Union Jack clothing I own is becoming concerning, & my crowning glory in life is when multiple real life British folk told me that my British accent is, & I quote, “quite posh & not terrible.” The fact that I refer to this as my crowning glory tells you something about me that we’ll save for another day.

Though I can’t articulate my love for London (& the rest of the country), I can tell you where I had some of the best times of my life & where I think you should do the same. Do the touristy things, but don’t hop on that hop on-hop off big red Clifford bus! Grab a map, get familiar with the Underground/”tube,” & off you go. You’ll save pounds while losing pounds (haaaa) and you’ll see everything in a brand new light. If you want the history and all that, grab a guidebook or read something from the library. The only way to experience London is by exploring it. The usual tourist spots include The London Eye (highly recommended if you don’t have a fear of heights or motion sickness), actually going inside Westminster Abbey, standing in front of & hearing Big Ben chime at 12, trying to talk to a guard at Buckingham Palace before or after The Changing of the Guards (which my brother did when he was 5 & pretty much drove the poor man nuts). Watch a play or a musical on the West End (I saw Les Miserables the day I landed with jet lag when Nick Jonas was in it & I loved it for many reasons), have dinner in Leicester Square & then grab drinks at The W there, go see the Kohinoor & the Tower Jewels (just don’t start yelling that the British stole it from India & the Taj Mahal & you’re going to get it back a la, again, my brother & that way you won’t be arrested). I could’ve lived at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre simply imagining every historical character that was created/performed there. CAN YOU IMAGINE SEEING THE ORIGINAL A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM!? Walk along & see that London Bridge is still, in fact, intact & no one is locked up in there as the creepy children’s song suggests. Go to Nando’s & eat chicken with the hottest Peri Peri sauce they have because that’s the right thing to do in life, saunter down Regent Street & either think of your hometown mall that has all the same stores like I do (also because 1 pound is approximately 3 million dollars) or be that cool person & actually buy stuff from there because you can. Stop in the middle of Trafalgar Square in the evening hours & just look around and think about how lucky you are that you’re in London & how much cooler it would be if I were with you! The cruise on the Thames is kinda fun & boozy, so definitely do that. Hop on over to the Warner Brothers Studio in Leavesden and see all of the real sets and props from ALL EIGHT HARRY POTTER FILMS. And never show me those pictures because I have yet to do that & it would be depressing if you went before I did. If you’re creepy like me, the London Dungeon is the most fascinating place ever & whoever the sicko is who decided to charge people to go there is a mild genius. If you’re really bored in London, although why you would be is beyond me, go to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum & compare/contrast it to the other billion Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museums. If you’re in the mood to feel Indian (whether you actually are or not), you can go to Southall or Brick Lane and partake in the culture within the culture. In the mood to set fire to your stomach lining? Try the infamous Bollywood Burner challenge at The Cinnamon Club or the Curry Hell challenge at the Rupali Restaurant. This is not an endorsement because personally, I’m emotionally attached to my intestines. Visit Sylvia Plath’s house if you’re into morbid literaries as I am, & then cheer yourself up with some retail therapy under Harrod’s iconic green canopies. And finally, hobnob & have high tea and watercress sandwiches with the high & mighty over in Hyde Park & let me know how that goes; I’ll probably be over in Notting Hill looking for Hugh & Julia. Actually, I’m always looking for Hugh, London or anywhere.

Go in the summer & go in the winter (we went for New Year’s Eve & it couldn’t have been greater). Go whenever you can. The city is rich with culture, history, modernism, and life. London’s Ministry of Tourism should really consider hiring me, although I’d much rather prefer The Ministry of Magic.

And, one 2.5 hour Eurail ride later, we’ve arrived in Paris; the city of love, lights, croissants, & Chanel. I love Paris a little less than London because some of the people there aren’t quite so friendly (the rumors are true, in my experience at least), but I j’adore it nonetheless. I had always imagined sitting on the grassy banks of the Seine jotting away in a journal, gazing at the Eiffel Tower, & sipping my hot chocolate since a latté would have me zig zagging through the banks of the Seine. Though that particular fantasy has yet to occur, I’ve fulfilled many another in my Parisian trips thus far. As I watched the Eiffel Tower come into view my first time there at the age of 12, I couldn’t bring myself to believe that I was even there. I remember just sitting there, mouth agape, wanting to hug it (if you’ve gotten the impression that I’m extremely strange from the posts you’ve read on Champagne & Cookie Dough so far, you are absolutely right & I’m completely ok with you judging me). 😉 I was in Paris & Paris was in me and all I wanted to do was everything, which is what I want you to do too. Go to Nice. It’s nice (I’m killin’ it today, guys). Stroll down the Champs de Elysees from the Arc du Triomphe all the way down to the ferris wheel (I suggest summertime for this, my friends). Hang out at the bar at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, stay there ’til evening when the lights go on & sparkle on the hour. The day Disneyland Paris was announced to open, 11 year old me vowed to get there at some point. You can’t put two things like Goofy & Paris together & expect me not to get there. 20 years later, on the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris, the dream came true & it was spectacular. GO THERE DURING CHRISTMASTIME, IT WILL BE THE GREATEST THING YOU EVER DO! [warning: slight embellishment there, you will definitely do greater things] Get a pass for the métro & go roam the city of dreams, see the museums aside from the very beautiful but very obvious Louvre (But don’t forget the Louvre! It’s so much more fun to walk back & forth in front of the real Mona Lisa to see her eyes eerily follow you around while other tourists wonder wtf you’re doing)! Please, oh, please, go see the Notre Dame, marvel in its beauty & architecture inside & out, and then go to the Latin Quarter. This incredible area of bars & restaurants is one of the most fascinating and fun places I’ve ever been to. Various cuisines, a multitude of music, humongous portions of food & drink, and an eclectic mix of locals and tourists make this the go to hotspot for, well, people who like fun. Georges Café & their every-30-minute sparklers forever. Ride the carousel near the Eiffel Tower after you (physical ability permitting) climb up the stairs to the top of it, the sommet if you will (see how cultured I am, I remembered the sign from when I was wheezing past it). Go on a booze cruise on the Seine in the summer (clearly, you see I’m a fan of booze cruises if you’ve been reading the travel posts here). If you go during the Christmas season, nothing is better than the Christmas markets in front of the Eiffel Tower (please see my cool beer picture) & on the Champs Elysees (please see my macarón/homemade chocolate/flying Santa pictures). The market has everything from what I mentioned above to hot wine, fresh fruit, children’s rides, hot toddies, spiced ales, ornaments, blown glass, & more. The spirit is well & alive in Paris during the December days. Can’t forget to peek into Moulin Rouge because if you don’t, then why are you there anyway!? For a stellar view of the Eiffel Tower/Arc du Triomphe combo, try & stay at the Hotel Concorde Lafayette in the La Defénse area. If you don’t want to stay there, but still want the view, make sure to make window seat reservations in advance (& bring a fat wallet) for Bar La Vue on the top level of the hotel. Hot pink interiors, DJed sounds, & the most scenic view you could ask for (reminiscent of Robert @ MAD in NYC). If you leave Paris without eating fresh baguette sandwiches, giant chocolate croissants, & sumptuous Nutella & strawberry crepes, you are not a human being. I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you. They will all melt in your mouth & make you wonder why you can’t date food and you will go home 291 pounds heavier but the bond you forged with that meal will last forever. Tired from all of the meandering? Pop into Shakespeare & Company and sit in their cushy little armchair with a tome to pass your time. Read something by Marcel Proust, Victor Hugo, George Sand, or Honoré de Balzac..& then go visit their homes that are now museums open to the public. Fashion fiends like me can at least see the exterior of Coco Chanel’s apartment at 31 Rue Cambon (the Chanel store is on the ground floor so go [window] shopping or something while you’re there). In the mood to drink where plenty of famous people just like yourself have? La Fouquet’s Brasserie on the Champs de Elysees. Brilliant brews, fine wines, tasty bites, and the most fascinating people watching ever! I had wanted to go every time I went to Paris & in 2012, I finally got the chance and it was completely worth it. Want to just relax and embrace the surroundings? Make a pit stop at the Tuileries Palace & Garden with a book and a baguette in 1st arrondissement. If that palace ain’t big enough for you, Versailles is only a 20 minute train ride away for you to relish in your royal reveries. Not enough reign for you? Take a 6.5 hour train ride, & there you are in Monaco/Monte Carlo. Enjoy the French Riviera, take in the classic view, & head an hour further to Cannes & walk your red carpet fantasies into reality.

Now that I’ve waxed poetic about Paris, you think France will reinstitute an actual monarchy & make me Queen? I look good in a crown & it can be my new, more literal crowning glory of life.

I’m not a local so of course I’ve left out plenty of things to discover in London & Paris (if you’re a local, please send me a list so that I can do them myself the next time I go, & there will be a next time)! However, I sincerely hope you can get to these cities one day, whether by yourself, with a significant other, or with your families. If you’re lucky, you will be able to do all three & treasure a completely unique experience from each one. Until then, keep calm & carry on, mes amis!

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For an even more COMPLETELY ABSURD amount of pictures of two of my favorite cities from 2010 & 2012, you can go here, here, here, & here!

Today’s Interlude(s): “Les Champs Elysees,” Joe Dassin & “Maybe It’s Because I’m A Londoner,” Hubert Gregg (video sung by Yavuz Ozisik)

What is Art? Is art art? Are we art?: Lisa Turtle’s Dilemma & Its Relation To 5 Pointz & Self-Expression

Arts & Culture: What is Art? Is art art? Are we art?: Lisa Turtle’s Dilemma & Its Relation To 5 Pointz & Self-Expression

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Inspired, Sad, Artistic, Logical.

If you’re not a New Yorker or you’re not an artist, there is a chance you may not have heard of iconic 5 Pointz, an outdoor art exhibit space on a 20,000 square foot factory building in Long Island City. Aerosol artists from New York’s five boroughs & all over the world came to 5 Pointz to graffiti (in the non-negative sense of the word) all over the space, attracting the likes of boldfaced stars like Doug E. Fresh, Mos Def, & Joan Jett as well. 5 Pointz became a haven for those artists whose medium was aerosol spray cans, and let’s be honest, not quite the most respected of the lot. They would flock to the factory building to express, impress, inspire, collaborate, and experiment, all the while creating incredible colorful displays of, what I presume to be, their thoughts. Unfortunately, as of November 2013, 5 Pointz is no longer in existence. As the curator of the space petitioned to have 5 Pointz become a museum & save it from demolition, the owners of the building had the space whitewashed overnight with the security of police protection. Here comes the question. What was the point in the whitewashing? If the building was to be demolished anyway, why add insult to injury & just go and basically delete the years of expression and artistry and hard work that went into the pieces on those walls? Understandably, the owners of the building had/have the right to do whatever they want with the space, it’s theirs. What I don’t understand is this; for years, this space was a place for community and expression. For years, it thrived as a place for this specific type of artist to come & not be arrested for using aerosol to create. Why the sudden urge for condominiums (and in an already saturated Long Island City)? It is obviously illegal to “tag” up a public place & you can and will be arrested for graffiti’ing pretty much everywhere, which I agree with. Sorry, but I don’t want to see your big orange bubble letters on a public library wall. However, I can appreciate artistry with the best of them & do believe that those individuals who excel in this form of art should have a place where they are free from the fear of glowing blue & red lights and silver (definitely not a cute accessory) cuffs. The need for people to put their feelings into something solid and tangible is valid. The need for a businessperson to want to make more money is valid. I refuse to believe that some sort of agreement or middle ground couldn’t have been reached in this case.

All of that rhetoric aside, I’d like to ask a question of you. What is self-expression exactly? An outlet that allows an individual to feel free, to be themselves, to be unique, maybe to release stress or anger or sadness? That’s what it is to me, anyway, and I couldn’t survive without it. I don’t know what I’d do if someone suddenly erased all records of my dance performances or told me that I can no longer use a particular space to dance in that I had been connected to and performing in for years. In my opinion, self-expression is a necessity for society. To be able to not only make yourselves feel, but to inspire and to make others feel something, anything, with something you have created with the fruits of your labor is an irreplaceable, inherently good thing. To many, it may be intangible. To many, it may be too philosophical. But to many, it is innate and it is important.

Art to one person, whether it be performance or creative or visual, may be trash to another, but who is the decision maker as to what should be revered and what should be disregarded? My heart goes out to you, artists of 5 Pointz & all other such artists out there. The wonderful part about expressing yourself through your art is that you always have your tools within you. That’s something no one can steal from you & I suppose there is at least a little solace in that. I hope you find somewhere else accepting of your immense talents and understanding of your visions, because, Ansel Adams said it best:

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”

More information about 5 Pointz here, and more articles about the demolition here.

(Header photo credit: http://www.inhabitant.com; Footer photo credit: @WNYC on Twitter)

Today’s Interlude: The Living End, “Prisoner of Society”

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Siddhi: My Friend & Foe Follies With Faith

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Trusting, Trying, Anxious, Faithful.

I’ve always been a child of faith. Mostly because as kids, you tend to follow whatever path your parents are on, & in my case, that was a deep belief in Hinduism and our polytheism. They told me to go to temples with them, I went. I prayed because they were praying, & I mean, believing in God seemed like a normal life process. As I got older, the religious ceremonies and prayers became more time consuming activities, and not in a good way. I didn’t feel like going all the way to Pittsburgh or Queens to go to various temples when I thought logically, it made sense to just pray to all of the idols we had all over our house. I still believed in all of my Gods, but I didn’t want to take the time out of the rest of my life to go be grateful for something or to ask for something to someone who, at that point in my life, I wasn’t even sure existed.

At 17, I had a minor health scare which was a slight ordeal, but the residual (temporary) effect was an extremely swollen left side of my face & a crooked one-sided smile. At 17, we’re all narcissists and high school is a hall of mirrors reflected back to you in the faces of your peers. I was a senior; I didn’t quite process that my life had just been saved, I only knew that prom was coming, yearbook pictures were coming, & graduation pictures were coming. One day, I was so infuriated by the distorted reflection staring back at me in my mirror, that I threw it across the room & threw a nearby religious idol with it. I was so pissed off that any of this could be occurring, & naturally, I blamed God. I mean, if there were Gods, why would They ever let this tragedy happen to me? God isn’t supposed to allow for suffering, He/They (for me) are supposed to make sure that They protect you and take care of you. From that point forward, at a gradual pace that I didn’t even recognize until years later, my belief waned. The more terrible things I heard about in the world, the more (in hindsight, minor) things that came my way to overcome, the less I followed my parents’ customs anymore, the less I believed in prayer, & the more I sat in the car when they dragged us to the temple (by the way, this didn’t all just start because my face was a partially inflated balloon, I’m not that vain, but that is the first moment I recall really feeling a change). For many years following that, I became an atheist. I just couldn’t bring myself to feel that strength of faith or shift in energy or positivity in prayer or in God or the idea of God anymore. I had many “why me?” moments that we all have, but they didn’t propel me to seek a higher order; I just attributed it to “whatever, that’s life” & moved on. Sounds great when I write it that way, but when I look back now, those times in my life were when I felt the loneliest & most defeated.

I’m not sure exactly when I started to believe again, which is interesting in its own right because I just told you the exact moment when I stopped. Anyway, over many years, in a “slow & steady wins the race” kind of mentality, my faith slowly began to resurface. I didn’t throw a tantrum when we had religious events at home (my parents would always kick my ass anyway, but at least now they didn’t have to go through that whole absurd process anymore), I walked into the temple & paid my respects at least, and I did pray here and there for my family’s well being and for myself as well. Fast forward what I presume to be 10 years later to the present day. At 32, I can say I’ve become faithful again. Over the course of the past 4 months, both of my parents almost lost their lives and in the process, I nearly lost my everything, including my mind (thank God[s], they are both doing well now). In what is something that I deem entirely inexplicable, during this time, I experienced a pure faith resurgence to a level that I didn’t even have as a child, but we’ll chalk that up to less experience & understanding back then. While in the hospital with my dad for 3 days in late October and in two hospitals for 5 days + 3 weeks with my mom from January-February, I dug out the little Zip-Loc bag holding what had been labeled my “crew” almost 2 decades ago. A little plastic baggie that I had been carrying on & off for years filled with pocket-sized religious hymn books, small deities, etcetera, that had only ever been taken to exams in college or medical school and on plane rides. I [barely] slept on a recliner at each hospital with it attached to my side, one earphone plugged into my ear playing religious songs on an iTunes loop, and just imagined that these deities were in front of me in real life, from all different walks of life, & I would simply pray for one thing; that my parents would be okay (I still do this every night, only now, I thank Them all). In the beginning, it was more of a mind-diverting activity, just something to do to keep my mind off of the scarier things that were happening. But over time, I felt a palpable shift in energy within myself & outside of myself. I suppose it’s something you can only explain to someone else who has felt it, or actually in that case, you probably wouldn’t have to explain anything at all, but it was there. I began to have the depth of a feeling I had never felt before and I still couldn’t tell you what it is now, so I just keep calling it faith, but it’s more complex and intuitive than that (it’s like an Ivy Leaguer in the institutional hierarchy of emotions). It’s moved me to a point where I’ve been in tears because of it, it helps curb impressive anxiety attacks at times, it gave me the actual inner desire to go to the temple three times a week, & it has provided me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I cannot soon repay; and I can honestly say, I cannot remember the last time I prayed for myself. I inherently know what is most important to me & as long as I can graciously express thankfulness and gracefully ask for protection for my beloveds, I’m pretty sure Someone(s) up there or out there has got my back. (I completely forgot how much I loved that “Footprints In The Sand” poem until I started writing this post & I think my family has been “carried” a lot lately).

This isn’t meant to be an insane preachy Peter Popoff post. Let me reassure you of that right now. And also, sorry if it came off that way. But I promise I will not attempt to change your beliefs, I will not ask you to donate to my life fund, & I will not mail you Holy Water vials of any kind. You will also not be a witness to any miraculous occurrences, & for that one, I apologize! It’s simply a sentiment that I wanted to bring to light because I have an inkling that there are probably many of you out there like me. You may have suffered a hiccup in your faith in something, whatever it may be, and it may remain long gone or it may have resurfaced, but I’m sure (I hope!) plenty of people out there have had this experience and sometimes it’s nice to put something out there that may make someone else feel less alone. I know I felt extremely alone and even somewhat guilty in my faithless phase. That’s why I just urge you to put your belief in something. In anything. Believe in religion, believe in a higher power, believe in energy, believe in gratitude, believe in meditation; hell, believe in logic! But believe, wholeheartedly, in something..because it may help you find something you didn’t even know you were looking for.

P.S. My brother is an admitted atheist and while we don’t understand each other in that respect, his unwavering belief in logic and practicality is a spectacular thing to experience.

And if you’re not in the mood for any of the above, fear not, for in the immortal words of Diana King: I’ll say a little prayer for you.

“Today’s Interlude” is an excerpt from a New York Times article (linked below) that really hit home for me. But though there are no instruments, this poetry is still just as melodic.

“Dear God,” I begin,”Whatever we call you / Wherever we find you / in the laughter of our children / the tenderness of our parents / the strength of our brothers and sisters and friends/the closeness of our companions and husbands and wives. / In the arc of the pelican/the leap of the mullet, / the perfect sunny day / or incoming storm / In whatever ways we understand you, / in a church or synagogue or mosque, / or on a beach beneath a starry sky, / we offer gratitude for this day.” -Roy Hoffman, “Remembering To Pray”

Below, some art pieces I did during bouts of questioning, insomnia, and belief.

OSCAR SUNDAY! The 1 Day Of 365 Where Oscar Isn’t A Grouch

OSCAR SUNDAY! The 1 Day Of 365 Where Oscar Isn’t A Grouch

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Curious, Excited, Glitzy, Glamorous.

This post will have more semi-articulate text later tonight, but for now, & throughout the evening, enjoy the fabulous fashion, obstinate opinions, and wonderful winners here! (all photo credit to the photographers at Getty Images)

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Oscars red carpet & afterparties in 2009 when Slumdog Millionaire took home plenty of gold & in 2011 when 127 Hours was a nominee. Considering that I’ve been an avid & obsessive Oscar watcher since I was 7, many of my dreams came true that weekend & I pretty much owe my dad more than I already had at the point! My love for awards season, inclusive of fashion, talent, glitz, & glamour has never waned, & the post below makes that glaringly obvious. Don’t worry if you couldn’t sit through the 3.5 hour show, I did it for you. 😉

My Best Dressed: (as always, I wish there was more, or any Marchesa!)

Portia de Rossi in Naeem Khan

(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Her figure definitely does this gown justice & the intricate patterns make the fact that it’s not an actual color worth it.

Viola Davis in Escada

(Jeff Vespa/WireImage)

The emerald Escada sets of Viola’s skin tone absolutely beautifully. Could do without those tan lines though!

Kristin Chenoweth in Cavalli

(Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

Every year, someone dresses like Oscar himself, but you can’t help but love Kristin Chenoweth in her gilded Cavalli!

Olivia Wilde in Valentino

(Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Lester Cohen/WireImage)

Gorgeous mom-to-be in a classic B&W Valentino could not have done it any better.

Lupita Nyong’o in Prada

(Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

NO WORDS for incredible Lupita Nyong’o in custom silver threaded powder blue Prada. “I picked the blue because it reminded me of Nairobi & I wanted some of home with me. I’m wearing a froggie ring as well, which is my family totem.” Looking like a spectacular & statuesque Cinderella in powder blue pleats & sparkling tiara-esque 18 karat yellow gold & diamond Fred Leighton headband.

Chrissy Teigen in Monique Lhuillier

(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Forever hilarious Sports Illustrated cover girl/John Legend’s wife/prolific tweeter Chrissy Teigen combines fashion & functionality (like Clic By Siddhi!) in a strapless floral Monique Lhuillier gown with what I always call iPhone pockets, because let’s face it, that’s what they are!

Sally Hawkins in Valentino

(Steve Granitz/WireImage)

The Blue Jasmine actress looks like a modern Victorian in her bone & gold Valentino. I’m so glad she isn’t blonde; the brunette makes her face pop against the neutrals.

Jared Leto in Saint Laurent

(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Love of my life Jordan Catalano struts on the red carpet in a black & white Saint Laurent tux with the perfect oxblood bow tie. I miss his man bun & his chiseled jaw though. Angela Chase forever.

Sarah Paulsson in Elie Saab

(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Sarah looked less coven-like in this gorgeous piece by Elie Saab with simple & sleek hair and accessories. I always love long sleeves on gowns as they set you apart from the ubiquitous sleeveless/strapless numbers.

Amy Adams in Gucci

(Jeff Vespa/WireImage)

Many-time nominee Amy Adams decided to style herself, for herself tonight with a navy columnar Gucci gown & hit the nail on the head. The coral colored earrings with her redhead are perfect complements.

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

(Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

America’s sweetheart, 3 time nominee, 1 time winner, & Dior spokesmodel J.Law made her entrance by falling flat on her derriere on the red carpet, but handled it with humor & grace as usual. Even if her whole situation is like the Taylor Swift “surprise face,” I love it. The fire engine red was a surprisingly awesome color choice, not annoying me with the whole red on red carpet thing.

Emma Watson in Vera Wang

(Steven Granitz/WireImage)

My little Hermione never does any fashion wrong. Flawless hair, flawless makeup, and a metallic charcoal & black Vera Wang gown are no match for her acting skills, but do a good job keeping up!

Kevin Spacey in *pending*

(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

I have a soft spot for midnight blue tuxes with black lapels (specific, but true) & Frank Underwood did good!

Julia Roberts in Givenchy

(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Lace Givenchy (& peplum done right!) in a color, in my opinion, that sets off that lighter hair & trademark smile incredibly!

Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen

(Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

Stunner Sandra in a liquidy navy McQueen looking every bit the Best Actress queen herself! And for once, non-straight hair & effortlessly rocking the waves.

Kate Hudson in Versace

(Steve Granitz/WireImage)

I’m not sure if Kate has ever looked so so so good. Her slinky white gown fit like a glove and couldn’t have flattered her anymore. The back draping was the icing on this non-wedding cake!

Lady Gaga in Atelier Versace

(Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

WOW. That’s all I can say for Lady Gaga on Oscar night. Incredible embroidered figure flattering Atelier Versace makes more of a statement than her usual over the top attire in the best way possible!

Kelly Osbourne in Badgley Mischka

(Coco Perez)

Kelly chose a beautiful Badgley Mischka gown with a beaded capelet-style overlay for one of her many Oscars gowns, and made sure to stay dry in that oh-so-torrential LA rain.

VANITY FAIR OSCARS AFTERPARTY:

Mindy Kaling in Salvador Perez

(Jon Kopaloff/Film Magic)

Well, if you know me, you know I think Mindy can do no wrong like, ever. Her fashion obsession (amongst other things) makes her my kindred spirit & her costume designer on The Mindy Project & the president of the Costume Designers Guild, Salvador Perez dresses her impeccably on the show & in real life. This dazzling strapless black peplum is no exception.

Taylor Swift in Julien MacDonald & Jaime King in Ulyana Sergeenko

(Just Jared)

Taylor has hardly gotten her event fashion wrong & last night was no exception. Forever a fan of sparkles that she is, I’m glad she chose black over the usual metallics. I’ve been a fan of Jaime King since her CK modeling days back when she was James, & I love the fact that her fashion forward days are still in existence. She always toes the line & she did it well last night in a maroon gown cutout gown with periwinkle detailing, perfectly showcasing that post-baby figure.

Selena Gomez in Emilio Pucci

(Just Jared)

Selena is one of my favorite fashionistas (as those who know me will attest to), & at 21, she is emerging as a fashion favorite for just about everyone. She remained true to form as she usually sticks to a golden hue for these types of events, but I love the sheer peekaboo legs and Old Hollywood waves.

Naomie Harris in Naeem Khan

(Getty Images)

I had the good fortune of being able to attend Naeem Khan’s 2014 runway show during New York Fashion Week & had an idea that this gown may be making an appearance somewhere this awards season. The stark red & black combo looked stunning on Naomie.

Zooey Deschanel in Oscar de la Renta

(Just Jared)

Zooey is known for her quirky or olden days fashion choices, & I have been ogling this ODLR floral gown since it hit the runway. It’s the perfect fit to Zooey’s personality.

Leslie Mann in Jenny Packham

(Just Jared)

Cheerful tones for a cheerful pair! Leslie Mann in her lemon yellow Jenny Packham brightened up the black/neutral/metallic red carpet in a much needed way!

Jennifer Lawrence in Tom Ford

(Just Jared)

No falling this time around, J.Law stunned in a short Tom Ford dress with sheer side & back paneling and metallic cut work.

Rashida Jones in Valentino

(Just Jared)

I know this one won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but this columnar patterned Valentino is one of my favorites! The simple hoops and dark bangs are the perfect accessories.

Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera

(Just Jared)

Amy is always one of the ones I look forward to, both film-wise & fashion-wise. She switched to another simple gown, this time a clean white one-shoulder Carolina Herrera, and obviously made everyone’s best dressed list, again.

Kristen Bell in *pending*

(Getty Images)

Still waiting on the designer for this one, but Kristen Bell looked gorgeous in a bright red low-cut Grecian style gown. I think motherhood added the glow more than the makeup did!

Reese Witherspoon in Boss

(Just Jared)

This is a look I’m not used to seeing on Reese, and I’m a fan of it! The split design skirt in black & metallic charcoal, and pop of turquoise in the earrings are a stark & stunning contrast to her blonde hair & blue eyes.

10:53PM Currently, Gravity is cleaning up, Lupita took it home, & Ellen is about to have the most retweeted picture in history also known as the greatest selfie in history! Also, this is a very very long Oscars, but my loyalty is real!

11:02PM: The In Memoriam segment was as gut wrenching as usual, but it’s wonderful to note that they muted the applause so it wasn’t a popularity contest for the departed. Bette Midler closed it out by singing her iconic “Wind Beneath My Wings” from Beaches & basically the whole world ugly cried like Oprah.

11:19PM: Best Original Song went to Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, making Robert the youngest EGOT winner ever! (Winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, & Tony Award)

11:41PM: Daniel Day-Lewis is the only thing that’s helping this long ass show situation right now.

11:50PM: Jennifer Lawrence was fighting with someone in the audience….while up on stage presenting an award. I’d love to know the background story on that a bit more. Following that, Matthew McConaughey is giving a church summer camp speech.

11:55PM: My mom started screaming at the TV after 40 minutes of silence. “YEAH, WILL! YOU GO! I LOVE HIM, HE’S SO FUNNY!” Thanks for the unexpected wake up call, Will Smith.

Sometimes, I wasn’t looking at the clock (a valiant effort), so here’s what else happened on some basic timeline. Pink sang the hell out of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” for The Wizard of Oz’s 75th anniversary & Judy Garland’s children in attendance (Liza Minnelli with her blue streaked hair to match her peculiar blue silken jumpsuit, Lorna Luft, & Joey Luft) understandably cried. Ellen quickly brought that back to laughter in her Glinda the Good Witch getup, and though there were some hits & misses throughout the telecast, Ellen kept it light and funny and PG, which is pretty much what I look for in a host (if I needed an overabundance sex jokes, I’d watch pretty much anything else on TV right now).

(Kevin Mazur/WireImage) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Ellen ordered pizza for the starving celebrities & Brad Pitt was serving paper plates, Kerry Washington got a gluten-free version, and basically the celebs perked up a bit after being fed. Also, Ellen collected money for the pizza from the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Brad Pitt, & Lupita Nyong’o threw in her lip balm as well (Clarins, for those interested)! John Travolta seemed to have sneakily imbibed somewhere at the notoriously dry event because his introduction of Idina Menzel left the rest of us blankly blinking at the TV for a bit.

(Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

WINNERS (UPDATED):

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

My love since his Jordan Catalano, My So-Called Life days & a man with a 4 year prime spot in my locker with those crystal eyes, Jared Leto took time off from acting for 6 years to pursue his passion for music. A successful music career (with his band 30 Seconds To Mars) later, he returned to acting to take home all top accolades of the season for his character Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club, & his Oscars acceptance speech was a love letter to his mom and awareness for the current events in the world. I’m so happy for my future spouse! 😉

Best Costume Design: Catherine Martin, “The Great Gatsby”

Achievement in Makeup & Hairstyling: Adruitha Lee & Robin Mathews, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Animated Short: Laurent Witz & Alexandre Espigares, “Mr. Hublot”

Best Animated Feature Film: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho, “Frozen”

Achievement in Visual Effects: Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk, Neil Corbould, “Gravity”

Best Live Action Short Film: Anders Walter, Kim Magnusson, “Helium”

Best Documentary Short Subject: Malcolm Clarke, Nicholas Reed, “The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life”

Best Documentary Feature: Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen, Caitrin Rogers, “20 Feet From Stardom”

Best Foreign Language Film: “The Great Beauty”, Italy

Achievement in Sound Mixing: Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, Chris Munro, “Gravity”

Achievement in Sound Editing: Glenn Freemantle, “Gravity”

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”

This young woman is one of the classiest, well spoken people I have ever seen. She has come through awards season as a winner & with a sincere & true message in her speeches at each event & at every talk show stop she’s made throughout. Fashion superstar, & now Academy Award winner..after having just graduated the Yale School of Drama in MAY. Stunning & spectacular; “No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid.”

Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”

Best Film Editing: Alfonso Cuaron & Mark Sanger, “Gravity”

Achievement in Production Design: Catherine Martin (production design) & Beverley Dunn (set decoration), “The Great Gatsby”

Best Original Score: Steven Price, “Gravity”

Best Original Song: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, “Frozen”

Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, “12 Years A Slave”

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, “Her”

Achievement in Direction: Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

Cate Blanchett was the lock for the award according to industry insiders, so this wasn’t quite a surprise. Though I love Sandra in everything & I really just want Amy Adams to win an Oscar AT SOME POINT, you can’t deny Cate’s talent. I’ll remain mum on the director choice though.

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”

No surprise here either as Matthew McConaughey’s turn in Dallas Buyers Club has already been winning awards all season, and though I joked that his acceptance speech was reminiscent of a church summer camp sermon, I can’t deny that he really did move me with some of his words. “God has shown me that it is a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates.”

Best Picture: “12 Years A Slave”

What a great end to a long evening! Truly thrilled for Steve McQueen & the entire cast and crew of 12 Years A Slave for a well deserved award. An important film for plenty of reasons, the talent clearly only being one of them.

Andddd GOOD NIGHT! 🙂

Solo Sojourns: The Legacy of the “Me Trip”

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Nomadic, Adventurous, Introspective, Light, Free.

One of the greatest things I’ve ever done to facilitate my own independence and feed my desire to connect with as many kindred and non-kindred spirits as possible was to start taking “Me Trips” back when I started college. I know you’re waiting with bated breath for me to explain (because the name isn’t self-explanatory at all), so here we go. When I was a freshman, many of my closest friends were at different schools, so our spring breaks never coincided. I’m one of those rarities on the planet that has never been to Cancun for spring break. I never had a wild week of unadulterated all-inclusive fun; at least not in college. When faced with the option of sitting at home for a week doing nothing but morosely imagining the others on the beach (pre-Facebook photo days, you guys aka TORTURE), I decided to just up & leave and go on a trip by myself. It was nothing spectacular the first time (Virginia and Washington, DC), but the whole idea of leaving for a different city by myself with no concrete itinerary was so enthralling, even the mall seemed spectacular because it was in another city. Now, back in the day, before I went delinquent for a while, my parents were hyper-paranoid and I was an angel child. Trying to convince them that I was going to drive to Virginia from New York alone, stay in a hotel alone, and hopefully return (alone) was one of the most difficult processes that no human being should ever have to go through. But, I’m a Scorpio and I’m stubborn and I’m determined and I guess I was convincing (“Mom! You always say you want me to be independent! How will I do so in the house all break while you feed me!? I have to experience life.” Yeah, whatever, you were all that preachy at 17 too!). So, I packed a bag with clothes, money, the brick of a cell phone I had just gotten in January of 2000 “for emergencies only,” & some books, and bounded out the door.

I remember being extremely excited that I was going on a trip by myself and I would meet so many new people and see so many new things and learn so much more about myself that the first thing I did was get lost on the way. It’s a straight road from NYC to VA/DC, but I get lost if I come out of a different subway exit, so this was par for the course for me. With no navigation system & NO WAY IN HELL being the basic idea behind calling my dad for directions, my “spring break” started off by gas station hopping (party animal) to find out exactly how I could get to my destination. When I got to my little Holiday Inn room, I was thrilled (this was pre-anxiety that a serial killer would strangle me Lifetime movie style days). I looked around, called my parents to tell them that I still had all limbs intact and I was only late in arriving because of traffic, not due to being directionally impaired, and..bounded out the door.

The 5 days I spent in Virginia & DC are still some of my most fondly remembered ones. I went to the Smithsonian, National Air & Space Museum, The White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln & Jefferson Memorials, Arlington Cemetery, & of course, the Arlington Mall (as in shopping, not historical). I meandered along the large exhibits and really took the time to understand the things that I actually liked in life. I found that my childhood predilection for museums and history was still raring to go as long as I didn’t have a 40 question exam or 2,000 word essay relying on it afterwards. I experienced the DC nightlife, unknowingly ended up at an awesome lesbian nightclub (“Come to the firehouse party tomorrow night, I’ll take you as my date!”) which I didn’t know at the time was a lesbian nightclub, I just thought it was “ladies’ night” and people in DC were much nicer than in New York (see why I needed the “independence”!?), made a new friend at a hip hop bar who I was in touch with for a couple of years afterwards, went back to the hotel happy and renewed and ready to go home..and bounded out the door.

After that first experience, I was hooked. “Me Trips” became my sanity and I vowed to take one at least once a year. I went to the Bahamas with no plans and ended up going to fire-breathing show, kayaking for the first time by myself (resulting in spaghetti arms), & meeting a girl and her mom from the next town over from me on Long Island. We met on a Bahamian snorkeling/booze cruise on which I ended up as “Limbo Queen” and won a bottle of long gone rum. From there, I took a flight to Miami, rented a red convertible to fulfill my long-harbored dream of being whatever people in red convertibles at the time were, had a beautiful dinner of pasta and wine on Lincoln Road alone while reading a paperback which I then left in the back of a cab I took to go to Mansion, a nightclub there. I encountered a bachelorette party of girls with whom I ended up having mutual connections, stayed at one of their apartments, & headed to Orlando on the Amtrak the next day. Most people call me a nutjob, but I have been to Miami’s Holocaust Museum alone, I’ve truly and thoroughly enjoyed The Magic Kingdom alone, I’ve gone to a club in Orlando and met a couple who ended up inviting me to their wedding later that year, and I still go to dinner and movies and short road trips alone when I can’t manage the time for a full Me Trip. The experiences I’ve had on all of those journeys are absolutely incomparable and unique and considering I remember so many details, and more importantly, feelings, from these trips, it is clear that they have in some way shaped me as well. I just remember feeling new. That’s the best way I can put it. Intrigued, revived, alive, enthusiastic..and ever ready to bound out the door.

My family has gotten used to it even if they don’t understand it because it was and IS the greatest feeling in the world to take some time for yourself away from your familiar surroundings and the regular hubbub of daily life and just connect with yourself as a human being. Your likes, dislikes, experiences can all be influenced by those around you so once in a while, why not take off and see what it is that really resonates with you? I credit my Me Trips with much of the hyper self-awareness that I have today. I can honestly say that I know exactly what makes an impact with me, exactly what I like and don’t like and why, what my flaws are, what my assets are, what has shaped me and how, and what I want for myself from this point forward. To be attuned to yourself is a fabulous thing because I don’t second guess my decisions as much as I used to, and that is a fantastic feeling. I feel rejuvenated when I am away and have a clarity of thought that is difficult to produce when you’re surrounded by so many pressures and stressors and responsibilities. Alone doesn’t equal lonely and I strongly urge everyone to find the time to take a Me Trip and really understand what makes you, you.

I hope you’re bounding out the door.

Today’s Interlude: I 9, “Same In Any Language”

(Pictures Below – sadly none of Virginia/DC..pre-digicam days!: 1. Red convertible stunting in Miami, 2. Nicole, a girl I met in the Bahamas with her mom, & myself at Señor Frog’s, 3. Random bachelorette party at Mansion, Miami, 4. Limbo Queen on a Bahamian booze cruise, 5. New friends in the Bahamas at the Breezes resort where I was not staying, 6. Front & center at Cinderella’s house, 7. Knights of Fire show in the Bahamas, 8. Nicole’s mom, Nicole, the bouncer, & me at Señor Frog’s, 9. Bride-to-be Monique & her BFF at an Orlando lounge, 10. New friends in Miami, 11. New friends in Orlando, 12. New friend Rahul & I at B.E.D. in Miami, 13. Holocaust Museum in Miami, 14. Wedding party friends at Breezes in the Bahamas, 15. My 1st time snorkeling, 16. A new Orlando police officer friend, 17. Nicole & I on the Bahamian booze cruise, 18. Kayaking for the 1st time)

The iGeneration: Text Me, Tweet Me, If You Wanna (Maybe) Reach Me

Culture: The iGeneration: Text Me, Tweet Me, If You Wanna (Maybe) Reach Me

Today’s Mood Ingredients: Mobile, Multitasking, Connected, Disconnected.

This post isn’t about anything novel and it isn’t written as well as the thousands of other posts about it, but I like having an opinion on most things, so here you go. I’m one of those individuals that is lucky enough to have been part of two eras of technology; the one where I used a pencil to wind an audio &/or video cassette, blew on Nintendo games to make them work, had a Walkman, had to just wait it out if someone wasn’t someplace at some time, and had dial-up America Online (“10,000 FREE HOURS!”) with a parentally mandated 1 hour of internet a day and the current “iGeneration” era where you Snapchat a photo of yourself to put on Instagram to simultaneously share on Facebook & Twitter while making sure none of it ever gets on your LinkedIn page and never having to get off of your iPhone to do any of it.

I’m on my phone pretty much most of the day. I watch TV on it, I pay bills on it, I check statements on it, I take pictures on it, I converse with people on it, I use both personal & company social media on it; hell, it even has a name (Pablo, btw). Strangely enough, I rarely take calls on it though. I don’t even use my laptop for weeks at a time, because it doesn’t fit in my pocket. I sometimes literally feel an urge to tweet something just for the sake of not having done so in a few hours. But alright, let’s say for the sake of being devil’s advocate (and using it as a fabulous excuse), that social media is a networking tool & I need it for my fashion brand, and in order to bring awareness to my fashion brand, I also have to utilize my personal network (this is great, I just convinced myself in that one sentence that I should be on all of my social networks at all times, I need an intervention). What about all the rest of it? Texting other people while at dinner with a completely different group of people? Forgetting to eat the food on your plate because you’re busy rearranging it so it makes for a pretty Instagram or Foodspotting picture? Making a completely unnecessary ridiculous face into your “selfie” (I’ll go into my rage at that becoming Webster’s word of the year in another, possibly beer-induced post) camera for the sole reason of captioning it with “OMG SO AWK!” and Snapchatting someone with it? TEXTING AT THE MOVIES WITH YOUR BRIGHTNESS ON MAX!? I’m a little concerned for my two & a half year old nephew’s generation because this will be the norm to them. He has already known for over a year how to maneuver iPads and iPhones and iLaptops. He accidentally uses the regular TV as a touch screen sometimes! iPad was probably his 4th word after vacuum, mommy, and daddy. WHEN IS IT ALL TOO MUCH!?!?

In case you haven’t noticed by now, recently I’ve been experiencing world wide webxaustion. I think it partially hit when I went to the AT&T kiosk and the employee showed his colleagues with awe (& I’m pretty sure, a little disgust) that I’m the first person that he had ever met who actually made full use of the unlimited data plan with the fact that I use 12GB a month (the silver medal of the iPhone Olympics was awarded to my brother with a close but no cigar 10GB a month). Then it hit when I noticed my family & friends, including me, all on our phones at the same time while supposedly spending time with each other! I’m guilty of all of the annoying things I mentioned earlier (except I refused to ever succumb to Snapchat & I stopped the movie one, I swear), but lately I’m okay with not being attached to Pablo palm to case. Sometimes I purposely leave my phone in another room so that I’m not even tempted to see what my faves are tweeting about or who had the perfect tiny portion of the perfect tiny dessert at the perfect [tiny] overpriced restaurant (but also, a lot of my posts are of martinis at Applebee’s & I could just be slightly envious of those other people). And I’ve become more aggravated at others who are constantly on their phones when with me. I haven’t 100% succeeded yet, but I’ve begun to make a concerted effort to not be distracted when I’m with company or when I’m out with people for a meal or a get together. I’m slowly realizing that the quality of time being spent with my loved ones has been significantly less in quality & more just sitting near each other while talking to others via data plans, and I’m not okay with that. Last Sunday, I told my brother to get off of his phone (while he was playing whatever the newest “____ Bird” game out there is, I’m sure) because I wanted to “connect.” Besides the fact that he was a little creeped out, he still had to finish his game first. I MEAN, WTH! CONNECT WITH ME, MAN!

There are of course positives like being able to call my 90 year old grandma in Bombay on her cute little Nokia phone, stay in touch with my amazing family in India and friends in other countries all the time via What’s App (until Facebook ruins it), being able to Google anything on the go like doctors’ info, nearby restaurants & gas stations, the option to use pharmacy apps to refill prescriptions immediately, etcetera (I’m still on the fence about Siri, though), but I’d like to know how my brother’s day was at work, what my sister taught my nephew that day, what my little sister ate for lunch (trust me, that one is always interesting) via conversation; not pictures, not texts, not Facebook posts (also, someone please stage a Solitaire intervention for my mom and an Indian radio app intervention for my dad). By the way, I typed this post on my laptop & only looked at Pablo twice with no social media checks in between!!! Ah, progress is such sweet sorrow.

Anyway, I’m going to go tweet & Facebook this post now so..text me, tweet me, if you wanna (maybe) reach me!

P.S. You can follow me here & here. 😉

P.P.S. Most importantly, seriously, PLEASE DON’T TEXT/TWEET/POKE/SNAP/BLOG & DRIVE.

Today’s Interlude: The Kim Possible Theme Song

Photo credit: ashisaggarwal122.wordpress.com

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