Dot.. Dot.. Dot..

On Vox: Here Comes Your Man

2009-08-10T21:15:42Z

Heard this in the car yesterday and was reminded how much this song rocks. Good music, never really goes bad.

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: POBPH

2009-07-22T18:49:41Z

I have a thing against band names that need to be shortened into acronyms or sound like titles of love poems I once wrote back in the 8th grade. Too many memories of fake kissing pillows quite honestly. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart don't sound much older than that but despite the young vocals their songs are quite lovely. Thanks to Patty and Annie for getting me out to the Rickshaw last night. Sound was a bit garbled but I still had a great time. Forgot how much I love going to shows...

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: for the love of bacon

2009-07-21T17:18:22Z

by Geno

found on art*star

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Sex-Ed on 16th Street

2009-07-20T18:55:25Z

I was enjoying a lovely, sunny day in the Mission with Sarah. We were discussing Geo-Cache (which I had never heard of before) and sipping on iced tea when she burst out, "Are those penises on that bus?" Um, why yes they are. Wearing shirts no less. And see those tiny red things in the corner? Those are syphilis germs.

Stay classy SF, stay classy.

Snakes on bus

photo via @sarahsosiak

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Hanging Out

2009-06-10T22:22:20Z

Sesame street

taken from Simon Reading via jpeg mag

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: QotD: First Job

2009-05-27T23:21:06Z

What was your very first job?

My first job turned me into the best shirt folder in the world. I spent hours folding sweatshirts around a clipboard and loading them into wall cubicles where customers would proceed to yank them out and stuff them back shaped as little balls. Sweats & Surf had secured the niche market of selling sweats in every color imaginable and surf clothing. And people were into it! Ah, the early 90s, not long enough to rid yourself of the hellish fashion of the 80s. Purple sweatpants anyone? In retrospect, it was not the most terrible job I ever had. My time as a Bullwinkle's hostess wearing a ranger outfit serving pizzas to screaming kids...that may have been the worst.

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: April showers bring May flowers...

2009-05-06T03:45:38Z

...Except that it's still raining here in San Francisco. Every other week that is. I know I'm long overdue for a life update. But after so much time it's a little difficult to know where to start. As many of you know, I was impaled by a 400 pound ATV back in February. The short summary for the non-6Aers: four cracked ribs, a punctured lung, one broken collarbone (which now has plate and six screws over it), chest tubes, a medic jet evacuation from Mexico, a week's hospital stay and several more weeks of sporting around oxygen tanks. Oh, and I also burst blood vessels behind my eyes which caused blurry spots around my center of vision. Initially the spots were purple and I thought I was hallucinating from all the morphine. My doctor laughed when I told her, apparently you cannot hallucinate from painkillers. Not even if you take a ton of it.

A horrific experience indeed but I feel blessed to have walked away with mind, body and spirit intact. I've never been more thankful to be able to move my hands and feet than I did on that day. The outpouring of love and support from friends and colleagues was truly amazing. And I was lucky to have D at my side, as he went above and beyond to ensure that I had the best possible care. During those eight weeks of recovery life was really simple, and despite my limited mobility and sometimes painful days, quite enjoyable. Well, except for the part where I couldn't shave my armpits. That was kind of rough. There was a lot of good food (I rekindled a love of apple juice in a box), reading, visits from friends, naps and pretty sunsets from D's deck. The urgency and need for "things" went away because well, I couldn't really do much on my own. I spent quite a bit of time thinking about people, relationships and the forces that move us in life. I don't have any answers for you but I did gain perspective for myself.

Now that I'm back at work, I'm feeling a little bit funky. Bound to happen, right? Most of it is probably due to my adjusting to the new schedule and the general insertion of me back into society. Hello, world. But if having a near death experience doesn't put you down, a bit of the blues definitely will not. :)

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: welcome to bizzaro

2009-04-17T04:56:18Z

Cupcake fawns

On ffffound originally by Andrea Canalito

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Bunnies in Sweaters! Oh My!

2009-04-02T07:26:07Z

Bummies

On ffffound by mfrost

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Bacon Cups

2009-03-27T06:55:49Z

Spread_cupdetail

Because we all need more bacon in our life.
Recipe from Not Martha.

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Beard Font

2009-03-20T01:18:37Z

So bad...it's good.

Beard font

Found on The Projects

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Return to a time of donkeys...

2009-03-09T18:42:46Z

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: A Long Way Gone

2009-03-08T03:50:54Z

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Ishmael Beah

A touching, riveting and eye opening story. Beah, now living in the states as an activist for the children of war, tells the story of his youth: the attacks by rebel soldiers on villages, the disappearance of loved ones, the violence he committed as a child soldier and finally the freedom he found through the help of UNICEF.

Recommended by one of my mentors, I read the book in under three days. It's well-written, remarkably detailed and a fast read. It's an extraordinary firsthand account not only on how civil strife can destroy communities but also that hope, bravery, and humanity still exist in this world.

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Heart

2009-02-17T21:50:31Z

Annika's Heart

On Flavorpill by Annika Backstrom

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: It's Only Strange at Our House

2009-02-14T17:36:29Z

Last night I sat down to an assortment of new alarm clocks and two giant, the biggest I’d ever seen, papayas on the dining room table. “They cute huh honey?” mom asked as she scooped rice into a bowl.

“Are they supposed to be…um, cute?” I prodded one of the papayas. It was bright green and didn’t look like it was going to soften anytime this year, much less this month.

“Yea, mom proud they so big. Good deal. Buy big, less money.”

Before I could comment on how absurd that sounded, the alarm clocks began rattling in succession. What the… 7pm. Oh right, every hour on the hour. This was all perfectly normal (at least in our household) until one of the clocks started belting out country tunes. Country tunes in a robotic, doorbell kind of way, the kind of country tunes found in cartoons with Bugs Bunny chasing the Road Runner down some lonely stretch of Texas desert. First the rooster phone now country tune alarm clocks. WTF.

Mom glanced up and laughed, “It cute honey?”

*****
On this visit, my mom had these two tidbits of wisdom for me:

#1 Saving for the Future: “Thanh My already bought house. She two year younger than you, no speak English too good. But she came here after and she save, save money. Why you not like that? You know she single, three kid wit BIG HOUSE. She work on nail just downtown. She good daughter…”

Wait. She’s single with three kids and you think she’s a good daughter for buying a house??

#2 Dating Up in Life: “Mom say you don’t need date. But if you want man, go Vietnam honey. Many rich, mill-on-aire. Take rich boy back wit you. They give you fifty thousand to go America. And you no have to live wit them.

[pauses]

I should have done too when I young like you. But now too late. Still, you go. You pretty girl, have chance to make money. Better than be alone, mommy tinks.”

Nice. I'd rather be alone and um, I think that’s illegal.

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: QotD: My Journey of Greatness

2009-02-11T22:42:22Z

Greatness is not a destination, but a journey. What do you do for your family, career or community that you’re most proud of?
Sponsored by Nature Made.

Being thankful and grateful for the full life that surrounds me is something that is always embedded in my mind. I'm not sure if that makes me "most proud" of it but it definitely reminds me that giving back is key. Whether it's helping a friend out, spending time with family or giving up some of my free time to volunteer, I try not to forget how lucky I am..

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Oh Facebook

2009-02-11T18:27:10Z

What is it about friends posting pictures from years ago, not just of themselves but of you too. Thankfully I like the photo despite the fact that I'm wearing silver-ish lipstick. To be 24 again!

Me_norm_cindy

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Michele's Birthday

2009-02-09T06:23:11Z

IMG_0141

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Running With Scissors

2009-01-23T22:47:23Z

Running with Scissors: A Memoir

Augusten Burroughs

It's how kids get hurt or at least that's what they tell you growing up, though I never did meet anyone who's been hurt by someone running with scissors.

This book sat on my bookshelf for ages. And I do mean AGES. At the time Barnes&Noble was having a sale, it was a bestseller and this copy came in hardback, so I purchased it. But really, reading about somebody's crazy childhood in comparison to reliving my own just didn't sound as interesting. And on top of that, reviews from friends were all over the place.

So there you have it. After several years I finally finished it two weeks ago. My summary: it's a weird memoir that's much too long. The beginning and the end were well written, but quite honestly I could have ripped out most of the middle and still have had a pretty good story. Some people find the book hilarious, I thought it was disturbing and not done in the light humor of someone like David Sedaris.

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: The Stories We Tell..

2009-01-12T00:15:34Z

There are the friends that you rarely see but every time that you do, it’s as if no time has passed. It’s the friend that reminds you of the person that you want to be, that you can be, that you may have always been. That’s my friend, Tyee. We met in college when she had China doll bangs and I cooked a lot of salty foods. She was full of dry humor, French slang and a wicked sense of style. We weren’t particularly close during those days, her humor was not for me, but over the years despite our hectic schedules we managed to stay in touch and grow our friendship.

Yesterday I picked her up on the corner of Sutter and Divisadero, outside the Intensive Care Cancer Unit. “No, my mom is not okay..” she said slowly. “She has colon cancer. We found out last month and it’s spread to her ovaries. They’ve removed what they could. She just had the surgery this week and in a few months, she’ll go into chemo. The prognosis is not good.”

Tyee was calm and composed. What do you say to a friend in that moment? “I’m sorry.” My words sounded thick and hollow. I wanted to say more but my throat was dry and I was at a loss.

We spent the afternoon drinking hot chocolate and shopping for plum colored lipstick. She broke down a little when we discussed the upcoming wedding and the acceleration of plans. “I want her to be able to enjoy the day..well, I just want her to be there for it.” She looked away as I stared down at the table. We changed the subject to wedding gowns, bouquets and her plan to buy flowers the day of at Costco. My friend, always the frugal one.

I’m amazed at her strength and ability to keep it all together. Over a year ago, her fiancé went through chemo for a brain tumor and now life has just gotten back to normal. And here she is, at the start of the new year watching it happen all over again. My dating life update was frivolous in comparison. But I continued on because the stories made her laugh. And that’s all I could hope for in a time like this.

Stay positive Love. xoxo.

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Home for the Holidays

2008-12-27T04:01:38Z

By tomorrow morning, I will have survived almost 72 hours at home. This is a big deal considering my previous visit lasted less than a day. What can I say, my patience for dealing with family has been at an all-time low. Overall though, besides the constant rooster calls (via telephone and clocks) and my parents' inability to speak in anything other than their stadium voices, it was a nice-ish stay. I caught up with childhood friends, shopped with cousins and even bonded with my mother over rice bowls.

Yes. Bowls. Apparently her newfound obsession is with dinnerware, rice bowls in particular. Which is kind of nice considering her past obsessions: there was the year of nylon tracksuits, replaced by Buddhist statues of every shape and size, and then came the chili garden (which is now producing more chili than any of us can eat). Every week she finds new bowls and plates and then ends up selling the old ones or just giving them away. I hope by the time I'm her age, they will have some sort of medication for this.

In other news, I'm off to London and Amsterdam on Sunday. So excited for the shopping and the fact that I'll be ringing in the New Year somewhere else. I'll try to update as often as I can, but in the meantime here are some funny quotes from mom to hold you over:

Mom: You look nice honey. Jacket very nice...

Me: Oh, this? This is old but I love it.

Mom: How much? Tell mommy, it expensive? Must be, look expensive.

Me: Um..I don’t remember..not sure actually.

Mom: Hmm, me think you shop too much. Why you spend so much money when jobs so bad? You waste the money!

****

Mom: You ate dinner already with Chinh? That good. I made soup for you too.

Me: [pause]

Mom: Make sure you eat it. Want to eat it now?

Me: Um..But I’m not hungry.

Mom: What? You diet again?? Why diet all the time? No good look skinny. Boy no like.

****

Mom: You think all the store, they close Christmas? Like no one work?

Me: [pause]

Mom: We go shopping tomorrow, okay?

Me: But all the stores will be closed, Mom.

Mom: So they ALL close tomorrow? Mom no understand why they do that. How they make money?

****

Mom: Eat more, you so skinny. Will die soon.

Me: Um..I don’t think I’m going to die?

Mom: Tsk, tsk, tsk..don’t talk back to mommy. I made soup for you. Want to eat it now?

****

Me: [hands over present]

Mom: I no need new camera. Why camera?

Me: To take pictures with when you go to Vietnam..

Mom: Okay, I take it. Thank you honey. Mommy can sell it for good price at flea market.

****

Mom: You need to drink milk. You want milk, I get for you?

Me: I’m fine without milk for breakfast.

Mom: Why no drink milk? Make you stronger, better bones. You get old, must drink milk.

Me: I take vitamins every day. Calcium vitamins too.

Mom: No, no. Vitamins bad for you. Very bad, just drink milk. Especially from cow.

Me: But um..that doesn’t make any sense..

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: The Yellow Aisles

2008-12-10T20:06:24Z

405-01

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: The Life Update

2008-12-04T01:38:22Z

I can't believe it's already December. The last couple of months have come and gone with only two real blog updates from me. I'm sorry I haven't been posting anything but mobile posts. There hasn't been much time to do anything between work and my social commitments. November included a lot of late nights in the office and even a few weekends. The culmination of all that hard work was the launch of TypePad Connect. It was a *huge* release with lots of moving parts but the team made it happen and I couldn't have been prouder to have been a part of it. Now that the beta release is out, I actually have a bit of breathing room.

P1020830

Recently I traveled to NYC for my college roommate's bridal shower and bachelorette party. That's Margie with the big present. Yes, we are the same height and size. That's why I originally wanted to live with her - it made borrowing clothes really easy. She's getting married in Costa Rica in January but sadly I won't be able to attend. That really is the last wedding event that I'm attending this year, I swear! I can't afford anything else even if there was something.

It's been a year since I've been back to New York and I've really missed it. The city feels like home to me, even when I'm walking down a street I've never been on, it feels like I've been there before. The sights, scents and sounds of NYC are always comforting. I like that it's a city that never sleeps. I know this means I need to spend some time living there. Maybe one day...

In family updates, I stopped talking to my mom for about two months. Long story that I won't get into here but it involved a nagging voicemail about what I wasn't doing with my life. No, it doesn't stop with my mother even after you've turned thirty. That definitely was the longest I'd ever gone without talking to her. But I came home for Thanksgiving and it seems like everything is fine now. In true mom fashion, she didn't want to talk about it and prefer we act as if nothing was wrong.

The start of summer brought significant changes in my life with the end of my relationship with Nick. Now that enough time has passed, we know it was the right decision for the both of us. I do miss the companionship but to be honest, it's been really good to spend more time on just me. This is the happiest that I've been in a long time. And there are only more great things coming especially with my big trip planned to London and Amsterdam for the New Year. Oy, I'm super excited about that!

Oh and I've been shopping a lot. But that's nothing new. :)

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Stair Porn

2008-11-21T07:21:46Z

Stair porn

I think I love this site: http://www.stairporn.org/

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com

On Vox: Light Installations at the New Museum

2008-11-20T19:03:17Z

P1020816

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com