"Super Kawaii"

If we were to compare the level of excitement I felt upon receiving this package to an earthquake, I would have scored a perfect ten on the Richter scale. Call me easily excited, but my heart starts preforming all these strange acrobatics at the sound of the mail delivery truck. Often though I'm disappointed to find that the parcel turns out to be for another member of my family. I know who knew? Sometimes I actually forget that I live with other people... For instance last week after tearing through several boxes I was pretty disgruntled to find a "replacement blender blade", "three packs of shoelaces", and a set of "eco-friendly bamboo napkin holders". Clearly my mother had just discovered the beauty that is Amazon.com because realistically speaking where else could you have purchased all of those items IN THE SAME ORDER?

However the contents of this particular package made me feel as if I had just taken a vacation in Tokyo but without all the jet lag. Thirty layers of wrapping paper later... I opened the box and it was like one big Asian explosion (please ignore the fact that that sounds like a porn title). THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF BLOG. Anyways aside from the delicious assortment of candy I particularly enjoyed the Daria DVD set, and the Spirited Away film strips. If I were to embody my personality into a two dimensional figure I would undoubtedly pick Daria Morgendorffer. Her warm, and friendly personality just reminds me so much of myself. Here are some of my favorite quotes, but you can catch the rest of the highlights here.

Haven't you ever heard the expression get the hell away from me?
I don't have low self esteem. I have low esteem for everyone else.

I owe all my thanks and gratitude to Miwa (as if you already didn't know). There's only one thing or food entrée that can really express my love for her or you, and that something is blue cheese pasta.

You are a tourist (part 2)

The last and final installment of "You are a tourist" ironically turns out to be the very first place I started out (because remember... for some reason I thought it was a good idea to write about my trip in non-sequential order). I'm so abstract. So if we rewind a weeks time then we should end up in Scarsdale, New York.

The drive from Pennslyvania to New York was no easy feat. If it's one thing I've learned it's that you should never trust your GPS. Printable mapquest directions, though dated are always reliable. If I had a dollar for every time my father swore at the GPS system I'd have front row tickets to see Death Cab this August. Though thankfully I had prepared a playlist to help ease the overbearing car ride. Three extraneously long hours later... we arrived at Miwa's house.

There's no denying the irresistible charm that these pictures exude. The amount of attractiveness Miwa and I possess is without a doubt... turning you on. I think we had just walked home in the rain prior to this picture being taken. So I completely understand if "a strain of lust was unleashed by the sight of our soaked bodies". Hoho. Oh cheesy vimeo videos... Anyways we walked to town, had lunch, and wandered around a bit before it started drizzling. I particularly enjoyed when Miwa flipped off a bunch of prepubescent boys riding in the backseat of a car. They were about twelve, or thirteen, and shouting really gross and vulgar things at passerbys. So it's raining. Miwa and I are huddled underneath an awning. It's cold. I'm eating frozen yogurt. These kids are making sexual gestures at us, and Miwa's giving them the middle finger. I wouldn't even have to be there to know that it paints a pretty funny picture.

And the winner of the cutest room goes to Miwa. I felt like I was walking into the Sanrio store every time I opened the door. For the rest of the time being we played the guitar (or I attempted to...), played various "Escape" games, had a wonderful dinner, and went to bed. Sidenote; Miwa's actually lucky to be alive... BECAUSE SHE OR YOU KEPT HITTING ME. With soft objects yes... but I will get you. Did I sound intimidating? It's probably hard to take someone who's only 5'0 seriously with weak threats like that, BUT MARK MY WORD. In all seriousness, if you are reading this I had a really (insert non cliche positive adjective) time. You can't imagine how much I appreciated your family's hospitality. By that I mean that I'm happy your mother didn't call Dateline, and Chris Hanson wasn't in your kitchen greeting me with a "why don't you have a seat over there". So out of all of my online internet friends, I'm glad I got a chance to stay with you.

Polar Bears in Central Park

Yesterday was a blast. The weather was perfect and New York was wonderful as always. Knowing the kind of person I am the last place you'd expect to find me would be the zoo, but LOW AND BEHOLD Miwa and I started our day off in the Central Park Zoo. Unfortunately all the exotic and cool animals decided to be assholes and stayed nestled away in their caves. Everyone kept on crowding around the Polar Bear exhibit, trying to rouse the bear out of his slumber. He wasn't having any of that and continued to sleep. I don't blame him. Having screaming little children tap away at my face, or having someone flash their camera constantly in my eyes doesn't sound the most appealing. Welp, at least we saw ducks and penguins.

Onward bound to Soho. Soho might possibly be my favorite part of the city. In my opinion at least... it has the best clothing stores and amazing food. Incidentally it is also the most expensive district. Every time I go to New York I make sure to hit Topshop. It's a British company so there aren't too many here in the US. Miwa and I mainly just walk through the store crying over the ridiculously over priced clothing. $120.00 for strawberry print pants. Oh no big deal.

(All pictures were taken by me; Canon 500D, 50mm)

Then we proceeded to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I swear I felt my intelligence level increase just by being in that building. You just sound so refined and sophisticated, "Oh where are you girls going?" "Oh you know just the 'Met'" (insert hair flip). They have a beautiful impressionist gallery. We saw paintings by Renoir, Courbet, Bastida, and Degas my absolute favorite. Then we headed over to the modern art. You would hear comments like "I could do that!", "That reminds me of something my five year old son could paint" quite frequently in that section... Oh Jackson Pollock, what a guy. I really enjoyed the photography gallery. Landscape with Houses and Decide Who You Are were my favorite compositions from that collection. The first picture is actually a photograph of module houses Casebere crafted. The lighting was so perfect and realistic. The second image was composed of primarily text "Courier New" specifically. How hipster. Well actually as it was made prior to the invention of computers I think it's safe to say that the text was from an actual type writer.

We finished our day at Grand Central Station. We walked a total 50 blocks that day. Are you impressed yet? THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT TO THE EXERCISE I GET IN A YEAR, well apart from when I shovel my driveway or something. Needless to say I had as much energy in my body as the polar bear at the zoo.