First and goals

Happy Super Bowl!

It is the only day in America when it is appropriate to use football puns and I fully intend to take advantage of this.

Yesterday I competed in the local 10K run and won! (first pun) Most of the fast people were probably at brunch but nonetheless I was proud. As a trophy I received a copy of the race organizer's book- a self help book about achieving perfection. Hm

I think about all of my goals (pun) and how I achieve them. Or rather my interpretation of a perfect life for the time being. Instead of idling through the book's advise on pretty much advancing my modeling/acting career, I remember my very wise best friend's advice- clean your microwave.

So at first it may seem odd, and even distracting, but like any trusting, and maybe gullible, friend, I listen and do it. She suggests this so that I get rid of all those small menial things that annoy me so that my mind is not so clouded with them and that I have a clear mind in working towards those goals whether it be to learn a song on the ukulele or even finding a job or learning Spanish.

It worked. That 10k felt good. And now I'm at the carwash for the next achievements to be had Whether it was a gift of the magi, a wish on a shooting star that traveled lightyears, or even luck, I'll thank my friend and the microwave.


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What I do on my day off- Masked Mexican THUMB wrestlers

Don Rightodor v El Leftito

Coachella and my constant denial of hipsterdom. Real talk.

Coachella, Southern California's most crowded desert music festival, has just announced their 2011 line-up.  My reaction- I know where I will not be in April.

I love music. I listen to everything. I play instruments and have friends that play instruments. But why not Coachella? I appreciate that Coachella shares the work of hard working musicians to people who haven't heard their music. I appreciate this inspired outfits on the sexy music lovers. I applaud the kids who camp out or have all night parties at fabulous desert vacation homes. But I just don't feel comfortable there anymore. 

Beyond the fact that I can probably only recognize a handful of bands and this reminds me how out of touch I am with new music and thus igniting flashbacks of high school ignorance of then cool bands. A feeling I hope no one else feels. In addition to the 100 degree heat,  100 yard long portopotty lines in that heat, $5 waters, crowds and  I dread the fact that going to Coachella may just stir up my inner-ugly-superficial-LA-wannabe-model that wants to blend in with the other desert minxes who had just ransacked Urban Outfitters and Opening Ceremony. I just can't bear the shame, but that's not it.

I think I've  lost that romance for the music festival. That feeling of inadvertent coolness that comes when you see a band that you have respect for, that thought "o man I look like hot shit in these jeans/sunglasses right now", having respect for people who also like the band you have respect for, the whole excitement of how your pictures will look on Facebook when you get home, or hell the idea that you could be there and someone else couldn't (despite the thousands of people that can go). I lost it. Or maybe I just realized it's bullshit.

I'm older, an asshole and my sense of adventure is not picture worthy enough for a hipster.

But these are my well wishes: that people go to Coachella for the love of music and befriend people on a less superficial level. That those music geeks who are truly passionate about music become king and that they get to make out with models, or at least, wannabe models.

Brain barf - Holiday Edition

Chiwetel Ejiofor movie marathon = it's a Chiwetel Chiw-ristmas!

I tried Crossfit. Was nothing like crucifixion.

Enjoying a car-less vacation. The bus turns out to be a great place to rethink your finances.

A thought on holiday parties- it's never too late to try gambling.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

In response to Mike's Sexy Pilgrim/Christmas/New Years Mustache

With the intention that he would shave, I scream, "Well you keep your mustache, I'll grow one too!"

Holiday Traditions

I never considered growing up a 1st generation Filipino-American as set back until it came to American holiday (both Thanksgiving and Christmas) traditions. This is a Jeopardy category I would save for last, or rather, a desperate moment. Granted my family and I have our own deck of holiday traditions but it was eye-opening to realize how different my holidays were to that of my very midwestern boyfriend's family holiday customs.

Recently The Grinch Who Stole Christmas was on TV. After 28 years of being on earth, it was the first time I had every seen the most amazing lyrical christmas cartoon ever. This became only the beginning of a long list of traditional American traditions I somehow overlooked.

The American list:
- warm apple cider - I thought the Sparkling stuff was "cider". Little did I know that apple cider was spiced and warm
- Bing Crosby and old Christmas music (singing/listening) - Yeah, I knew Christmas carols, but I didn't know people could simply listen to them and do nothing else. And for the record, I shamelessly knew Wham's Last Christmas and Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas before Bing Crosby.
- Green Bean Casserole - Hated it. Too salty.
- reading the Christmas story - With no wigs? That doesn't seem plausible.
- John Hughes - OK, I actually really enjoy myself some John Hughes. They make so much more sense after visiting the Midwest. After all 1980's midwest is still very similar to 2010 midwest.
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer movie - Yeah, I just watched that too. That snowman is pretty great.

And to justify my complete ignorance of some of these traditions and counter my boyfriend's jaw dropping to the ground, here are our family's:

- Hot Chocolate and Churros - Eaten at midnight of Christmas Eve. Sometimes the churros are of a mature nature, but hey, at least we made a crucifix one for Grandma!
- Church - Yes, I go to church. Every year I check out all of my old classmates and thank God that I moved out of my hometown. Oh and when my family and I laugh among eachother at an inappropriate volume.
- Post Christmas Dinner - After Christmas, it's just easier to get together with my family at a local buffet
- Cousin Day - The day that is only known to myself and my cousins.
- Dialetic of God vs Science - Without fail.

So there it is in black and white - a list of my traditions, new and old. All in all, I'm happy to have so many. These traditions are what make the holidays so amazing/dreadful. They force you to reconnect with those who make you the best you you are.

Office for the Day - LA Arboretum

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My favorite

ice cream for the last 20 years has been and still is Thrifty's brand Chocolate Malted Crunch

I hate

eating jellybeans in the dark.

This is what happens when you don't brush your teeth!

I love a scary ghost movie involving orthodontistry. From Poltergeist 2

Brain is Barfing

Since my sleeping is now programmed to Hawaiian time zone, I'm taking the time to drain the brain.

Highly enjoyed the fact that Cher had won her kareoke round at the Songstar Kareoke competition hosted at Max's of Manila in Glendale, CA. Did that old man really just sing "My Humps"? Gross.

What is it with everyone trying to predict the new black? Black is black. Idiots.

Proenza Schouler PS1 Proenza Schouler PS1 Proenza Schouler PS1

In response to Alberto Contador's recent performance drug test results, I will confess that I have also tested positive. For jellybeans. However, my milk tea numbers are severely low. I might have to see a professional about this. 

In other sports related news, my parents are run/walk fools now. My dad has evolved into a runner this year completing 7 1/2 marathons this year with 2 more to go. And my mom is speedwalking right behind him. Looking forward to my first 1/2 marathon here in LA with the folks. Hopefully there will be a hotdog stand at the end of the race to motivate me to keep moving. OK, red vines would probably work too. And pie.

Pretzels are good. But when they're bigger than your face, they're gooder. Thank you, Oktoberfest!

Terrible street art is happening. On every electrical box in LA.

Little Rules I Live By #1

I like to think that with all society's modern advancement and social change, that we still hold on to our manners. Surely, it sounds stuffy, but courtesy and etiquette are another way of showing consideration of one another which was never off trend.

For my first entry, I will begin with an easy one: smell.

1. Never leave the house without wearing perfume
This thought was inspired by Coco Chanel and does not have to be taken literally. I do, however, enjoy spritzing a little L'eau D'Issay every morning. It simply makes me feel fancy. And no, it's never supposed to mask other body smells. Subtlety is key. Regular showers should do the trick, but a little perfume never hurts.

But also, it's really unpleasant to wear too much perfume or to be so pungent everyone around knows you're wearing it. Have you ever been in the presence of that guy with the radial musk? Yup, not the best impression you want to make on colleagues.

And hey don't worry if you smell after all those workouts because that's just a reality. You can carry those cool "Action Wipes" for afterwards if you can't quite shower after your amazing athletic feat.

Speaking of athletic feat, my very good buddy/LG teammate got 2nd place at the Everest Challenge. It's a cycling race that spans the equivalent of riding up Mt Everest. 2 days of brutal climbing and she kicked plenty of ass. Congrats, Jocelyn!

HDTV, the Tour de France, and Eating "Well"

Last weekend, in the midst of the most pivotal stage of the 2010 Tour de France when Andy Schleck's chain fell off  and his stomach "filled with anger", our TV died. (I'm on Team Andy in this dramatic TdF rivalry.) There was plenty of desperate button pushing and verbal frustration. When Mike's impatient solution solving bravado engaged, he decided to just buy the best  TV he could find. (Update: The broken "asshole" TV was sold for $1 obo. In this case, it was 2 Jack-In-The-Box tacos from our opportunist friend, Chong Wayne.  Chong then repaired it for less than $100)

So here I am half-watching Phil Liggett, whose commentary I could listen to all day,  on a beautiful new super HDTV that has superior picture quality, is as aesthetically pleasing off as it is on, and is capable of doing all sort of hi-tech stuff I haven't figured out. It is the tv counterpart of a swiss army knife. But I've come to realize something. This TV makes every broadcast and movie look horrible. 

The Tour de France looks about the same. Movies and normal television programs, on the other hand, look like poorly shot home movies. I can see every facial flaw, the dramatic difference between CGI and live action, lighting imperfections and Lance Armstrong's "massive legs pumping away." (The most recent Liggettism. I had to include it.) I feel the same way I did when I learned Santa isn't real or when I was told this image was Photoshopped.

From Photoshop Disasters

But thanks to this High definition reality check, I am now more inspired to ride my bike and eat well. OK, so people ask me what I eat while I'm "training" or why can't you eat that?! And the answer is the Paleo diet for athletes. It's a troubling concept for those who know me because I'm already often described as "tiny" and have been described thusly since I was 16. But I believe it's always a good thing to watch what you eat especially when involved in endurance sport or concerned with overall well-being. 

But don't get me wrong- I LOVE JUNK FOOD. To prove it to you here is a brief trip through my dieting failures.

1999 - 2004 Vegetarian (dairy, eggs, vegetables)

It was the cool thing to do. In retrospect, rather trendy. I went to college in Santa Cruz and at the time I cared about the environment and thought I was improving the world by only eating french fries and macaroni and cheese. Wrong. 

2004 - 2006 Macrobiotic (no sugar, no caffeine, all organic, no processed foods)

I didn't have health insurance when I moved to Los Angeles. I relied on hearsay and my wise acupuncturist. She advised to eat organic and absolutely no sugar or caffeine. This lasted but I wasn't too happy. 

2008 Vegan (no animal products)

While I learned how to be more creative with protein options and cooked at home more often, I felt slightly weaker during workouts. A plus - sugar is still vegan. Also, socially, it was somewhat awkward especially when I visited my meat-eating Filipino family.

So through my dieting voyage, I've learned a few things that I found in the Paleo. 1. Animal Protein helps. 2. Starches and sugar are pretty bad for me. 3. Portion control.

While I do practice a a diet, by no means do I strictly follow anything. I eat a little of everything because strict dieting leads to binging. Also, if you exercise enough, you can eat ANYTHING and still look good on HD.

Go Andy Schleck!

Bolognese

What's for dinner?

A Filipino Food Truck - The Manila Machine

The Manila Machine was nearby the other day and I couldn't be happier. Since I've moved to LA, I've always had to hunt for some good Filipino food. And what better than for it to visit me?! Like Filipino soul food, it reminds you of your family, which we Bay Area transplants need from time to time.

So I was happy to do some research that not only do they have some Filipino classics like adobo, lumpia, and leche flan, but they have some interesting Fil-Am things like pan de sal french toast, ube cupcakes or what I'm most intrigued by- the chicken adobo slider. It's a pan de sal roll with caramalized onions and chicken adobo. What?!

Look for them in the metropolitan LA area. You might also find me. Gorging.

Mikey Paperdoll - 2010 CA State Champ Edition

So I've been working on paperdolls for the last week or so and I'm using them to celebrate Mike's win this last Sunday. He's our new SCNCA Category 4 Mens Road Race champ! So now, he gets a fancy jersey (aka the Bear jersey) with the California flag on it to wear for a year. I'm fairly certain that my version of the jersey is better, but I'm biased.

Anyway, here's the complete paper doll. Enjoy. Leave a message with your email for the hi-res version.

Old School New School What School? -- We Just Like to Make Fun of You

"Octo-Anne" by Mike ... for my 27th birthday invitation. This "photo" is now framed in my mother's office.

This funemployed morning, I was playing some songs from my beloved 100 Pop Hits of the 90s on my piano. I was so passionately involved in the Easy Piano versions, that I began to pound more dramatically and sing loudly. Enough for my jury duty summons to vibrate and fall onto the floor next to me. Buzzkill.

I thought, "gosh, what could I possibly do at jury duty so that I wouldn't completely lose my mind? No bicycle. No 100 Pop Hits. Oh, but I might just have my iphone." Hours of games and Facebook. I'm addicted and I'm not afraid to judge. (probably why I qualified to be a juror) After all, aren't we putting our best (if not digitally improved) face forward on the world wide web? Oh wait ...

In recent BBQ history, my wonderful friends have shared news, jokes, and more importantly, innovative new ways to embarrass each other using internet networking. And sure why not? We all make it so easy! Our youthful narcissism is a mobile target! Thanks to Twitter and Facebook and FourSquare on mobile devices, I can often find the location and/or kryptonite of the most extraverted of internet junkies with a matter of clicks. But then digi-savvy buddies and I came to realize how much we hate having our photos published without our permission, but hey that's part of the deal.

I most certainly cringe when I see photos like the one posted up or old photos from high school are made accessible to my current boss or family members. And ooh nothing makes me want to punch sheets of glass more than a dose of internet humiliation. Unfortunately there's really no avoiding that feeling. Even the most remote cavedwelling families make fun of eachother. And I'm sure the emotions are all the same -- angry, yet hilarious.

While I can't stop every person from throwing electronic darts at my electronic persona, my only real line of defense is to have a sense of humor about these things. Surely there are things that can ultimately hurt my feelings or "cross the line" (and yes, I've been on the other side) but when it comes to face to face interactions and being around loved ones, none of that internet rubbish matters. Enjoy who you are outside the internet because you're volumes more dynamic and interesting. Plus, it's harder to insult you to your face!

So amidst the other potential jurors, I will most likely be admiring and laughing at "so and so" who just checked-in at "some place funny" before noon ... in order combat my true foe, internet or internot, BOREDOM.

Elmo Loves Lemons Too

Oh it's not raining

Most likely because I bought an umbrella yesterday.


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My LaGrange Race Report for the 4/19/10 De Vlees Huis Ronde Road Race in Bakersfield, CA

Race: De Vlees Huis Ronde Road Race

Where: Bakersfield, CA

Racers: Jocelyn Pogue, Anne Cuizon

Category: Womens 3/4

Results: 6th, 18th

After a pre-ride the day before, Jocelyn and I knew we were in for a doozy: lots of climbs, technical descents, a long flat stretch with crosswinds and the occasional dead rattlesnake. Determined to at least get some exercise, we started out with the pack.  Once on the hills, I decided to drive up the pace a little with the intention of stringing out the group a little. (In retrospect, this was a mistake, but at least it brought Jocelyn up in the pack)

Most of the girls ended up in clusters of 2 or 3 girls working together. Jocelyn was working with a  MetalMTN girl just seconds behind the leaders. She was able to put about 1-2 minutes in front of the rest of the group. At one point, sweat had blinded her for a few seconds and found herself biking off the road and through some tall grasses. Once she got back on the road, Jocelyn bridged back up the climb to Metal MTN girl, even with some new grass to decorate her handlebars. 

It came down to a sprint up a 7-9% climb to the finish for J. The rest of us ladies trickled in behind. Overall, Jocelyn and I felt really good afterwards but were pretty glad we didn't have to do 2 laps.