Chinkerfly has landed.

#1 A warm day in November in NYC. We didn't have to wear our coats and walked by the river under the bridges and a cotton candy sky.

#2 Freshly paved asphalt. I always knew it felt nice to drive over the smooth black surface of fresh asphalt, but evidently I enjoy walking on it just as much. Especially when accented by glistening white lines that shimmer opalescent in the sunlight.

#3 When something you expect to be incredibly painful ends up only stinging a little. Here's to hoping that by the time I decide to have babies, giving birth will fall into this category.

#4 Limited edition Edy's ice cream. In yummy flavors like Girl Scout Thin Mints, Apple Pie, and Mint Brownie Chocolate Chip.

#5 Deodorant, aftershave, mouthwash. And all those other wonderful things that ensure that most people born and raised in the US do not smell like sweaty socks ripening in a gym bag. Particularly grateful for these things during rush hour on the subway.

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#1 Winning when you didn't think you stood a chance. Free yourself of expectations and you will never be disappointed. When I told my mother about my somber approach to life she shook her head, "How pessimistic." But without expectations I suffer less when nothing happens or bad things happen. And when good things happen, well, then I can revel in the sheer joy and unexpectedness of it like a brilliantly staged surprise birthday party. That's how it feels to win things. Every now and again I'll submit a story or a photo to a contest and then promptly begin the process of convincing myself that the chances of winning are about as likely as getting struck by lightning. Twice. So when the phone call or letter comes announcing that I am, in fact, a winner, I am stunned into silence. The above photo was one of three I submitted to a photo contest in Chongqing. Weeks after I had forgotten all about the contest I found out that they had given one of the photos first place and the other two honorable mention. The prize money was a small fortune compared to what I had been living off of for the past two years as a volunteer. Lightning struck again today when I received an email announcing that my trip submission to the Trazzler NYCGO contest was selected for an Editor's Choice Award. A more religious person than I would be thanking the heavenly powers that be right now. God, if you were here right now, I would give you a big hug.

#2 Patient leaders. I put myself out on a limb last week by going to three of Dance Manhattan's practice sessions. One of which was for salsa, which I haven't danced in close to six years. I am always burdened with a tinge of guilt when someone asks me to dance and I am so obviously inferior to them in skill. I turn to the left when I should have turned right, miss a step here, lose a beat there. Inwardly my partner must be sighing, "How long will this song last, anyway?" So I am grateful for every one of the patient leaders who have offered me a dance. The ones that talk me through a move that I missed, or count out the beats when I have lost them. The ones who gently tread out into uncertain waters with probing questions, "Do you dance on one or two? Can you do a tuck? Have you learned the whip?" And those that don't get frustrated when I haven't a clue what they are referring to. Hopefully with enough practice I will get better and will stop being too ashamed to ask for a second dance.

#3 Free free free. Everyone knows New York City is one of the most expensive cities to live in. All the more reason to be grateful for all the fantastic free stuff that's out there, if you just know where to look. Yoga, bike rentals, dance classes, donuts, haircuts, live music. All for free and free for all.

#4 People who can break out of their bureaucratic chains. This is something that I love about America. Every now and again, you will meet people who feel empowered enough to work the system on your behalf. In China, dealing with customer service, department heads, and middle management was dealing with a giant triple-enforced adamantium wall of NO, I CAN'T HELP YOU. People did not bother with looking for creative alternatives, or ways to bend the rules, they did not even seem very apologetic for being helpless. That's not to say that Chinese people are incapable of such things, I am aware that when it comes to their own personal wants and needs, they can be very imaginative. But most saw nothing to gain by helping someone else out in the same way. In America you can still find the occassional person who will take the extra two minutes to suggest a loophole and give you a way out. There are still people who see the bigger picture and know that by giving the customer a break, the business will not go spiralling towards insolvency. There are still those who understand that slipping one person a freebie isn't going to bring a fire breathing supervisor down upon them. On the contrary, the good customer service model makes for loyal customers. But since there is such an abundance of customers in China, I suppose businesses can afford to lose one or two.

#5 The Vendy Awards. An event that celebrates the best street vendors in the city? What's there not to love? And on Saturday from 9 to ? (showing up early to help set up), this girl, is going to be there.

So as it turns out, Krispy Kreme in NYC (at least the Penn Station one) does not observe Nat'l Kreme Filled Donut Day like the rest of the country. I had actually taken this possibility into consideration and gone all the way down to the store at 23rd St... Only to discover it had been replaced by a Thai restaurant. My dedication to fried dough helped me persevere, however, and I got right back on the train going back to Penn Station where I knew donuts lived.
 
I waited patiently--grinning from ear to ear--while a customer painstakingly selected one donut at a time to fill her dozen. When I was sure I had the Krispy Kreme man's undivided attention I gleefully announced, "Happy National Kreme Filled Doughnut Day!!" To which he smiled sadly--I could tell it really pained him to break this to me--and said, "Sorry Not today. We're franchised." I'd come too far to leave with an empty stomach so I decided to get a chocolate custard filled donut anyway. Then I decided to switch to the NY Cheesecake that he'd recommended to the customer before me, but he'd already bagged the first one so I took both. Lots of arm twisting. ;) At the register I sighed, "Was really hoping for a free donut." and he responded conspiratorially, "I'll just charge you for one." =D

As it turns out I was the first customer all day (8:45pm when I showed up) who hadn't just walked back out of the store when I heard there were no free donuts. My love for Krispy Kremes has been rewarded. Happy Day.

Dear C,

I have reason to believe that someone at Eats has been stalking me and created the perfect job for my eclectic combination of passions. I will make my case in the form of a bullet-point list.

• "You are super organized." I personally created a documentation and tracking system at my current job that brought the program's audit score from failing up to 97%. Ask me in for an interview and I will show you how I have organized Evernote on my iPhone according to "Getting Things Done" methodology. Type A personalities adore my spreadsheets.
• "You love everything about food." I have committed myself to trying at least one new restaurant, and cooking one new recipe with an ingredient I have yet to try every week. And then I blog, Yelp, or tweet about it. Check out my "Live 4 Food" albums on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinkerfly/collections/72157622239721022/) for further food fanatic cred.
• "You are really interested in new media." I created and managed two websites while living in China. I have multiple awesomely organized RSS readers, one of which is even public (http://www.netvibes.com/chinkerfly#Preoccupations). My Facebook profile pic is of me Photoshopped seamlessly into a martini glass.
• "You enjoy working with college-age interns and you have the ability to manage several at one time." Been there, done that. Loved it.
• "You are always on the ball. When someone asks you a question, you immediately know the answer. You are able to communicate with all types of people."  I could give you a long list of people I have worked with who can confirm all of the above. If I do not "immediately" know the answer to something I certainly know how to Google it.
• "You are fun!" Like an open fire hydrant in a NY summer heat wave. Goshdarnit people like me.

And finally, to prove that I can be serious too, I have attached my resume. Even if the position has been filled, I hope you will get in touch with me, I would love to stop by and meet more incurable foodies!

Best,
Thalia

       

Click here to download:

Another_reason_to_love_this_ci.zip (5625 KB)

Signed myself up for the Bumble & Bumble model project. A week later I got an email saying that I could RSVP for an appointment to get a free Razor Bob. I thought, why not. I'm single right now, no boyfriend to tell me not to lop off all my hair. Might as well take advantage. :) 

The pictures are from inside the salon, or rather the Bumble & Bumble University. You fill out a form, a stylist comes by and "assesses" your hair for suitability and then voila! you're called up for your haircut. My stylist-in-training's name was Lisa. She's from Portland, Oregon and works at a salon out there called Bouffant in the Pearl district (I don't know much about Portland, so I think that's what she said, but I can't be to sure). She was very sweet, although, she seemed rather unsure of herself and had cut herself twice already that day cutting another girl's hair. Straight razors are dangerous like that. The band-aids on her fingers were making it difficult for her to keep my hair taut while she cut it with the razor. Honestly I felt sorry for her, with the trainers coming by, fixing this and that, or in some cases hovering, I personally would have been wracked with performance anxiety.  She did an excellent job though. I actually preferred the way she cut it herself, giving my bob more of a downward sloping A-line shape along my jaw. But the trainer came by and said it was too long and proceed to straighten it out to a square cut. I don't mind though, I said they should do whatever they thought would look best--in hindsight I should have asked for a "sexy" razor bob, they gave me a "cute" one, and I have enough "cute" as it is. The trainer's name was Roy, he radiated pro. Watching him cut hair was like watching Iron Chef. Lightning fast moves with all the precision of a Japanese sushi chef. Lisa spent an hour and a half on my hair, and was still working at it when everyone else had packed up and left. Even after all that she tried to refuse my tip. Really nice, if you live in Portland stop by her salon and give her a nice tip. :) 

I finally understand why some people spend hundreds of dollars for haircuts from places like this. From a distance, and in the picture, it looks like any other super short bob you might get for $20 at Pro-cuts, but I can feel the difference in the way my hair sits on my head. The way they cut the bottom layers was so exacting, each cut made for a purpose. Artistry. I know I will be able to wash it tomorrow and it will still sit the same way. That's what people pay extra for. For the first time in my life I know I will never be able to attempt what they did to my hair this afternoon. 

And to those of you who are lamenting the loss of my long hair, don't worry, it grows out fast. :)

#1 My roommate will groan with exasperation when I say this (he always does when I say anything positive about New York) but every time I return to NYC a trill of excitement courses from my head to toes. There is a magnetic energy that pulses in the pavement, in the glimmering night lights that flood the skyline, and in the crowds of people hurtling through space. I think half the enjoyment I get from leaving on vacation comes from knowing that I will be returning and feeling that sensation all over again. It is intoxicating. This time especially after returning from a two week visit to my parents back in T-town, the thought came to me that by moving to New York City I have turned my life into a 49 week vacation, with 2 to 3 weeks of paid return to normal life. I hope I never tire of this place.

#2 Having the option of stopping in restaurants with nearly 1000 good reviews. Imagine, almost no matter where you are in the city or what you are doing, you can do a quick search and find a place to eat within walking distance that has received high ratings from thousands of wandering food lovers. Foodie dream come true. If I only had an endless stream of income I could guarantee that I never waste another one of my precious meals again eating something disappointing. It's no wonder the NYC tourism department is pushing the slogan: "NYC - Food capital of the world."

#3 Hugs. I was not brought up in a family that hugs, so even now I am slightly awkward with the initiation and often turn the wrong way risking dangerous head collisions. That being said, I think hugs are wonderful, especially in big cities where people are starved for positive physical contact. Jostling on the subways and sidewalks don't count towards emotional well-being.

#4 The subway performer that made my day. One day, I put on a pretty, flowing satin dress--one I had not worn since I bought it in Shanghai--and made my way to the Pier for a night of swing dancing. At first I was self-conscious about being overdressed in the middle of the afternoon, but no one gave me a second glance on the streets or in the subway. I arrived at the Pier only to find out that the event was being canceled last minute because of imminent thunderstorms, and so I headed back home feeling rather dejected. As I waited for my train to arrive, a performer in the subway left his spot and sidled up to where I sat. His beamed with crooked teeth and unshaven face, leaned in close and said quietly, "Lovely. Just lovely." Then as if struck by a brilliant idea, he hurried back to his guitar and began strumming and singing, "Isn't She Lovely, " while continuing to look straight at me, smiling and nodding all the time. I was embarrassed, but he sang beautifully and I appreciated the compliment after an otherwise disappointing excursion. As the train approached I took out what little money I had brought with me and went to drop it in his guitar case. As I did so, he stretch out his arms and said, "Hug?" I hesitated (see above) and he coaxed, "Don't worry I don't bite." I internally shrugged my shoulders and thought, what the hell, and gave the man a hug before scrambling onto the train with a smile.

#5 Growing to appreciate the hometown after 24 years of desperately trying to escape it. When I saw my brother last week, I mentioned how I'd never really liked Taco Bueno all that much when I lived in Oklahoma. And I certainly never went into raptures going to places like Braum's or Sonic. He understood, "Yeah, it took leaving to realize we had such high quality fast food at our disposal."  Plus there's the fact that while living there, I lived under my parents' constant vigilance. I never really experienced the night life or shows or anything remotely entertaining beyond dinner and a movie. But now I know there are places to go with impressive walls of beer, Broadway shows come to town regularly, and having a Walmart Supercenter, Super Target, Lowe's, and all the rest within one city block really is rather convenient. That's not to say I'm at the point where I could give up the big city to go back just yet... but at least I'm slowly coming to terms with the possibility that growing up there might not have been so bad after all.

"Itza wrap! Itza bowl!" I got the Thai chicken wrap and it was the size of one of those massive burritos out of Mission District. It's all by itself on the opposite side of the food court. I had originally planned on settling for McDonalds but I'm glad I crossed to the other side and had this instead. The owner? was super friendly and gave me an extra side of the yummy peanut/lime sauce (I admit that's what won me over. I

Update (9/21/09): I couldn't pull enough votes to muscle my way into the top 10. I finished 24/200 but get this--My trip was awarded one of the 4 Editor's Choice Awards! I'm going to make good on my promise and give half the award money to a China charity. $250 isn't $5,000 I know, but it's still a two months salary in many parts of China! Thank you everyone for your support! And thank you Trazzler!!

Thanks to everyone who has wishlisted the trip already and/or sent me charity ideas! If by some miracle my trip pulls into first place (we're only a two hundred votes behind right now) then $5,000 will go to help orphans in China (http://halfthesky.org). As you can see, this won't happen without a lot more wishlisting, but it's easy! Only two steps, and it's free. Donating to charity doesn't get easier than this. :)

The whole process takes 30 seconds or less. You can spare 30 seconds, can't you?

Step 1: Go to http://www.trazzler.com/signin/facebook and click on “Sign up.” Complete registration for a new username. (Facebook users can just click on Connect with Facebook button instead of creating a new username)

Step 2: Go to 18 Staircase trip and Wishlist: http://www.trazzler.com/trips/18-staircases-teahouse-in-chongqing-cn, click on “Add to Wishlist” button under the picture. All Done!

And for you visual learners out there: An illustrated guide--5 pics total, told you it was easy--for how to wishlist

Let me know if you have any ideas on how to get more wishlisters! (you can also see the current rankings here)

I just found out today that something I wrote for this travel writing contest is in semi-finals. I got the idea that if I win this contest I'll donate half the money ($5k) to a China charity. The trip is about one of my favorite places when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Chongqing. So it seems like a pretty natural thing to do.

Winning the contest requires having a huge number of people show support by wishlisting the trip. It only takes a second, esp if you have a facebook account. Just follow this link: http://www.trazzler.com/trips/18-staircases-teahouse-in-chongqing-cn# Click "connect to facebook" when it asks you to log in, and then click on the "Add to wishlist" button for this trip.

I'm collecting info now about reputable charities. Earthquake relief is a possibility, and someone mentioned WWF for Pandas, open to other ideas! Let's make this happen!