Last year for Valentine’s Day, Wayne and I got all gussied up and went out for a romantic dinner at my favorite Spanish restaurant, Bodega. Since Thanksgiving, I’ve kind of stumbled past all the holidays with my eyes half closed, barely being able to acknowledge the holidays as they zoomed by. Christmas! New Years! Chinese New Years! The holidays past by us so quickly that Wayne and I didn’t even get around to putting up our Christmas tree. And when we finally had time to put up the tree, it was the middle of January and nearly Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so it seemed odd to put a Christmas tree for the civil rights leader’s birthday. So this year for Valentine’s Day, I wasn’t expecting any sort of celebration. I actually wanted– quite desperately– to stay home and cuddle and watch the Knicks game while eating take out from my favorite Chinese restaurant. All I wanted was spicy wontons, dan dan noodles, and Linsanity.

But Wayne was very sweet this year. I’m almost pleased for him at how well he did, if succeeding at Valentine’s Day can be an accomplishment. Even though we were both tired from just starting new jobs, he surprised me with a vase of beautiful red tulips and blue irises (am I the only one who is apathetic and de-sensitized to red roses?) and a box of heart-shaped macarons when I got home from work. And then he surprised me with two lovely little rings each with a single letter, a “W” and an “L” for his initials. It’s the sweetest gift I’ve received from him, especially since I love being reminded of him every time I look at my left middle finger. It makes my days a little brighter when we’re apart.

Every morning I simultaneously develop and conquer my fear of escalators. I imagine so many scenarios that involve losing my balance with a misstep and tumbling down, knocking into the unfortunate people in front of or behind me as my body goes careening into them like a purple and pink bowling ball into unsuspecting pins. It would be the only time I would be able to get a strike, strike, strike, TURKEY! I am only able to conquer my daily re-awaken fear of escalators and speed walk up and down escalators because I have an even bigger fear of missing my connecting train or bus. Which sounds understandable and innocuous enough, until I add that I am frequently running after a bus that is parked and waiting. The bus drivers frequently give me a bored look with a slightly raised eyebrow as if to say, “…You know, I’m not moving for a while, right?” as other commuters leisurely stroll on board.

It’s okay, though. Throw in a couple daily real life reenactments of Frogger as I run across busy roads– too impatient to wait for the red-orange hand sign to change– and this is my urban workout.

Boy oh boy do I hope that people aren’t lying about you. And if those people earnestly believe that your skill is the easiest to learn and retain, I really hope they aren’t underestimating your ability to be difficult. Because have you met “Easy as pie”? Have you tried making a pie crust? From scratch? With butter and lard? Not easy. I haven’t ridden a bike since I lived in Montana. It feels so long ago that I sometimes wonder if I’m making up that fact because my living there sounds a little random and my life feels so different now.

I’m really counting on you this weekend. We’re going to the Poconos and going bike riding. Sure, it’s mostly downhill, but that’s slightly scarier because the last time I was riding a bike, in order to use the brakes, I had to back-pedal. What the hell are handbrakes?

Please don’t help me get a Darwin Award.

Love,

Jenny

Dear Poppy King for J. Crew,

I could compare you to a summer’s day, but it wouldn’t be quite fair, because, one, I am really disliking a majority of my summer’s days, and, two, an even enjoyable summer’s day cannot keep me company, much less keep me happy, on rainy days and snowy days and overcast, bloated sky days. You will forever be at my fingertips, a constant companion.

I love you for your ability to transform and be extraordinarily comfortable as well. No matter how truly scrubby I look with years’ old shorts, boyfriend’s discarded tshirt, hair unkempt, and no make up except the residual traces from yesterday’s eyeliner, I can’t help but feel gorgeous. Your inimitable shade of coral-red is so flattering. Your bright, poppy mixture of orange and red makes my skin tone seem more fair and even tone while bringing out a natural subtle blush color in my cheeks.  With a swipe, you balance all the colors of my face, and I feel so refreshed and fabulous despite the fact that I look as if I rolled out of the bed, on to the floor, and into some dirt.

Now.

Imagine the possibilities when I clean up nicely and swipe you on. Listen, my darling, we could take over the world that way. Confidence is everything, and you are my secret weapon.

Love love,

Jenny

Available for a limited time (and back-ordered until at least October 10, 2011 online): Poppy King for J. Crew lipstick, $18

Wayne and I visited Malcolm X Park (also known as Meridian Park) over the weekend, and I fell in love with the cascading waterfall fountain, multiple staircases, and sloping hills that are perfect for lounging. The park is clean but a bit run down with the plants overgrowing but, to me, all those elements just adds character and charm, especially the overgrown plants because they reminded me of a jungle.

Our original plan was to picnic there but we woke up late and were ill-prepared since we didn’t have a basket, blanket, or food; several items pretty important for picnicking, though they are unimportant for make-pretend picniking. But we still visited and strolled around the entire park. I’m hoping that Wayne and I will be able to picnic there a few times before fall.

But then I discovered “Modern Family”*, and my thoughts and I were completely enamored with Cameron, Mitchell, and Lily** and the rest of the family. And we were quiet.

So, an update of sorts:
1. I’ve accidentally been gifted Wayne’s nook. I’m not sure how to feel. I feel like I’ve joined the dark side. I’m wondering if this is how Anakin felt. Or if he was a bit more torn up? I’m not trying to belittle his transformation; it’s just that big of a deal for me to have an e-reader. I’m actually reading more (real, paper-flipping books) as a way to compensate for having a nook, in addition to reading on the nook. Meanwhile, my inner Captain Jean-Luc Picard is offering me earl grey tea and trying to convince me that I really should give Dickens a try while I’m a little frustrated and telling him, “Can’t I just drink some green tea and read Murakami, and we call it a day? I’m exhausted from my internal war”.

2. Honestly, my receiving a nook is my biggest news in the past month. Oh! And the fact that I didn’t kill my brother’s hamster while he was in my care when my parents and brother went to China. Sadly, that is a big accomplishment for me. His name is…Well, he has a whole bunch of names because no one really agreed with my brother’s choice for a name for the hamster, which is “Him”, so we all gave him a name. Wayne and I call him, “Hammy”. My mom calls him, “The little tiny one”. And my dad hasn’t named the hamster because he is too busy telling us he doesn’t like animals while spoiling the hamster by giving him globs of honey with a chopstick.

* I know I’m super late to the game with this, but I have a rule that I can’t watch any show that I have any interest in until it’s done the first season, a second season has been ordered, and there are no rumors of cancellation. I can’t deal with any more heartache after the cancellations of Firefly, Dollhouse, and Pushing Daisies.
** Seriously, Lily is the most adorable, well-mannered little girl in the world on the show. It makes me not want to have kids because I know my little girl will be no where as sweet or well-behaved. I know this because I am an ass. And the apple probably won’t fall far from the tree***.
*** What is with me and all these silly cliche sayings today?

Jeff*: Guess what I did sunday night?
Jenny: …Ermmm…Had sex?…Ate ramen?…Ate ramen while having sex?
Jeff: Haha I did not have sex.
Jenny: I wonder if that says something about me…reaching in the dark, the two things I come up with are sex and ramen.

*This Jeff is not Honey Bear’s Jeff. There are so many Jeffs.

What I planned to do: read my growing collection of books — my biggest vice are used books on Amazon.com for less than $3.00; yes, I know that the shipping costs more than the book, but, for some reason, the knowledge of that makes me even more giddy–, do some work in my sketchbook, eat healthy and vegetarian foods– just because I caaaaaaaaaannnn.

What has actually happened: I’m watching seasons 1 and 2 of “Modern Family”. I’m so addicted that I’ll wake up an additional 21 minutes early just to watch an episode before having to get ready for work. BUT! I am eating healthfully and vegetarian, so….one goal accomplished!

Yay!

To be honest, my goal last weekend was to drink sangria and lay out in the sun sprawled out like a starfish. It was too humid for me to lay outside, but at least I got my sangria.

We also tried out a pizza place, Pupatella, that was touted on yelp for creating authentic Neapolitan pizzas. Their simple margherita pizza was so delicious and way better in quality than what I was expecting for dinner that night since my only prerequisite for dinner was a place that I could eat the meal with my hands– apparently the heat wave causes me to be a sangria-drinking toddler. However, I retained enough of my sanity to want to go back and try their other pizzas. I think it’s our new favorite pizza place, especially when we arrive between the rush of traffic of hungry pizza-eaters.

After hearing our friends talk about Toki Underground, we really wanted to try it since we’ve been on a ramen kick and the place is the only place we know of in the DC area that sells Taiwan beer, a true novelty for my beer-lovin’ Taiwanese boyfriend. It was hard to find– and we ended up walking past it a couple times–, because the only sign signaling that it was Toki Underground was a blue symbol on the door. And it was on the second floor of the building, not underground.

The ramen broth and noodles were good. Though the pork was really tough and chewy and bothersome to eat. And I took out the red ginger slices. I didn’t compare it to Daikokuya; it was pointless to compare since they have different flavors and interpretations of the pork bone ramen, especially since this place is Taiwanese. I thought it was hilarious that the soup spoon was a ladle. I prefer the tonkotsu ramen at Satsuma but I think we’ll definitely return to Toki Underground because they sell Taiwan beer and the ramen was pretty good.