The Barefoot Hostess

One more time and hopefully, I don't hit some button by mistake and have to restart.

This recent weekend, I played host to my fabulous Singapore girlfriends whom I met eons ago in Wichita, KS. One has moved to Indianapolis 2 year ago and the other is a really accomplished nurse in Wichita. This was their 2nd visit in less than a year and I couldn't be happier about it.

One thing I've learned from having 7 groups of guests in less than a year is I am glad I don't own a B&B, and that I simply lack the energy to keep up. Since Thursday, I had stayed up past 12 (I know, shocking right?), talked nonstop (other than work) and learned that I've good friends.

Living in a tourist-envy city means doing same things multiple times. In this instance, my foody-crazy friend went to the same restaurant 2 meals in a row (dinner one night, lunch the next day) and we ordered the same meals! Then, being typical Singaporeans, after eating, we shopped! So we didn't venture downtown, and that's OK. I refuse to fork over money for another ride up the Sears Tower or do the museum. Now, if you have a game ticket to say, oh, any professional sports team, I've no qualms returning.

So, who's next?



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Christina: What a cool looking group of friends! And you have always been the hostess with the mostest! I promise at some point I'm coming to Chicago...but I won't make you go up in the Sears Tower! Already been there! I'd mainly like to do the sports team thing and the shopping (besides seeing you and Mark of course!) :-)

Reliving old blogs

Another senseless school shooting, this time at Northern Illinois University, and I am still sitting in the newspaper building, waiting on Mark to finish updating the site. We carpooled.

In the last 3 hours, I returned to reading all the blogs I'd written and realized a few things:

1. I can write good.
2. I went through quite a bit of drama the last year and so.
3. You guys rock.
4. I miss blogging.
5. I need to blog more often.
6. I'm in Chicago, a happening place, why aren't I blogging?
7. I need to take more vacations to blog more people and places.
8. I need to save money and quit buying shoes and clothes just because I'm working now.
9. I need to save up for another house purchase.
10. I have good renters now, and I hope they'll stay for a good long time.
11. Some of you need to start blogging again!
12. Some of you need to come hang out in Chicago with us!

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Melissa: I totally agree about the "some of you need to come hang out in Chicago" one!!!

Me: Hey, when you don't have to pay for exorbitant lodging and I'll drop your ass at the train station (should you come on a weekday), why not!

Jeremy: I'll come to Chi-town when it gets warmer :) Meanwhile, next stop: San Francisco, April 3-9.

Something so basic

We finally got a bed, the real deal like headboards and rails. After 10 years together, we finally have a real bed.

We've been sleeping on an IKEA mattress on the floor for the last year, and I had kinda gotten used to it. But my boxsprings arrived yesterday, and before we had time to put the bed together, we decided to prop the mattress on the box spring. Oh My Freaking Goodness, what a difference a GOOD boxspring makes.

I had other boxsprings before but I don't think they are that superior. And honestly, for less than $400 for a set of boxsprings (we have a king bed now), they make a world of difference. I actually feel the support. Perhaps my getting older has gotten me sensitized to feelings of comfort in my old bones.

So the moral of the story is, if you guys are still sleeping on futon beds, or mattress on the floor, then save up and get yourself a good boxspring. Mine is a Sealy Posturepedic. And don't go for the coils. Overtime, they will lose their springiness and you'll definitely feel the pain.

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Patrick: Aw, I wish I had the room for a real mattress. It's hard enough to lift a futon mattress up eight feet onto my loft bed. Sweet dreams!

Me: Funnily, I was thinking of you when I wrote that, wondering how the small apartment in NYC would allow for any decent furniture.

Patrick: It forces one to be creative. I'm going to take a slew of pictures of the place this week, and you'll see what I mean.

Christina: Good for you! I recently finally replaced my 20-year-old mattress and boxspring with a brand new one I bought from a former co-worker moving away. She had spent like $500 on this awesome mattress and boxspring set plus wrought iron bed frame, put it in her guest room, and never used it, then decided to move to Canada. I got a great deal on it! It does make a difference to have a quality mattress and boxspring -- I speak as an ancient mattress/futon veteran of many years!

Paralyzed by Cold

Hello, here's a warm welcome from the Windy City.
Today is a purported -7 degrees, with a real feel of -17 degrees.
As I got up to close the vents on the rooms we are not using, to maximize heating in other areas of the house, and to minimize wastage, I felt a draft coming from a window near the vent. I pulled the curtains apart and saw this: Frost gathering INSIDE my window.



And ICICLES and frost INSIDE my kitchen window:

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Jeremy: Makes things down here seem downright toasty by comparison. BTW, send me your e-mail address and I'll send you the highest res I have of the pansy-snow picture.

Patrickl: Wow, that sucks. I totally feel your pain. This month in NYC seems to have been one long seesaw between frigid and dry and slightly less frigid but pouring rain. It's not even remotely pretty like snow.

Channing: Wow, that looks rough. I was in Boston last week. We got between 8 - 10 inches of snow my first night there. I was not happy.

There is nothing cute or fun about snow. It is just white, fluffy evilness.

What're some of your favorite gifts this year?

I haven't opened presents yet. In fact, Christmas is late this year. I have sent out some cards but still falling behind. We are working on our newsletter and will be mailing them out by January end if we are lucky.

Somehow, Christmas is not Christmas (to this quasi Christian with a smattering of pagan) without family (thankfully, my sil and the family are arriving today after being stalled in the bad weather in Iowa last night) and surprises, in the form of presents.

Of presents, what are your favorite this year?

M surprised me yesterday after work by driving me to this strip mall that is home to an REI, sports equipment, furniture shop and Men's Wearhouse! Which confused me greatly. Then we started walking toward the furniture store, and my mind started working overtime. He had 2 beds picked out and wanted me to decide on the one I want. You see, we've never owned a bed for more than a decade we've been together, and have always relied on box springs and that steel bed frame thingy. And for the last year, we've been sleeping on a mattress on the floor!

So, there, my Christmases are starting to come together -- M's thoughtful surprise, family rolling into town and their surprised looks on the faces, holiday newsletter in its infancy, a forecast that calls for 6 inches of snow, and good friends like you to share this seemingly dull observation with.

Because there is the so-called 12 days of Christmas, it is not too late for me to blog out a collective Happy Holidays to you all and a Prosperous New Year ahead.

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Jeremy: Right back atcha.
Jeremy: Oh yeah... money :) The bestest gift of all. That and the joy of living these days.
Melissa: Wow!!! I really can't top this! I love this blog. It shows the true spirit of Christmas. Family and truly being thankful for even the small things (not that a new bed is a small thing, because that would be an enormous thing to me too! You know what I'm trying to say, though!) Thanks for posting this. I hope that when you're able to celebrate with your family, that it will be a wonderful Christmas! Merry Christmas, Ling! And here's hoping that I'll be able to visit your way some time in 2008!

New Hair Color

Can't be clearer than the subject line. I'm having a Japanese salon color my entire head this weekend -- those brown colors you see the Japanese gals with.

Hope I don't look too darn freaky. What do you think?

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Amber: I can't wait to see pictures!!! :)

Christina: I think it'll look awesome! You always have been very fashion forward!!!

pictures, pictures, we want pictures!

Jeremy: I think it'll look good--upload the pictures :)

Melissa: Oh wow!!! How excellent! A new hair color to herald in the new year! I can't wait to see a picture!!! You'll have to post one! I so don't think you'll look freaky! I think you're going to look awesome!

Psychology of Sales

It's been a while since I posted anything. Apart from my laziness, I truly, truly want to share something substantial. I believe I found a topic that all of us can benefit from.

As most of you know, I finally landed a job, back in newspaper industry (bleah) but now in the opposite end of the spectrum -- SALES!

If I had known how fun sales can be, I would have jumped at it a long time ago. But I truly believe there's a time and place for everything. A long time ago, I did not have the maturity or life experience for me to handle this area. Now, having worked in various locations, dealing with more breeds of professionals, I have a better sense of people management, and a better moral compass as an individual.

Being an inside salesperson, where I am on the phone ALL DAY, I have gotten my share of karma, and in return, have become a better consumer myself.

Many of us have (to this day) picked up the phone to call our credit card/cable/phone hotline when we have a problem that were either created by them (wrong billing, bad service etc) or received inept service. What resulted is usually us bitching the bejesus out of them, and for the most part, hung up dissatisfied. Right? Right!

Remember the old adage: You can catch more flies with honey.

For the most part, the frontliners cannot resolve the most severe of situations. But you still need to secure the sympathy of the frontline to reach the boss.

Most thing can be negotiated to a point when it's a Win-Win. Business are out to make money, even at a discount, but they got to FEEL they are making a "sale" And you as a consumer, while most of the time, may not walk away with a FREE transaction, but in most cases, you could leave satisfied with a discount or some reconciliation - if you are patient and conciliatory.

Always ask for specials. There's a good chance there's always something available. Think about the credit card interest rates. They are not going to offer you that lower rate. But it exists.

While this may seem obvious to most of you, just remember not to raise your voice. And acknowledge how you want to keep your business with them -- that's honey to the sales force ears.
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Jeremy: Amen. I've come to realize that you can get what you want better if you don't try to force yourself. It's a bit cunning, and a bit slick and clever (in that negative British connotation), but if you calmly explain the situation, instead of bitching someone out, the person on the other end will be more likely to help you.

Good to hear you blogging again. I need to do that myself soon.