the pursuit of life, liberty, and... relationships?

hey, y'all.  it's relationship talk time.

so, a couple days ago someone sent me an article that asked "is dating a drag?".  it shared some tips for the first encounter/date with a total stranger and ways to make it  more comfortable (one approach - say no to a dinner, because apparently, sitting (nonetheless, eating) opposite to someone you're meeting for the very first time can be quite intimidating and awkward).  with the topic of relationship in mind, it made me think of my own tales of "girl meets boy."

this post today doesn't offer tips or advice on dating, but rather, an inquiry of my own.. one that revolves around "the chase" or the pursuit of a relationship - IS CHASING A DRAG??

oh, "the chase"... how i have a love/hate relationship with it.  sometimes it's cute and fun (if the other person is actually chasing me back) and other times it leaves me disgruntled.  some of you may be thinking, "you probably don't ever have to chase anyone," and that isn't the case at all.  i've had my share of trying to pin down a guy, and sometimes it does indeed leave me disappointed.  why?  because i feel like i'm playing the "game" by myself; a one-player chase is not fun - who wants to play in solitude? not i.  (and just because i used the term "game", don't think that i think relationships are games.. it's only a metaphor, folks.  i know i'm going to have someone message me and start a whole debate on that. "no wonder you can't find a guy... you think it's all just a game." blah blah blah)  after a while of trying to see a guy, if he doesn't return any signs of interest: adios. ciao. goodbye.  i'm not trying to waste my time on useless attempts that lead to nowhere-ville.

but then again, i do enjoy a good chase, only if the guy actually has shown some inkling of interest.  it's kind of like playing "hide and seek"... you're it, come find me... i'm it, i'll come find you.  as i'd like to say... "a chase is only fun when you're chasing each other."

so what happens after the pursuit is over and you've caught up with the "wanted"?  my answer: a real, fullblown relationship... duh.  but others have twisted minds.  after they've won over the other person, they decide, "hey, the fire isn't just there anymore."  my probable guess for the reasoning?  some people like the chase/pursuit so much that they get bored after the hard part of the process is over.  OR... they were only chasing someone for the challenge... someone they thought they could never get... and once they've won, they don't want the prize and move on to the next challenge only to start that vicious cycle over and over again.  people like that annoy me... why would you just waste my time and energy?  bungholio! - yes, i said it... beavis and butthead style.

now that my blurb is over.. i'd like to know your thoughts and opinions on "the chase" or pursuit of relationships.  comment or message me!

why so much tongue?

the tongue: you talk with it.  you taste with it.  and sometimes you even stick it out when posing for pictures.. err.. well, that's what i do anyway.. and it's an astronomical problem!  i ruin so many photos with my protruding tongue - i swear it has a life of its own.  everyone else is smiling and looking photogenic; and then there's me, tongue flailing out of my mouth.. how attractive.. NOT. 

i know a lot of other people stick out their tongues for photos, but i perform the act excessively.  oh, muscular, mobile tongue of mine.. please stay in your house (my mouth!) when i'm trying to pose for a picture!  THANKS!

i've compiled several pictures depicting this dilemma of mine.  enjoy, while i ponder out a solution!

 

life in a day: help document one single day on earth!

do you like youtube?  do you like documenting your life on camera?  have you ever wanted to be part of something big?  if you answered YES to those questions, i am pleased to announce that youtube, teaming up with kevin macdonald and ridley scott, is attempting to produce a cinematic phenomenon documenting a single day on earth through the eyes of people all over the world, titling it, "life in a day."

how do they plan on doing this?  it's quite simple, but youtube needs the participation of people from all walks of life and all over the world.  on saturday, july 24, 2010, put aside some time to take a snapshot or video of what you're doing that day.  it could be something as ordinary and plain-jane as brushing your teeth, commuting to work, eating lunch, etc. or remarkable as skydiving, getting married, giving birth, etc.  

youtube will collect all the footage, that will ultimately be edited and pieced together into a possibly "historical cinematic experiment."  the awesome part of this documentary is that the finalized video will be premiering at the 2011 sundance film festival.  just imagine.. you could be on the big screen - if your footage makes the cut.  and if it does, you will be recognized as a co-director during the rolling credits and could possibly be 1 out of the 20 people chosen to attend the 2011 sundance film festival.  that's quite exciting, i must say!

to submit your footage, upload it to the "life in a day" channel on youtube before july 31, 2010. have fun with this, folks!

i'll make sure to have my camera and HD camcorder on me that day to capture some amazing  and compelling moments and i hope you do, too!  perhaps i should plan some kind of exciting adventure that is just so out-of-this-world that it HAS to be chosen to be in the final cut.. ::puts on thinking cap::

in the mean time, check out the youtube "trailer" for this.

source: youtube blog

the old spice man: ingenious, hilarium.

yesterday, i was introduced to a man.. a man who "smells like a man, man" (or so he says).. a man with a set of abs i could probably wash my clothes on.. a man with the "monacle smile." 

isaiah mustafa, known to many as the "old spice man", did his first "smell like a man, man" old spice commercial back in february, where he transitioned from a bathroom scene, to the deck of a boat, and finally, on a white horse (in which he states "i'm on a horse"), all while promoting himself as the ultimate man and, of course, old spice's body wash for men.

the latest old spice commercial starts off with mr. mustafa on the beach, with scene changes to him rolling on a log, walking on water, walking through a kitchen with a "gourmet" cake and a sander, swan-diving into a hot tub, and finally mounted on a motorcycle after the hot tub breaks.  he ends by asking ladies all over america, "does your man smell like an old spice man?"

the best part about this old spice campaign are the personalized response videos that mr. mustafa did to those who commented on the videos via twitter and facebook (july 14 and 15). he has made MANY video replies, including to celebrities, such as alyssa milano, ellen degeneres, and demi moore, all with humorous responses (indeed well scripted by the 4 onset writers).  one person even submitted a question via twitter asking mr. mustafa, "can you ask my girlfriend to marry me?", in which he video-responded by holding up a ring and asked the girlfriend to make her boyfriend "the happiest man in the world and marry him." within about 4 hours from the video response, there was an engagement to celebrate. 

hmm.. the hype from these commercials have me sold! i'll run out and grab a bottle.. not for myself of course.. 

but anyway, you'll just have to youtube the videos for yourself to get the humor that i can't portray through just words on a screen.  in the mean time, enjoy one of the commercials via youtube!

florida: the sunshine state (not quite true in this case).

home, sweet home.  although i love (and i mean, absolutely love) being on vacation, there are times that i become homesick and just long for the familiarity of home - from the tantalizing vietnamese food on washington avenue to the traffic on I-95.  by the end of this trip, i was ready to go home, which is unlike most of my other getaways, where i am disappointed for departure. 

the vacation started off in miami, fl.  i left philadelphia, where there was plenty of sunshine and heat, to a city with looming, ominous clouds and downpours (at some times) of heaven's tears.  although the weather did not fully cooperate with us, we still made the best of our time and soaked in all the sun (hardly) and fun we could. 

miami: miami, "the magic city", offered a plethora of activities for the LE family (more so for tru and me since the others lack the kind of energy that we brew).  although my traveling posse did not fully take advantage of the time spent in south beach (probably because of the weather.. and maybe because it was a bit too crazy for some of them), we did manage to have some memorable moments:

- spending friday with my other half, christina the weina

- walking a few blocks in the pouring rain just to eat at CJ's crabshack on ocean drive

- dancing on stage until 4am at clevelander

- bottle service with the entire family

- eating a $1,000 meal at the atlantic grill and bar

- watching my mom frollick (yes, frollick) into miami's atlantic waters

orlando:  after our short fling with miami, we packed up and headed north to "the city beautiful", where we really didn't do much, to be honest. 

our first night there, we met up with my father's friend, went to the hotel pool (might i add, it is a gorgeous pool - caribe royale suites), and had dinner at thai thani. 

the next day, we ended our slumber early to get ready for disney world, where we traversed the world showcase at epcot, passing by nations such as china, mexico, and france, and meandered through magic kingdom in search of those beloved disney characters.  after dropping tri and ngoc off at the airport, we made our way back to the hotel pool and then dinner at a sushi joint.

our final day consisted of packing and laying out by the pool to catch some last minute rays, and then off to the airport we went.  twas a very relaxing and stres-free vacation.

after a 5-day affair with florida, it is good to be back home to the place i love (glad i missed the scorching heat wave!).  now time to plan my next possible tangent from philly.

a few photos after the jump!  (to take a full look into my vacation, check out the photos on my facebook!)