Me, Myself and My Cellphone

What kind of absentmindedness is worse than throwing one's cellphone into the washing machine and not realizing it until the machine started sounding like it was tearing itself in half?



Nothing.



What's the likelihood of it actually happening?



Perhaps one in a million probabilities.



What brainless person would commit such act of retardation?



Me.

Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster

An engrossing and entertaining book by Dana Thomas on the history of luxury, and how its definition and accessibility has changed over the years.

Find out, among other interesting discoveries, how the big fashion names started in the business, and how they're more concerned with making heaps of money by resorting to assembly-line production than individual handcraftsmanship like they used to do.

Excerpt:

Walk up to a luxury brand store and a dark-suited man with a listening device tucked in his ear will silently pull open the heavy glass door. Inside there is a hush as slim, demurely dressed sales assistants await you in a posh minimalist space in neutral tones with chrome accents. The first thing you'll encounter are shelves full of the brand's latest fashion handbags as well as its classic designs, displayed like sculptures, each lighted with its own tiny spotlight. Glass cases are filled with monogram-covered wallets, billfolds, and business card holders: the lower-priced, entry-level items aimed at aspirational middle-market customers. Chances are, the slim assistants will make the sale right there in the very first room. Through calculated marketing strategies and with the support of fashion magazines, luxury companies in the last ten years have created the phenomenon of the handbag season — the must-have around the world that will catapult sales and stock prices. Louis Vuitton's sales of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami-designed smiling cherry purses were almost single-handedly responsible for double-digit growth for Louis Vuitton in the first quarter of 2005. The average markup on a handbag is ten to twelve times production cost. And Vuitton prices are never marked down.

Get a copy. It's worth the money and time.

Another Shoe-Lusting Episode and La Lola Brings Sexy Back

It was supposed to be just another bank errand. I should've gone back to the office after and not walk into the Zara store --- again. Now I am coveting this pair of cutout bootie. I tried them and they're not comfortable to walk on; and at 999 yuan, more uncomfortable for the wallet.

So I walked away but couldn't get it off my mind. I think I'll have to settle for this other pair of platform sandals which costs less but is taking forever to go on sale. I hold my breath each time I go in the store to check worrying that it may disappear from the shelves. Last I checked there's only a pair of my size left. I wonder what is taking them so long to bring the price down.

Also today in Starbucks, I saw this lola.

At first, she was recreating Sharon Stone's leg-crossing moment in Basic Instinct. Probably realizing that it wasn't working, she decided to sit still moments later. But not without pulling her skirt several inches up! Did she really think anyone would be...uhmm... interested?!!

10 Random Truths I Believe In

1. Random acts of kindness - Be kind, especially to people who deserve it. It does not take a lot to do good or help others. Sometimes even a smile or a word of thanks could mean a lot to the harried waitress who's had a long day with thankless, demanding customers.

2. The power of the high heels - For all the discomfort that usually outweighs the comfort, there's no denying that a pair of heels can actually boost one's confidence, moxie and sex appeal. It's the only thing now that is not prejudiced against my weight. I can still wear the same pair I bought six years ago when I was 10-15 pounds lighter than I am now, and actually look slimmer.

3. A good book is the best travel companion - During long commutes or long flights, there's no better way to kill time ( or worth one's while) than to read a good book.

4. The value of thrift - It's in the little things. No leftovers after each meal. Giving away instead of throwing the old sheets. Not keeping the tap running while brushing.

5. Respect and kindness towards the elderly - Someday when we grow old like them, we will be more than thankful when someone gives up his bus seat for us, or patiently repeats himself when we dont get it the first time.

6. A good massage - Nothing works better in taking away stress, and calming both the mind and soul. It's affordable royal pampering.

7. Counting the little blessings - Because it's the perfect way to realize how the little lows in life don't amount to the million other highs.

8. The little black dress - It's timeless, safe and forever stylish. You can never go wrong with it.

9. Constant laughter in one's life - Clichéd as it may sound, life is truly too short to spend it in anger, unhappiness, and all other negative thoughts.

10. Sh*t always happens when you're in a hurry - And there's no better way to deal with it than to just deal with it.

Dear Spammers:

It has come to my attention that my mailbox has been largely flooded with more letters from you than friends or people I know. I wish to air my displeasure to make sure you are aware of it so that you may stop giving me the illusion that I get a lot of mails every day. It strikes me as a great insult that you should continually sell me Viagra when my chances of suffering from erectile dysfunction are as big as you using your own product -- and getting the desired result. Please stop writing me those generous letters announcing an instant lottery win or promising a huge share on some deceased hermit's large fortune on the condition that I wire you my life's savings or share my bank account details. That is not a very subtle way to steal. Do not offer me a hot date and be like the annoying people who think that matchmaking is a great favor to friends who don't need or ask for it (It is outrageous enough that you could assume your definition of what is hot is the same as mine). You have to tell me first what decent person would allow himself to be marketed in the worst place next to a bar which is online. Also, since when did someone hot need to be pimped? No! No! No! I do not need that Cancun getaway. You should understand that I am not a beach person and have no desire to go to a place where I have nothing to do but get burned, which is another thing I would not be too thrilled about. Lastly, an e-mail subject like Do you remember me or Help Wanted will not pique my interest in any way, it will only pique me.

SO

PLEASE

GO

AWAY!


Yours sincerely,

G-i-r-l I-n-t-e-r-r-u-p-t-e-d

Blame It on the Mercury

I never believed in the Mercury retrograde.

But a series of recent events that took place within the period of this year's second (September 24 -October 15) of three retrogrades is making me think that there's some truth to it:

Emails never reaching some recipients in spite of correct address.

The fax/printer mysteriously acting up causing delay in faxing an important document.

My brother losing the ATM card for his business account briefly making his financial transactions go haywire.

The pin for my sister's new credit card taking too long to come in the mail when it should have two weeks ago.

Of course, we also can't rule out coincidence.

Still, I'm looking forward to October 16 if just for the placebo effect.

Marks and Spencer

Photo from: www.oxfam.org.uk

Marks and Spencer opened its first China store (and its largest in Asia) in Shanghai last October 2.

Three days later, a customer fell to his death from an escalator.

Bad feng shui or simply a freak accident?

I had plans to go back after my first visit last Saturday because I wanted to try the food at their cafe. Now I am fearful especially if the urgency to use their washroom arises.

Epi-funny

Months before the weeklong national holiday which was last week, I'd mentally committed myself to do nothing but get down to reading my latest magazine issues —something which I've never done. A lot of periodicals lie on my bedside table practically unread, and if at all, only by way of skimming. It is not something that I am happy about because I'd every intention of reading them which is why I got them in the first place. But when you have no time, and cannot find time to sit down and read, there's no choice but to let the reading materials pile up to the ceiling.

I subscribe to seven magazines: four monthlies and three weeklies. On top of that, there's also the occasional (or quite frequent) impulse-buys of other mags that have interesting covers and features. Below is an image of this week's/month's pile. (Yes, I read men's magazines, too!)



In anticipation of the long holiday, I envisioned long hours spent in the cafe, poring over pages after pages, finally knowing what the cover stories are all about. I confidently thought that I'd successfully finish all my readings for this month — at least.

The much-awaited week came and went. And so did my plan. All I can say was I did more than skimming, which means I was able to read more than I regularly do, which means if I normally get to read only the sidebar articles, or the really short sections, I'd managed to finish at least a few full articles this time. This is quite frustrating considering how save for the usual never-ending household drudgery, I didn't get any other thing done during the week.

I am beginning to think that I am not giving enough time to myself. It seems that I don't know how to step on the brake when I need to. I spend too much time doing things for others, taking care of others that there's so little left for myself. This does not mean I want to start being selfish and stop caring for the people around me. I just think there's the need for balance and that I shouldn't embrace all responsibilities as though I were the only person capable of them.

I'll most likely go crazy one day if I continue spending my life in this kind of "martyrdoom." It would be even crazier, a little scary, and nowhere near pitiful to be referred to as the girl who went cuckoo because she couldn't read all her magazines when she wanted to.