27 years amazing, and always a lady

RIP Antoine Ashley October 1 2012

I feel odd feeling really bad about someone I didn't know personally. What is even more odd is feeling the lump in your throat develop. This reaction was almost immediate when Michael Jackson died, tears on the keyboard of the campus computer at the school library. I expected that. 

What I did not expect was the near same reaction to the death of Miss Sahara Davenport of Ru Paul's Drag Race Fame. Why? I don't cry easily. People die every day. Even famous ones. But this is not a matter of fame. Michael Jackson was an integral part of my childhood and he revolutionized an industry. Miss Davenport is a part of a revolution. Looking past the LGBTQ, GLAAD conference, and the drag, she was/is one of the beacons supporting the idea of self acceptance, being happy with who you are, and making the absolute best out of life. I owe a degree of my self confidence to her and the show. I don't have to justify it because I think I'm pretty awesome and there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of those thoughts. Could she have conceived how many people she had inspired? The thought is overwhelming since it seemed almost unconscious until the tears fell on the keyboard. 27 years old, and you've become a bigger inspiration than you can imagine. One could die happy having had that kind of impact. Still, 27 years seems unfair. 

Upon hearing the news my first thoughts were of Manila Luzon. I can only hope for the best. Stay strong and, in the Filipino habit, don't forget to eat. 

Here are the deepest condolences from a stranger. 

Local Fare - Galveston, TX

About 3 weeks ago, my sisters, cousins, and I went to the coast.


Galveston coast to be precise. The stamina of my cousins for beach going and boozing is really pretty amazing. Given that drinking hasn't been in my interests as of late, I explored elsewhere: souvenir shops.

I like taking a little something back with me whenever I go somewhere new. It's nice to have a little something with a story behind it...especially if it was something you were looking for or on sale!


I haven't come across soft water pearls anywhere but festival stands and the Fantasy Isle Souvenir shop that was on Poretto Beach. They were having a 3 for $10 sale, which was kind of convenient. Normally soft water pearls would be >$10, but because of the sale...to get the most bang for my buck, I had to buy two other things.



I got a nice coral colored puka shell necklace.


Also, at a loss for my last item, I bought my sister a pair of earrings...and check it out: Lead Free. Personally, I find the stringed detailing pretty cool, but my ears aren't pierced. Gotta remember to give these back to Irene.

Also, among cooler things...

I was talking to my dad in these photos

I got sundresses! Gotta love Wings. Though a chain, it's only in coastal states, with the physical store being presumably along the coast. It's a specialty shop for beach wear. And do you have any idea how hard it is to find a maxi dress when you're 5'2"? Do you? What's even more awesome was how this dress had pockets. @ $20, fine, I'll take it.

culture is an odd thing

Happy Lunar New Year! On the 14th, I (Ox) passed the torch of good luck onto the Tiger. Personally, I would've preferred to muscle a few more days, but what would be the odds of an ox taking out a tiger? Best of luck you bloody 86ers!

A few days ago, I was contemplating my luck for the year. Traditionally, one should not clean on the day of the Lunar New Year or you will be sweeping out your luck for the year. Girls shouldn't wash their hair for the next 3 days or you'll wash out your knowledge. And my all time favorite: parents and elders given their young'uns ang pows - red envelopes with money.

The holiday is wrought with superstition. I find myself a rational person, yet I always have the urge to clean my room and eat long noodles around the Lunar New Year. It's not just superstition, it's my culture. Of course, being one in favor of fusion, this is also the opportunity for more New Years Resolutions.

Just like that cultural based impulse that makes me clean my room around the Lunar New Year, there is also the hard wired impulse that tells me a cheongsam is a wardrobe staple I need.

Perhaps if I wasn't part Chinese, I wouldn't care as much about my need for a cheongsam. Given that I am part Chinese, I can't help but think that the cheongsam not only emphasizes that, but was made to look good on people of the region. To top that off, the thing is so ethnic looking, it can sometimes look like a costume, a wicked costume, but costume no less. There's nothing like owning a piece of clothing and thinking 'damn, this looks really really good on me.' Culture is an odd, but awesome thing. I'd feel so out of place in an Aodai, a Kimono, or Hanbok given my lack of exposure to any of those cultures - those would all be costumes on me, but I feel quite at home rocking a cheongsam.