.vaille que vaille. : 8 Loose Facts & Being "Paresseuse"

As the new year approaches, one is inevitably obliged to reflect upon the last 365 days -- whether it was passed lovingly, regretfully, hopefully, wishfully, or even, enduringly. If, during this reflection, one also has the time (or courage) to touch upon one's own character, it would be wise to take caution. I myself have discovered a few things, well, one in particular. I am lazy. A general overview of the year 2009 in Tiffany's life will illustrate this "discovery" :

Boyfriends: 0
Jobs: 0 [Okay, well, technically I got a job, I just never got to start]
Weightloss: -100 [this is an estimate]

Onto more positive things though, shall we?
Below I have listed a couple of mundane "facts of life" I have discovered in the past week or so.

Fact 1: I really hate plastic packaging over "expensive" items.
You know, the kind that seals so as to prevent a nuclear holocaust from penetrating? The kind that you need industrial strength scissors to cut through and even then, you're left with tiny cuts all over your hands and a sour disposition? They are usually found enveloping headphones or oftentimes Costco will package a lot of their items in this manner. Yesterday I forced my mother to purchase a good, dependable, professional chef's knife as well as a fantastic bread knife (this was more for myself, hee) for our kitchen because it was high time we invested in something functional. I was met with exaggerated complaints. "Tiffany, why should I spend $50 on a knife? Just buy a cheap knife and sharpen it! I could easily just go to China and buy the same knife for $1, you know." I suppressed any desire to roll my eyes and choke my own darling mother and simply said "Trust me, these knives will change your life." This was, of course, said & accompanied by an ominous and wide-eyed gaze. She had to comply. The next morning, of course, she did not want to let the argument die, and continued to critique the beautiful knives, still in their packaging. "You know, Tiffany, I spoke with your father about it this morning, and even he thinks that these knives were a rip-off." I sat at the kitchen table sipping my coffee, thoughtfully, wondering what coffee feels like thrown directly at your face. I didn't test anything. My mother left to do some of her morning exercises (which, to my mother, consists of gyrating her hips to and fro on the grass) while I tackled the damn plastic packaging these knives were imprisoned in. 20 minutes, 5 cuts, and a few muttered curse words later, they were free. Shiny & sharp and glorious -- I placed them in their special places in the knife drawer. My mother returned, still complaining about the knives. She told me to slice the leftover ham from 2 days ago and I told her bloody ham kind of repulsed me. Rifling through the knife drawer, she picked up the new chef's knife incredulously. I watched her, poised and ready for the first slice.

"Oh. Oh wow...What clean cuts!"

There it is. Ah, the satisfaction of being right.

"It's only because it's new, though."

Damn it, mother.

Fact 2: Driving in the fog is a frightening endeavor.
Try not to get yourself caught in it. Driving after 3 months of not driving has actually been quite an adventure. After spending the morning of Christmas eve morning at the LOVELY Department of Motor Vehicles, I had forgotten what a pain it was to be on the road. Why just yesterday I was given the middle finger by a man with a moustache in a navy blue sports car who was driving 90 behind my 65 in foggy and rainy weather around the Los Angeles area. If my mother hadn't been in the car, I might have returned the gesture, but she said "God bless you, good sir," so, you know, what can you do?

Fact 3: Telling yourself you should read is not the same as actually doing it.
Likewise with exercise.
New running shoes may change that, though.
Then again, maybe not.

Fact 4: There might be nothing better than the invention of baggy sweaters.
Have been unabashedly living in my new baggy knit Anthropologie sweater. So comfortable and warm and cozy. -gushes-

Fact 5: It's actually okay to sleep at 10 pm, in fact, it's pretty normal.
I think I have this horrible tendency to look at the clock and register 10 or 11 pm as very very very early. If I am in bed at 10 pm it means that I honestly have no life, no friends, and no reason to live at all. Conversely, if I wake up past noon, groggy and grumpy, I have the same thoughts. So how is this remedied? Easy. Simply listening to my body. Too often I am exhausted by 11 o'clock but I persist in gawking at Anthropologie.com or sitting around because of a ridiculous voice telling me that these activities are much more productive than a good night's rest.

Fact 6: I find it utterly adorable and puzzling at the same time whenever my dog sighs
My dog will sigh from time to time. Out of nowhere, I will hear a deep exhale and she will look at me from her little nook by the sofa as though she's discontent with something. . . but what do dogs need to be discontent about?

Fact 7: The sellers at Fullerton Buffalo Exchange are hopelessly incompetent.
I'm sorry, no offense, and this of course does not include Courtney Halverson, if she is indeed still working there, but why wouldn't you buy my Pink Studio shoes over my Payless boots and Lux dresses over my Charlotte Russe throwaways? Clearly, Buffalo Exchange Fullerton is a misnomer. Forever 21 (the 2nd) & Other Tasteless Thrift Store Garbage is more fitting.

Fact 8: Coffee with soymilk is surprisingly not bad.
This really has no explanation. I just tried it this morning because we ran out of milk.

Well, despite this general "funk," we'll call it, that I had been plunged into upon arrival in the states, I'm happy where I am. I'm happy to be alive, despite being 21 years old, I'm happy to be back living in the golden state where there are winter sunrises and sunsets, I'm happy to be able to be lazy. It's certainly a privilege. I figured I should probably share some holiday photos before the new year comes and everything becomes grossly obsolete, so here they are:

I have been on a candle burning kick. The Christmas season tends to do that to me.

Daya's annual Christmas party. We're going on a 5 year tradition now -- each year seems to be better than the last! A melange of random acquaintances and close friends paired with peppermint hot chocolate, warm spiced cider, and a buffet of Indian appetizers. What could be better? I miss this girl.

Look how cozy everything looks. Might be the yellow tint, but still.

Attempting to catch a sunrise after an (almost) sleepless night.

Only to realize we were watching the wrong part of the sky.

Back at Home...

My really pathetic attempt at a gingerbread house.

Cheap stockings. . . we were never really a stocking sort of family.

Going on almost 4 years now, the Chen family spends Christmas Eve night gorging themselves at the seafood buffet at the Hilton in Universal City. This year was less extravagant than the last years, but still good.

They had Alaskan snails. I dared Alice & Jon to eat some. They were not bad.
As much as I love French culture, don't think I'll ever get used to snails, though.

Me & the bro.

Alice & mama.

Christmas Morning

She hates it. But only because she doesn't know how CUTE she looks...

Got my brother some Prince cookies. Megan claims they're Spanish, but the French like it a lot too. My brother just liked the mascot.

Never realized we had the same nose...

Mama & papa

We took a family photo, but this was an accidental shot while I was fixing the timer. I liked this the best. Everyone's facial expressions make me laugh.