Last night Christian and I attended the launch party for Future Arts 08, the latest art brand of Future Classic, at the Cyclorama. Christian wanted to take pictures and interview some street artists (for Economics of Graffiti).

Good times. Although I was really impressed with the stencil pieces from Kenji Nakayama, my wallet would only allow a small art piece called “Labyrinth” from superfine artist Yuko Adachi. (A similar piece is shown here.)

Bad times. I will never again start with white wine and end with PBR.

So in my journey to become Chef Lin, I’m beginning with Chinese food. Heck, I grew up eating it, how hard could it be?

I’ve decided to start off with Szechuan recipes. In case I mess up, I can just add more spice and peppers to it. And in case I really mess up, I can just order takeout at a nearby Chinese restaurant.

Here are the recipes I googled and cooked:

Ma-Po Tofu

Chengdu Chicken

If Janet can cook, so can you!

Is the name of my new computer that I just bought online. I named her (yes, it’s a “she”) after my new hairdresser. I’m not sure why I like naming my electronic equipment – my car, my computer…etc. I think it has to do with really wanting a pet.

I’m so pissed. My current laptop is working just fine except none of the USB ports work. Transferring files to “bee” will definitely be an issue. I can’t believe we pay so much money for electronics that become obsolete in just several years.

The unfortunate hiatus of BRICK HOUSE was due to my recent stint in state government. It was cold! The people who performed my background check claimed that posting drunken pictures of myself on New Years Eve and rants on Taiwan independence was not acceptable for a senior administration staffer. Bah. Bygones.

I resigned last week and walked out of this building with my boxes of decorative office flair. I am officially unemployed and don’t start business school for 4 months!

Let’s list my summer goals:

1. MIT requires I get an A in Microeconomics. Payback for 4 years of no-core-curriculum-grade-optional bliss at Brown.

2. Ride a bike. Either I finally learn how to do this or I fork over a fortune for a subway pass and smell pee every day on the way to school. I know – how does one go through her whole life without knowing how to ride a bike? An overprotective mother and a lack of curiosity in sports will do that to you.

3. Learn to cook. How does one…? I know. I can’t get into that now.

4. Exercise. The nearly sedentary lifestyle of an 80 hour work week has taken its toll. Then there was a matter of the beer and fried food appetizers after work. And no more eating contests. Ever.

5. Travel. OK, that’s not really a goal. But I’m just so happy to go away for days and weeks at a time and not fear the thousands of emails in my inbox that I have to sort through when I get back to the office. Travel destinations so far include: New York (NY), Portland (ME), Philadelphia and Falling Water (PA), San Francisco and Napa Valley (CA) and Taiwan.