London or New York?

I can't believe I didn't post at all in June. That could probably be attributed to my increased workload and general state of panic when in the office (as well as a non-functioning wireless connection at home).

Work's been pretty good, I finally exposed my tattoo today at the company-wide luncheon and got compliments from my boss (yay!). We had tri-tip and bbq chicken, which were delicious. Cash giveaways for who could name song, artist, and year for a few songs they blasted over the PA system. Scorching heat. I sat in the tree for most of the announcements.

The remainder of TC's time here in LA was spent trolling all the beaches - Venice, Hermosa, Redondo, and Malibu. The "sweet boy" from San Jose paid me an untimely visit and really pissed me off with his attitude on the day of TC's departure. I didn't know people could be normal one minute and psycho crazy the next.

I spent the next week or so recording some of my music with some young dudes I met at the Viper Room and getting a lot of surfing in - without a wetsuit at Manhattan Beach! I also managed to get my car repaired in all manners and get 2 tickets within 3 days. Perhaps most memorable, I also spent hours agonizing over outfits and shopping like a maniac on Melrose for CG's wedding.

I actually just returned from the bash in Long Island. She's marrying a Brit: Long Island Old Money meets British Old Money. Chef Palmer was catering. We had buffalo, sea bass, duck, chicken, beef, and yummy dessert treats. It was black tie. I wore a smashing pink dress and shoes that left me hobbled for days. I had Veuve in hand all weekend. Much less of a hangover with the bubbly, I might add. I also met this adorable blond-haired German London banker whom I'm absolutely smitten over because he surfs too and is angelically well-mannered. He also has a twin brother. Not that that means anything, but it makes them a striking pair.

Now, about the little Pond. The question I got all weekend was, "Are you from London or New York?" Unfortunately, neither. I miss New York. It was tough leaving as I feel much more at home there than in Los Angeles.

Outside of the wedding, my trip involved a whirlwind tour of the Guggenheim, the Whitney, the Met, and the MOMA, as well as last-minute eyebrow waxing and shopping to match my three outfits for the wedding. Expensive!

I also went to Coney Island for the first time in five years (and it's exactly the same, except for the roller-coaster prices. I also highly recommend the Wonder Wheel ferris ride). We hit up new places like La Bottega and the Frying Pan and 230 Fifth. La Bottega reminded me of B Bar on Bowery and 230 Fifth sucked except for the view of the Empire State Building.

My weekend concluded with a harrowing, nail-biting ride on the A-train to JFK because I was worried about missing my flight - but not before me and TC, my old roommate, went to our old neighborhood (yes, we lived there) near the World Trade Center and took solemn pictures of the scene.

Doin' Deals

Being a gangsta-ass chick doing deals is hard work (LOL) but you get little pockets of down time. Like right now. I wasn't intending to post a second time in Jersey but I find myself with a little bit of down time on my hands.

My time here has been an insomniac's nightmare. I've been so tired and yet so unable to sleep. I'm still on California time, despite taking my clonapin or lunestas.

We ate at The Brick House in Wyckoff last night. It's an ornate, cute little steakhouse with giant-sized steaks on the menu. I unwittingly ordered the rib eye au poivre, thinking it would be rounder and taller and smaller than the strip steak. Oops. It was easily two pounds of meat with large, uncracked peppercorns on the top and nestled in a delicious cognac brown bourgogne sauce.

We had two $70 bottles of Sonoma cabernet sauvignon and delicious parmesan-encrusted croutons. The house salad had an amazing vinaigrette on it that's almost as addicting as that of Olive Garden salads. I swear, this steak was bigger than me. I took at least 6 bites out it and barely made a dent. I had it wrapped to go, and two hours later, it was still warm!

It was me with six old white guys sitting at an expensive Italian steakhouse in an affluent North Jersey suburb. I was the only Asian person in the room. It was an interesting experience. I don't fit in with the older white male moneyed class, where money is everything, including power and the ability to raise a family and be a patriarch.

They just have different values than I do. Negotiation and being a savvy and shrewd business person are valued. They scoff at those artist types (like me) who can't figure out how to run a business if their life depended on it (I have trouble just getting my bills paid on time!).

Actually, one of the guys we met with looked a lot like that guy from King of Queens, the UPS delivery guy. Right down to the short-sleeved button-down with the khaki shorts. I almost laughed out loud just watching him talk in that same animated, over-excited way.