A night with Maggie and Nicky

Dogsitting Overnight
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I never had a single pet growing up.
I found a bunny once in the parking lot, but its owner came looking the next day, and there was a turtle that was crossing the road as we drove by, but somehow it died, well, I didn't know what to feed it. But no actual pets that my parents and I picked out and brought home and named. This on top of being an only child of immigrants... if you're a friend of mine, you'd agree, it explains a lot about who I am as a person.
Hence in my imagination and dreams, when I finally grow up and actually own things and take responsibility for them... one of those things is gonna be a dog. I have a few favored breeds but I wouldn't mind a little mutt. I'd let it sleep with me but I will not feed it under the table. And we'd play a lot of fetch in the park and eat outside together as often as possible.

Goh in a Saturday

Goh in a Saturday
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

As the saying goes, be careful what you surround yourself with because
you will become what you surround yourself with. The great thing about
living in New York is that you can surround yourself with some of the
most talented and interesting people in the world. People who love
what they do, are good at what they do, and spreads joy with their
talent and passion.
It's 6:30pm on a Saturday. NYC. I'm listening to Goh Nakamura play a
private concert, 19 stories up in Lower Manhattan. Bliss.

A View from the Roof

A View from the Roof
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Trying out my new email uploading tool and hence sharing this gorgeous
view of the train yards. Late night. Post black tie event. Post many
many cocktails. Many.

Graduated!

Graduated!
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

It's now officially one month since graduation. This re-integration into real life, this enrollment into the larger campus of life... it's just as hard as everyone said it would be. And every bit as exciting.
I've suddenly had a lot of time to think. Sometimes that's helpful, sometimes it's detrimental. Either way, I am learning to take ownership of what I do with my time and energy.

Breakfast at Jennie's

Breakfast at Jennie's
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I'm very lucky to have a few very good girlfriends whom I know will be in my life till the end of it. I wish they all lived in the same city as me, but I guess you can't have everything. However, on the occasions we can be in the same room together, we celebrate with great food, and drinks, and gossip, and laughter. Lots of it.

My favorite dive

My favorite dive
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

When I first moved to New York after college, the first show I got cast in was an adaptation of a famous Chinese play from the 1930 and we rehearsed in the basement of the Transfiguration Church in Chinatown. And every other night, after every other rehearsal, on my way to the subway, my cast mates and I would stop for a drink at Winnie's Bar & Lounge. The place is like a time capsule and the karaoke selection, played off an ancient TV that looks like the wardrobe that takes you to Narnia, ends in the early 90s.
I thought that was the life. Finally I was living like a real actor in New York City, all because I was in a show, I rode home on the subway, and I had my own dive bar hangout.

Late Night Dressing Room Fun

Late Night Dressing Room Fun
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

The Juilliard women's dressing room has been my second home for the last four years. The amount of history and memories these rooms and each desk contain cannot be capture by a single camera or recounted by any one person... I'm just gonna make the most of my time there before eviction day.

A View From A Gym

A View From A Gym
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

As graduation approaches and the realities of the real world dawn on me, I've finally started using the Juilliard gym. It's not the best equipped gym in the world, but at 22 stories up, it does have a spectacular view of midtown Manhattan and the Hudson River.

Art Deco Lobby

Art Deco Lobby
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

It's good to have friends, especially friends with normal office jobs. For example, my dear friend Cheryl works in the historic RCA Building aka, the General Electric Building, and whenever I have time to kill during the week I like going to her office for a free cup of coffee, a nap on the couch, or, on this occasion, partake in the girl scout cookies one of her colleagues left in the break room.

Walking

Walking
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

We "lost" an hour today due to the springing forward of daylight savings. Maybe that's why lower Manhattan seemed particularly quiet this morning. The perfect day for a long meandering stroll through the city. You turn and I'll follow... quite perfect...

Wintery beach

Wintery beach
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

The New England beach in winter is no joke. The wind is bitter and unforgiving, even as the sun blinds you from the sky and surf. Despite all this, I can't resist a brisk walk close to the water... something about the millions of broken seashells and the carpet of seaweed at low tide and the flocks of seagulls... make me feel at peace with my minute existence.

#1 Something

IMG_0463
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

My parents, at some point recently, acquired this pair of mugs, which have since become their preferred mugs around the house. Now, as their only child, their only still single and far from having marriage prospects daughter, I can't help but take these mugs a little personally. My mother may tell me they were on sale at TJ Maxx and are the perfect size for their hot beverages, but still... these mugs are sending me a message I do not appreciate.

Night out in RI

Night out in RI
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Sunday night, Town Pizza Family Restaurant near my parents' house. I was picking over the remnants of my Seafood Platter when this couple settled into the booth next to ours.
She got tea, he got a beer, then they're gonna share a pizza...