45) Unlimited Options 8:48 PM

It's a powerful moment. The sudden realization that you can do and be anything you want. Not just in the the-world-is-your-oyster, eye-of-the-tiger sense. You realize that you have the capacity - monetary, intellectual, influential - to do anything you want.

Suddenly, the path that you've been foraging thus far seems all too limiting. The places you've been, the things you've experienced seem like the tip of an iceberg. You begin to rethink the 9-5, knowing that it's not your only option. You realize that the world is so much bigger than Los Angeles, than America, than North America.

The whole bit reminds me of a Seth Godin post I read. About a month ago, he wrote about, "the paralysis of unlimited opportunity." His point was that when faced with unlimited choices, one must decide whether to greet the universe of options with open arms, or whether to limit choices wisely. Whatever the choice, the worst thing one can do, he writes, is to do nothing.

As kids, we are told that we can be anything we want to be. Then somewhere along the way, by internal or external causes, the message gets muddled. It took me 24.5 years to fully appreciate the extent of my options. If this is what "youth is wasted on the young" refers to, I can only hope that I'm beat over the head by reminders.

44) Anatomy of a Catch Up 4:32 PM

1) The greeting. Exclamations of how long it's been, accompanied by a hug. Length and tightness of said hug dependent on perceived level of closeness, and amount of time since last hug.

2) The basics. First topic: work. Current job/school/life situation. Discussion of what one does to occupy their days. Second topic: love life. Recent prospects, status of current relationship, last conversation with an ex. Third topic: Family. How and what your father/mother/siblings are doing.

3) Friends' basics. A recitation of mutual friends and their whereabouts. Reports on last encounters and life plans. Often elicits expressions of regret for not keeping in touch with mutual friend of note.

4) The past. No catch up is complete without some reference to the past. A look back at how things were back then. Hints of amusement and nostalgia, while keeping mindful of taboo or sensitive subjects. It's a reflection, not a dredging.

5) Current events. When conversation wears a little thin, one can always turn to pop culture or the news for fodder.

6) The parting. A second hug whose length and tightness are dependent on the approximate amount of time until the next meeting. Brief discussion of said future meeting, however vague.

Note: Elements not chronological. Interspersed with alternating moments of animated chatter and awkward lulls, as well as references to your last conversation for context.

43) Boomerang Kids 6:25 PM

Ah, the luxuries of home. The sheets are always clean, perfectly made and pulled tight, pillows arranged just so. The fridge stocked with all the fresh-picked, fanciful foods I reluctantly pass up in LA. Where naps are a given, and HBO and Showtime are just a click away.

A last minute decision had me hopping on a plane back to Palo Alto this morning. All the provided indulgences made me think of those youngins that choose to live at home after college. For me, living at home has always equaled a sort of regression, but trips home offer a glimpse at how good that life could be, and why so many grads opt-in.

According to a survey conducted by CollegeGrad.com, 80% of 2009 US college graduates moved back home after their caps were thrown. Eighty percent. That's a demographic that brands can't afford to ignore. As the legion of post-college home-dwellers continues to grow, marketers stand to gain from a good, deep look at who they are and what drives them.

Those that do go after these boomerang kids must navigate a tricky in-between time in their target's lives. Assuming that some parents foot the basic bills for those living at home, advertising may be reminiscent of ads aimed at children to get them to ask their parents to buy a certain product. A "Mom, can you pick up some [insert your product here] next time you're out?" approach. On the other hand, this group seeks products that assert their independence, even while living under Mom and Dad's roof. While the stigma of moving back home may no longer exist (according to CollegeGrads.com article), these early-twenty-somethings are still in their formative brand loyalty years, figuring out what they like, and ultimately who they are.

42) Jiaper 4:49 PM

According to Wikipedia, the word "jeans" comes from the French phrase bleu de Gênes, literally the blue of Genoa. Jeans fabric, or denim, originated independently in two places: the French town of Nîmes, from which 'denim' (de Nîmes) gets its name; and in India, where trousers made of denim material were worn by the sailors of Dhunga, which came to be known as dungarees.

The hardy, humble material originally worn by factory workers, went on to become a symbol of America, and a staple of the fashion world. No matter what year, no matter what season, jeans remain a constant in the shifting seas of style.

Of course, the jeans themselves have evolved. Bellbottom, boyfriend , skinny, acid wash. And just in case the fashion gods ever run out of variations, denim has made the leap to other articles of clothing. The classic jean jacket and jean shorts (mockingly, jorts). The lesser-known, back-alley-under-wraps denim bra and denim underwear (slightly NSFW). 2009 brought us jeggings - truly an innovation in jeans. A combination of jeans and leggings, jeggings give us the look of denim and the comfort of leggings.

Now Huggies (commercial above) has come out with a limited edition jean diaper (jiaper?). Let those words marinate for a bit. Limited. Edition. Jean. Diaper. Our love of denim has gotten to the point where we want our babies to poop in it. (Note - the diapers are denim-patterned, not made of actual denim.)

Silly? Yes. Out of left field? No. According to a NY Times article, "research conducted by the brand found that 40 percent of mothers wear jeans most days of the week and 57 percent buy jeans for babies within their first six months." It's an interesting way to differentiate Huggies from other diaper brands, who typically only compete in absorbency. If all diapers employ the same technology (cue blue liquid pour tests), a little flair helps them stand out from the rest. And when's the last time you saw the NY Times cover a diaper ad?

41) Impressions 8:51 PM

Some say, never judge a book by its cover. But what if glancing at the cover is all we have time for? In a world with ever-increasing amounts of information and stimulation, first impressions are inherently important because they are often the only impression.

If we are constantly being judged by snapshots of ourselves - one blog post, a one-time meeting, one friend of a friend's picture on Facebook - presenting the true self requires a certain level of vigilance. The logic stands that someone who is always their best self, always putting their very best foot forward will more often be judged favorably by quick-draw conclusions.

But always perfect isn't realistic (or likeable). The complexity of what's bound between the covers - good and bad - are what makes us human. The irony lies in the fact that people who only have time for first impressions want perfection, while those who see more of what lies below want imperfection. At first glance whether we judge a resume or an apple pie contest, we want to see the best. But when we interview the candidate, or speak with the apple pie baker post-victory, we feel more comfortable with a human being with flaws to complement their greatness.

40) Group Exercise 9:19 PM

Every Sunday I take a Kwando class at the local Bally’s. Kwando, for those of you who aren’t familiar with current martial-arts-hybrid-exercises, is an hour of cardio kick boxing. Picture a room full of women (and two men) punching, kicking and knee raising in sync, all while bouncing around in a boxer’s stance.

Since every wall in this room is a mirror, I have a lot of time to watch myself and watch others during the class. If you’ve ever seen a cartoon where a scrawny little guy tries to punch a larger guy, and the larger guy just strong arms him by the head, you’ve seen me in Kwando class. I feel like the smaller guy, flailing his arms wildly but only hitting air. I like to think that it releases any pent up aggression, but who knows. It’s a great work out though, and the hour usually flies by. The instructor has this one CD that she plays every session, and whenever we get to OutKast’s The Way You Move, there’s this energy surge that ripples through the class. It’s like the perfect combination of bass and tempo and lyrics about moving your body. It’s amazing what music can do.

There are a couple older ladies in the class (late forties, early fifties?) who periodically yell out WHOOOOO’s of exhilaration and encouragement. I’d like to think that when I’m that age, I’ll be open enough to do the same. Exercise as a group effort is such a funny concept. Gym time is usually private time, everyone in their own world with ear buds firmly planted. Make eye contact with someone for too long - creepy. Approach someone in your huffy, sweaty state - unheard of. But in a group class, exercise becomes this unifying experience, however grueling and painful. There’s an instant, unspoken camaraderie as you march in time together.

39) Travel 11:26 PM

Over the weekend, I came across this great quote from an article by Jonah Lehrer in The Guardian:

We travel because we need to, because distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is still the same. But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything.

I participated in an abroad program when I was just entering high school. I stayed with a French family for part of the summer in Albi, a small town located in the southwest part of France. Though it was a great experience, I don't think I fully appreciated it as a fifteen year-old. I was too naive, too homesick (for part of it), too young (too bad at French) to take full advantage of the stay.

Later in college, I debated going back to France for a semester abroad. Somehow the stakes were higher. I made excuses that my major required too many credits to allow for time away. The reality was that I was afraid I would miss out on too much while I was gone. Back then, friends, relationships, your major felt like the most important things in your microscopic world.

It took awhile, but I'm finally realizing the importance of travel. Say what you will about the cliché broadening of horizons, or needing to get away. The idea of putting distance between what you know, and its effect on the very way you think is fascinating to me.

The time to travel is now. With nothing to hold you back, with nothing to miss out on.

38) Race vs. Sex Appeal 9:51 PM

At the French Open this weekend, Venus Williams had the media talking when she crushed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in little more than a lacy slip and nude colored booty shorts. Many called foul over her racy attire, saying that it was inappropriate for the game, and for at-home viewers (read: children).

On a news article covering the lack of covering, one commenter noted that the public only raises a stink whenever a black athlete is concerned, and that white tennis "beauties" get away with wearing whatever they please. ("When Anna Kournikova was at the top of her game the cameras ate her up and there were no complaints about her revealing outfits.")

An interesting point to consider. True, it can be argued that Venus' outfit took it to another level. But what of the extracurricular outfits worn by Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova in their Maxim and Sports Illustrated shoots, respectively?

Clearly, these two tennis superstars are branding themselves as sex symbols, as well as athletes. Why can't Venus do the same? Are we offended because she brought the pages of Maxim onto the court in an international tournament? Or are we strangely off-put by the lingerie on a more robust, muscular body that doesn't quite fit the Western ideals of beauty?

One more thing to note. Venus did model some swim suits for Sports Illustrated in 2005. However, she never made the cover. A quick comparison of Venus, Anna and Maria's SI covers (while not the cover model, both blonds made the cover inset) tells the same race vs. athlete vs. sex appeal story:

37) Write the Future 7:45 PM

On Thursday, Nike unveiled their World Cup spot, calling it, "among the best we've ever done." No small claim coming from the brand that's become synonymous with sports marketing.

The ad (by Wieden & Kennedy, Amsterdam) uses top of the line soccer talent - Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Landon Donovan and Ronaldinho - to hook sports fans and World Cup fanatics. For the rest of us, it illustrates the widespread effect professional sports now has on the world. Its fan culture, the celebrity status, its contribution to pop culture. The bit about Ronaldo, the movie, starring Gael Garcia Bernal kills me.

Yes, it is long. But its three minutes speak truthfully. By going beyond sports and the game itself, the spot comments on the connectivity of our lives. It shows the spread of influence from a world stage, how we communicate, and how we use media to create and perpetuate culture.

PS - How excited does it get you for the World Cup? Without even mentioning it once! (Nike is not a sponsor of the World Cup, and therefore cannot mention it by name.)

36) Planner Tips 5:26 PM

Thursday morning, I found myself sitting across a Coffee Bean table from a strategic planner who specializes in video games. I had reached out to her in my on-going quest to talk to as many planners as possible, and was gratefully soaking up everything she had to say. She outlined three challenges that she and planners in general face:

1) There is simply so much information out there. No matter how much research - online, secondary, reading reports, interviews, etc. - you do, it never feels like enough. There's only so much you can expose yourself to, only so much you can retain. That being said, a planner's job is never done. There is always something you could be immersing yourself in or reading up on that will help inform your thinking and strategy.

2) Being definitive. Part of a planner's job is to persuade others that your strategy is right. In order to influence work, the creatives have to trust your point of view, so any amount of wavering leeches credibility. This may be intimidating in a still-male-dominated industry, but a planner is useless if s/he can't stand up for and support her own work.

3) Finding the ever-elusive planning mentor. It's easy to think, "If I only had a mentor to provide guidance and teach me the ways..." However, by all accounts this all-knowing and benevolent figure is very rare. Knowing this, it's up to the planner to figure it out as they go, learning from their experiences and trusting their intuitions. Surely they are influenced by the great gurus of planning, and there are some basic methods to the madness. The rest of your skill set relies largely on self-motivation - on y-o-u.

By the time I'd sipped the last of my tea latte, I felt incredibly informed. These planner chats have proven to be one of the most helpful tools in moving forward. Hopefully I'll have new tips to share/record in here every time a meeting occurs.

35) Shopgirl 7:17 PM

There are a few late browsers that day, and they punctuate the tedium like drops from a Chinese water torture. Six o'clock, and she is down the stairs rather than the elevator, which can become clogged at closing time, and out onto the main floor. Several customers linger at the fragrance counter, a few in cosmetics, surprisingly light for a Friday. Mirabelle thinks the salesgirls in these departments overuse their own products, especially the lipstick. With their inclination toward the heavy application of a greasy burgundy, they look like Man Ray's disembodied lips floating over a landscape of boxed perfume.

I just finished Shopgirl by Steven Martin, and I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. Funnyman Martin uses his comedian ability to pull out life's little crunchy leaves, creating a surprisingly stripped down novella that rings true on many levels. A far cry from what I expected, his phrases are infused with current culture, references to real LA locations, and all the idiosyncrasies that make life a little absurd without being outright silly.

At the same time, Martin picks up on the bigger truths and shared experiences that we can all relate to - the loneliness of a new city, the psychology of competing females, the complexity of a relationship. Take, for instance, the description of Mirabelle and Mr. Ray Porter's conversation - a classic DTR (define the relationship):

"I'm traveling too much right now," he says. In this sentence, he serves notice that he would like to come into town, sleep with her, and leave. Mirabelle believes that he is expressing frustration at having to leave town and that he is trying to cut down on traveling.

"So what I'm saying is that we should be allowed to keep our options open, if that's okay with you."

At this point, Ray believes he has told her than in spite of what could be about to the happen, they are still going to see other people. Mirabelle believes that after he cuts down on his traveling, they will see if they should get married or just go steady.

So now they have had the Conversation. What neither of them understands is that these conversations are meaningless. They are meaningless to the sayer and meaningless to the hearer. The sayer believes they are heard, and the hearer believes they are never said. Men, women, dogs, and cats, these words are never heard.

I highly recommend this book (as much as I love reading, I rarely make recommendations). It's a quick read (130 slim pages) that comes across incredibly honest and true. If you get around to reading it, let me know what you think.

Wrapping up. I realize this entry is short and more of a book review, but it's Friday and Eric, Spencer and I are going to dinner and then Exit Through the Gift Shop. Happy Friday!

34) Bros Icing Bros 8:37 PM

A new drinking game has been spreading on college campuses, offices and the Internet. Aptly named, "Bros Icing Bros" the booze folly centers around presenting your bro with a Smirnoff Ice in a strategic way, after which he must take a knee and chug. The Bros Icing Bros website provides a gallery of bested bros and explains the rules:


Much like the tried and true Finger Hole Game, its seemingly simple structure allows just enough creativity to fuel full on warfare. The bros over at College Humor offered these highlights of their game:

- Jake quit the game after being iced three times in the same day
- Yesterday Murph had to chug two Ices within 5 minutes for a combo ice block and ice
- Today I (Kevin) switched Owen’s Ice out to Ice him, only to be Ice blocked by another ice he had taped to his ankle

Some have speculated that the whole thing is an elaborate marketing ploy by Smirnoff Ice. How genius would that be? Capitalizing on the cultural truth that men view Smirnoff Ice as the most emasculating drink, and using that negative opinion to their advantage. While it may not improve or change anyone's opinion of the brand, think of all the bros now out buying Smirnoff Ice to play the game. By simply setting up a rudimentary blog on Wordpress, establishing some basic rules, and seeding some example pictures, Smirnoff Ice has been re-inserted into Internet memedom, public conversation, and pop culture.

That being said, there has been no evidence that Smirnoff Ice is behind the site. As much as I'd like to imagine some marketing brilliance behind the scenes, it's looking like an organically created game. Still, I'd love to see the sales stats for Smirnoff Ice this month. A healthy spike just may be the work of the bros.

*UPDATE - from agencyspy - "Turns out, it's a little piece of reverse-marketing from Wieden + Kennedy." Bravo!

33) Telephone 8:51 PM

Lately I've been absent on social media. My Twitter and Facebook updates have dwindled, my interactions are few. The sites have become voyeuristic tools, ways to catch snippets of conversations and news as it goes by.

The reason for my silence is simple, yet flawed. When nataliefoundit was in full swing, I was posting anywhere between five and ten things I found interesting per day, and sharing them via social media. As so called "cool hunting" became more of a hobby, the earlier I wanted to know things.

The challenge with trend spotting is staying on top of it. With the viral fluidity of the Internet, something fresh in the morning may be old news by the end of the day. My schedule made it difficult for me to keep up. Instead of being the first, I began to feel like I was posting already buzzed-about items that I'd discovered too late. I wasn't breaking news, I was just adding to the noise. So I stopped.

But here's what I've realized. No matter when you come across something, there will always be people who've already seen it, and others who haven't. It's like a game of telephone, except that you're part of many lines instead of just one. If you simply don't pass the information on, the game stops at you. Everyone who stands behind you will have to receive the message from another source, or might never hear it at all. By not posting, I'm worse than not first - I'm not contributing to the conversation at all.

So here's to social media participation moving forward. First, twenty-fourth, 453rd and beyond.

32) Same-Sex Census 6:29 PM

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black

The 2010 Census will be the first to recognize same-sex marriages. Same-sex couples who indicate that they are married will be counted by the census, even in the 45 states where same-sex marriage isn't yet legal. When the news broke at the beginning of April, gay rights advocates hailed it as a huge step forward. Aside from basic acknowledgment, the Census Bureau's decision defines marriage through mindset/behavior, and not through law.

On the drive into work today, I heard a brief segment on the Marketplace Morning Report about the use of this newly informed census data in marketing to gays. In the report, Linda Golden, a marketing professor at the University of Texas, commented that, "being able to count gay couples who self-identify as married will be gold for advertisers."

Gay rights activists, rejoice. When advertisers identify you as a target demographic, equality is only a matter of time. Your numbers and prominence in American society are robust enough to make brands see dollar signs. As much as anti-gay rights groups work to sweep you under the rug, it won't be long before marketers storm down any barriers to your wallet - including second class citizenship.

(Funny or Die's Prop 8 - The Musical above. Comedy meets foresight.)

31) Teens & Social Media 7:57 PM

There was an article in the LA Times today about a recent study involving teens and social media. The main take-away point of the study was this: kids most likely to spend a lot of time on social media sites may be more well-adjusted, psychologically and socially. This runs contrary to the common (parental) belief that heavy use of the Internet and participation in online social networks will make their offspring withdrawn, distracted and socially inferior.

Back in the day, I relied on our home phone (now called the land line) to connect with friends. Through the handset I navigated social mores - don't pick up after the first ring, how to end a call gracefully, how to listen silently on a three-way call with my crush of the moment. Then AOL gave me the power of email and instant messenger - new channels with their own sets of rules to use to my social advantage.

My experience with social development and technology is no different than that of teens today. Kids simply have many more channels to learn how to use now. They have new and numerous ways to develop their sense of self and their social skills. In this light, the study in the article makes perfect sense. Just as the child of yesteryear who is forbidden to use the phone may turn out socially awkward, the child not engaging in social media may be less well-adjusted than his peers who do. Because they lack access to the appropriate tools to interact with others, they are unable to learn, practice and grow socially.

What parents who worry that the Internet is taking their child away from his real social life must understand is that his real social life is online. It exists digitally in a way that it has never before.

30) Law & Order 3:40 PM

On Friday, NBC announced that it is canceling its original TV drama Law & Order after 20 seasons. While its run-time is already impressive, creator Dick Wolf was reportedly in negotiations right up until the announcement in an effort to secure a 21st season.

Law & Order benefited from their ability to draw episode inspiration from headline news, and their lack of character development. Each episode could be viewed independently - no need to watch it in the context of the season, or past seasons. It lacked the story arch that Lost or Heroes has.

While 20 seasons certainly means the show enjoyed ample viewership, I'd argue that it was a different brand of TV watching. Once the novelty of the show wore off (season 5?), it's hard to imagine viewers making an event out of watching new episodes, as many people did with 24 and now with Glee. And once NBC had a healthy collection of episodes, Law & Order reruns became synonymous with daytime filler TV. This is in stark contrast with the limited access we have to back episodes of newer shows via Hulu and DVDs.

Speaking of which, I'd like to meet the person who has the full 20 season Law & Order DVD collection. At a certain point, increasing the number of seasons makes the box set less ownable. In addition to possessing an entire series for future enjoyment, the ability to "catch up" on a sitcom is what makes the DVDs so marketable. Those marathon get-up-to-speed viewings start to lose their appeal when the task at hand is 20 seasons long.

So aside from bragging rights, is there any reason for a sitcom to air for that many seasons? Is there something to be said for stopping while you're ahead, thereby assuring posthumous demand for the show?

29) Socks - The Evolution of a Fashion Trend 12:46 PM

Socks have made a comeback. Once hidden in shoes as footie or ankle socks, they are now emerging above shoelines, skimming knees and even hitting thigh-level. Even more interesting is the (2009) emergence and (2010) embracing of the socks with sandals, and socks paired with heels trends.

In college, socks with sandals was a major fashion no-no attributed to engineers and those unconcerned with social acceptance. Now a Google search of the phrase also yields this, this, and this. While the blogger jury was still be deliberating over its appeal in 2009, socks with sandals/heels began cropping up on runways and in lookbooks everywhere.


(Marni, Burberry, Christian Dior)

This year, as the trend has trickled down from high fashion to mainstream, socks have enjoyed a strong presence in catalogs...


(Urban Outfitters, Zara, J Crew)

...and have become a spring staple for fashion bloggers.



The socks themselves speak to a sense of hidden sexuality. They elicit allusions of little girls, Lolita, the Catholic school girl. Simultaneously innocent (frilly lace ankle socks) and illicit (thigh highs and garter belts), the look plays to the two sides of every female. Its popularity is a testament to the relevance of this symbolic return to youthful purity and concurrent venture into deviance to the modern woman.

28) Fodder 5:20 PM

fod·der
n.
1. Feed for livestock, especially coarsely chopped hay or straw.
2. Raw material, as for artistic creation.
3. A consumable, often inferior item or resource that is in demand and usually abundant supply

Fodder is a funny thing. It's abundant, but needs to be processed in order to be useful. It requires harvesting, sifting and sorting to remove the irrelevant, not-yet-ripe parts. Combine with two parts critical thinking and one part point-of-view. Next it needs to withstand heat, pressure and concentration, which create chemical reactions that bake the raw material into something new.

Blog fodder for The Plan is everywhere. The news, books and magazines I read, movies, TV and commercials I watch, websites I scour, live shows and plays I see, and people I meet and observe. The more I can expose myself to cultural fodder, the more material I have for the blog. The more of the world I can absorb, the better my thinking and writing will be.

I felt a little uninspired in the blog topic department this week, so I just wanted to remind myself of all the fodder that's out there, just waiting to be processed.

27) Opposite Sex Best Friends 5:03 PM

Today, Eric and I got into a discussion about best friends of the opposite sex. I was all set to write about my theory, when he swooped in with an opposing view.

Hollywood has its fair share of opposite sex best friend models. One of my favorite cheeseball movies, My Best Friend's Wedding, Keeping the Faith, Maid of Honor. The premise is largely the same. Longtime best friend suddenly realizes that s/he loves the other, just as (and sometimes prompted by) the other's engagement to an outside party. Consistent elements include the words, "constant in my life" and the startling realization (only blatantly obvious to the audience) that the love of their life has been right in front of them.

That's all fine, but what about in real life? I've always been fascinated by male-female best friends.

Here's my theory. Opposite sex best friends have an undeniable chemistry. This is due to the fact that at one point attraction existed. Whether initial or constant, mutual or one-sided, some type of sexual tension bonded the involved parties at some point. It may never be acted on or acknowledged, but deep down, it is an ingredient of closeness.

Eric's theory is this. Given the choice, a male will only form a close friendship with a female he's not attracted to. No guy wants to be best friends with a physically desirable girl - he wants to be with her. Of course there are other mitigating factors that contribute to potential friendship - if she's already in a relationship, for example.

I was blown away - I've never thought about it that way. Is the male's biological drive to spread his seed at odds with the female's desire for an emotional (and platonic) connection? While seemingly opposing, we agreed that our theories don't have to be mutually exclusive. But more research is needed to speak further on the issue. Furthermore, are all our opposite sex friendships unique, or are there generalizations that can be made about our motivation to seek out (or avoid) non-sexual male-female relationships?

To be continued...

Work in Progress 3:52 PM

As much as I try not to be too critical of my writing, I can't help feeling disappointed some days. To me it's blatantly obvious when I post something thought out and well-written, and when I'm scrambling to pull something out of thin air to make my 24 hour deadline.

I know this blog is a project, and that it's meant to be judged as a whole. Still, it's hard to shake the thought that a first-time reader will happen to visit on a bad day (or stretch of bad days?), and will judge The Plan accordingly. It's been less than a month, so hopefully as time passes the frequency of uninspired posts will diminish.

Just some thoughts I wanted to share, and yes, I am hard on myself. In the end, I can't forget what a good friend told me when I started The Plan - to have fun with it.

26) Salad 8:25 PM

The other day, I was standing in a lunch line as if I were back in middle school, observing other people's salad habits. The conveniently catered cafeteria-style lunches at work include a full salad bar, and it's always fascinating to see what others define as a salad.

First, most people seem to get into a salad habit. Not only do they make the same salad every day, but they assemble the ingredients in the same order. Given the plethora of options, it's interesting that we settle into such a ritual. Being lord and master of the salad bar, we relish the power to put exactly and only what we want in. While the lack of one or two components is a bummer, the absence of one's customary dressing is a disaster. Laments abound when the balsamic vinaigrette or the Ranch goes missing.

Salad is enabling. Since salad is generally viewed as healthy food, it alleviates any guilt of sprinkling bacon bits and wonton crispies over our lettuce before drenching it in Thousand Island dressing and throwing it in a tostada. Men's Health recently put together a list of the Worst Salads in America. California Pizza Kitchen's full Waldorf Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing came out on top with 1,570 calories, 30 g saturated fat, and 2,082 mg of sodium. And what of tuna and chicken salad? The genius that defined mayonnaise-covered meat as salad deserves a marketing medal.

25) Gang Aft Agley 10:10 PM

We as a society do an awful lot of planning. Day planners, business plans, Plan A's and Plan B's, planning committees, Planned Parenthood, floor plans. Planning takes two parts foresight and one part faith. It takes a knowledge of self, and a dash of consideration for the surrounding situation. Whether we're planning tomorrow's outfit, or planning our retirement fund, we are simultaneously agents of control and objects of chaos.

At dinner tonight, I attempted to plan the next year of my life. It was an equation of estimates and unknown variables - a skewed logic problem of if-then's. While exciting, it was also largely frustrating. If the best laid plan of mice and men oft go awry, then why do we insist on the stubborn, ritual planning?

Despite any belief in fate or the will of the universe, we need the reassurance of our own agency over our lives. Though we might not be in control of all factors, we'll throttle the ones we can with both hands. Furthermore, our capacity to plan is for naught if unaccompanied by the agility to re-plan once the unexpected occurs.

24) Orphan Blogs 9:44 PM

While The Plan has been sailing smoothly along so far, it's come with a price. Like the new baby in the family, it has commanded my full attention at the expense of my first blog, nataliefoundit. Although I had intended to maintain both projects, posting on nataliefoundit has reached a standstill.

There must be hundreds of thousands of orphaned blogs out there. Whether a result of a time issue or a wane of interest, how many blogs are now ghost sites frozen in time? No matter how engaging the content once was, it grows less relevant with each passing day. Aside from the rare occasion where the author deletes his blog in its entirety, think of how much content exists online, unchanged and largely unseen.

Some have suggested a blog adoption system. Not unlike that for dogs and cats, those not wanting to start from scratch could search for and find abandoned blogs to pick up and continue. Content is resurrected, instead of being left to stagnate. But somehow, the system doesn't translate. Blogs are intellectual property, and people are rarely willing to give up control. On the flip side, there's something very personal about starting your own blog. Recycling someone else's content just wouldn't be the same.

nataliefoundit is a standing representation of things that I thought were interesting at a certain point in my life. Given this, maybe blogs don't all have to be relevant or timely. Perhaps some exist purely as a digital snapshot of ourselves.

23) Hello from JFK 5:18 PM

Let me start by painting a picture for you. Right now I'm sitting on the ground at JFK near an outlet, typing this entry on my cell phone. I'm hunched over, my eyes straining, as I curse the predictive type function and the general finger tip width to touch screen ratio. How I got to this point is a tragedy of technology.

After a much too quick dinner with my cousin and two Evans, I got on a train headed for the airport. It took a lot longer to get there, and by 7:30pm, I was resigned to the fact that for the first time in my life, I was going to miss my 8pm plane. In a last ditch effort, I decided to call the airline to see if I could switch flights.

First, I couldn't call until I was out of the subway, as I had no service. Once I was above ground, I called and was put on hold for ten minutes. After unsuccessfully communicating to the automated program that "YES" I wanted to "CANCEL RESERVATION," a live agent asked for my confirmation number. This info was buried in my email, which was not easy to search for and retrieve while keeping the agent engaged. Finally, after much scrambling and apologizing, she tells me that my flight has been delayed.

My heart soared, my fist pumped and I broke into a huge smile."That's great!" I exclaimed, "What time does it depart?"

"Midnight."

This is the kind of thing Alanis Morisette would mis-classify as ironic. Really, it's just plain bad luck.

So here I am with 3+ hours to kill. The premature joy of enjoying some quality internet time was quickly squashed by the $9.95 fee for wi-fi. Hence the post via cell phone. I would go type this somewhere more comfortable, but my phone is low on battery and needs to be plugged into an outlet. Hence my butt on the floor.

In our world where technology reigns, it's amazing how limiting it can sometimes be.

22) Ni hao 10:28 PM

Today my cousin Iris took me to Williamsburg for some gawking and shopping. We were making our way towards the main thoroughfare, when suddenly, two unpleasant things happened in rapid succession. First, a branch somehow managed to dislocate itself from a tree, fell right as we were passing underneath, and hit both of us in the head. It was the slapstick comic gold. As we were rubbing our heads, we passed a couple construction workers on the side of the road. One of them leered and said, "Ni hao."

We'd been hit by a double whammy. Still reeling from the shock of the fallen branch, my temper flared at his racially charged greeting. Not only was it an unwelcomed, sexually motivated greeting, but it was an incorrect assumption of racial identity. If you choose to holler in the language of the motherland, at least make it the right one.

This isn't the first time I've heard ni hao. Not only did I endure it once already during my trip, but I've also experienced it right in front of my office in LA. I work smack in the heart of Hollywood, which boasts an impressive parade of freaks. Among them are the people who are paid to recruit tourists to the celebrity home tours, Madame Tussaud's, etc (see pic). In an effort to bait who they think is a Chinese tourist, I've gotten ni haoed on multiple occasions.

What is it about the greeting that bothers me so much? Part of it is being mistaken for a tourist. Part of it is being assumed to be Chinese. But most of it is the way in which it's uttered. Whether it's meant to be a catcall or a hook, it's delivered in a predatory and condescending tone. Using an assumed race for someone else's purposes leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

And for the record, it's ahn young.

21) Directions 10:37 PM

I will be the first to admit, I am terrible with directions. Head north, go downtown, it's on the southwest corner - these mean nothing to me. The only reason I'm able to somewhat navigate in LA is the proximity of the ocean as a reference point, and the fact that I've lived there for six years now. And even then, if I'm driving somewhere unfamiliar, I'll not only look up the standard Google Maps directions, but I'll also zoom in on my destination and note the cross street, as well as the street after the cross street, so I know if I've gone too far. In completely foreign situations I'll go so far as to click street view and do a 360 sweep at the destination, so I know what landmarks to look for.

My need for know exactly where I'm going has reached new levels since I've been in NY. In a city that's completely unknown to me, the chances of getting lost are fair to almost certain. This morning, I spent a good two hours plotting out the exact route I would take throughout the day. My Google Maps was dotted with destinations, connected by a perfectly planned line. An accompanying notebook was scribbled with step by step instructions.

But is not knowing where you're going necessarily a bad thing? Worst case scenario, I get lost and ask someone for directions. Problem solved. Certainly, there are times when it's imperative to know the way. But is there something to be gained from occasionally pioneering your own path? Perhaps my sense of direction would improve if I was forced to be conscious of which way I was headed, and to pay attention to the spatial relationships between streets. In a culture heavily reliant on Google Maps and GPS, is our own propensity to navigate atrophying?

20) Photographer-phobic 7:53 PM

I spent most of today traipsing around the city on foot. I stopped by the Chelsea Market, walked down Bleeker to Magnolia Bakery (WHAT, -cles of Narnia), and then canvased SoHo. I took my time, enjoying the sights, sounds and the gorgeous weather (it felt like LA temps - I'm being spoiled). Along the way, I realized something about myself. I am photographer-phobic.

Allow me to explain the term. I'll see something that I want to remember. Out comes my little Nikon Coolpix, a pocket-sized digital camera perfect for my purposes. Suddenly, I'll become self-conscious about taking the picture. What ensues is an internal battle of wanting to capture the picture in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible, and wanting to get it done quickly and discreetly. Externally, it's a shuffle dance of indecision.

The reason? No one wants to look like a tourist, even if you are one. A tourist implies someone who isn't from around here, and doesn't really belong. They don't know where they're going, and most likely are in your (the locals) way. Taking a picture of something insignificant to a local means you're not in the local know. Your rapt attention and desire to document is silently patronized.

The exception of course, is the artist, who takes pictures not for the location significance, but as an exploration of the subject itself. Ironically, the bigger and more pro the camera, the more acceptable it is. Taking time to set up shots, and getting down on the ground for a low vantage point will earn you more street cred. Instead of writing them off as tourists, locals may look twice to see if they themselves are missing something.

(Photo taken by me today in SoHo.)

19) Fear of the Unknown 6:16 PM

I'm flying to New York tonight. For four glorious days, I'll be reuniting with old friends, and exploring as many neighborhoods as possible. I am incredibly excited, but this morning as I was packing, I couldn't ignore a small gnaw of fear. The prospect of moving to New York is thrilling, but also terrifying. I decided to take a second to get to the bottom of what I was actually afraid of.

1) Getting mugged. For some reason, the streets of NY have always seemed (in my head) more dangerous than the sidewalks of LA. Something about the idea of more crowds in less space and colder weather (more on that later) makes me clutch my bag a little tighter. (Mini aside - A quick search yielded Forbes' list of America's Most Dangerous Cities based on 2008 FBI crime statistics. Detroit, Michigan ranked number 1, with NY and LA not evening making top 15.)

2) Roaches. I think this stems from the horror stories my mom would tell me about her stint in NY. She said that on more than one occasion, she turned on the light in her kitchen only to see several buggers skittering for cover. Shudder. Eric has some equally appealing stories about roaches in Atlanta.

3) The cold. Having been born and raised in CA, it's safe to say that my blood is very thin. And after 6 years as an Angeleno, my tolerance for weather under 60 degrees is pitifully low.

Looking back at all three, they are really just unfamiliar components of an unfamiliar city. While unpleasant, they are things that I have no direct experience with. When I examine my apprehension deeply, it is simply a fear borne of the unknown. Maybe if I was thinking of moving to LA, I'd fear earthquakes, gridlock and unclean ocean water.

My plan is to talk to as many New Yorkers as I can about these three (maybe completely unwarranted) fears. Hopefully their experiences can help allay them. Even better, they'll gush about everything they love about NY, making me love it in turn.

18) Dinner at Work 8:17 PM

Comped dinners at the office are a good idea in theory. The first few times, the naive thought is, "Free dinner! With coworkers/friends! Convenient and fun!" But once supping at work becomes a routine, it quickly loses its appeal.

Now the ritual breaking of bread involves a group of coworkers sitting in silence around a conference room table. Eating at work has stripped away all pretense of enjoyment, reducing food to mere sustenance. While there may be some small banter, most let their eyes glaze over, minds enjoying a brief reprieve. Amidst the robotic chewing, there is a quiet sense of solidarity, much like soldiers noshing in the trenches.

This makes it especially depressing when one dines solo at chez office. Eating only in the company of your computer screen, you find that your own hunger and productivity get in the way of one another. Either way - you lose.

It seems then, that one of the vital elements of an enjoyable dinner is one that is eaten away from the office. Despite the delicious free food and great company, the missing change of scenery is highly underestimated.

Comments 8:57 PM

A few of you mentioned that the comment section wasn't working for you, so I fussed around with the settings. I removed the CAPTCHA so now humans and robots alike can leave word. Let me know if it still gives you trouble. Hopefully the spam bots don't find me.

17) Tony Hayward 7:23 PM

Some say that any publicity is good publicity. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to BP, whose recent publicity is the worst publicity.

I caught most of an interview with CEO Tony Hayward on my way to work this morning. As the head of the company who is responsible for the millions of gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf Coast, this is the bad guy. His mugshot (above) on the NPR article that accompanied the interview is reminiscent of a deer caught in the most unflattering of headlights.

In the interview, Steve Inskeep grills him on BP's response, clean-up efforts and future pay-outs. He brought up old Hayward quotes, pushing the CEO to admit that he had been wrong about his blowout preventer being too awesome to fail. Hayward's responses were a pitch-perfect chorus of PR talking points delivered in a calm, collected tone.

For all his reassuring, it's difficult to take his answers at face value. Promises to honor "legitimate claims" and that BP is "good for it" come off as sneaky loop hole phrases planted now so they can germinate into full fledged legal defenses in the future. A scan through the comments on the NPR article show 150 posts of skepticism and bad will towards BP and its leader.

Is there anything that Tony Hayward could say to convince us that he's not the bad guy? If he had broken down in the interview, sobbed for forgiveness, could we forgive him then? And while actions speak louder than words, only time will tell whether his actions are loud enough to drown out the haters. The PR gods have spoken, and while not irreparable (see: Exxon Mobil), the damage has definitely been done.

16) The Walk-In 8:00 AM

In Sex and the City the movie, Mr. Big builds Carrie a huge walk-in closet, thereby solidifying his place in her heart. Indeed, the closet becomes the backdrop for their climactic make up scene. Aside from its pivotal role in the film, the walk-in represents a larger manifestation of our "stuff"-filled culture.

In an age of rampant consumerism, it's often hard to remember the way things were in the past. Though you may not have been alive to experience it, one can imagine a time when people's possessions could fit into a closet you can't walk into (much less lie down in, as Carrie and Mr. Big do). The walk-in was only created as an answer to an overwhelming amount of stuff.

Another indicator of our current love of material things is the number of storage/organization companies that exist. When the square footage in your house just won't cut it, you can pay for an extra storage pod out in the boonies. Or hire a professional organization consultant to come in and optimize the space you have. One look inside any gargantuan Container Store, and it's clear that people are capitalizing on our mountains of stuff.

Some may look at walk-in closets and wax nostalgic about a return to a simpler time of less stuff. While unlikely, it's interesting to imagine what other resultant entities might spring from a continued accumulation of things. When the day comes when walk-in closets aren't enough, what's next?

15) Ladder Theory 9:23 AM

Back in college, I kept a xanga to chronicle my days. An honest, though clearly self-conscious and sometimes emo xanga. It still exists online, a veritable encyclopedia of 18-21 year-old thoughts. Once in awhile I'll go back and sift through the entries, chuckling at my own naiveté and marveling how much things have changed.

On one such look-back, I came across a Ladder Theory I'd written about:

So, I'm sure many are familiar with the ladder theory. Two ladders, side by side. I guess the distance between the ladders depends on the situation, but I'll get to that. Let's say the one on the left is the Friend ladder, and its neighbor on the right is the More than Friends ladder. The pattern this year for me has been as follows: I meet a guy and scale up the Friends ladder with ease. I climb it fast - self disclosure, secrets, favors, outings, time, I give it up without a second thought. When I get fairly high up on the Friends ladder, I've developed the awful habit of sticking my right foot out, hooking the More than Friends ladder, and dragging closer to the Friends ladder. Once it seems to be within reach - by means of misinterpreted friendliness, drunk affection, who knows - I'll reach out and try to grab the More than Friends ladder. I'll stretch towards it, usually in the most awkward way possible. However, the More than Friends ladder is always farther than it seems. Worst case scenario is that I reach out too far and lose my grip on the Friends ladder and come crashing down in between the two ladders.

Corniness aside, the Ladder Theory can be applied to other horizontal moves, such as changing departments, migrating to a new company, or switching careers entirely. But the distance between the ladders is only one of many things to take into consideration. Is your current ladder secure? If not, perhaps you're just jumping ship instead of fixing an unstable ladder. Consider how much control you have over its stability. Is it rickety because you've neglected/mistreated it, or is someone else rattling it from below?

And how stable is the other ladder? Often it's hard to judge from a distance. You never really know until you've actually started climbing.