A belated happy birthday to my sister Carissa, who turned 25 yesterday. No, we are not white girls who wear floral dresses and lay on docks, but I really liked this photo.
Category Archives: Family
Hot Mama
I’ve been helping my mom search for a dress for the wedding. I emailed her this one, thinking it’s classy yet chic, appropriate for an outdoor ceremony and very mother-of-the-bride-ish.
She emailed me back with this one.
Gasp! You can see her inner thigh! And her lower back! I just shook my head and laughed. Whatever. She can wear whatever she wants. Still, how did this hot mama have such a prudish daughter?
Posted in Crazy wedding lady, Family
Where’s Carissa?
Me and my sister, Carissa. She’s the littler one.
I sometimes tell Matt that all I ever hear in my house is, “Where’s Carissa? Have you talked to her? How is she?” even if she just called an hour ago. (She lives five minutes away.) She gets all the attention.
Still, she is cute and I love her.
Posted in Family
2009: An Assessment
So I wrote this last week but was about to delete it because I was like, it’s sooooo boring, who wants to read about my boooring life? And then I thought, hmmm, well, this site is called Michelle Woo (me), so I guess you all do. Which brings me to my first goal of 2010 (and beyond): STOP CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK. Oh, by the way, I’ve decided that every day this week, before I answer your questions (keep ‘em coming!), I’m going to write about one aspect of my life I’d like to work on. I was kidding myself when I thought I could cruise through the new year without some emo self-reflection. So stay tuned!
For now, here’s an assessment of my 2009, with ratings from 1 to 10.
Career: 6
This score may seem a little harsh since this past year, I 1) left a position that was weighing me down, 2) created my own part-time position (at the same company) that I’m enjoying 100 times more, and 3) declared I would also be a freelance writer and have actually—knock on wood—been getting steady work. So overall, 2009 seems like a mondo WIN. The thing is, and when it comes to my career, there’s always a thing, I feel so far from where I could be. And I don’t quite know how to get there. It bugs.
Love: 9
So, I got engaged. If that doesn’t boost my score in this department, I’m doomed. No really, I am loving this stage in our relationship—we’re building a life together, piece by piece. (Did I tell you that Matt and I are now on Verizon’s family plan? Isn’t that the sweetest thing?) It feels wonderfully natural, like oh hi, you’re gonna be my husband. Grin.
(I didn’t give myself a 10 because I suppose there’s always room for improvement. Maybe Matt can make me French toast in bed sometime, ya think?)
Friendship: 7
I can do a lot better in calling—not just gchating and Facebooking—my best pals, but overall, I feel really blessed to have people in my life who know me (and like me anyway). I’m excited for what’s in store for us: More trips! More dinner dates! More nights we can’t remember!
Family: 9
Family rules! (Though Ma keeps nagging me to take my clothes out of the dryer, even if the buzzer went off just an hour ago … for the 42th time.)
Appearance: 5
While I wouldn’t call myself a grenade (Dude, I don’t even watch Jersey Shore and I kinda love that term), my appearance has taken a downwards turn. Yes, we all get older, I know, just deal with it, but this is the first time I’ve noticed some “signs.” Ew, that word! My undereye area is kinda dry, my cheeks are not as glowy as they used to be and my eyes make tiny creases when I smile. Oh, and we’re not even gonna talk about my hair. It’s all okay, though, I’m just gonna have to put more effort into this important area of life, you know, bring out the power tools. I just invested in good mascara and fake eyelashes (I’ve never tried them!), and my mom bought me this secret gel that she says will make me look five years younger (23, can’t wait to see you again! I have missed you!)
General happiness: 7.5
I have a good life. Now I want more.
Posted in Being pretty, Boyfriend of the Year, Family, Feelings, Friendship
Postcard from Hawaii
Oh, by the way, I’m in Hawaii.
I didn’t want to make a big announcement as I assume I’d get the same reactions here as when I put in my vacay notice at work. “Oh, what? Your tan from Costa Rica is fading? You poor thing!” Well, you know what? One, I’m not exactly in paradise here and two, yes, my tan was fading! So there.
I’m here with my parents and sister. This is my fifth time in Hawaii and my fourth time in Oahu, and gosh, maybe I’m just spoiled, but I could live a very complete and content life if I never again have to yell “Aloooooooooooha!” as directed by some tan dude in a grass skirt. Don’t get me wrong, the island is a gorgeous, idyllic place, but it’s just so commercialized. And expensive! I’m like, no, I don’t want pay $12 to learn how to turn a banana leaf into a headband, and they’re like, dude, we’re in a recession too you know, and I’m like dude, call Obama, he grew up here, and they’re like fine! Or something like that. Yeah, I don’t know. I’m tired.
Despite being somewhat of a brat about the destination, I decided to come on this trip because this could very well be the last family vacation we take together, just the four of us. It’s kind of sad when I think about it. Being here brings back so many memories of vacations of the past. My sis and I on the pull-out bed, stacks of meal coupons in my mom’s purse, photos every five minutes.
And it’s still my dad and his three “whining women.” Today, as we were driving to North Shore in our rental car, he was fumbling with his giant map, trying to figure out which freeway to take next. Discord ensued.
Sister: Just give me an address. I’ll plug it into the GPS.
Dad: Do you have a compass?
Me, sister & mom: A COMPASS?!
Sister: Just name any place in the area we’re heading to.
Dad: We’re just driving and exploring. We don’t really have a destination.
Me, sister & mom: WHAT?! WE NEED A DESTINATION!
Me: I have to pee.
After more bickering, we finally happened to land in a place called the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is like an amusement park without rides. It saved us. Our day ended up being full of activity and it was all pretty educational and fun.
As we were driving back to our hotel underneath the stars, there was something about sitting there in the back seat with my parents up front and my sister beside me. We stared out the windows in silence, and I felt so safe. Like I always have.
I am glad to be here.
Posted in Family
Cousins
Today, my cousin Tiffany tagged a photo of me on Facebook:
Me, Tiff and David
Some thoughts:
- I still have that stupid, open-mouthed expression at all times. Huh?
- Why couldn’t I have gotten a real Halloween costume? “Chinese girl” is not a costume! “Chinese girl” is what I was in real life! Lame.
- WTF is up with my cousins’ faces? I can totally imagine my aunts drawing on them and laughing uncontrollably. So this is why you have kids, eh?
- The photo scanner has to be one of the best inventions ever.
Posted in Family
What, like your family doesn’t do this on Christmas?
That is, dress up in crazy outfits and do a makeshift photo shoot.
My cousin Ashley
Me and my sister Carissa
My cousin Alan
My cousin Tiff
My cousin Krystal
My uncle Norm and aunt Jeanne
Photos by my cousin David.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Don’t judge.
Posted in Family
Roommates
Me and my younger sister Carissa.
Almost two years ago, I moved back home from Arizona. My room shares a wall with hers.
For the first few months of our cohabitation setup, we seemed to be on a track to genuine sisterly adorableness, brushing our teeth together, doing our makeup together, trying on our newest mall purchases together, bursting out into songs from our childhood together. Every day, we talked and laughed. She made this house that I’d been away from feel like home once again.
But then life morphed into something different. She got a new boyfriend and a new job and started spending every waking minute consumed by one or the other. I now jump on the internet the moment I wake up and the moment I come home from work. We barely see each other, it seems, even though we share a Sonicare toothbrush charger. Things have changed, though she still pops in my room almost every night just before she goes to bed.
“Hi sister,” she’ll say from the doorway.
“Hi sister,” I’ll say from my computer.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Last week, when we found out we got the new condo, I had to make a very quick decision on whether or not I would move in. Carissa made her own decision instantly — I think she started packing her bags that day.
“Are you going to move in?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“I really want you to,” she replied.
A part of me wanted to, too. Maybe the thrill of living on our own would make us close again. But soon, the impracticality of it all sunk in. I’d be moving into a much smaller room and would have to pay nearly a grand each month in rent when I could live here for free. It didn’t make sense.
Now though, I feel unsettled as I watch trash bags filled with clothes pile up the garage, ready to be thrown in her hatchback and moved to a brand new closet. Sure, she’ll just be five minutes away, but it’s not same as knowing she’s right behind my wall.
Posted in Family
Bite me
If you’re a parent, no matter how wonderful you are or how hard hard you try, there will be some ill-fated things you do or don’t do that your children will forever hang over your head. Like the time you headed up the Macarena as a prom chaperone. Or the time you accidentally led them into sewage drain.
In the case of my mom and dad, who otherwise did just about everything else right (look how awesome I turned out!), there are only two things I make them regret:
1) Not teaching me Chinese. (I could be taking over the world right now.)
2) NOT GETTING ME BRACES.
“But you didn’t want them, honey.” Of course I didn’t want them! This is when you use your parental powers to override the decision-making skills of a self-conscious 12-year old. Right?
While my top teeth are not too bad, my bottom teeth are rather wayward, though you can’t really tell thanks to my massive overbite. My grandmother is certain that this unfortunate smile is the sole reason I am old (26!) and unmarried.
I’ve been more or less okay with my teeth through the years, except for the fact that my mouth is perpetually open (though I don’t really know if that’s a ‘dental’ thing or a ‘retarded’ thing), but lately, with all the new technology out there, it seems that there is really no excuse for jacked-up teeth. My mom just got veneers and they look nice. She keeps looking in the mirror and smiling. Why shouldn’t everyone have perfect, beauty-pageant-ready pearly whites?
Then my sister just got Invisalign even though she already had braces when she was a kid (parents always get it right with the second child). And I’m tired of her always being better than me (another post, people), so I’m thinking that I would like Invisalign too!
I’m going to the dentist tomorrow (scurred), so I’ll ask if it’s right for me. I know that you have to take the thing out when you eat, so I wouldn’t be able snack all day like I usually do, which could be a really great thing. And it seems like it doesn’t really interfere with your adult life the way braces would. My sister went through just one workday saying, “Hi thith ith Caritha from Thathi and Thathi (Hi this is Carissa from Satchi & Satchi)” but now she talks normal. And you can’t even see them.
I shouldn’t get too excited, though. As I was researching Invisalign, this is what I found in a Google image search. WTF?
