I'm so glad I stuck around for 30. I still can't believe how much in my life has changed, how quickly God lifted me out of the valley from which I was only beginning to emerge one year ago.

I guess this testimony begins last winter. In January enrolled in Gotham Writing Workshop's TV Writing class and banged out my first TV script, a spec episode of ( Read more... )

"Naked I come... naked I will depart."
Job 1:21

I realize that comparing leaving one's 20s to death is over the top. But anyone who has been around me for the past year knows that I have developed a pathologically excessive fear of turning 30, which will occur exactly 24 hours from this writing. Even now, it seems like a nightmare from which I will ( Read more... )

A DOOR just opened on a street-
I, lost, was passing by-
An instant’s width of warmth disclosed,
And wealth, and company.

The door as sudden shut, and I,
I, lost, was passing by,-
Lost doubly, but by contrast most,
Enlightening misery.

~Emily Dickinson

Is it progress
if the current carries you?

Close your eyes
and feel the wind whisper warm into your skin
Hear it rustle the reeds along the banks
If you extend your arm you will brush against them
like a hand drawn across harp strings.

Bob up and down
Rock back and forth
When you open your eyes
don’t be surprised
if you are mired in swamp grass, or
far afield ( Read more... )

It's easier to think of Amy Chua as a Dragon Lady villain, but after hearing her speak at Time Inc. tonight, it is perhaps more accurate to say that she is mostly self-deluded. I'm not trying to be insulting-I genuinely think she has not fully thought through certain issues related to Asian and/or Asian-American identity and perception, and ( Read more... )

I think one of my biggest issues with Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is Chua's problematic nomenclature. Leaving aside the grossly fetishistic overtones of Tiger becoming a descriptor for Chinese (come on, that crap is so last decade), I really think that Chua's decision to call her parenting method "Chinese" is irresponsible, and her opening ( Read more... )

Tomorrow Amy Chua is doing a Q&A at Time Inc. for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I already have many strong opinions about Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother from media coverage alone, but I know I'm not being truly fair until I've read the actual book myself. Fortunately, Google Books has most if not all of it online, so herein, my chapter-by ( Read more... )

If there is to be no progress on the relationship front, then by Jove I'd better get SOMETHING started with this so-called "writing" "ambition" of mine, because I will be 30 by the end of this year.

I doubt I'll manage to blog every day, but at least this journal will serve as a public record for shaming myself into action.

A journey of a thousand ( Read more... )

DANIEL: (driving) Hey, does SI have themed conference rooms?

ME: (in the backseat) What do you mean?

DANIEL: Like, does each conference room have a name?

ME: No.

DANIEL: Then how do you reserve a room for a meeting?

ME: I dunno, we just send around an e-mail that says, "Go to the big conference room in the middle at one o'clock" or whatever.

DANIEL: Oh. ( Read more... )

( Read more... )