Ahh...Ain't Love Grand

It’s not often that one gets to live the life like those on television. However, when one finds themselves in that particular situation, it never seems to turn out like it does on TV. In fact, it always seems to turn, spectacularly, to shit.

Now, I am referring to the situation of “where friends become more than friends”. And we all know who the most inspirational TV friends-turned-lovers are. People, I am talking about none other than Dawson Leary and Joey Potter. Rachel Green and Ross Geller. And of course, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley.

While I appreciate the sentiment that guy-girl friendships can sometimes become so much more, I have all but given up hope that anyone is going to crawl through my window and discuss the philosophies of life and question “what it’s all about”. This is partially because I am a cynic and partially because I live on the 22nd floor. Nor am I inclined to think that someone will utter ‘Rachel’ instead of ‘Emily’ at the altar. But when one is faced with having to decide whether or not they must broach the subject, things become gray, there is little sleep happening and there is a lot of getting red in the face at the prospect that your good friend may see you naked.

But what happens if you don’t take the plunge? Do we let life go on, not say a thing because we are afraid of (to quote that bizarre little kid on Love Actually) getting the shit kicked out of us by love? Do we retreat into ourselves and hole up with an endless supply of Rocky Road, tissues and Sex in The City DVDs?

Or, do we risk it all and lay ourselves flat out there, exposed?

Here is where I ask myself, “Can I carry on like Jim Helpert? Can I afford to run away to Australia…again? Can I live with myself if I never divulge what I have carried around for so long? Can I really carry on with this analogy knowing that something definitely happens between Jim and Pam and I can’t articulate it because I live in Asia and we are one season behind The Office?”

The answer, my friends, is no. I can’t.

One Too Many

Oh, I am a charmer.

After popping yet another allergy pill to deal with my 4 week cold and drinking copious amounts of merlot, it was decided by my mates and I to go to Wan Chai for a mini-stalk, a dance or two, and some food at the local Western diner.

All I recall from the latter parts of the evening was eating a divine cheeseburger and getting mustard under my fingernails and making one of my dear friends embarassed because I, apparently, was a slightly rude to a gentleman who refered to me as "American". All in all, burger eaten, man properly told off and a cheap cab ride home makes for a perfectly pleasant evening in the red light district of Hong Kong.

This morning after having a ritualistic conversation re: last night's events, I apologized to my good friend and passed it off as being no big deal. To which she replies with a chortle,

"Oh! Let me say one word to you. Does 'Barbie' ring a bell"?

Of course, I have no clue to what she is refering and say, "Um, we were doing a rendition of Barbie Girl in the bar"? I really had no idea what she meant.

"Well, let me remind you. Us three girls walked into the diner and this nice man simply said 'You girls all have the same eyes, you must be sisters' (a completely civilized and nice thing to say, I admit). You, my dear, ripped a strip off him by saying, 'Same eyes? Same eyes? How is that possible. What, you're saying we are Barbie dolls? Same. Same. Same. Are you calling us generic? We aren't even related, for God's sake!'"

I pause, then laugh at how totally unbelievable it is and the memory of the eyes comment trickled back...then my friend goes on to say...

"You didn't stop there. I tried to be polite and change the subject and asked him where he was from and he said, 'Well certainly not America'. And you latched on to that one with a 'OH! So now he assumes just because of my accent that I am American.' He took his food then left the diner".

Oops.

Friendly Reminder: anti-histimines and merlot...not a great combination if you are wanting to socialize and meet new friends.