Wednesday, December 17, 2008

etsy junkie


Some of my new favorite things. Oh the world of handmade items is so hot sometimes.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

plural

I was posting my new lavender sachets in my etsy shop when I discovered a new word. VAGINAE. I went to write the plural version of vagina (vaginas) and a red line popped up under it alerting me that I'm a hot mess.

Let me back up a moment to say that I have an automatic spell check function on for two reasons. First, because I can't spell for my life. And secondly, because I never learned to type properly so I look at the keyboard. This is sad, mostly because I'm an English teacher, but also because I write, a lot. The one redeeming thing here is that I do look up a lot of words and look into ways to prevent myself from immense embarrassment (hence the automatic spell check function).

As it turns out, vaginas and vaginae are both accepted plural versions of the word vagina. I also recently discovered that octopuses, octopi, and octopodes are all good too! I guess I should give myself a little more credit and have less faith in the dotted red line.

Friday, December 12, 2008

lots of latkas

Here's another installment in the cooking with my mother series.  She made me latkas, then she went to New York and made them at my sister's apartment, and then she went to Toronto and made them for my youngest sister.  Three cities!  It's like she went on a latka tour.  Gotta love that.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

just a few yards

I'm sewing like a madwoman. I made two yoga bags, finished a clutch, and whipped up a day bag. Everything is coming out nicely, but I'm still being a lazy perfectionist. I know what I want things to look like. I know how they should be. But I hate ripping seams, so I'll just finish something with the mistake and make a new one right after. My first attempt at a yoga mat bag is a perfect example of this.

I messed up more parts that I'd like to admit, but I was too lazy to pull seams and do them over. I put the strap on backwards, the bottom circle didn't fit the main part of the bag properly, the stitching at some parts just looks plain jacked up. But I figured out all the kinks, and decided to make the next one perfect. I'll keep this first attempt, with all the "character," for myself and the other ones can go to new homes.

My new day bag is awesome. It has flying octopuses on it. There's nothing like flying octopuses to brighten my day.

And lastly I've made about a million little lavender sachets. These go on hangers, in drawers, or in your car to make it smell nice for a while. And they're pretty. Some have eyes on them, some are just stitched abstractly, and others have vag designs on them.

I'm making journals and some cookies, and some fun little holiday items. I'll post some of this new stuff on etsy, and some of it will come with me to the traveling wares shows.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

it's that time of the year


I'm busy gearing up for the Traveling Wares shows at Sugar Mom's (Dec. 13th, 1-6PM), Dirty Franks (Dec. 14th, 2-7PM), and Tattooed Mom (Dec. 21st, 1-6PM).

Traveling Wares is celebrating it's 15th birthday this holiday season. There will be handmade goods made by local designers--jewelry, art, clothing, accessories, pottery, paper crafts, ceramics, and more. By "more" I mean I'm making new items and considering whipping up a couple batches of holiday koco-inspired cookies just for the event.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

addition to the collection

I saw a post somewhere on the internet, a call for art, through the mail. This person would mail you a piece of art if you mailed him something interesting. I love mail, so I sent him a nipple. He responded with a picture and an email saying, "You sent the perfect 3rd nipple for me. The color is a bit off, but it matches perfectly, as both of mine are pierced." He also sent me a letter with lots of goodies, including a picture of some otters and some other random stuff. This is what makes life feel like life. He actually wrote on the back of the photo, "Yay otters!" I want more mail like this, all the time. If you want a handmade fiber nipple of your own, and you're willing to send fun artsy items in return, let me know.
For more pictures from the nipple collection/archive check the flickr set.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Grand Slam



Best Content Winner: Ted Passon

This reminds me of the pedicure I got one day in Bangkok, with my friend Vivian, at a place that may or may not have also have been a brothel. They certainly weren't very good at pedicures...

Sunday, November 30, 2008

COFFEE, coffee, coooffffffeeeee!

I'm a big tea drinker. I have a large collection of tea--herbal teas, black teas, white tea, lots of green tea. There is nothing like a cup of English Breakfast, a little honey, and a splash of milk in the morning. I drink hot tea in the summer, and far too many cups of tea per day in the winter. It has been like this for years. I used to drink coffee, but it's been so long, I forgot why I had stopped in the first place.

I've been spending a lot of time with coffee drinkers so I thought I might have a cup, just to see what I've been missing out on. When I was offered a cup of coffee a couple of weeks ago, I imagined that maybe I'd discover that this is the magic tonic I've been searching for. I imagined after a cup of coffee that I'd be really motivated. I'd suddenly feel compelled to do all the things on my to-do list that I keep putting off and transferring to the next to-do list; I'd start training for a marathon; I'd figure out how to fit more hours into a day. So, I said, "Sure. Can't hurt. I'd love one. Milk and sugar, please."

Fast forward a week and I'm ordering a large cup of European style hot chocolate (at Naked Chocolate) with a shot of espresso. Everything is grand! Coffee is my new best friend. I do feel a bit more vim after a cup of coffee. I like it. I'm excited, slightly convinced that I am more productive. I walk faster.

Then, on Friday, I decided to go for a mochaccino before I headed up to New York. I'm having a lovely time, chatting at a cafe. When I finish my drink and stand up, I feel dizzy. I start sweating. What's wrong with me? I'm having a heart attack, maybe an anxiety attack; NAUSEA, I've been poisoned; an explosive device has gone off inside my body--Suddenly, I remember why I stopped drinking coffee. I can't believe I have to get on a bus for two hours. Not now, not now, NOT NOW! I'm dying, I'm sure of it. It was the coffee.

I run home and collect myself. I still feel a bit like a strung out parrot with an awful tick, but I look okay. I get on the bus and plug myself into my ipod. Somehow sitting still while jazzy tunes bop around my head, I attempt to do some deep breathing and to go to sleep. I drift off finally as I reach the end of my jazzy playlist. The music stops and the conversation between the two women sitting next to me starts to seep into my semi-consciousness. "Oh look, it's the Joyce Kilmer rest stop. She wrote that poem about a tree. You know, 'I've never read a poem as lovely as a tree,' " One lady says. "Oh did she?" the other replies. At this moment I blurt out, "Joyce Kilmer was a man!" My eyes are still closed. I realize that I said that out loud. I open my eyes and the two women are staring at me, like I'm strung out, so I repeat myself, "Uhh... Joyce Kilmer was a man." One of the women, shocked that I've butt into their conversation to correct them then tells me that she'll have to google that when she gets home. Oh god, I'm totally never drinking coffee ever again. I still try to redeem myself and explain why I'm still talking. I add, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I always think about the tree poem, and the poet with the girl's name, when I pass that rest station." I didn't mean it like that, but it came out like that. "Joyce is a man's name," the googler retorts, "Just like Vivian. Actually, I have a male friend named Vivian."

I fumble around looking for my ipod to listen to something else. I tell myself to stop talking and try to make a note this time of the reasons why I stopped drinking coffee...
1. serious delirium
2. feeling like I'm going to die
3. the shits

RZA & GZA put it best in Coffee & Cigarettes:

Coffee and I are NOT friends.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

kyotofu

"My new favorite ____ "

I recently decided to stop proclaiming everything as my new favorite _______ .  It's just wrong to have so many favorites, and I wore out the true meaning of favorite.  However, I found myself declaring Kyotofu as my new favorite place, and their pastry chef as my new favorite person (as I hugged her)--and I meant it sincerely.  This wasn't like the time that I told Neil Diamond I was his biggest fan.  

I had just enjoyed some green tea soba noodles, followed by a soy ice cream sundae; I was content on a nice Saturday in NYC.  Life felt good. As the pastry chef handed over a Miss Koco & Sugar Monk sized bag of assorted mini desserts and delectable treats, my heart fluttered.  A true and profound burst of love flowed from me.  If I were to try to create a visual for you, it was a lot like a Care Bear Stare. Not that I was fighting off evil and bad vibes, but it was like an intense beam of light from my chest filled with joy, happiness, love, and goodness.  Bliss. I zoned out.  I couldn't hear anything. 100% Bliss. 

In this bag of immense yumminess there were two dark chocolate things that looked like mini brownies. One was filled with some smooth chocolate fudge-like stuff and the other had a spicy filling.  Spicy chocolate was unexpectedly, yet fully, enjoyable. Then there were cookies and a small green tea muffin!  I savored them, eating one at a time throughout the day.  It was exactly what I needed.  My new heroes: pastry chefs.

Kyotofu is at 705 9th Avenue (near 48th) in Hell's Kitchen. It's a nice place to go as a treat, a prelude to other kinds of fun, for something different but quite delish.  

Thursday, November 20, 2008

just like slinkies

Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

I haven't pushed anyone down the stairs, but I did have a moment where I thought it might be something that would make me feel better. I quit my job... or maybe I was sorta put in a position where I had to leave, so in a way I got fired. This has never happened to me before. I guess there's a first for everything, right? I'd like to look at the situation and say, "We broke up, it was a mutual decision." I mean... We didn't have the same goals. I cared about students, they thought I was negative and had a bad attitude. They were more concerned about dress code than curriculum. I was dedicated to providing quality education, they were confused why I'd be frustrated about students not having books--books they paid for as part of their tuition. I didn't really fit in there. I was leaving anyway, but it still feels all messed up.

I knew I should have just stayed in bed yesterday.

Friday, November 14, 2008

festival time!

Evidence that I'm clearly a product of the look-at-me! generation:
1. I have a blog.
2. I document the hell out of my life, and then share it on and off-line.  
3. I go to things I imagine are going to be cool, mostly about other people who are also really into people paying attention to them, so that I can tell people paying attention to me that I saw some cool stuff.

(Enter First Person Arts Festival, stage right)

So, here's my plug for cool stuff this weekend--GO TO THE FIRST PERSON ARTS FESTIVAL. I went to see the Complaint Choir on Wed. night.  I was super pleased to hear my complaint about how much I hate the Duck Boat Tours included in their performance.  I'm going to see Found tonight, The Grand Slam on Saturday, and I recommend that if any of you are free that you buy tickets ASAP to see Soul Supper this Sunday.
Soul Supper
Bursting with raw emotion to match its soulful score, the documentary Everybody Needs Somebody tells the story of Solomon Burke, a young Philadelphia musician lifted out of obscurity, catapulted to fame, and then largely forgotten. But the film and a new album by Solomon Burke are creating a revival of interest in his music and introducing him to new audiences. A blistering live performance by Philadelphia R&B sensation The Barbara Walker Story will follow the screening and will have you dancing in the aisles. A soul food buffet is included with your ticket!

In partnership with the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
And here's a video of the complaint choir:

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

butterflies

I used to write the internet a lot to let anyone who was listening know how I was doing... just in case they cared. Life got so busy, it has been a while since I've had time for a good ramble about my life, thoughts, and other stuff.  Tonight though, I do feel somewhat inspired to let some things seep... here we go.

"Without change, there would be no butterflies."

I've spent so much of my life rejecting any new trend and dodging any catchy phrase or idea, but I guess the marketing  in 2008 finally figured out how to get to me.  GREEN (or "going green") became like the new black, and now CHANGE is the new green, yet that whole thing about change is all about it being black.  And usually all of this is soooooo silly to me, but I seem to dig quite a lot of it this time.  For once some of it makes some sense.  I've been drinking up the feel good vibes in the Obama-flavored Kool-Aid by the gallon--mostly because it does taste like exactly what I need/want/have been hoping to hear.

Over the past couple of weeks I've had an increasing sense of discomfort, one that churned in my stomach and created intense waves of nausea that prevented me from eating properly. It's the same feeling I always get when I'm being pushed towards another drastic shift in my life. After instances of lost love, before a big move, right before I accomplish something big, when I feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, I've stopped breathing for what feels like weeks. In all instances, I wasn't quite prepared for the changes ahead, but later found myself much better off than I was before. This knowledge still doesn't make me worry less or feel any better.

Yet... Last night, despite no resolution to my major personal issues, I started breathing again.  I found myself motivated to organize, clean, put things in order, purge the nonsense, tie up all the loose ends and make myself ready for all that is next. I started thinking about butterflies. Next for me includes New York City, teaching at Pratt (in Brooklyn!), and focusing on the development of my teaching skills. Next includes an ongoing sigh of relief that I feel like what I support, believe in, and vote for was heard this time around and might actually continue to be heard.  I'm letting my whole being soak up the positive energy and hope that emanated from this historic moment without a drop of cynicism. I don't care how cheezy I sound anymore. I'm thinking about butterflies.  This marked a shift in this particular time of shifting. I'm becoming more able to remind myself of the beauty that can come out of periods of uncertainty.  I'm allowing myself to just enjoy the process.  I'm pushing myself to be my best and strongest this time, and look hopefully towards next (as if it's all one big adventure) instead of fearing how this could possibly could end up.  

It's a time to recreate, to evolve, to improve upon the last created version of myself.  It sounds all grand and lofty, but I'm just gonna love it.  I'm going to keep dreaming of butterflies.

Friday, October 10, 2008

the great schlep

See more Sarah Silverman videos at Funny or Die

The Great Schlep aims to have Jewish grandchildren visit their grandparents in Florida, educate them about Obama, and therefore swing the crucial Florida vote in his favor. Don’t have grandparents in Florida? Not Jewish? No problem! You can still become a schlepper and make change happen in 2008, simply by talking to your relatives about Obama.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

i want a treehouse

I read an article in the NYTimes Magazine about treehouses, and now I want one SOOOOO bad.

I don't need a gigantic house with a luxury master bedroom, just a luxury treehouse. I want an awesome treehouse. I want a treehouse. I WANT A MASTER TREEHOUSE BUILDER to build me a treehouse! Seriously, I want a master treehouse. I think this is important. I haven't wanted anything in my life like the way I want a tree house right now. I want a treehouse.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Park(ing) Day

I walked by a few guys playing fiddles in a "park" around 9th and Chestnut today.  A woman had taken off her shoes and was playing in the grass.  I love it!

what's brewing?

First Person Arts and (woah!) ME.

I got the chance to talk to Digital Journalist Nicole Brewer of CBS3.com today about my experiences with First Person Arts and the project, Pieces of Koco, that I presented in a couple salons a while back.  I don't know what to say other than it was completely awesome.

For the video and the story go to What's Brewing...

Craftadelphia: TOMORROW!

Tomorrow I will be selling crafty goodness with the Philadelphia Etsy Team at Mew Gallery.

Craftadelphia! is a sale featuring art, independently designed and produced items. This month's featured artists & designers:

MWM Designs - Unique jewelry made using semi-precious gemstones and natural materials
Botodesigns - a little world of Japanese inspired robots and a plant who is far away from home. 
Bijoux by Allison - Distinctive handcrafted gemstone and vintage jewelry
Becky Augustine Jewelry Designs, LLC. - creates simple, elegant, handcrafted jewelry for everyday wear.
Grace Christie - Sophisticated and meticulously handcrafted adornments to get you out of those sweats.
Ahlen Moin - Science fiction artist and writer
Tremundo - Handbags created from original designs and made from new, recycled and unique materials
Miss Koco - asian oddities, kinky crafts + upcycled wonders

Craftadelphia! SATURDAY, September 20th @ Mew Gallery: 906 Christian Street 11am to 4pm.

Monday, September 15, 2008

BreastStrokes @ CAC

I'll be showing a few pieces in a group show called BreastStrokes at the Cheltenham Art Center. The opening reception will be this Sunday, Sept. 21st from 2-4pm. A portion of all sales will go to local breast cancer awareness non profit organizations.

Sadly, the CAC is having some major financial issues, so they are currently closed until they restructure and figure things out. There are other rumors that they are going to be closed permanently due to bankruptcy. This is pretty shocking and unfortunate news. As far as I know they will in fact have this opening/closing on Sunday. Do come out and support this show, the artists, the non-profits involved, and the CAC. It may be the last show there.

Friday, September 12, 2008

what's good

I'm in Philly. The iladelph... Gone back to where I came from, hoping to grow some roots that will ground me for a while. Hoping that there is enough here this time to keep me from growing bored. The passport that I'm so proud has extra pages, won't be getting as much use for now, but that doesn't mean that miss koco is adventure-less. The past few weeks have been filled with cultural events and good times in the streets.

For the time being I have the luxury to leisurely wander around town, popping into this place, grabbing another cup of tea, picking up something sweet at a bakery, or browsing through a book shop for as long as I choose. I went over to Moore College of Art & Design and saw a show in their gallery of Mary McFadden dresses that were gorgeous. I love the way she uses that signature fabric of hers. I wouldn't mind owning one, or a few, of her pieces.


Last night I visited the Philly Fringe Festival's Bar for the second time this week. It's in a warehouse at 5th and Faimount and they are showing the most bizarre films. It's huge and a bit dusty, but a nice set up. There's some odd thing int he corner that looks like a Stargate portal, and lots of people that seem to be inspired by the unique strangeness that belongs only to the fringe. This means that there's good people watching and a handful of lone dancers funking to their own personal inner groove despite the beat and tempo of the musical selection. I was one of those people after one bevi too many over the weekend.

I'm happy to say I got a good amount of fringe in this year. Last week I went to a magic show with Randy Shine in How to Write a Magic Show in One Week or Less, showing at Grasso's Magic Theater. The new theater is adorable. JUST SO ADORABLE. I want a show there. Not a magic show, but some kind of excitement.

There were only 4 of us in the audience, but it was a pretty good magic act. Randy does some craziness with some thimbles and the other dude in the show did this one "surrealist magic" piece that I really enjoyed where he was humming the Girl from Ipanema while pulling handfuls of cards out of thin air/his sleeve. Then he was talking on the phone which was actually a lobster, i German. It was much cooler in real life than it sounds right now.

Staying in the magic/circus/clown theme I seem to have gotten into recently, I saw the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus in the sanctuary over at Fleisher Art Memorial. They were showing Kinko for President. A dude swallowed some very long metal objects, there was a woman on a tightrope, some wild multi-person juggling, among other fun bits.

On Kinko's site he outlines the things he'd do during his first 100 days in office:
1. Paint the White House. Most likely a multi-colored pattern.
2. Make sure that every city has 24 hour access free public restrooms
3. Get the United States juggling together. Every Monday there will be a weekly juggling workshop on the white house lawn. I will also encourage employers to push a juggling break in the work place. And push for juggling to be included in the Olympics (the last one is because of well paying lobbyists).
4. Hitch a ride on the space shuttle. Although many people argue that I have been spaced out for years, I really want to look out the window and see the Earth as a ball.
5. Bring past administration participants up for war crime trials. In all my years of vagrancy, loitering, public drunkenness, hitch-hiking, pan-handling and living a life of poverty, I was never given leniency by them, why should I give them leniency now.
6. Put peanuts and popcorn into every school lunch room. Organic cotton candy will also be served on Fridays.

I went to the First Person Arts Salon at the Gershman Y on Tuesday. I had a beer, complained, and chatted it up with some of my favorite Phillyheads. They showed a film by Andrew Schwalm (and Co.) on people who fish in the city. I had no idea people did this. I might have seen a few people once upon a time, but I didn't realize how obsessed some people are. Woah.



What else? Hmmm... yeah I've been at Silk City a lot more than I imagined I ever would be. And I keep bumping into the most random individuals. My sister's ex-bf, boys I used to have crushes on in high school, people I went to summer camp with, a guy who taught me how to make origami boxes in 5th grade. So, I'm out and about, making the most of what warm weather is left and all that Philly has to offer.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

the door, 1998-1999

For a year I asked people who came to visit me to sign and leave something from their wallet, bag, or purse on my door.

Friday, September 5, 2008

dada news


Mon pere... today in the weekend section of the Philadelphia Inquirer there's an article on his upcoming show Transpersonal. Gotta shout out my pops.
Montgomery County Community College's Multiple Choice Gallery, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. To Oct. 5. Mon-Thu 8-9:30, Fri 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Free. 215-519-7349 or www.mc3.edu.

Also, if you're around for First Friday (TONIGHT!) in Philly, miss koco will be at the show at Dupree Gallery, 703 South 6th Street, from 5-9pm. Come say hello.


Featuring work by:

Lillian Cotton
Dory Doughty
Kristina Klugar,
Philmore Peterson
Natalie Rzucidlo
Nicholas Tridemas

Friday, August 29, 2008

new stuff

I've been busy making stuff and putting things in my etsy shop. I'm particularly in love with my fortune cookie cards.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

collecting heroes

I met a woman in Maine this past weekend who raised 13 children. 11 girls, 2 boys. All of them are fascinating and successful individuals. What a feat! I was just in awe meeting her and all her children.

I read a short little piece by Rebecca Walker recently:

Buddhism's teachings on interdependence, compassion, and the cultivation of happiness rather than regret, were just what a mixed race, multi-everything girl needed to hear to feel whole. Buddhism said the fragmentation I felt was an illusion. My essential nature as a human being had never been broken, never been stained. My thoughts about myself were problematic.

But my thoughts could be changed.

And I met a guy named Phil on an island in Thailand. He said to me, "If you're looking for a life partner, just focus on making yourself happy."

I'm collecting heroes. These people, the things they've done, the things they say, they've been stuck in my head. I carry them with me everywhere I go. Thank you.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

journals

I keep a lot of journals. Shelves filled with thoughts, ideas, funny stories, doodles, records of trips, and all the silly things I try to work out in my head. I love my blog, but I still love paper. Adding videos and audio is a lot of fun, but nothing beats writing with my favorite fountain pen.
I've come to believe that travel wouldn't be as much fun without a glue stick. Colored pencils, the water soluble ones, are an extra thing worth packing. I've figured out how to make all kinds of collage without using scissors. And recently I've taken to plastering the covers with random things I come across as well, meaning that I'm seriously mad if I leave the house without tape in my bag. If journals just had spell check...

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

iso... A JOB!

Miss Koco needs a job. Seriously.

Looking at job postings, going to interviews, and trying to decide if I'm picking the right position feels a lot like dating or trying to find the ideal life partner. Oy vey. I'm not looking for the short-term fun, or the crazy adventure deals that take me to a wild place and show me all kinds of freaky things I never expected. I'm looking for the real deal. So here it goes...

YOU: in Philly, NYC, or San Fran. In one of the following industries/fields (though I'm open to others): higher ed, museums or cultural institutions, instructional design, non-profit. You come with benefits, mainly health care and some kind of pension plan. You require me to travel or allow for a decent amount of time per year where I get to go somewhere cool. You pay enough so I don't feel like everyday is a struggle. Meaning: While I'd love to make like six figures, I'm not even being that fantastical. I just want to pay my bills and have enough left over to have some fun, buy some art supplies, and save a bit for a yearly vacation to somewhere I've never been.

ME: Well-educated with 2 degrees from NYU (Art History, B.A.; Interactive Media, master's). A quick learner, a creative thinker, and very detail-oriented team player. Extensive experience living and working abroad in Asia. Several years of experience working with students, especially at the university level as an instructor as well as an administrator and peer leader. Outgoing. An enthusiastic and encouraging teacher. Honest, punctual (most of the time), great at planning events. Not an expert programmer or designer, but totally comfortable with HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, all those silly MS office programs, and quite familiar with image, video, and audio editing for online content. A blogger, a knitter, a bento box maker, a museum-goer, a fabulous dancer, a baker, and a bit of an artist. I've got extra pages in my passport, I work hard and play hard, and sometimes I'm funny.

Basically, when someone asks me what I do, or where I'm from, I want to be able to provide a simple answer I can be proud of. I don't want to pay for my own health care. I don't want to hate my job. I want to feel happy that I contribute to a collective effort or help people in some way with what I do. I want a respectable job where I am respected for what I do. I'll work hard and I'll continue to do what I can to be continuously be better at what I do.

If you or someone you know is what I'm looking for, I'd love to hear from you. If you hear of any exciting positions that are so miss kocolicious, please pass them my way. And if you think I'm being completely insane, leave me some comments and show me the light.

Thanks.

xoxo,
miss koco
koco(at)misskoco.com

scantastic

I got a new scanner today. I may never leave the house.

after the tone (update)

Miss Koco's Hello Happy Line, the three month experiment with voicemail, has been fully updated. I was surprised by how many people called to tell personal stories. Sad, tearful stories they really just needed someone to hear. To those people I'd like them to know that even though you didn't always get a response, I was listening. I was also throughly entertained by the silliness left in audio format. Coming home and checking my messages was really a treat.

You can go to the site to see all the posts, or go the itunes store (search for misskoco) and download them. Here are a few of my favorites:

On being a Jew. Sugar monk tells a true story from nyc about his interactions with a Korean lady at the deli.

The giveaway. one of my favorite callers left a message outlining a story she's writing that involves Oprah.


Africa? Mr. Pugh tells a funny tale from his world.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

in the day

Sunday. A day for picnics and hanging out in the park. The weather was nice and people were being friendly. Especially this dude who planted himself next to the group and decided to chat everyone up, until he passed out.
I was reminded of the ajossi I saw in Seoul passed out at 2pm in the sun--on a weekday. I have a tendency to make up stories or assume that everything is some kind of performance work. I'm always looking for the camera. Reality in my world is often a bit unbelievable, so imagine most of it is being staged.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

TV, a portal to a whole other dimension

I try to do one new thing everyday. Sometimes it's something simple, like trying a new kind of tea, or playing with a new word. But, today I went for something big. I turned on my television. I never watch TV. I'm overwhelmed.

1. There was some MEGA-Jpop girl group on called AKB48. There were like 20 girls on stage, all singing and dancing, though not all together. I'm sitting there wondering how many teenie-boppers you can stuff into one girl group??? I looked it up, there are are actually 48 members in this group. The huge posse is broken up into three teams, A, K, and B. This is a totally amazing concept to me. I've never in my life seen such a thing.


I guess no one would really notice if they replace a few now and then. If one is sick, it kinda doesn't matter. I can't seem to look away, I don't understand.

2. Sumo is on TV too. Once again, I can't seem to stop watching. These dudes are huge, and wearing very little. I'm reminded of when I'd watch football with my dad and he'd compare the players to the size of different large appliances in the house. There's a lot of adjusting, preparation, salt tossing and a significant amount of stretching, a repetitive crouching of sorts. Actually, they can achieve quite deep 2nd position grand pliés for big boys. Then, finally, they go at it. They struggle, things wiggle and wobble, they pull at their opponent's mawashi (the thick thong belt outfit) like they are trying to force them into submission by administering the most wicked wedgies ever. One of them gets pushed out of the ring or thrown to the ground, and it's over. Somehow their hair hasn't moved one bit.


They seem to show the audience a lot. Everyone is fanning themselves, some people don't look like they're paying attention, a couple even look a bit bored. No one is wearing shoes, they're all sitting on little mats. Looks like a chill time.

3. I think "So des ne" may be the most frequently used phrase in the Japanese language.

4. What's up with all the cross dressers?

Monday, July 14, 2008

the 13th hour


I'm always looking for more time in my day, wishing I had just a little more time. Well, I found it. The 13th hour everyone has been looking for, it's in Nishi-Funabashi.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Sunday, July 6, 2008

out with the trash

The trash sorting system continues to confuse me. Thus far I've figured out that there is burnable, non-burnable, and recycling. I have to buy special bags for my trash. Blue for burnable, black for non-burnables. There are different days for all of it. PET bottles go in a box that's put out on the street the night before collection day--which is Saturday morning, so if I go out I have to put the recycling out when I get back half asleep or a little tipsy. Milk cartons should be cut, flattened and tied with a pretty bow so all trash is aesthetically pleasing as well as organized.
Train stations, stores, and fast food spots also have these things separated. Sometimes there's one to dump ice and all extra liquids from your beverage, which is a good idea so that the bottom of the trash bag isn't filled with soda. Occasionally the bins aren't marked with things that make sense to me, so I have to be all cunning and investigate, peek to see what's already in the trash or wait to see what other people toss in there.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

I thought this one wouldn't be notable, but...

I feel so loved. Thank you Gia, Janine, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Ian, and Ian, and Eleni; I love hearing you. Thanks for calling. Thank you Mom for making me a cake, even though I won't get to eat it. Thank you Kazumi, Nazomi, Satoko, and Yukiko; your gifts mean more to me than you could possibly know. Thank you to Jackie, Eric, Devalina, Phil, Jutta, Ms. Tiff, Ms. Niskey, Sarah, Regina, Oliver, Alicia, Ann, Jess, Paul, Minqu and Angelique; your virtual hugs, kisses, and best wishes make me smile and feel so lucky to have cool people all over the place. I love you dearly.

AND huge どうもありがとうございます to Taka; I don't even have the right words to show my gratitude. You give me goosebumps. I'm glowing. I will cherish this one.

...and thank you to the lady at the Uniqlo in Tsudanuma that speaks English really well. Without you I would have never been able to find the most comfortably fitting bra I've ever had in my life.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

tokyo white night

This past Friday night I went out to Kichijoji to a bar that was all done up like the milk bar from A Clockwork Orange. It was like Corova in NYC, but smaller and not as dark, and it had a funny bathroom with a mini-toilet and a huge sink.
I had a few fantastic ginger infused vodka cocktails and a tofu dish. I hung out with the Milk Bar posse, and got sucked into the DVD of A Clockwork Orange that was playing on the tv. I was tired though. It was a long day, after a long week. I was ready for bed.

I went to the station to get on the train, and Mia decided to stick around a little longer. There was some kind of accident, so none of the trains were going anywhere fast. No one knew what to do and basically I missed the last train going back to Chiba. I felt this happening as soon as I got to train station. Something told me this was going to happen, but I told the silly anxiety voice inside me to just shut up.

In many other cities I'd just hail a cab, but here it would have probably cost me about 200 bucks, since I was so far away from my apartment. So I decided to stick it out and chill in Tokyo till the next train. There are million things to see in Tokyo!

It was kind of a shitty situation. I was by myself, in an area I'd never been to, my cell phone just died, and my pen ran out of ink. Oh, and then it started raining, a lot. It was straight out of a movie. In past I feel like I would have probably cried, or been really pissed off, but I didn't cry and I wasn't angry. I just hung out and took the first train home 4 hours later. I accepted the situation and decided to make an adventure of it.

I went to about 8 different 24 hour establishments and watched people. I went to convenience stores and read magazines. I bought a new toothbrush. I went to a 24 hour drug store and checked out all the ridiculous beauty products and supplements to make your breasts bigger, your face smaller, your calves more shapely, your underarms less hairy, your hair more bouncy.... I took pictures of amusing products.
I wasn't the only one this had happened to, it was a Friday night with tons of people out and about, and I didn't feel like I was in any danger. I thought about just going to a bar and getting wasted, but then figured a lady all on her own in a big city, far away from home, and stranded for a few hours, well... maybe that wasn't be the best option. It was kinda fun, though not what I had planned on doing this particular Friday/Saturday. I spent Saturday recovering from my first white night in Tokyo. I slept all day and the only productive thing I did was pick up my dry cleaning and replied to a few emails.

Things are good. Who knows what excitement is in store for me this weekend!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Monday, June 23, 2008

fried thingies

Everyone keeps asking me how the sushi is. Like I drink raw fish smoothies for breakfast, then packing away huge platters of fatty salmon for lunch, and topping it off with sushi ice cream on a stick as a midday snack. I am quite excited by the sushi, I like sushi. It's great, but I find myself documenting a lot more of the stuff I've never had before, never seen before, and have no idea what it tastes like.

I'm addicted to these fried potato things, korokke (コロッケ). There are all kinds with random different things mixed inside-from ground beef to veggies. There are creamed corn ones, or shrimp ones. They also have katsu, fried other thingies, so I decided to sample one (or two) a day to see what they're all about.
Things were going well with my experiment. I never met a fried thingie I didn't like until I came across mini menchi katsu. It was like some kind of breaded and fried scrapple-esque meat. It was all downhill from there. Friday's fried thingie adventure turned out to be the most insane one I've tried yet: egg salad with mayo on a piece of ham that's breaded and fried. From the picture on the label, I thought it had corn inside. Nope, no corn at all.

The experiment with the fried thingies is officially called off. However, my different tea a day journey continues. Stay tuned for Miss Koco takes on Tokyo, one vending machine at a time.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

nuke the cake

I just had to get one. I couldn't resist.

This afternoon I found myself committing what my mother probably would define as the ultimate sin. First, I stood right in front of the microwave for a whole minute. I'm sure I'm going to grow an extra appendage in my sleep tonight. Second, I made a cake in the microwave--in a mug.

An oven isn't a standard item in a Japanese kitchen. I'm guessing that's why food companies have developed products that are easily cooked in a microwave. For this mocha treat all you need is an egg, a microwave, a mug, and a couple minutes. The instructions said two minutes for a 500W microwave, 1 minute for 600W microwaves, but mine is a 730W so I figured around 40 seconds should do it.


Okay. It came out looking so unappealing, and it didn't exactly smell good either, but I tried it. It wasn't good, but it was fun to watch. I'm reminded of the time I put an egg in the microwave to "see what happens." I knew what was going to happen; it did in fact explode and it made a nasty stinky mess. I don't recommend putting an egg in the microwave--nor do I recommend the microwaveable cake. However, both were quite entertaining. I still crack up when I think about the egg incident.


The box came with two. I'm not going to use the other one. If you'd like to experience the joy of a microwaveable mocha mug cake, let me know. I'll snailmail it to you.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

I think it would be safe to say that the owner of this scooter and I would get along. Maybe this person just likes stickers, or maybe this person is a hamburger eating, poodle loving, pot smoking Japanese queer with a scooter. Either way I think we could be good friends.  Who are you? And why don't I know you? This looks like evidence that magic exists--like that characters from books can remove themselves from the world of fiction and go live in Tokyo.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

supplements



I went to pick up some body wash at the Rite Aid/CVSish place and came across these strange items in the supplements aisle. F-cup Cookie??? If these actually worked and women in Japan started eating them, they'd have to come up with butt enhancers or something like that to balance them out. Who makes this stuff?

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

signage

The signs are all over the subways about smoking or running for the train are fascinating. I'm not sure if they are supposed to be funny, but I think they're great.

I found this in the Stick Figures in Peril Pool on Flickr. I really don't have a lot of free time. I have no idea how I find these things. They sorta come to me.

Monday, June 16, 2008

yo dj gutz!

Look who I found! It's DJ GUTZ! I haven't seen him since Flow Fest 2006 in Korea.

He's got some more groovy shake your booty mixes on his site. This guy has a lot of soul. I predict there is going to be lots of dancing in the near future.

mobo moga

Mia and I went to a sweet little place for lunch in Shinjuku called Mobo Moga. The name stands for Modern Boy, Modern Girl. I'd tell you where it's located if I could, but it's not like there are cross streets**. It was dimly lit like a good dive bar. It's funky, good funky, and it's dripping with an awesome DIY aesthetic. The menus were collaged with pinup girls and images of their special tex-mex fusion dishes. There was bad English splattered all over the place. One item on their menu is Cheese Humburg Piraf. We ordered the Mexican Tacorice: lettuce, salsa, chick peas, a sunny side up egg, rice, and mayo on the side that I didn't touch. It hit the spot.
We were forced into ordering something from their wild drink menu. I saw a picture of a beverage that resembled Slimer in a glass. I looked at Mia, she looked at me. I said, "That looks disgusting." Then Mia ordered one. I'm glad she did, it had to be done. It was a YOLO (you only live once) moment. It turned out to be a melon cream soda with vanilla ice cream. Super sweet. I love that it came in a pyrex glass. Very fabulous.

**Here's a site in Japanese with a map and directions. Google translate tells me that the directions are as follows: Shibuya Tokyu Hands exit (1 slope-side floor of the organ) across the alley in right away, "Space Department Store," the second floor. I don't know if that helps.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Resurrection Tokyo Freeze

I stumbled upon a bunch people frozen in the streets of Harajuku. They were doing some kind of improv/flash mobish type thing where they were told to strike and then hold a pose for 5 - 8 minutes.

You'd think, as a person who likes and has created performance art, that I'd think it was soooo interesting. At first I thought it was like a bunch of models who were promoting something. Everything reads as a gimmick to me these days. Maybe it was just the New Yorker in me saying, "Whatever you are selling I don't want it, get out of my way." Maybe I'm getting old; 'cause I was irritated that it was messing up the flow and it caused such a traffic jam. Whatever it is/was, the project is much cooler in the form of documentation than it was to experience first-hand.

Meiji Shrine

I love this; a wish for incomplete happiness...

yoyogi sunday

Sensory overload.

Yoyogi Park has something for everyone. Maybe there is some online system that notifies people interested in obscure outdoor activities and organizes meetings in the park on the weekends for them. There is a meeting place for dancing rockabillies, a place for jugglers, another for lovers of the hula-hoop, a whole section for bubble blowers (one meeting place for large bubble makers and another for small bubble blowers). There is a place for the dog lovers, the drummers, the gypsy-themed fashionistas, the lovers of loud techo music... and plenty of benches and grass to sit and admire all this in one place.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

my feel feeling fresh

If you're a a VIP in my world you probably get fabulous things in the mail from me. Don't be surprised if you get some of these to help you "wake up with your feel feeling fresh"
I've always wanted to do some kind of mail-based package project. A subscription people could sign up for in order to get fun stuff in the mail from me from the places I go. I was thinking like everything from Japanese pizza hut menus (along with my commentary) to a selection of Korean gum; an occasional quirky postcard or a list of good words to know in Thai; a map of my adventures on day or a play list of the soundtrack of my life theses days; a photo journal of a week in new tea beverages and my reviews, handmade phone charms or mini-envelopes made from wild magazines picked up at the 7-11 in Tokyo. It would be produced seasonally and I'd call it POSTAGE or koco-mail (but that sounds like I'm referencing ANTM, "Tyra-mail") or maybe koco@mail (the @ symbol is not referred to as "at" but instead as golbangi, or snail in Korean). But no one would get that last one unless I explained it.

You know what? Here's the deal. I'll send you 4 packages this year with fantastic stuff I pick up along my adventures if you give me 50 bucks... no, how about $49.94? What a deal! That means I make no money, but I get to go to the post office and I have an excuse to buy all the wild stuff I come across. It will be like my favorite day all the time. It's like buying my adoration for a mere fraction of the price.



$49.94 (USD)
1 year (4 mailings) of
documentation,
collected bits
of funny and fabulous,
from miss koco's adventures
straight to your mailbox

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

lady & bird


Every day I pass Inage station. There is a sculpture of a woman with her arms extended up towards the sky, her head tilted to the side, like she is doing a morning stretch. I look for her, mostly because she has a friend who is always with her--a bird. I think it is the same bird everyday, sitting either in her hand or on her face.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Sunday, June 8, 2008

"I came to kill"

I'm not sure which source is most accurate but a man attacked and killed 5 (6 or 7) and wounded 11 (or 14) people with a knife in Akihabara, in the middle of the day. People are always telling me how safe Japan is. I wasn't there, luckily, to see this, and I'm sure that there are few things that a good sense of street-smarts will do to save you from a knife-wielding lunatic on a mission, but I wonder how someone gets away with such an act. And why? What pushes someone to that point? Was there nothing anyone could have done to prevent this?

Tokyo is intense and exciting like New York, but also carries a more extreme version of pressure. The word that I've been thinking Tokyo leads with is TIGHT. I can see how life can wear on a person. There have been two suicides, people jumping in front of trains, in the past month--that I personally know of because my commute was disturbed as a result. Still, what pushes people over the edge? That I just don't understand, I guess I don't want to completely either. The only thing I guess I'm left saying is that I'm so glad they don't have a lot of guns. Then this place might feel a lot more like home, where in the city of brotherly love (Philadelphia) there were 406 homicides in 2006. One of the victims being Orlando Rivera, who I loved so very very deeply. I will never let go of my fury that he wasn't able to live to write a book about his life; he had such beautiful words and a bunch of tragic tales. Stories that should have been told from the other end, where things had gotten better. I just don't understand.

This stabbing incident was some really shitty news. There's only so much hurt and confusion a sensitive cancerian like myself can swallow. I want to create beautiful things, share happy joyful moments, document only the best of my world as I experience it. This is where I create a little bit of peace and happiness. My blog is the place I save to put the good funny quirky bits... so you know what?! What I think Tokyo needs is a holiday, or big dose of Madonna, or better yet BOTH! So, without further ado,this one goes out to Japan, to Orlando, even to the guy who lost his mind in Akihabara, especially to the families and friends that lost someone today, to the unfortunate people who just thought they were out to go shopping, to the people who need to dance more often and stress a little less, and to you.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

party in my tummy

Everyone joked around when I moved to Korea, saying that I was going to come home twice the size I left. It was amusing. I ate a lot but, nothing really happened. I may not be so lucky with this time around in Asia. I love eating in Japan sooooo much.

I find myself doing a happy food dance when I eat. The soundtrack to my eating experiences is right out of Yo Gabba Gabba. "I'm gonna eat, yeah! yummy yummy gonna eat. Yeah! Yummy yummy Japanese in my tummy party party! YEAH! There's a party in my tummy. So yummy, so yummy."

And why wouldn't it be like a party in my tummy when there's stuff like this to eat:
Does salmon, soft cream cheese, and avocado with an amazing sauce made from the nectar of the gods wanna go to the party in my tummy? Hells yeah! It melts in your mouth transporting you to some other dimension. There are flying naked pixies, dragons swirling around each other through space, magical sparkling fireworks... if you've ever watched Cooking Master Boy, then you know what I'm talking about.



I eat, a lot. And I take pictures of it. So what.

local flavor

Somehow every time I hangout with Mia we end up making all these people, we engage in a healthy dose of ridiculousness with our new buddies, and then I end up taking pictures with random locals and eating all kinds of things my sober self probably would never consider to even go near.

For example, last night:

We checked out Zyu, which is something like the "tree standing bar." There aren't any real seats and the interior looks a bit like a sauna. I imagined that maybe I should be there with my head wrapped in a towel. Oh it was so much fun! We were welcomed in by a few regulars. I can tell you that they were not lying when they said they were regulars because when I went to the website, there they were. Theres a great vibe in the place, the owner/bartender Naoki serves up some fantastic little dishes, and the prices are perfect. 300 円 for a beer, or a nice cool glass of makoli. Nice simple bar snacks that range in price from 100 to 400 円. If you pay for a set of 100 円 tickets

We're standing, chatting up our new friends, and the next thing I know, they're buying we makoli and making me try their tasty and strange little side dishes. First I tried gyoniku sausage. One woman described it as "naked fish" and I would call it a fish hot dog. Eh. Not my favorite. I'd say it was まあまあ, so-so.
Next, I was eating a house special, the Wasabi Joy--small pieces of cream cheese topped with dried fish flakes, and a wasabi soy sauce to dip it in. This was surprisingly おいしい, delicious! I found that Zyu's macoli, a rice wine from Korea, tasted better than the macoli I had in Korea. It tastes a bit like a smooth yogurt drink. I never want to drink beer again.

Then it was time for pictures.

After Zyu, we went to an izakaya. When you sit down often you get a hot towel to clean your hands, or to "refresh yourself" as Martin did.

They also bring out some side dishes as a free service. This place had a hijiki salad and some fish with a bit of mayo to dip it in. Yeah, I ate the whole fish, even the head.

We ordered some gyoza, a salad, some beer, then proceeded to the karoke spot to finish the night off. Now I can't talk. Good times.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Philly Peeps: FPA Salon 6.11.2008

If I could only be in many places at once...
First Person Salon at the Gershman Y: Wednesday, June 11th (7-9pm)
  • Ron Kanter and selections from his new documentary “New Cops” featuring a discussion with some of the featured officers.
  • Lorene Cary, founder of Art Sanctuary, reading from recent memoir.
  • Donald Gensler, Mural Artist, presents his recent work “Independence Starts Here” (at Broad and Race) about Philadelphians living with disability.
This Salon looks like a really good one too. I love the new video First Person Arts put together to help you find the Y. Now there is no excuse. If you are in Philly, you have to go.

too little free time

I love my job. I never thought I'd say these words, but I really like teaching, and I think I'm kinda good at it. It's a bit like performance art. I sometimes even refer to it as Miss Koco's English Show, which I sing like it's the last line of my opening theme song. I present it with a little dance as if I'm the TAH-DAH girl at the end of an magic trick. My students are smart, and cute, and funny, and all female. So, it's just as much tea time with the girls--talking about Thursday's episode of Last Friends (an intense drama with domestic violence and a hopeless lesbian love), fashion, and food--as it is English class.

But with the long hours, and a commute from hell, I have NO time to do the millions of things I want to do in Japan--like take endless pictures of funny signs:

Or eat ALL DAY.

Or go to one art show after the next.

Or watch Last Friends to see what the hoopla is all about.



Or update my blog. In a way though, I feel that I'm getting a very true version of what it's like to live and work in Japan. I can see why someone might want a housewife to make lunch, be home to sign for packages, and do the dishes so you don't have to worry about housekeeping. I have a sneaky plan and a quiet prayer I say in hopes of getting a seat on the train. I have so many aspirations to do certain activities and pursue subjects I want to know more about, but have to cram it all into short hours on the way to work or coming home, the thirty minutes or so after I eat and before I pass out, or into that fleeting time we call the weekend. I cherish my weekends like they are made of gold, a gift directly from the heavens. I'm not complaining so much about my lack of free time, it's good for me to have something constructive to do. I make better use of the moments that belong to me, and I do my best to enjoy the ones I'm selling to "make a living." But... I still think I'd do a lot of good things for the world if I had an adoring benefactor who spoiled me by giving me the means to explore, experiment, create, and document to my heart's content. I'm accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

i'm so tired

I've been SOOOOO busy and really tired, so I haven't been updating as much as I'd like to. I have uploaded some pictures to my flickr page though...

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

street sounds

Everywhere I go I feel like robots are singing to me. Things make happy music–from the street lights to the subway doors, to the washer and the toilet.

Here I was waiting for the train. There are speakers that play fake bird sounds on a loop while you wait. It’s trippy. I hear them in my sleep.


For the visually impaired there is an audio cue for crossing large streets in Tokyo. Some sound like birds, some are little songs, some are beeps.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Really???

I find myself curious and pleasantly confused on a regular basis.
Oh really?! Is he now?

Are these people really lining up for McDonald's???

The Burning Building? Really? That's what you decided to call this place?

a dumb moment in the bathroom

I wasn't paying attention, so I pushed the button; it said PUSH. I only looked at picture #1, so I thought it might automatically dispense a specific amount of tp. Alas, no. I should have looked at #2 and #3, maybe then I wouldn't have sprayed myself with toilet seat cleaner. At least it had a flowery happy smell.

Friday, May 16, 2008

misoshiro & fried tofu

My neighbor taught me how to make a chicken and vegetable misoshiro. It's supposedly a winter soup, but it was really cold and rainy earlier this week, so it was just the thing to make.

First we need some supplies so we went to the supermarket where they play super happy elevator music versions of classic rock and cheezy 80's hits. I get a kick out of that place. The ingredients include: chicken, shitake and buna-shimeji mushrooms (aka beech mushrooms), carrots, potatoes, a leek, white miso, kombu (a kind of seaweed), tofu, dashi (a soup stock) and a few small peppers.


As a side dish we made some fried tofu. It's pretty simple. First, cut up the tofu. We made the pieces small so that they'd cook quickly. We were really hungry. Fry the tofu in vegetable oil. Flip the pieces so all sides brown. Then put them on some paper towels to soak up the oil. Top the tofu with finely shredded daikon (a big radish), bonito flakes, seaweed, soy sauce and some rice vinegar.
The place where I can make food in my apartment can hardly be called a kitchen. It's super small; so small that my neighbor and I had to utilize both of our kitchens just to make dinner. The misoshiro came out great, the tofu was really yummy, and it was a lot of fun to hang out and cook with my neighbor.