A weblog by Ernie Hsiung

  • If I hear one more comment from somebody, saying “Congratulations, homo…wner!” I will cut them. Seriously.

  • The amount of junk mail I have now rivals the amount of junk e-mail I have. It’s kinda unsettling, actually – it’s a mix of Penny Savers and catalogues for expensive wooden window treatments and stuff like that. The most unnerving junk mail, though, has to be the truckloads of letters that I get that say “PLAN ON DYING SOON? BUY MORGAGE DEATH INSURANCE SO YOUR LOVED ONES WON’T BE STUCK PAYING A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS FOR YOUR CONDO!”

    Needless to say, my immediately family had better hope that I don’t get hit by a truck or something. “What? Ernie struck by car?” My dad would ask when the policeman shows up at his door. “That OK. WHAT, WE PAY QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR!? UNTHINKABLE!!”

    Anyway.

  • I have, all of the sudden, have been on the faggiest interior decorating kick in my entire life. I’ve lived with milk crates for bookshelves for the past seven years and a ratty twin mattress since high school, and after buying a computer table and a queen mattress and frame, I’ve been desperate to find the time to browser other pieces of furniture.

    This is to be expected, I suppose. But what freaks even me out is the fact that I’ve also been looking at accessories. I’m watching HGTV, and I just bought Trading Spaces, the book. (Who fucking buys Trading Spaces, the book? I’ve only watched one full episode of that show with the GLAD bags girl.) I even look at those faux Asian accessories in IKEA showrooms and think, “what better way to identify with my Asian American culture than fake bamboo and photocopies of calligraphy, with a white matte and black metallic frame?” And then I bury my face in my hands and cry in shame.

    Hell, even candle shopping has caught my interest. Candles! (And begin active imagination… now.)

(The scene: Four African-American women are in a living room, in their nightgowns. They are sitting on the couch, behind a coffee table full of glasses of wine and about fifteen million candles. Whitney Houston’s “Shoop” is playing in the background.)

Angela Bassset: We’re strong, proud, African-American Women. We don’t need no man to feel secure.
Whitney Houston: You said it girl.
That chick from Boomerang: Amen.
Random 4th woman: Mmm-hmm.
Whitney Houston: (As she does another line of coke)… who the hell is this Chinese boy sitting here?
Ernie:Uhm, ladies? You’re in my living room.
Ladies:Oh, hells naw!

So that’s where I am right now. More suggestions on places to furniture-shop, however, are always fabulous welcome.

§1462 · May 14, 2004 · Uncategorized · · [Print]

60 Comments to “more thoughts about being a homeowner”

  1. Camilo says:

    Nooo! Take a flight here to NC, and get to High Point. Amazing discounts.
    I know you have all the time in the world :)

  2. two words.

    bean bags.

  3. gwen says:

    “…who the hell is this chinese boy…?”
    pardon me while i wipe the coffee off of my monitor.
    damn you, ernie. you are too bloody funny!
    congratulations hom–oops!

  4. April says:

    There are ways to cut down on the junk mail. I don’t really know them all specifically, but I know someone who does. He’s cut down his junk mail to practically nothing. If you’re interested, let me know, and I’ll put you in touch with him.

    Things to know:
    (1) Advo is responsible for most of the junk mail.
    (2) Sending junk mail back in the response envelopes doesn’t really work; it’s just a waste of time and money.
    (3) It may take a while, but yeah, if you take the steps to get rid of junk mail, it actually works.

  5. Camilo says:

    Yes, Ernie is millionaire:

    Baker, Kohler or Century. $5000 for a sofa is not much, is it?

    Or check McGuire or Widdicomb, if you are really into throwing money to the wind.
    Live large!

  6. mobius says:

    you think you’ve got problems with “homo” jokes? try calling yourself ‘mobius’ for a day, murph.

  7. Marie says:

    I’m on the biggest decorating kick of my life, even though I don’t actually own an apartment (yet).

    If you’re into candles & silver & all that glitters, try Target. They do a fabulous 3′-long votive candle holder for mantles or tables. If you have cash to splash, try Bombay Company.

  8. R says:

    Trading Spaces is great, and the best part is Vern Yip. Hands down, the most talented designer of the bunch. His site is great – beautiful, clean design. Enjoy. http://www.vernyip.com/index.html

    P.S. Great blog.

  9. JT says:

    Crate & Barrel is dreck? Oh, hells no! You can get all sorts of yummy stuff from there, as well as the new baby sis, CB2. (CB2 is the more colorful, “value-oriented” sib; read “not as expensive as our regular stuff, but better quality than IKEA.”

    I’m a girl, so I can say “yummy.” Yummy blog, BTW.

  10. JQ says:

    If you live in San Francisco, definitely check out EQ3 on 9th Street. Very cool, very modern, and very well priced. The people that work there are hot too!! :)