Here at OC, we are struck by how often we end up in everyday conundrums. The ones that land you in the thick of semi (or full-blown) awkwardness, or maybe, the doghouse.
So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, who after six years in his plum perch, just announced plans to step down at the end of this year. Translation: More time to divulge lessons on how to preoccupy oneself...
Q: We all know about staying in some beautiful, exotic hotel, alone. Sometimes by will, other times by chance. Aside from chain smoking off the balcony, how should you act? Pull a Bob and Charlotte à la Lost In Translation?
Quite by coincidence I write to you today perched on the edge of a lush, green, velvet fainting couch in the drawing room of my suite at Il Palazzo Gritti a Venezia. Yes, that’s right, sumptuous, regal splendor for my six waking and six sleeping hours in Venice.
So what to do in the most romantic suite, in the most romantic palazzo, in the most romantic city in the world? I’ve opened the delightful Barolo left for me by the manager, with two glasses and no sense of irony. I’ve weighed which side of the California King Sized bed (what do they call it in Venice?) I shall sleep on. And I’ve realized I have only one real friend at times like this.
A friend who, if treated right, is always there for me. A friend who never says no, no matter what demands I make. Who doesn’t judge me if I have a hangover, am feeling special, and perhaps speak abruptly. A friend who is always on, always with me, and always tells me what I want to hear.
Yes, that’s right—12 hours in Venice gives me a whole half-day to spend quality time with my iPhone. Thank you, Apple.
Q: My "friend" wants to know: what's the appropriate amount of "light stalking" one can do with a recent ex? Social media is a playground these days...
Ask yourself what kind of person you are. And what do you wish for your ex? Were you the perpetrator of the separation? Do you genuinely wish them well? Is your online social attention simply to assure yourself that they are happy and healthy and perhaps dipping their toe once more into the dating pool?
Yeah, right.
Let’s be honest:you are looking at them to make sure they are still distraught (even though they broke up with you) and they are regretting everything they said (even though it was you who shouted) and they wish above everything else for you to please please please give them another chance. Which you won’t because you are having the Best. Time. Ever. Yeah that’s right. So they’d better realize that the many many Insta pics you’re posting of you and assorted members of the target market are all real potentials and you’re just so happy right now that you barely remember your ex’s name, let alone want them back.
And of course you were drunk when you posted that pic of the place you went when you were together. You’d delete it but you don’t have the time, and what’s the big deal anyway? And it was the wine talking when you un-Friended them, and now you can’t re-Friend them because you’d look interested all over again. And you’re not.
So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, who after six years in his plum perch, just announced plans to step down at the end of this year. Translation: More time to divulge lessons on how to preoccupy oneself...
Q: We all know about staying in some beautiful, exotic hotel, alone. Sometimes by will, other times by chance. Aside from chain smoking off the balcony, how should you act? Pull a Bob and Charlotte à la Lost In Translation?
Quite by coincidence I write to you today perched on the edge of a lush, green, velvet fainting couch in the drawing room of my suite at Il Palazzo Gritti a Venezia. Yes, that’s right, sumptuous, regal splendor for my six waking and six sleeping hours in Venice.
So what to do in the most romantic suite, in the most romantic palazzo, in the most romantic city in the world? I’ve opened the delightful Barolo left for me by the manager, with two glasses and no sense of irony. I’ve weighed which side of the California King Sized bed (what do they call it in Venice?) I shall sleep on. And I’ve realized I have only one real friend at times like this.
A friend who, if treated right, is always there for me. A friend who never says no, no matter what demands I make. Who doesn’t judge me if I have a hangover, am feeling special, and perhaps speak abruptly. A friend who is always on, always with me, and always tells me what I want to hear.
Yes, that’s right—12 hours in Venice gives me a whole half-day to spend quality time with my iPhone. Thank you, Apple.
Q: My "friend" wants to know: what's the appropriate amount of "light stalking" one can do with a recent ex? Social media is a playground these days...
Ask yourself what kind of person you are. And what do you wish for your ex? Were you the perpetrator of the separation? Do you genuinely wish them well? Is your online social attention simply to assure yourself that they are happy and healthy and perhaps dipping their toe once more into the dating pool?
Yeah, right.
Let’s be honest:you are looking at them to make sure they are still distraught (even though they broke up with you) and they are regretting everything they said (even though it was you who shouted) and they wish above everything else for you to please please please give them another chance. Which you won’t because you are having the Best. Time. Ever. Yeah that’s right. So they’d better realize that the many many Insta pics you’re posting of you and assorted members of the target market are all real potentials and you’re just so happy right now that you barely remember your ex’s name, let alone want them back.
And of course you were drunk when you posted that pic of the place you went when you were together. You’d delete it but you don’t have the time, and what’s the big deal anyway? And it was the wine talking when you un-Friended them, and now you can’t re-Friend them because you’d look interested all over again. And you’re not.