phi - i miss the old school rave songs. any particular ones still your fave or ones you like now? i’m trying to build up my playlist :)

Tramanh:  Oh man.  I don’t have access to be TRANCE folder at home right now, but I’ll try to think of some old favorites.

• System F - Out of the Blue
• Fragma - Toca Me
• Paul Van Dyk - For an Angel
• Paul Oakenfold - Someone Like You
• Paul Oakenfold - Southern Sun
• Veracocha - Carte Blanche
• Binary Finary - 1988
• Robert Miles - Children
• ATB - 9pm (Till I Come)
• ATB - Don’t Stop
• Miss Jane - It’s A Fine Day
• Ayla - Ayla
• Robin Fox - I See Stars
• Sasha - Xpander
• Ascension - Someone
• PPK - Resurrection
• Ian van Dahl - Castle in the Sky
• Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
• Delerium - Silence (ft. Sarah McLachlan)
• Darude - Sandstorm
• Daft Punk - One More Time
• Aurora - Hear You Calling

Right now?  I’m still warming up to today’s trance music.  It’s just not the same, right?  I think as of right now, I still prefer indie dance/synth pop.  But after seeing Calvin Harris last month, I’ve been re-liking Bounce and Feel So Close.  David Guetta - Titanium is good, although David Guetta annoys me for some reason.  I really liked Tiesto’s album Kaleidoscope, but that’s from 2009-2010.

tramanh, if you went to acl this year, who would you like to see?

Tramanh:

• Florence + The Machine
• Kimbra
• AVICII
• Metric
• The Shins
• Weezer
• Tegan & Sara (can you just play Feel it in My Bones?)
• Tennis

• M83
• Two Door Cinema Club
• Crystal Castles
• A-Trak
• Stars

Sorry another outfit question. Do you have any suggestions on what to wear to EDC in vegas? I’d like to do something fun but not super revealing. Also suggestions for footwear?

Tramanh:  I’ve re-raved myself this year and have gone to a couple in the past couple months….my last prior rave being back in 2002-2003?  MY GOD how things have changed since then.  

Today?  Bikini top, tutu, and furry boots.  AM SERIOUS.  

WHY IS THIS A THING.

When did raver girls get SO SLUTTY.  BACK IN MY DAY (yes, am now old grandpa complaining about things from time no one cares about anymore), we wore BIG KIKGIRL PANTS and PUFFY VESTS and TRACK JACKETS.  If it was hot, MAYBE a sports bra.  And 1 million bracelets.

Ok, I am now seeing that this is not necessarily “better.”  

But at least it’s not unnecessarily slutty?  Yes, the candy raver of 2000 is now the skanky go-go dancer of today.  Wut happen?  Is it because EDM is so mainstream now?  Is it the over-sexualization of society today?   

Sorry, this became an unsolicited rant.  But yeah, I’m not a big costume person when it comes to music festivals.  I know I’ll be up and dancing for a lot of the time, so I dress primarily for comfort - shorts, tank top, and flat closed-toe shoes.  The last festival we went to, I wore generic canvas topsiders.  ALTHOUGH, my sister and I did decide to try out wearing wigs, which went over pretty well.

For something like EDC, I feel like you HAVE to go all out as far as costume.  I would steer clear of slutty tutus and maybe do something more space-inspired?  Like alien green wig and crazy makeup.  Or anime-inspired.

LOL SO COMFY.

Tram where did you find your Chanel WOC? Aren’t they almost impossible to find?

Tramanh:  Mine’s from Nordstrom.  WOCs (and most classic Chanel bags) are rarely available “over the counter.”  You have to put yourself on a wait list.  I waited almost 3 months for mine.

Hey tramanh, I think the problem with your feet is due to the fact you might be wearing tight narrowed shoes thats why the bunion has occurred. I wore ballet flats to work and suddenly I had sore bunions and they slowly popped out. Then I decided not to wear those shoes again and they had reduced itself and don’t pop out anymore!

Tramanh:  YEAH, MAN.  That’s partly the reason why I don’t wear ballet flats.  I find the sort of painful to wear for long periods of time.  Although pointy-toed shoes feel better to me for some reason.  Maybe I have trained my bunions to rest in a pointy stiletto shape. =(

tram, are all gunners usually in the top of their class. what are the seekrets to doing really well in law school?

Tramanh:  No, they rarely end up being at the top of the class, at least in my experience.  The top 5% always ends up being the nice, unassuming people.  Except me.  LOL.  SADFACE.  

I’d say the gunners are still towards the top.  Maybe top 30-40%.  I’m just guessing.  Anyone else have any anecdotal evidence?

tramanh - i should clarify, either i haven’t seen them or you haven’t posted outfit pics that reveal your tattoo since that original tattoo pic.

Tramanh:  I don’t often wear crop tops I guess?  It wasn’t meant to be seen on the regular lol.  You can kind of see it in this video.  http://www.phi-style.com/?p=2255

Tramanh - How do you deal with pet hairs in your new place? I live in a 2 bed apartment and have 2 cats but their shedding is driving me insane!

Tramanh:  Pet hair — Live it.  Love it.  It’s IMPOSSIBLE to have your apartment be pet hair free if you have shedding animals touching everything all the time.  Even if they’re not touching everything, pet hair finds it way EVERYWHERE.  Like on top of bookcases and countertops.

How do we deal?  I have to give Husband all the credit because he sweeps up a lot.  We use one of those flat floor cleaner things w/ the washable cloth covering and then he uses our handheld dyson to pick everything up.  The couch is a lost cause.  Everyone who sits on it will have Pepper’s hair all over them.  Just always have lint rollers readily available in every room.

Hi tramanh. My fiancé and I are just starting out in the real world from grad school and we want to have a healthy relationship with our finances. You and tu seem to have it all put together. Can you give a general breakdown (like percentages) of how much of your paychecks go towards savings, morgage, retirement, spending money, bills, etc? I know every situation is different but it would be a really helpful starting point for us. Thanks!

Tramanh:  Hmmm…it’s hard to say because Husband’s percentages would be different from my percentages.  Also, I don’t know how much I’m contributing to my 401K.  Admittedly, I have no idea what’s going on with that.  I just know it comes out of my paycheck and into a magical bank account that will be for my using when I’m 65…..right???  Husband’s supposed to teach me about my 401K, but of course that has not happened.  I contribute about an additional 5% to a Roth IRA as well.

Everything’s a little skewed because we still own a house in Houston (that we’re leasing out), but we are still paying for the property taxes ourselves.  We are paying rent in Seattle right now.  Would all of that be grouped together?  If it is, I guess my percentage is like 25%?

I’m also paying about 25% towards my law school loans (stupids), which not everyone has either.  10% to transportation (gas guzzling SUV).  5% to “extra” savings.  Remaining 30% I guess goes to everything else - bills, expenses, spending, fun.

This is helpful:  http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percent_of_your_paycheck_should_go_to_monthly_bills

hi tramanh. do you like Seattle? I’m considering moving there but worried about the lack of sun and the Seattle freeze. I’m used to sun year long and don’t want to get all depressed up there with no sun. how’s it been? I don’t know anyone up there and worried about meeting people since I’ll be working at a small company

Tramanh:  I love Seattle!  I haven’t experienced any type of “Seattle Freeze” at all; everyone we’ve met has been really fun, funny, and friendly.  I hear the “Freeze” only truly applies to Seattle locals?  But Seattle is such a young, transient-heavy city that most of the people we’ve met are not originally from Seattle — so maybe that’s why?  I’m just speculating.  Of say the 20 people we’ve met, maybe only 3 people were born and raised in Seattle.  Everyone else has been from CA, TX, OH, NJ.  A lot of people are from Bay Area.

As far as weather, it really hasn’t bothered me at all.  Yeah, it sucks in the winter when the sun goes down at like 4:30, but it’s not unbearable.  When the sun’s out, it’s REALLY beautiful.  Also, I just came back from Houston this past weekend and both Husband and I confirmed that we will take the dreary cold over the hot humidity, hands down.  

If the only thing holding you back is the weather, don’t let that stop you.  It’s not nearly as bad as people make it out to be.

dru, can you answer the question about the no pre martial sex question a few days ago? it would good to hear from a guy? find that it makes dating so hard. would a guy really last haha

Dru- I’m just going to answer the question assuming you mean physical intimacy to simplify the question. I think it’s possible. If I were dating a girl that was, “NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE”, I’d respect her beliefs if I saw something long term with her, so it’s fine. Like Stephanie said, there are plenty of alternatives to actually doing the deed itself, so if you can compromise with him on that and do those instead, it’d be alright. Guys I think tend to be more physical, so we need something to work with in the meantime.

I think most guys would be okay with it if they see you as someone they’d want to settle down with. If they were just only interested in casually dating, then that might be a deal breaker. Also, if you guys do absolutely nothing, and he proposes pretty quick, just make sure it’s not because he’s blue balling. Just sayin’, because it does happen.

dru - how can i make my wedding photographer feel comfortable/welcomed at the wedding??

Dru- For me, it’s simply a matter of talking to them like a friend you hadn’t seen in forever and are introducing them to the family. Introduce them to the parents like you would any of your friends for the first time. Make small talk with them or joke with them during the portrait session after the ceremony when they aren’t trying to pose your family/bridal party. Refer to them by first name- like, “Hey, Dru, can we grab a quick shot with my folks?” People like hearing their names. The more you interact and joke with the photographer, the more relaxed they will be.

Some photographers, however, are more strictly business. The photographers I work with, and myself, will usually joke around with the bride and groom because, hey, we want our subjects to be relaxed. It’s not that you have to spend all your time talking to the photographer (you’re obviously busy), but since they are going to be around you all day, it’s nice to acknowledge them.

Oh, and make sure you feed them. That’s always a plus. I usually stick around longer shooting the reception if my clients are nice haha.

i received a wedding invite via snail mail, is it rude to ask if i get a +1? or would they have put that on the envelope i.e. “(my name) & guest” & then my mailing address? it makes for awkward situation. it’s also out of town & i’m not sure if i’ll know that many people at the wedding.

Dru- I don’t think it’s that big a deal if you ask. They’re your friend, right? I’d just text them/call them and be like, “Hey, I just got your wedding invite! Is it okay if I bring a plus one to keep me company? I didn’t know if we were allowed to bring a date or not. If not, that’s cool either way! Can’t wait!” Just keep it nonchalant and upbeat- I don’t care if my friends don’t let me bring a date or not, but it doesn’t hurt to ask either. Usually if you can bring a date, the card will say something like, “Attending” and “Number of guests” or something, but that’s not always the case.

how long before you guys scored a “real” job after graduating from college?

Dru- I’m gonna lay it all out so you recent graduates don’t feel bad about yourselves here with this job market IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES. 2002, I just graduated UT Austin with a Bio Pre-med degree and I knew I didn’t want to become a doctor so I didn’t really have any options with my degree. I had no idea what to do at that point but felt like I should take the summer off to just relax before hitting the working world.

Summer ends, I begin applying for jobs in the Houston medical center- for any job available that would be entry level and could make use of my bio degree. I hand out my resume like fliers and don’t hear anything back. I get a job working as a server at Pappadeaux (a seafood restaurant) to tide me over until I find anything. In September, apparently, my resume has been processed into the system and I slowly start receiving calls. I choose one for lab technician/research assistant at Baylor College of Medicine.

I meet the researcher, he tells me, “Well, sorry, as an entry level degree, we can start you off as lab technician level II and it would only be $27,000.” I’ve worked a lot of random jobs until then making mostly minimum wage ($5.25/hr), so I thought that was an amazing amount of money and took the job. I was thinkin’, “BALLIN’, YO.”

Late September/October (4-5 months after I graduated), I was making a 1 hour commute each way to Baylor College of Medicine to work as a lab technician. One year later, I was applying for the MBA program.

So no, I didn’t make big bucks straight out of college and I wasn’t in a career that was glamorous nor turned out to be long term (and I had to work as a server until I got the job), but sometimes you have to take something until you can work towards the job you really want.

My boyfriend and I had a discussion about why I put so much effort into making my Facebook & Instagram profiles private (selective about adding friends, who can view pictures, etc.), but my blog is public. I didn’t really know how to answer him, because in a way, he’s right. Do you have any explanations? Are any of you like this too?

Dru- Of course. I have a few different blogs, and each one is for different purposes. I would think that personal photos of you with your friends or boyfriend on a day-to-day basis is much more personal and revealing about your life in some aspects and you’d only want a select group of people to see them. Hence, privacy on facebook and instagram. It’s not just pictures of you, but pictures of the people in your life at a specific event you’re attending, forming a more comprehensive picture of your life as a whole including its mundanities.

The blog can be just writing and thoughts, and reveals more your thoughts rather than your life. Or if you do post pictures about your life on your blog, it could just be a snapshot that you want readers to see in particular rather than a daily feed of pictures. Strangers can read about your thoughts on a blog and still know nothing about you or what posts friends leave on your page like they would on facebook.

Coworkers can see your blog and it’s fine, but maybe you don’t want them to see pictures of your family Christmas on facebook. There’s nothing strange about being selective in one medium or another- it’s why google+ tried to cater to that with putting people into circles.