My annual alumni dinner is coming up. Now, you normally wouldn't expect that your elementary school/middle school would have an alumni dinner, much less an alumni association, but then you'd never expect the tuition to top $20,000 either. I went last year, and was pleasantly suprised. Not that I enjoyed myself, I really didn't, but it was nice to have that feeling of constant awkwardness. It was like a time machine, only everything was smaller this time around. So this year, I whipped out my checkbook and wrote up my $75 RSVP, and geared myself for another dreadful night of awkward silence. Checking over my calendar, I realized I might have a conflict, so I dug out the invitation and to my relief (?) I was all clear ... until I noticed that little text at the bottom of the invitation.

Black Tie

Fudge. Phonebook in hand, credit card at the ready, I decided to call the school and make sure this was serious. It was. Double fudge. But then the nice lady at the development office (yes, St. Bernard's does have a development office) convinced me to just come as I am anyway. So, into the breech I go. :: I can't seem to find my other Chinese name stamp. I'm pretty sure it's with my first Korean name stamp, probably somewhere in Arizona, but that's not helping me right now. I'd like to use a nice name seal for my new blog design, but I'm having a devil of a time finding a place to make me a name seal, which is sad since I am in New York City, after all. You should be able to find anything here. I did stumble across a nice website, GoodCharacters.com, which can make you a nice Chinese name seal ... if you like self inking stamps. I'm looking for something a little more traditional, carved out of wood, ivory, or stone. Or as GoodCharacters.com puts it:

If you want something that looks attractive but does not need to be practical, this one is for you.

Yup, that's the one for me.