mishmash

| December 11, 2011

A mishmash of the weekend:

  1. Finally bought some frames for our prints. We have more wall space now and lots of spots that need covering up.
  2. The workspace is beginning to shape up. A ledge and a good light is next on the list. I had pizza two days in a row this weekend. I had one of the best slices ever at Flying Saucer.
  3. Found a way to reuse the Totokaelo wrapping that was too pretty to toss.
  4. My other favorites in Houston are from Grimaldi’s, Kenneally’s, and Dolce Vita – which is where we met up with Mai & Gabe for brunch Sunday. I want to try to recreate the blood orange drink.

Last week was a tough week, but I’m determined to make this one better. Plus, I have a few things to look forward to once this week ends:

  • ice skating with my siblings and cousins at Discovery Green
  • Christmas movie marathon at our place
  • Winter break !!!

 

time flies

| November 14, 2011

Time flies! I can’t believe I took these before Thuy went back to school and she’ll already be back from SCAD next week. I’m excited to see what she’s been working on. One of my most worst faults is I am awful at keeping in touch with my siblings, friends, and family. I hate using phones and have never even skyped. But enough is enough: I do want to save up to visit you guys, and in the mean time I’m going to make a more concerted effort to catch up and stay in contact.

settling in

| November 13, 2011

Hi. Taking  break from grading. We’re sleeping in the middle of boxes and plastic carpet covers. I can’t wait for the day when we are settled in our own place. It probably will be several years from now, but man, moving is so stressful. I sent BJ a link from Apartment Therapy this week about decluttering books (We had 30+ boxes), but he wasn’t convinced, haha.

Here are some shots of our place right now. It’s going to be a lot of work getting it to where we want, but I’m having fun learning how to fix things up.

The pros:

  • it has a lot of character and orginal fixtures
  • the park, gardens, zoos, and museums are within walking distance
  • we have a designated office space
  • BJ could walk to work = we can still share a car
  • some of the gaudy fixtures are so bad, they’re awesome
  • natural lighting everywhere
  • our friends live right below!
  • New Orleans style balconies

The cons (many that are fixable):

  • lots and lots of painting and spackling
  • bad carpet
  • longer commute for me
  • windows are painted shut
  • fluorescent lighting in a few rooms
  • smaller kitchen & no hood

 

 

→

| October 29, 2011

(Bill’s photos from over 10 years ago)

Happy Birthday, BJ! Wish I was spending your birthday with you.

Right now he’s driving down from Seattle with his brother. I bet the view was been amazing, they even passed through some snow. The next few days are going to be crazy around here as we attempt to pack up and move into our next place in one day. Cross your fingers!

 

slide film

| October 24, 2011

Bill gave me a roll of slide film to test and the lab finally sent it back after two months! I had forgotten what was on it, but here are some random shots from a while back …

Thanks, Bill!

make more time

| October 23, 2011

You know what? I need to make some more time to have fun. Lately, I’ve been bogged down by work, our impending move, commuting, chores, etc. and somewhere along the way, I forgot to make time to make things, draw, watch movies… I guess I’m still trying to find a way to balance everything out. Some things are going to have to change, and I need to find a way not to bring so much work home everyday. But after next week, when we are officially in our new place and BJ is back from his road trip from Yakima, you can give me a good scolding if I have not posted any new work- even doodles will do.

Back to grading…

just what I needed

| October 9, 2011

This weekend, I saw Moneyball (I thought Kerris Dorsey stole the show, but BJ wouldn’t go that far. The singing!!), made yakisoba from Mark Bittman’s recipe, took a whole afternoon to clean out only two boxes of paperwork, hung out with friends, lounged around, and celebrated the much-needed rain. Nothing too eventful, but just what I needed.

fast pace mode

| October 2, 2011

I still feel like everything has been in fast pace mode since the start of the school year even though we’ve officially made it through one grading period. Last weekend was suppose to be a breather – no traveling, no major grading- but then I got sick, and it took a while to get back to 100%.

Looking ahead, this month includes lots of cleaning, simplifying, and packing for our move . The place is closer in town so BJ can walk to work. Only downside is my commute may take an hour, but I think it’s in our best interest. I look forward to the day we’re in a place for longer than 1-2 years.

Right now, I’m struggling to find time to do my own work, but I guess I should know by now that there will always be something coming up and busy schedules to manage. Just gotta sit down and do it! Here’s something the both of us are working on for a friend …

 

expectedly bittersweet

| September 19, 2011

Trinkets from the trip (Beth gave me a photo she took on our wedding day. Excited to see the rest)

Back from a (sadly) short trip to NYC. Although it was only for a weekend, we managed to fit in a lot—even some sleep—and I’m already plotting things to do when we come back. Saturday was mostly devoted to the Capsule Show, the trade show that was the main reason for our trip. It was a visual feast of uniquely beautiful clothes, designs, accessories, and breezy rooftop view of Chelsea! A huge highlight was meeting Jennifer, Anne and Jenny. After seeing their work in person, I’m even more excited for the new Odette collection and, like countless former perfume skeptics, I’m now a full-on MCMC convert. If only it were easier to decide which scent to get …

Since Capsule took most of our time, there was none left for museum visits, window shopping, etc., but that’s okay since good company and food made the work and stress worth it. Coincidentally, during our stay, BJ’s younger brother Jeff was passing through the city during his Seattle-to-Hanover road trip, and we caught him for lunch. On our last night, we joined our friends Beth and David for a late Southern-tinged dinner at Delicatessen of delicious fried chicken and mac n’ cheese. The next morning, we took their recommendations and an enjoyed a Southern-comfort-food breakfast at Red Rooster in Harlem. Not bad for 1.5 days, right?

Leaving NYC was expectedly bittersweet. It has always been a special place for us—our first trip together in college, our honeymoon, introducing my sister Thuy to all our favorite places, reunions with friends, etc. In other words: the trips are always deeply meaningful—not just vacations—despite being so fleeting. Coming and going always feels so sudden, like such an extreme movement between wildly different places (for instance, South Bend, IN to the Lower East Side and back), that it only hits me once I’m home that I was actually there.

 

back

| September 12, 2011

Back from a very short trip to Portland for a family wedding. And this time, I was related to both sides (they met last year during our wedding!) Unfortunately we barely got to spend time with everyone – I’m glad we squeezed in whatever time we could. I didn’t plan out the previous week so well and stayed up till 3am grading, but more posts and lots of pictures to come!