4 am I haven't done this in a while...

I saw these Mexican pastries (what are they called?) on a fence surrounding someone's house on the way to school today...

Just got back from a late-night work session after a haphazard surprise birthday for one of my closest studio friends. A bumblebee balloon ('happy BEE-day, get it?' announced a sleep-deprived cohort), an Oreo ice cream cake, an Easter basket full of goodies, and a hurried instance of everyone signing the birthday card led to the birthday girl finding us out! Leave it to an overexcited friend to call out another with a very unique name, only to have birthday girl hear us out on the street and come down in her PJs to investigate. Some things aren't meant to be a surprise! I have my fan BLASTING now (hard to believe it was raining only last week, but ya know, So Cal...) and it's going to be 90º tomorrow, crazy!

just a taste

BB likes the taste of Guinness! Max didn't seem to care for it so much... he was on the hunt for real food.

after the rain

On my way to campus yesterday morning I noticed drops of rain clinging heavily to an entanglement of asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus) and a jade plant (Crassula ovata). The light was so perfect I couldn't help but stop to snap a few shots. A goal of mine for this year is to try to take photos every day, after I spoke with an old acquaintance back in December. He asked me if I was still vigorously 'doing my photography thing' and I said not so much, and he genuinely replied 'oh what! that's such a shame...' I'm obsessed with catching odd little moments and forcing my narrative onto a viewer, and the only way to get better is to do it everyday! I really must apply this philosophy to other things as well...

them: who did you kill?! me: they were asking for it!

It's just red paint!

I spent my lunch hour spray painting 40-odd stools (maybe it was more like 20-25) with a stencil that I hand-cut because I was too stubborn/prideful/lazy to get it laser-cut. Apparently I've never heard of gloves either because by the time I was finished with my task I realized I probably should have covered up my hands. My friends in studio were laughing so hard at me they said I had to take pictures of my 'red-gloved'/gory/'Dexter-esque' hand. I only do this a few times a year but I need to carry a box of latex gloves with me because I get into all sorts of messy shenanigans. Just keeping it weird!

this is all I did today

I made BB last semester, and my old teacher's letting me make another, so of course I decided to make Max.

I also did stuff for my work-study job which I had fallen behind in, and went to my film class where we watched Ceremony (more on that later). We got back our midterms and I got an A! Usually I wouldn't make a big deal out of this but it was right after my car accident, and I hadn't studied, but to know that that day wasn't completely FUBAR makes me happier two weeks later. Plus I was idiotic enough to take this class for a letter grade and not pass/fail so trying is good. I walked back to my apartment in the rain, and I was going to stay up to get some work done, but I will sleep now and rise early instead. I hope Friday me doesn't make me regret it...

prayers, thoughts & wishes

It's been just about two weeks since Japan was hit by the worst earthquake in its history and the devastation that followed. It has been heartbreaking to watch, and terrifying to think about the friends I made there when studying abroad and if they are alright. I don't have any family living there anymore but that doesn't lessen the tragedy overall...


To help I went and purchased one of these bracelets from Corter Leather. It's $20, and 100% of the proceeds are being donated to Red Cross Japan. As of March 21st the proprietor, Eric, has raised over $20,000. He stated that, as he went into his leather goods-making venture, the thoughtful care and meticulous craft of Japanese artisans is what inspired his own craft, so I find it rather fitting and so touching that he feels that he owes something to them.

things I found in my room

Miniature treasures - a tiny copy of Hamlet (my favorite Shakespeare play) a friend brought me back from London, and a tiny tourist viewfinder camera that shows vintage scenes of California.

Wallets! Two duct tape, one tyvek, one leather. The tyvek one isn't really my style of late, but it's sentimental to me because a new friend gave it to me this past Christmas, so it's the one I'm using; the green duct tape one I used extensively throughout high school, and it was made for me by another great friend.

Postcards I've received in the past from: New York, Tokyo, Barcelona.

Postcards I have yet to fill out and send. (I think these are all from the Norton Simon).

Vintage flea market buttons (all $.25 each) from the cutest, funniest old man, and Woody Allen!

Super random I know, but settling back into my apartment at school after a week of spring break had me in the mood for spring cleaning and paring down everything I have here so the moving-process is as painless as possible. That and I'm always just shutter-happy... I had an early dinner at 5:15 or something crazy like that and I want a snack now.

happy spring!

A freesia, apple/pear/plum blossom, and some unidentified little bells for you.

The first day of spring was yesterday, right? Lovely spring showers all day long. It currently seems to have blown itself out but it's supposed to rain some more today. Contemplating wearing my rain boots to class, but the day to really wear them was yesterday! Alright, enough lollygagging, time to go.

it was delicious

Spring break is over, and it has been since Friday, to me. Yet I'm unprepared for my main class tomorrow, reluctant to attend my morning class, and I am seriously contemplating going to sleep right now rather than staying up to produce anything. No, this will not set an example of how I utilize the rest of this semester, absolutely not. I'm just tired... I should have taken that nap this afternoon. But lately when I tell myself I'll rise early to do things I believe I can now. I feel a big change coming on...

busy as a hobbit

Friday was nice because I stayed away from the computer and got lots done instead! In the morning I got a really quick bite to eat with my mom at a local cafe - snarfed a blueberry muffin and with coffee in hand (still sleepy) walked the dogs from Sweet & Savory to the park. We walked several rounds there, and met another dog named Max, who might have been part Westie, then another pair of dogs named Callie and Copper. I've been trying to make our dogs more social, because as much as they love humans they sometimes get snappish with other canines. It's rude and a little embarrassing to have your dogs bark their heads off at another one because they think they're protecting you. Cute kind of, but in the long run it's a red flag that the dogs need to get socialized.

My mom met me back at the park once she was done with her morning errand, and we went back and shared some French toast. I joked that we're like hobbits for having 'second breakfast' and the theme stuck for the weekend! The day ended with us piling the dogs in the car and getting my sister from LAX, which was stressful and hectic. Worked at 5 this morning and doing the same tomorrow... so good night!

st. patrick's day dinner

I've been blogging way too much I feel, but with so many things to talk about and with lots of time (this week) to do so I don't feel that bad. Except I could be doing other things, hence my feeling bad. But now as I think about it I had to tend to cooking dinner all afternoon, after a long-ish morning of working, and I've been good about meting my time between work/play/idleness (shit, I've become a master at rationalizing!). St. Patricks' Day dinner went very smoothly - I simmered the corned beef for 3 hours, then added potatoes and the cabbage at the top of the 3rd hour and let it all stew for the 4th hour. I pulled out the cabbage after 45 minutes and it was done! My mom and I had Guinness and Irish soda bread on the side to top it all off and it was sooo delicious. Even though it was great with my mom I couldn't help but wish my stepdad had been here to enjoy a meal with us, and come to think of it, my sister, too! And I realized I have never spent a St. Patrick's Day with my Irish-American boyfriend, so what the heck. But hopefully with more years of this holiday to come it'll be spent in a variety of ways. I'm patient, and optimistic. And now I've been on the computer for far too long so I'm cutting myself off for the night. Goodnight! I hope you all had/have a fun day and night.

good & green

1. An Irish claddagh ring! It's a little too big for me but it was a little too perfect otherwise on Etsy so I caved. This was in February. I was doing really well not buying anything but then what do you know I bought a pair of pointed toe Docs this afternoon. No wonder my mom worries about me...
2. I love all things Burt's Bees in the same spirit of how I love all things Trader Joe's. This bug bite relief works alright, I guess since it's natural it's not as potent as other bug bite relief products, but it sure is nice smelling like lemongrass/tea tree/orange! I have a big bite on my forearm and one on the side of my face! what the heck.
3. I had two bottles of Guinness draught today (which is nothing for most people but kind of a lot for me). I think I paced myself well because I didn't get sleepy or anything. But I am really energized right now. Strangely. My mom asked me why I'm so hyper, and I don't know why!

close-up!

Yikes... I realized (a bit late) that I am one of those crazy pet owners who is convinced that her dogs are the cutest, best, and utterly blog-worthy-at-all-times. Yeesh. But in all honesty, these shots of Max for once aren't of him sleeping or standing and staring straight at me. He's prancing along, totally unaware of the camera and intent on grabbing hold of his leash! Which is why candids are and always will be the best kind of photo.

happy wednesday!

Today I walked the dogs to the park and talked to an elderly couple with a black pug named Lucy! It seems like every time I go to the park I end up talking to much older people... probably because all the younger people are asleep or at work. I like talking to old people though, or rather listening to their stories. It's such a treasure to listen to them reminisce, and for some reason they tell stories so well! I know I'm making sweeping generalizations here, but honestly almost every old person I've spoken to in the past few months is so animated and wonderful that I can't help but think it's a generational thing. Anyway... after my mom's first morning class she stopped by at home and made smoothies, which were absolutely delicious. Then I tidied my room and sorted out items to donate to the Salvation Army. I spent the rest of the afternoon doodling and sketching before taking myself to the dentist, then upon returning my mom handed me a handful of roasted almonds covered in cinnamon and sugar that one of the students' moms had given to my mom. I watched my mom play with one of my dogs in the last sunlight of the day before going inside to help prepare dinner. Work at 5:30 tomorrow morning, yay! Feels nice to mix things up...

the bottomless belly button - dash snow

I was surprised but after a second though, unsurprised at stumbling upon a small graphic novels section in the Architecture and Fine Arts library at school last Friday. After my midterm review I went downstairs to the library to check out a few titles a reviewer had recommended I check out, when my roving eye caught some pretty artwork and enticing titles. Without batting an eyelash I must have grabbed 3 or 4 titles and adding those to the 3 architecture books I got I returned upstairs with a heavy but un-daunting load of reading material.

'The Bottomless Belly Button' is a 720 page epic about the breakdown of a family and how everyone in it reacts to it. The Loony family, with septuagenerian Grandma and Grandpa Loony on the verge of divorce, are having one last week-long family reunion as the divorce is being finalized. The three grown children all react differently - Dennis, the oldest, with the recent arrival of his own child takes the news the hardest and tries to understand what could break apart the seemingly peaceful 40 year marriage of his parents. Claire, who has gone through her own divorce is trying to maintain closeness to her teenage daughter Jill, while Peter, the youngest at age 26, still has yet to find himself or engage in a meaningful relationship. The story and characters seem deceptively simple, because it is a finely crafted, nuanced tale that feels so real as you read it. The artwork is rather simplistic and somewhat crude even, but after being used to viewing such meticulously lined work as Daniel Clowes, Adrian Tomine and Craig Thompson it's refreshing, and if anything the art greatly supports/outlines the story.

Until recent years I would get frustrated by endings of stories, films, books that had no definite, concrete ending, but now I prefer them that way, because life is exactly like that. When a chapter ends it's almost never a clean, 'HERE'S WHEN IT ENDS!' Only after time and perspective is one able to make that distinction, and to hand it off to the reader in such a way undermines the intelligence of the reader, I think. That's not to say leave me hanging, but a lot of times when it's done right, there's a sense of closure with enough room to ponder.

The Iron Giant (1999)

I remember seeing previews for The Iron Giant in theaters as a kid and not being too enthusiastic about a movie of a boy who makes friends with a robot. So I never saw it. Then over the years I'd hear things from friends, mostly guys, about how the Iron Giant was probably one of the last best animated films of its kind, before animated films as we know them today, 3D in the style of Pixar and/or obviously digitally rendered pictures. The thing about Pixar is that the films they create have a deeper meaning to them, on top of amazing visual effects and a solid story. The interesting thing about the Iron Giant is that it was one of Brad Bird's first pictures as a director, and it definitely falls into the more meaningful animated films category with the message 'You are who you choose to be.'

The story starts in the fictional town of Rockwell, Maine with Hogarth Hughes, an alienated nine year-old who lives with his widowed mother, who struggles to make ends meet, often working late nights at a restaurant. Hogarth finds the alien robot one night, who is confused and unsure of where he's from, but friendly and peaceful after Hogarth saves him from an entanglement of power lines. They learn to communicate, and take great pains to hide from government officials with the help of Dean McCoppin, the local beatnik and junkyard proprietor. The giant finds happiness in his newfound friendship with Hogarth, but soon learns of the uglier sides of humanity. After a gentle moment with a deer in the woods, minutes later it gets shot by hunters and dies. The giant learns of the gravity of guns, and death. Upon discovering that he essentially becomes a giant gun when provoked or attacked, the giant is torn with the existential question of if he is 'evil' or 'good.' I stop here now with the exposition for fear of giving everything away. The film deals with these heavy issues but still manages to be funny, hilarious at times and of course heartfelt. Absolutely a film I would force a kid I care about to watch instead of the kooky shit that's out there right now... I'm glad I watched this film, 12 years after its release because it's gold, and everyone ought to see it.