BARA BARA

2011-05-16T15:02:00.001-07:00

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

- Isaiah 43:18-19

There are moments, frequent moments, when I feel like I've faltered and I've run out of patience with myself. I see my friends growing around me, sinking in their roots. Not that I haven't grown myself or that a stable career is the "end-all, be-all," but I know in terms of my own academic growth and application, I've sort of plateaued. I find that I'm floundering around, dwelling on what I haven't accomplished, and once again, stuck at a fork in the road. Then I start wondering what His plan is for me...

I can definitely say that if it wasn't for my faith that it would be difficult for me to be patient or optimistic for so long. I've measured myself on other's words and assumptions of me. I've let them knock me down and define who I am, even when I surely know I am not in the wrong.

"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near...let him who walks in the dark, who has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God."

-Isaiah 50:7-10

"So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

-Isaiah 41:10

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

-Jeremiah 29:11

I am told that when you ask God for a virtue like patience, wisdom, or confidence, etc. He will definitely make sure you know the true meaning of it! You learn by intercepting His challenges. Then you're like "God Why!?...Oh, because I asked for it." I know when I have overcome that mountain, this is when He will be glorified.

It is encouraging to remember that He has my back and that he strives to mold me into a righteous person in every way. This is what He does for me. I can surely say this.

2011-05-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

It's kind of a pet peeve of mine that bloggers always take a moment to dwell on the fact that they haven't written in awhile. I have no idea why this bothers me, but I'm going to be a hypocrite and do the same thing (as I've also done before): It's been awhile blog. I've missed you.

So much has changed that I didn't want to continue writing here. I just wanted to drop everything that happened in the past and start new - a brand new blog! I even made one, but it will just be taking up cyberspace because I cozied back up to my old faithful blog. It's okay to resume again. I'm not going to take time to fill in the gaps because I'm more excited about the present AND the future :-)

So three cheers to getting back on the wagon!

2011-01-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

THE HOLIDAY RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR, SF

Less than two hours to scour the whole floor was not enough!!

Lovely shops and lovely people:

...aaand the full vendor list :)

2011-01-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

I'd like to hit the ground running. Do what I've intended to do. Finish things I start - do it right away. Smile more. Spend less. Seek the knowledge I was waiting to be given. Shoot and ask questions later. Have a plan. Not just a week plan, but a year plan, hopefully leading into a 7 year plan.

Coming home to Aiken always allows me to take a step back, think and think some more. I sit here like a lump and watch TV for a good part of the day, but in the back of my seemingly blissfully vegetated brain, I am contemplating a growing checklist of all things I need to do/learn/begin when I get back home to San Jose...and where to go from there...and from there...

I'm really excited for all the possibilities in this new year :) Happy 2011.

2010-12-29T23:37:00.000-08:00

My Dad's remodeling a house nearby to ours in Aiken. Looks beautiful so far. It's so interesting how the layout of a house has such a significant impact on how efficiently and comfortably the space is used. My Dad's done such a great job and I'm so so proud of him. Just wish I could be here to help finish it up.

2010-12-20T01:49:00.001-08:00

SINGING IN THE RAIN. REALLY.

I missed my bus stop on the way to Union Square, but this made up for it:

2010-12-20T01:41:00.001-08:00

CHINATOWN, SF

dim sum for 2: $4.50
the photos turned out a bit blurry...meh...

2010-12-15T22:36:00.001-08:00

2010-12-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

Goodies in the mail today :-)

A postcard! My friend Bunggay travels around the West Coast to lovely places like Boise, Idaho where they have stores like Barbara, Barbara & Company. Only there would they have enough Barbaras to to make that name feasible. Thank you plastic bag maaaan!
My drivers license (with a terrible picture. I'm not even looking at the camera, but I'm happy it arrived nonetheless so I don't have to go chase someone down)
Mona Lisa Smile on Netflix.

2010-12-02T01:22:00.000-08:00

Just had a very productive design session (in my opinion). Whenever I research I always stumble upon some interesting sites...also a couple sites from late night/early morning support (yay!) I am dead tired but here they are with first impressions:

Last Gas Station: perhaps the best electro blog I found tonight. Share share share!
Fuck Yeah Helvetica: for all you Helvetica lovers out there. I liked this one. Hehe for design jokes.
The Green Eyl: "multidisciplinary design practice investigating the aesthetic potential of technology." I couldn't say it better.
Bricoleurbanism: hand-drawn urban street maps, allowing comparisons of traffic flow structure in various large cities. Did I sound smart there? Probably not. (I was more keen on the maps :-x)
More music.

OK...blurring out. Goodnight!

2010-12-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

I've fallen in love with the sky this year and always find myself looking up (in actually many ways). Opal sunset today. Got it just in time.

2010-11-29T01:35:00.001-08:00

T H A N K S G I V I N G :

My roomie Maria, her niece Pheonix, and some ludicrous-speed floor spinning.

2010-11-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

CANDLESTICK PARK ANTIQUES FAIRE

Good mix of vintage and kitschy stuff. Worthwhile for easy finds, but rather pricey (or I'm just bad at haggling). Highlights: roasted corn stand and I did get an awesome yellow step trashcan for $5, which has left me unusually excited over purchasing a trashcan. However, I think this will be a one-time thing. I'll probably just stick to the De Anza Flea Market (actually coming up this Saturday, I believe) It's free if I park on the street and I don't have to drive so far. heheee. Getting out today was worthwhile though; the weather was beautiful even right after yesterday's downpour :-)

2010-11-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

Guilty...

Pick up pennies from the ground.

Eat food past the expiration date.

Ask for extra drinks on a plane flight for later.

Today's steamed rice is tomorrow's fried rice.

Sell stuff that you get in the Free Stuff section of Craigslist (except I get it off the curb).

Brought to you by STINGYASIAN.COM
Co-created by Jenn and Jeff and my good (and yes stingy) buddy Cyn.
Enter a submission here.

2010-11-20T09:18:00.001-08:00

Goodness! I haven't checked back on Jean Jullien's work for awhile, but every time I do, I always find myself in awe at how conceptually aware his kooky drawings are. Swoon* These are some of the illustrations he created for Waterstone's kids section.

Also super awesome:
JJ's Illustrated Diary
Niwouinwouin - Catastrophe music video
Table Man
It Fell Down the Stairs

2010-11-19T00:10:00.001-08:00

2010-11-19T00:04:00.001-08:00

2010-11-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

Back at Cyn's again for the weekend :-)
The happy mood I'm in doesn't exactly match the mood of these photos, but here they are anyhow. This is on the way to take out her trash.

2010-11-11T18:07:00.000-08:00

B L O G F I N D: Clare Owen Illustration and her ETSY Shop.
Rosie cheeks and graphite and word balloons and grandma patterns!!
[found via Kitsune Noir]

2010-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Head over heels. Never seen graffiti quite like this.
Italian artist: CT

[ via Grain Edit & PAWLING Print Studio ]
UPDATED 11/15/10: More amazing work at his EKOSYSTEM gallery

2010-11-10T21:04:00.001-08:00

Vicky & Eddie's Wedding (contd.) Just a few snaps of Vicky solo.

2010-11-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

South First 11/05

2010-11-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

11/06/10 Vicky & Eddie's Wedding (unedited) More to come!

2010-11-07T16:55:00.000-08:00

B L O G F I N D: For Me, For You by Kate Miss.
She also has a Big Cartel jewelry shop and an awesome tattoo.

2010-11-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

W H A T I S N E W ?

I've deviated for a few months now from my original plan to achieve financial stability, but all is still well. I'll be jumping back on that soon though (for real this time).

I started an Etsy store called Part & Parcel. Finally right? Vintage based, but there might be some art & design coming soon. It's been exciting to be able to use my photos for something productive and more consciously thinking about the lighting, the positioning. Sunday morning light is lovely.

Halloween weekend: Philippe's the Original. The OK Store. Plastica. Unphogettable. Really.

The last 11/05 South First Friday galleries, collectively, were the best I've been to. Maybe it was getting to see everyone too and veggie-fish bentos at Hydration. Definitely my favorite MACLA exhibit. Definitely one of my favorite ICA exhibits. Who wouldn't love an exhibit with a tree house?

@ the MACLA: Las Hermanas Iglesias - Drawn Together, Everybody Likes to Dance
@ the ICA: Tony May - Old Technology
Art on the street: Paul J. Gonzalez (his website doesn't seem to be updated though)
Music on the street: Corpus Callosum (creepy haunted house music, but I dig)
Also Kyle Pellet is having a show! Dec 10th @ Empire Seven Studios. I know I won't be disappointed.

Also also - Vivian's sis got married this weekend! I got to help take photos for their wedding. Had some good ones (photos coming soon) yep. This is also the first time in my life I have chosen to wear an all-pink outfit...er...and my matching pink Lake Tahoe sweatsuit in third grade.

I still have credits on my Southwest account. Where to go?

2010-09-30T05:32:00.000-07:00

OMG. I can't believe I'm still awake. Been drifting in and out of sleep the whole night. I blame Tapioca Express. Coffee milk tea was so good though (but maybe not the best idea in the evening).

Guess I should be happy that designing has been on my mind. Just wish I could sleep instead right now. Maybe I should go into work...early?! O_O

2010-09-25T15:23:00.001-07:00

2010-09-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

How do I know it's Friday?

I've already had my Chipotle and efforts to bring my lunch in have waned.
The leaf blowers are out, apathetically blasting debris into the street, into our office, and into our cracked car windows.
Everyone has decided that they want their prints due on the last day of the week. Half of those people submitted the wrong file size.
I let assumption take over my thinking process. Shakes head*

We thought it was Friday yesterday, but disaster hadn't reared it's ugly head yet. So it was just merely Thursday. But it's only halfway through the day, I have 4 hours left to get it handled, and DAMMIT! I will.

That was kinda negative. I just find it funny how the end of the week feels the same way to most people in the print industry that I work with.

So something good. It's Friday :-) no work tomorrow!

2010-09-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

So far, I've really enjoyed summer and going into September, but I'd still like to:

take a life drawing class
draw more in general
focus more on layout
learn guitar
learn to not kill my plants
learn to make new food
sew a pencil case
freelance more
eat more veggies
keep up friendships
keep saving money
keep riding my bike
tour SF on bike
continue "the hunt"
get some chairs and a couch

2010-09-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

THIS SATURDAY. I'm doing it!! THE AEOLIAN RIDE. I remember emailing them a few years ago when they were in SF to come to San Jose and now they are! woohoo!

TOKYO AEOLIAN RIDE from sonicribbon on Vimeo. Music by popo (sounds like cute carnival music. keke)

2010-09-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

The Cactus and Succulent Society of San Jose. We have a Cactus Club? Who knew?! They have monthly meetings on how to take care of your plants...hehe. Something new to check out?
Urban Outfitters UK asked 10 artists to design bookmarks. Always love Jez Burrows' work.
"She always ate cake with her eyes closed, imagining she was in Paris." Yes, I can relate. This is how I always eat the first bite of cake...maybe not always imagining I'm in Paris though. From the just recent LET THEM EAT CAKE ART SHOW, SF by Paul Ferney. They would all look so lovely in my kitchen. [via Oh Happy Day!]
TGIF! Looking very forward to some good food this weekend.

2010-09-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti. Serving size: probably 5. People eating: 1.

Not so fun cooking for yourself, but I'll have lunch and dinner for the rest of the work week! I need to learn how to cook something besides this and curry as my "fancy" food. Although I haven't made spaghetti in awhile.

On another note, the weather was gloomy and overcast today, but I really liked it. Made me feel all nostalgic for some reason. Maybe it's my cold.

2010-09-06T21:32:00.001-07:00

Yes, Please! The Form Book: Creating Forms for Printed and Online Use

I had to redesign the invoice for work because our clients, who like many people, only took a moment to glance at the entire paper, and based on the layout of the page, did not take the time to look at the right numbers, which led to an inaccurate remittance. Then I had to deal with it. Plus, our old one used multiple sans serif and serif typefaces, and it was just ugly. So, I began looking through examples of invoices and became really fascinated with the hierarchy of information, how the eye is led around a page, what categories are used, how much guidance it provides to the reader...etc...

The invoice came out...better? I had to unfortunately redesign it in our accounting software template. And that was that. So, after overlooking this brief fascination with forms, I stumbled upon The Form Book at B&N and was in awe that someone had actually compiled a complete resource about them.

The thing that I like is that forms provide function and direction, and aren't just there to be pretty...Is this too much? haha. I got really excited. Definitely getting this book soon.

2010-09-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

FYF Fest. Awesome.

Despite the long lines and lame food and lack of preparation and porta-potties in general, it was a good goooood time. I danced until I could dance no more. This was my very first music festival, and I had only heard of two bands, but I went with a group of great people who love the music and that made it EVEN better.

So much more I could say, but I'll just leave it with my favorites that day: Magic Kids, then Cold Cave, then Delorean. School of Seven Bells was great too...and a few pictures...

2010-09-01T12:35:00.001-07:00

My roomie Maria got polaroid magnets for our fridge. Picking out pictures to put in 'em. Maybe a couple of these? (taken with the Hipstamatic App for iPhone)

2010-08-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Oooh hoo hoo! Tee hee hee!

I got out on my bike this evening :-) Yaaay! Perfect night for a ride. It wasn't cold at all. In fact, it's 9:00 pm and still ridiculously hot. After being coaxed into being dropped off in Cupertino (with pearl tea), I worked my way back home down Stevens Creek Blvd and enjoyed the view along the way, which was mostly auto dealerships, but tinsel is quite pretty at night.

2010-08-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

Since I was little, my Dad and I have bonded over a love for The Eagles. Nothing brings out the old white man in me like Hotel California. I wish I could take him to the concert in October. I wish I could take him to the concert in Melbourne!

2010-08-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

Castle Rock State Park - Los Gatos

Half-day hike. I hurt in places that I've never known, primarily the ass area. The view was amazing and it was wonderful to get out of the apartment but I'm so out of shape. I need to make more of a conscious effort to get out and move about rigorously. This can also include dancing.

2010-08-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Diggin' NPR's current NEW MIX.

1. Jardin du Luxembourg - The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger
2. Down on Love - Sarah Blasko
3. Never Ever Ever Ever Again - Siskiyou
4. Horse Power - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
5. Come Undone - Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
6. The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret - Queens of the Stone Age

I never even knew John Lennon and Yoko Ono had a son...

2010-08-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

Trying to drown out the weird scraping noise coming from the apartment next door. It's almost Grudge 2 status. What the hell are they doing over there? I can't tell what it is.

I hope I can sleep tonight...

2010-08-15T23:47:00.001-07:00

mmm. Feels good to have my own room again. It's been over 5 years. I love unpacking. It's like discovering treasure buried years ago. A few snaps of getting set up:

2010-08-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

plans plans plans...

SF Botanical Gardens
Kite Flying at Shoreline
FYF (maybe)
Underground Market SF/Off The Grid (this Friday)
Swap Meet
SF Zoo/Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bike Trail
Photo Days/Craft Nights
Creme Brulee

2010-08-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

I'd like to be the frog and the box: financial stability. If only it were that easy.

Illustration by KYLE PELLET

2010-08-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

7:30 pm. Back at work.

Project due tomorrow at 7am. It was either here at 4:30 tomorrow morning or coming back to work a few more hours. I'd rather sleep in.

I have to say it's kinda nice having the office to myself. I don't have to listen to my coworker's Motown jams or answer phones or make polite conversation. Just me doing what needs to be done with no interruptions. ~~If only it were more like this every day.~~

***
12:00 am. I take it back. It's creepy as hell. The light switch flicked off by itself and it freaked me out. Big thanks to Viv and Stephen for coming to my rescue and keeping this scardey cat company. I must have some kind of electromagnetic charge cause the lights started flickering in every room I went into and stopped when I left. Never again.

2010-08-07T02:00:00.000-07:00

Such a good night! I actually took a chance and expected to lonely-loser it today...go to South First by myself...maybe Agenda too. But turns out I ran into lots of old faces AND met KYLE PELLET, whose work I love, but it also turns out I've kinda known him all along. heheee.

Nice to see San Jose out and about.

Money well spent:
Pellet Turtle Magnet, $1
2 Tacos from MoGo BBQ truck, $4
Bollywood Pistachio Ice cream from Treatbot truck, $3
The Workout at Agenda, Freeeee (Thanks Teri!)

Fernando Chamarelli at Anno Domini.
My other favorite: Bruno 9Li

Works - Murals & Collaborations

MACLA

2010-08-06T00:40:00.000-07:00

Terd Thursday. It is in my nature to dwell, but I'd rather not. So instead lets look ahead.

Looking forward to:
1. Finishing a secret project (for now). I'm hoping it comes out as awesome as it is in my mind.
2. SJ Bike Party. Anyone else going?
3. Decorating our new apartment and having a door. Only one more week away!
4. Getting a haircut. Should I cut it short? short short?

Feel like watching Stranger Than Fiction. Love THIS SCENE.

2010-08-04T23:55:00.000-07:00

Late night creme brulee. Hat tip to Stephen. It was amazing.

2010-08-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

"Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request." Yes?
Thank you Julia for the lovely postcard.

2010-08-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the absence of internet at my apartment, I saw Roman Holiday for the first time last night. I had never been a big fan of classic movies in the past, let alone Audrey Hepburn, but I'm afraid I've joined the bandwagon. So like rollercoasters, electro and avocadoes (things I had shunned before) I've grown to enjoy them quite a bit.

I mentioned it to my Dad, and he was surprisingly very excited for me. (I love my Dad) We will be compiling a list of recommended movies for my Netflix queue. Maybe I'll post it?

Also, my little brother caught a 2 ft fish on Lake Eerie. DANG BRO! I'm so proud.

2010-08-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

Summer dusk outside our new apartment.

The eggs hatched. See the kids here.

2010-08-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Really really. It's all gone. My apologies to those who liked to go back to the pictures of my jacked up bangs for a good laugh. I had to do it. I had to restart. The baggage of entries past (although written with mostly light-hearted humor) was weighing down on me. I could never finish a journal. Good thing blogs don't have pages to fill. I get to make new ones as I go.