my classics
Friday 2.10.2012
Rummaging through my old book of CD’s. These albums still have a special spot in my iPod today. I kind of miss making mixes, especially after seeing this gem (see mini record CD below).
Currently blaring on the speakers for car rides this week: The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows – Brand new




Montrose
Friday 2.3.2012
This album has definitely grown on me, especially on those 6Am drives to work this past week. This video conjures up memories of 2005 when we were young and we danced at #’s with our mini skirts and got our feet dirty, and we’d hang out at Katz after hours….
transitioning into February…
Friday 2.3.2012
playing catch up in Instagrams…
…the much anticipated Hello Kitty iPhone case has finally arrived. I love it so much.
…my celebratory balloons floated away as I came home that evening. It was awesome to see it smiling down on me the next morning before it ascended into the atmosphere
…Mom’s vegetarian fare for New Years, rice noodles with salted roasted peanuts and a variety of fried, and soft tofu for excellent texture and taste. She gets better every year!
…I’ve been so busy trying to transition into this new work schedule that I’ve neglected my poor Maggie and Joey, who have both been kicking the empty food bowl every time it runs out.cats are smart…and spoiled.
…always feeling a bit girly everyday
…rainy drives home. A hint of auburn foliage is a relief from all the dreary grays.

the persistence of light…
Thursday 2.2.2012




The subject of these pictures is, in this sense, not tract homes or freeways but the source of all form, light. The Front Range is astonishing because it is overspread with light of such richness that banality is impossible. Even subdivision, which we hate for the obscenity of the speculator’s greed, are at certain times of day transformed to a dry, cold brilliance.
Towns, many now suggest, are intrusions of sacred landscapes, and who can deny it, looking at the squalor we have laid across America? But even as we see the harm of our work and determine to correct it, we also see that nothing can, in the last analysis, intrude. Nothing permanently diminishes the affirmation of the sun.
~Robert Adams
I always like to rewrite this quote for every new journal. It’s kind of a source of inspiration for me. Things are kinda busy round here, what with me trying to dapple in commercial photography and trying to balance a career that can satiate my own artistic needs. In between all this, I’m trying to figure out where I belong, or how my art is defined in the context of my life. I know that there is a standard of photo expertise that is expected in the field of commercial photography these days that I find difficult to get my hands around. With all the technological advances in the digital world, technicality and precision is often the wanted result. I find, however, that the most important, the most memorable photographs are the ones that captures the little nuances and details that are rarely caught or realized during the experience. If my personal work can achieve this on some level, than I am satisfied.
…still trying to find my “photographic eye”
This temporary teaching gig has given me a sweet opportunity to get back into the dark room. I’ve been sneaking away the hours after school for some quality time in the darkroom to develop some of my own work. It’s damn good to use that camera again. The smell of darkroom chemicals still lingers slightly on my hands….I’ll be a bit busy in the next few weeks, but I’ll try my best not to neglect this dear blog of mine.
P.S. on a much lighter note. I’m going to the beach this weekend ya’ll!
spirit of the dragon
Monday 1.23.2012
Happy New Year! I think it’s become a favorite tradition of mine to go to temple at midnight on New Year’s eve to catch all the dragon dancing. This year, we managed to do a little “temple hopping” down in Chinatown and visited three places. The Teo Chew Temple down in Bellaire definitely put on an extravagant show this year, with three dragon dances and martial arts performances by the students of the temple. This dragon dance in particular (below) was so beautiful and mesmerizing to watch. It probably wasn’t a very good idea to stay up past 1AM last night knowing I had to teach at 6Am today. Still recovering from sleep deprivation as I write this post. Poo.
Cheers to a prosperous new year! Look at my mini dragon! Kawaii!











work hard, play hard
Friday 1.20.2012
Chinese New Years is approaching next Monday, which means it’s time to welcome the new spring. New spring, new opportunities. I’ve been swamped with so many things to do in the past few weeks, but things are slowly beginning to fall into place now. The new photography company I’m starting up with my friends is beginning to sprout its wings. A very small set of wings, but it’s good to know things are finally moving along. Baby steps…
I’ll be taking over a class for the next two months, teaching photography and digital graphics, so I’m pretty excited for that, too. Already, I’ve worn out my favorite pair of blue suede flats, so I think I’ll break that strict no shopping diet just this once to invest in another comfy pair for work. It’s been a whirlwind this last week in particular, trying to transition into the classroom, but with all the technical hiccups out of the way, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for the next two weeks. Lots of multi-tasking, and lots of time and energy, but it’ll all be worth it. Can’t wait until March when I can take a week off to enjoy some mini vacays in Austin and maybe Salt Lake City.
new roses for the garden…
my favorite go-to earrings at the moment, a christmas gift from the sis…
lots of patterned dresses for work…



memo
Tuesday 1.17.2012

currently: perusing old notes and letters here…
This memo for William McKeen by Hunter S. Thompson is one of my favorites so far. I like the way Thompson expresses himself. I’ve been acquiring an affinity for words like scum, and crummy lately.
Nashville pink
Saturday 1.14.2012
playing catch up in instagrams… (my new go-to filter of the moment, Nashville)
…I’m on a strict no shopping diet, but, sigh, was distracted and fairly tempted by this chartreuse Kate Spade bag. I didn’t give in though.
…Dad’s harvest of sweet oranges and grapefruits. There”s so much more left for picking, so if you want a basket, let me know!
…taking some time off from building websites and photoshopping to relax on the couch with Maggie and getting my movie fix for the week. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spie was sooo goood. It’s a bit of a slow movie if you’re expecting some action spy flick, but how can you resist a cast of British actors? I also finally saw Scream 4, which has been my guilty pleasure for the last few months. It was actually a very good slasher flick. I might have underestimated Julia Robert’s niece.
…two favorite shots from my stroll downtown after I finally gave in and made myself drive down there to renew my car sticker. I found this courtyard a block down from the courthouse. It’s actually part of a church which has contemporary architecture features.
…nothing beats the comfort of my own bed sheets, and sleeping in through a thunderstorm, which has been occurred twice this week!





