Saturday, January 31, 2009
Today's Flowers: The Circle of Life
I think this post represents perfectly the circle of life. The first two photos are of two of my orchids that are ending their circle of life (at least for now...who knows? They might grow a new "spike" and have new blooms). The next series of photos are of my orchid that just started blooming! It's the third time that it is blooming since I've had it. I can't be happier!
Please also check out other people's flowers at Today's Flowers.
Please also check out other people's flowers at Today's Flowers.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Book Quotes: Trail of Crumbs
For the last week I've been reading Trail of Crumbs. It's quite a departure from the latest books I've read: GRE books, Vampire books and a book about Savannah.
For the most part, I really like Kim Sunee's writing style, and many of the things she describes touch me. These particular lines perfectly describe what I think/feel:
For the most part, I really like Kim Sunee's writing style, and many of the things she describes touch me. These particular lines perfectly describe what I think/feel:
I think I wanted routine and order, things my parents and people like Joachim had tried to teach me but knew I'd never be good at. Maybe I wanted the illusion that if I had control over the timetable of my life, I could avoid emotion and the uncontrollable details like sorrow and love and absence.
Seriously, I think that explains really well why I like having my Monday salsa nights, occasional volunteering, and helping with classes at Sur La Table. Together with having dinners with friends, traveling, and visiting museums, these are the things that I can control, that give structure and meaning to my life. And these are also the things that allow me to forget (ignore?) for the time being other aspects of my life that worry, concern, or scare me.
Sky Watch Friday
I took these two photographs last Sunday for Sky Watch Friday. The clouds in the first one were too pretty to pass by (I'm glad I had my camera with me). And I like including parts of a tree to show perspective. Happy almost Friday!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
National Mentoring Month
For the last year I have been mentoring/tutoring N through Power Lunch program. Some weeks are better than others. Sometimes I find the entire experience frustrating, stressful and thankless. Other times, I am so happy when N is able to read a word, finish a paragraph or finish an entire book.
Today, N was in one of her better moods. That's why I was surprised when she was called into the office with the other students during our reading session. Then, one by one, the kids came out of the office hiding something behind their backs! We were very intrigued. That's when they gave their respective mentors a flower and a thank you note! Turns out January is a National Mentoring Month! What a nice treat.
Today, N was in one of her better moods. That's why I was surprised when she was called into the office with the other students during our reading session. Then, one by one, the kids came out of the office hiding something behind their backs! We were very intrigued. That's when they gave their respective mentors a flower and a thank you note! Turns out January is a National Mentoring Month! What a nice treat.
Snow! Finally!
Last night I went dancing and did not get home till almost midnight. Instead of going directly to sleep, I stayed up watching The Bachelor, eating an apple with Parmesan cheese and then some salsa. Yep. Exactly.
When I finally woke up in the morning, I saw that there was a little bit of snow covering the buildings, the trees and the ground. And the snow was still falling!
Even though no one in their right mind would ever call me an optimist (Jenny constantly reminds me how the glass is half full), I still called to check if perhaps the government would be closed: alas, no such luck. So I took a shower, got dressed and went to work. I took my camera with me to take a few photos. As you can see, it wasn't one of those beautiful sunny days with the snow falling: it was still dark, gray, and the snow was really wet. Tomorrow "they" are saying that the roads might turn icy...maybe "they'll" cancel work then? Of course I'd still have to get out of the house because I have yet another dentist appointment.
When I finally woke up in the morning, I saw that there was a little bit of snow covering the buildings, the trees and the ground. And the snow was still falling!
Even though no one in their right mind would ever call me an optimist (Jenny constantly reminds me how the glass is half full), I still called to check if perhaps the government would be closed: alas, no such luck. So I took a shower, got dressed and went to work. I took my camera with me to take a few photos. As you can see, it wasn't one of those beautiful sunny days with the snow falling: it was still dark, gray, and the snow was really wet. Tomorrow "they" are saying that the roads might turn icy...maybe "they'll" cancel work then? Of course I'd still have to get out of the house because I have yet another dentist appointment.
Where's My Manny?
Several times when I was in Georgetown, I saw a car driving with a sign "Manny & Olga's." I thought it was cute. Then last weekend when I was walking from Dupont to U Street (on my way to WholeFoods to buy barley for a recipe I'm testing for Robyn***), I saw the store front for Manny & Olga's. I wasn't hungry and I think they might have been closed, so I did not taste the food, but it made me think: where is my Manny?
Sigh.
*** WholeFoods did not have barley! For real. That was quite a shock. I bought wheat berries instead, which are not exactly the same thing, but I wasn't going to go to yet another store.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Tourist in My Own City
Sometimes I forget how fun it is to be a tourist in your own town. This past Sunday I met up with Jason and "the ladies" for lunch at Chipotle (one of my favorite fast food restaurants) and then a trip to the Textile Museum. I'm not sure I knew this museum even existed (and I've lived in DC area for 7 years!).I was really glad I had my camera with me and was able to take a few photos on the way. On the left is a very pretty (at least in my opinion) old door. Below is a super cute yellow car (an added bonus is that my friend Jenny is from Wisconsin, so I had to take the photo for her!).
The three photos at the end are of a fountain in the garden behind the Textile Museum. I can't wait to go back in the spring or summer to see how pretty that place is once the fountain is working and the flowers are at bloom. I think it'd be a beautiful place to have a wedding (I should find a groom first, of course).
Next time you are strolling around through your neighborhood, take your camera along and see what wonderful things you can discover on the way.
Ruby Tuesday
Here are some photos for Ruby Tuesday. The one on the left is a double stroller I saw while I was walking to Textile Museum with Jason and "the ladies." The two photos below are of a super cool bathroom lock at the Textile Museum. I love how it says "engaged" when someone is in the bathroom instead of occupied :)The last two photos are from my Savannah trip. If you look closely at the telephone booth photo, you can see my reflection in the glass wearing the super cute puffy coat Anna left me when she moved to Birmingham, Alabama.
Doors of Savannah, GA
I don't know what it is about doors, but I love them. Whenever I travel, I always end up taking photographs of doors: here are just a "few" from Savannah. I promise this is the last Savannah post ;)
Which one is your favorite?
I think I would have to choose the chartreuse one at the very top, the bring red one, and the blue one (painted that color to get rid off evil spirits!).
Which one is your favorite?
I think I would have to choose the chartreuse one at the very top, the bring red one, and the blue one (painted that color to get rid off evil spirits!).
Savannah, Day 4: Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009
Not sure why, but I had the hardest time falling asleep my last night in Savannah. There was some sort of a smoke alarm and I could see people on the roof with flashlights, which was rather disturbing.
Good thing I packed the night before: I barely had the time to take a shower, check out of the hotel and have breakfast before getting a tour of SCAD. The funny thing was that I was the only person on the tour not accompanied by parents: everyone else was a potential Freshman accompanied by at least one parent. I felt lonely and independent at the same time.
SCAD is unbelievably impressive: the school has amazing reputation and wonderful programs, but I don't know if I could live for two years in such a small town. Plus, who knows if I would even qualify since my undergrad is in subjects completely different from "art." The biggest problem, though, is how do I decide what I want to concentrate one?
I'm still glad I took the tour. The school has 80+ buildings scattered around Savannah. One of those buildings (seen below) is an old synagogue. The picture on the right is a "napping" chair. I really want one of those for my cubicle!
The two photos below are the changing light ceiling in the building that used to be a synagogue: how very cool?
After the tour and BBQ lunch I walked back to the hotel and bought a pair of earrings on the way :)
I also managed to lose my camera case.
And I did not bother checking the flight schedule: if I had, I would have found out that there was an earlier flight and would have made it instead of sitting at the airport for almost 2 hours...but at least they had a free wireless connection!
The photos below are just some of the other 280+ photos I took while on the trip: a ground level light (I don't know the proper term) with some condensation, a famous theater, and a very cool drain.
Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my vacation posts. I hope you were able to get a feel of what Savannah is like. Thanks to Paige for joining me for half of the trip.
I think I might post a few other photos that I really liked in a minute :)
Good thing I packed the night before: I barely had the time to take a shower, check out of the hotel and have breakfast before getting a tour of SCAD. The funny thing was that I was the only person on the tour not accompanied by parents: everyone else was a potential Freshman accompanied by at least one parent. I felt lonely and independent at the same time.
SCAD is unbelievably impressive: the school has amazing reputation and wonderful programs, but I don't know if I could live for two years in such a small town. Plus, who knows if I would even qualify since my undergrad is in subjects completely different from "art." The biggest problem, though, is how do I decide what I want to concentrate one?
I'm still glad I took the tour. The school has 80+ buildings scattered around Savannah. One of those buildings (seen below) is an old synagogue. The picture on the right is a "napping" chair. I really want one of those for my cubicle!
The two photos below are the changing light ceiling in the building that used to be a synagogue: how very cool?
After the tour and BBQ lunch I walked back to the hotel and bought a pair of earrings on the way :)
I also managed to lose my camera case.
And I did not bother checking the flight schedule: if I had, I would have found out that there was an earlier flight and would have made it instead of sitting at the airport for almost 2 hours...but at least they had a free wireless connection!
The photos below are just some of the other 280+ photos I took while on the trip: a ground level light (I don't know the proper term) with some condensation, a famous theater, and a very cool drain.
Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my vacation posts. I hope you were able to get a feel of what Savannah is like. Thanks to Paige for joining me for half of the trip.
I think I might post a few other photos that I really liked in a minute :)
Savannah, Day 3: Monday, Jan 19, 2009
Paige left early Monday morning. I was very tempted to stay in bed and watch morning shows. And I did for a bit. But then I got hungry and decided I should get out of the hotel and get some food and explore the city.
The day was sunny, but cold. When I left the hotel, I saw a little boat "parked" on the river. Turned out it was a free ride down the river. I decided to hop on and travel on the water for 5 to 10 minutes. That's my boat on the left, and a picture taken on River Street on the right: it really reminds me of Montreal.
These two photos are some of my favorites: the brick road and a bright green door of an antique store. I think I might post a bunch of photos of doors I took during this trip!
I happened to stumble upon MLK parade. I'm sad to admit, but it was rather pitiful: there were hardly any people watching the parade, and those participating in it seemed less than thrilled to be there (the photos below are of the most enthusiastic participants).
I'm trying to figure out what it was that I did the rest of the day, but I really think I just had breakfast, lunch, and dinner :) Oh, and I did some shopping too. And had a nap back at the hotel and watched The Bachelor.
The day was sunny, but cold. When I left the hotel, I saw a little boat "parked" on the river. Turned out it was a free ride down the river. I decided to hop on and travel on the water for 5 to 10 minutes. That's my boat on the left, and a picture taken on River Street on the right: it really reminds me of Montreal.
These two photos are some of my favorites: the brick road and a bright green door of an antique store. I think I might post a bunch of photos of doors I took during this trip!
I happened to stumble upon MLK parade. I'm sad to admit, but it was rather pitiful: there were hardly any people watching the parade, and those participating in it seemed less than thrilled to be there (the photos below are of the most enthusiastic participants).
I'm trying to figure out what it was that I did the rest of the day, but I really think I just had breakfast, lunch, and dinner :) Oh, and I did some shopping too. And had a nap back at the hotel and watched The Bachelor.
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