Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Giving Thanks!

I can't wait to have time to dedicate to art again...
I bought my first brussels sprouts from the farmers market. They are pretty good, but I always end up with too much of things.

I made dinner with Brittani last week: salmon pasta.

I also made dinner with Celia last week: shrimp pasta, also we watched True Blood.

With pasta, there are less leftovers because we bring them to lunch: I am sorry to admit, those leftover brussels sprouts are stillllllll in my fridge.
I went to the fundraising party at Project Basho on Sunday, and walked the 20 minutes. It has been so lovely outside! Aside from driving being totally lame, I always forget how many more things I see/notice, and photographs I miss by not taking the time to look around.

I was supposed to meet up with my friend Amanda, who I had known in USY, (she had randomly facebook messaged me that we both live in Philly and should get together. I immediately concurred and we made an appointment) but she became too busy with grad school work, so I walked back from Basho, with a full pizza pie in my arms. The Basho newsletter didn't go out, so unfortunately we didn't get a huge turn out, but oh well. We do what we can.

For this month of fundraising, there are a few things we are doing, mainly InsiderPages, and a Prints Auction. I am donating this print, agreed upon by me and Grisha in charge of fundraising:
Driving home from Project Basho tonight, I saw old friend Erika from Eastern State, with her dog outside her house: I pulled over to say hi, and was swiftly invited in for wine. We had a great couple of hours catching up, and I met her boyfriend. She works for the Kensington CDC and happens to know a ton of awesome people. We have tentative plans for 2nd Thursday (like 1st Friday?) to see art and meet artists and be a part of the community I have so sorely missed out on, working hard and proving myself these last 6 months.

Mom is coming to Thanksgiving at Celia's on Thursday! Potluck in the form of wine and dessert, and Celia's dad doing almost everything. I need to go grocery shopping and make noodle kugel! I was distracted by Erika tonight!

Watching Who Killed the Electric Car? which is all sorts of interesting, but not so much that I can't update my blog and surf the internet at the same time!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

MICA: 6 Months Later

It seems as though I have survived 6 months today, as a college graduate. Also, I forgot to call my grandparents for their anniversary: all 3 of us are celebrating today!

Of course I didn't take any photographs at Takashi's opening. But Andrew and Celia came and we had a lovely time.

I think I've just been really busy and slightly overwhelmed with everything I am doing: its not as though I am exhausted, but that I am just busy enough to not be worrying about taking photographs of my daily life.

Amelia came to visit for her birthday on Saturday! I documented part of that! Okay, I had a little help:
We went to the Seaport Musuem for the tattoo exhibit: I think it was fun and entertainingly educational (I think we'd both admit we had the most fun playing with the kids educational lifesize toys...). And then we headed down to Center City for shopping! We headed toward American Apparel since Amelia had never been to one, but on the way she spotted Lush, another store she had been meaning to go to. Lush was actually surprisingly fun, and all of their soaps/bath bombs smelled really good, and felt good too! I even bought an "avobath bomb"!

We eventually made our way to South Street, which I forget other people don't get to hang out at often. We enjoyed wandering into shops, and even had some bubble tea. Dinner was at Horizons: maybe it was the good food (or maybe the wine), but we were there for two hours! Lovely acclaimed vegan cuisine, and it was good indeed. After Horizons, Andrew met us for drinks, and more good times were had!

I've been at Project Basho 3 days a week, tomorrow will be the 4th this week, and then I am going to the bakery for my last farmers market of the season (I wonder if I'll go back next year?). I took a walk today, and felt the need to take some photos: last night I watched the most recent episode of Dexter, and he referenced Henri Cartier-Bresson's "decisive moment theory", and I guess it was good timing, since I am now 6 months out of school, and I need to make every moment decisive.

Things are looking well for the Barnes&Noble Cafe job, as well as the internship with Chris Crisman (although that won't be until January). New leafs, new pages.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Not Swine Flu: Time Flu.

Again, I have simply been too busy. So busy, in fact, that I fooled myself into believing that last week was my last week at the farmer's market: this is simply not true. I have one more day at the farmer's market. Great. But I had said my goodbyes, and Nishon actually offered that at an inconvenience of my winter unemployment, that they could "make me useful". Good to know.

I took these when Celia and I made sushi several weeks ago. Remember? ...I barely do.
Basho has been going well, and I was barely scolded at all today! Thursday will be mostly building the pages for the classes, and harassing teachers for more pieces of information.

Tomorrow: Off.

Saturday was my last day off, and I was of course sick. Overcoming Swine Flu is pretty easy, but not as easy as being a hypochondriac. Not me, of course, but everyone. These days, you say "I'm sick" and immediately, "IS IT SWINE FLU?" but, thankfully, its just a nosy old cold. But, the Health Care Bill has finally moved to the house, so, maybe by this time next year, I might not actually die if I did catch Swine Flu. (What will it be next year? Avian... Swine... Fish Flu??).

I'm being silly. (stalling because of my lack of images?)

In any case, I am realizing that time is running out. For the past 6 months, I have been pushing aside all feelings of disembodiment, and estrangement: I have obtained several jobs, made several friends, and updated some photos to a blog. But, friends, my jobs are, actually, ending. Decorating cakes (hopefully) will certainly not be selling baked goods at farmer's markets. And whatever they keep me on at Basho, will certainly not make this month any less credible, but I doubt it will be the same. And of course, Eastern State. I have 8 days left of Eastern State. I have had my issues with them, but truth be told? I love it. This amazing group of individuals has become more of a family to me than I could have imagined possible in a period of 6 months, 6 months of mourning the loss of a much bigger family. Kudos, Eastern State.

So, aside from a severe case of time-loss, I have one pertinent thing to report!

Takashi Arai's opening! Flawless Lakes: Contemporary Daguerreotypes is opening at Project Basho this Thursday, November 12 from 7-9. I'll be there, and would love to see you.

Also, Amelia is visiting this weekend for her birthday! First graduated birthday! I've thought up some things to entertain her during her stay, and now that Septa is running again, the pressure is off Hans.
I know there has been a movement against using my only model, but what can I say?
He's a lot bigger now!

Tune in next time, for photos from Takashi's opening, and Amelia's birthday visit!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Boo-ritos, Takashi Arai, the Ethicist

Halloween was nice with Celia: we made pumpkin pie, waited in line at Chipotle for half an hour for delicious free BOO-ritos, and then watched back-to-back, Silent Hill, and The Skeleton Key. These are both pretty awful "horror" films that each of us secretly likes a lot. I won't tell you which one is mine.

Basho is still going well. Last night after everything was cleaned up, Tsuyoshi asked Tyler and me to get a beer with him, and to watch the Phillies game. I was awfully close to declining, but it was rather enjoyable. Takashi Arai also joined us. He is a relatively famous photographer, teaching this weekend's Daguerreotypes workshop. He is all sorts of awesome, and is here for two weeks.

In other news, I have been really into reading The Ethicist's column in the NYTimes, online of course.