Thirteen Special (and not so) Things About Me!

Design Board 2012 for Website Ideas

Hi everyone,

I've seen these on a few blogs and I thought that it would be fun to throw out a few random things about myself. You never know what you'll find and the strange little things that you might have in common. Here's 13 things for the year of 2013.

1. I'm addicted to modern art: I wasn't always. It didn't start until my second year into my first major of Art History in college before I switched it to Graphic Design.  My first exhibit was Andy Warhol in MOCA where I got to learn about the man behind the art and the life they led. Keeping this in mind I was pulled more and more into understanding the modern artist and they had walked the streets that I had.  Now as a Graphic Designer AIPOD get tickled pink when I see modern art. I feel like I'm sharing in a community that I'm now apart of.

2. I collect British things: For those of you that have been keeping up with my blog, I'm sure that you've notice that I have a fascination with the UK. After I had completed my first anthology of British Literature I was in love with British culture. I still am today. I started my collection with Union Jack flags and my collection has moved on to imported teas and books. I still would love it if I could get a PG Tips plushie monkey as well as a mug... A little dream in my wish list!

3. My favorite color is charcoal grey... But maroon is running up...: with the attire I wear people often assume that my favorite color must be neons of rainbows. Surprise! I am absolutely in love with the color charcoal grey because it goes with everything. It's a chameleon of a color so it sways with any mood I please. Maroon is coming in close to second because of my Scion and the color of my cabinets. I think that maroon celebrates how sexy a woman is from red wine to maroon deep lipstick...

4. Roots irk me...: There! I said it! Being that hair is one of my choice of fashion statement it drives me nuts when I see monster roots on anyone. I have been known to walk out of stores and public places if someone has roots that I must look at the most of the time that I'm there. Nothing past 2 inches of growth, Please!

5. I'm a over achiever in a lazy persons body.: I spent plenty of time in my office and I have made it a point to build my library with a comfy love seat and now a reading chair. It's so easy to slip away in there and lose track of time with a good pot of tea. I often find it difficult to pry away from it to do whatever next big project that's in front of me. Then I find myself cramming. Not a great look on me, but a common one.

6. I'm in love with my car.: Oh yes, my little Maroon Scion XB has been a light in my life. I get sensitive when other people drive my car poorly.  Nothing puts me in a good mood right away than boosting high my fancy stereo in my car and going for a cruise. That car is a testimony that anything is possible if you work for it. Pantomime (the name of my car) found me when I needed him. I think my favorite accessory in my car is a ribbon tied to the front mirror with the quote "It's kind of fun doing the impossible"-Walt Disney. I can't step out out of that car without feeling like a Badass Rockstar Goddess!

7. I'm a Grammar Hippie: Never heard of one? I made it up. Before you get your panties in a twist I don't think that grammar is unimportant. Infact, if you're really good at grammar I absolutely commend you! But for the rest of us, it's not a forte that I try to learn everyday. I believe that rules are made to be broken, and this goes for language. Take it from Shakespeare; we wouldn't have the word 'Alligator' otherwise. Poets and Lyricist push this everyday understanding the rules of language, and most Novelist I've met are terrible with grammar.

8. I'm bad at ending conversations: What can I say? I love conversations. Nothing gives me a greater pleasure than long topics and understanding what makes a person unique from their interests and opinions. Don't make me call it an end though, I always find it hard to let people go because I'm an asker. 

9. I'm a crazy good cook: Yes. I wear this badge loud and proud! I'm a self taught cook that loved the discovery of cusine through many broken sauces, flattened souffles, and listening. As a division of Cordon Bleu is a city away from me I've had a handful of friends of mine have me help them 'study' as they passed as Master Chefs from this magical place, in turn learning myself. I wish I could cook more, but most of my pots and cookware were damaged in the move to the house I'm currently living in. One thing I miss the most is my beautiful bunt pan so I can make my Hawaiian Pound Cake and Pretty Sponge Cakes for Tea...
 

10. I get a high in the middle of reading a good book.: But seriously, what book lover doesn't? Books shape my life, get me to think, and help me see a world that is bigger than my own. If you're a serious dreamer, then reading is on your list of things to do! I just finished the Goddess Guide and I was able to travel and aspire to new sights, see a vintage fashion auction, and chill momentarily with Miss Piggy... Ah... Which leads me to a dream of mine...
 

11. I dream of travel.: Ever since I had my magical two weeks in Rosarito, Mexico, I've had the hunger to go out there and experience new cultures. I long for the Literary and Theatre heritage of London, the rampant Graphic Design of Barcelona, and the hidden secrets of Ancient Venice to name a few. Lately I've been curious about Timbuktu with the deterioration of ancient cilivlization artifacts and the understanding that is a once great world waiting to be discovered and share they're knowledge.
  

12. I code like a boss!: Most Graphic Designers I know are scared to bits of coding. There's this stigma that you'll become some techie jerk that cares nothing about numbers rather than design. To my surprise when I tapped into Dreamweaver and mild CSS coding I fell in love with it! It made me feel more mobile as a Designer. I hope this year to get really good at Actionscripting and crazy good with my CSS. Most of my paid freelance work is designing websites, and nothing makes me happier knowing that I can take a companies dreams to the limit. I'm the bridge between their visions and the world. 
 

13. I want to be a legacy of stories.: From Illustrating, Playwright, and Novel writing; I want to tell stories and capture the imagination of the world. I want to be like Howard Pyle and never stop discovering. This would be the wish for what my life to be. I have a talent and I want to give it to a broken world that needs to dream and aspire. Whatever I find myself doing in the future, I hope that this will be one thing that stands true.
 

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Mini Holiday: Avila Bay

Last week I finally had the opportunity to go away on a mini holiday. I did it on the weekdays before  Veterans Day so to avoid the crowds. These little mini holidays are something I look forward to year round with my family; sometimes we have them up to 4 times a year, others we'll skip on it. This was the second one for this year.

I was particularly excited with this holiday since we were going to one my favorite places in the world; Avila Bay. It's a quiet little city with a beautiful view of the California Coast and plenty of wildlife. I hadn't been back for almost a decade. The first time I had gone was the week when I started dating Eugene, and we both had to go our separate ways that weekend and I was lovesick the whole time of my visit. This time I was able to show him the sights I saw and what made me miss him even more. I considered this trip a pilgrimage in my life and a beautiful way to see how my life has grown.

 

 The way that these holidays work is that my parents book a week with their time share and they head out ahead of us. Eugene and I usually enjoy the couple of days catching up on the work and the peace and quiet that the house has to offer with just the two of us. I like to use these as writing retreats and just order take in or live off of tv dinners. About midway through the holiday, Eugene and I will drive up and spend an evening overnight at the resort. In the morning we'll go out on a family outing and enjoy the sightseeing and local attractions. By the time the evening rolls around we'll pack our stuff and head for home. We usually get another few days before my parents come back. So far this process has been working for us, giving everyone the space they need to refresh themselves. We left afternoon and spent 3 1/2 hours on the road and made it by nightfall; the place was enchanting even then...

 

In the morning I got up extra early since the excitement was getting the best of me. I love the coast! I love the power that the sound of water has over me; I'm both energized and calm at the same time. Enjoying the morning I got up early, grabbed a cup of tea, and read my meditation book greeting the sun slowly creeping to life on the resort balcony. 

The chapter was about organizing ones life and understanding the schedule that you make for yourself. This really hit home for me as there has been so much on my plate. The solitude helped me to get a few things sorted on my end. I was greatly appreciated. I wish that I could do it more often; I've even considered making visits to the coast a bi weekly practice of mine. Of course it would be the ones closer to me though...

When I was finished I went and made breakfast for the family.  What's awesome about vacation condos are the fact that they're set up like apartments with a full kitchen. The ones that we stay in even come with dining sets for four and a basic cooking tools like pans and pots. This saves my family a fortune during breaks like these, we usually only eat one meal outside each day. The rest we cook simple things inside. This is some thin cut steak with asparagus, buttered toast, and scrambled eggs. My mom also brought some cheese which I had with apples and crackers for my breakfast with tea; it was absolutely yummy!

Eugene and I finished early and head out to walk on the beach to give my parents the chance to get ready. Besides, we hadn't touched the coast since we arrived! By now the morning was lighting the waves.

Before we left we grabbed some tea from the Community Room. I love the mural on this fireplace. Avila Bay is famous for its Seals and Sea lions. I think I want to make a mural like this in a bathroom someday...

We drove my car into the little village area.  One of the highlights of the trip was driving my car up to the resort and back. I'm in love with my Scion XB! The previous owner was a professional set designer and customizing cars was his hobby. When I got it, it was well equipped with all the trimmings making for an enjoyable ride. Playing new music and long conversations always makes for great quality time in the car. My car, Pantomime (so I lovingly named it), has sort of become my thinking capsule. 

Eugene was blown away with the sight. I was so happy to share it with him! I can safely say that right then was when my Thanksgiving had started, I felt so blessed to be with this man for soon to be a decade of my life. We grew up together and have gone through the impossible and back. I still get the flutters when he looks at me, this I am thankful for.

To make things even more magical someone had the wonderful idea of adding swings and a slide to the beach. I've never seen anything like it, I was super giddy to try. There's something really unique of having a relationship with a man that didn't grow up in your culture, one of which is sharing stories. Since Eugene had arrived to the States when he was 11, no one had really ever taught him how to use a swing. I got to teach him, and what a great view to do so. He succeeded without the help of me pushing. I really enjoyed that time with him and its a memory I now cherish.

When we had our fill of the swings we started to make our way to the water. It was soothing and breathtaking...

 There was a little marsh under the resort's cliff-side. So we went and took a look at all the wildlife for awhile.

Soon enough I got the call from my mom that they were ready to head out. It was just about time for lunch and we had worked up quite the appetite. Washing my flip flops I was ready to head out. My parents had rented a Fiat 500 and I was so curious as to how it drove.

Next stop Arroyo Grande!

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