day 200: intent

I've been reading/researching various ideas, people and projects. I've realized that I have not focused on one area. I've notice that people who are successful give their all (heart and soul) to one project. From hear on out I'm doing that, and I realize with this photo-a-day blog that I'm not letting you in on the bad times: allowing myself to be vulnerable. I thought, "who wants to read about a depressing day where I'm stressed out?" Who wants to know that "Inconsistencies on your form" is such a vague statement on the f-ing unemployment notice?

Being unemployed sucks. It sucks ass. It's fun for about a week. After a month there's one major meltdown. You've strategized, punched the numbers, but life happens and you can't predict it. You question all of the choices you've made. There's doubt that creeps into your mind about your talent and abilities. It sucks. Some days are better than others, and sometimes it comes down to a few good hours. I will say that it brings out a good human trait, and that's taking care of each other, whether it's financial or emotional. So many people are willing to open their hearts to you. It's absolutely amazing.

I keep thinking that when I look back on this time, I want to say that I accomplished so many personal goals, but sometimes those goals are clouded by living day-to-day. It's hard to look long term. A year from now seems faraway and ten years? I can't even fathom it. As each day passes you hope that you're inching closer to the end of this chapter in your life, but then the news reminds you that this will be longer than anyone expected.

The good part, if you can call it that, is that there are others out there in the same boat. It's comforting and discomforting. At least you have people to confide in and go places with. Talking to friends who have jobs is awkward. They want to bitch about their jobs, but are quickly reminded to be thankful they have a job. Employers are pushing them to the limit and employees are doing it in fear of losing their job.

I am thankful there are unemployment benefits, one doesn't start the job force to think that they'll be unemployed. I am happy that this nation takes care of the unemployed, if not our health.

day 199: Impressions

I was able to capture this in the San Gabriel mountains.
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List 15 books that made an impression. Don't think about it too much: high brow, low brow - "makes an impression" means different things at different times?

If you're tagged, it's because I hope that this list might spark ideas for new reading suggestions for me and anyone else reading this. So, here goes:

Othello, Shakespeare
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
Naked, David Sedaris
A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman
In Light of India, Octavio Paz
Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela
Einstein's Dreams, Alan Lightman
The Kitchen God's Wife, Amy Tan
One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen
The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne Frank
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Dee Brown
The Bible

day 198: to avoid sleep

Love the shadows/pattern that this pile of sticks creates. :)

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1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30ish, I try to get up by 8 every day

2. How do you like your steak? medium well, no red.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? "Thirst"

4. What is your favorite TV show? "Lost", korean dramas, I don't watch that much television since I don't have cable

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? French Riviera

6. What did you have for breakfast? Scrambled eggs, hash browns, and a cup of tea

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Vietnamese

8. What foods do you dislike? anchovies

9. Favorite Place(s) to Eat? Le Saigon

10. Favorite dressing? Balsamic vinaigrette

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Honda Accord

12. What are your favorite clothes? Lately? skirts

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? South America

14. Cup ½ empty or ½ full? Depends on the day, sometimes the hour, but mostly 1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire? Malibu

16. Favorite time of day? Mornings, drinking my tea

17. Where were you born? Farmington, NM

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? NFL, NCAA football/basketball, NBA, World Cup Soccer, Olympics, Tour de France

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? everyone :)

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? everyone ;)

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? everyone :P

22. Bird watcher? Not really

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? night.

24. Do you have any pets? no :(

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I wish.

26. What did you want to be when you were little? an astronaut or an architect. I should've become an astronaut.

27. What is your best childhood memory? playing with my cousins at the cabin


28. Are you a cat or dog person? both

29. Are you married? nope

30. Always wear your seat belt? yes

31. Been in a car accident? yes, I hit a deer in Colorado.

32. Any pet peeves? people not using their blinker

33. Favorite Pizza Topping? sausage

34. Favorite Flower? multi-colored roses

35. Favorite ice cream? pinkberry

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Astroburger

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None

38. From whom did you get your last email? Steven G.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your card? Ann Taylor or REI

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Finding hiking trails via google earth.

41. Like your job? unemployed. no, I don't like it.

42. Broccoli? yum

43. What was your favorite vacation? I've like all of my vacations.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? probably Henry. :D

45. What are you listening to right now? Death Cab for Cutie: Your Heart is an Empty Room

46. What is your favorite color? browns and grays

47. How many tattoos do you have? none

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? I'll find out once I'm done with this.

49. What time did you finish this quiz? 5:49 pm

50. Coffee Drinker? no
This image is from a hike in Fryman Canyon

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The Bucket List, place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, then send it to your friends (including me).

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, do the list and tag people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.) If you don't see the Tag people in the upper right hand corner you are in the wrong place.)Things you have done during your lifetime:

(X) Gone on a blind date-
(X) Donated Blood
(X) Skipped school-
(X) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada-
(X) Been to Mexico-
(X) Been to Florida-
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane-
( ) Been on a helicopter-
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
( ) Hugged a homeless person.
(X) Swam in the ocean
( ) Swam with Stingrays-
( ) Been sailing in the ocean-
(X) Cried yourself to sleep-
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Ran a marathon
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X) Volunteered at a soup kitchen
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch.
( ) Seen the Northern Lights-
( ) Been Parasailing-
(X) Been on TV
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls-
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose-
(X) Fed an elephant-
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue-
(X) Fired a gun
( ) Danced in the rain-naked -
(X) Been to the Opera
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus-
(X) Serenaded someone-
(X) Seen a U.S. President in person
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe-
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone-
( ) Driven a race car
(X) Been to a National Museum
(X) Been to a Wax Museum
(X) Eaten caviar
(X) Blown bubbles-
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies-
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States-
(X) Been in a hot air balloon-
( ) Been sky diving
(X) Gone snowmobiling-
( ) Lived in more than one country
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets.
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Grand Canyon
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise-
(X) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle -
(X) Been horse back riding-
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car-
(X) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
( ) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(X) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean-
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
(X) Ridden on an elephant -
( ) Swam with dolphins-
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(X) Been water-skiing-
(X) Been snow-skiing-
(X) Been to Westminster Abbey
(X) Been to the Louvre
(X) Swam in the Mediterranean
(X) Been to a Major League Baseball game-
(X) Been to a National Football League game-
( ) Swam with sharks
(X) Been White Water Rafting

day 196: nose bleeding

Chadonna and I won Dodger tickets back at the stripcrawl on Sunset. Our seats were in the nose bleed section, but it was free, so we weren't complaining. Chris joined us in our fortunate winnings. It was a beautiful evening filled with friends, Dodger Dogs and rally cries. The game was exciting especially the last inning, but the Dodgers couldn't pull off the win. Next time!

day 195: Thirst

We watched Thirst this evening in Korea town. If you've seen the Vengeance Trilogy or Old Boy, you can understand the apprehension/desire to watch this movie. I thought it was a brilliant vampire story. Every scene & character was needed to tell the story: beautiful, suspenseful, bloody and romantic.

day 194: why hello, August


Why hello, August. Where the heck did you come from? Don't worry, I'm happy that July is over, but where did summer go?

So Dax and Cordoba have their hiding places around the house, but usually they're lounging in these spots. So cute.
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