thanksgiving and some other things

I apologize for the time it has been since my last posting. I never mean to stop, but sometimes I forget, and then a couple times when I tried to sign on it didn't accept my password or email or something, so I got annoyed and stopped trying.

So now, here I am, weeks of information in my head and I'm not sure where to start.

For thanksgiving I headed out to Salt Lake City and met up with my parents and Marin who flew in from Seattle. We rented a car with a huuuge trunk, loaded all of our things in, and were off to visit our uncle dave. Saint Mark's hospital was huge and unfortunately felt a lot like a hospital. Maybe someday I can design a facility that doesn't feel like sterile shabby chic. Every time we visited Uncle Dave his spirits lifted a lot, he even began to tell stories. He's full of stories, and he's a really funny guy. We then headed over to my cousin Connie and her husband Carlton's house. They hosted us, and the four of us had an entire floor to ourselves including a gym! So I took advantage of that probably three out of the four days we were actually there because I have no gym membership out here. I don't mind running terribly, but I like lifting weights and a gym because then no matter the weather or time of day (waking hours) you can go and get a work out. Plus most gyms around here even have their own parking lots, thank goodness. But, considering I have no income, I can't really justify spending 30-40 dollars a month on a gym pass. Anyways, it was a nice thing to have at our disposal.

That same night we arrived, we went to our uncle donald and aunt carroll's house, they gave us these ice cream bars called creamies which were actually delicious. Their dog Lizzy was very affectionate and we all held her in our laps at one point, which you wouldn't think to considering her size. Thanksgiving day we spent at my uncle tom and aunt elaine's house. Two out of three of my cousins were there with their kids, which made it a pretty full house. I always forget how many relatives I actually have! We had a fantastic dinner and played this word association game and solved these riddles. It's nice being older and visiting, because I'm able to grasp more what my family is like, hold conversations with the adults and really enjoy my time with them. Friday we visited my dad's friends/friends of the family about an hour out of the city. I think I'm getting my days mixed up... this is why it's better to write when an event is actually happening. The next day we went to breakfast with my cousins and then hung out with our other cousins Clark and Margaret and saw their "new house" because we haven't been there in so long it's new to us. We went to lunch and I got to spend some more time with them and their son whom I haven't seen since I was a baby most likely. Clark and Margaret came up to visit the house this summer so I was able to see them briefly, but it was fun to have more time.

Anyways, the last night that we were there Connie and Carlton took us to dinner at this great Chinese restaurant and then hosted a little gathering where we had Carrol's homemade peppermint ice cream. Again I was able to see more cousins and second cousins and even little baby third cousins! Then my second cousin Chris and his friend Ben and I went downtown to see the temple lights. It was nice getting to see the city and all the various people out to see the beauty of the lights.

It was a fun trip and the whole time I kept asking my dad, "why don't we come here more often?" or "can we come back sooner?" I love my family out in Utah and various surrounding areas such as Idaho and Los Vegas, hah. But I can truthfully say we don't see them enough. But, as soon as the new house is all fixed up our place could practically be a resort, so there's no excuse not to vacation out our way!

Other than that, life has been rather busy. It felt weird coming back after a four day break. I felt out of sync. I slept the whole day when I got back and had trouble getting out of that sleepy funk, when you feel lethargic and like everything around you is fuzzy. I still haven't been to the grocery store because I've just been cooking pasta and whatever is in my cupboards. My fridge is empty, it's partially intentional- as an act to clean it out, and partially laziness, because I don't know what I want, and I'm too busy doing homework to get up and go shop. I will most likely go tomorrow morning.

Today I woke up to the sound of dripping/splatting water... turns out it was pouring! Who knew it did that here? I was confused and aghast, I was planning on walking to my Friday morning breakfast in order to get a little fresh air and some exercise. That didn't happen. I was bummed. Also, the people planning to come didn't show except me and my friend Brett. So together we kept my friend Ashley company, us at the bar, her behind the counter. It was a nice way to kick off the morning. Then Brett took me to some of the thrift stores he goes to and I actually found a couple of dresses and a cardigan. I love finding things that I would never pay full price for, because i'm cheap, and getting them at an affordable price! It was fun. Now I'm home and needing to clean house badly! I think we skipped a week because we were both gone for thanksgiving.

I haven't done too much at school since thanksgiving, just a continuation of work because everything we've done up to this point is now geared towards final projects. I'll probably be hard at work for the next couple weeks until break. oh man, break! best words of my life! I can't wait to come home. can't wait can't wait can't wait.

I'm starting to like being here more and more everyday. I don't feel at all like I'm missing out on something, this is a whole new experience that I'm doing on my own, and that's pretty brave of me. so I'm looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes and trying to take advantage of what's here and what I want to do. FIDM in general offers such a different experience from SPU, I feel like I'm receiving so much information!

la de da. i'm sort of out of new, interesting information. Later I'm going to think of something and wish I'd written, and try to remember it for the next time. I saw a really nice mustang get it's front end crumpled... the cars were holding back to let him turn left, and he wasn't watching the turning lane coming at him, and it's likely they had no perception of him either, and though there was a truck right in front of my view, i knewwww what just happened. And when i pulled ahead i saw the poor guy and his poor pretty car. sad. I was going to go to school today and work on stuff, but when we drove by the freeway around noon it was packed! It's never packed at noon. People don't know how to drive in the rain here, and the roads apparently aren't really built for it either. So I thought I would play it safe and not drive or risk getting into an accident.

My roommate isn't home today either, in fact I haven't seen her in about two days. I think I've heard her come home late, i think. haha. i'm starting to think i live alone :)

relaxing Saturday

Today was just what I needed. I didn't do much this morning, but I relaxed a bit, organized myself and then took a nap. After my nap I walked up to the video store on sunset and rented Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy because I haven't seen it and some of my friends re-read the book before it came out last year. So I thought I would give it a try. After renting I headed to Walgreens and then Trader Joes and did some shopping. I got some blackberries and a box of kiwis! I'm excited, fruit salad. Then I came home and did some more homework. Finally, I settled in, grabbed a bowl of ice cream, turned off all the lights and watched the movie. It was cute, I wouldn't say the most entertaining flick I've ever seen, but it was alright.

I like spending time with myself and being caught up on schoolwork. I'm not feeling especially social this weekend, but maybe I will once this whole introspective phase is over. Tomorrow morning I'm going to church and then I'm going to try and find a Joannes so I can find some cheap patterns. Then I will return to F&S fabrics and find some amazing material and begin to create! Then I will come home, work a little bit on my perspective drawing and then go back to the evening service.

Time for a good night's sleep! woo. I'm just so happy, in love with jesus, and having fun.

I need to go to some museums! I was going to go with friends, but I think I might miss the exhibits I want to go to if I wait... so I'm going to try here very soon!

night

long week

busy busy bee.

So last week was a flurry and came and went so quickly. I had a bunch of projects and homework and a quiz. Thursday was the day I was most worried about because I had a quiz and notebook assignment due in my first class, and then a midterm project and presentation in my second. The project was also being critiqued by some of our professor's collegues. So there was a little bit of pressure to have something substantial to show.

My concept for my retail project is a men's clothing store, based off of a little boutique in Ballard called Blackbird. It's for the urban seattle male who dresses for casual, business and nights out, all while maintaining a fashionable flare. They carry designer brands of clothing as well as accessories and bags etc. The seattle male is also environmentally friendly and is aware of his community. So the space is meant to reflect that, with a loft design and very natural materials, woods, concrete, metal. The first store is the merchandise, while the second floor is more of a community-like hang out space, with local artists work on display, arcade style games, and a seating area created by hallways that run to the front of the store so you can see people hanging out upstairs from the street. The color palette is rich and masculine, leather and velvet, deep purples and browns.

Anyways, it's been really fun to conceptualize and create. The critics also really liked my work. They thought the space had a nice simplicity to it and that I really understood the client and the feel of the space. YAY. I'm going to also go visit this bar they recommended I see downtown, because it has a similar feel and utilizes black iron like I do with my staircase.

Yesterday I relaxed, it was a really long week with not that much sleep involved, so I slept in! Then I woke up and made the sheet hanging over my window into an actual curtain and put that up. I guess I didn't really do all that much yesterday. I think that's okay though, everyone deserves a down day every once in a while.

Today I woke up and ate breakfast and decided to update my blog, so here I am. I think I will go walk down to Melrose or something today and have a gander. I don't get out that much lately to see the town and I think that is something I need to take advantage of WAY more than I currently do. Okay I'm going to go take advantage of my free day!

moving along

Oh what a day. Life is so full lately, there's so much to do.

My to do list is quite extensive, I get overwhelmed just looking at it.

Yet, I'm so happy. I'm happy to be learning new things, and to be challenged to work really hard. I'm anticipating Christmas, family and friends. I'm adjusting, settling in, I'm almost so busy I don't notice if I haven't talked to anyone in a while. But things change day to day... so sometimes off days come, but they always go.

Back to homework! Drafting! Yay.

bowling and karaoke

So yesterday I deep cleaned the house. Well, I dusted everything, swept, swiffer wet jetted and picked stuff up. I swear there is two-year dust build up on some surfaces. So I wiped everything down and swept well and even swept off the porch and cobwebs, gross. Then I finished up, cleaned myself up and went and hung out with friends at my friend Ashley Powell's birthday party. She is a sweetheart because she's been introducing me to everyone since I've been down here, I'm so thankful for friends, and for her. So last night everyone bowled and karaoked to celebrate Ashley and this girl Brette who decided to have a combined party. The karaoke was in a separate room, pretty much the bar area and then there was bowling right when you walked in. I only bowled once in my socks, and gutter balled it, so I decided to quit or get shoes and join the next round. I got to connect with a lot of people I hadn't had a chance to yet, which was nice, and see the people I have been seeing and hanging out with consistently. It was a great mix.

Today I've got some major work ahead of me, I need to do my laundry, homework and start thinking about a lot of other things on my plate! whew, so much to do, so little time. Again, I can't wait to come home for Christmas. I get back a little late, December 21st, but I get to stay until January 10th. I'm okay with that kind of time back at home with my family and friends. I just won't have a car, or a very large wardrobe. haha, since that's all I seemed to have brought down with me!

Okay, no more sitting around, I've got to get to it!

Thursday

Today I spent another seven hours in front of the computer working on AutoCAD. I have re-drafted my retail space twice, but i'm much more pleased with the second version. When I got home tonight I got all the veggies and yummy annie's dressing out of the fridge and had a delightful salad. I haven't written in a while, I guess I got caught up in everything.

My parents visited me over the weekend, they got here on Saturday and I saw them sporadically through the week until they left on Wednesday. We went out to eat on Saturday in Malibu at this funky little place right on the water. Then on Sunday we drove down to Laguna, it wasn't very warm out, but I bundled up and braved the cold so we could drive with the top down for a little while. Laguna is really cute and sort of has a small town feel. I liked all the little boutique shopping and the galleries. There were a lot of families out and kids running around on the beach. I liked the whole suburb, family-friendly feel, I don't get enough of it here in west hollywood. We had dinner at an amazing bistro called the 520 Bistro. I had scallops over couscous that had bits of butternut squash in it and reduced balsamic over everything. There was this stringy light crunchy stuff, i forget what it was called but it had truffle oil drizzled over that. oh my gosh, incrrrredible. I want to go back.

On Monday morning I made my parents join me at one of my favorite breakfast places. My friend Ashley works there, so I usually sit at the bar and chat with her over breakfast and usually other friends as well. This time we sat down, and I think my parents were pretty skeptical at first, in fact, i know they were, you could read it all over their faces. But once we got our food, everyone was happy! They give the biggest helpings of food and add extra fruit, anything you want. After that mom and I went to the most amazing fabric stores ever! It's called F&S Fabrics and it has four different stores all next to each other on Pico. A couple are home decor stores so they have upholstry fabrics and drapery fabrics. The building we went into initially was garment fabric and some quilting fabrics as well. It didn't look that large, but then you could continue back thru the store room after room up these small ramps. I wanted to buy everything. It is more expensive than Joanne Fabrics, which is a given, but it is a lovely place full of inspiring prints. I want to go back.

My friend Caleb is in town so we've hung out a couple times, once with his sister Sarah. On Wednesday before my parent's flight they stopped in one last time to say bye. I miss them so much, but I love when they are here because they remind me of who I am, I don't have to try or work at being myself, it just happens. I think I just get to feeling low when I can't remember who I am because I'm in a completely wrong context, LA is wrong for me. that is a fact. But I am encouraged to enjoy it more every time my parents are here. I will get out and see more! I will!

I went to this church in Pasadena on Sunday morning, the day after my parents arrived. I liked it a lot, it also felt like home. Obviously it was meant to be a great weekend. The church is called Harvest Rock, and I'll be returning there this weekend as well. My friend Ashley from school is going to come with me, (she is also down here from SPU). There were all these interesting coincidences about going there, it felt like it was meant to be. I believe community is one of the most important things a person needs. We aren't meant to live this life alone! We're meant to be in community and build relationships with people who we can relate to. I'm excited to see where it goes.

I can't wait to come home for Christmas!!!!

heima

Whew, five hours in front of a computer is a long time. Yesterday I had class, then worked on AutoCAD forever. Then following my evening class I came home for a quick bite to eat and then headed over to the screening. The screening was held at the Vista Theatre, decorated with Egyptian heads, and upside down pyramid pendants. The interior had a lot of gold and red, and a huge red velvet curtain covering the screen. Before the screening Sigur Ros played an acoustic set. The director of Heima was onstage to introduce them and then all of a sudden they walked down the aisle right next to where we were sitting. They are, for the most part, soft spoken and kind of awkward, especially the singer, but they are great. The film was beautiful and followed Sigur Ros on a series of free shows all over Iceland. It was a time to relax and give back to their homeland after a world tour in 2006. What an incredibly inspiring place to live. They mentioned people thought they were strange for not wanting all the media attention and for retreating and not sharing every bit of information with the media. They were overwhelmed by the labels, the music industry itself, the travelling and the money. But the most inspiring thing behind all of it is that they stayed true to what they do and return to their roots. They live really simple lives in Iceland and simply love to write music, they don't want it to turn into purely a business venture.

Anyways, it was quite inspiring and a lovely film, you should watch the trailor if you haven't already. On our way out they also handed out posters! I love how everything was amazing and free! best event in LA so far. It ended around 1:15am and I was completely tuckered out.

tomorrow my parents come to visit!!! yayyyyyyy.