pumped

Human breast milk - delivered fresh.

those are big

Rushing to get home, I speedily made my way through the alley crossing to my car. On the way, however, I saw this man and had to say hello. I've been saying recently that I was "compelled to," or "he was irresistible" or something to that effect and it's true - I just can't resist approaching cute old men that have something oddly eccentric about them. Take this man for example...he has some big gloves on. Imagine how great I felt when he shook my hand with both of those honkies.

Zell, 70 years old, Redwood City

leftovers

There's a theory in Anthropology that deals with making the strange familiar and the familiar strange. This picture is of the plastic bag that carried our leftovers from dinner. A familiar thing looking so strangely beautiful than what it's normally known for.

the great contortionist

mister guevara

I saw Che today. Teatro Vision is putting on a show called "School of the Americas" until February 10th at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. It's an account of the last 3 days of Che's life before he was executed in Bolivia. The show is an intense drama infused with humor where the characters are forced to be honest with themselves and their passions.

the alley crossing

I've seen Pete several times before, as I make my usual alleyway crossing; but I have never stopped to say hello. I think it's because I've felt uncomfortable walking behind the grocery outlet; there are always men out there, and as a woman, I never know what they're thinking. "Am I being objectified? Do they not give a care in the world? Do they just want me to get out of the way? What if I said "hello" or smiled, would I send the wrong message?"

In any case, Pete (being one of those really threatening-looking types) was alone Tuesday morning, taking a smoke break. He looked so sweet sitting on a milk carton in his beanie/cap combo in the brisk cold of a winter morning; he was irresistable. So I approached him and asked if I could take his picture. He agreed and I shot this one of him; name tag and all.

"Hi Pete!"

o LA: the end

o LA: Day 4 was the end of my LA series, in terms of pictures. I have more LA pics posted on facebook, so check it out. We can become virtual friends if we're not already.

Being in LA made me:
Remember how much I love the bay area.
Aware of how I'm a visitor to the place I spent 17 years of my life.
Appreciate the variety of ethnicities and their communities, and
See more clearly how divided the city is.

I found myself meeting a lot of random people, having short-random-fun encounters, smiling a lot more, taking risks, and being in the moment. It was that same feeling I get when I travel to a new place - my mind and heart was wide open. I'm realizing that that feeling is possible to achieve in the "mundanes" of everyday life; and I'm in the process of getting there.

o LA: day 4

After good eats at Messob, Cindy and I met these guys on the way back to her car. We stood on the corner of Fairfax and Olympic and started chatting for a while. I found each of them to be fun(ny), full of life and character, and a ball to be with. Though it was short, my time with them was rich and I left with my curiousity piqued. Meet the guys:

George, 43 years old, self-employed traffic director at Starbucks parking lot














Kirk, 46 years old, full of questions














Marshall, 75 years old, bashful but bold



















Ronald, 43 years old, playful and poised

o LA: day 3

Grass was growing on the the top of a "no parking" sign.

o LA: day 2

Grace and I ate at alcove on Saturday afternoon after a hike where we roamed around and got lost on dead-end trails. We sat on these benches that were uncomfortable to lean back on, but were pretty to take pictures of.

o LA: day 1

A library patron muttered under his breath, "You're so distracting," while I walked by after taking pictures of people reading their books. Mind you, I was probably a couple hundred feet away when I took the pics so as to not be distracting. Apparently, this guy was studying so hard he didn't notice anything around him.





















John's vertically gifted. I doubt most people see him at this angle; I never have.
John, 22 years old, Los Angeles Public Library-Main Branch,

sjc

I anxiously walked around the airport while waiting for my flight and found Brendon sitting at terminal A1 looking adorably cute.

Brendon, 4 years old, SJC

8am deadline

I get the feeing that for many people - let me rephrase - mainly women (and some men) that get into work around 8/8:30am, grab a cup of coffee and sit down at their desks -- getting updated with their favorite blogs for the first 15-20 minutes or so before they actually start their work day is a daily ritual. There's a research study on this behavior that I don't know about that confirms my statement as the truth. It makes sense, reading blogs is like reading world news: it's just that important. Especially when it's content that's featured here, or here, or here.

Um, yeah. That said, sorry to all of you that thought I delivered "Fresh Everyday." I lied. Yesterday, I was an anxious mess trying to get to the airport on time because I was sure I'd miss my one-hour delayed flight to LA. (Thanks Southwest); I went dancing at Lindygroove and had a guy reject me for a dance (Who in their right mind would-o nevermind); and then fell asleep immediately afterward (well, that is...I fell asleep immediately after two attempts at writing an entry that I could post last night so that you all would be entertained this morning with a pretty new picture and some scribble that maybe makes you snicker a "heh").

I'm spending the weekend in LA, so I should have some good jankity jank janks to work with.

she really is...

Wow, I can't believe how cute Sage is getting. This picture of her makes me want to curl up and die.





















Picture probably taken by Gene.

ferris

One night last week, my roommate left a little ferret hiding in my bed. So, when I came home late and lifted my blanket to go to bed, I squealed because I saw a little critter laying where I was supposed to be. I giggled, (thought of what I'd do to get her back) and pushed the hairy thing aside.

Sunday night, my roommates and I were having dinner and we decided to have the ferret join us since we have 4 chairs and there were only 3 of us. Ferret even got a name that night -- we (or maybe I) decided to call him Ferris (like Bueller). He doesn't shed hair, ask for food, need to be let out, make a mess .... He also doesn't move, want to cuddle, wag its non-existent tail, smile, or return my kisses.

I've always wanted a ferret-dog-snake, but not sure if this is exactly what I was imagining.

powerhouse - day 2

I took my first spinning class today; it was pretty intense. No wonder people had their towels on the handle bars...I was sweating like a person who sweats a lot. Part of the reason why I took the spinning class was to avoid Mr. Muscles. I was afraid to see him again....and you know what....he was there. Go figure. I went straight past him to the locker room and then straight back out into the room class was held. I hoped that Mr. Muscles would be gone by the time I got out, but he was inevitably still there. Standing so still, flexing is enormous muscles. *shudder*

Well, I decided I wouldn't let him intimidate me, so I went to the free weight area and did a few arm things and just focused on my 5 pounders. Afterward, I decided that I would just go right up to him and take a picture. So, I did....











Say hello to Mr. Muscles. Some people call him Governor.

plastic train

I won the game I don't remember the name of.

mARC

He lived a life of integrity and honor.
He rallied people around his passions.
He was always present.
He said things in honest love.
He left a legacy.

I left Marc's memorial service inspired to pursue my passions and love people more fully.

who wears short shorts?

I love Santa Cruz.

love love love

Sachi took her first breath 24 days ago. 24 days later, I got to watch Sarita & Anil gaze at their new babe with deep tenderness and affection. Their love for her is palpable...and watching them interact with Sachi is a beautiful thing.

powerhouse - day I

These aren't beads I hung up in my dorm room in my very artsy hippy college in the redwoods. Nor is it decor that I have up in my house. It's a g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s shot of the shower curtains at my new gym. Whhaaaat? Yeah, that's what I said when I saw them. Fancy Schmancy Mr. Powerhouse.

Gyms...I haven't had membership to one since college. And today, I remembered why. They are often filled with very large muscular men who intimidate me with their very large guns. But, more than those guys...there's something worse there that every gym has. Machines. Lots of exercise machines.

I did some circuit training because the very angular, cold, black and white machines seemed approachable and user-friendly with their little humans-broken-down-into-muscle-pieces diagrams. "Sure, I could use a little work on my latimma-ma-wha..?"

Maybe I'll do some free weights. I picked up my little 5 pounders and worked it real hard next to the guy leaning in a 45 degree angle doing 50lb/arm bicep curlies. (I made the poundage up; is that even a lot? Doesn't matter, it's 10xs more weight than I used, so I was impressed).

With my legs and arms feeling wobbly and worn out, I was about to make my way back to the locker room when I saw....him. His unique 80s look was a bit outdated, but it still suited him, especially given what he was wearing, or shall I say not wearing. He looked straight at me while flexing his huge - I mean HUGE - muscles. We caught each others' eyes for a moment, but I had to look away because...

Check back for the revealing of Mr. Muscles identity in "powerhouse - day 2."

ritual

I am the Grocery Shopper for my house. Without fail, every week I make my rounds at either Milk Pail in Mountain View or Ayer Produce Market in Redwood City/Fair Oaks for produce and Trader Joe's for everything else. I love going to Milk Pail because of their wide variety of fresh produce displayed in a European outdoor market style (so they claim). Of course I have to believe that it's European style because it makes me feel better that I'm there...again...doing the same thing I do every week for the past year and a half. No, no resentment here.

No really, I do love having to push my mini cart through mini aisles with too 'mini' people fighting to buy the last of the mini persimmons for the season. I lie; I've never had to fight anyone for mini persimmons because Milk Pail doesn't even carry that species.










Honestly though, if you know me, you know that I love going to the grocery store, especially picking out produce. Take me to a grocery store like Berkeley Bowl and you'll make my tastebuds happy and I will probably show you much affection as I inhale large quantities of fruit.

self-portrait

sweet potato man

It's been a while since going to The Galleria korean market in Sunnyvale. I hoped to see this old man there who sells freshly broiled sweet potatoes. I had imagined how great the korean style sweet potato would be on this cold day. So when I saw him under a newly built wooden awning with his little machine/broiler, I was thrilled! He's a jolly man; so he enthusiastically agreed when I asked if I could take a picture of him. He threw in a few extra sweet potatoes at the end of our shoot.

I wonder....

ink

I started an art project today. I have an idea of what I'd like for it to manifest into; however, I'm trying to stay open to the fact that creating art is a process...and sometimes it changes along the way. This is just the first piece of (a non-existing) many. They are lines, curves, and dots that form words about finding identity. I let my fingers capture where my mind went with a few breaks (naps, guitar, a movie, and some snacks) in between. 14"x17" filled.

usual spot

I've been traveling far distances this weekend since the weather's been quite conducive for long drives and plenty of outdoor activities. I had to cross millions of pieces of gravel and stoop real low to get this shot...of a large puddle in my driveway. In fact, these are the ripples that were created after my roommate drove in as she tried to splash an unsuspecting photographer. Don't worry, no damage was done to my pajamas-which I was wearing at the time...in case you were wondering.

I mentioned yesterday something I imagined happening...today, it became a reality.

it's filling up

I'm feeling bittersweet about the massive amounts the rain pouring down for hours on end. Part of me loves it because it's a great reason to stay indoors in my pj's and snuggle. But, there's the part of me that feels trapped! Today, I imagined running outside in a t-shirt and scrappy sweat pants and getting soaked! I think I would've laughed so much in sheer gleeeeeee... maybe tomorrow it won't just be in my imagination.

Oh yeah, my backyard and garden flooded today. The wind even knocked over my really expensive and heavy patio furniture.

leap for your life!

I like organized chaos. And, the little man sticker adds a little flair to this yellow mess. Plus, I just happened to have this sticker laying around - two of them in fact. (lucky me.)

So what's up with all these post-its? Well, I used them to facilitate a tedious process of categorizing product ideas. When I finished, I went back and took all of the post-its off and found a small mound which I then proceeded to post all over a window/wall in my cube.

But on a serious note, do you ever feel like a black bodied, red headed, stiff person leaping from yellow post-it to yellow post-it trying to escape a large red circle trying to roll you over?

from afar

I got a letter from Joy today. Joy's a special friend I made during my time at Habitat. She recently moved to Ghana with the Peacecorps and has committed two years of her life to love and serve women and children in a remote part of the country.

Joy's the type of person that inspires you to live passionately and with integrity. I sent her a box of prunes, raisins, and chapstick along with a long letter in late November, but she got is significantly later. I hope the goodies didn't go bad.

I miss you Joy!

beginnings

This is my wish for 2008. I want to spend some time reflecting on 2007 and dreaming for 2008.

Highlights

Some of the highlights of this year include:

• The birth of baby sage: July
  
• Cafe Borrone & HopeLab: April & September
  
• SE Asia: July
  
• Joy (Young)
• Salmonella week: March
  
• My new camera: October
• Steph & SeiWei getting married: July
• Pri & Alex getting married: November