Huh.

Turns out the snow on the roof isn't 32 degrees, and doesn't keep your ice cream frozen.  Also, when marshmallow fluff thaws it becomes clear - and you remember exactly what it is you're eating.
Neither of these factors have stopped me from devouring large spoonfuls standing over the kitchen sink, although they probably should have.

Roll Series 002 - MIF 148

I DID IT! FEBRUARY 2010

"prep" - curtis sittenfeld - 2005

 

My knowledge of boarding school comes directly from popular culture; the Baroness in "The Sound of Music" joking about how she'll manage seven children, a similar threat in "The Parent Trap," plus the boys of  "Dead Poet's Society" and "With Honors" all factor in there.  The largest chunk of information comes from "Gilmore Girls" even though Chilton was a day school, it was a Northeastern prep school.    I've learned many formative years are spent without parental influence, there are ample opportunities for co-ed antics, it is a direct precursor to the ivy league, and it's for rich kids or supersmart kids looking for the best education.  It’s something that is so far beyond my own sphere I can hardly comprehend it – good thing the same holds true for the novel’s protagonist, Lee Fiora, who attends the expensive school on scholarship though she isn't especially smart and doesn't add diversity.  We see this exclusive world through the eyes of a very complex character, so obsessed with observing the actions of others she pretty much loses her sense of self.  “prep” spans Lee’s entire 4 years at Ault, but Sittenfeld deftly moves between times for tidbits of needed information – what Lee thinks as an adult for example – which greatly helps the reader pull for Lee, even when you want to smack her.  Sittenfeld creates a believable world filled with “bank boys” and perfect “prefects” and a few outcasts, too.  I couldn’t help picturing every rich boy looking like Tristan (Chad Michael Murray) or Melissa Joan Hart's basketball playing crush in "Drive Me Crazy" (Gabriel Carpenter).  I felt more genuine affection for Lee’s parents than any student – they truly want their daughter to be happy (and her father is very funny) except when he isn't.  In some ways you think she would be happier back in South Bend, an average girl attending an average high school, but the view would not be nearly as interesting. 

“prep” was Sittenfeld’s debut novel, on many best of lists for 2005, garnering many comparisons to established male authors.   The cover is fresh, yet classic and completely recognizable, plus my borrowed hardcover has some lovely embossing over the belt buckle, quite a nice touch.  Since “prep” she has written two more novels, and I just remembered that I read her contribution to “THIS IS NOT CHICK LIT” a short story anthology by women authors.  I  also will be searching for her on NPR’s “This American Life” if only to verify that her speaking voice sounds how I imagine it does. 

Resolutions, Create

The goal of this one is to use a craft supply I've bought but never put to use.  Technically I already fulfilled this one with my guitar strap - so this one's bonus.  I reworked a metal tin gift card holder with spray paint and an Avett Brothers sticker.  Just to show how long I've been buying and holding on to potential craft supplies - these were 90% off after xmas (...2008) -and they are buy no means the oldest unused supply I own.  2 down, though, feels pretty good.

2 for Feb

Moved the sewing machine, finally. Rearranged the studio, again.

Two Birds

"Whip It" (aka Derby Girl) - Shauna Cross - 2007

Roller Derby is awesome, and that's a straight up fact.  It's one of those things I just know I'd be great at in my own head (like riding a mechanical bull,  boxing, etc) but would suck at in reality.  Sadly, the Greater Johnstown area hasn't had a functional skating rink since the mid-90's when Skateland closed it's doors.  Some of my best elementary school memories reside in those dingy rental skates, I would love to see it come back.  However, even if we had a rink and a derby league (rooftop derby jokes aside) it's not a sport I'd attempt without health insurance or being in better shape, but I sure do admire the hell of those girls that live it.  

I found Drew Barrymore's film adaptation fun and spot-on, especially her role in it - laugh out loud hilarious.  They did an excellent job casting recognizable yet believable actresses.  I guess I related to the women in the film more than the novel, as I'm closer to 30 than 20... I appreciated Juliette Lewis's character talking about all the years she's fought to find something she excelled at, and Kristin Wiig's character being a mom.  The derby girls in the novel are college age, not too many years separate them from Bliss.  Someday those years will become nearly meaningless, 27 isn't all that different from 24, but 19 is pretty damn different from 16.  The novel's Derby Girls have their freedom from parental figures, but the freedom feels less of a lifestyle and more of a potential passing phase, than the women in the film version.  

I was so excited to read "Whip It" after finishing the "French Lieutenant's Woman" because it seemed like the perfect piece of contemporary teen angst to counterpoint the heavy Victorian/Postmodern language of Fowles classic.  Unfortunately it wasn't.  Overall, and as evidenced by how much I enjoyed the film, I enjoyed the coming-of-age story.  However, I found Cross's teen speak increasingly cloying and bothersome, in the end I found it hard to root for Bliss.  

 There's a large chunk of indie rock culture built on knowing the most obscure bands before anyone else does.  Now, I love a pop culture reference, I had a black eye from the Gilmore Girls drinking game to prove it...but honestly, is the pro tools vs. reel to reel comment necessary?  Cross tries just a little too hard - which is where the film trumps the novel - it's way easier to include a sweet song than write about one. And...

 Would a 16-year-old in 2007 really make out to Pinkerton?  

I sincerely doubt it.

1) It's not a great make out album. 

2) Bliss would have been 5 when that record came out. 

3) She doesn't know the Velvet Underground and Nico, but quotes, "Why Bother"?  

Where's her "two years" of musical education coming from? 

4) I'm not buying it.  

I buy that the author would know and love Weezer's second record, I do, almost everyone I know does - those people aren't 16.  Authors should remember that songs/albums beloved in the mid-90's probably don't correspond with beloved albums of teens in the 2000's.   

Oh, and I think "Sam's Town" surpassed the hype, and the reference seriously dated the book.  

Cross's screenplay surpasses the book, I think she really got the story right the second time around. Drew Barrymore nails her directorial debut, if you ignore the blatant Cover Girl product placement and Little Joy shout out, that is. 

"Alice" - Jan Svankmajer - 1988

 

  

We Did It!

Kate and I watched all of  Jan Svankmajer's

stop-motion/live action adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland."

Resolutions - Nearly there.

Killed two birds with one stone last night.  Pictures to come.  Checked 3 items off my to do list for February in one day - feels awesome.

Resolutions, Learn

Meet my new baby, her name's Annabeth,
because she's petite and sounds great.  

I have committed all but one 1st postition chord
to memory - damn you B7!  I have also officially learned two songs. 

"The French Lieutenant's Woman" - John Fowles - 1969

READ FEB 2010

Holy shit, I honestly can't believe I finished this novel with just over a week to spare!  I thought for sure I'd be pushing it all the way til the 28th and hoping for a leap year.  I felt victorious last night, but at the same time, I cannot quite decide how I feel about the book itself.  On one hand, I liked the postmodern aspects and the authors voice.  On the other hand, I don't know if I actually liked the book.  I also found myself racing to the finish, I have a deadline to uphold after all, so perhaps I'm being unfair.  I am very glad I read it for the simple fact of fulfilling my goal for the month and finishing a book that was given to me years ago.  Feels pretty good.  I can rent the movie now...

In honor of the Winter Olympic Games (and the final season of Lost):

“The Cutting Edge” (1992) remains my favorite film featuring the Olympics, figure skating, hockey, or D.B Sweeney.  Some people I know would argue in favor of “Fire in the Sky, but I will never watch it - alien abduction and giant needles - no way, man! 18 years later (holy shit - the actors are looking especially young during this viewing!) and still one of my all time favorite romantic comedies.   It features a pitch perfect “Opposites Attract” storyline, done a lot better than most romance novels, I might add.  With a novel the chemistry has to leap off the page – if the author isn’t selling, the reader certainly isn’t buying.  Too often I feel that the H/H don’t actually like each other; no matter how much hot sex they have.  Kate and Doug fight their attraction by fighting with each other.   Now for a favorite scene I didn't completely understand as a 10-year-old:

"You're falling for him."
"What?"
"Doug."
"Yes. (rolling eyes)"
"You are, you're falling for him."
"...that's crazy."
"You think so?"
"You're nuts!"
"Am I?"
"Well, you see how we act together..."
"Yes, I do."
"...we never get along, I mean we're always fighting."
"foreplay."
  
They fight, they skate, she breaks his nose, he declares his love, they skate, they kiss, they (presumably ) win Olympic Gold .

Resolutions, Cut and Paste

I admit, I have a problem.  I love glossy fashion magazines,  I get most of them very cheap at the library, but I should admit I am prone to an impulse buy at the checkout.  The growing problem can be found in the piles to be read and the piles to be taken for recycling that are taking over my house!  The plan is to contain pages will be neatly contained in corresponding folders.  I've been keeping 3-ring binders since my Metals class in college (the only skill I took away from it, I sucked big time...)  In an effort to control the piles of paper, I resolved to create a minimum of 5 pages per month.  February is done - Yay!  I focused on my color binder, and exceeded the 5 pages.  The images are from my camera phone, so the quality isn't great, but you get the point.  I remember reading artist Miriam Shapiro talk about the importance of play when creating art.  That's what the binders are for me.  They're usually collages from fashion magazines, and they aren't meant as anything but an artistic warm-up and inspiration. 

Us girls.

Just wanna have fun! Or at least I do :D

I love taking things easy and not being so serious and just turning everything into one big enjoyable time when I can. Much less stressful! (But there are occasionally some consequences of frivolity la, FML.)

Met up for lunch at Swensen's last Friday with Jesnie, Amanda, Lindy, Abigail and of course Rachel, before she went back to Australia.

My first time eating at Swensen's that was actually tat (worth it)! They had a promotion where you get a free side order, sundae or drink with a main course. So I had the fish and chips and picked the biggest and most expensive sundae I saw on the menu (very kiasu wanna get my money's worth lol!): the banana split! 

So I ate until I wanna piak for B$13.90. Not bad, I say.

Me, Jesnie and Manda. So cute how Jesnie's eyes always disappear when she smiles really big. Heheh.

Me, Jes, Manda, Abigail and Rach.

Me, Jes, Manda, Lindy and Abigail.

Photos courtesy of Rachel and taken from her Facebook.

After lunch, Manda, Jesnie and I went off window shopping. I'm starting to love window shopping, with the occasional purchase. It just feels so fun and girly, even if we do just go to the same stores all the time.

Tried on shoes in Charles & Keith, Cartino Sonea and Summit. Hell, why all no CNY sales one! :(

Then we went to try on dresses! Dunno how many times already I've been to Bingo and Ego to try dresses. Manda was me and Jesnie's real life Barbie doll! It was so fun asking her to try on stuff cause she was willing :D 3 of us even had to rotate between 2 fitting rooms in Ego.

And for the first time, I (we) went into Butik Eileen Chen to scout out their dresses! And we were actually pleasantly surprised. They had an entire rack of really cute short prom dresses from Jessica McClintock (I took the liberty of checking the label lol)!

I even went and searched on their website for the exact same dresses.

This was the one I tried on. It's listed as USD$198 on the website. If you convert it, that's like B$270 wtfbbq!! Stupid me forgot to look at the actual Butik Eileen Chen pricetag though.

I like it but I felt the boobie and straps part was strange loh. Too thick and bulky cause of the rosettes. But they had the other colour on the mannequin where the white part was light pink, so chio!

This was the one Manda tried. It looks gorgeous in the picture and on the hanger, but the boob part was weird too and the skirt was unflattering and flappy. So sad.

What I love about this Jessica McClintock is that they've got SO much choice! They make the same dress with different types of skirts, so you can pick whichever you want. And each dress comes in a variety of colours too. So it's really easy to find something you love.

ALTHOUGH, there's a high probability that prom might be in SCHOOL this year! Wtf!! We're all going psycho imagining it. Us girls getting all dolled-up and pretty just to go to... school?!? And taking photos with your friends/dates in front of... notice boards?! Going for make-up or hair touch-ups in... the downstairs girls' toilet?!

Omg. Kill me nao. Classrooms, quadrangle, hall, canteen, basketball court, school field. All so terribly unglam! Sigh. Please tell us it won't be so :(

Resolutions, Do...

...something beyond my comfort zone.  Thanks to some good friends I fulfilled this one early this month. In return I found a sweet new hobby for exercise and fun, and the added bonus of something new to decorate!

Project Runway Season 7

It's like reconnecting with an old friend.  I am completely and utterly serious.  On top of that, watching a new season without shelling out money for cable makes me even happier, thank you hulu and lifetime.com!  As for the actual season - absolutely nothing shocking so far - no hookups, no cheaters, no real fights.  I haven't bothered to learn some contestants names, but I still get excited to watch (ok, sometimes skim) a new episode.  The bad news - no one this season is funny, at all (well, Anthony usually mildly amusing, but he is the editors' go-to for commentary, and he's no Jay or Santino).  The good news  - some designers are very strong - they have a POV and strong construction skills.  My money's on Emilio for the Final 3 - but I still don't have a favorite.  Amy is pretty cool, young and talented, and holding her own and winning a challenge.   The producers/editors of Project Runway really want the viewer to think Mila is a "villian" no one else likes.  She (Mila) wants the viewer to think they don't like her because they are jealous of her mad skills... seems to me like some tv execs are wishing and praying for the return of  Season One Wendy-esque manipulations.  But in reality they can't have much drama to work with (which is half the fun).  It's all pretty beige and boring at this point, just like Mila's dress for Heidi.  Hey-o!

"VOMA Dawning" Event 2/06/10

A benefit for VOMA a multi-disciplinary venue working to restore and repurpose St. George's Catholic Church in the Cambria City section of Johnstown, for art, theater and live music.   I finished a new painting within my Keeper Shelf series just for this event and silent auction.  Close friends Jacob Koestler and powerhouse siblings Brandon and Olivia Locher contributed work as well.  Unfortunately Mother Nature decided to dump 20+ inches of snow on the area - some people undaunted by the weather showed for a good time and a good cause. 

One for me, and one for you, Snorlax.

Essay collection - The Gift.

My reason for starting this essay project is simple: I wanted a permanent archive of my written work throughout my school years, something I could re-read whenever I wanted, and not end up losing in the sands of time.

I'd post the stuff I wrote when I was 9, but you'd probably die reading it so I'm only going as far back as 2007, when I was in Form 2. Because it was all school work, handed in to and marked by Mrs Manik, there are no profanities whatsoever.

-----

Written February 10th, 2007. I was 13.

       For as long as she would live, Sammy Jean Wright would probably never forget her pearl memory. She’d been seven, her life painted with greed, pride and selfishness. She’d unwrapped a small gift from her grandmother on the day of her birthday, wondering how her grandmother had managed to fit the Barbie doll she’d requested into that tiny little box. Lifting the lid, she saw a long ribbon placed over pearls. So many pearls, all glimmering proudly in the bright lights of the room.

       The gift was beautiful, but Sammy’s heart fell anyway. What good were a bunch of stupid pearls? She’d run up to her room and slammed the door shut loudly. She had surveyed each and every pearl on her dressing table, and then turning away, swept her hand across its smooth surface and the pearls fell soundlessly onto the carpet, into a dark corner where they would lay for the next nine years, completely untouched.

       Fingering the delicate fabric of her black dress, sixteen year old Samantha Wright stepped over the threshold into her empty bedroom. She’d come from her grandmother’s wake and black mascara drew lines down her wet cheeks. And then slowly, the pearl memory crept into her mind.

       Kneeling down before the same pink dressing table she’d sat at so many years ago, Sammy felt along the rough carpeting behind it. She felt little spheres, dozens, and then a smooth, satiny ribbon. She picked them up carefully and placed them all on her bed. Arranging the pearls in a perfect row, she ran her fingers over them.

       Now, thinking back, she could barely believe what she’d done that day when she was seven. Since those pearls, she’d never received another present from her grandmother. Lost in memories, she thought back to all the times she’d spent with her grandmother. She’d taught Sammy to read and write, and to braid her own hair. She’d consoled Sammy when she had come home crying on her first day of school, and reassured her that everything would be okay.

       Sammy had gone to her grandmother about her first crush, first kiss and first heartbreak, and received many a wise word. When her schoolmates had shunned her for being black on her first day of high school, it had been her grandmother’s shoulder Sammy had cried on and her grandmother’s voice whispering in her ear about her own experiences with racism.

       Her grandmother had always been there for her, even when no one else was. Through thick and thin, with warm eyes and words of wisdom to spare. She’d learnt countless life lessons from her grandmother.

       Suddenly, Sammy sat up straight on her bed. She picked up a single pearl and threaded it onto the ribbon. A fresh tear fell down her face as she tied the ribbon around her neck in the glow of the mirror. This pearl, the first and probably the most important, stood for something very valuable, something Sammy wished she’d learnt much sooner.

       In that moment, she realized that that add-a-pearl necklace around her neck was most certainly not the only gift her grandmother had ever given her.

Getting Organized

Not for the faint of heart...  

  

The Positive (what's already done):

1)Fabrics wrapped on boards and sorted by color.
2)Smaller pieces in trays by color
3)Bookshelf sorted
4)Magazines contained - sorting system in place
5)Closet repurposed 
6)Shelving unit in place - Scrapbook paper easily reached and sorted by color.  Glue/Glitter/Stickers have homes. 
7)Made a ribbon rack.  
8)Home for stamps, punches, and mail.
9)Place for library books
10)Crossed quite a few Items off my project list!

The plan:

1) To hang as many tools as possible on the walls.  This will promote creativity with easy accesss and increase valuable floor space.

2) To create separate spaces for sewing/painting/crafting.  Essentially clean/dirty spaces kept apart to avoid oil paints on fabrics, etc.  This is actually a mental separation as well.  It's almost as if I couldn't possibly sew if the paints are out - will be working on that.

3) To use all the plastic storage containers I've accumulated, because they are brightly colored and too cheap to pass up.  Labels are key.


4) Right now I have a "limbo box" of possible projects, ideas that  haven't been executed yet, etc. Trying to make room for a "limbo shelf" - because I'm more likely to use it if I can see it.  


5) Conquering my obsession with paper...or maybe just beating it into submission. 

6) Come spring - I'm painting those ugly walls!
  

Above - The messy pile of fabric and a sad machine still in the bedroom...However, I made a good bit of progress Sunday evening - hung up a sweet lamp, made two rock lights, and worked hard to remove non-essential items (photo albums, writing notebooks)from studio. Below, the before picture of the "In Limbo" section.  Today that box is mostly empty - I found a home for photo cds in an old napkin holder and a basket for transistional studio items, and by that I mean snacks! Ha!  

A place for everything and everthing in its' place.  A girl can dream.

Xin nian kuai le and Happy V-day!

February 14th is finally here! To all my Chinese friends and readers, wherever you are...

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Ang pau na lai ;)

Hope you guys have a happy CNY with your ang paus and kams and kuacis and fireworks and family and gambling and beer! :D

It's the year of the Tiger! Rawr!

You can have your pick between Tigger, Winnie the Pooh's friend...

Or Tony the Tiger, the Kellogg's Frosties cereal mascot, lol!

I'm having a super boring and mundane Chinese New Year this year :( While my friends are in Malaysia visiting relatives and collecting $$$ ang paus, I'm stuck here at home and gonna rot my bum off for the next 2 days.

Last year's Chinese New Year was fun, we had the whole family crammed into the house. I realized that this is the last CNY that I'm going to be spending in Brunei. Next year I get to go visiting every single tiny, obscure, unknown 4th relative!! LOL! 

And best of all, I'll be able to drive the family! Okay fine, that's actually really unlikely, cause my dad always drives no matter what. And the kids still get stuck in the backseat no matter how old we are.

The only thing I'm looking forward to this CNY is Maria's Chinese New Year potluck party! You'd better confirm it!! But I know I'm going to get scolded for mentioning it here 0=)

Emmefin cute CNY cupcakes!

I think white bulangsai's (or barongsai, whatever) are the chioest things ever!

And haha, poor St. Valentine's Day is overshadowed by CNY this year. Which is good!! Valentine's Day is so biased to loving couples while leaving all of us singletons out in the cold. Mean holiday!

But nonetheless...

Now back to my chu yi KFC lunch! LOL. It sounds mad pathetic but at least it's super yummy :)