Best Media of 2018

My previous post was a recap of my year in more personal terms, but here is the soundtrack (of sorts) to 2018. I would love to read any comments you have if you've also heard/read/seen any of the things I enjoyed this past year.

Music (because it's one of the most effective time capsules, don't you think?):
I spent a fair amount of music-listening time this year wanting to feel comforted and not wanting to have to think about exactly what song might be the perfect fit, so I listened to a lot of older Coldplay, actually. They're not necessarily happy songs, but they're familiar and calming to me.

Most of the new music that I listened to (whether newly released or just new-to-me) ended up having political undertones. I found this medium a clearer commentary of life in modern America than any written word I can think of. I think the written word is still the most powerful to me in general, but I'm distrustful of it lately, partly because the volume is at 11 and I have trouble sifting through fact and fiction, or being okay with letting any of it speak to me for whatever its worth, regardless of the the "truth" or lack there of there within. Anyway, I've been adding to a playlist called Resistance Party that's all songs that - to me - directly address the times. In some cases, these songs actually taught me. The playlist is rap-heavy as I think this genre is what folk used to be in terms of commentary.



One of the most striking songs (to me) is an old one by Nina Simone called Missisippi Goddam that I heard for the first time this year. Definitely not a song of hers you might have heard at a dinner party.

Another one that really struck me is Thy Neighbor by Jackie Hill Perry, which starts out, "The church is held together by the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, this is why I can't be a true christian and say I love Jesus but I can't stand the church," followed later by the funny but also convicting "the Jesus in me sees the Jesus in you." Damn, sister!

Childish Gambino's song  This is America (and it's video) got a lot of buzz this year, and I'm noting it here, not because I listened to it a ton, but because after hearing the buzz, I sat down to watch the video (with Ira on my lap) and like everyone else, was stunned by the sudden point-blank shooting a few seconds into the video. I was very shaken since Ira saw it and it was very hard to explain that it was real but not real - and I guess that's the whole point. Real but not real enough but so real.

Artist of the year: Cardi B (I love her on many levels, and I am still not tired of her song "I Like It"). Not to mention that she in my top 3 best dressed celebrities in 2018 (Zendaya was another, for anyone curious).
Best love song: Denim by Priscilla Renea
Biggest earworm: I Won't Hurt You by The West Coast Pop Experimental Band (Isle of Dogs)
Best discovery: boygenius (thanks Michelle!)

Live shows: I saw Lily Allen live, an artist I've admired for a long time! 

Best soundtrack: the musical (that I haven't seen) The Band's Visit.
Best album: Janelle Monae's Dirty Computer and it's accompanying "Emotion Picture", a music video montage of about 6 of the songs off the album. I think my mouth was a-gape the entire time I watched it. Daring, Sexy, Powerful, Explosively Creative.

Movies and Shows:
(in rough order of how well known I think they are)

• Coco
• Westworld (season 1)
• Isle of Dogs
• Blackkklansman. The quality of the movie itself was all over the place, but the premise of the is riveting and it provided a much needed jolt concerning my outlook on race relations.
• Maniac (Netflix; bizarre, funny Jonah Hill and Emma Stone show about a drug trial)
• Kim's Convenience (Netflix; absolutely hilarious Canadian sitcom with special interest for Asian-Americans and dads-and-daughters)
• Legion (the most un-Marvel Marvel show you'll see, in the best way. Quality varies by season, in my opinion).
• Method (Netflix; a Russian detective show that is very intense but fascinating. Intriguing mental illness component)
• Babylon Berlin (Netflix; amazing German period drama, for fans of Peaky Blinders)
• Rise of the Phoenixes (Netflix; 70+ hour-long episodes of Chinese historical drama; beautiful, clever, intricate, tragic, and worth overlooking the cheesy bits)

Books:
Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses. I felt so lost in this book at first, but the writing style is unlike anything I've ever read, and it is awe inspiring. I was also encouraged by this book that there isn't "one right way" in order for writing to be truly great.

Similarly, I read many sections of Why We Write (edited by Meridith Maran) which inspire me to write whenever I pick it up and helps me ward off impostor syndrome as I identify with all sorts of feelings and thoughts shared by other writers in that book.

I read 11 1/2 books of the Bible, Judges being my favorite and John being my least favorite. I hope to elaborate another time.

Pearl S. Buck's autobiography, My Several Worlds. I find so much comfort and wisdom in her thoughts and experiences as a white woman raised in China and spending adulthood in the United States. I appreciate how cantankerous she was in some ways; it seems only natural for a life both wonderful and tumultuous and gives validation to my own sort of stormy inner self.

The least well-written book I read was The Painted Kiss by Elizabeth Hickey. It's historical fiction based on the relationship between the famous painter Gustav Klimt and his muse, Emilie. It was enjoyable and I learned a lot about Austrian history, but I was not overly impressed with its quality in terms of "literature."

We listened to the novel Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynee Jones as an audiobook and it was thoroughly enjoyed by our whole family. It will be very familiar to anyone who has seen the movie adaptation, but it's different enough to warrant a read. It also quotes a John Donne poem, and nothing endears me more than when a book (or sermon, tbh) I'm enjoying quotes something that I love and am familiar with.

Podcasts:
I was encouraged by some episodes of Exploring My Strange Bible (the ones on Why Church Matters, thanks to my friend Luke!) and the Liturgists podcast (particularly "Prophet or Ass" and "Church Unity"). I also read several chapters of The Gospel Comes with a Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield that gave me a few gold nuggets to hang on to (I guess that should go under books, but it fits this section better).

Visual media:
There is so much (so much!) visual content that inspires me throughout the year, and I try and share it periodically in my stories on Instagram. I'm always dumping stuff into my Pinterest vortex too. Jonas and I did stop by the Getty Musuem for the first time in many years to see a fashion history exhibit that was amazing, as well as some of the other visiting exhibits. I also started following hashtags on Instagram (I'm not sure if that feature was new to 2018 or not) and it's a great way to discover all sorts of new things. I took part in the #fjnine challenge many times, pulling photos from my feed to match the weekly color scheme. Here are the collages I made, all with my own photos.

I can't wait to discover new things and uncover old things in 2019.

My Ideal Bookshelf

There's this book called My Ideal Bookshelf that is full of illustrations and lists by writers and otherwise famous people of their favorite books, or the books that have most impacted them. I love that idea, because you really can tell a lot about someone from browsing their bookshelf. I even heard of a man who decided, upon his first time meeting a woman and seeing her book collection, that he was going to marry her - and he did! 

Here is a picture of one of the bookcases in our house. // Ever since my time in Torrey Academy, I have been scribbling notes in the margins of all my books, dog-earring the pages, starring important ideas, numbering the author's points in their arguments. It helps me engage in the writing, and because of how involved I like to be in that process, I'm very much attached to my hard-copies. I'm sometimes hesitant to lend out my books, because my heart comes out in those margins, but when I find a second-hand book with someone else's notes, I consider it a treasure and enjoy thinking of the many lives that very book may have lived before it came to me.

I don't have a single favorite book, but I can share some that have had a lasting impression on me. I'm going to exclude my favorite children's literature and coffee table books, because I'm going coo-coo looking through all my books right now trying to narrow down my lists of favorites to share. I also have some amazing ancient books, like early (2nd) editions of The Scarlet Letter and a collection of T.S. Eliot poems (that is lost! If you have it, please return it to me). I just wanted to brag about that. 

Ghostplane of Blackwater by William Hallstead is not actually that great of a book, but I sure thought it was in Junior High. At the time, the writing really impressed me, so much so that I conveniently never got a chance to return it to the tiny library in Kashgar, China, when we moved away (sorry, Mrs. Houser!). I can still see so clearly in my mind the scenes I've created to go with the descriptions of the stormy southern swampland in the story. I'm glad to have it for all the memories that it carries for me, and I think Ishmael will enjoy it when he's older. 

I often recommend Dorothy Sayers' Mind of the Maker to people, although I do not remember it clearly. What I most remember and cherish about this book is that it gave me the clearest picture I have ever had of what God could be like. Sayers likened God to an artist or author and us to his artwork, and although that's not an entirely novel concept, she presented it in such a way that I was able to glimpse a portion of his character through the understanding of my own unique relationship to my artwork. I'm curious to revisit this book now, 7 years since I first read it, and see if any of my notes from the time still make sense. 

I am an enormous fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula. It had an extra large impact on me because I loved it so much in the midst of my extreme distaste for Twilight and the zombie-vampire-etc. craze in general. Get behind me, Edward Cullen. Anyway, I was totally taken by this story and Stoker's frightening take on vampires. At the time he wrote it, it was common to dig up human remains that were suspected of being real vampires and flip them in their graves to prevent them from clawing out and sucking the life out of the living. Sometimes their coffins were even painted red. Another thing I love about the story is that it starts out in such a way that I wondered for a long time whether I was listening to the right book! I'm hesitantly hoping that NBC's upcoming TV series "Dracula" will be really close to the book. I originally listened to the book read aloud online, but found this gorgeous Barnes & Noble copy recently, which makes me just want to stare at the cover. I told Jonas we should buy it, along with a beautiful copy of the Arabian Nights "for Ishmael's collection", and he saw straight through it, but agreed anyway. Yay!

Another book I loved was the Tao of Pooh, though again, what I remember most about it is just that I really liked it. I happened to find a copy at a thrift store recently, and I'm really excited to read it again one of these days. I recall that feeling of almost being burdened by each line containing a world of wisdom. 

I love Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions (along with the everyone else, ever) because my best friend gave me her signed copy for us to share as we raise our kids. I read it when Ishmael was a few months old and if you're a parent, you know there are few things better than a fellow parent who is honest about what it's like to have a child. I was underlining every other sentence, and I became an immediate super-fan of Lamott. Michelle and I even got to see her speak live in Malibu and she gave Ishmael her pen (which is now enshrined in the book she signed, see if you can find it in the photo of the bookcase!). I even stalked her now-adult son on Facebook after building a picture of him from reading about his infancy.

A book I see in used bookstores and thrift stores all the time is Sweet Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. I admire character development far above plot in most cases, and Nemirovsky's pen is like a dart that goes straight to the core of a person's identity every single time. I despair of ever being that great of a writer. Beyond the story (which is nothing to frown out, either), what I find incredible is the tale of how the book came to be. It is most likely the earliest novel written about WW2, and was in fact written during the war. It remained a handwritten manuscript in a suitcase for years until the author's daughter donated some of her things to a French archive. Sweet Francaise is actually 2+ parts of what was meant to be a larger work, modeled after a 5 part symphony, if I remember correctly. I totally love that vision. The book is being made into a movie, which I'm very apprehensive about. The book doesn't hold together very well as a cohesive story, and I wish they had at least chosen some unknown names in keeping with the tone of the book instead of Michelle Williams. Despite allegedly being an anti-semitic Jew (she converted to Catholicism years prior), Nemirovsky died interned at Auschwitz.

A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman has inspired me so much, for so long. I first read it as a child, but as an adult, I can't think of a story that could incorporate more of my loves; romance, food, Asian culture, illustration, cats... I would love to someday see this book turned into a film. I even tried to get in touch with one of Yimou Zhang's (director of the movie Hero and the Beijing Olympic opening ceremonies, among other things) agents to pitch the story to him, once (no luck). For now, I throw all my inspiration images for a potential film based on this story onto this pinboard. 

I found this tiny treasure of a book, Belle Petite Monde, by Renefer, in a long-gone second hand bookstore in Simi Valley. It's a sketchbook full of the artist's day-to-day life during WW2 that he made for his young daughter. And get this, when I just looked it up on Amazon, the two copies available are going for almost $5000! I can hardly believe it! I can't find anything about the book, in English, so I don't understand why it seems to be so rare (2006 copyright), other than that it's out of print, but now I'm all the more excited to have this one in my collection. Apart from its apparent value as a book, the artist's ability to relate his life as a soldier to his daughter is incredibly tender, light, and poignant, considering his situation. // Below is a picture of one of the illustrations from the book. All the letters are in French, but they are translated in the back of the book. 

My growing interest in graphic novels is new, but I can safely say it was kicked off in earnest by Craig Thompson's Habibi. I was blown away by his artwork and utterly engrossed by his story. I have since read, and somewhat agreed with, some criticisms of the story, but the book as a whole will forever inspire me to awe at Thompson's abilities, as well as remain an ember in all that is my relationship to Middle Eastern culture. 

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. is a big book and it took me a long time to get through it, but I remember being so impressed and almost seduced by her writing. Regardless of your thoughts on her philosophy, she is undeniably a masterful writer. I was in love with her harsh and austere characters and the way she was able to express a man's love for his craft. As I'm writing out these mini-reviews, I'm seeing so many themes that connect these otherwise diverse picks. I also really like the name "Ayn" and her main character's name, "Roark." 

Last but not least, what I consider the best writing I have ever read is something that I have yet to finish reading. Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita was so disturbing to me when I picked it up several years ago, that I actually asked Jonas to ask me not to read it so that I could give myself an excuse to stop. The story was barely getting underway, but I was dumbstruck by the mastery of his work. I just ordered a copy, so I'll have to report back on how it goes.

I love to give books, I love to get books, I like to make lists of books I want. I think books are very personal things. There are so many more books I love that I'm tempted to mention, but I think you should just come over and browse my collection for yourself. Each one has a story. 

What books in your collection mean the most to you?

2010 In Review

Well, my faithful readers (or browers, or stumble uponers :)), another year has swooshed on by and here I am to sum it up, as it was for me. I decided I would be bored reading the answers (again) to round 3 of my end-of-the-year survey tradition, so I've modified it.  Taking away the boring questions from the previous survey and adding some from Proust/Vanity Fair and some random thing I found on another blog.  I hope you enjoy it and if you decide to fill out one for yourself, please do let me know! See here the sister-posts from 2008 and 2009. {image from beautifulpaper}
People <3
1. What is your idea of a perfect date? Unusal and surprising. Gourmet food, conversations about what we are passionate about, sharing music, hugs and kisses. Also, getting dressed up and smelling good. Getting flowers. 
2. What's your favorite family tradition? After dinner conversations and the scope that they cover. 
3. What are your favorite qualities in a man? Leadership without dictatorship, tenderness, perceptiveness, true love (that's not cheesey if you've experienced it). 
4. What are your favorite qualities in a woman? An unforseen sense of humor, loyalty, knowing when how and where to speak and when not to. 
5. My idea of a good party? 5 people or less! Good food, music and conversation. 
6. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
'08 Agyness Deyn & Obama
'09 Cate Blanchett.
'10 Marion Cottilard. 
7. Who was the best new person you met?
'08 Jns. No question about it.
'09 I’m glad to have met Rocky & the FC kids. 
'10 Bri Augusto. :) 
Looking Back
1.When and where did you learn to ride a bicycle? In Urumqui, China in the summer of 1998, possibly? My dad taught me on an outdoor basketball court. I ran straight into the backs of a group of students sitting on the ground because I couldn't figure out the breaks. 
2.What was the first big purchase you made with your own money? I distinctly remember buying a pack of tic tacs in Thailand at roughly age 10. One of the biggest feeling purchases of my life. 
3.What was the best thing you bought?
'08 Some stunning and impractical additions to my wardrobe, to be sure (cocktail dresses and stilettos all in strikingly uncommon hues ^^). I also joined mp3search.com and have bought loads of good music there. I bought an extraordinary British dictionary from 1912 as a gift which I am rather proud of.
'09 I don’t know what the best thing was. I like to buy beads at Michael’s… that’s not better than other stuff I bought, but I do like them and used them a lot in my mixed media class. 
'10 Tickets to an Imogen Heap concert, some sari fabric, a set of knives for class (my mom actually bought them for me!). Some vintage clothing and rings and dishes.
4. A movie I saw this year that I consider a “keeper.” A Very Long Engagement, Up In The Air, Children of Men, The Social Network, Inception, Inglorious Bastards, New York I love you, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (yes, it was the first time I'd ever seen it). 
5. My favorite place to shop online? I discovered Etsy. No more needs be said. In the store? nothing new worth mentioning, that I recall... 
6.The Year In Music [What song will always remind you of this year?]
'08 Oh man, that is such an unfair question. There are trillions. Definitely ApathyEdge stuff. Jose Gonzalez's "Hand on Your Heart", Dave Matthew's "Crash Into Me", Copeland's "Coffee", Diana Krall's "Case of You", Anberlin's "Dismantle.Repair", John Legend's "Where Did My Baby Go?", Brand New's "Jesus Christ".
'09 DMB’s “Where Are You Going?” Angus & Julia Stone’s “Mango Tree” JJ’s “Baby” Cleast Eatwood’s “Electric Feel” Rachael Yamagata’s “What If I Leave?” John Mark McMillan’s “Carbon Ribs” Joshua Morrison’s “Westport” Owl City’s “Saltwater Room” Jason Derulo’s “Whatcha Say” Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister” Anything by Fever Ray, Noisettes, the Temper Trap, the Notwist, Francis and the Lights or Bon Iver & the soundtracks to Once, the Curious Case of Benjamin Button & Slumdog Millionaire. Discovered: Karen Dalton, Neon Hitch, Francis & the Lights, Coeur de Pirate, Tiny Vipers.
'10 Corinne Bailey Rae's "Are You Here?", Janelle Monet's "Tightrope", soundtrack to Nine, Rachael Yamagata's "Both Sides Now", MGMT's "Electric Feel", Disney songs - Cruella De Vil & Oo De Lally, "Such Great Heights" particularly by Ben Gibbard (?), The Morning Bender's "Excuses", Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's (?) "Home"... Francois Hardy & Ben Christophers "My Beautiful Demon", anything by Frou Frou, Keane's "Sunshine", Coldplay's "Death and all his friends," Dan Black's "Symphonies", several classics by Nat King Cole, multiple songs from Regina Spektor's album "Far", Snowden's "Anemone Arms". Discovered: WORLD WAR (death by adoration!), CocoRosie, Everything Everything, Rogue Wave, Cat Power.
7.What was the best book you read?
'08 Oh! There were several phenomenal ones! The Last Chinese Chef (Nicole Mones), The Tao of Pooh (Benjamin Hoff), and The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand) will remain some of my favorites forever. I also read lots more Dorothy Sayers (always excellent), Wild Swans, Funny in Farsi... I'm happy to have gotten so many good reads in! I was not impressed with Kafka's Metamorphosis (at... all).
'09 Wicked (Gregory Maguire), Wired Magazine, Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger). 
'10 Son of a Witch and A Lion Among Men (Gregory Maguire), Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand), Perdido Street Station (China Melville) 
8.What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
'08 I turned 17, and it was the first day of *community* college. :) Jonas and Jordan came over and it was awesome.
'09 My parents threw a big 18th birthday-graduation-4th of July weekend in July which was special and hectic ^^. On my actual birthday, Jonas & Jordan came for dinner and I got a full on small desert garden as a gift. 
'10 I turned 19 - A few days early, my coworkers threw me a surprise party. :) I worked and went to school all day but my mom made awesome Vietnamese wraps for dinner and I had a good time with Jonas and the Fam. A few days later, Jonas and Annelise and I went to the Avila farmer's market where Jonas bought me tuberroses that he couldn't get on the day of my birthday. Then, a month later, Jonas and the Fam and I all went up to visit my aunt in Monteray where we cruised the aquarium and town for a day. 
9. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
'08 Oh.. hm. I would say I've been able to solidify a style more, now that I actually have a selection of places to shop from! But I hope that I've remained versatile. I'm enjoying a very odd mixture of Grace Kelly and Janis Joplin.
'09 I wore more color and more patterns and less make up. I’m very much still into classic though, especially the 40s. 
'10 I wore a lot of clashing colors on purpose. Growing my hair out. This years decade was the 50s (that's probably what I meant last year too but it was too new for me to name correctly...?). Gold, blouses, bows. My first every LBD. Jewel tones and rings and necklaces. 
10. Who was your first kiss? My dear Jonas. 
Looking Ahead
1.What goal would you like to accomplish in the next 12 months? Become more involved at Church, land the PCPA interneship and find a job after that, start school at SCAD as a fibers major, and get engaged. :) 5 years? Run a company (or an aspect of it) pertaining to the art-business world, get a pair of cats, have the first of 3 kids with awesome names. 10 years? Help Jonas publish a book, re-visit China & Thailand and visit Sweden, custom build a house (or renevate an old one!). 
2. I hope my children will remember be for my... ability to open their eyes to new wonders each day. 
Just Me
1.When is your mind most stimulated? Walking along city streets and browsing city stores/blogs. Also conversations about art, spirituality, and things people don't know to talk about. 
2.What comes easily to you? Describing things. 
3. Shoes or clothes person? How about "and"... 
4. How has your understanding of religion changed throughout your life? I've come to see how arrogant I have been about it at times and how trying harder doesn't make you feel better.  Right now I'm loving learning to love what I had regarded with disgust because I am learning to see it differently. 
5.What is your favorite color and flower? No favorite color, only favorite combinations (slate grey & navy blue hover at the top, pale pink & gold) and too many favorite flowers to name, but recently I've discovered peonies (could I be any less of a trend monger?). 
6. When I cook, I like to make... something different every time! Wish I knew how to make... anything fried, for starters. 
In a Nutshell, 2010
Do... trust, laugh a lot, keep up with friends, seek out new things, forgive, try roasting brussel sprouts!
Don't...worry!
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
'08 I'm going to go with Edith Piaf's "La Vie En Rose" - both truthfully and satirically.
'09 The Killer’s “Sam’s Town.”

'10 Jack Johnson's "No Other Way": 

And know that if I knew all of the answers / 

I would not hold them from you'd-d'k

now all the things that i'd know. 

May 2011 be full of joy. 

Calliope

Jonas took me on a date to Solvang today for "abvleskeivers" (sp?!) and sausage. Yum! We had a great time blasting Dave Matthews, M.I.A., Jose Gonzalez and Massive Attack on the drive, looking in the Swedish section at a bookstore and discovering an AMAZING instrument at positively the nicest antique store either of us had ever stepped foot in (they also had incredible vintage rings. Wowie!).  It's called a disk music box. Most of the specimens we saw were selling for $80,000. (OHMYLAND!) But they are so lovely. I could just have stood and stared and listened for hours. Here's a video I found of one (the second video is another kind of music box they had there). 

In other media news, here's what I've been enjoying lately:
READ 

• The Alchemaster's Apprentice by Walter Moers  (well written, but on the childish side)
• A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire (not as good as the first 2, but worth reading)

WATCH 

• Red Cliff (my fave war movie - so many clever strategies and ways to manipulate your advantages in battle)
• Grand Torino
• Inception (oh, for the love of Marion)
• Better Off Ted - TV 

LISTEN

• Sami Yusuf
• World War
• M.I.A.'s album MAYA

Theatrics

Spring Break Summation:: I am reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. So far, my favorite by him. // Watched Fantastic Mr. Fox - very clever indeed and I laughed a lot. Also, excellent art, but I did not like the color scheme and it left me with a strange feeling. It was like no one really cared for each other in that movie and I kept thinking something was going to happen. Hm... How to Train Your Pet Dragon was excellent. :D And lastly, Clash of the Titans. Ok. Yea. Just don't go. Jonas and I were trying to justify the $10 we each just wasted. We decided we got to hold hands for 2 extra hours and we are now licensed to make merciless fun of that movie for the rest of our lives. Which we will. // I've been listening to my friend Sarah's excellent new band, Sleepyhands (listen here - maybe they'll tour in the States some day! :)) and CAT POWER! Oh, where have you been all my life, Miss Chan? I can't get enough. If anyone knows where I can buy a recording of the following song, please tip me off. (Also, Beach House is playing in SLO on April 15, apparently. Come with me!) (Angus & Julia Stone have a new album out as well).

My mum made coconut-curry halibut over a bed of biriyani and spinach leaves which was delicious and then last night, Jonas and I cooked for two friends, Brian & Chris. We had tortellini in a cream basil sauce, Parmesan bread sticks, shrimp salad in avocado halves (excellent!) and a failed peach mousse. Also some blueberry soda from TJ's (yippee! More bottles for my collection). Still learning to cook, honestly, but it's a lot of fun. Jonas and I made a shopping list in which we substituted real ingredients with funny names that sounded similar and then waited tensely in Smart & Final when the cashier swore that the $20 I just gave her was a $10 and they had to check the security cameras to iron out the disagreement (!). It was a $20. // Jonas and I are also collaborating on a story, complete with illustrations and an original encyclopedic mythical history of witches (Jonas is illustrating and writing histories, and I'm writing the story and creating some characters so far). It's gonna be fantastic and we'll be published and live like gypsy royalty off all our proceeds & the movie they'll make from this story. ;) Speaking of which, one of my favorite stories of all time, A Grain of Rice by Helena Claire Pittman, would make a wonderous movie, I'm sure of it. I'm going to write Yimou Zhang, the director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers and ask him to consider making this short children's tale into a movie. In 10 years, I'll be wearing shimmering and sparkling fabrics, hanging on the arm of my love at the premier of "一單粒大米". Just you wait. :D // This morning, Jonas and I hit a doughnut shop (apple fritter for him, raspberry filled heart disease for me) and then click-clacked through the 99 cent store in search of milk in my leopard stiletto-wedges. No luck there, so we shared a caramel machiatto from Starbucks (the last 3rd is so heavenly!!!). Now neither of us have any cash or any gas in our cars. :) It's been a good week. // This morning, the church was decorate in long white curtains all around. It was beautiful. We sang a breathtaking version of the Doxology. // My brothers and Dad are in Utah & sisters and Mum down in TO - home alone today, cleaning, playing & homeworking. Happy Easter to you all!

Tilda Swinton & Shinichi Maruyama

Tilda Swinton for Acne Paper Sweden Fall09/Winter10 is magnificent (from here).




I quite like the work of Shinichi Maruyama as well.

Beauty will see me through the next semester.

120309

I'll give you pictures first this time so that I don't scare you away with my monologues. ;)
An editorial I love, photographed by Michael Thompson. Especially the studded jacket & striped blouse, yes?



{written about 5 days ago - I have been to busy to finish it up & post} I realized that a few posts back I thanked "Erin of Erin Ever After" for following this blog, but really, it was Annie from Marry You Me. My apologies! Annie makes incredible mood boards. You should have a peek. :) // My family decided to spend Christmas in San Francisco! !! More on that later, I'm sure. // My hair has started to grow out. It looks like a pumpkin pie that was left in the over a little too long, or chocolate dipped orange peel. I'm loving the two-tone. // Speaking of holiday candies, check out these incredible gingerbread houses. These ones are also jaw dropping. // I'm really hoping I get a call back from Avenue this week so that maybe I can work there over the holidays. Otherwise, I'll probably try and go back to Hardy for the break. // I just took a shower, drank a tall glass of water and ate a crisp green apple. Lasagna from scratch for dinner. Good things. Haha, I learned yesterday that Jonas doesn't like enchiladas which is what I have for my birthday most of the time (white sauce). :j I'm pondering what to make for the opening of the art show that my altered book is going to be in on Wednesday & thinking of a cold Chinese noodle dish that I've been wanting to make... my December calender is already filled on almost every day and it's not even December yet. Not all with food, don't worry. // I've got to get back to writing up an interview I had with a fascinating elderly man from my art class - philosophy project (thank goodness that class is almost over!). I'm hoping to make it into a story later. We'll see what time & inspiration allow me.
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Thanks Parker for the heads up on this cool FREE album. Go nab it. :) I also learned of Gabby Young & Other Animals on his blog. I like. Gotta love her hair too. Not that I'm biased. "We're All In This Together" is my favorite. She reminds me a bit of Zoe Keating.

Did I already mention I *very much dislike* my current job? Today I filled out an application for Pier 1 & got sucked in to the bead & paper isles of Michael's once again which has me rethinking opening an Etsy shop. I'll be sure to tell you if I do that. I'm going to try for a job at the public library too. Please oh please, I want a job I love. // In the ongoing saga of the mixed-media-book assignment - my study was on Ayn Rand's book, The Fountainhead, and the 40's (it was published in '42). Pictures on facebook later, but you have to see this. In my search for inspiration, I found several of these, one was even more expensive. The Fountainhead is in my top 5 favorite books, but I'm not quite to the level of buying something like this.

The book was made into a movie in the early 50s I think and Dominique Francon was played by Patricia Neal. I would love to name a kid Dominique. Anyway, here are some glam shots of Miss Neal. She reminds me of my grandma Patty. I love the one of the kids in her skirt. ^^ Apparently an Atlas Shrugged movie is supposed to come out in 2010 (or '11 was it?) with Charlize Theron (?) as the female lead? Should be interesting. I only made it about 5 pages into Atlas Shrugged. I would like to read it later, but no time now. I resolved never to watch the Fountainhead so that I can preserve my experience from the book.

While researching all of this for my project, I discovered this spat between the Library of Congress and Rand's heir who was in possession of some original manuscripts that Rand promised to the Library after her death. This video is probably only interesting if you're in awe of Rand as I am, but the obvious tension and the simple fact that he is touching her actual work fascinates me.

My toes are cold. I'm goin' to bed. :)
FB readers, click here to view the blog and video.

This is a charmer - I'd Rather Dance With You by Kings of Convenience



I was looking through Vogue UK's cover archive (it's fun that they have all the way back to when Vogue started in 1916, if I remember correctly. The first few years of covers are illustrations). Here are some of my favorites. Jan '54 - delectably retro / Aug '91 - month I was born / Jun '08 - Agyness Deyn, arguably my favorite super model / Jan '09 - Cate Blanchett, unarguably one of the most beautiful and classy woman alive.


 

More next week. :)