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You can call me SL, this is about living.  |
Emanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive 
Emanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive 
Gilbert Stuart's "George Washington" Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive February 20, 2012 Happy President's Day Most people in The United States have today off because it's President's Day. Let's honor the Presidents for allowing everyone to have a day off, thanks George Washington...Thomas Jefferson...Abraham Lincoln...John F. Kennedy...Barack Obama. The Metropolitan Museum of Art recently opened the New American Wing. The undisputed attraction is the painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware." I must say it is completely impressive. The scale alone is something to get excited about and that gold frame. Who doesn't love a little bling bling and American history combined. It is a painting that commands your attention. The composition, the light, the expressive determination of the people. I have a serious fascination with the images of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and non-president Benjamin Franklin. I find them interesting subjects to draw; Washington with his 18th century coiffure, Lincoln with his deep set eyes, and Franklin who graces the one hundred dollar bill, enough said. The Swede and I visited George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate on a whim a few years ago while on a trip to Washington D.C. The estate was vast and we were able to tour the main mansion, where Washington died, the kitchens, stable, animal paddock, gardens, mill, his tomb, and the slave memorial. We did miss one thing, the teeth, in the museum. Why we skipped the museum and headed straight for the shop, my fault. We had a limited amount of time, and I was on a mission to find a George Washington cross-stitch kit. archives: Art, Miscellaneous |
balloons and The Empire State Building Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive February 19, 2012 As I stood waiting to cross the street in the Flatiron District, I saw these balloons take off out of the corner of my eye. The sun was starting to set and the wind was picking up. The balloons started to float away, then changed course with the wind, up and down, side to side, a few times over, until they were gone and out of sight. The moment reminded me of a Frank Sinatra song: archives: Miscellaneous |
Artist Unknown, Hunter College MFA Thesis Exhibition
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive February 14, 2012 Love is complicated and hard to define, most people can agree on that. Below is what Merriam-Webster has to say on the subject. Sounds complex because it is. Enjoy this day with those that you hold near and dear. Happy Valentine's Day, xoxo.
Definition of LOVE 1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates> b : an assurance of affection <give her my love> 2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea> 3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love> b (1) : a beloved person : DARLING —often used as a term of endearment (2) British —used as an informal term of address 4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God 5 : a god or personification of love 6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR 7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION Examples of LOVE • Children need unconditional love from their parents. • He was just a lonely man looking for love. Origin of LOVE
German luba love, Old English lēof dear, Latin lubēre, libēre to please First Known Use: before 12th century Related to LOVE
Antonyms: abomination, hate, hatred, loathing, rancor archives: Miscellaneous |
lion dance performance
San Francisco Chinatown, CA from my 2004 archive January 23, 2012 Here's to 2012 and to the Year of the Dragon! I celebrated the New Year eating dim sum with friends, while The Swede who is once again in Istanbul, went to a Hamam. While he was relaxing on hot stones getting a scrub and massage, I was running, rather sliding, around the icy sidewalks of New York City completing errands on a belly full of dim sum. When we were in Istanbul back in the fall, I made the conscious decision not to go to a Hamam, although it was highly recommended. I'm not really the "get a massage" kind of gal. But on a day like the ones we've been having, I would have willfully gone and said, "Scrub away!" Starting a new year is all about embracing new things, and I'm just going to just go ahead and embrace 2012 with open arms. If you can hear me 2012, please embrace me back and give me some love. Give everyone some love while you're at it. I think the whole world needs a big hug. All the best to you and yours in this new year. archives: Miscellaneous |
coffee, aftermath of rhubarb pie, a Marimekko "Tantsu" tablecloth by Maija Isola
Öland, Sweden from my 2004 archive November 29, 2011 Aftermath I am going on my sixth day of eating turkey and am having a hard time getting back to normal after the holiday. The stuffing, gravy, and cinnamon ice cream were finished as of yesterday, the pumpkin pie made it until Monday, and the Brussels sprouts met their fate on Saturday. The only foods left to tackle are mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and turkey. At whatever point The Swede and I finish the turkey, we will have eaten 10 lbs of meat between the two of us. (Minus the weight of the bones, an important calculation according to The Swede.) I had zero intention of participating in any form of Black Friday, but after a visit to the New Museum, The Swede and I went into Whole Foods for lunch and came out with a one gallon beer making kit. We then found ourselves in Crate and Barrel, where I purchased a "Unikko" apron by Maija Isola, my favorite Marimekko designer, and subsequently into Sur La Table, Dean and DeLuca, Muji, and then CB2. So much for not shopping. archives: Food, Miscellaneous |
Emma eating a duck egg
Kivik, Sweden from my 2004 archive November 24, 2011 I failed to find a photo of a turkey in my archive, so I thought a pig was the next best thing...you know, since we will all be pigging out. Happy Thanksgiving! archives: Miscellaneous |
ginkgo tree
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive November 14, 2011 Color Fall will quickly turn into winter but for now I am savoring it and trying to live in the moment. The ginkgo trees outside my apartment are the loveliest shade of yellow that I describe as a Meyer Lemon yellow. The Swede describes them as a "lemony yellow." I once read that men and women generally describe colors differently. Men tend to be more general and women tend to be more specific. So in this instance, The Swede and I have proved the theory as correct. archives: Miscellaneous |
doorman dressed as a werewolf
Upper East Side Manhattan, NY from my 2009 archive October 31, 2011 Happy Halloween! Costumes, pumpkin carving, school parties, trick-or-treating, pumpkin smashing, and toilet papering houses. Minus the pumpkin smashing, I left that to the teenage boys, that about sums up Halloween growing up in a small town year after year. The only costumes of mine I can recall before the age of eighteen were a pumpkin, a clown with mismatched shoes and a metallic wig, a ghost made from a sheet that was stained around the mouth from a lollipop I ate, and my own interpretation of Minnie Mouse. None of them were very good, handmade by me with very limited resources. I always dreaded the question, "What are you?" I envied the other kids in their store bought, easy to decipher costumes. The Swede loves Halloween. One year, he decided to join friends at a party at the last minute. I went out to run errands, and he stayed home to make a quick costume. Several hours later, I returned to a seven foot bottle of "Two Buck Chuck", sewn from industrial grade green felt, complete with label, in my living room. He ended up winning "Best Fabrication" in the costume contest and was gifted with a pen that has the video game Tetris attached to the top. The bottle costume is long gone, but the cheap pen remains. We have never used it as a pen but have spent hours squinting and playing Tetris on a 1 1/8 inch x 1 1/4 inch monitor (yes, I measured it). archives: Miscellaneous |
pigeons in front of The New Mosque (Yeni Camii)
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive 
boy proudly holding a captured pigeon on top of the City Walls in Edirnekapi
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive 
pigeons in Taksim Square
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive 
pigeons roosting on The Column of Constantine (Çemberlitas Sütunu)
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive 
pigeons at Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi)
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive October 20, 2011 Pigeons Many urban dwellers equate pigeons to rats, referring to them as "rats with wings." Pigeons like rodents and roaches are adaptable, resilient, pesky, and have the ability to survive severe conditions. I have come to feel more affection for pigeons than I have in the past, but to say that I really like them is a stretch. I see them as another entity in the background of urban life, similar to taxis, shouting persons, or fire truck sirens. More despised on my list are seagulls. (Years ago, one actually had the audacity to swoop down, brush my shoulder, and take a bite from my ice cream cone, while I stood observing sea lions at Pier 39 in San Francisco. My fingers remained intact but my cone did not and that annoyed me. It had been Häagen-Dazs. Unforgiveable.) The people of Istanbul seem to embrace, rather than reject the massive flocks of pigeons that congregate on and around every major monument. Pigeon feed is sold and purchased outside many mosques and buildings noticeably lack anti-roosting spikes. Mary Poppins and the song and scenes from "Feed the Birds" runs through my mind and so does the threat of being hit by pigeon poop. Italians say it is good luck to get pooped on, and my brother-in-law once received a dose of "good luck" while we waited to get a glimpse of Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square in Rome. My brother-in-law thought it was double the luck, being christened by a "papal pigeon." archives: Miscellaneous, Travel |
cat napping in the Eminönü District
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive 
cat napping in the Eminönü District
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive October 5, 2011 Space With a population of more than 8 million people in New York City, I often find myself needing a little personal space. Unfortunately my needs are rarely met. Just when I think I have found a quiet spot, the moment is shattered by a honking horn, or someone shouting, or some other city noise. Istanbul has a population of over 13 million people. That is 5 million more individuals that need space of their own. If you count stray cats and dogs into their population, the sum could easily reach 20 million. Purely a guess. How can you estimate the number of strays? Cats being the agile creatures they are, are found in the unlikeliest of places and here is one who looked like it had finally found a place of its own. Nestled in the shade of a metal roof, I almost missed the ginger haired beauty in the bright midday sun. But luckily for me, it did catch my eye, and I stood there for several minutes gushing over its cuteness and snapping photos. The cat stirred, likely thinking that if it remained still, the annoying paparazza tourist would eventually go away. archives: Miscellaneous, Travel |
cat with "evil eye" collar
Istanbul, Turkey from my 2011 archive September 27, 2011 Two things that I can say with confidence, the Turkish people have a great affection for cats and a strong belief in the "evil eye." Both are seen everywhere. Stray cats are found all over the city, inside and out. You will find them in restaurants, cafés, mosques, museums, embassies, shops, and just about any other place that you can think of (or not think of). And they are welcomed, as I said, Istanbullus have a great affections for cats. The "evil eye" is also found throughout the city, adorning building fronts, constructions sites, car parks, businesses, etc. The sight of an "evil eye" charm is so abundant that when our hotel, which is still partially under construction, added a small charm over the entrance, it was instantly noticeable. It somehow validated our hotel as a hotel. Sitting on a bench outside a café, I noticed this lounging cat under a row of small shrubs. It is hard to say whether or not this cat is a stray based on its collar. I would not be surprised to find out that it is a stray. Strays are cared for here so well, to a level I have never witnessed in any other place, that it is perfectly conceivable to think that someone gave it an "evil eye" collar to keep it safe. I like to think it is true, a sweet gesture and an example of the need to protect all that you love archives: Miscellaneous, Travel |
tomatoes from the Union Square Farmers Market Union Square Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive September 5, 2011 Summer Over Everyone keeps referring to this long weekend as the "Last Day of Summer." My understanding is that summer ends on September 22. Am I wrong? I suppose emotionally, September feels exclusively like a fall month. For children and educators, summer is over, it is back to school for them. Never before have I wished summer would end. This year, I found myself wishing it all summer long. It has been unbearably hot and humid, and August has only brought tons of rain with the frequent thunderstorms (and Hurricane Irene). The mosquitoes have been breeding like crazy and they are relentless. People around the city are understandably grumpy. I think everyone is ready for cooler weather. When it is 32 degrees this winter, I know I will be complaining that I wish it were summer... archives: Miscellaneous |
Pale Male's offspring, Buffy, a Red-tailed Hawk Upper East Side in Central Park, NY from my 2011 archive 
neighborhood hawk Astoria, NY from my 2009 archive August 30, 2011 Pale Male After the storm, all is calm.* Damage has been assessed, the majority of public transportation is running, and the skies are clear blue with wispy white clouds. While tirelessly preparing for the hurricane, I looked out my apartment window and wondered about where the city's wildlife was going to take shelter, and as with earthquakes, did they have a sixth sense that a hurricane was coming. There are a flight of pigeons who nest in the building across from mine. I am not sure why they prefer the building across the way, but they do. It may have something to do with exposure. They wander over on rare occasion. I once woke to pigeon sex on my windowsill. I quickly shooed them away... Although pigeons are easily the most detested of birds, these birds are neighbors. So watching the weather worsen, I was worried for them. But then I thought to myself, pigeons are sort of the cockroaches of the bird world. They are survivors. During the lighter moments of rainfall, I looked out and saw them swooping around, unfazed. I was, however, still worried about a cast of hawks that live in Central Park. A little more than a week ago, I had the amazing fortune of spotting one of Pale Male's offspring, Buffy. Wow, what a beauty. She was a striking sight, and I could have stood there for hours watching her. But she flew away. Hawks absolutely fascinate me, and there is one that lives in my neighborhood. It is fairly easy to know when (s)he is in the area, all the birds start to call and warn each other. It is impressive. And loud. Most of the time, I can only hear the warnings, but twice, I have actually spotted it. The first time, the hawk landed on the neighboring building's antenna, the other time it was swooping around and around, presumably sizing up its next meal. Besides the pigeons and squirrels one normally expects, it is nice to know that other wildlife can thrive in a metropolis. *The Swede and I fared well during Hurricane Irene except for a roof leak, and a collapsed trellis and a few snapped plants in Plot95. We know we are lucky and our thoughts go out to those who were affected. archives: Miscellaneous |
recommended shopping list Union Square Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive August 26, 2011 Irene I am from California, so earthquakes...a part of life. We had earthquake practice drills in school about as often as we had fire drills. But never, never have I ever thought an earthquake could occur in New York City. Then it did, on Tuesday. I was on the subway, did not feel a thing. People in New York were evacuating buildings. I was calm and quickly dismissed it. It was minor by California standards. However, today, I am preparing for a hurricane. "Hurricane Irene" as it is named. I stocked up on bread, apples, and peaches at the Union Square Farmers Market; water, batteries, and candles at Ride Aid; and granola bars, peanut butter, and apple sauce at Key Food. At Rite Aid, I bought the last two packs of generic C batteries and there was not a flashlight to be found, anywhere. People at Key Food were stocking up on things like ground beef, fish, and frozen foods which seemed like the wrong approach. Stick to non-perishables. The Swede and I already had other things at home like canned beans, dried fruit, and nuts. We also have several small flashlights, varying sizes of candles, and a radio. The city is literally coming to a standstill starting noon tomorrow. For the first time in its history, the MTA is suspending all subway, train, and bus service. And very likely, all bridges will be closed once winds reach 60mph. This evening I went to Plot95, where the mosquitos have seemingly not be given notice that a hurricane is coming, to harvest tomatoes, beans, bell peppers, eggplants, and lots and lots of basil, oregano, marjoram, tarragon, thyme, rosemary, and lemongrass. Unfortunately, Plot95 is located in Zones B and C and has the potential to flood...if it does, I fear contamination. Think stagnate water in NYC, not pretty. And not safe. Let us prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Be well. archives: Miscellaneous |
Manhattan skyline as seen from Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn, NY from my 2011 archive August 22, 2011 View The last few days have been quite an adventure. My sister, my nephew, and my niece are visiting from the West Coast, and we have been spending quality time together throughout the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. My five year old nephew has taken an interest in photography and this photo was taken by him. It was taken from the promenade at Brooklyn Bridge Park looking towards Manhattan. He was interested in the airplane in the distance (middle of frame). In an environment like New York City, it will take a while before he runs out of subjects to capture. The adventure continues. archives: Miscellaneous |
left: Gravlax, red bell pepper, avocado
right: imitation crab, red bell pepper, avocado, radish sprouts from my 2011 archive July 5, 2011 Rolls The Fourth of July is all about spending time with family and friends, barbecuing, and watching fireworks. Unfortunately, a work commitment prevented The Swede and I from celebrating the way we normally do, which is going to Prospect Park to barbecue with friends. In lieu of hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, and chicken wings, we made sushi. We had Gravlax, purchased from IKEA, in the fridge that needed to be eaten so we decided to try it in a roll. The Swede could not get over the taste, and I could not get over the color combination. Amazing. The only thing missing was a bit of wasabi, we were out. Years ago, when sushi was not yet mainstream, a friend of mine mistook wasabi for avocado. She put the entire chunk of wasabi served with her sushi in her mouth... archives: Food, Miscellaneous |
fireworks
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive |
fireworks seen above a subway station
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive |
fireworks seen above a passing train
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive |
fireworks
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive July 2, 2011 Happy Fourth of July! Although Fourth of July is not officially until Monday, it seems celebrations are starting early. Two nights ago, The Swede and I were walking home from the garden and heard booming sounds. We realized they were fireworks. Once home, I spotted the fireworks in the distance from our bedroom window. I went up to the roof to enjoy the spectacular show that lasted a good 20 minutes or so. It looked as though they were set off from a barge on the East River, but it could have been the Hudson River. Literally, a minute or two after the fireworks ended, a young girl who lives in my building came out onto the roof with her camera. She frantically asked, "Did I miss them, are they over?" Unfortunately, for her, they were. But fortunately for her, they will be another chance. Monday will guarantee another round of those lovely fireworks. archives: Miscellaneous |
Robert K. Otani's "Transformative Kayak"
Governors Island, NY from my 2011 archive June 9, 2011 Hammock Geez, it was hot yesterday. It was roughly 93 degrees with 30 percent humidity. By 10am, it was already 86 degrees...it was a long day. All I needed was a hammock and a shady tree. In that dream, an imaginary outdoor air conditioner would have also been nice along with a bottomless glass of iced tea. I went to Governors Island this past weekend and spotted a set of hammocks in an art installation from afar. As I approached, there was a preteen with a football physique also approaching the same hammock. I was slightly faster than him, so he diverted to the next hammock. He stepped up his gait, then excitedly plopped into the hammock. Rip! He immediately sprang to his feet and walked towards his family blushing and waving his hands warning them not to sit in the hammock. I felt bad for him and really bad for the artist. But--I could not stop laughing. I tried hard to hold it in, but sometimes funny is funny. archives: Art, Miscellaneous |
 air conditioner and wine box on casters
Downtown Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive June 3, 2011 Cool Two years ago, The Swede and I sold our air conditioner when we moved into our current apartment. Our old apartment was roughly 350 sq. feet, and the air conditioner we had was not powerful enough to cool our larger new place. This would have been our third summer without one. The summers here are hot, humid, and miserable at times. At one point this week, I had a mini breakdown. I could not take the heat and humidity anymore. It is a sign when your apartment is hotter than it is outside. The thought of facing another summer without any escape was too much. We have large south and west facing windows which heat up the place. I tried the approach I learned the summer I lived in Italy; close all the windows and blinds in the morning, and do not open them until the evening. It works on mild summer days. But true summer days in New York are not mild. After a few sweaty and sleepless nights, I begged The Swede to consider getting an air conditioner for at least our bedroom. Since he is Swedish, "air conditioner" is not really in his vocabulary. The Swedish climate does not warrant needing one. The Swede made a few calls to see if any place had the one I found online in stock in their store. He found one in downtown Manhattan that offered him a $15 dollar discount. Sold, but how to get it home? We brainstormed a few ideas, taking a taxi and getting it delivered were out. We are the DIY types. So we opted for the methods of either (1) carrying it (2) placing it on top of our "granny cart" (3) strapping it to one of our bikes, The Swede's idea (4) or making a dolly by using a piece of wood and attaching casters to it, my idea. As we sat brainstorming over breakfast, I volunteered the wooden wine box I recently acquired. (I collect them to use as planters in Plot95.) This was not any wine box however. I got this wine box for free from a store in Chelsea Market and carried it to The High Line, BookMarc, Magnolia Bakery, UNIQLO, Topshop, Ssäm Bar, Milk Bar, and finally home, some eight hours later. The Swede was willing to give the wine box on casters method a try and off we went. Once we had the air conditioner out on the street and prepared for the journey home, we were very happy that we did not go with the "carry it" method. The box weighed 56 lbs. Onlookers could not help but be amused by our DIY dolly. We received looks throughout the journey home, and one man who was clearly tired of the heat as well said, "Ugh, plug that in." We very nearly made it home without incident, but the casters we had on hand were not made for outdoor use. One caster fell off just as we exited the subway for the last leg home. Then another fell off and tore a corner off the box. Oh no! My precious box that I carried all day...but it was a small price to pay for some cool and sleepful nights. P.S. The Swede carried the air conditioner the rest of the way home and glued my box back together like new. archives: Miscellaneous |
Ai Weiwei's "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads"
Manhattan Central Park, NY from my 2011 archive 
a raccoon
Manhattan Central Park, NY from my 2011 archive |
a park ranger and a raccoon
Manhattan Central Park, NY from my 2011 archive |
a toad
Manhattan Central Park, NY from my 2011 archive |
a chimp and a tiger
Manhattan Central Park, NY from my 2011 archive |
 graffiti cat
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive |
 a nesting bird
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive |
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May 17, 2011
Animals A day of biking became a day of animal sightings, in all forms. The Swede and I were planning to ride from the Astoria section of Queens to Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan. However, the plan was to bike from our apartment to the Queensboro Plaza subway station, take the subway into Manhattan, get off near Central Park, bike over to the West Side Highway, and then up to Fort Tryon by riding along the bike path that follows the Hudson River. On our way, we stopped at our garden plot and then had a quick lunch. During lunch, The Swede casually mentioned we had the option to bike over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan instead of taking the subway. He has biked the bridge many times, and has repeatedly mentioned the long incline. So naturally, I was caught off guard by the suggestion. I asked, "Do you think I can do it, I mean bike it, not walk it?" I quickly processed what that meant for my thighs, calves, ego, and realized that it would be an experience. And if that was meant to be a painful one, well--okay. I decided that I would will myself to bike it, even if that meant changing the gear to one, (which I did at times...) and that I would not care if people walked faster than I biked. The Swede, being the supportive type tried to encourage me with words and a tone that is usually reserved for women during labor. My response to him was, "Stop talking to me, I'm in a zone." I am happy to report that I made it, without walking or stopping. It felt great to reach the peak and look down 130 feet, truly an accomplishment for me. Once in Manhattan, we decided to bike around the loop in Central Park instead of going to Fort Tryon, since it was getting late in the day and the threat of rain loomed. The theme of physical endurance continued, Central Park is quite hilly. The northern end of the park has a fairly brutal section that has steep downward curves that lead you directly into an uphill battle. I would compare it to driving through "The Grapevine." (For all you Southern Californians, you know what I mean.) Animals kept popping up, in all forms, as I previously stated. A few that particularly stand out are (1) a curious raccoon that ventured out of a tree to look for something to eat and then a park ranger arrived to usher it back up the tree (2) a couple masked as a chimp and a tiger taking a picture of themselves on their iPhone and (3) a bird that built a nest in between the green and yellow signals of a traffic light. In total, we biked 20 miles/32 kilometers, and my body felt it. I could could barely walk and hardly sit for the rest of the night, but I cannot wait to do it again. archives: Miscellaneous |
NYC taxi, "Congratulations William & Catherine"
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive May 3, 2011 The Day After I set the alarm for 4:45am last Friday morning with the hopes of watching The Royal Wedding live. I had doubts that I would realistically wake up to watch a wedding of people that I do not know but I did. I figured two billion other people were doing the same, so I should not feel silly for doing so too. The Swede joined me at that early hour to lend support. He still remains unimpressed, even after witnessing all the pomp and circumstance. He was however, interested in the women's hats and fascinators since many were commissions by Philip Treacy, a British milliner. We saw an exhibition of his hats back in 2007 at Cranbrook Art Museum. His hats are elaborate and dramatic, yet restrained, and highly sculptural. As I laid in bed under the warm covers, The Swede went back and forth between the bedroom and the kitchen to bake bread. I occasionally updated him, "William and Harry are leaving Clarence House," and "The Queen has arrived, she's wearing yellow," or "Kate is in the car, on the way to Westminster. Oh, she looks so pretty, she looks so happy, she's riding in one of The Queen's Rolls-Royces." I just basically repeated everything the commentators said. It was very exciting and beautifully choreographed. The day before, I fretted over not finding the right London picture for my previous post. I have been to London twice and somehow failed to capture the vibe of the city in any photos. The day after, as I headed to the subway, there on the corner sat a taxi with the answer. At last, a picture to sum up the worldwide interest. A New York City taxi with a banner of congratulations to William and Catherine. archives: Miscellaneous |
The Queen's Guard, Buckingham Palace
London, UK from my 2006 archive April 29, 2011 Royal So excited for Prince William and Kate, soon to be called Catherine, or Princess Catherine. I am nervous for them, not sure why. I am sure they are used to all the attention. But still on a special day like this, they have no privacy at all with the world's eyes upon them. My entire family has always had a fascination with the British Royal Family. Growing up, I thought of them as the only Royal Family that existed in the world. We, like everyone else were completely captivated by Princess Diana. She was an exemplary role model with her commitment to and passion for her charitable work. And she had such grace, beauty, and elegance. My sister and I even went as far as to name our ginger colored cat after her. Then we took "Princess Diana" for a check up to the veterinarian and found out she was a he. So our cat was promptly renamed, "Prince Charles." Congratulations to the Royal couple! archives: Miscellaneous |
San Francisco Chinatown, CA from my archive February 3, 2011 Happy Lunar New Year, here is to the Year of the Rabbit! Hop. Hop. I am hoping for a great year. Last year was a little rough around the edges. Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year to me) is a big deal. It is a time to celebrate with family and there is much superstition surrounding it. In my family, we follow a few traditions but otherwise we keep our superstitions to a minimum (thank goodness because any more and I would not be able to handle it). I once broke three mirrors within a few weeks time and by my calculation (seven years per mirror) that would mean twenty-one years of bad luck... The house must be cleaned and you must bathe/shower the day before the new year. You are not to shower or clean on the day of the new year; otherwise you wash away your good luck. It is a few minutes past midnight, and I am ready to ring in the new year. My betta fish, Phuket is also ready. He received a water change about an hour before midnight. There are certain foods that should be eaten such as noodles which stand for longevity, boiled white chicken for purity, dumplings which resemble nuggets of gold, and countless other dishes. This year instead of going out for dinner, I plan to make a few dishes at home. I also plan to have Dim Sum this weekend with friends (any excuse for Dim Sum). Wishing you much prosperity in the new year! archives: Food, Miscellaneous |
Upstate New York from my 2009 archive January 15, 2011 Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Wishing everyone a great holiday weekend. The month of January signals the New Year and hopes of fresh starts. But it is also a reminder of the long and bitter cold winter days that lie ahead when you live on the east coast. I am already dreaming of warm (but unfortunately humid), long summer days in the garden. archives: Street Art, Miscellaneous |
photo credit: J. Moon December 28, 2010 Happy New Year! Well, technically it is not the New Year yet but soon it will be 2011. Have a good one and be safe! archives: Miscellaneous |
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