c'est moi - moi seule

2011-07-12T14:41:00.002-04:00

wake up

2010-05-25T16:32:00.002-04:00

trying to figure out what's real.
and
the why.

funny

2010-05-06T15:29:00.000-04:00

dreams are funny.

28 so far -

2010-04-29T14:55:00.004-04:00

i've been 28 years old for 6 months -
i have to say, it's been a great 6 months!

my skin has finally stopped being a teenager
i have moved into a really great house with two lovely ladies
being in thailand and volunteering was and is an experience that continues to shape my life
my sister gave birth to a second child; i still love her first born, of course!

[ oops, sorry if putting my skin at the top of this list is somewhat vain -
i just can't help it! it's something i've noticed in the last little while . . . ]

anyway, those are reasons (some lame) for why 28 has been great so far.
i will have more legit reasons to come.

x
c

onlineeeeee reality

2010-04-22T10:16:00.003-04:00

online communicating, connecting, networking is starting to overwhelm me.
i LOVE it but am feeling like every website i go to, i "need" to join . . .
but nooooooooo, YOUTUBE i don't need to connect to my friends too!

i am moving - and i've already moved my internet account to the new house.
but i'm not there yet . . . which means i'm computer internet free when i'm at home, for now. i'm really enjoying it.
might be a good way of refreshing . . .

yaaaaaaa i get it!!!

2010-04-22T09:42:00.003-04:00

my friends made this video.
i was there taking stills.
also - click "friends" it's a link.

spring vs summer

2010-04-15T11:48:00.002-04:00

although i LOVE summer . . .
i think i like spring better.

spring brings new life -
flowers where trees were bare.

warm air instead of freezing temperatures.

although summer is wonderful,
spring always brings forgotten beauty!

florence melts my heart

2010-04-13T02:07:00.001-04:00

florence and the machine, you've got the love

long hair

2010-04-08T13:53:00.003-04:00

i love when sofia plays with my hair and says, "long hair!".

[let me remind you that she's 2 and a half]

hopeful

2010-04-06T16:16:00.003-04:00

today, i totally remembered something great.

everything is possible.

royskopp

2010-04-05T23:07:00.002-04:00

i'm a little behind in the times, but my friend recently shared royksopp with me.

really really gooooooood.

baby

2010-03-23T23:08:00.001-04:00

my sister is having a baby this week.

but we're all still waiting.

baby, come out!!!!

remember

2010-03-17T14:35:00.004-04:00

thailand feels like long ago now.

it sort of freaks me out.

i've only been home for two weeks.

i'm doing my best to remember what i experienced.

to apply what i learned.

and share my story (when appropriate).

i know i haven't written a post about my experience in retrospect,

but i don't want to.

but i do want to have a conversation.

so let's have a conversation.

koh samed

2010-02-24T11:23:00.000-05:00

i am so tanned it scares me.

CNY and Valentine's Day!

2010-02-13T05:40:00.003-05:00

to celebrate Chinese New Year and the lovely holiday of Valentine's Day,

i've decided to go to Burma.

yup, Burma.

also, i'll get a new VISA . . .

mostly, the real reason i'm going to Burma.

i forgot about that thing called immigration and visas when i was on my way here . . .

hoooray for Burma!

10 things

2010-02-06T10:08:00.008-05:00

i'm just finishing my third week, here at the orphanage.
a number of things have happened, both personal and on the orphanage side of things.
some needing explanation, some some needing none.
here are 10 highlights in no particular order:

1. boys move into home
the orphanage has begun building a community village, just off the property of the orphanage. the concept of these homes is to give the children a real family. this is the 4th home now. the group who went over today are a group that consist of the first generation of babies that came to the orphanage. it was quite an emotional afternoon - many of the other children helped carry their things over and walk them over to their new home.
the mom and dad of the home (unfortunately, i don't know their names) have two children of their own. their own son is a bit older than the boys moving in, so they will have an older brother to help lead the way. i have so much respect for these parents who have chosen to dedicate their lives, as well as the lives of their children to loving, growing and nuturing these group of kids.
i've gotten to know the 3 other house parents a bit and they are so lovely. one lady, Gun, was referring to the girls in her home as her daughters, already. they've been with her for 3 weeks now. it really showed me how serious is she in raising these girls and having them know that they are as much a part of her family as the two children who she gave birth to. Gun is in her early 30s, with her own 2 children. often times, i compare myself to married people with children and sort of laugh at how life can really take different courses. but with her and her husband Sam, i compare myself with them on a completely different level - i wonder, what am i doing that can possibly compare to the generosity and love that they are giving to the 5 girls who they are adding to their own.

2. some Thai people light fireworks in the daytime (why????)

3. i'm sick.
yup, i'm sick. on wednesday morning, i felt a bit off, by the afternoon i was laying on my friends' couch unable to move with crazy aches and shivers, hot/cold sweats, everything. it's currently saturday night and i have a sore throat, a terrible cough and chest congestion.
another volunteer, Henning, had similar symptoms and it took him a week to get completely back to normal. well, at least there's an end in sight!

4. there are as many mosquitos as giant cockroaches here
raid is my new best friend. i've laid 5 to rest in the last 3 days.

5. i'm living with Jane.
i had to move out of the volunteer house because Rachel, from Indiana and a year long volunteer, had just arrived. i had to find other accomodations for my last two weeks here at Agape. Jane took me in! she's an amazing Australian who has fostered almost 50 children (i believe she said something in the high 40s). she currently has 3 children under her care and they are the cutest things.
Jane has spent the last 25 years in Thailand, devoting her life to the well being of others. i feel so humbled by her and so many other life long volunteers i've met - they love and give at such an extraordinary level. i feel that i have so much more to learn and understand about this world; i feel like a baby.

6. i love pomello

7. skype
i skyped with my sister last night. by my sister, i also mean sofia, gonzo and my mom.
most of the time was spent talking to kathy and sofia though. it was so nice to see sofia, as i haven't seen her since late december!!! i feel like i'm missing much of her development but i really need to stop complaining since i'll be home in about 3 weeks. my brother in law popped on for a minute; he made it clear that i was disturbing his breakfast! (hehe)
my mother came on at the last minute, i think she was avoiding skype for a few reasons but i think one of the reasons is that she knew she'd miss me!!! well, truth is, when i got to see her, it actually made me miss home more than i thought. whenever i think of my family, i always think sofia is my heartbreaker, but last night proved that my mom is actually the secret bearer of my heart.
wow, the things you learn at the age of 28!

8. my friend Trent rocks. click here to see why

9. the children are awesome
there's really no other way of putting it. i'm pretty sure they bring more joy (and sometimes frustration) to the volunteers lives than i'm sure we bring them. they're always wanting to play, run, tickle (chuck-u-chee, or something like that in Thai) or just walk and hold your hand. it really doesn't matter to them as long as you're sharing a moment together, even though we don't speak the same language. at first, i found it so difficult to connect since i rely on verbal communication so much; but since spending more and more time with them, i've begun to find a way around it. it's become really fun and way less daunting than when i first arrived.

10. tomorrow is Sunday!
which means we're headed into Chiang Mai. i'm not sure if i've specified this earlier, but i'm sort of out in the sticks. there's small markets, and some bigger shopping plazas a few kms away, but we're definitely not in the heart of Chiang Mai. getting out to where we live is a bit of a pain because public transport doesn't come out as far as we live. we can get in and out of town but it's sort of a hassle although only a 15ish minute drive! maybe i'll blog about our experiences at another time!
anyway, Sundays are the volunteers' day off, so we usually head in for adventuring in the streets, some Wawee Coffee (Thailand's equivalent to Starbucks), dinner at Aroon Rai (our most favourite curry restaurant), and the Sunday Night Walking Street Markets. it really is a lot of fun. the city is really old with a moat (yes, a real moat!) around its centre and lots of character.

i miss you guys at home, but am still pretty much enjoying myself. :)
i always get homesick for my family when i'm physically sick, so consider this current emotional state only a temporary moment of weakness!

see you in 3-ish weeks!

love,
christine

bread and crayon

2010-01-26T11:34:00.007-05:00

since january 13, i have been in thailand.

just over a week ago, i took a plane up from bangkok to chiang mai to spend some time at an orphanage called Agape. Agape is an orphanage for babies and children who are HIV positive.

before my arrival, i thought that i'd be entering a home for children who are on a downward slope of health. however, i was completely mistaken. i arrived to a home of 77 children running, laughing, playing, fighting and everything "regular" children do.

there are so many things i'm discovering -

HIV, orphanages, adoption, fostering and caring for kids.

these children are a little more complicated as they often come from more difficult situations but at the end of the day, all they just want is to be part of a family.

they want to have a mom and dad like most of us have known our entire lives.

i spend my days helping out in the office with breaks to play with the kids whenever i get a moment. towards the end of today, i heard a couple kids giggling, playing and talking with Jane (one of the full time volunteers). she was showing them Baby Einstein flash cards for bread and crayon. the two children (i believe about 7 or 8 years old) were having the hardest time remembering these two simple words. i'm sure we must've spent 20 minutes on those two words alone!

when they finally got a hang of saying bread and crayon, jane showed each of them a photo album. first, she showed one album to Pornpiroon. she seemed really familiar with the photos - Jane would point to photos of members of a family and Pornpiroon would recite their names. Jane went through the same process with Rachanon. at the end of these albums would be photos of the children themselves.

as it turns out, Jane has been spending special time with Pornpiroon and Rachanon because they will be adopted later this year by families in the US. these photo albums are of the families they will soon be a part of. photos of the soon to be parents were labeled "mom" and "dad". although the children won't be adopted for a while still, Jane spends time to try to help them adjust to the concept of leaving the orphanage and country, joining a family and just preparing them as much as she can for the journey to come.

when i realized what Jane was doing, i got a little teary eyed. i know this sounds corny but i was so excited hearing them say "mom" and "dad" and imagining them being a part of a family. both families already have children (and have an adopted child as well), so Pornpiroon and Rachanon will have siblings too.

spending time with the kids, you really can feel their desire for one on one nuturing. although Agape is a great place and the kids are well loved, there's nothing like a hug from your mother, father or whoever your caregiver may be.

so although teaching the words bread and crayon was a fun experience today -

what actually made my day was finding out that two orphaned children will have a mom and dad in the coming year.

not smarter than a 5th grader

2010-01-16T03:39:00.002-05:00

today, a 5th grader told me, "wow, you really like junk food, don't you?".

i got told by a 10 year old.

yyz to bkk

2010-01-12T04:04:00.003-05:00

i'm leaving for thailand in just a few hours.

i am planning to leave for the airport around 4:15am.

i ended up staying up for the entire evening, getting last minute items organized . . .

which really is the usual!

i haven't been feeling connected to ready or go on this trip -

not until this past Sunday.

i finally realized that i was leaving!

not that it's such a big deal - i'll be home before March.

i suppose, it just feels weird to leave because i've been enjoying 2010 a lot.

so far it's been a lot of fun, a lot of work, and just over all happy.

it sucks to leave when things are just getting going.

however, i suppose - it's better to be happy than to be sad.

see you when i see you!

xx

2010-01-07T12:09:00.000-05:00

5 days . . .

2010-01-07T03:02:00.002-05:00

i am short just a week before i leave for south east asia.

i'm really excited - a little anxious - and definitely trying to get a whole lot done before i go.

i really don't have much to say at this point.

i'm a little sad that i'm leaving so soon . . .

mostly because 2010 has been really great so far.

i'll miss you!

once i have a SIM card, i'll put it up on FB.

i hope to get a friendly text from time to time! :)

beirut

2009-12-23T21:43:00.002-05:00

thank you week 4!!!

2009-12-22T02:12:00.004-05:00

holy moly.

last week was a busy pie week!

i am so thankful for everyone who asked me for a pie or two, or four!!! :D

kevin lajeunesse & mrs. lajeunesse apple, blueberry, sin x 2, peach

danielle riebel apple crisp, lemon meringue, blackberry peach, bumbleberry

margaret & matt lemon meringue, peach&berries

lynn lowe apple

daniel wiser apple berries, lemon meringue

again, it was a mega busy week but i secretly enjoyed it!

however, i will admit, i'm looking forward to sleeeeping this week! :D

heaven in paris!

2009-12-22T02:01:00.000-05:00

chromeo ♥ grooveshark

2009-12-17T13:20:00.002-05:00

today - chromeo is keeping me going . . .

wooh!!!

lady gaga

2009-12-15T13:05:00.002-05:00

i don't know why, but i love lady gaga . . .

she came out with this new video today

definitely not as good as

december 2009

2009-12-14T23:24:00.002-05:00

nothing much to report.

except that it's almost the end of 2009.

i can't believe that this year is almost over.

this year has been great.

a lot happened.

my little sister got married.

my niece got bigger and started talking and running around.

my parents/sister&bro-in-law bought a home together.

i went snowboarding a lot.

i learned to bake pies.

i took a lot more photos than i had in other years.

i am learning how to keep a clean house and maintain sanity.

it's funny though - throughout the year, i remember feeling frustrated but i don't actually remember too many instances; and the situations i do remember, i'm kinda at the point where i'm laughing at them. there aren't too many "bad" things that have stuck with me . . . the only thing which has a pull on me is the death of my aunt.

i'm really learning to not sweat the small stuff.

but to pay respects when they are deserved.

happy end of the year!!!

p.s. i may still post again before 2010 . . . but i just felt like writing something about 2009 . . .

pie baking - ending week 3!

2009-12-11T18:32:00.004-05:00

i'm heading towards the end of week 3.

this week has been another busy one.

i want to thank:

jeff yee: lemon meringue and blueberry

beka: peach and lemon squares

mark: apple

stephanie: bumbleberry

laura&mike: apple pie and butter tarts/pecan tarts

this week was also sofia's birthday.

i made her a chocolate sponge layered cake.

cakes are a new thing for me, but i think it went okay.

i also made an apple crisp pie to round out the desserts.

next week is another busy one - but very exciting! :D

i have 12 pies!!! thankfully they're a bit spread out.

if you'd like to put in an order, please feel free!

i'll be baking the week of christmas too.

please spread the word!

have a great weekend!!!

my precious baby

2009-12-08T11:07:00.003-05:00

okay, so not MY precious baby.

but i act like she's mine . . . except for when she's asking me to read every book on the bookshelf.

i do have my limits!

point is . . . this week is sofia's bday!

she turns 2 on Thursday.

wednesday is her birthday party.

we have both sides coming to the event -

PLUS my aunt & cousins from batavia (which is just south of buffalo).

can't wait!!! she's got a wicked present coming her way!

bessos!

pie update - week 3

2009-12-07T17:00:00.004-05:00

i am taking orders into the week before christmas now!

this week, i have four orders.

- apple

- butter/pecan tarts

- apple pie

- peach pie

i might make a few extra for a couple parties i'm heading to.

laura wood had a request for a non-pie but i am excited about it!

she asked for pecan tarts & butter tarts.

tarts are basically mini-pies and i LOVE butter/pecan tarts . . .

so yeah, it's really really awesome.

also, last week i made an apple cake - which is basically a pie with a different kind of crust.

i never thought i'd love baking this much . . .

but i do! i just wish i could have a bite of each pie . . .

just a few weeks before christmas!

i hope to get my baking and shopping all done before the holidays. :D

P.S. still taking orders for this week. i've still got some space.

P.S.S. don't need the pie till later? i'm providing frozen pies now (thank you for the suggestion mrs. broadbent!)

unexpected funny

2009-12-07T01:23:00.003-05:00

tonight - i laughed a lot.

i'm not sure what else to express -

a really great night.

thanks boys & gemma.

pie baking - week ending 2!

2009-12-05T18:06:00.004-05:00

thank you everyone for being so supportive!

this week i made 8 pies!

special thanks to:

Trent - lemon meringue

Barbara - blueberry

Elka - lemon meringue

Bryn - peach blackberry

Nikki - blueberry

Kaylee - bumbleberry

Alice - apple cake

i have a few orders for week 3 already -

but if you'd like a pie, just post a comment or send me a quick email!

i was concerned that at this point, i might not be enjoying the pie baking anymore.

i am happy to report that i am still loving it.

i'm getting a little more creative - making up recipes for those unsure of what exactly they want.

feel free to give me a shout.

i'm going to try to do better at posting photos.

the pie above was made for nik. she's a great girl i used to work with. hope it was yummy nik!

p.s.

2009-12-01T12:31:00.001-05:00

i finally finished my seafoam scarf!!!

nice and good

2009-12-01T12:05:00.002-05:00

i've been a hater on nice and good things for a long time.

but i've changed my mind. nice and good things are great.

actually, they are wonderful.

6 weeks.

2009-11-30T15:09:00.003-05:00

i am getting really excited.

it turns out i have about 6 weeks before i leave.

my sister's family is going to chile for new years and will be gone for 3 weeks.

after booking my flight - i told kathy the details and she calculated that we won't be seeing each other for 2 months!

i've never not seen her for that much time -

and also to note, i won't be seeing my niece for 2 months.

i've seen sofia at least once a week for her entire life (she'll be 2 in just over a week).

it's bonkers.

i'm going to soak up as much time as i can before they leave.

i know i'll see her when i get back, but i'm going to miss her. :(

_________________________________________________________________________

i am into my second week of baking -

things are going well!

it's only monday and i already have 8 orders for this week!

i am so grateful and overwhelmed by all the support i've been receiving -

support for both pie orders and excitement for my little adventure.

i only planned to prepare 5 pies a week because i was feeling insecure of having to produce more. but yah, i am feeling much more confident now. i mean, i feel like i have been obsessively making pies in the last 6 months - but up until this "bake-a-thon", i have only made a maximum of 2 pies in a sitting. with that said, i'm getting faster and more confident with my pastry and trying all kinds of fillings.

i'm planning to keep baking until the week of the holidays -

so please feel free to continue to spread the word about my little pie baking adventure.

thank you!!!!

pie baking - ending week 1!

2009-11-27T17:19:00.003-05:00

i'm just about done baking my pies for this week.

i just wanted to thank the following people who have made orders already!

beka vieira peach pie

lodewijk vos lemon pie

joy broadbent blueberry pie

kaylee alton lemon meringue pie

anthony manieri chocolate bottom butter tart pie and apple crumble pie

trent & leah hunter lemon meringue pie

thank you!!!

please feel free to message me if you'd like a pie as i'm still taking orders for the coming weeks.

PIE REVIEWS!

2009-11-26T13:07:00.010-05:00

you may or may not have noticed, but i am currently in Pie Land!

if you have no idea what this is all about, please see the bottom of this post or this earlier post.

i am looking for REVIEWS of my pies!

if you have ever had a slice, i'd love for you to write a quick review!

include your name and what kind of pie. :)

you can ad your comments right here to this blog entry.

thanks so much!!!

background info:

i am making a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand in January to work at an orphanage called Agape Home. it's described as "Providing love and care to abandoned or orphaned babies and children with, or at risk of, HIV/AIDS".

in efforts to raise some funds and awareness, i am making my "homebaked-from-scratch-pie" available by donation. please email me for more info.

thank you!

PIES!

2009-11-24T16:08:00.005-05:00

hello everyone!!!

i am selling pies!!!
handmade by MOI!

if you didn't already know - i make pies!
i started making pies earlier this year (May to be exact) when a friend asked me to bring one to a bbq.
it was that day that i discovered that i LOVE making pies! and since then, i make them pretty regularly.

and my friends & family seem to enjoy them.

everything is made from scratch - all pastry and filling.
my personal fav is lemon meringue pie.

i am trying to raise some funds and my goal is to sell 5 a week.
so far, i've sold ONE this week (come on, it is my first day!).

if you're interested, please send me a message!
help me reach my goal this week!

JUST 4 MORE PIES!!!

remember?

2009-11-17T17:28:00.001-05:00

switch-a-roo

2009-11-16T00:27:00.006-05:00

every year or two i need self-inflicted change . . .
mostly because whenever i feel like things are going well, i get scared.
after every significant change, it takes time to adjust and feel like i have a handle on everything.
but really, once i'm settled, am i supposed to stay this way?
am i really supposed to feel sorted at 28 when i know i'm really not sorted?

since i am used to my current situation and routine, i really do think it's time to switch things up.

try a little harder.
hurt a little more.
grow a little more.

can't wait.

peanut butter

2009-11-09T16:13:00.002-05:00

i've just set 4 traps with peanut butter around my kitchen.
i am really hoping that i don't catch anything but i really hope that i catch something.
i know - confusing but true story.

i will make anyone dinner who wants to clean the traps (if i catch anything). :)

working less is more . . . ?

2009-11-06T22:28:00.002-05:00

i'm trying to not expect so much from myself on a daily basis.
that sounds lazy, i know.
but i just mean, my to do lists are usually 11 points long.
almost impossible to complete without feeling like i owe myself a week's long vacation.
if i did 3 things a day, i might work more, more often . . .

just sayin' . . .

Feist!!!

2009-11-06T11:30:00.004-05:00

i photo-ed Feist last night -
the photos are on BlogTO.

go visit!!!

something

2009-11-05T15:55:00.004-05:00

i need a mousetrap.
does it come with a collection service? :(

actually, i'm also considering borrowing a cat for a couple days.
totally stealing gemma's idea.

happy birthday, love sofia

2009-10-29T15:07:00.005-04:00

in her birthday card to me, my sister inserted a message dictated by my niece (20.5 months).
the message read:

mummy mummy two
befree mummy mummy
pretty

how did she know what i needed to hear on my 28th birthday?

p.s. she's been calling me "mummy" since she started talking.

inspiring!!!

2009-10-29T13:44:00.001-04:00

BELOW IS A POST I READ ON LOU MORA'S BLOG.
HE'S A CALI PHOTOGRAPHER.
SO WONDERFUL!!!

This was originally posted on Chase Jarvis Blog. Enjoy.

I'm taking the liberty of suggesting that you do one or more of the following today:

1. Shoot personal work. Call in some favors, get creative with no budget, and shoot something for yourself.

2. Set free that idea you've been holding onto. Write a blog post about it. Ask your friends what they think. Tell the world.

3. Learn about video. Don't have a camera? Buy drip coffee for a month instead of lattes, and buy a Flip Mino video camera with the money you save. Experiment.

4. Connect with your peers. Start a blog, dig into your Facebook. Or, hell, gather your photo friends for beers and a slide show.

5. Walk around with your camera. You don't need sunshine. Interesting weather makes interesting pictures. iPhone or one dSLR body with one lens. There is no "client". Just take pictures.

6. Rent a piece of equipment you've been wanting to learn about. Or try this rental secret: pick it up on Friday after 3pm, pay for Saturday. Sunday's are often free because the camera store is closed. Return Monday by 10am. 3 days for the price of 1.

7. Put together a book of your work. Blurb or Asuka, whatever. Affordable. Even if you don't print 10 or 100, print 1. Put it in your studio for visitors to flip through, or leave on it your coffee table at home.

8. Do the thing on your list that you most dread doing. Call that client who hasn't paid. Sign up for Twitter. Develop a marketing plan. Go to the ASMP meeting.

9. Remind yourself that the gear you can't afford is not the barrier keeping you from success. Gear has very little to do with photography.

10. Read up online about the history of photography and it's masters. Weston. Steichen. Arbus. Mapplethorpe. Adams. Doisneau. Cartier-Bresson. Avedon.

11. Admit to yourself that you don't know about something you've been pretending to know about. Sit down and do the research yourself. Learn it.

12. Go sit in front of the newsstand at some mega book store. Flip through all the magazines that interest you. Go beyond photo magazines. Generally speaking they limit your imagination rather than expand it. Spend at least an hour.

13. Make a list of 5 clients you want in the next 24 months. Shoot for the moon.

14. Rent a medium format film camera and shoot two rolls of 120. Slow down. Places will process your negs and give you scans these days for pretty cheap.

15. Look through the pictures in my portfolio and appropriate an idea. Tweak the concept and go make a better picture. It's okay. We all do it. I'm probably looking at your work right now and am grateful for the inspiration.

16. Take 100 pictures with your iPhone. Or your Samsung phone. Or your point and shoot. Whatever camera is the closest to you right this minute. The best camera is the one that's with you.

17. Refresh your website with at least one new picture. Or dig up an old one, re-process it and make it a new one.

18. Take a picture of something wherever you are when you read this post. Share it somehow, even if it isn't your favorite. Post it to your blog, twitter, or link it in the comments below. Email or MMS it to somebody who will appreciate it.

19. Quit your day job if you hate it and can live without it. People say it's a bad time to start a new business or go in a new direction. On the flipside, I think it's a great time if you've got a clear vision and a little cushion.

20. Concept, shoot, and edit a short film (video) in a single day. Keep it cheap. Keep it short. Use whatever camera you have access to.

21. Show somebody your portfolio or a selection of pictures. Let them tell you which ones they like, but also be sure to ask them which ones they don't like and why. You'll likely learn something.

22. Back up your work. It's not that hard and it'll probably save your arse at some point in the very near future.

Thanks Chase.

happy birthday!

2009-10-27T11:42:00.004-04:00

. . . to me!

hehe

get up kids

2009-10-25T21:46:00.001-04:00

i'm missing them tonight . . . boo.

jane says:

2009-10-23T01:50:00.003-04:00

plus steel drums!
i love it.
lollapalooza.

LISTEN > CLICK HERE!!!

pre-birthday

2009-10-22T01:19:00.005-04:00

the only thing better than a birthday party is a pre-birthday party!
thanks nic for organizing a night for some of my nearest and dearest to celebrate with me.
no worries about missing the real one next week. this was more than enough.

thanks nic!
tiff, alanna, tor, lynz . . . it was perfect!
x

second track release

2009-10-20T14:33:00.000-04:00

i wish . . .

2009-10-20T14:12:00.002-04:00

that lauryn hill had made a real music video for this song.

finally back at home

2009-10-16T19:46:00.002-04:00

i don't know how many of you are aware of the fiasco that was the bug that i found in my home . . . but i'm finally back at home. i took a small hiatus from the bug sanctuary (aka my apartment) and stayed at my sisters/parents for a couple days! haha. kidding. i only found ONE and i've only seen ONE in the entire time i've lived here . . . it just gives me the shivers. EW.

so i'm back.

oh hello west end. i missed you.

wishing -

2009-10-14T14:42:00.000-04:00

i'm wishing for the sun and some water.
where can i go with that weather?

sad.

2009-10-08T12:26:00.003-04:00

aunt nancy.

when i was a kid, she was one of my favourite aunts (actually my mom's cousin).
she was the most fun and the most silly. i don't even remember what was so cool about her except that i always loved her visits. maybe it was because she was so attentive and we'd go to the zoo together, ontario place, or something . . .

in recent years, i've gone out to vancouver on my own and we'd go out for dinner.
she knew i loved seafood&peking duck so she'd take me to "grandville george's seafood restaurant". it was famous for both. everytime i visited, she'd take me back because she knew it was my favourite.

i picked up a voicemail from my mom yesterday.
she called to tell me that auntie nancy had passed away.
although she was not in my every day life (not even close), i'm still going to miss her.

phil and the park

2009-10-07T21:44:00.002-04:00

oops, i meant to post this on my photo blog . . . but i'll just keep it here and repost over there too > BLOG

october

2009-10-07T13:06:00.001-04:00

hi october.
when did you arrive?

oh nice mice . . .

2009-10-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

but they promised us!!!

2009-10-01T17:11:00.001-04:00

good show!

2009-09-29T11:15:00.003-04:00

i had a lot of fun showing my work last week.
it's something i haven't done since highschool (except for that show at humber, but i didn't even feel like that was really real).
so i definitely feel like this is something i can do (and not as scary as i thought!).
yay for art.
i will keep you posted about the next time i show pictures.

boy with a coin

2009-09-23T00:24:00.001-04:00

WOWWWWWW!

2009-09-21T17:50:00.002-04:00

juliana casablancas of the strokes.
new album soon.
released single!

listen here!

come to About Face!!!

2009-09-18T03:16:00.002-04:00

i'm in an art show next week!
i am not going to even show the image . . .
you must come to the show to see it.
it's a silent auction & fundraiser & fashion show & concert & fun fun fun!

comeeee!!!

i will remind you.
x

well there it is.

2009-09-17T00:18:00.002-04:00

egypt.
i really want to go there. alone.

my friends from the middle east said don't.
i don't think i'm allowed to argue with that. :(

song of the day.

2009-09-15T16:39:00.001-04:00

i can't believe i like this -
even though it has scarlett in it.

does this mean i'm old now?

2009-09-15T00:36:00.000-04:00

i like adult contemporary.

see here:

sofia, gentle.

2009-09-10T13:24:00.002-04:00

our family has been teaching sofia how to be gentle.
i'm learning too.

time

2009-09-08T11:50:00.001-04:00

oh icy heart . . . melt.

kingda ka

2009-08-31T12:17:00.002-04:00

i went on this ride.
it is sooooo fast.
it goes 128 miles/hour in 3.5 seconds.
my face in the photograph was pure fear.
but i loved it. :)

completely necessary

2009-08-31T01:21:00.002-04:00

i have just returned home from a break.
a loverly break in one of my favourite cities with some of my most favourite people
(that is not to say that i don't have favourite people outside of this city).
a few days at the ocean and in the city were a perfect mix.
extended family like siblings.
friends like family.
foreign city like my own.
gracious gracious people.
even strangers.
i came home a little more relaxed, a little more happy with a little more perspective.

i am ready for the next adventure!

phil

2009-08-20T11:32:00.002-04:00

my cousin phil is muy funny.

i'm flying into JFK tomorrow - and i'm going to meet him at a jersey train station.
it's about 2 hours between my flight arrival and train departure.
he started getting worried and feeling bad.

he's doting on me. wants to pick me up from the airport.
but he's in jersey and it's far and the jersey shore is far . . .
everything is far.
train is pretty cheap with no traffic.

he also said, "and it's safe, so that doesn't worry me. i wouldn't let you do it if it weren't safe".
i laughed. i had to remind him that i was almost 28 years old, meaning almost 30.

i was his flower girl for his wedding almost 25 years ago.
i think he still thinks i'm his flower girl . . .
which is incredibly . . . sweet. ♥

holy wow - can't wait!!!

2009-08-18T16:15:00.001-04:00

i feel like the last time i saw this video, it was shorter . . .
i can't wait . . .

anyone find a leaked track yet???

i likee.

2009-08-18T16:09:00.003-04:00

amazing amazing.

2009-08-14T14:46:00.005-04:00

absolut installation in lower bay station yesterday.
documented.

i've posted a few on my PHOTO BLOG . . .

ship shape

2009-08-12T02:24:00.002-04:00

time to go . . . soon.

i am a champion.

2009-08-10T15:34:00.000-04:00

hot dogs.
coffee.

!

barely

2009-08-07T00:46:00.004-04:00

i've barely climbed out of my flu-ness to get multiple emails from clients wondering if i received their messages . . . i can't believe i fell so far behind, but i couldn't help it! i was useless for a few days, then i had two weddings (one to shoot, the other to attend). it was fun but definitely exhausting . . . then somehow, it became wednesday! WHA? so crazy . . .

OH! i saw the YYY's last night. they were great! i'd still say i liked phoenix better in concert - but also, they had a better venue . . . anyway, YYY's were still sooo amazing. karen O is insane in the most wonderful way.

i've spent the afternoon/evening to myself.
spectacular.
i went for a bike ride.
photographed living things in motion . . . "in the air" as i am calling it.
came home, had a peanut butter sandwich (since when!?! haven't in so long), and started scanning negs that i've been neglecting. i posted a new photo to my facebook. and my photo blog also has an update!
very exciting.
it was nice to spend sometime that didn't involve photography for work.
although i love what i do, it was nice to do what i love . . .
shoot for me. shoot for fun.

please ignore the video/photo, but i've been somehow obsessed with this song all night . . .

Downloads: Views: 158476

summer flu

2009-07-30T12:28:00.003-04:00

the summer flu sucks.
it's somehow worse than the winter flu.

mostly -
to get rid of the flu, you gotta "sweat it out" -
but when you're covered by 3 blankets and it's 25 degrees out (with no AC),
you're not exactly sure if you're sweating because you're ridding yourself of the chills
or if it's because you're covered by 3 blankets and it's 25 degrees out (with no AC).

really fun.

2009-07-29T02:11:00.003-04:00

i had ice cream with kenzie at dutch dreams - i even biked there! it wasn't terrible although it was at st. clair . . .

then went to enoch's - we ate and played 20 questions with brynn and eventually dan.
hilarious to learn things about your friends you never knew . . .

ew and sad.

2009-07-27T23:51:00.002-04:00

i went to eat my last piece of pie . . .
i baked it last week - but it's been in the fridge since then . . .

i found little tiny spots.
spots scare me. completely.

i threw out my last piece of pie. :(

on a different note,
i just finished designing a new wedding website.
www.christinelimphotography.com
lemme know what you think.

byebye

good day

2009-07-27T02:52:00.002-04:00

i visited kathy, gonzo and sofia today.
we were leaving, on the elevator and heading our separate ways . . .
i got off on the first floor (they were going to the basement) and sofia screamed.
she was upset that i was leaving her.
that made my day -
is that bad?

strawberry swing.

2009-07-25T00:04:00.001-04:00

if you haven't already seen, you need to see . . .

http://www.coldplay.com/videostrawberry.php

yup.

2009-07-24T14:58:00.000-04:00

trying not to lose my sh*t today.

today is a new.

2009-07-24T02:52:00.003-04:00

i am starting fresh, again.
please, grant me grace.

yellow.

2009-07-23T11:14:00.001-04:00

clouds.
fluffy.
gold.
warm.
heavy.
peaceful.
floating.
gleeful.

today listening to:
http://www.myspace.com/thegofindmorrmusic

sssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

2009-07-22T01:28:00.000-04:00

i baked a pie last tonight.
plus two hand pies.
it was so good.
i had two pieces . . . well of the pie.

i will wake up and go for a run.
x

nothing much except good.

2009-07-20T02:08:00.000-04:00

today was a good one.

clean home, fresh start

2009-07-13T11:04:00.001-04:00

i spent the weekend cleaning, organizing, recycling and resting.
it was wonderful.
i had a kind of photo job on saturday night for an acquaintance - i helped her with her wedding . . .
however, i spent most of the day resting, reading, going through papers . . .
papers seem to be the bain of my existence. something as easy as filing is so annoying and so i usually leave it.
anyway - i got sooo much stuff done it was wonderful.
my home feels much more organized. i know i have more to do - but it's better than it was.
i spent most of sunday the same.
i feel like i can do stuff again . . .
i think i was self-consciously avoiding spending time at home anymore . . .
creative work included . . . i felt overwhelmed by the mess and disorganization but too overwhelmed and exhausted from work that i didn't want to actually do anything about it.

i went to toronto outdoor. it's so inspiring! visited some friends and it was so great to see their work. i promised myself that i wouldn't let another year go by!

now that i've said that, i need to do really do it.

tonight is dinner with joanie.
FUN!

p.s. she's basically the reason i cleaned! haha

wait.

2009-07-08T01:13:00.000-04:00

is it bad that i am sometimes this optimistic.

muppet movie!

2009-07-01T09:56:00.001-04:00

hot hot summer!!!

2009-06-25T01:49:00.000-04:00

today was amazing.
SO HOT!

woke up - kind of really warm . . .
because i refuse to NOT use blankets.
the awkward part is that i don't have AC.

i had to go visit dylan because he's designing me a business card. he already designed my logo-ish thing - you can see it on my website. basically it's a cleaned up version of my handwriting, or also you can say that he made my handwriting a font!

then skipped over to west camera to get some film.
ooh! i love it.
i haven't actually done anything with it, yet! but i will . . .
i looked through them (negs, since i refuse to have them print my images) - and they look fun!

then bike home fast -
picked up gear at filmplus to go shoot NaMoDa.

i'm totally forgetting the point of my post . . .
basically, it was the hottest day ever - and it was incredible.
i was so sweaty, but it felt so good.
i felt alive.

my point is -
summer is here.
and i am busier than ever, but i love it.
although i wish i could get a full night's sleep but truthfully, i'm having too much fun taking pictures, riding my bike and going for ice cream breaks.

yay to summer 2009!!!!

well . . . back to business

2009-06-18T10:25:00.000-04:00

i thought i wanted a boyfriend.
till i started meeting boys . . .
now i really don't want one.

distraction destroyed!

it's time

2009-06-09T23:39:00.000-04:00

i am finally going to look in the mirror.

weirdest

2009-06-04T00:42:00.000-04:00

i was listening to a song on itunes today . . .
then suddenly another song came on . . .
BUT i didn't have anything else open . . .
AND it was playing on top of what i was listening to on itunes.

i made sure that i had no other window open that was streaming music . . .
AND i wasn't connected to another computer or something . . .

i had never heard of this song . . .
but i googled the lyrics and this is the song . . .

STILL have no explanation.
i spent the entire length of the song confused . . .
and still am.

enjoy.

if anyone can explain this, please let me know!

Jason Molina // Captain Badass at Rollo & Grady

metric + talented friends.

2009-05-26T09:39:00.000-04:00

my friends Justin+Michael of HotDogGarbage made this video and it's wonderful.

sigur ros

2009-05-14T13:31:00.000-04:00

HAHA!

i blogged a video that i thought was a video i wanted to blog . . .

well - it wasn't.
sorry for all of you who watched the male peepee by mistake.

i won the battle!

2009-05-05T22:34:00.001-04:00

my thinking self beat my emotional self . . .

i cleaned my bathroom and swept and moped the entire apartment . . . well entire, i mean kitchen and hallway.

i feel like i blogged this topic before.
sorry.

i really hate cleaning.

taxes

2009-05-01T02:39:00.001-04:00

i hate calculating them.

sour cream

2009-04-30T02:51:00.001-04:00

i just ate sour cream.

i looked at the lid . . .
and i found the first spot of mould.

too bad i didn't see it BEFORE i ate some.

:(

little lies

2009-04-30T01:59:00.001-04:00