a caffeinated coma

2009-12-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

Alright my lovelies. I've done it. It's official. Here's my new blog:

http://acaffeinatedcoma.wordpress.com/

It's still a little under construction but mostly functioning.

I believe there is a feed set up if you use bloglines.com or something similar. If you have trouble just comment and we'll see if we can get it straightened out.

Ho Ho Ho.

2009-12-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Three things:

It's Christmas.
I love Christmas.
This is possibly the weirdest Christmas I have ever had.
These ridiculous coconut magic bars from our neighbor are going to be THE END OF WHAT IS LEFT OF MY WAISTLINE.

Okay so that's 4.

It seems that my entire family is infirmed (save myself, unless you consider a sugar coma a legitimate illness) so we're postponing our official giant family get-together until next week. It's kind of nice to prolong the season a little longer.

I was so determined to feel all that Christmas cheer stuff this year. And it worked. I became the elf that waved her flag of glad tidings and puffed tinsel in the faces of passerby. I'm not entirely sure everyone else was quite as enthusiastic.

BIG NEWS:

So you know how you feel when your living room has been arranged in a certain way for about a month and it starts to feel kind of old and claustrophobic and the only way to fix it is to rearrange everything in a dusty flurry?

Well, that's how I'm starting to feel about this blog. It's not that I don't love it. We've had some great times together, I just feel like maybe it's time for a transition. Initially, this blog was about coming to terms with my arthood and now that I've embraced it, I'm going to open a new chapter.

Also, I just really like the way Wordpress looks.

I'll update with all the new info as soon as I get the site set up.

I have a lot more to say but I'll save it for the new blog.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Holiday Cheer

2009-11-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

I was all prepared to write a scathing* blog about Target and how my last trip to the discount wonderland revealed a claustrophobic symphony of snowflakes and assorted Christmas decorations and how capitalism in the U.S. is completely out of control (Christmas the day after Halloween. Come on guys. What about poor Thanksgiving?) when a series of events took place:

1) While on a video chat with neighbour, she started playing Christmas music. I made her turn it off. Not yet! Not for another month!
2) I was feeling sentimental and needed some good romantic movies while bundled in a blankie and sipping hot chocolate.
3), and most importantly, here is a rundown of the movies I watched:

a) "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," Judy Garland and Gordon MacCray. Which led to...
b) "In the Good Old Summertime," Judy Garland and Van Johnson. The combination of the two made me want to watch something musical and romantic with soldiers circa 1950 so I decided on...
c) "White Christmas."

"White Christmas is only partly a Christmas movie. It's balanced with songs like "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" (my personal favorite, thankyouverymuch) to make it something I watch all the time. Totally justifiable.

Did you know a Genius playlist based on "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me," by Rosemary Clooney is almost exclusively Christmas music?

So here I sit. Listening to Bublé and Frankie sing about holly and yuletide crap and I love it and cannot stop.

You see?? I was tricked. Probably by neighbour who listens to Christmas music all year round like some jolly elf.

I am officially a hypocrite.

*It wasn't actually going to be scathing. Just mildly incredulous.

S'not So Bad.

2009-10-15T23:09:00.001-07:00

I've spent the last two days floating away on a cloud shaped like Michael Bublé's new album, "Crazy Love". This does not account for the two weeks of silence before this but I thought I would share.

It's cheesy but oh, what a guilty pleasure:

Do you know that feeling when you're sick and all you want to do is sleep and forget the entire world? But just when you lay down, one side of your nose plugs up. Suddenly, you don't even care about sleeping anymore. Your entire existence becomes about getting your stupid nose to drain to the other side because you cannot bear to lay in this position one more minute. You blow your nose, get up and walk around, there may or may not be plugs of tissue shoved up your nose. Finally, you're so exhausted that you finally give up and just start to drift off to sleep when your nose, that Judas of a facial feature, decides to slosh to the other nostril and the whole thing starts over again from scratch?

Well, that's why I didn't blog.

Speaking of blogs, all 12 of you should check out Davina Choy's newish blog, Uber Fantastic. She's a budding writer, blogger, journalist extraordinaire and, I'm proud to say, a personal friend. She makes my blog look like the homely cousin no one talks about except in whispered tones at family gatherings. It's okay, I'm taking one for the team.

ONE LAST THING: this is a dyptic I painted with acrylic. Keep in mind this is the very first painting I have ever produced that didn't mock me from the easel. That is not to say that it's perfect, but I'm very proud of it.

I apologize for the picture quality. Just pretend they match up.

Musica de Classical

2009-10-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

Okay so I just discovered this guy. His name is like Choppin' or something. He might be dead. Anyway, his music is like, good and stuff.

Alright, I know, I know. It would seem sort of ridiculous of me to do a music Friday on Chopin because I mean, come on. Even if you were born under a rock and have made it your year-round home you have at least heard of the man. But this time I just have to.

I hadn't taken much of an interest in his work until recently when I discovered (via Pandora Radio: I am your humble servant) that while listening to classical music my art productivity levels shot through the roof. As opposed to my productivity while listening to say, all soft rock of the 90's.

Watch this. Plus it's really adorable.

Friday.

2009-09-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

By now we all know about my fear of dentists which you can read about here and here. Well about 4 weeks ago, my teeth and jaw started hurting in some spots and after letting the sense of dread and panic completely overtake me, I finally decided to make an appointment. By the time I walked into that office this afternoon I had convinced myself I needed immediate dental reconstruction complete with laughing gas and pliers.

Good news: there is nothing wrong with my teeth.

Bad news: the muscles in my jaw are stressed which means I can't chew gum anymore and I have to do some sort of face exercises. If that doesn't work, it looks like a diet of ibuprofen and liquids are in my immediate future. All acceptable alternatives to teeth drilling and extraction.

I immediately went to the store and got some mints because heaven help me if I'm going to let my jaw stand in the way of my social aptitude.

Also, since Fridays seem to be musically inclined, here's some more:

Horsefeathers, "Curs in the Weeds". Also check out "This is what". They're a sort of a modernized bluegrass which, granted, isn't for everyone. I'll forgive you if you don't like it, but DON'T SHOW YOUR FACE AROUND HERE AGAIN.

Thursdays Are For Others

2009-09-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

Let's look at someone else's stuff for a while. It's good to get some perspective on what other people are doing. It's healthy.

I saw this video a few years ago when I first started as an art major. I thought about it out of the blue a couple days ago and decided to look it up again. The concept is so simple but so great.

EDIT: Ah! I forgot to credit! Here's the sidebar info for the video:

"This was my final film at Kingston University, it is an animated film based on interviews with people about their first crushes. (best version). I can be found at www.myspace.com/angrypony_ and at www.juliapott.com. Animated By Julia Pott, Music and Sound Design by Christopher Frost (for all those who wanted to know who did the music!!)"

Music Friday - City and Colour

2009-09-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

Let's try this music thing again. I could call it Music Monday, but that would be conforming to the man.

I woke up this morning and suddenly craved City and Colour. So good, so folksy. I don't know why I hadn't heard of these guys until about a year ago. It's the solo project of Dallas Green also of the Canadian metal band Alexisonfire. It happens that while City and Colour makes me want to curl up with a good book and a steaming cup of coffee, Alexisonfire makes me want to smash that cup of coffee over the head of a stranger. Completely opposite styles of music.

His new(ish) album "Bring Me Your Love" seems to be one part self-loathing, one part introspective and one part adorable. The album evokes so many emotions while you're listening to it that it's hard to settle on just one. Green shares his thoughts on love and forgiveness, death, the nature of humanity in a way that seems so raw and intimate. I love it.

Listen a little, watch this fantastic video, decide for yourself.

Music Mon--...Friday

2009-09-11T12:54:00.000-07:00

Alright. I've posted about Noah and the Whale before but in celebration of their new album, "The First Days of Spring," I feel the need to post again because they are just. that. good. With their second release, they created a film to accompany with the new album as the soundtrack. Here's the trailer:

The First Days of Spring Official Trailer from charlie fink on Vimeo.

It's not released in the US until October 6th (I'm crying bitter tears) but it's out in the UK and they have it posted on their MySpace which you can find here.

This album is stylistically a bit different than their first, "Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down" but it doesn't make the newbie any less fantastic.

Check it out and if you like it, don't you dare torrent it. They are too good for that. The chupacabra will come and cut off your thumbs. Wait. I may be mixing up my folklore.

"I will carry you, carry youuuu..."

2009-09-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while, though I'm pretty sure this surprises no one. Sometimes it's hard to get it the right frame of mind when it's hot and gross. Not that it's been either one of those lately. Actually, the weather has been a perfect upper 80s. But my brain is in summer mode so it tells my hands not to type but instead to watch America's Got Talent while snacking on a bowl of grapes.

Get this: I haven't had a decent cup of coffee in two weeks. TWO. I have some instant decaf I bummed off of my grandma the last time I visited (which she did not give willingly. She loves her Folgers) and I am trying to absorb as much as i can of the minuscule bit of caffeine in each cup in a desperate attempt just to STAY. ALIVE.

Do I sound pitiful? I feel pitiful. I'm listening to Clay Aiken and enjoying it. That's how far this situation has deteriorated.

Classes have started and I'm in an intermediate drawing class (finally!). We are allowed to choose the skills we want to focus on this semester and I have chosen composition and concept and exploring how the two rely on each other. I'm excited. Now that I'm more comfortable with the actual drawing part of drawing, I'm able to pick up the slack in other areas. I'll keep y'all apprised.

Julie & Julia, or, The Life of Ashely the Artist

2009-08-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

Tonight, for her birthday I went with my good friend Laura to see "Julie & Julia". I am inspired. We loved it. The movie was totally adorable, Meryl Streep is my new favorite actress and Julia Child is my new favorite cook (move over, Gordon Ramsay, you old coot). I completely identified with the movie version of Julie the blogger. I think we share a lot in common. We both started out as frustrated 20-somethings, created a blog, and besides a great body we do not both share (I'll let you decide who has the better), both made strides towards a goal. Where she has already reached hers, I am still searching for mine. It's okay. I am comfortable in my slightly ambiguous personal and professional life and my meager audience in the the blog-o-sphere. I'm...not jealous. My blog, instead of being a short-term journey to finish a cookbook and find oneself in the process, is more of the life's journey of someone who already knows who she is but just needs to find where she fits.

But back to the movie. Can I just say the relationship between Julia and her husband as portrayed by the movie was so endearing and sweet. I wanted to cry on several occasions and would have done so had I not been surrounded by a packed movie theater and one particularly bad breathed man sitting behind us. Poor guy.

In a nutshell, go see the movie. It's worth your $10.50. The only thing we didn't like was towards the end and fairly easy to explain away. I won't tell you what it is in case it doesn't bother you. I don't want to ruin it.

Meryl Streep will win an award for this movie. If she doesn't, I'll sue.

Oh, and just to keep this thing art-themed, here:

Bon appetit!

Endings and Beginnings

2009-08-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

It's a terrible thing to be all inspired to blog, fired up and ready to go and then have nothing to blog about. My life is THAT. EVENTFUL. I'll see what I can muster.

I'm obsessed with a show called The Colony. Mainly because I would like to imagine if there was a global catastrophe I would kick everyone's butt with my cunning and resourcefulness. The reality would probably be me in a corner, clutching my stubbly drawing pencils and sobbing miserably.

I took that drawing class this summer so I would be forced to draw, and draw I did. A lot. To be honest, what I wanted to do was to skulk around in my pj's and watch Jane Austen while chomping on a crunchy carrot but instead I was elbow deep in graphite trying desperately not to move lest the angle on the still life I was drawing should become askew. Despite all that, I'm really glad I did it. I learned a lot and can see changes in my drawing style.

Here's the final project of the summer:

The concept was to take a landscape (a black and white poster, in my case) and then stick something oversized and out of place in it. I chose a sock. Not sure why. Seemed right. Sorry it's so dark. I'm far too lazy to actually turn on lights when I take pictures of these things.

I'll post more drawings later, I have to save some to build suspense.

One last thing: my friends had a baby last night! It's a girl and they named her Karis. They're the first ones from my circle of friends to take the plunge into parenthood and I'm so happy for them. I'm pretty sure they don't read this blog but I'm saying congratulations anyway (I'm screaming it into the internets, maybe they'll get it): CONGRATULATIONS GUYS! I'M AN AVAILABLE BABYSITTER!! WILLING TO SPOIL HER THEN SEND BACK!!

Womanizer

2009-07-28T22:08:00.001-07:00

Okay, here's the deal. I'm feeling really great right now. Mostly because I stood up for myself in a way the feminine gender has been fighting for [in general] for centuries: Respect. I firmly yet politely told someone I didn't appreciate being spoken to in an inappropriate, friendly, but inappropriate way. It worked, and I feel empowered.

Okay, on a mostly completely unrelated note here's the same drawing I posted earlier today. Only this one went through the scrutinizing eye of my professor this evening who promptly forced me to make it better.

Before:
After:
Haaaaa! It's a good thing I have a professor that isn't afraid to tell me when my art is crappy. Seriously.

It's a Smallish World After All...

2009-07-28T15:40:00.001-07:00

So I just found out today that I've been in a class for two semesters with a woman my mom and I knew when I was little and I had no idea. Through our conversation, we discovered an intricate web of connections and coincidences that has been brewing for 15ish years. So. Bizarre.

Anyway, here's a drawing for the blawg:

Notice how my hair looks so fantastic from the back? That's photo-realism my friends.

YouTwitFace

2009-07-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

As a direct result of peer pressure from neighbour, I made a Twitter. I shed a lone tear of despair as my self respect shriveled to a raisin. I thought I could just make an account and follow others without actually participating but now I have 3 Twitter applications on my iPod and check them fanatically while thinking I should show these lowly peasantfolk how it's done. It's just that I've spent a goodly portion of my time mocking twittering and all it entails. If I preface my twits (?) with "I resent that I feel the need to do this" does that justify it or make me a hypocrite? I'm going to ignore your answer and say that I'm justified.

Actually, I'm brainstorming a little. Maybe post some in-progress work? We'll see. We all know how my promises follow through.

So if you care to take a gander here's my link: http://twitter.com/ylehsa. If not, I completely understand.

At this point my Twitter is a documentation of my pathetic death knell in an attempt to resist the Twitter revolution. It's pretty embarassing, actually.

Guilt

2009-07-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a while but let's pretend it hasn't, shall we? K.

Here's a pen and ink drawing for my class this summer.

In-progress:

Finished:

I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter last night. It was really fun. I thought the movie was really good but keep in mind I completely forgot what happened in the book (except the dead bodies. Couldn't forget the dead bodies). According to my Facebook news feed, the movie is different from the book in some spots. Whatever. The camera angles were fantastic and those poor boys have finally grown into their bodies. I was worried.

Detoxify That Sugar High

2009-07-05T23:45:00.000-07:00

Every summer I get on a kick to eat healthier. It lasts a good month until all the new, fresh fruits run out in the grocery store and I start storing up extra calories for the long winter months (which, really, is a formality because when does California actually get a decent winter?). Last summer it was flexitarianism which, admittedly, was pretty lame. This summer it's refined sugar and artificial sweeteners.

I know. My beloved grande, sugar-free, fat-free, extra hot, no foam hazelnut latte. This may be the hardest thing to kick. Because I love that GSFFFEHNFHL, my soul mate. I may have to allow myself an indulgence once a week. We have too long a history to just quit cold turkey.

Although, this does help with my decision to cut back on buying coffee so I can save up for this car.

Anyway, so here's to kicking refined sugar (except in milk and other dairy products and the occasional latte)!!

Go summer.

I would think of a title if the sunburn on my face didn't go all the way to my brain.

2009-06-28T17:18:00.000-07:00

Wow. I am just now starting to realize rodent-free housing and clean clothes are actually the norm and not the life I lived for the past week. Despite the particular hygiene issues, camp was a blast. I'm thinking about working there next summer on the condition I don't have to clean anything.

As a bit of a consequence of taking a week off, I have to come back full steam. School and work wait for no man. That's the way I like it.

Here's the drawing I did for my mom a while back. It's the kindergarten teacher at her school.

In retrospect, it's a little terrifying.

Back.

2009-06-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

One week of camping is just enough time to experience culture shock when one comes home.

I'll get back to you.

HHHH. Again?

2009-06-19T21:51:00.001-07:00

Well. The second most horrifying thing I can think of happened this afternoon. I was lying on my bed (laying? lying? I still don't know) reading fug when the phone rang. My mom was fake-sleeping in the living room so she wouldn't have to answer it so I jumped up to get it. As I was running out of my room I heard "slllliiiidddde SMACK!" After I answered the phone, and handed it to my mom (it was for her anyway) I went back into my room and discovered my laptop had slid off my bed and landed face-down on top of a stack of hard objects. (My watercolor palette, actually. I'm thinking it's taking sweet, secret revenge because I was less than thrilled about my watercolor class a while ago and may have mentally cursed at it).

Did you all just cringe? I actually heard you all cringe.

Yes. It's true. The screen is totally busted. The actual casing is fine but the plasma whatevers inside look like they got shot with a bullet. We made an emergency trip to an unnamed tech store with strange customer service reps who are so concerned with helping you they don't actually listen to what you're saying, and got an adapter for a PC monitor. It...works?

ANYWAY. All that said, I am in the process of backing up my computer and haven't actually started packing for my week-long trip that begins tomorrow morning. Sob.

This makes two (2) times I have seriously damaged/destroyed an Apple product, the first being my extra clean (laudry clean) iPod from a while ago. RIP, guys.

My mom actually wants me to wear this...

2009-06-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

I will be camping for the next week! Actually, not camping. It sounds more rustic when I say that but really we'll be staying in a cabin with a full service kitchen, an actual bathroom, on a camp with a store and a coffee shop. They have more but it's been a few years since I've been there. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they had wireless.

Oh, nature in the 21st century...

FTPs and Scanned HBs

2009-06-17T21:35:00.001-07:00

Guys, can I tell you how pooped I am? I can? Excellent.

I'm pooped.*

It's the computer. It's a marginal excuse, I know. But can I just say "FTP" is now a permanent fixture in my vocabulary? I fought with the Great-Kahuna-Internet and I won. The only problem now is letting go of my little pet project and giving someone else the reins.

I wish all of my sketchbooks would look like this. Not dark, shiny and kind of hard to tell what it is, but more what it looks like in real life. Like I care. Because I do. It's just sometimes hard to tell. I'm telling you. I need a scanner.

*I don't actually like the word, "pooped" because it brings up images in my mind I would rather leave un-thought. Something like leaving bags of flaming fecal matter on doorsteps on Halloween only instead of laying there inconspicuously they're flying through the air toward my head. I'm going to venture a guess and say this was too much information.

Fail.

2009-06-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

This blog is a good art tool. Example: here I am taking pictures of my latest homework assignment to post thinking, "Ha ha ha, these look exactly like me," when, I look at the pictures in photobooth and realize...they don't. Guess I wasn't as done as I thought I was. Sob.

I'm taking beginning drawing for the third time. Parts of it are a little exhausting but it's good to go back to the basics (again). It was the only drawing class offered during the summer and if I'm not forced to draw this summer my brain is going to turn to mush. It's also with one of my favorite professors and she's sort of adapted some of the assignments for me.

Haughty laugh.

(Kidding. I'm kidding.)

Productivity?! Sob.

2009-06-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

I'm distracted, I'm procrastinating, I'm wide awake, tired, lazy and missed perfect setup to flirt with a cute guy today. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! Hhh, I know. I haven't had my second cup of coffee today.

I had the whole day yesterday to work and all managed to do was a bit of half hearted doodling:

See the part I'm covering up? That part was more half-hearted than others.

Oh, I forgot to tell you: the guitar came in the mail the other day. Just about the only really productive thing I've done lately is start to teach myself how to play. I never imagined it would be so fantastic. I can play about 6 chords. I'm ready for a band. Sign me up.

Ignore the crazed, disheveled look.

Back!

2009-06-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Most Avid Readers,

My prolonged absence has no relation to my affection for you. In the past weekish I started many blog posts but finished none, realizing my life is completely unsuitable for an interesting blog. Please accept my apologies.

Sincerely,
Your humble, yet boring, blogger.

Actually, to me, my life is anything but boring. I started summer school, have been working about 5x more than usual, doing some freelance stuff. Unfortunately, not much of it is postable.

So, in an attempt to seek redemption, I will direct you here. It's the latest craze to sweep the interwebs. You've probably already seen it. You have? Hhh. Poo.