Happy (early) Christmas!!

It's definitely been a few moons since I've last showed my face on here. My whole "let's blog more" can-do attitude crashed and burned horribly. Oh well. I've been busy. What can I say. It's harder to blog when you're working 40+ hours a week in a high stress & physically challenging environment. My weekends are now dedicated to sleeping in (heaven) and catching up on much needed tv time (horrible habit). So instead of using my weekends wisely and doing something productive, I'm usually found sprawled out on the couch inhaling the dramas of the Kardashian sisters. Shameful, I know. But anyway, enough of my nonexistent life. So as my post title so beautifully exclaimed, happy early Christmas to me!!!

Usually I'm pretty clueless about what I want. I think the only thing I sort of asked for was a Kindle. Which is dumb because I already have a Nook, but hey, when you're scrapping at the bottom of the barrel for ANY KIND of a gift idea then that's what you come up with. I didn't expect much. We put a $100 budget on gifts this year so you can't really expect too much from that. HOWEVER, the other night, the hubby came out with this gem:



I was blown away. I've never had a present this size before. So you can only imagine how excited I was. Christmas day was coming up. Crazy thing though, the hubby INSISTED that I open my gift early. Something about "if I didn't like it we could return it so it's better to open it now rather than to wait" kind of thing. He actually had to do a lot of coaxing to get me to open the gift. I have a lot of self-control when it comes to presents. My goodie-two-shoe attitude makes Santa proud every year. BUT, I caved. His constant nagging & insistence for a whole friggin' day finally got to me. SO....


:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Best present EVER!! My old Mac is more than a few years old. I couldn't even update my iPhone software because the computer was so old that I couldn't update my iTunes to update the iPhone (talk about your all time biggest headaches). But now, I sit here in front of this giant, and I do mean GIANT screen happily typing away and enjoying the perks of being all up-to-date with my computer.

Thanks for welcoming me into the new era, Mac. The grass is greener on this side of the fence, fo sho.

Deciphering dreams

I woke up this morning in an uneasy place. My first recognizable thought was of the dream that I had just experienced before the music from my alarm clock jerked my mind awake. Strange dream, strange enough to have a struck a chord with me. I laid in bed, the darkness completely engulfing my view, savoring the emotions that washed over me as I recounted the images from my dream. I wanted to remember the dream, how I felt, how much it impacted me. Even now, sitting here almost 12 hours after the dream, that feeling is slipping away. At the time I knew it would happen, I just hoped that I could prolong the inevitable. Now instead, I'm in a fog. I don't know which way is right or left, up or down. I'm split between my logical self and my subconscious self about what the dream meant. It's funny, I'm sitting here trying to decode what my subconscious meant when I should be listening to my emotions. Rubbish. I'm a busy woman, I don't have time to give to myself, let alone to figure out what I want or need. All I feel day in and day out is fatigue. Adele's "Someone Like You" is blasting at me from my Mac's speakers, yet I feel nothing. I'm imagining myself 5 years ago and I know that the person I was then would have felt so much pain & sadness from this song. I would have felt something. It's funny, all it took was a dream to shake me from my core and bring me back to the reality that I have somehow lost my way along the path of adulthood.

A big slap in the face from my inner self to jolt me awake from the drowsy livelihood that I have lived 24/7 for the past few months. It stung, but I hear ya, loud and clear.

Thanks.

Family & love

iPhone snapshots of moments in my life with my loves.

I think I might want to make this a regular post. The further I find myself going into "adulthood", the harder it seems for me to pick up my camera. I used to be so into photography, it was my being, my calling. My life. But now, sitting here, after 8 hours of working on my feet and 2 more hours of farting around on the internet, I feel like I've lost myself in regards to photography. My grown-up life has taken the childhood out of me completely. Sometimes I wonder what happened. Then I panic and wonder WHEN it happened. Regardless, I will try (I know I've said it before and had meant it for a whole 20 minutes) to take more pictures. It may not be awesome SLR type pictures but baby steps people, baby steps!

Check-in

So yes, I've been slacking. I've neglected my little blog & cast it aside. I'll admit to it, and admitting is the first step. The second step would be to actually blog... let's check that off the list NOW.

I don't have much to report on at the moment even though there's been a lot of stuff that's been going on, but right now, after a long day of work, I don't think I can think of anything to blog about. So instead here are a couple of pictures of my new flowers that have invaded the sun room. Grant it that they're fake but that's besides the point. The point is, they look awesome & I love having them in the room. From someone who loves flowers but can't stand that they die, these two guys make a great addition to the room. Thanks in part to Ikea... but mostly to me for buying it and displaying it so beautifully in my house :)

Fabulous

Wildlife adventuring in the city

Last week, I had a chance to go on a photo meet-up with other enthusiasts from Katy (suburb of Houston). I've never done meet ups before so this was a first. I've never really been into those kinds of things. Truth is, I'm a social moron. I feel too much pressure to talk to people & entertain them. I know, pathetic. But my flaws isn't what this post is supposed to be about. Back on topic again, so I went to this meet-up not knowing what to expect. I was just excited to get out of the house and do something different for once. The meet-up took place at a wildlife park called TGR Exotics. The little outdoor cabin-ish type building was where we first started. This is where I meet the unofficial official welcome wagon, a cat named "The Enforcer". I couldn't get enough of the little guy. He was a natural born model and I made sure he got his 15 minutes! From there, we did a 45 minute tour throughout the park and saw lots of cute little fuzzies, from anteaters to kangaroos, it was a delight to my animal lover self :)

It was super fun and I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something different. I must admit that it was nice to be around other people who share the same passion as me. All the "nerd speak" was nice ;)

No work Monday!

Today didn't turn out the way my typical Mondays are. Usually I'm awake at 6 o'clock, cursing the alarm clock for interrupting my wonderful, wonderful sleep. Then I'm off to work for 8 hours, slaving away for "the man", cursing my inability to win the lottery and not being lucky enough to be a "trust fund kid". Lovely isn't it?

Fortunately, today I got a call from work... they would not be needing me today. *YIPEEE* Cue the pomp and circumstance, ladies and gentlemen, I am a free woman. And what does a free woman do on a Monday? Why she aimlessly walks around Wal-Mart and Bed, Bath, & Beyond with no intention of buying anything... pathetic, yes. But in hindsight, it kept me from holing myself up in front of the tv and computer, so it was a win-win situation.

Plus, it's always that much nicer knowing that I'm not working today while the rest of the world is. Now that's some sweet sugar.

mini-vacation get-away

So for the Fourth of July vacation, the hubby and I decided to take a cheap, simple get-away to none other than Galveston. A mere hour away, it was the perfect vacation for a budget tight couple. From bicycle riding on the strand, to spending the perfect day pool-side at our fancy hotel, it was great to relax & bask in the glory of vacationing. The first leg of the trip included a semi-romantic dinner at Fisherman's Wharf, which was incidentally, the restaurant where we had one of our first dates. Now I say semi-romantic because the restaurant is located on the not-so-pretty industrial port of Galveston. Outside dining was accompanied by views of big, clunky ships and nasty, dirty buildings. Of course, once you get over the scenery, the experience isn't too bad. The food was great (overpriced!), the company was fantastic, and it's always nice to dine on a pier.

Day two of the trip, included a day full of Moody Gardens adventure. We stopped by the rainforest and the aquarium exhibits. Both were fun but, once again, overpriced. I think overall the vacation was a success. Not only was the bank account intact afterwards, but it was nice to do something different for once. Working 7-3, M-F all the time can get old FAST, so it was nice reprieve to get away from it all.

Vacations keep the working (wo)man sane! ;)

Ruffled leaves.

Spring came and went. I barely noticed. The weather went from being super cold to hot & humid. I miss living in place where there are distinct seasons. I want to be able to enjoy the transition from a gloomy, depressing winter to a sunshine-y, breezy spring. I think I'd appreciate the change in seasons more. Because right now, spring sucks. And spring should never suck; it should be fun & full of life, like being a kid again and being able to go outside in shorts for the first time to play around in the grass.

This is the spring I want.

Bath time.

She thoroughly abhorred bath time. But when you stink like that, you ain't go no other options, baby.



I found it irritating that I wasn't able to edit both the pictures similarly. They were taken with the same lighting, settings, subject... etc etc. So why then can't I get identical results? If I wasn't such a grandma, I'd probably try and correct that, but since it's kinda, sorta past my bedtime, I'm gonna let it slide.

After all, it's only Tuesday. I have plenty of time to exhaust myself before the weekend gets here.

Leica girl

I know, I know, it's been AGES since my last post. Fortunately, today I'm back & ready for some blogging. Last weekend, the hubby & I went on a little road trip to pick up a new puppy. *GASP* A new pet?! Yep, we have a full house of four legged creatures. The puppy is an Alaskan Malamute. She's a gorgeous little thing. I can't get over how much she resembles a wolf. I guess that's what drew the hubby towards the breed. He's always had one growing up & a few years ago had to give up one to his parents. You guys might recognize her from an earlier post. Last Saturday we drove 4 hours north to pick up the little girl from a private breeder and it's been a whirlwind of craziness ever since. So the past few days have been difficult, to say the least. She's not exactly house broken yet & she's howler... a really loud howler. She loves her squeaky toys and spends an obscene amount of time squeaking them, she's constantly drinking which means constantly peeing, and she's a complete slob. But it's ok, we still love her.

Did I mention her name?

It's Leica. Yep, like the camera.

Lovin' the home cookin'

Moving out of the parent's house is a big step. You instantly develop complete freedom & power over your life. It's a liberating feeling that marks the transition to adulthood. I thoroughly enjoy being out on my own. There's no phone calls asking when I'll be home, no one nagging me about cleaning (although sometimes I do wish someone would keep me in line on that one), and of course, coming home in the wee hours of the morning without penalty (like I even do that anyways, lol). But one of the biggest drawbacks is missing my mom's wonderful cooking. I've been out for 2 years now eating the same shit over and over again (hello hamburger helper!). Now that I'm in my mid-twenties (eeek!), I wish that my mom had taught me how to cook. I can't even cook fried rice!! There are so many days where I yearn for some home cooked Vietnamese meal.

This past weekend, my mom called me up to come home and eat some delicious pho that she was cooking. If you're anything like me, you're totally into pho. It hit the spot... 100 percent! One day I'm gonna have to learn how to make pho for myself. Until then, I'll keep mooching off of my mom's cooking ;)




Tonight I'm headed to the Houston Livestock & Rodeo. I'm ready to eat some funnel cake & play some fun carnival games :) Bring it on Houston!

Love of my life & the silly faces she makes

Fish Fish Fish!

Seafood. Food from the sea. I can't get enough. I've always thought that beef won my protein craving heart, but in hindsight, I've always gravitated towards salmon if given the chance. And don't get me started on crawfish. I'm already counting down the days until crawfish season hits. One more month! I guess you can say it's the Vietnamese gene in me that craves those yummy creatures from the waters.

One of my fave places to hit up is Pappadeaux. I remember the first time I ate there. I ordered the cedar plank salmon. The moment it touched my tongue, I was in heaven. To this day, I still consider that my all time favorite dish. It's been almost 2 years since that day, and I'm still waiting for something else to "wow" me like the salmon did that day. So for Valentine's day, we went back and got the salmon & some raw oysters (another fave!). It didn't disappoint. Of course, anyone who has gone to Pappadeaux knows that they aren't exactly known for their service. I've come to accept it. I just eat my food & savor its flavors.

---

Last night, I tried out a new sushi place, Sasaki. It's a small place tucked into a slew of other stores. The place is charming. It looked legit. They had the cutest plates & cups! The food was ok. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of sushi varieties. I wish they had more special rolls that you could choose from. Instead they had a wider array of non-sushi Japanese foods. I liked what I ordered but I don't think I'd be going back. I need more sushi!!

I love it when my coffee smiles back at me

I think I've found my dream home.

Freezing cold Houston

These last few days we've seen one of the worst winter storms in America. From tons of snow to chillingly cold weather, this winter has not been a disappointment. We've (Houston) been lucky to avoid most of the havoc that the rest of the country has been experiencing but sooner or later it was bound to catch up. Which it did, last night. In the nearly 10 years of living here, I've never seen it so crazy outside. We had some major ice problems. All the overpasses in Houston we're basically shut down & there were car wrecks everywhere. I was fortunate enough to get approval to have the day off because I think I'd be a bumbling fool if I tried to drive out there.

So here I am, nice and cozy in my apartment. Enjoying my now three day weekend :)


1. my frozen Christmas lights on the porch
2. Junie nice and bundled up... she's prepared for winter alright, hehe. Oh and her sweater is all ripped up because her wide chest makes it impossible for doggie clothes to fit her. They all have to be "custom" made. LOL
3. hot cup of coffee fixes everything ;)

PS - This weekend, the hubby & I are going to look at houses. That's right, we're ready to buy our first home! Eeeek, so exciting. I've already started a mental image of how I want to decorate our place. I can't wait.

Quick breather.

I'm starting to get in a groove of things at work. I can't believe how different the environment is at the new place. It's so much more laid back & "chillaxed" than my previous job. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined a work environment where people are actually nice to you. I guess so far you could say that this job totally kicks my other job's ass! I hope it stays that way.

This. Is. Amazing.

NYC - Mindrelic Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

Oh busy bee me.

I've been slacking. I have a good excuse though. I started my new job on Monday so this week has been jam packed with orientation duties. From taking a gazillion tests to reading 4+ hours worth of policies and procedures, I've been more than exhausted after a long day. I'm hoping that in a few more weeks I'll get in the groove of things and feel less overwhelmed about this change.

Until then, no mass photography :(


Oh Junie...

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole"

- Roger Caras

Meet Udon. She's my hubby's former dog who now lives with his parents. She's an adorable little thing... well, little wouldn't be the most politically correct term for her. She's a BIG dog. Big, cuddly, fluffy, too cute for words. These were taken when we went over for Thanksgiving dinner. All the dogs were banned to the backyard during dinner so they were all crowded around the door, begging to be let back in. Poor Junie, she was the most stressed out... being in the company of her cousin's really didn't help. All she wanted was to hang out with her mommy :)

It's time to celebrate, boys and girls!

First off, YAY!!! I developed my film today and they turned out MUCH, MUCH better than previous pictures. I'm a lot happier with this batch than the previous ones. With a little persistence and inspiration (thanks Alice!!), I'm starting to get where I want to be. I have quite a ways to go but it's comforting knowing that I've made at least some progress.

These are from La Madeline. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not the biggest fan of this place. Everyone always raves about it, but for some reason, every time I go, I always order something I'm not too fond of. That day I ordered a house favorite... the chicken parisien. It was okay. Nothing spectacular. I felt that it was a little too heavy, too early in the morning. I only ate half the sandwich :( Fortunately, we ordered the tomato basil soup, which never disappoints. All in all, it was an okay visit. This place is slowly, emphasis on slowly, growing on me. I'd still rather go somewhere else for food.

---

The second food stop of the day was at The Chocolate Bar. Ever since the last cold front came through, I've been DYING for some off the hook hot chocolate. So the funny thing about the hot chocolate is that it comes in this teeny, tiny cup. 4 oz. to be exact. When they first gave it to me I thought that they had mistakenly given me a sample cup. But I slowly realized that the hot chocolate that they make is so rich that 4 oz. is MORE than enough. I barely finished it. And to top it all off, we ordered some turtle cheesecake. It was really good at first but the more I ate it the more I felt like I was eating butter. The cheesecake literally melted in my mouth and it felt so fattening. I'm ashamed to say this but I only ate like 4 bites. I still love this place. It's the chocolate go to location here :)

Let's keep rollin'

I FINALLY finished my roll of film today. EEEEK! Gonna take it to get developed tomorrow. I can't wait to see how they turned out :))

---

So today I was out having lunch at Ruggles in City Centre. City Centre is like this big outdoor mall type place with loads of restaurants and a few scattering of stores. It's where the rich go to mingle and hang out. I felt a little underdressed wearing my jeans and oversized jersey-like shirt, being surrounded by all the snobbery. After eating, we walked around for a bit. Being a photography nut that I am, I spotted some awesome orange leaves on this tree with gorgeous lighting. I snapped 2 or so pictures. Immediately afterwards, a security guard pops out of nowhere on his vespa and tells me that I'm not allowed to take pictures on the property. I was surprised... not completely, but I was a little thrown off by the statement.

I do realize that most stores won't allow photography. I also know that usually you need a permit (read: money to spend) to shoot in certain areas, but this is mainly for commercial photography, i.e. models, monetary compensation. But I was standing in the street... taking pictures of a tree. A tree. Maybe he thought I was taking pictures of a really expensive car. Those rich bitches don't want us common folk to photograph their shit. But... A TREE!

The world isn't friendly to photographers. We're viewed as pests, nuisances, and must be disposed of quickly. I've heard stories of photographers being called terrorists, threatened, and kicked out. We're only trying to capture beauty, to create art. What is so wrong with that?

I currently hate security guards... and trees :P

I will always love my burgers & fries

Barnaby's Cafe. God I love this place. If there is even a remote, miniscule chance of going here, I'm down. I've covered Barnaby's in an earlier post but this time I visited the original location. It's located in the quaint Midtown neighborhood surrounded by bars and houses. The restaurant is small and a little run down but it exudes so much personality. From the rainbow colored walls (the restaurant was founded by a gay man) to the pictures of a sheepdog (the restaurant was named after the owner's childhood dog), this place has won my stomach & heart.

As per usual, I ordered my awesome cheeseburger and fries (with extra seasoning, please!). There's no picture of it because it was too massive to fit into the frame, hehe. Besides, pictures take time & I was ready to tear that burger to pieces.

---

So lately I've been in a photography stump.. well, more like an editing stump. I can't seem to find my niche in editing. I feel like my style is too eclectic and it bugs the crap me. I feel like I should be more stable in the way I process my pictures. Every time I edit a picture, I always doubt myself. Most of the time I find myself going back and re-editing a picture that I just got done with a few hours ago. I wish there was a simple solution.. like an all around, amazing photoshop action that will take care of all my pictures :)

I guess I just gotta keep trucking. It's a frustrating journey but I'm not giving up. I want to continue learning and growing. Good luck me!

Let's do something new & exciting...

I woke up pretty excited today. Like a kid on Christmas day, I jumped out of bed looking forward to what the day would bring. Of course, it sounds silly now what I was excited about; regardless, it was nice to have something to look forward to... besides the usual: getting out of work. Well back to the story, I was excited about hitting up the park in downtown Houston, Discovery Green. Because it's located in the heart of downtown, I rarely ever go there because of parking issues as well as dealing with all the one way streets. Today they had the farmer's market (which by the way was pretty pathetic... there were like 6 stands total. Only one of which had any fruits/vegetables) and the outdoor ice skating rink. It was fun walking around, taking pictures. I wish there was more stuff though. One of these days I'll make it to a REAL farmer's market. I just somehow got to convince myself that it's worth waking up at 7am on a Saturday. Good luck to me.