raincheck...

I've been a fan of Eva Cassidy since her rendition of 

Over the Rainbow gained popularity years ago. 

Though I never got the chance to meet her,

I have no doubt that she has a beautiful soul.

She possesses one of the most honest voices I have ever heard.
Having read as much as I can about her,
her story both tragic and beautiful,
I can't help but feel connected to her somehow.

If I listen intently to her songs, I can't help but weep.

Which leads me to this raincheck...

I was listening to her and I did weep.

So while I gather myself and wipe the tears off my face,
I need a rain check on that post.

I'm afraid this video of her will have to do...
til I'm emotionally strong enough to attempt writing more about her:

Eva Cassidy

Time After Time

Live at Blues Alley

just a few random thoughts...

So this past Saturday, after weeks of halfhearted consideration, 

I finally got around to moving my bedroom around.  

It took the whole day, and I had serious doubts midway, 

but once everything was lovely and done, I was incredibly pleased.  

My desk use to sit by my window, and as lovely as that sounds, 

my window faces fencing… so it’s not really lovely.  

I also like leaving the window partly open 

and I can’t do that if I’m working because then I get too cold.  

My desk now sits against the opposite wall and I’ve posted up pictures 

and posters of things that inspire me so that I can stare at them while working. 

I moved my poster of Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhone at easy viewing distance 

(it was situated high and above my closet before, basically out of my line of sight) 

and that in itself makes me very happy.  

I lose focus easily… 

so surrounding myself with things that inspire 

and remind me of my own aspirations really does help me focus.  

Really, why didn’t I think of this before?

Midterms have come and gone.  

Apart from one essay I have yet to write, I’ve done incredibly well 

and I’m looking forward to devoting a little less time studying and a little more time relaxing.  

That said, I’d like to share the pack of goodies that really kept me going.  

Unfortunately it is mostly carbs and I did gain weight, 

but I’m now back to my veggie loving self and having more time to walk the dogs, 

I’m hoping to lose some of the extra wobble in my wobbly bits. 

With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, 

I may have to pick up a fitness weight & include a few squats/lunges in my routine,

unless I plan on hiding from all the requisite holiday pictures.

But before the Christmas comes Halloween.  

(I’m severely lagging here and have not decided what to dress up as.) 

So I’d like to end this post with this cute couple I came across walking round last week.  

C’est très adorable, non?

cafe terrace at night...

Cafe Terrace At Night, 1888
by: Vincent Van Gogh / Oil on Canvas
Kröller-Müller Museum

this week through the looking glass...

a day of almost doing nothing...

As if the title of this post doesn't say it all, but I spent the day almost doing nothing. Well... not exactly true, because I am writing this blog post at the moment, but I really didn't do much. Not to say that this has been a horrible day. It's actually quite lovely since Thursdays are my long days on campus and I feel quite guilt free being unproductive on Fridays. Nonetheless, I did do some things, albeit nothing too strenuous or anything that required much effort.  For example, I sat in front of my piano and taught myself the score for the french film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, better known as Amelie for English speaking viewers.  Composed by Yann Tiersen, a lot of the music were actually featured in his own albums prior to the release of Amelie and the new compositions featured in consequent albums.  I love the modern feel of the score juxtaposed with traditional instruments, which is exactly what I believe Tiersen excels in.  I also managed to brew 2 pots of tea, but really, I can do that with my eyes closed half awake at four in the morning. 

In other news, I received some wonderful ones this week actually.  My Modern Art History professor returned my analysis paper on Picasso and I received nothing but wonderful praises from her.  This was massively good news to me because it only affirmed that I'm going down the right path and have made the correct choice in terms of my career.  Secondly, my cousin informed me of a week long visit from her in December and I really couldn't be more excited!  I've begun to plan what we'll be doing and what we'll be eating. Suffice it to say I'm taking this opportunity to visit as many tea shops as possible as well as getting some creative Christmas shopping done.  Third, I've just found out that Addams Family the Musical will be playing in Chicago whilst I'm there for my winter holidays.  I've been wanting to see this production for a very long time but just haven't found the time (or money more importantly) to fly myself to New York to see it.  Rest assured, even if I have to trudge through a blizzard in freezing temperatures to see this, I will  most definitely be watching it this coming December.  Lastly, I will begin featuring more art & theatre related posts on here in the next coming weeks.  It's an exciting project and I'm really looking forward to it. 

Anyway, I've been pretty absent from the blogging world the past week and will be the next week because it is mid term (half term without the holiday, just assessments), which means essays, exams, and deadlines to be met.  So for now, have a lovely weekend.  If I manage to survive my most intensive midterms in about 10yrs.... then I'll be back. xx

books i love...

this week through the looking glass...

Been a little trigger happy when it comes to shooting pictures via the instagram and hipstamatic apps on my phone. Although admittedly, I'm absolute crap with both. With hipstamatic, I just cross my fingers I've chosen the correct lens  and film combo every time I shoot with it. With instagram, using an iphone 3G, it really limits what I can do with it. But hey, I try anyway. This week I've been cooking, eating, tea drinking, rain watching, and dog cuddling.

         

          

         

         

          

daily to do list...

It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

I compiled the following list to help me focus and really remind myself to enjoy every day.

This list obviously doesn't include my daily responsibilities, 

but it includes the things that I deem important and beautiful.

I've been 28 years old for nearly a week now...

So far, I have completed what's on this list on a daily basis.

*Fingers crossed I can keep it up.*

E

photographs of days gone by...

Here's a collection of vintage photographs of sorts. I was sorting through my files as I needed to de-clutter and streamline all the documents on my computer. In the midst of this effort, I came across my grandparents' old photographs I had scanned a few years ago.  It was nice to have a look back and see in pictures, my family's history. I may not be in the photographs themselves (well.... you'll see), but I do feel an intrinsic connection to them. So here's a look back in my family's past:

My grandma as a teenager & my grandpa as a toddler.

My grandmother's with her 3rd year class. 

Anyone notice the lack of shoes?

My grandmother is the one w/ the check mark.

Can you spot her?

My grandfather's family while living in Hong Kong.

The eldest child, he's the tallest boy up front.

My grandmother and her sisters.

Having 10 siblings, my grandmother, the oldest, was 20 yrs older than her youngest sister.

My nan is standing 2nd from the right.

(I absolutely love the coiffed hair! I wonder if it moved?)

My mother and her siblings.

She's standing 2nd from the left.

I believe this was during a birthday party.

So the hats aren't because of a passing fad at the time. Thank goodness.

My grandparents are on the left and the right holding their first two children.

In the middle is my grandfather's mother and her mother.

So that's my grandparents, my great-grandmother, and my great great-grandmother. 

Got that?

This was taken during someone's birthday that I'm guessing was my mother's.

This was during a time when her family were struggling to make ends meet.

What I've always appreciated is that this struggle strengthened their bond as a family,

a bond that's still very much alive and have been passed on to the next generation.

(My grandmother was a seamstress, so she made the clothes seen on the women here.)

My mother and my nan during my parents' wedding.

(Like that wasn't obvious.)

And we jump straight into the 80's!!

Can you tell by the hair and the makeup?!

My mother is on the left, her parent's in the middle, my aunt on the right.

Incidentally, do you see the far off stare my grandpa's got? 

The original disinterested blogger's pose, I tell you.

So maybe photographs from the 80's are not as vintage 

as the earlier ones posted from the 1920's & 1930's. 

But that fat baby with the gigantic round head being held by my dear grandmother is me.

I posted it because I find it incredibly amusing. 

Because about 28 years later, 

I've still got that gigantic round head. xXx

someone like you...

Paris shot in b & w. Singer & her voice.
I think I've fallen in love with Adele all over again.