XMAS BREAK SO FAR
"I got soul but, I'm not a soldier"

I am sooo tired right now. I just got out of work at Charlotte Russe, and it's basically almost midnight. I worked from 3 PM to 11 PM and I haven't been so exhausted in a very long time.
Christmas Break's been pretty amazing so far!
I came home on
Saturday, Dec 23rd. Saw my family, unpacked, slept.
Sunday was the next day, so I went to church (Christmas eve morning) with the parents and saw Vivian! and went to Wal Mart with Oliver and Emily to buy Christmas presents. Got into my first car accident on the way back... I was so pissed at first because I thought the guy had rear ended me and then just wanted insurance money and it was Christmas eve and he wouldn't let me go... but it turned out that he was actually not that bad of a guy. the cop said it was my fault, but w/e. the guy had a 16 year old daughter and some "good mexicans" who could fix up the paint scratch i'd given him "real cheap". and he gave me a hug and said merry christmas. And, I made it home for dinner! My mom had made all the food I like and then Oliver, Emily, and I stayed up late watching "the Office" and "Devil Beside You" (this really good chinese tv show you should watch).
Monday, was CHRISTMAS! My family and I had a lot of fun and were very cute. I'll upload videos later. We went to the Dollar Cinema that evening and watched "Open Season" and "The Prestige". Later that night, just because we could, Oliver and I drove around and bought junk food from a gas station (I pumped gas for the first time toO!) and drove around Bay Oaks talking about important things.
Tuesday, Emily and I watched more of what we have dubbed DBY (Devil Beside You) and then I went to work at Charlotte Russe. It was my first day back! and I was two hours late because I got the hours mixed up. Afterwards, Oliver, Emily, and I went to Ryan's Buffet and had a feast for dinner, came back and watched more DBY.
Wednesday was today! Oliver woke me up, and later, so did Emily, and later, so did Cheng. But it wasn't until noon that I finally woke up. Oliver, Emily, and I (notice a pattern here?) drove to many places, including the library (where we borrowed dvds). I worked at Charlotte Russe from 3-11 and am now very sore at home. I am going to talk to Cheng (who I miss very much. it hurts sometimes. ) and go to sleep. Tomorrow is my day off, so I'll probably sit at home and watch movies with the fam fam. Ooh and I wanna see Vivian. and Gloria. the latter of who left for St Louis yesterday so it'll be a while till I see her. yup. yupp that's it... rambling over.

merry christmas!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v158/tehandrea/christmas%2006-07/

"here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)"

-"i carry your heart with me(i carry it in" by e.e. cummings-

this weekend, cheng and I went to boston. i saw my school and some old friends, and hung out. it was very nice.

"A rescue crew reached the body of James Kim, 35, of San Francisco shortly after noon PT Wednesday in a drainage area of the Klamath Mountains two days after his wife and two daughters were rescued from their car, which had been stuck on a remote road for more than a week. Kim had set out on foot over the weekend to find help."

RIP James Kim. This happened over thanksgiving break-ish, for those of you who don't know. I learned of all this over the weekend and it's made me think a lot about how much a person will do for those he loves. He walked more than, I heard, eight miles? to try and find help for his family.. oh, and he was on CNet. hmm.
on a lighter note,

Stacey and I and Mr. Santa at Marc Jacobs :)

For my dad's birthday, I made him a lovely scarf.

two weekends from now, some people and I are coming up to boston to visit walnut hill :D and boston in general lol

three weekends from now, i'm back in HOUSTON to see the ..snow? fall.

can't. wait. seriously, i cant concentrate on homework cuz I finally wrote it all on the calender. mark yours too! i wanna see all of you :)

this week has been going by, and I am not going to lie when I say that I won't miss it much. the days are getting colder and people are busy and doing things and saying things that are important.

happy thanksgiving
:D

I spent this auspicious holiday quietly.
Jenny and I went to watch a film festival at the MoMA on the 22nd, and she, Cheng, and I had dinner on St. Marks at this nice Japanese place. I went to sleep early, and the next day, woke up late.
It was Thanksgiving! I like calling home, and hearing about my family's free turkey this year, and how Vivian and Gloria've been doing. I was surprised to learn that the Food Emporium, and Blockbusters were open for the day. So, I bought an enormous turkey dinner for myself. It was very nice. Later that evening, Cheng came over, and we stayed up late watching Polar Express and House of the Dead 2, and eating much junk food. I loved waking up late again. and it's been nice, just staying in the city for the holidays. I would've liked to go home, or to New Jersey, or to North Carolina. But things just work out the way they will I guess. I don't mind.
The 24th of November, I woke up late and ate dinner with Jenny in Chinatown. We came back and watched Sin City in my dorm. Cheng joined us, and upon Jenny's departure, we stayed up until 5 AM watching more movies. :P

It's Saturday morning :)
I am sitting at the Macbook, Stacey, and a guest of mine are still asleep. Well of course, it's 10:25 AM. But I have already taken a shower and am trying to figure out where to take my guest, Aswathi, from Houston who now goes to Drexel, around for the day. I was thinking of taking her to the teahouse, where my friends and I used to go to alot. some other places around East Village, and the Columbus Circle Mall uptown.
Last night, she came in to the city, as did Danny, another old friend from Parsons camp. She came to the Thanksgiving event at youth group with Tiffany and myself. (Tiffany made delicious pancakes) After youth group, I finally saw Cheng who I like a buttload. We watched the Village, and then Cheng left to see his friends. The Village has a pretty tame ending, that's all I have to say. I thought Adrian Brody was so hot, but watching him as a retarded village guy who stabs someone and then dies... well. (shh if u havent seen it sry) Afterwards, Aswathi, Stacey, and I fell asleep watching Sex and the City episodes.
I'm so excited... Thanksgiving Break starts in 5 days yessss lol. I was gonna try and see Katy in Jersey, but it didnt work out.
How is stuff at home? Seeing Aswathi again made me feel like Houston wasn't in fact so far away. She hasn't changed much. She seems shorter, and grew her hair out, but the Houston way of being is still all around her. Really, there is, I think, a Houston way of behaving. Or maybe it's just being genteel and Southern, stereotypically, or something. But one could tell yesterday, walking around with her, she was just soo amazed at everything in the city, that I felt a little jaded at my comfort and ease in the city. Do I take this life for granted? Also, the way we Houstonians are soo nice to each other is very different from New Yorkers. Saying hi on the streets just doesnt happen, Aswathi pointed out.
I wish I was coming back to Houston for Turkey Day, but it's alright. I'll call a lot. I miss the Chen's, but Christmas is just around the corner <3 And I'll take many photos and post them here.

Monday mornings are so dreary. Especially on this day, the morning looks a little foreboding, with the sky all grey.
This weekend was nice though.
Friday night was Girls Night at youth group. TIffany and I had fun watching the Incredibles and eating blue chips with spinach dip.
Saturday, I went to the MoMA, sketched a Jackon Pollock painting and saw one of the films playing. That evening, I saw Katha and some of the Juillard people. It's been too long since I last hung out with them.
Sunday, I went to church, did a lot of homework, and Cheng came back from his weekend away. He was so tired... :/

ahhhh class

"Beloved imagination, what I most like in you is your unsparing quality.

The mind of the man who dreams is fully satisfied by what happens to him. The agonizing question of possibility is no longer pertinent. Kill, fly faster, love to your heart's content. And if you should die, are you not certain of reawaking among the dead? Let yourself be carried along, events will not tolerate your interference. You are nameless. The ease of everything is priceless."
Surrealist Manifesto 1924

http://www.seaboarcreations.com/sindex/manifestbreton.htm

cheng :)

if I could be any kind of music, I'd be soft jazz.

"To live in this world, you must accomplish three things: to love what is mortal; hold it against your bones, because you know your life depends on it; and when the time comes, let it go."

I just got back from class woo. There's so much I need to do tonight, namely ignore that it's the night before Halloween, plaster cast a skeleton, make a value scale, and bake cupcakes. yup.

"All The Pretty Girls Go To The City Now
Don't They Don't They Do Don't They Do That My Love

And They Go Do D-Do D-Do
Do D-Do D-Do
Do D-Do D-Do
Do D-Do D-Do"

some sketches...

I woke up this morning, and saw Jenny! yup, we got lunch, walked around for supplies, and I came back to my dorm. It was nice seeing her again... on another note:
I felt like crying just now, and there's so much in my head that I couldn't tell you why.

You see Ive been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
cause there aint no one for to give you no pain
La, la ...

Tonight I had an essay to write, and some readings... after, I am going to meet with a somebody for coffee, and then possibly go kareoking. yup. Life is so busy lately, either working or playing- hard.

I love the Chen's.

"Here comes the cold
Break out the winter clothes
And find a love to call your own

No way November will see our goodbye
When it comes to December it's obvious why
No one wants to be alone at Christmas time"
( listening to john mayer!)

i saw this photo today.. It's seems so long ago now.. junior year.. I played the 7 of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, the opera. Awful atonal stuff, let me tell you. aww.. back when I was a voice major.. Pink nail polish and Lolita.

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

"nothing gold can stay"-robert frost

"Our expections define our experience."

my mental health day :)

It's Friday! The end of another long week.. after a while, I don't remember things anymore, because I'm just so tired. haha. yea, I need to start catching up on the zzz's. Also, it was very very cold today. 40 something degrees! yup. I'm gonna start wearing my sweaters and boots soon...
Hope everything's alright on the home front.

"say to the weary one,
Your God will surely come,
He will come and save you"

perfectstars.com -made by a fellow walnut hiller

if you've ever seen the movie Crash, there's a quote that goes
"It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk... You brush past people, people bump into you. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something."

Isn't it ironic that cities isolate people more than small towns? in a small town, everyone knows everything about everybody. up here, there are people that just disappear. i've heard that some can go weeks without ever talking to anyone. and it makes me wonder, that once in a while, if those that bump into me in the street, are only doing it because that might be the only human touch they feel.

RCF Fall Retreat was this past weekend! I'm glad I went.. some good thinking was done :)
(click to enlarge the smallish pictures)

me and mist on the lake..


1. tiffany (this girl who lives in my dorm and i have a class with, who came with me this weekend) plus myself
2. my small group!




I got back today and slept from 1 PM to 5:30

then went out to eat at this amaazing japanese restaurant on st marks place with tiffany for her roommate's 19th birthday.
It's good to be back in the city, but I'm missing the mountains.

oh, and this is what I presented today in Lab Class. The project was "people communicating nonverbally in the east village"

I really don't understand sometimes, how I make it through the day. I feel like I drift to and from class in this haze, interrupted only by people I know, and the smell of cigarette smoke.
I'm so ready for my weekend away, at church retreat :)

And September's finally over! thank goodness.
did you know that it's your skin's worst month? really, it's the one month of the year that everybody's skin breaks out exceptionally. i'm so glad it's over.

ps- mommy. i got your email. and you know i'm not like that at all. so i'm not even gonna reply to it.

I'd been thinking lately, of how cool it would be to make a little cave/fort underneath my bed in the dorm room.
So yesterday, I finally went through with my lil daydream.
Back home, I used to make little nests out of blankets to sleep in sometimes when I just didnt want to sleep in my bed.
plus, I can read in my nest.
like the candycorn lights? oh, that green pillow plugs into an ipod/ishuffle, so i can listen to music while i sleep :D

this time, a week ago...

today, i took some photos for 2-D class, of organic and geometric objects..



brush in a can



mango juice



a seashell

it's my roommate and her boyfriend's 4 year anniversary tonight
:)

http://web.mac.com/seagullchaser/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html

stones taught me to fly
love, it taught me to lie
life taught me to die
so it's not hard to fall
when you float like a cannon..
stones taught me to fly
love taught me to cry
so come on courage
teach me to be shy
'cause it's not hard to fall
and i don't wanna scare her
it's not hard to fall
and i don't wanna lose
it's not hard to grow
when you know that you just don't know



When I was walking through Union Square Park tonight, I caught a glimpse of this guy singing "Cannonball" by Damien Rice, one of my favorite songs. I dunno how good the sound quality is, so I pasted up the lyrics he's singing.
I've been pretty good lately, keepin busy with busywork. I've started to really like going to Remnant Church. I feel like I should get more plugged in, so I signed up for the Fall Retreat in two weeks. we'll see. I saw Daryl Kuo, an old CLCCer, there this Sunday! random. and umm.. I'm actually talking to people in my class now too haha. that's an improvement. I feel like I'm pretty bad at meeting new faces sometimes. I miss Houston too.. but all goes well, and I love everyone I showed this blog link too very very much (unless that's awkward in which case, for those of you to which this pertains, suffice to say I don't mind you :P )

my life has become all about 3-D topographical maps and posters about classmates..

I'm back from drawing class! it was so long... I think I need a nap now. To show mommy and daddy that I have indeed been studying/ working my butt off, I have taken a picture of the still life we had to do today. :D




exhausted...
i want it to be the weekend so bad, and it's still only tuesday..
off to nap and then do hw!! cuz that's all I do lately! oh, hey, small groups start on thursday.

This Weekend has been delightful so far. well, one sad thing was Jenny leaving for RISD. I am going to miss her. also, I havent been able to see Stacey (my roomie) much. :/ hmm perhaps that should be remedied. also, I need to start getting my Parsons homework done.

Some good things about this weekend though, so far. Katha and I got to know two of Jenny's friends from Juillard, both sophomore percussion majors, Rob and Brian. We hung out friday night, and went to Washington Square Park today (Saturday) to see a percussion group that never got their act together. wait- one more bad- or not bad but weird thing- there was an odd guy saying he could answer any question we had about religion there. yea... that was weird- and kind of hypocritical, because although I do think it's really brave for someone to be out in public declaring what they believe, being truly strong in faith should also be about being really humble. and go be in public like that.... kind of isn't. he was basically saying "i know everything there is to know about my religion- and I'm right." ...it really confused me. Rob said I had a look of "holy wrath" in my eyes. lol.. anyway, back to good things. then we had dinner in Chinatown, and I'm back, and now I'm going to work. Oh, on the way to Chinatown, we passed "Houston Street" :D

my thoughts are so scattered now, but it's because I'm trying to get busy. I'm calling home tonight...
church tomorrow!


the park

Today in class, we took a cruise on the Hudson River.

(sorry about the smudge on the camera. ocean water! look, there's a duck floating around!... or wait.. that's a seagull.. ?)


Walking to my dorm from the cruise ship, Tricia (from my class) and I passed by Pratt, of all places! and I remembered how daddy used to teach there :)

Saw modern dance at Battery Park (night 2) with Jenny. yay free dance things..

I really like this song.. "vienna" by the fray.. it started playing when i was in the subway station tonight.

The day's last one-way ticket train pulls in
We smile for the casual closure capturing
There goes the downpour
There goes my fare thee well
...
Maybe in five or ten yours and mine will meet again
Straighten this whole thing out
Maybe then honesty need not be feared as a friend or an enemy
But this is the distance
And this is my gameface

...
Is there really no way to reach me?
Am I already gone?

Classes are keepin me busy.


It was a really nice day today.. had class, worked, and in the evening, Jenny and I saw the Kansas City Ballet perform for free in Battery Park...

yesterday; Labor Day
(all my posts seem to be a day behind lol)


nick, katha, and I took a walk.. all day. lol 30 blocks, up and down 5th Avenue..


lol this was just hanging out on a street corner.

hope you're doing well! classes start tomorrow ahh

Happy Labor Day!

yesterday, I went to Remnant West Side Church, meeting some NYUers randomly on the subway going there... it was really nice. the worship is always really good. We did some ice breaker activites (for the college people) and I met some nice people.
After that, Jenny and I hung out, filmed a little, and walked through a street fair.


$1 thai food!!


posters and signs all arranged in the street...


(this one I thought emily would especially like. "painless dentist" lol)


there were breakdancers in Union Square near the subway station!!


that evening, stacey, todd, and I went to BAMN, this automated, "25 hours a day" food place on St. Marks Street near my dorm...
lol


mm green tea ice cream

(some pictures of NY since I came up a week ago.
click to enlarge )


the plane


new jersey


my dorm room before carpet


and after


flowers on our kitchen table


the street i have a few classes on


$3 grapefruit juice at the MOMA


a photo in the MOMA called "the critic"


MOMA movie poster from 1942


a whole duck, for sale, in Chinatown


dallas bbq with stacey and todd, and jenny and evan. they have this deal, 2 for 10, where people split a chicken and pay $5 each.


it's been raining a lot

i love all of you! more to come later...
andrea