1. go to trader joe's (or your local grocer)
2. purchase: sprouted wheat bagels, cream cheese, pumpkin butter
3. take purchases home
4. cut one bagel in half and lightly toast each half
5. spread on a thin layer of cream cheese
6. spread a thin layer of pumpkin butter over the cream cheese
7. sit down
8. take a big bite (as shown in the photo)
9. say "yummm!"

note: you should only do this if you like cream cheese, pumpkin butter, and bagels. otherwise you probably won't enjoy the experience.

ever feel like your day is going like this?

things i miss about nyc:
the FOOD
the subway system
the city
the people
the lifestyle
working at k.m.i.p.

things i don't miss about nyc:
the dirty sidewalks

things with my list are going fairly well. i've come up with a URL for my daily creation website. now i just need to figure out the layout. i'm hoping to have it up and running by late next week (jos, you know what that means).

we are not close to any of the fires that have been burning down here. yesterday afternoon some of the smoke blew our way, but that is about the extent of it.

there are a few recent pics up here. we also updated the indocilis header photo. it's fresh! (if you aren't seeing the new one, hit "refresh" on your browser a few times.)

times of change can be both draining and invigorating. i typically struggle to adjust during the first 3-4+ weeks of change. but there usually comes a point when i begin to feel in the groove, at home, and downright satisfied with where i'm at. this did not happen in our 3-month stint in albuquerque. it happened in nyc (most certainly). and i feel that it is beginning to happen here, in sunny los angeles.

one thing i like about living in california is that whenever you need to fill out a form on the internet with your address, and you go to use the little drop down box with the state abbreviations, CA is near the top of the list. its great to not have to scroll down to find the OR or the NY, or the NM for that matter.

you see, its the little things that can make or break a living situation.

also, i've just decided to create a new city resolution list. this isn't a "make it or break it" list. rather, its a set of guidelines and goals for me to consider throughout my los angeles life.

a list to myself on october 19, 2007:

1. starting today, resume the "one watercolor per day" routine that began in NYC and has been put on hold for the past 6 months. this time around, consider alternative activities such as: drawing, oil/acrylic painting, photography, on-computer sketches, etc.

2. make it a point to try new recipes, whether they be complex, simple, healthy, or unhealthy. and don't be too discouraged when you fail in the kitchen!

3. exercise. run around the track. walk to the store/bank/post office. also do some stretches to work on flexibility (you want to be able to touch your toes straight-legged, right?)

4. try and be more social/talkative than feels natural to me. why not? (but of course, don't talk TOO much).

5. read more often. always have a book you're "in the middle of" (but make sure its not always the same book!)

6. write more often. you've noticed more than once that you're writing feels less strong that it used to. so work on that.

7. drink more water. this has always been an item on your to-do lists of the past. so let's just do it.

8. seek inspiration. you know what it feels like to be in the doldrums of creativity. find a way around that... whatever it may be.

9. be confident in who you are, what you do, and how you do it. its your own happiness at stake.

10. always take time to remember what is important to you: neal. family. friends. good health. laughter.

---end of list


for those of you who have made it this far, let me run something by you. i've been toying around with the idea of creating a simple website to post my daily creative exercise. on one hand, a website seems quite unnecessary as the whole point of the exercises is to do it for myself. but on the other hand, maybe posting them will help others to feel inspired, or at least give them something interesting (hopefully) to look at when they're bored at work? i know i appreciate it when i have to opportunity to view others' work. does anyone have any thoughts on this? (if you don't feel like commenting about it for all to see, email me!)

xo.

 

I've been too lazy to rake out the 6 yds of gravel in my driveway...at least now it's serving a purpose

happy birthday neal!

also, i realize some of you have wanted to see photos of our place. well, you can find them here!

today was sunny. yesterday was sunny. tomorrow will be sunny.

it will probably be sunny 3.5 weeks from now. i suppose this means i won't be able to use my fantastic pink umbrella this year.

i miss oregon's cool climate. although i've never been a sweater person, i have always been a cozy down parka/mittens/anything snuggly person. and soup! who really wants soup when it is 85 degrees outside? not me. except i DO!

i miss the people in oregon. that is to say, i miss the people i that i know in oregon. i received a letter/package from my lovely parents last week. it was an event that brought a smile to my face, and to be honest, a drop in my eye. oh, how much i miss them.

day-to-day life in los angeles is pretty decent, overall. sun=yes. dandy apartment=yes. i have yet to drive on a freeway=yes. my general feeling is that this is a nice place to live for awhile!

so here is a question. what inspires you?

ps. we ate the tastiest cheese rolls today.

things are good in los angeles. the sun is warm and consistent. our apartment is shaping up, although it is not yet "complete." yes we do owe you some new photos of it... in due time they will come.

this past weekend we went to pismo beach with some people from neal's work. it was quite fun. beach camping is... sandy! especially when the wind is blowing and the sand goes through the mesh windows on your tent. we have yet to clean out our tent & sleeping bags. there are a few pics up at flickr.

the other day i walked to pick up a small stool/table from someone on craigslist. he lived about a mile away, which isn't really very far. but when i got there he just couldn't get over the fact that i walked. it seems to be a common theme down here. "what?! you WALKED!? oh you poor thing!" i was chatting with the guy we subletted an apartment from when we first got here. his theory was that i'd soon tire of walking and succumb to driving everywhere, even only a few blocks away. MY theory is that walking is great, and that more people should do it around here.

lastly, on my walk to the bank today, i saw a familiar face (recognized from this show). he was eating pancakes at fred62. mmmmm.... pancakes.