Date: 2007-12-17 14:47 Subject: (no subject) Security: Public

a day can turn on a dime.

i'm teaching design concepts at acc in the spring!

Date: 2007-06-17 23:42 Subject: (no subject) Security: Public

right now i feel:
left out
humid and frizzy
that my mom is still crazy
that i can't please anyone
exhausted
that i care too much

Date: 2007-06-14 23:32 Subject: (no subject) Security: Public

frazzled beyond belief. work. cars. work. house. work. house. house. house. mortgage. work. house. work. mortgage.

Date: 2007-06-03 20:59 Subject: things i've learned from you - a list series - four of nine Security: Public

things i have learned from pete (my pup, about to be 2 yrs old):
1. a lot of attitude will get you a long way.
2. redheads most always equal trouble. (the good kind)
3. you can never be too cute.
4. and you can never have too many cute nicknames (p-tiny, p-diddle, peter, franklin, mctiny, little p, p-tootles).
5. to speak up for yourself when you are pissed off about something.
6. its not cool to pick on your brother. you might get bit in yo' face.
7. to have a boundless energy and enthusiasm for life.
8. even those with the most bravado can be chickens about some things.
9. being a teacher's pet is not something to be ashamed of.
10. that i have more room in my heart than i first thought.

Date: 2007-05-25 11:19 Subject: things i've learned from you - a list series - three of nine Security: Public

things i have learned from my grandmother (mom's side):
1. don't let anyone see you unless you atleast have lipstick on.
2. be a self-made person.
3. elegance.
4. to have care in your handwriting.
5. when you know you are dying, it can change your personality.
6. be buried in a chanel suit.
7. to love chicago.
8. even when you appear to have it all, you really might not.
9. a facelift can be a fantastic thing if you really want it.
10. to be a strong, intelligent woman.

Date: 2007-05-23 10:36 Subject: things i've learned from you - a list series - two of nine Security: Public

things i have learned from ralph:
1. its ok to just sit and look pretty sometimes.
2. that i would throw myself in front of a car to save him.
3. when you love someone, you will help them, no matter the cost.
4. its ok to fight back when your brother is picking on you.
5. dogs are not just animals.
6. how a dog can come to mean as much to you as anyone in your life.
7. to sleep with my legs spread or crooked.
8. to be patient.
9. the drive-thru bank will send you dog biscuits back through the tube if they see you have a dog in the car.
10. there is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog.

Date: 2007-05-20 22:03 Subject: happy sigh Security: Public

i'll risk the chance of jinxing myself by saying this: i feel so content with life right now. things are clicking left and right. the glimmer of things to come in the future is exciting, but i am happy riding the road for now. i'll get there eventually, but right now my hair is blowing in the wind, shades on, music blasting.

Date: 2007-05-19 15:30 Subject: the soft and the shiny Security: Public

after avoiding them like the plague for most of the last 10 years, i am now happily embracing the two things that so utterly evoke femininity: lipstick and dresses.

Date: 2007-05-06 22:23 Subject: week end. Security: Public

this was a nice, quiet weekend. my mom and i had a tiff on friday so i decided to tune her out this weekend - no calls, no family drama (right now i am pretty frustrated with everyone in my immediate family, save my sister). we had quite a cinematic and literary adventure this weekend - namely we watched 5 movies and i purchased and read some new books and magazines. here's the scoop:


the prestige (movie): christian bale and hugh jackman are magicians that have a battle royale spanning years. they duel to constantly better the other, and the end is pretty "whoa! wait a minute, DUH!" bale and jackman are usually some good eye candy, but neither are very likeable characters here. not bad, but not a particularly great film.


the queen (movie): a fascinating movie about queen elizabeth during the short time period of when tony blair was elected prime minister and princess diana is killed. brought up all sorts of emotions i didn't realize i had about when diana died - the amount of flowers! her funeral procession! she touched so many! - but also quite interesting to see the huge blunders the queen made in handling the situation. she completely ignored the social and cultural impact of diana and her death. helen mirren was amazing. a must-see!


tim gunn: a guide to quality, taste and style (book): i read this in about 2 hours - so fun! a veritable must-read for the fashion-conscious and fashion-aspiring alike. his tips are relatable and to the point. he isn't out to change anyone, only to enhance.one of the cutest books - designwise - i have seen in a long time (take off the book jacket, and you'll see what i mean). even the proportion and size of the book is downright stylish. a fun book, most tips i pretty much already knew, but it was fun reading tim's take on subjects like the outlet mall and sweatsuits.


lucky (magazine): i have to express that i am quite disappointed with my usual favorite publication. the clothes have been lackluster and dare i say, boring. the makeup section is nonexistant. the jewelry guide was horrible.


blueprint (magazine): per my savvy friend jennifer, i was dying for this magazine, and it didn't disappoint. love this mag's mix of home/fashion/practicality/food/beauty. great article on airplane travel tips. gorgeous layout of do-it-yourself furniture.


an american haunting (movie): i love a good old-fashioned witch movie, and this rose to the occasion. certainly not a cinematic masterpiece, it was a good scare nonetheless. based on the story of the bell witch (wiki wiki it, you know you want to), it chronicles the haunting of the 2 members of the bell family. scary stuff. jennifer, steer clear.


night at the museum (movie): truly horrifically (sp?) awful. just don't see it, i wish i hadn't.


curse of the golden flower (movie): lee insisted on this one, and it was really good. gong li is stunningly beautiful, and this entire movie is sumptuous and gorgeous. crazy soapy story involving a royal family in the forbidden city. killing eachother ensues.


shopaholic and baby (book): will start this one tonight or tomorrow. now this series is no literary achievement, but it is fun to read. looks like this edition will be equally cute and funny.


metropolis (magazine): my favorite architecture/design magazine which is usually super-heavy on conceptual architecture did an entire issue about the object. cannot wait to dive into this one. i am saving it for later this week when i need a little creative boost.


step (magazine): my favorite design rag, this issue is about type. kind of a flimsy issue, but the summer one always is, unfortunately.


other events this weekend: grocery shopping at the heb, a visit to our house (there are walls!), a hike around town lake, dinner at p.terry's and gelato at whole foods (pure pistachio heaven!), dinner at chuy's (always good).

Date: 2007-05-04 00:02 Subject: intention | perception Security: Public

intention: a thing intentended, an aim or plan; a person's designs.
perception: a way of regarding, understanding or interpreting something; a mental impression.

as a designer, the intended and the perceived are integral to what i do. they go hand-in-hand, interlaced and intertwined. i can design something with a clear intention, yet i cannot absolutely control the perception of what i put out there into the world. it is facsinating how skewed intentions can become by how one perceives the execution of it. whoops, there it goes, my message lost. i have to be aware of the many ways to interpret a color, an image, the emphasis on a word. is that banana penile? is that green pea green or broccoli green? is that typeface serious or casual? perception can completely distort and haze the message. clarity of message and intention is everything to a design. it makes or breaks it.

intention and perception plays out in our relationships. i can make a face intended in jest that is perceived as disgust. another message lost. its difficult for me to be aware of intention/perception in daily life. sometimes i feel like a bull in a china shop. or that people think i am someone that i am not. i may be intending to show that i have good taste and appreciation for good design but i can't control if you percieve me to be a frivolous snob. this is one of those human things, one of those things we probably can't change. someone told me i can't just not be myself, and she was right. so i will keep on intending in the best and most genuine way i can, and the world will percieve me as it will.

Date: 2007-04-04 14:30 Subject: new NEW specs Security: Public

the mega-cleavage in that first pic is totally unintentional. last pic just looked cool.

Date: 2007-04-04 08:50 Subject: word of the week Security: Public

after watching father of the bride 1 + 2 over the weekend (they were on tv), i decided to attempt to work in the word "bitchin'" into conversation when possible. apparently this was a cool 90s word that i never knew about (steve martin uses it in the 2nd movie). maybe it will make a comeback. i apologize if i have used the word on you - i am pretty sure i said it to jennifer yesterday - but it is rather fun to say and i am trying to resurrect a trend here.

hehehe.

Date: 2007-03-29 22:23 Subject: a funny ncaa update from uncle dave Security: Public

Circle of Meehans, Goldbergs, and Bergrens:

I've been out of town so my apologies for the delay. Went 3/4 in betting on NCAA games in Lake Tahoe. Unfortunately, my picks in the family pool were far less prescient. Here are the standings going into the Final Four. I haven't analyzed every single permutation but this thing is still wide open. A few have been eliminated.

Adam: 107 - 4/4 left. We're not worthy. I think you need a Georgetown - UCLA final with Georgetown winning. Possible you could win in some other scenario but I can't think of it.
Aunt Patty: 99 - You go girl! 2/4 left. Unfortunately, I don't think you can win because if Fla wins it all as you predicted Lindsay will pass you.
Meg: 95 - 3/4 left. The bitterness toward Adam's lead position is unbecoming, though contagious. You win if UCLA and Georgetown get to final and UCLA wins.
Elise/Rob: 95 - 3/4 left. My previous slam of your bracket for picking Wisc. to win it all is... reiterated. Don't think you can win.
Rory: 90 - 2/4 left. Sorry for selling you on the Tarheels, buddy. I don't think you can win.
Aunt Regina: 90 - 2/4 left. Wow, only other person to pick Ohio State besides Ryan. I think you win if Fla and OSU get to final and OSU wins.
Ryan: 88 - 2/4 left. Nice pick on Ohio State to win it all but you can't beat Aunt Regina.
Grandpa: 88 - 2/4 left. I think you're done Grandpa, with the rest of the Tarheel nation.
Uncle Dave: 88 - 2/4 left. Bunch of cheaters.
Lindsay: 87 - 3/4 left. I don't think you're out of it. If OSU and Fla get to final and Fla wins, I think you win.
Aunt Joanne: 71. 1/4 left. Sorry Whoop, I think you're out of it.

Hope everyone is well. We're going on vacation on Saturday to the beach so I won't be able to do the final tally until 4/9 or so. Hopefully,the information above will tell you where you stand. Ciao....

Date: 2007-03-28 14:19 Subject: insecure, much? Security: Public

since i got my new glasses, i have been super insecure about them. it was driving me crazy. everyone said they looked "fine" or "ok", my mom used the word "attractive" which i have never heard her use before. i knew they weren't right. they were fine, but not good, cool, fun, great. so i headed up to round rock to check out the lenscrafters there. they had quite an extensive collection. i decided on a very awesome pair of chanels. unfortunately i also decided to upgrade the lenses, so they had to order them. should take about a week to get them, and then i'll post a new pic :)

Date: 2007-03-24 22:23 Subject: new specs Security: Public

new specs. versace, ooh la la!

Date: 2007-03-13 10:04 Subject: a repeat in the works? Security: Public

i finalized my bracket last night. it kept me up into the wee hours on sunday night/monday morning. i finished it up last night and went to heb to get a bottle of nailpolish and a $5 bill to send along for the pool. i felt a lot of pressure since i won it last year (a true highlight of my life. me, a little old female, beating the chauvinistic and sexist uncles on my mom's side? priceless). i kept with my same strategy - do my research, be ballsy/daring. so i picked a lot of upsets in the first round. i compared elite 8's with my bro, and we had almost the same except for one. he and i also had the same final 2 - UCLA + Georgetown. we picked opposites to win, so this could be the big showdown, mano e mano. he was being a big cock to me last night online, telling me i picked ridiculous upsets. as though he is some sort of expert.

it would be fun to win again, though i am sure the odds are low. march madness is so fun. it makes me miss playing basketball.

Date: 2007-02-27 21:31 Subject: spring is shaping up swell Security: Public

i can let go of winter, as this spring is starting to look swell. i love the fashion this season, the bright colors, the sweet colors. patent leather and stunning silks. gorgeous dresses and wide leg pants.

my spring it list

movie: helvetica http://www.helveticafilm.com/
drink: grande nonfat light whip cinnamon dolce latte
color: red
outfit: a floaty dress + cardigan + wide belt + platform pumps
accessories: big retro sunglasses, wide belts
makeup: gray eyeshadow + pink lips
book: charity girl by michael lowenthal
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780618546299&itm=1
patterns: palm print, circles + dots, birds

Date: 2007-02-14 01:28 Subject: aww . . . i have the best valentine :) Security: Public

<----- what i got for valentine's day from lee. he was so excited to give it me that as soon as it was 12:01, he asked if we could exchange gifts. i relented until after frasier, 12:35a.m. this ipod is the cutest thing ever! and its pink! :) happy valentine's day everyone!

Date: 2007-02-13 23:46 Subject: after reading my latest issue of lucky... Security: Public

i have a few survey questions for you! i will answer in the comments section :)

1. what is your foolproof outfit (from top to bottom)?

2. what is your favorite dress and why?

3. what is your favorite wardrobe piece (clothing or accessory)?

4. what is the formula for your style (x + y + z = ?)

Date: 2007-02-10 00:26 Subject: i get fixated on weird comments/compliments Security: Public

three recent ones:

one (spoken to me). "you have such a classic face" - this is a compliment, i think. what is weird to me is that no one has ever said this to me before. it threw me.

two (spoken to me with ralph). "oh my, that is a mighty fancy lookin' dog you got there" - back-handed compliment? insult to ralph? all i could do was say "whatever" under my breath.

three (spoken at me). "it's way more fun being brunette. brunettes are so exotic, you know?" - weird statement made by my colorist, a blonde who recently went super-dark brown (which looks amazing on her). being a life-long, permanent uber- brunette, i am not sure about this. never felt exotic to me. and i always thought it would be more fun to be a redhead.