Missing Yet Thankful

When the holidays arrive, I get extremely homesick.

Even after the holidays, when the snow settles in blocks of sludge on street corners and my breath proceeds my every step, bicoastal living doesn't seem as attractive.

Things are just..very different.  When I look at pictures of my family, I can't help but feel this slight ache at not being part of the pictures.  Family here in Boston is just...very different. 

Toesies of the Month - November 2009

I had been eyeing this salon for a while.  It's right down the street from where I work, and it's slightly closer to my house than Dana's Salon (exactly 0.6 miles closer, to be exact).  But reviews on Yelp.com were not very favorable.

In the name of research, I decided to go for it anyways.

Not bad.  I decided to go for a full session of spa pedicure, eyebrow wax, and Brazilian wax.  Personally, and I believe I've mentioned this before, I think the Vietnamese have the whole nail designs down.  But, I've usually gotten a Brazilian wax from someone who's Brazilian.  Weird, I know.  I guess it's a horrible over-generalization on my part....but, that's just how I've done it.

Let's start with first impressions:  definitely a multi-service business packed into a relatively small space.  There was a manicure section tucked behind the front counter, and the nail dryers were to the side of the front counter.  The spa pedicure chairs were behind another wall, giving a somewhat "spa" feeling that you're separated from the rest of the salon.  The spa chairs...well...there were 3 of them...but they were somewhat dirty.  I mean, there were some stains around the foot basin.  Well, I went for it anyway.

What's In a Name?

Names have power.

Naming things has power - for better or for worse.

Names can be changed in order to remove or increase power.

Names are identity.

I personally love my name, in all its Filipino-ness, 274th in popularity, Simon & Garfunkel ode-inspired, and significance.

Mermaid Collages: Silent Textile

When I was first exploring the mythology of mermaids, I was well into journaling.

While it was also a personal diary, I experimented with the pages.  I had a steady collection of magazine clippings that thickened up the journal, and they were begging to be cut up into bits.  Now, I don't claim to be an artist or anything.  But, I just wanted to share.

Not Cool, Driver...Not Cool...

As I'm biking home today from a non-profit seminar, I almost get side-swiped by a crazy driver.

The signal was of a green arrow going straight and going to the right.  But, as I keep biking straight on, this driver proceeds to right hook me.  I felt his side view mirror graze my arm, and I was literally pushed to the side as he made his slow right turn.

I wasn't hurt.  My bike wasn't hurt.

I was in absolute disbelief.  Even as he proceeded to look back at me as he drove away.  Absolute disbelief.