it's been a while

I understand it's been a while since I've last updated.  I've somewhat occupied myself with projects to do/freelance for creative gigs on Craigslist.  I've also joined a gym, so that's taken a lot of my free time on weekdays when I get the chance to actually go.

But, this blog isn't an update of where I've been & of all the adventures I ventured off to.

I just don't know anymore.  I feel I'm at the end, but I know I shouldn't let this stop me dead in my tracks.  It's nothing big, nor that much of an importance.  At least it shouldn't be anyhow.  I'm just tired.  Tired of trying.  Tired of waiting.  Tired of everything going on that I want to forget about it.  I want it to go away with just the thought of it, or a blink from my eye.  On the other end, though, I don't want it to end.  I don't want it to seem like a waste & forget it all.  I don't want to be something that has been & will never be.   I always feel like I'm running in circles & that I'm not going anywhere in life.  But, sometimes that's not always the solution for people.  To stop cold turkey.  Completely shut it out.  Maybe I care too much.  It's in my nature to be that way.  I wish things could finally go my way because damn it I deserve it!  This year has been one of my worst so why can't I finally be happy like everyone else?

I wish these were better times where things could be the way they should be.

12:34

My hair only looks hot after a good ol' workout from the gym.  Too bad I don't have a picture to show it =(  There's always tomorrow, or well today.

Am I not good enough, or am I too good for anything (not trying to sound arrogant or anything... this is more like one of those rhetorical questions I wish there was an answer for)?  I've been asking myself this for many months now & I just don't know.  I've always patiently waited for things to come my way, & eventually it has.  I'm just tired of waiting so long for it to happen.

My iPod was randomly shuffling through songs as I drove home from work & Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares To You" played.  Memories memories memories flashed through my mind.  Nostalgia suddenly set in.  I'm glad I had my workout at the gym to snap me out of it.  I think if my mind keeps up with doing this to myself I'll end up being either super fit, underweight, or an exercise junkie.

I finally created a sign/logo for Janelle's boyfriend's nephew's cafe.  It only took me around a hour to develop, but I kept messing around with the colors & placement of words and such that I was indecisive to come up with a final design.  Hopefully this will be suffice.

I miss designing.  Especially designing with an elaborate concept in mind.  Sometimes I still imagine how it would be like working for a design or advertising agency of sorts.  I do like the apparel side of designing too, but I'm not sure how long I would want to stick with this.  I have many dreams of what I still want to do.  I just hope I'll be able to live them out.

I know I haven't kept up with my daily nostalgic pictures, but hopefully this one will make up for it:

Nostalgic Pic#5 - Volunteering as a medical victim at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond, VA circa 2006.  I did this a few months prior to this picture & got compensated $50.  I received a letter in the mail asking if I'd like to volunteer & be compensated once again, so I decided to & invited a few friends along for the fun!  I'm still upset everyone except I didn't get my compensation to this day.

eyes cream sonday

As the end of another chill & relaxing weekend draws near, for the first time ever I'm complaining about how I don't want the work week to begin.  These past two weeks at work have been stressful, though, there was no need to feel stressed.  However, under the situations I was in I felt pressured & rushed so how in the hell can I not stress over that?  Anyways, it's over & done & I did the best I could so that's all that really matters... right?

I just saw The Duchess & I must say I did enjoy it.  Especially the elaborate costumes & hair.  That Georgiana sure does have style.  It is based on a true story, so of course everything was predictable.  I just realized Keira Knightley always plays roles where the movie is set in the 17th or 18th century of England.  Not that this is bad or anything.  It suits her most of the time, but I did like her acting in this movie.  If I had a "I kissed a girl & liked it..." & etc. list, Keira would be #2 (#1 would be Angelina Jolie).  Sometimes I wonder what it's like living during those times.  It must be nice to just have everything catered to you & to have lavish dinners & parties.  I'll admit, I wanted to drink wine after watching The Duchess. Throughout 90% of the movie, I always saw a drink in their hands.

I love my Godson & niece.  They're so cute & silly, especially my Godson.  He's full of so much energy & imagination with no real care in the world (he's really intelligent too!).  My niece is still a bit shy, so when I saw her she was acting really sassy & not wanting to stray away from her mommy's or daddy's side.  However, once my cousin popped in the Dora the Explorer dvd on the television it was all over.  My niece jumped up & down, clapped her hands with so much joy, & smiled so big that I thought she was high... off life.  I can't wait to see them again on Christmas.  I swear once they're older they're going to break hearts, especially my niece.  I won't let them date until they're 30.  I wish they wouldn't grow up so fast (insert sad face here)!

Random thoughts:

- I'm ready for something new

- There's so much more things to discover outside my world

- If all else fails, music will always be there for me

- New York soon, yeah?

- I love Mirah's song, While We Have The Sun

yeah new york

Just got back from my weekend excursion in New York not too long ago & I must say it was pleasant to get away from my life in suburbia.  I stayed with a friend in Astoria and loved the neighborhood he lived in.  There was a cute bakery he took another friend of mine & me to called Martha's Country Bakery.  My oh my was it so delicious!  I had a fruit tart on Friday & then a black forest cupcake on Saturday (yes, it was that good that I had to go there twice!).  Saturday, we ate sushi for lunch at Watawa Sushi.  Mmm, it was a good meal at a good price!  I loved the atmosphere inside Watawa.  Their wall was painted a nice red-orange color & had furniture that looked like it was from West Elm, which gave it a modern look that says they're clean & sophisticated yet hip & fun.

On Halloween we ended up going to the Village & saw how festive & creative these residents' costumes were.  We saw people dressed up as "the running of the bulls," Wayne & Garth, a guy in a car accident (he stuck his head through a piece of shattered plexiglass & covered his entire head/face with fake blood & such--very creative), teletubbies, a Red Bull fridge (the guy constructed this box to put over himself that mimicked an actual Red Bull fridge with the shelves & empty cans of Red Bull, & he was able to install a light fixture to light it up & off--also very creative), & the list goes on & on!  I wish I had put more thought into a costume.  I actually did, but my plans just didn't fall through.  My friend, Karen, had an awesome costume.  She was Jubilee from the X-Men & my friend, Francis, was an "Extra Jabbawockee--Not Seen On TV."

We also partied at this club called, Stay.  As the name speaks for itself, we did end up staying at Stay for the rest of the night.  Overall, it was an awesome Halloween despite my lack of dressing up for the occasion.

The rest of the weekend was chill, yet fun.  I went shopping for my godson & niece at F.A.O. Schwartz & of course for myself at the H&M flagship store on 5th Ave.  I'm sad Topshop wasn't open yet, so we didn't get to go there.  I got to hangout with another friend I haven't talked or seen in a while, & it was great to catch up for a bit to see how he was doing.  We all drank special cocktails & $1.50 Japanese beers at Kenka on St. Mark's Place.  The day I left, I had dim sum for the first time ever at Grand Harmony Palace.  The food wasn't bad, but I felt the service was disappointing.  Our waitress seemed very impatient & annoyed of us.  Apparently we came too late for dim sum, but either way they should always have food prepared no matter what.   Anyways, I enjoyed my weekend & wish I had taken more pictures with my actual camera (it's always heavy to lug around with), instead of my camera phone.

where in the world is aly san diego?

Many apologies for the very much delayed update (& the novel of the blog I'm about to post).  I've been somewhat busy.  Ok, so not really.  I've been really lazy & a bit out of it lately.  Nothing new has been going on with me, except I did paper mache for the first time & got a haircut.  I'm also currently borrowing a sewing machine to bring the crafty side out of me.  Anywho...

Maude keeps falling off the tower of my desktop Mac Pro at work.  I wish whoever designed this Kidrobot toy didn't make her feet so damn small so she can actually balance when free-standing.  Her little machete broke, so now it looks like she's just holding a sushi roll (which I suppose is acceptable since her head is shaped like a fish, or so my co-worker says).

I heard the latest Bloc Party album Intimacy, & I must say I'm disappointed.  Although, I like Silent Alarm the best, I enjoyed Weekend In the City & saw it as a fresh change from their debut album.  After hearing their recent album, however, I felt it was just put together without any thought or concept.  They tried adding more synths & experimental sounds, but it just ended sounding like they overdid it.  Well, at least the sound does go with the album title.  Or well, it reminded me of love (feel-good, spontaneous, careless).  Maybe that's what they were going for.  If so, then wow!  That's an interesting concept, however I don't think I'll appreciate Intimacy as much as their previous albums.  Overall, it's catchy.

**Disclaimer:  I'm not an official music critic, so don't take my word for word.  This is purely my own personal opinion.**

I went to Ulta for the first time last Saturday.  It was great!  Since it was still their grand opening week/weekend, I got some free stuff.  I love free things!  Looks like I, too, am a fan of this beauty store.