Explore the suburbs of the future with this interactive feature. “New urbanism is meant to save open space, reduce car dependence and pollution, and tighten community ties.”
"Most of us want to practice the things we’re already good at, and
avoid the things we suck at. We stay average or intermediate amateurs
forever."
from How To Be An Expert - view full article
Some of words, phrases, names that I like. Just because I like the way they sound, or I like to say them.
per chance
curmudgeon
thing-a-mabob/thing-a-majig
as well
pardon
very much so
thimball
orangina
rig-a-marol
hodge-podge
nicodemus
parceque
ciao
grey poupon
"Tara Donovan specializes in making the ordinary extraordinary. She’s an
installation artist who takes simple, everyday things as pencils,
drinking straws, disposable cups, Scotch tape and makes some amazing
art out of them."
Found this through one of my favorite websites: FreshArrival.com
Misty Sunset
Originally uploaded by gemalynn.
Here’s a photo I took last week. I love how the sky just lit up. The sunset against the light rain just made the whole sky glow. Glad I had my camera with me on an average day. Just stopping by Abertsons to get some groceries. I should keep my camera with me all the time!
Father Junipero Serra
Originally uploaded by gemalynn.
Here’s some photography
I went for a walk on my lunch break today. I remembered to take my new iPod with me. So I walked the city streets, through the park, past museums, shops and clubs. As I wandered and people-watched I listened to my music. The songs were like a soundtrack to my own little documentary. My eyes were the camera.
Joni Mitchell and Elliot Smith rang through my ears to visions of sundrenched palm leaves, grass, curbs, streets, joggers, apartments, glass doors, crosswalks, dogs, cars, and on and on…
I switched to my DANCE playlist as I walked back towards the office and I felt just like those people in the iPod commercials who walk the streets and their reflections show that they are dancing on the inside. My shadow was getting down to Justin Timberlake while I calmly strode my way back to work.
That song actually really got to me today.
Someone could definitely be singing this to me and I wish they would:
On that sunny day
Didn’t know I’d meet
Such a beautiful girl walkin’ down the street
Seen those bright brown eyes
With tears comin’ down (so he said to himself)
She deserves a crown
But where is it now?
Momma listen
(Chorus)
Senorita I feel for you
You deal with things that you don’t have to
He doesn’t love you I can tell by his charm
But you can feel this real love if you just lay in my
Ahhh, Ahhh, Arms (Wont you lay in my)
Ahhh, Ahhh, Arms
When I look into your eyes
I see sumthin’ that money can’t buy
And I know if you give us a try
I’ll work harder for you girl
and no longer will you ever have to
CRY!
I bought a flute, and it came this weekend. I used to play back in elementry school. I actually marched in the La Jolla Christmas parade, ha ha. I was a band geek. Then I was too cool for that and my parents didn’t want to pay for renting the instrument anymore. So life went on.
I was actually pretty good at it though. I also played keyboard for a while, then lost interest when I couldn’t take lessons anymore. Again, because my parents didn’t want to, or couldn’t, pay for the lessons.
I missed having a hobby like that. I missed playing music. I have a guitar as well, but dang, those are kinda hard to play.
But a flute is lightweight, portable, easy to handle, and quite cheap on Ebay! So I finally got around to getting myself a new one.
So I’m playing again, and it’s all coming back to me now. I played for a while this weekend and my fingers still remember what to do. I want to play right now! So bye 
– Oh ya, this title of this post is German for "The Flute and Flute-playing". It’s the name is this book I’m reading right now. Published in 1871. It’s basically the definitive guide written by the man who spent most fo his life inventing the modern day flute through years of study. He was a master goldsmith and silversmith. He acquired a flute as a child. He would play it loudly all day. Til one day a neighbor (and flute virtuoso) came by and said basically - Stop making all that racket and I’ll show you how it’s supposed to be done! - Thus began his career as a musician. So after mastering the flute he decided that he could improve upon it. So he actually experimented for decades by crafting his own flutes. Making small adjustments and even taking 2 years for the study of physics and acoustics (at age 52) and using what he learned to make more revisions to his design.
Here is a quote I really like from his book. He says, "If one only forms the idea that a thing is not difficult, it becomes much easier."
