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Day 47 (Feb 21) Loads of photos from this day!
Today was probably by far the best day I have had here. Or at least best day alone here. Today was about reconnecting, exploring, gathering my surroundings and because im not at home with my family a way of celebrating Chinese new years. I headed out this morning to pretty much re-live my labour day week here with my team… I went downtown 7th and Wilshire blvd. I got off at the wrong subway stop but whatever… I ended up walking all the way down there from 1st and hill. It felt good to see Wilshire grand where I stayed for a week. I was waiting for the bus but I got really impatient so I ended up walking from broadway and 7th to 1st and broadway. But before I headed in that direction I had to stop by a few more spots that we frequented before like the Corner Bakery where the team and me had yummy breakfast and also to the landmark which leads me to this moment where I called Christa and set-up an interview. Walking on Wilshire Blvd, memories of the late night talk I had with Lisa, Diana, Joyce and Joey came back to me and the late night walk with Lisa Mac to the other hotel =D and I also passed by Bottega Louie but didn’t stop in because the line was HUGE and I was saving room for other food.
I then decided to go up to the MOCA museum… oh boy the worst choice I have made all day. The art there was ummm I wouldn’t consider it art… if I did I would be still in fine arts and throw crap together. And to top off my visit to MOCA which has a security person in every corner of the place… one of then was hitting on me… yeah… he saw I had earphones in right…? It was an awkward thing to because I had to wait to get my bag from the counter and he was still there standing his post… haha
So apparently the MOCA is located in Little Tokyo which I really wanted to revisit during the day. So as I was planning my trip to Little Tokyo, I wanted to visit this little mochi store I went to with my team that has BEST ice cream mochi EVER! And online it said it wasn’t opened on Sundays which bummed me out but today I went… the store hours say said otherwise! Haha. I had to turn around though because I hadn’t eaten yet and didn’t want to spoil my appetite. I finally was able to get my ramen! Daikokuya also known as the yellow tent ramen is the best! I came here in September with my team and Ada and Chris introduced me to this wonderful place. Since we had 5 people, we were in line for awhile to get seats because its not that big in there… but this time, I got there and it was lunchtime and the lunch rush was there… yesterday I had said it sucks to say table for 1 but today it was a blessing haha… I got in a lot earlier than some others and got out before they got in. I sat at the counter and got to watch them make my ramen. Of course I had the Daikoku Ramen 8.50 which is the specialty ramen and it was SOOO GOOD. Brought back so many memories. Right after that I had to go back to the mochi store which is called Mikawaya and got myself green tea, raspberry cream (my favourite) and mango and they were so divine!
I had also planned on visiting a different bakery that had mochi because Mikawaya was suppose to closed called Fugetsu-do bakery which is a small family owned bakery and picked myself up some red bean mochi and fruit mochi. Now I kindof wish that I had looked further into Little Tokyo because I only really went there to revisit one street and nothing else. From there I went to catch the bus up to Chinatown but again I got impatient and started walking… luckly the bus came and I hopped on for like 2 stops and got off at ord. From Ord I walked to Hill. Ord and Hill for those who say this sound familiar is where NACIVT 65th tournament was held. It looked completely different because well it was a parking lot filled with cars instead of a bunch of young Asians and volleyball nets. JR Bistro where we had our team dinner was having a crab special haha. Anyways, I walked to Old Chinatown where the tournament dinner was held which is across the street at golden dragon. Chinatown was cute. Lots of colourful buildings with lanterns and because this is the first weekend of Chinese New Year they had live performances. I stayed and watched for about 2 hours or so. I was also able to take out my twin lense camera to shoot today. And at one point I was the major tourist haha I had 3 cameras going. I don’t know why but there always seems to be some kind of older man who comes up to me to talk to me… one came up to me because he was commenting on how it is so rare to see a twin lense these days and then there was another one who while I was putting away my camera was just coming closer and peering over at me just looking… (luckily there was a fence between us) and then I walked away and wanted to take a pic of the main entrance and he was there awkwardly standing and then walked away… at this point my music was on so I wasn’t paying attention to anything else haha.
I hopped on the rail and headed back north to mission station. So the whole bus system is based off of honesty policy for the sub and metro rail however with local buses there are no transfer slips so you have to pay 1.25 a ride unless you take the dash system which is 25 cents. Anyways, I have only been on the sub/bus/rails here 3 times and I guess Sunday is the main day that the bus patrol people come out in full force… they wear these dark green uniforms and ask to see your ticket. Also, when I got home, on the other side of the platform these bus safety patrol guys had a guy against the fence and restrained.
So pretty much I walked in a big U today and got to re-live my week back in September in a matter of hours and taste the same tastes. It was a good day. And no offence to the people I’m with here in Pasadena, but it felt good to hear and be around Asians haha. When I was in Chinatown watching the performances it reminded me of back home and then the mc would keep saying “you will only ever see this in los angeles Chinatown” and then back to reality I went… I am so use to seeing these type of performances and shows with my friends usually mc-ing for the night like Ron and Des (you guys are a lot better than this guy… he offered to strip or take off a piece of clothing and the audience kept yelling “put it back on”) What also made me miss home was the fact I had revisited the same spots I had been in with my team back in September… I really miss my tiger girls… it isn’t the same…
Day 48 (feb 22)
Day back in the office. I guess I had a lot to do… sometimes I feel like I waste my day doing one of two tasks but then others I get a lot done. For some reason this celebrity’s bday party photos seem to be my project that has been started since I got here and hasn’t ended -_-… and I seem to the be the printer/cutter girl…
So as most of you know about me, I am quite reserved and at times don’t show emotion… I am glad for that quality in me. There was some tension in the air today in the office but luckily words were spoken and the tension is gone but I guess that is what I guess when I’m surrounded by a pregnant person and a best friend/emotional person/assistant. I gotta say, it’s a different type of dramatic situations taking place here… I am going to say its because of the age difference in this group I am with now and the usually groups I am with. But all in all, things were resolved between these two and there was talks about going to dim sum soon!
Day 49
Happy Birthday Susan! Hope your having a wonderful day! Can’t wait to see photos from your party.
So the weather has been all over the place these days… yesterday was nice out during the day but by 530 it got chilly… more so because I have to bike back home and I go pretty fast at some points.
Today was very chill… quiet… I was pretty much by myself in the office all day long working… got a lot done and tomorrow there is a shoot at deb’s house so I am staying in and helping out in deb’s office and then helping when christa goes to shoot. Then Target shoot Thursday and Friday =D this Saturday I have off but im not sure what I want to do with my free time.
What I have noticed which is a bad habit of mine is not drinking liquids… I think I should be buying the 1L milk haha so I can have a cup a day… but yeah… I might drink 1-2 cups of liquids per day and its bad…
Day 50 (Feb 24)
Today, I switched sides… as in I ended up working all day in Deb’s office even though Christa had come to shoot at Deb’s place. She shot Chloe Moretz (the little sister in 500 days of summer). I guess it was a very light and simple shoot as it only lasted maybe 2 hours. Getting more clear instructions from Deb on the artist photos made it easier to do what I was trying to do for Deb. She got me involved and wanted my input on certain things for the photographers promo and what not so that was cool. Since I was doing things for her the photo archive didn’t get as far as I wanted and also I had to go back to what I had already started to adjust things… I ended up editing things for Deb and sending emails and pdfs to other photographers.
I guess I chose the best day to come in to work eh… their friend Christine came in with her business partner and they brought food from Bottega Louie. I passed it on Sunday too! I remember going there back in September and my friend loving the macaroons. Let me tell you… the food was so tasty! And the desserts… ohhhhh puff pastries! Yummm!
Deb, Wendy and Christa seem to really appreciate having me here. And the question and desire and option of me coming back later is coming more prominent as everyone even Christa, Wendy and Deb offer me places to stay, possibly a job and all that good stuff. The only thing I can really tell them at this point is… “Idunno… let me graduate first…” The idea of me living out here and starting my career is probably the best thing ever… I mean, I did come out here for a reason and it looks like I have actually done what I came here to do…
But it feels good to get appreciated by these people! Haha in a way, they treat me as family.
Day 51 (Feb 25)
Happy Birthday Lisa Mac!
Didn’t get to go to the shoot today because of Christa’s had to ask for a ride herself… so I stayed behind and worked in deb’s office. So apparently me organizing the photos of the photographers was a little premature… they had a conference call this morning discussing the plan for new website so photos have to be 1000pixel high at 72 dpi and well by the point of my process when they finished the call I had gotten 3.5/4 through the photographers and only 3 of them meet the requirements.. so my resizing didn’t do much -_- it was kindof worthless.
So although I didn’t get to go to the shoot today, the ladies from Target came over to hangout and brought dinner and wine. I have to say these ladies were fun =D lots of wine and might I add good wine (one of the ladies is very particular in choosing wines) The dinner was very tasty and the company made it so much better. So many of you know that I don’t necessarily like to drink because I get headaches really quickly when I do drink. The only time I really pushed my limit was back in August for my team’s clubbing fundraiser and well I outlasted my friend XD however today was not the same… I had set a limit for myself as in I never wanted to get to this point… let’s just say mac and cheese and wine (lots of it) are not a good combo. The thing is my head didn’t start hurting until we headed inside after eating. I sat down and everything was good though… we sat for maybe an hour or so by the fire but then as I got up to say goodnight to the two ladies remaining and I was standing and talking with them for a good 5 minutes before my head just started to get cloudy as I turned towards the door. Luckily the ladies helped me to the guesthouse however I sat outside for a second and it all came out... really sorry Deb… but yeah… I feel a little embarrassed and disappointed in myself… (its 3am right now; I have been feeling good since I puked but the thing is I was never fully out of it and remember everything… and I also am dehydrated) so I am going to stick with my stance of trying not to drink or if I do, limit of one. My tolerance is pretty decent for someone who doesn’t drink though… and well I have to work with these ladies tomorrow… we shall see what happens… but for now, I am going to stay away from pasta and cheese and wine… not in that particular order. I am just happy it happened outside of her house and that these ladies are so nice and taking care of me
The good thing about tonight though is that it was a work situation but at the same time not. It was relaxed and I got to talk with some cool people and it turns out many of them don’t want me to leave. And jokingly, some think I am a spy sent from Canada… they believe I am actually hear to observe and write a sociology paper on the life and backing of the photography industry. The question as to coming back and starting my career in LA is coming up more frequently now… to the point some are answering yes for me… the future weirds me out! Haha
I also got Deb to look at my site and boy.. she critiqued it. I am in the midst of re-doing it now…
Day 52 (Feb 26)
This morning is soo off. Been awake since 3am and everything seems to going bad. The little piece of metal that hold the pully thing for the suitcase broke off and the couch/bed is messed… it wont pull all the way up and stay up so now the legs for the pullout part is sticking up in the air.
Christa picked me up late. The shoot location was actually pretty close so no big deal. Oh I seemed to be very popular this morning… Joanna the producer had told the rest of the gang about the end of the night... a little teasing here and there but otherwise it was the joke of the day. Target crew is such a fun group. I’ve only known them for a day and a half but I got to know a lot about them and they got to know a lot about me. Its not so embarrassing anymore as Joanna said, “everyone has these moments and its good that you had it now… if you were 35 and doing this then it would be a different story…” but yes… great team to work with. It sometimes is good to be the baby in the group.. learn a lot about others and learning a lot about myself. That marked my one month left in LA before I head back to Torontooooo
I can’t believe I have already been here for almost 2 months… its gone by way too fast. I do love the life I have now in LA but I also love my life in Toronto. I am a workoholic. I was trying to work on my portfolio this morning (early morning) and I did cut down on a few things and added some but now it seems so… im not sure what to do with it. I have the weekend off… it hasn’t been often that this happens… I’m a little confused at what to do…
Day 53
Had a good talk with parents this morning before they head off on their cruise. I am so uncertain as what to do with my free weekends… however the plans for today are going to get de-railed… it is raining… like pouring hard with a slight angle to it. So I guess I am staying in… I remember that I still have one portion of my thesis project that isn’t completed just yet but will be epic when it is finished. I guess that is it for this week. Eventful.
entering the subway line. everyone can just walk through but like viva you should already have bought your ticket because they check some times...
i thought some of the escalators in toronto were steep.. this is at every station pretty much...
Corner Bakery! where everything began
Wilshire! On the corner where we did our final tigers cheer of the season. Miss you Tigers!
Bottega Louie
Little Tokyo Village Plaza
I walked around dt LA and once I hit Little Tokyo and Chinatown I see colourful trees like this.
Best ramen ever...
Best Mochi ice cream EVER! raspberry cream is HIGHLY recommended! Mikawaya
NACIVT 65TH tournament site
crosswalk in chinatown
Terra cotta tigers. Dude had a spear at his neck and a piece of plywood smashed against his back
this guy backflipped from one pole to another catching himself on the other pole with his legs only.
