US Diary 14: Cape May, May.03.2013

We began Week 14 by stealing the Friday off to drive to the southern coast of New Jersey, otherwise known as Cape May. It is about 2.5 hours away. The Hubs was lured by the prospect of seafood; I was just happy to be out on the road and seeing a new place.

Sounding repetitive: it is off-season and the resort was quiet. We did have the obligatory overeating of seafood, but I was quite disappointed with my cold mayonnaise crab salad. Also, The Hubs didn't feel too well after his battered oysters.

I say it is enough with the seafood and cold windy beaches, for now. Onward to other sights! If you have New Jersey pretty landscapes to recommend, I'm all ears.

This Blog Lost Some Weight - Spring Clean 2013

Recently, there was a mass disappearance of photo images on my old blog posts; old images have ceased to exist. There were two choices to make: delete such posts or re-install images. Deleting was effortless; re-installing images meant being sentimental and having to excavate old digital folders, and reliving memories.

I started working from the back, way back to my 840-something-th post dated in 2007, accompanied by the movie, Broken Flowers. This was my second time watching it. As Don Johnston re-visits his old flames, I was re-visiting the old me responsible for all this jibber-jabber. There was much editing to be done.

One movie did not suffice -- this blog overhaul took 5 full days. A couple of old blog posts might have resurfaced. Sorry about that; it was by accident, since my hand and eyes lacked coordination after staring at the screen for hours. All is well now; we are now shipshape with 615 blog posts. (And counting.)

Going through old photo albums made me realise how the years have whizzed by, and there were things that would have been fun to share. It also allowed me to sort my blogging content.

This blog is my online scrapbook -- a scrapbook of my daily life as a Domestic Engineer, Trailing Spouse, Cat Mom (very important), as well as Maker and Etsy Seller. I am happy - and very surprised - that you take the time to be here. Thank you.

MoMA - Museum of Modern Art

It turns out that MoMA is my first museum visit in New York City. Entering the museum was a casual affair -- we were allowed to have on us our bags, cell phones, and cameras. I thought that was refreshing.

After an almost two-hour visit, in a 6-storey building, I left the museum concluding that modern art is not for everyone. It's how you interpret things, isn't it?

I really loved the 1930's and post-war photography by Bill Brandt, in the Shadow and Light exhibit.

Image taken from moma.org.

Are you Human or Zombie?

In this world, you are either human or zombie.

To be a zombie, you'd have to have been infected by the virus involuntarily and unwillingly, for which I am sorry. For those who wish to become a zombie: it's been nice knowing you.

If you are human and reading this, how are you coping?

***
Because I am not clever with words, I make silly sketches. This is my way of turning the frown upside down.

This post was drafted in 2012, only to be published today. I was waiting for a quiet and right moment, but with zombie infections occurring every 2 days -- more than what this single planet can handle -- that moment was never going to come.
***

The Man Cave Sign

I returned home one evening to discover that our landlady had passed me a piece of scrap wood, to see if I could get crafty with it. When I held it, wood burning came to mind immediately.

The smell of solder-iron-burnt wood sent me back to the distant memory of this short-lived hobby I once shared with my sister: creating silly cat images on small pieces of wood, coloring them in with paint, and simply avoiding schoolwork.

 Welcome to The Man Cave.



Cats are welcome, too.



Of course I could have just taken a marker to write on it, but what fun would that be? :D

13 Things for 2013 - April / May Update

* Photography course.

Been stalking the Arts Council for digital photography courses. I sadly cannot commit to 8-10 weekly sessions. Found a good and well-written book in the library. Might purchase an updated version to learn...

* Sewing course.

Signed up for a May sewing bootcamp. That fell through the cracks due to low numbers. (*disappointed*) Being deferred to the June session. Fingers crossed!

* Exercise.

Weather permitting, I take The Hubs out for a walk with me in the park nearby. I try to attend a yoga session once a week. Nothing strenuous.

* Bake a bread a month.

Yup. It is happening. http://www.juanitatortilla.com/search/label/Bread

* Conquer the NYC Subway.

Embarked the Subway twice, so far. All accompanied trips, sprinkled with a bit of confusion :)

* Re-learn to drive.

Let's just say I can survive and entertain myself when The Hubs is away. Won't see me straying from the paths I know or co-piloting any long-distance trips out of town, though :(

* Revamp my Etsy store.

Finished my beads (yay!), and photographed my jewelry with a new prop. Have you seen them? https://www.etsy.com/shop/juanitatortilla

* Meet other Etsy crafters.

Found a good one and made a friend in this little town.

* Go to the cinema.

Yes! Twice now, for action films. And I quite like buying tickets through the phone app.

* Go for a musical / play.

Not yet. Nothing has screamed at me.

* Finish my fabric stash.

Bought a ton of dressmaking patterns, on sale. I hope to make a variety of dresses with my stash.

* Downsize wardrobe to 100 pieces of clothing.

Been quite resilient to the malls. Will only buy something that will see me through a long time, and with news of garment factory disasters and tragic working conditions, I think twice.

* Live with less.

Funny how just knowing that our US stay is temporary, I stop myself from gathering. But I've got to watch my weakness for dressmaking patterns, fabric, and secondhand books. And tea.

2013's Jewelry Remix!

Last week (Week 13) saw some intense beading. I poured everything I had onto plastic plates, gave it a good mix, and started afresh. This time, I had a clear idea of the style I wanted, and I am / was to create things in a manner or technique that was going to make me happy.

 

When I used up every little bead I had, there was the Rocky's victory dance. (Yes, fists in the air and jogging on the spot.) Fluffy simply ignored me. Of course, he's just a house cat.

I didn't think I could finish the beads. Each and every creation made me smile. Honest to goodness. But, man, did my eyes strain...

I'm done, guys. No more loose beads left un-touched to taunt me.

Here are the 15 very special jewelry sets. I hope you like them, and that they will make you or someone else happy, too.

1. Wonderland Tea Party, 2. Wise Decision, 3. Teal Seafoam,

4. Sweet Note, 5. Spicy Fiesta, 6. Single Helix,

7. Raspberry, 8. Purple Tea Party, 9. Pomegranate,

10. Pina Colada, 11. Peppermint, 12. Jade,

13. Frog Prince, 14. Earthy, 15. Cobalt

Now, time to move on to more Juanita Tortilla bags...