Mohinga

So, before I left SF, I made a request to have burmese catfish noodle soup as my last meal with my friends!
I think I can make it on my own now so it will be interesting to try out. It is an extremely hearty meal because it is a bean based soup.

Showing off some Mohinga!

That's how good it is!

It puts a smile on everyone's face!

Cause It's Always A Good Time~!

Back in the month of October, I had a strange dream that I returned to San Francisco to see my family and friends like I usually do during the year, only to learn that something terrible was going to happen. My siblings were all sitting at the kitchen table, while my parents informed me last that they had sold the house in San Francisco and are moving out of the Bay Area to some place like Sacramento. Devastated and uneasy about that decision, I went to my siblings and asked why no one stopped them. My siblings all looked at me and said, "No one wants to move back home."

The feelings I felt in that dream stuck with me the next day and moved me to purchase a plane ticket homeward bound to San Francisco as a reality check that I still have a home there. This dream reminded me about how important San Francisco is to me. It is where I grew up with my siblings, made my first friends, and spent most of my whole life in the 27 years I have been alive. Losing the house in San Francisco wasn't just the loss of living in a great city, it felt like I would lose a big part of my identity and roots.

In some ways, I think the instability of my situation in Chicago triggered a lot of my recent thoughts of San Francisco. Four years ago, this organization was my dream engineering job. I used to wonder if I would ever make it back here and when I did, I thought this place could be home for me. Now that things are different, and the outlook for science in the organization isn't so great, I wonder if I should be on the hunt for the next job again. Would I want to try and find something to stay in Chicago?

After thinking about it the last couple of months, I decided that I would see this position to the end. And that when the end comes, I would just return to San Francisco. This plan might be a terrible one to most people, but I find that the end here would not leave me devastated and lost. If I return home, I would be reunited with my friends from middle school and high school, I would use the time off as an opportunity to focus solely on my art for a while, and figure out what the next move is before I go back out there in the world. For that, I am thankful to my parents, for giving me a place to return to when things end or don't work out. I know the last couple of paragraphs are all over the place, but all those thoughts are interconnected in a way I can't truly express in words. Anyways, on to PICTURES!

My dad likes his rabbit mug!

Cutting the KFC TURKEY.... as my mom cleans in the background....

KARAOKE!

SO FUN!

Enjoy Vegetarian!

From the sea to the sky in the sunset!

The climb...

to the hilltop!

 

Shadows in the night...

ILLUMINATED by flash!

Look this way!

This could be a book cover :)

Or this one :)

Because we have super powers!

See!

HADOUKEN! Hardcore cliff battles!

Making up after the fight.

Ice skating with Sophia!

Color boxes!

VICTORY!

Birthday Highlights :)

Rich got us light up ribbons during the Magnificent Mile Holiday Lighting

Cutting a decadent chocolate cake made by Stella!

Ping Jing wanted me to know that I look super serious sometimes.

Modeling with my mugs :) You get free breakfast when you do!

Finished cooking! Thank you chef!

I contributed the noodles!

Need a haircut...

FOOD!

Holy crap I need to clean my place up!

The 5 Languages of LOVE!

So while I was reading a Point of View piece about letting the US go bankrupt or not and some review about James Bond SkyFall, I came across this link called the 5 languages of love. Curious to know what it was, I clicked the link and a set of 30 questions was presented to me. I found it rather insightful and entertaining so it was a pretty good thing to stumble upon.

Now these quizzes are only fun if you can get other people to take them too and share their results. Now, people will talk about it for a week. Some more memorable quotes:

Anthony:  hola

 Sent at 8:31 PM on Monday

 me:  hello mister

 Anthony:  lol

what do you think about my dumplings?

 Sent at 8:32 PM on Monday

 me:  lol

you want words of affirmation

HAHA

 -----------------------
me:  man still procrastinating

 Pingjing:  it's human nature

I am doing the same

reading your blog and online shopping for my friends

 Sent at 8:38 PM on Monday

 me:  LOL!

no you're doing something for someone

haha

act of service!

you're so great

 Pingjing:  haha, words of affirmation

 me:  HAHA

--------------------------me: i don't need a mug

  i got plenty now

  hahhaha

 stella: hahahhaha

  :)

  cool

  so you would drink thet's :)

 me: you really like bambi huh

 stella: i collect them..so i was soooo mad i missed out a year :(

 me: sure

 stella: i wonder when is a good year to stop

  hahhahhaha

 me: i am doing an act of service

  HAHAHA

12:21 PM stella: HAHHAHAHAHAH  

If you happen to be curious to find out your own stats, I would be doing an act of service providing such a link to you! CLICK HERE!

• Words of Affirmation

  Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

• Quality Time

  In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

• Receiving Gifts

  Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

• Acts of Service

  Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

• Physical Touch

  This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

MUG SHOTS BABY!!!

So, for the last couple of months I have been working on my second job outside of work and this is the end result of what I have completed so far. ADORABLE MUGS for my friends and family to drink from! The best part is the fact that this is a decent paid gig with the potential for my designs to become stuffed animals. I am jumping the gun right now, but I am hoping this software becomes a success. Through the process I think I learned who my target audience ought to be! CHILDREN! I am an expert at cute :)

Right now I have been asked to animate the characters and although I haven't really done much of it in the past, that was always my dream. Right now I am making a dream cheat by giving my art away to people. I hope these mugs are favored over other mugs in various homes when my friends and family make their cup of tea or coffee. Hopefully staring at something cute and happy will make someone feel happy too. That is my wish!

I had to inspect and stack them :)

Was a little afraid it might topple over.

:)

:D

SO PRETTY!

That's how happy I am with my mugs!

All I got in this shot with the pig's butt :(

Happy PUFFER FISH!

I am going to drink from this soon!

Living in CHICAGO

Back in September of last year my goal was to blog once a week about how I was transitioning to moving in Chicago. Unfortunately that was short-lived since I started making more friends and doing things. My sister's paleo blog was what really got me thinking about blogging again, and so move Chicago is now live Chicago. I can't guarantee posting regularly, but I will do my best. It might be more fun to have a blog shared with many writers instead of one, but I will find out why blogging became fun for me recently. Here are some of the highlights of the last year and couple of months!

 SAVE A COW EAT A CHICKEN!

Chik Fila A! I made the spots and ears myself :)

The HOT CHOCOLATE RUN 5K! (Hell no to the 15K)

Last year early November I missed out on the Hot Chocolate run because I had some awesome vistors come from the West to the Midwest to visit me. This year, I managed to register for the Hot Chocolate 5K because I signed up in early October and I told myself I was going to do it this year.

Hmmm I look pretty serious running there.

I am guessing these are finish line shots.

The Finisher's Mug!

The inflated Hot Chocolate Mug!

THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER

The Big Draw at the Chicago Cultural Center. I always haphazardly make stuff up as I go along when I don't have a lot of time to think about it.

A BIRTHDAY!

Lynn's Birthday at Yoshi's Cafe! Yummy fish. Selene is a gamer!

 HALLOWEEN WEEK!

So I decided to do little red riding hood this year for Halloween. I realized during costume making, that I pretty much had what I needed to pull the costume off since I have a red hooded jacket that I really love in my closet. I dyed the dress myself and then bought a basket to complete the costume. The flowers came from my housewarming party.

HALLOWEEN! He looks more like one of the three bears from Goldie Locks than Ted here.

 TEA TASTING ON HALLOWEEN!

Tea with my sister!

We did this on HALLOWEEN!

Eating like a lady :)

Tea cookies :)

Educational Tea Tasting.

Our awesome host!

Red Riding Hood with the Witchy Magician :)

 THE ILLINOIS SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

So I have been going to a lot of ISC events in the past year since I discovered it and recently saw this social mixer at the Nature Museum. I actually didn't network with people there, but I did take advantage of getting in to the museum for free and checking out the butterfly garden with Ping Jing. It was pretty damn awesome because we basically had the whole museum to ourselves! We played a lot of their interactive games and saw some exotic butterflies. My favorite was the Peacock Butterfly which I don't have a shot of.

NATURE MUSEUM!

Hella Creepy!

Hella Creepy 2!

Pray Mantis!

 That basically highlights all the good stuff that I have been up to recently. Until the next post :)