Being in San Fran!

It's about 630am here in San Francisco and I can't believe I am home sometimes. Since my time here is much shorter it's been a lot harder to schedule time with people. This visit, I am actually trying to spend a lot more time with my family especially since my younger brother is back home. I was really happy we were spending time together until my mom came and interrupted us. There were plenty of highlights this trip!

HOTPOT WITH THE OLD LADY AND FUJIANESE PRACTICE

It was a bit of a surprise for my grandma to see me because a) I never tell her and b) my dad doesn't tell her. I usually don't come home in May. If anything, I come home around Chinese New Year's and Thanksgiving every year. Ever since I moved away to Chicago, I rarely use Fujianese or Hokkein in conversations. My dad and I were pretty surprised it was still good. The funny thing about the language is how crass it is when speaking it. I actually don't know how to do more than entertain my dad and joke around at my grandmother's expense. My dad said it makes her old life more interesting when we do.

LITTLE SHEEP!

BEST HOT POT EVER!

WALKING IN GOLDEN GATE PARK WITH MY MOM

I actually spent the least time with my mom but I did make time for her. We went walking in the morning taking photos together.

SF Flower of Conservatory!

Some pretty flowers!

More pretty flowers!

Still waiting to bloom.

This plant looks like those neon rubber spikey balls!

BROTHER!

My favorite camera shots! People hate it but I think it's funny taking these food eating shots :) I wish I got to take a photo with my brother but it didn't happen :(

I guess the next trip I will be able to since he is in SF indefinitely.

NOM!

NOM! NOM!

It's been a long time since we had family photos and I think it's time to start repopulating my desktop and family albums with them.

HELLO FRIENDS

I saw Noel and Helen not too long ago but they are back! Well... I am back... 

Molly Time!

Can we eat them already!

Hours Are Longest Before Leaving

I don't know what it is like for other people but this last week I basically did nothing after work besides sleep. I think I have to tell myself that I won't draw in my own place anymore because I find myself tired throughout the day from work or hanging out, and the minute I get back home, I might pick up my reference books or search the web for things I can study from and draw. All that tiredness does disappear, but it resurfaces during other activities. It's going to get crazy hot in Chicago soon and my place will be waaay to warm for me to want to stick around. I think I will try working at some of the coffee/tea shops around my area one day during the weekend. It's kind of nice being around other people doing something similar sometimes. All the Spring flowers are gone on Michigan avenue in downtown Chicago so I will probably take some Summer photos of the landscape architecture. Today I learned about the golden hour being the best time to take photos in the city- It's an hour before the sunsets! Since I have no new photos, I'll draw from a pile of photos I haven't put up yet but are from older events. Let's learn about mummification shall we!

Anubis appears to guide the soul to the afterlife. I believe the guy is reading some kind of ritual to call upon this god.

Body Prep!

More body prep...

I wonder how terrible it smells when you let a body dry out for forty days in Egypt.

Do the rodents and insects hitch a ride to the Afterlife too?

Guard the bodies!

Check up!

I count five bodies.

Coffin and organ jar selections!

Massive bandaging!

Almost done...

Pure white linen!

Organ removal... Hey... these photos aren't in order?!

Wrap it up!

Peering through the door...

The final goodbye...

And gone...

WHOA WHOA! How did these slip in here! I liked the little model setups better.

Small child o_O!

Short Spring in Chicago, Missing San Francisco

This year Spring stayed for maybe three weeks or less? It feels like Summer and I guess it should since it is late May. I managed to take some photos of the flowers along Michigan avenue before they all withered under the scorching sun.

Goodbye San Franciscans!

 DANGEROUS OBSESSIONS! A NIGHT OWL FOR ART, AN ENGINEER DURING THE DAY

Currently I am obsessed with art related things and that is absolutely terrible for my health and sleep cycle. It's 4am in the morning and I was up till 1am yesterday night drawing before I went to bed, then I had to get up early for work on Friday. Despite all of that, I became obsessed with trying to find clothing that I would be interested in screen printing on, and then storyboarding and animation for Ender's Game. At the moment, I have the characters all designed and ready to be put into storyboards. I also have a song I want to use for the 4-5 minute animation if I ever get that far.

Ender Wiggin is leaving home for the IF Battle School

Valentine Wiggin and family says farewell to Ender

FAREWELL NOEL, THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN A BLAST!

This morning is the last day of Noel's one month visit to Chicago. As our time together drew near the end, I thought a lot about how pleasantly surprised I was that I could live with a roommate. My preference since I moved here to Chicago was to live alone because I wanted to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and invite people from SF and other guests over any time. I always thought that having a roommate with shared space would be difficult because you would have to check with them about doing things, or change your routine sometimes to accommodate each other's living patterns. But with someone similar to you, or someone who understands you well enough, you can live and benefit from the company of another person.

On her last day in Chicago, we checked out Toni's Pizza and Molly's Cupcakes while spending the rest of the time reflecting on the last month, friendship, and what it means to know someone.We wondered if we knew detailed things about each other or not. Noel said that she cannot say for example what kind of clothing she think I would pick to wear if we went shopping together, or what kind of tea I like to buy. To me, those are details that aren't as important to remember. I think what people remember most about another person is their passion and interest in similar subjects and activities, which is why people gravitate towards each other. As nice as it is for someone to know what to get me or for me to get them something, I think learning about their story, feelings, dreams, fears means a lot more. Those are the things worth remembering about someone. All the other stuff like fashion style or how you like your cup of tea or coffee is just a bonus.
 

Cupcakes from Molly. Their Almond Battered Strawberry Rhubarb Cupcake was amazing!

HELEN VISITS AS WELL

Although Helen's stay was much shorter, we packed it with a lot of outdoor activities and eating!

Pamphlets for activities in the city of Chicago geared towards the gay community on CTA seats.

I need to take more photos of spring flowers. From the holy garden at Bahai.

Sometimes I think I am a photo genius :) How gorgeous is this shot!