The Bad
Found out my article never got published. Boo :( But at least I got paid for it! But, if I'm being honest, it would of been really cool to have an article published in this local magazine for SLO. Kinda bummed about it. Especially because it was kinda really easy to write. Oh well, I'll take the cash!
The Good
We found another happy hour! Yay! Phew, right? We are getting $2 12oz beers downtown at the restaurant that used to be Shins but isn't, and I can't remember it's new name now. Not quite the deal of a $4 40oz but hey, it's at a sushi place so that makes up for it.
Happy weekend!
xo HM
Friday, August 8, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Story 15 // Waves
She listened to the waves lapping on the bottom of her board. It felt really good to be back in the water. It had been far too long of a separation, but she was back now, and enjoying the setting sun as she waited for the next set of waves to come in. This sunset surf was the best idea she's had in a while. The wind had died down around four in the afternoon, so she grabbed her beach stuff and booked it to the pier.
The air was a nice medium temperature. A little bit of heat lingered but was quickly turning into a crisper evening. She wished she had more days like this. The summer was slipping away it felt like. Wasn't it June like yesterday?
A slow rolling wave signaled the new set. She turned her board around and looked behind her. The wave was lazily strolling along, not rushing towards the coast at all. She began to paddle, deep pulls up to her arm pit and back again. She was gaining speed quickly. The wave rolled under her fins and lifted her up, then she turned to the right as she popped up. The whooshing sound of water filled her ears as her board hovered over the water. It was a perfect set, and she couldn't think of anywhere else she would want to be than right here in this moment.
As she got closer to the shore, a weird ripple caught her eye. It was coming from the wave she was gliding on, so she turned her head slightly to the right to see what it was.
A fin sliced through the water, and as the dark object turned, it opened it's jaw.
SHARK
AHHHHHH!!! She screamed, but no sound came out. She felt like the wind was knocked out of her.
What do I do?! She thought about bailing off her board, but no way could she out swim that animal. She was headed in a diagonal line to the coast, but it would still take a while to get there. Could she balance that long? How was this happening?? This is way too close to the shore!
Then the shark dove, deep, into the blue below. Slowly the ripples began to fade, then nothing. She looked down the wave's side, expecting to see this animal dart up at her. But, nothing.
She reached the shore and frantically grabbed her board. She picked it up over her head and ran through the ankle deep waters to the safety of the sand. Throwing herself down onto her towel, she unleashed herself and took in air as if she had just ran a marathon. That was way to close again! She looked down at her calf, where the white scar dotted her skin. The teeth marks were perfectly spaced. She rubbed it as if to try to erase the evidence.
That shark must have known that she was already marked. A survivor of last summer, she had the bite marks to prove it. This shark just wanted to let her know that it still ruled the ocean. As if she needed reminding.
The air was a nice medium temperature. A little bit of heat lingered but was quickly turning into a crisper evening. She wished she had more days like this. The summer was slipping away it felt like. Wasn't it June like yesterday?
A slow rolling wave signaled the new set. She turned her board around and looked behind her. The wave was lazily strolling along, not rushing towards the coast at all. She began to paddle, deep pulls up to her arm pit and back again. She was gaining speed quickly. The wave rolled under her fins and lifted her up, then she turned to the right as she popped up. The whooshing sound of water filled her ears as her board hovered over the water. It was a perfect set, and she couldn't think of anywhere else she would want to be than right here in this moment.
As she got closer to the shore, a weird ripple caught her eye. It was coming from the wave she was gliding on, so she turned her head slightly to the right to see what it was.
A fin sliced through the water, and as the dark object turned, it opened it's jaw.
SHARK
AHHHHHH!!! She screamed, but no sound came out. She felt like the wind was knocked out of her.
What do I do?! She thought about bailing off her board, but no way could she out swim that animal. She was headed in a diagonal line to the coast, but it would still take a while to get there. Could she balance that long? How was this happening?? This is way too close to the shore!
Then the shark dove, deep, into the blue below. Slowly the ripples began to fade, then nothing. She looked down the wave's side, expecting to see this animal dart up at her. But, nothing.
She reached the shore and frantically grabbed her board. She picked it up over her head and ran through the ankle deep waters to the safety of the sand. Throwing herself down onto her towel, she unleashed herself and took in air as if she had just ran a marathon. That was way to close again! She looked down at her calf, where the white scar dotted her skin. The teeth marks were perfectly spaced. She rubbed it as if to try to erase the evidence.
That shark must have known that she was already marked. A survivor of last summer, she had the bite marks to prove it. This shark just wanted to let her know that it still ruled the ocean. As if she needed reminding.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Cable out
Sooo I'm still working on this week's story. Sorry, been a little uninspired this week. But it's started, just need to flesh it out and all that jazz.
So, for now, do you want to hear about how our cable went out?
Maybe? A little bit kinda?
Well, our internet went out. All of a sudden, Charter decided to up and quit on us. And it's not like I'm not paying them good money for bon bons and caviar and whatever else cable indulges in.
So the hubs tried to get everything up and running. Cords all over, it was like a tech-y dream up in here. He worked on it till midnight, and finally we got some basic channels and a weak internet connection.
Now I know how this sounds. It's only tv and internet. Can't you live without it?
TV yes.
Internet--hell no. Sorry, some things aren't easy to be without. And I grew up in a time of cassette tapes and VCRs so I know life does go on but still. I need me some internet.
So, we had a solid two day cleanse. Well, sorta, with the basic channels and weak internet and all.
Then the cable guys got here and found the problem to be, drum roll please...
Our cable lines were mislabeled and our neighbors ended their service. So charter turned it off, not realizing it was ours. And then gave me a credit of $11. I know I'm rolling in the dough!
Stupid right?
That's what I thought.
The end (to a terribly boring story)
Monday, August 4, 2014
Instagram Art For Sale
Hey, are you interested in some of these photos here?
Specifically, these photos:
Specifically, these photos:
Really? Then check out my Society 6 shop and go buy yourself one or two! You can also access it through that banner on the right of my blog, above my About Me.
(And let me know if you like a picture on my Instagram that's not in my Society 6 shop--I'll make it available ASAP).
Thanks!
xo Han
Friday, August 1, 2014
The Bad and the Good
Well, the bad news is: our beloved mexican restaurant with the best happy hour in the land is closed. FOREVER. Sooo no more $4 40oz. Now it's a search for the next best Thursday happy hour that will never live up to our unrealistic standards. We had sake bombs instead last night. Tough times, I tell ya.
The good news: the hubs made homemade bruschetta for the whole entire office. That's right, garlic breath for everyone! He is a genius with tomatoes, and just about every other ingredient as well.
So that's my week in a nutshell. This weekend is going to be full missing my two BFFs in LA. They are probably up to some fun shenanigans right now. Super jealous! Damn you universe!
The good news: the hubs made homemade bruschetta for the whole entire office. That's right, garlic breath for everyone! He is a genius with tomatoes, and just about every other ingredient as well.
So that's my week in a nutshell. This weekend is going to be full missing my two BFFs in LA. They are probably up to some fun shenanigans right now. Super jealous! Damn you universe!
Until next time.
PS Hang in there Mom! ❤️
xo Han
PS Hang in there Mom! ❤️
xo Han
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Story 14 // Jump
She wiggled her toes at the end of the pier, looking at the rippling water with hesitation. The color was unreal--teal/blue/green/awesomeness that no paint swatch could ever emulate. The sun dipped behind a cloud, and she thought:
This is stupid, why can't I jump?
It's just a lake, come on. Just do it. Come on just jump.
No one is looking. Well, not yet. Get on with it. Get into the lake!
...
Sarah put on her sandals and got ready to leave. Why was it that every time she came to the lake she chickened out? It frustrated her, putting lines on her forehead as she clasped the left one. The red coloring had faded but these were by far her favorite pair of summer sandals, having never found a replacement for eight years running. Her style was a little different when not at the lake. She could usually be found in blazers, pencil skirts, and crisp button ups at her job downtown. But she turned into a boho-hippy whenever summertime hit. She just couldn't get enough flowy skirts and loose fitting tanks. Once she clocked out she changed into her off duty uniform. It was her summer alter ego. All she needed now was to convince it that jumping off the short wood pier into the lake was a good idea. One day.
After collecting her things she trekked inside her family's lake house and opened her laptop. She had promised not to work while on vacation here, but no one was currently in the small bungalow, so she decided to take a peek at the chaos of emails. Scanning down the list, she clicked about two dozen that were clearly spam but for some reason in her "important" section. Those sneaky emails, she thought. They may have tricked gmail but they didn't trick me! She kept scanning, clicking on semi-interesting titles, moving some to a file marked REPLY BY FRIDAY, keeping her ears perked up for anyone coming into the house.
She worked in media, but her true passion had always been film. She learned that it was a lot tougher to make it in the film world than in the media world, and she had a knack for media that pleased her boss but not herself. So she decided to take the money over a happy career path, since let's be honest here, she got paid quite well. Much better than when she was a PA on film sets. Fetching people coffee and moving apple boxes for twelve hours a day got her around $120. Sitting at a desk and analyzing analytics for her boss paid her that amount every two hours. She had already paid off her student loans and she wasn't even thirty. Life was good, for the most part.
Suddenly one title grabbed her full attention: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE FILM STUDIES MFA PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.
WHAT?!?!
On a whim she had applied to Columbia. That alter ego, the lake house chick, she had applied. She had made a reel and sent it in, polished off her test scores, and crossed her fingers. She couldn't believe it. This was really happening. It didn't feel like reality.
She looked towards that short pier through the window, and quickly took off her bikini coverup. She ripped her sandals off and threw them without looking. She opened the old french doors that led outside and ran as fast as she could towards the lake. Without even thinking she jumped in.
She stayed under for a little bit, then emerged a new person. She was now her summer alter ego, living her true life again. And it felt good.
This is stupid, why can't I jump?
It's just a lake, come on. Just do it. Come on just jump.
No one is looking. Well, not yet. Get on with it. Get into the lake!
...
Sarah put on her sandals and got ready to leave. Why was it that every time she came to the lake she chickened out? It frustrated her, putting lines on her forehead as she clasped the left one. The red coloring had faded but these were by far her favorite pair of summer sandals, having never found a replacement for eight years running. Her style was a little different when not at the lake. She could usually be found in blazers, pencil skirts, and crisp button ups at her job downtown. But she turned into a boho-hippy whenever summertime hit. She just couldn't get enough flowy skirts and loose fitting tanks. Once she clocked out she changed into her off duty uniform. It was her summer alter ego. All she needed now was to convince it that jumping off the short wood pier into the lake was a good idea. One day.
After collecting her things she trekked inside her family's lake house and opened her laptop. She had promised not to work while on vacation here, but no one was currently in the small bungalow, so she decided to take a peek at the chaos of emails. Scanning down the list, she clicked about two dozen that were clearly spam but for some reason in her "important" section. Those sneaky emails, she thought. They may have tricked gmail but they didn't trick me! She kept scanning, clicking on semi-interesting titles, moving some to a file marked REPLY BY FRIDAY, keeping her ears perked up for anyone coming into the house.
She worked in media, but her true passion had always been film. She learned that it was a lot tougher to make it in the film world than in the media world, and she had a knack for media that pleased her boss but not herself. So she decided to take the money over a happy career path, since let's be honest here, she got paid quite well. Much better than when she was a PA on film sets. Fetching people coffee and moving apple boxes for twelve hours a day got her around $120. Sitting at a desk and analyzing analytics for her boss paid her that amount every two hours. She had already paid off her student loans and she wasn't even thirty. Life was good, for the most part.
Suddenly one title grabbed her full attention: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE FILM STUDIES MFA PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.
WHAT?!?!
On a whim she had applied to Columbia. That alter ego, the lake house chick, she had applied. She had made a reel and sent it in, polished off her test scores, and crossed her fingers. She couldn't believe it. This was really happening. It didn't feel like reality.
She looked towards that short pier through the window, and quickly took off her bikini coverup. She ripped her sandals off and threw them without looking. She opened the old french doors that led outside and ran as fast as she could towards the lake. Without even thinking she jumped in.
She stayed under for a little bit, then emerged a new person. She was now her summer alter ego, living her true life again. And it felt good.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Story 13 // Fog
First off, I apologize for not being on top of publishing my stories. After my grandma's funeral, creative writing just seemed to stop. I had a really hard time getting focused on personal projects and have instead been getting lost in books to keep my mind unavailable. But I need to wake it up and get back to this, after all, that's what she would say to me. And to stop procrastinating and to maybe run more. She was a great motivator, even now that I can't talk to her. So I promise to get back to work, and publish stories once a week as I originally planned. And maybe some personal inspiration too. We'll see.
The pine needles crunched under her feet as she walked down the well beaten path towards the ridge. It was a very deceiving path. You would never know it lead to anything special. The trees loomed in on both sides, as if trying to hug each other. The air was muggy but cool, like a summer evening that breaks through the heat. Only a few birds flew by, most avoiding the narrow spaces between branches. She saw a nest up high on one branch, little babies sitting calmly under their mother. All of the trees were a deep green that no paint color could describe.
The path opened up a little to another walkway, leading to a moss covered cabin. It looked abandoned, or closed for the season. Either way, it seemed to be doing just fine by itself. The weeds had grown into teenagers and the vines had partially covered the front door, but the red coloring seemed to shine in defiance. It was just about the cutest little place she had ever seen. She pulled out her film camera and snapped a few shots. She could of sworn the cabin was smiling in the last one.
As she got closer to the ridge, the breeze started to pick up a little. Smells of fog and pine needles thickened, filling the air with a cozy aroma. Light peeked out from behind a few young saplings, and suddenly there it was.
The ridge.
The rock cropped out towards the valley below, steel blues and grays of stone as old as time. White and black moss peppered the surface, helping hikers not slip on the lightly dewed surface. The timing couldn't of been better. She got her film camera out once more, and took photos until her film supply was all but spent. Then she turned back to her backpack, and slowly lifted out an urn. She walked to the very edge of the ridge, making sure her feet were well placed before opening the lid. After checking the direction of the breeze, and muttering a few words under her breath, she opened it up and let it fly. The ashes joined the low hanging fog and together they watched the sunset from the best view in the world.
FOG
The pine needles crunched under her feet as she walked down the well beaten path towards the ridge. It was a very deceiving path. You would never know it lead to anything special. The trees loomed in on both sides, as if trying to hug each other. The air was muggy but cool, like a summer evening that breaks through the heat. Only a few birds flew by, most avoiding the narrow spaces between branches. She saw a nest up high on one branch, little babies sitting calmly under their mother. All of the trees were a deep green that no paint color could describe.
The path opened up a little to another walkway, leading to a moss covered cabin. It looked abandoned, or closed for the season. Either way, it seemed to be doing just fine by itself. The weeds had grown into teenagers and the vines had partially covered the front door, but the red coloring seemed to shine in defiance. It was just about the cutest little place she had ever seen. She pulled out her film camera and snapped a few shots. She could of sworn the cabin was smiling in the last one.
As she got closer to the ridge, the breeze started to pick up a little. Smells of fog and pine needles thickened, filling the air with a cozy aroma. Light peeked out from behind a few young saplings, and suddenly there it was.
The ridge.
The rock cropped out towards the valley below, steel blues and grays of stone as old as time. White and black moss peppered the surface, helping hikers not slip on the lightly dewed surface. The timing couldn't of been better. She got her film camera out once more, and took photos until her film supply was all but spent. Then she turned back to her backpack, and slowly lifted out an urn. She walked to the very edge of the ridge, making sure her feet were well placed before opening the lid. After checking the direction of the breeze, and muttering a few words under her breath, she opened it up and let it fly. The ashes joined the low hanging fog and together they watched the sunset from the best view in the world.
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