My roommate is amazing.
How amazing?
Some people are just born with the gift of perfect timing.
Her essay reminds me of when I was applying to colleges and selecting my majors for each, and my parents were trying really hard to get me to at least consider a field in the arts. I love art, but I'm a little narrow-minded and self-centered in my pursuits - I only like art when I'm the one doing it. I adore playing the piano and I love to draw and paint - but if I were to attend a symphony or visit a museum, I'd get bored very quickly.
Besides that, I also didn't want to pursue art because there's little to no job stability. It's interesting how much of what we fondly remember of the classical era is art - epic poetry, statues, murals, architecture, and of course paintings - but it's such a poor and uncertain field to follow in the post-modern age. I wish I weren't so shallow as to have money be such an important thing to me, but it is a crucial element to a comfortable and happy life.
But my roommate has reminded me of how much I love to draw. It's fun for me, and a break from my computer, and I won't keep coyly denying that I'm not good at it anymore - I'm no Picasso, but I'm certainly better than a lot of other people.
In my first few weeks at college I finally got back into my Evanescia project and finished Aria - whom I had technically finished last October but just never got around to editing. I no longer have my Wacom tablet with me so I decided to leave the pencil marks rather than smoothing it out like I did with the previous people. Besides, I didn't want to mess up the blonde hair, as it wouldn't've done well with the jet-black shininess look anyways.
I got another person done too and ready for editing, but I'll probably wait a few weeks before I finish that too.
It's nice having motivating people around me again.
Showing posts with label relax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relax. Show all posts
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Friday, December 19, 2014
Setting Designs
A remix of a song I linked in 30 Mental Life Hacks.
I Need Some Sleep (Dwin Remix):
---
I just want to design places that I'd like to hang out in.
No psychological examinations or implications in this post. Just for fun. I have six hours to kill until I board my flight.
Up the staircase is a different story. Where the stairs meet the ceiling there is a small trapdoor, to keep out the dust. Through this door is a spacious attic. It spans the rest of the house, so it's huge, much bigger than the room downstairs. Also unlike the bedroom, the attic has the feeling of having been a bit neglected, though someone is obviously trying to make repairs. Part of the walls have begun to be painted white, and furniture small enough to fit through the trapdoor has been placed throughout the room. A small wooden three-legged table is placed in a corner with two chairs, and a tall, thin vase with a few bright wildflowers are placed on top. An easel with a tall wooden stool is placed against the opposite wall, where the largest window lets in light; there are no lightbulbs. Some squashy cushions are laid out on the three window seats, and there are already small stacks of paperbacks piled on the floor next to each one. An open can of dark wood varnish sits on the ground in a back corner, a new paintbrush lying new and unused next to it.
I Need Some Sleep (Dwin Remix):
---
I just want to design places that I'd like to hang out in.
No psychological examinations or implications in this post. Just for fun. I have six hours to kill until I board my flight.
---
The rectangular room is huge, to begin with. It's at least five times your height, and stretches long enough that there are shadows in the far corners. As you enter the room from a door in a corner, facing the long side, the first thing you notice is the huge stained glass window - it's big enough to reach from the ceiling to about three feet from the floor. It depicts an image of a red japanese maple tree as the centerpiece, placed against a golden-yellow sky. The window is deeply set into the wall, so that there is space for a cushioned window seat under it.
Yellow and red glass filters light through the rest of the room. All the walls are covered in tall bookshelves, and all the bookshelves are chock full of books - thin research journals, stained cloth-bound tomes, entire sets of what seems to be every series ever written. There is a rolling ladder for each wall; two for the one where the window bisects the shelves. In the middle of the room are three evenly scattered arm chairs and one lounge chair, each next to its own table and lamp. Each lamp has a dome-shaped shade made of pieces of glass in similar yellow hues as the window. Everything wooden - the floor, the shelves, the legs of the chairs, the tables - is a dark mahogany brown. The cushions and upholstery are a velvet-like maroon shade, as is the large rectangular carpet that covers just the middle of the floor. The ceiling and what little wall that is showing is painted creamy white, but in the dim room it looks like dark ivory.
The rectangular room is huge, to begin with. It's at least five times your height, and stretches long enough that there are shadows in the far corners. As you enter the room from a door in a corner, facing the long side, the first thing you notice is the huge stained glass window - it's big enough to reach from the ceiling to about three feet from the floor. It depicts an image of a red japanese maple tree as the centerpiece, placed against a golden-yellow sky. The window is deeply set into the wall, so that there is space for a cushioned window seat under it.
Yellow and red glass filters light through the rest of the room. All the walls are covered in tall bookshelves, and all the bookshelves are chock full of books - thin research journals, stained cloth-bound tomes, entire sets of what seems to be every series ever written. There is a rolling ladder for each wall; two for the one where the window bisects the shelves. In the middle of the room are three evenly scattered arm chairs and one lounge chair, each next to its own table and lamp. Each lamp has a dome-shaped shade made of pieces of glass in similar yellow hues as the window. Everything wooden - the floor, the shelves, the legs of the chairs, the tables - is a dark mahogany brown. The cushions and upholstery are a velvet-like maroon shade, as is the large rectangular carpet that covers just the middle of the floor. The ceiling and what little wall that is showing is painted creamy white, but in the dim room it looks like dark ivory.
---
This bedroom is much smaller, and has the air of being thoroughly lived in. The predominate color is white - the walls, ceiling, and desk are all painted a snowy shade. The hardwood floor is a light caramel color, but a white plush carpet covers most of it. Tucked lengthwise into the far left corner is a bed with a lilac duvet, with tall, wooden bedposts, and still messy from where the inhabitant left it that morning; in the right corner, a small wooden staircase winds straight up into the ceiling. On the left wall is a large aquarium, filled with bright plaster coral rocks and water plants, and no small amount of fish; the rest of that wall is taken up by a wooden closet door. Along the right wall is placed a set of drawers with two levels of bookshelves attached above it - both levels are full of paperbacks. Next to this combination drawer/shelf is a shorter bookcase with three levels, but the middle one is crammed with old, worn shoes. On top of it are photos in thin brown frames and an admirable shell and sea glass collection. A large light brown cork board is hung above this shorter bookshelf. There are fresh ivy wreaths resting on top of every lampshade, and small potted plants on the desk, nightstand, and bookshelves. Pictures and posters of nature cover the walls, as well as smaller mementos - train slips, museum admissions, photo booth strips, concert tickets. A large window on the far wall spills bright light on every surface.
Up the staircase is a different story. Where the stairs meet the ceiling there is a small trapdoor, to keep out the dust. Through this door is a spacious attic. It spans the rest of the house, so it's huge, much bigger than the room downstairs. Also unlike the bedroom, the attic has the feeling of having been a bit neglected, though someone is obviously trying to make repairs. Part of the walls have begun to be painted white, and furniture small enough to fit through the trapdoor has been placed throughout the room. A small wooden three-legged table is placed in a corner with two chairs, and a tall, thin vase with a few bright wildflowers are placed on top. An easel with a tall wooden stool is placed against the opposite wall, where the largest window lets in light; there are no lightbulbs. Some squashy cushions are laid out on the three window seats, and there are already small stacks of paperbacks piled on the floor next to each one. An open can of dark wood varnish sits on the ground in a back corner, a new paintbrush lying new and unused next to it.
---
I See Fire - Kygo Remix, by Ed Sheeran:
---
I See Fire - Kygo Remix, by Ed Sheeran:
---
Temperate forests are known for having deciduous trees with brilliant foliage in the fall, and this one is no different. From a bird's-eye view, the trees create a bumpy sea of crimson, green, and goldenrod that blankets the gentle rolling hills. But this particular section of the forest is an aspen grove. The slender trees are rather densely packed together, so the changing autumn leaves make it look as though there is an immense golden cloud surrounding the white crowns of the trees. The ground is relatively clear of debris and duff, letting grass grow more freely, but there are a few small shrubs and bushes growing here and there. Some bushes have bright clusters of red berries.
Somewhere in the middle of this grove is a clearing about 10 feet in diameter. The grass, completely uninhibited, is much greener and longer here. About three feet from the trees, neither in the middle of the cleaning nor right up against the thin trunks, is a large, completely clear ball propped above the ground on a sturdy steel frame. It's big enough to comfortably accommodate an average-sized person. Inside is a nest of many faded red blankets, a large white pillow, and many smaller cushions in muted, dusty colors.
There is an almost invisible door that opens to the inside of this bubble. Someone was recently here; there is an open book laid facedown on the blankets, and a phone attached to a small portable speaker.
Outside, it starts to rain. The wind picks up, rustling the golden leaves so they make a crinkling, whispering sound. The rain begins to fall in earnest, and runs in tiny rivers and streams down the curved sides of the ball, tiny raindrops racing one another to the ground. The storm softly drums against the clear ball, but the fixture is completely waterproof. The view of the surrounding forest becomes a bit blurred as the rain continues to pour. However, it doesn't mask the shape of a doe as she steps lightly across the grass; too soon does she quietly disappear between the fair svelte aspens.
---
This is a kitchen fit for kings. It's at least 30 by 25 feet, if not larger. Against the longer wall, from left to right, is an extremely long waist-height counter, followed by an eight-set gas stove, a slightly shorter (lengthwise) counter like the first, an inset microwave above an industrial oven, and a double door refrigerator at the end of it all. The counter in the corner of the wall continues over onto roughly a third of the shorter wall. About three feet from the L-shaped counters is a kitchen island, also at waist-height, where the sink and dishwasher are installed, with plenty of countertop left over for a cutting board and two potted plants. It stops just before the refrigerator against the wall, but is still an impressive feature of the room. On the half of the island further away from the stoves and oven is attached a raised platform about a foot high and a foot and a half wide, still spanning the entire length of the island. Right up against this bar are placed five wooden chairs on tall, stilt-like legs.
All countertops are made of a lovely shade of dusty white granite, with copious thick veins of variating hues of honey marbling the surfaces. The cupboards above the counter and the many drawers below are all a dark yellowish brown. The floor is tiled with large marble squares - dark grey veins running through cloudy milk. The walls are white with just the slightest hint of gold.
A block of knives, a stand for paper towels, a coffee-maker, a toaster, all the typical kitchen appliances and more are neatly placed and organized on the counters against the wall. Everything that could be made of metal is a gleaming stainless steel - the refrigerator keeps drawing the eye as light plays across the wide reflective surface. The stove top is a dark matte grey, the same color as the windows in the microwave and oven. A large wicker bowl full of fruit is placed at the end of the countertop against the shorter wall.
On the wall just behind the island bar and chairs is a huge french door, providing a view to the backyard patio. Long windows stretch away on either side of the doors and light up the room; the domed chandelier on the ceiling is almost completely useless.
---
The second description is from a high-school-senior-year-side-partner-book-project that I didn't get very far on. I liked describing stuff that was happening instead of actually advancing the plot, so it's no wonder my friend and I soon lost steam on it after not even a year. But yeah, that bedroom was the room of the character I was in charge of. I just changed and added a few aspects.
I noticed as soon as I described a library, a bedroom, and nature, I was completely stumped as to what to write next. Unless I'm with friends or in school, I don't really go to many other places. It's hard to describe a shopping mall or a classroom without either thinking that it would be a place I'd like to hang out, or thinking that it's a desirable safe spot for anyone else. In the end, I just came up with a random kitchen. It was really hard to write, as I don't like kitchens enough to have an idealized version in my head, so it's my least favorite of the bunch. But hey -
Food.
---
Three hours left to wait.
Food.
---
Three hours left to wait.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Roosting
Why can't college apps finish themselves? Can't we just dictate the most important facts of our lives to a microphone and be done in a few minutes? Why must they vary?
Say Something, by A Great Big World :
The season is stressing me out, and I need to relax. Finding a quiet area in a busy suburb town can be difficult, to
say the least, but having a nearby canyon is pretty handy.
Other than the
occasional energy bar wrappers and crushed Arizona cans, Mills Canyon is like
the drought-tolerant Central Park of Burlingame. I started going there at an
early age with neighborhood friends, and when I fell out with them, continued
to go there alone. Pretty soon, established trails started to bore me – I
think at one point I could’ve walked some paths blindfolded – so I began to
pick areas adjacent to the path that weren’t covered with poison oak and simply
went wading through the dried foxtails. This year, I went off the path in a new place where I hadn't thought to go before. It was through this venture that I
discovered what I call Roost.
Roost is a huge boulder, perhaps 15 feet tall and 20 feet in
width, that lies at the bottom of the canyon, directly next to a small creek. It
partially juts out over the water, creating a small pebbly cove where I hide
whenever I hear people on the trail. A tall but skinny oak tree lies between
Roost and a smaller boulder a few paces away; other than that, the surrounding
ground is relatively clear of foliage. On Roost’s other side, an older, taller
oak tree grows nearly flush to its side. All around this clearing, dark ivy
covers the banks. Oak and bay trees are more densely clustered; their canopy filters
the sunlight and casts dappled patterns on every surface. When I was younger, I
would pretend the wind was alive and sentient. It
would tell me of the places it had been, and whenever it rose from a gentle
breeze to a strong gale, I believed it was I who, through some magical force,
had controlled the change. I still do believe it, sometimes.
You cannot begin to imagine the feel of wind against your uplifted face and closed eyelids unless you have actually experienced it first-hand.
Of all my sanctuaries, it was Roost who taught me to breathe. I could relax atop it, secure in the knowledge that no one below could see me, and listen to the sounds around me. I could hold on to a thick branch of the adjacent oak tree and run my thumb over its rough bark – in concentrating solely on the texture of the branch, I could drive out all other unpleasant thoughts. It is my site of meditation, my eye of the hurricane, where I can doze and let my troubles leach out of me into the granite below. Without Roost, I don’t know how I would’ve stayed calm all those years. Maybe I wouldn’t have. The thought makes me appreciate all the more what Roost means to me. It will be hard to replace in the coming years.
Of all my sanctuaries, it was Roost who taught me to breathe. I could relax atop it, secure in the knowledge that no one below could see me, and listen to the sounds around me. I could hold on to a thick branch of the adjacent oak tree and run my thumb over its rough bark – in concentrating solely on the texture of the branch, I could drive out all other unpleasant thoughts. It is my site of meditation, my eye of the hurricane, where I can doze and let my troubles leach out of me into the granite below. Without Roost, I don’t know how I would’ve stayed calm all those years. Maybe I wouldn’t have. The thought makes me appreciate all the more what Roost means to me. It will be hard to replace in the coming years.
I'm sure the site of a haven varies wildly for other people. They may find their place of contentment in a dusty
library, or perhaps in a summer house. Maybe their peaceful environment is
their backyard pool, or situated among the white noise of a large city. I, I
climb the highest point I can find and let the wind breathe for me.
Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
I came across this plant ages ago, when river tubing (Is that the name? We were using inner tubes) down a river in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. The tour guide had pointed it out where it grew along the path, and invited us to touch the leaves. What would you expect to happen?
The sensitive plant has a most amazing defense mechanism: it withers and folds in on itself whenever it is touched, or otherwise warmed, blown upon, or shaken. They reopen minutes later (so you can touch them again and watch them fold... and again... and again... unconscious hypnosis). They also close during the night, and open again during the day. There are about 10-26 leaflets per pinna (leaf stem thingymajigger, I don't know. Context, man). Their seeds are contained in brown pods and are mainly pollinated by insects. They produce round flower heads that range from pink to pale lavender. Have a picture, I can't describe the shape:
They are most commonly found in South and Central America
If you have taken Biology, hopefully you know what turgid means. If you don't, here's my best explanation: The reason plants are usually so crispy (think of the base of a romanian lettuce leaf) is because the spare space in their cells is filled with water. If our cells were like that, they would burst under pressure, but because of the strong cell walls that plant cells possess, they merely swell up but keep their shape. This is part of the reason why plants can remain upright without a skeleton-like system (I think... it makes sense, right?).
Knowing this, when a sensitive plant is touched, specific cells release chemicals like potassium that force the water out of the cells and cause them to lose their turgidity - i.e., they become soft and wilted. As the signals go away, the chemicals are no longer released and the plant resumes its natural form.
This is so cool I can't even handle it. Why bother with a Cool Facts list?
Cough, cough.
Cool Facts:
- The sudden movement might also serve to dislodge harmful insects.
- It's other common names include humble plant, shameful plant, sleeping grass, touch-me-not, chuimui (that which dies upon touch), pickerweed, and ant-plant. There are a lot more cool names in different languages.
- Aqueous extracts of the roots have been adept at neutralizing the effects of the venom of the monocled cobra.
- They are used as groundcover by some landscapers. I don't comprehend why, but ok.
- It is one of the world's worst invasive weeds.
Say Something, by A Great Big World :
Friday, November 1, 2013
Inspirare, Espirare
I just submitted my first college application yesterday - i.e., I had my first panic attack/mental breakdown yesterday. It's a silly phobia, but one would have to be extremely arrogant to believe they will get into every school they apply to. And in this case, I am definitely not arrogant.
But now that I've really got to work on schoolwork, college apps, and studio art stuff, I find my time's being used up on serious things, and this is something I'm not used to. I'm accustomed to learning and finishing chores/homework fast and having plenty of time afterward to spend on YouTube or Tumblr or whatever. What, I have to work around the clock now? I have to manage my time? I have to be responsible? What? What? What?
Ergo, I've been interested in stuff that helps me relax - I focus even worse than normal when I am under semi-pressure - full on last-minute panic always works wonders for me, though it's probably not a smart thing to do regularly. So far, music has been my destressinator. Even before art, because now art projects have two week deadlines I have to meet, and that's something that's not so good for perfectionist me. Reading also doesn't work anymore, because when I read, I'm constantly panicking about the stuff I should be doing instead.
And, of course, rain helps. Because good old soothing rain is probably the most relaxing thing to listen to.
So I made another (reference) list!
List of Songs That Go Best With RainyMood (not in order)
1. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
2. Rain - Priscilla Ahn
3. Weightless - Marconi Union
4. Brielle - Sky Sailing
5. Intro - The XX
6. Oceandust - Hands Like Houses
7. Pieces -Red
8. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
9. Stable Song - Death Cab for Cutie
10. Violet Hill - Coldplay
Also, I mentally cringed and facepalmed today when I reread my "Stuck in Subpar" post. Wow. Sleep deprivation and a session of self reflection can really do things to you. So, I've decided to actually do something to better the way I look at myself! My, it's so nice being proactive!
I want to spend each week researching one plant or animal, so as to expand my knowledge about nature in general. I'll summarize what I learn, and then add on all the crazy random facts associated with each plant or animal.
I'm starting close to home: the coastal redwood tree (sequoia sempervirens).
It's the tallest tree species in the world (the tallest one measured was 379.1 ft - 6 stories higher than the Statue of Liberty. It's name is Hyperion - fitting). It's an evergreen tree, and their native habitats are only in coastal California and in mountainous slopes in China (where they were previously thought to be extinct). Their distant relatives date back to dinosaur times, and have migrated since then rather than adapted through the ages. That's why their native habitats are so narrow.
They do not rely on fog to survive, much like a lot of other evergreen trees, but it does help. The way it helps is that the fog condenses on the flat needle groups and drips down, like airborne drip irrigation. Usually 1-2% of the 100-200 seeds per cone ever germinate. Seedlings can survive for decades and even centuries in the understory, before the canopy opens enough for them to really grow. However, most new redwoods sprout from the burls at the base of the redwoods
Crazy Facts:
But now that I've really got to work on schoolwork, college apps, and studio art stuff, I find my time's being used up on serious things, and this is something I'm not used to. I'm accustomed to learning and finishing chores/homework fast and having plenty of time afterward to spend on YouTube or Tumblr or whatever. What, I have to work around the clock now? I have to manage my time? I have to be responsible? What? What? What?
Ergo, I've been interested in stuff that helps me relax - I focus even worse than normal when I am under semi-pressure - full on last-minute panic always works wonders for me, though it's probably not a smart thing to do regularly. So far, music has been my destressinator. Even before art, because now art projects have two week deadlines I have to meet, and that's something that's not so good for perfectionist me. Reading also doesn't work anymore, because when I read, I'm constantly panicking about the stuff I should be doing instead.
And, of course, rain helps. Because good old soothing rain is probably the most relaxing thing to listen to.
So I made another (reference) list!
List of Songs That Go Best With RainyMood (not in order)
1. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
2. Rain - Priscilla Ahn
3. Weightless - Marconi Union
4. Brielle - Sky Sailing
5. Intro - The XX
6. Oceandust - Hands Like Houses
7. Pieces -Red
8. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
9. Stable Song - Death Cab for Cutie
10. Violet Hill - Coldplay
Also, I mentally cringed and facepalmed today when I reread my "Stuck in Subpar" post. Wow. Sleep deprivation and a session of self reflection can really do things to you. So, I've decided to actually do something to better the way I look at myself! My, it's so nice being proactive!
I want to spend each week researching one plant or animal, so as to expand my knowledge about nature in general. I'll summarize what I learn, and then add on all the crazy random facts associated with each plant or animal.
I'm starting close to home: the coastal redwood tree (sequoia sempervirens).
It's the tallest tree species in the world (the tallest one measured was 379.1 ft - 6 stories higher than the Statue of Liberty. It's name is Hyperion - fitting). It's an evergreen tree, and their native habitats are only in coastal California and in mountainous slopes in China (where they were previously thought to be extinct). Their distant relatives date back to dinosaur times, and have migrated since then rather than adapted through the ages. That's why their native habitats are so narrow.
They do not rely on fog to survive, much like a lot of other evergreen trees, but it does help. The way it helps is that the fog condenses on the flat needle groups and drips down, like airborne drip irrigation. Usually 1-2% of the 100-200 seeds per cone ever germinate. Seedlings can survive for decades and even centuries in the understory, before the canopy opens enough for them to really grow. However, most new redwoods sprout from the burls at the base of the redwoods
Crazy Facts:
- It holds the record for the most biomass ever recorded - one tree has a stem biomass of 1,544 tons/acre.
- Oldest confirmed redwood is 2,200 years old - that's around the freaking Ancient Grecian times. Some are thought to be even older.
- The bark of a redwood is very thick, and can be up to a foot in places. Also, it chars into a heat shield when exposed to heat - a.k.a., the redwood is practically fireproof.
- The bark secretes some sort of distasteful chemical that prevents bugs and stuff from burrowing. So buildings use redwood on the outside of houses to prevent termites. Also, there's no resin in redwood bark.
- The redwood has 6 sets of chromosomes - we only have two.
- And to make you feel sad - of the nearly 2 million acres of the primeval forest, approximately 95% has been logged in the past 200 years. Today, less than 5 percent of the ancient trees survive.
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