Keeping up the blog

It seems difficult to write on the blog during challenging and even rewarding periods of one's life. Nearly a year has passed since the short sale of the condo on the hill above the lake. It was a dream, in a way. Not heavily metaphoric -- simply to have a concrete example of California good life. There were many dinners held, sweat equity built, quite moments seemingly safe from the streets of the city.

I have much to ponder and review. How far back do you go? How detailed do you delve? Does the narrative have to be coherent?

I'd like to keep the journal alive somehow. It is my chronicle.

A preliminary thought I am considering, to post on a quarterly basis, including features, highlights, and arm chair analysis.

I'll have to check with the reader.

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Originally uploaded by onepinoy

a mad drive across the bridge, winter evening with top down. one of many phone camera shots.

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Originally uploaded by onepinoy

a bouquet from a friend...flowers man to man

Much has happened in the Studio

Painting is nearly complete, furniture were selected and put out, art is hanging on the walls.

A fundraising, Vernal Equinox event has taken place, in part to celebrate a milestone birthday and to warm the house.

Alas, the challenge for the coming months: the building is foreclosed, possibly leaving tenants vulnerable to eviction.

Pictures and tales to follow.

Walls to paint, storage to find or build = LIVING LOFT

Walls to paint, storage to find or build = LIVING LOFT

small and slow progress

NOLA Reprise

Time is flying. It's already Feb 3rd, almost a month since returning from the Southland. MLK Jr. day has passed. I carried the vacation high through the week, others commenting on how relaxed I looked.

It was a great holiday. New Years and duet Birthday Celebrations seem the perfect frame work for RnR in the Big E Z.

As I spoke of my trip, few memories and notable experiences were easy to access. The inexplicable sense of family and belonging as we visited with friends of friends, distant cousins, and neighborhoods were people lived, worked and belonged --who are remaking parts of the city.

The Musician Village, I am trying to stay focused on the positive attributes of affordable housing for musicians and others involved in the industry. They are certainly a main thread in the fabric of NOLA. One can hope for the neighborhood settles in this seemingly far-flung neighborhood with few available services.

There is no Post Office in the immediate areas of the French Quarters, Marigny, or Bywater, certainly none in the 7th ward. This is highly symbolic of how the US Government has abandoned NOLA.

The rebuild, nearly 5 years post Katrina, the population is returning slowly and rebuilding of family homes and rental is slow progress. The change is positive since last there during Gustav (2008). Exciting to watch will be the evolving style of NOLA residential architecture.

A day in NOLA

The days went by fast and time seemed to have slowed for the period spent here with my New Awhlins family.

Mundane activities such as going to the gym, brunch at an UPTOWN cafe, watching an afternoon matinee on a weekday, happy hour at PF Changs the day before returning home were more enjoyable when celebrating a friends birthday. These activities were exactly how she wanted to spend her day.

more later...

More on the Birthday

The day starts with a home cooked breakfast of crepe thin omelet, mimosa and laughter. A walk on Lake Pontchairn, dinner in an Uptown Thai restaurant. The day ended with a jam at the musician's village. In attendance were vocalist, 3 violin players, a percussionist, a guitarist and flutist. All playing blues and other standards, each taking turns interpreting familiar cords. On our return to Angie's, thanking everyone for fulfilling a day's wishes.

NYE, Bday, and days in NOLA

Coffee and beignets is a good way to start any year. Personally marking a half century on the planet needed to be something familiar and out of the ordinary. We strolled along the residential neighborhood of the quarters and entered a club to have a beer, it was chilly and well into the 40's when we got into the car for return drive and home. The celebration began the day before with an early afternoon tour and work out at the New Orleans Athletic Club, snacks at the Praline Connection, and Happy Hour at the Cafe Marigny (a place visited on my first trip). There is sweetness to life when allowing time to slip by, no particular destination, and being with someone you love.

Being in New Orleans, an up and coming developing world, I sense certain humility in the populace, specially the families and folk we met since arriving. Adversity and perseverance seem to go hand in hand. The Quarters, Uptown and Garden District all un-touch in a way by Katrina, feels like another world from what I see on the 7th ward. Thanks to CNN and other sympathetic "liberal" news bureau -- we saw the devastation reek by Katrina on the 9th ward. Does anyone wonder what happened to the rest of the city that lies below sea level?

I have a special connection to the 7th ward, a childhood friend lives here, re-built her house, and reputed to help others by bringing provisions till the National Guard found their way to this slip of a neighborhood. The street where she lives is a block from the Florida Canal, and walking distance to the failed 3rd pump house. Her home, an oasis in the midst of abandoned, half cockeyed homes --on foundations and not, and those clearly receiving the contractor's special is stark in contrast to more than half of the houses in the immediate surrounding blocks.

It was Angie's grandmother's house, her daddy spend most of his young life in nearby St. Bernard projects, now its her home and can claim the area as her neighborhood. The other part of the 7th ward closer to Esplanade fared better. There Swirl, Mike's coffee house thrives as the area's center, nearby laundromat, food store, and park are toe holds on normalcy.

2010 getting off to a good start

Yearning for a New Year's celebration in a different culture. Having lived through very large extended family celebrations back home in the Philippines, one misses the camaraderie, joie de vivre of large familial gatherings.

Ahhhh, I may have happened upon something as precious, New Years in New Orleans. Since arriving, we have visited with coffee and wine tasting shop owners, attended 2 "family" meals/party eve and day, roamed the streets of the Quarters in mad search of a cab home to the 7th district "a little dangerous," as the driver spewed in whisper.

Have you ever tasted hot home made eggnog? All my American life was limited to eggnog from Safeway, Lucky, Whole Foods supermarkets. Home made eggnog from Mr and Mrs. Santa Maria's kitchen was extraordinary. It was silk in texture, flan in volume/depth in your mouth, and not at all the saccharin taste of boxed variety. Home made hot (taste) sausages, hog head cheese were other treats at their home. Cousin Delbert's home offered cheese grits, seafood pie, savory bread pudding, sweet potato pie with a hint of vanilla -- I was in the throes of Nawhlins family cooking. Great joy.

The other striking feature, people were truly celebrating, family circles I've met where thankful to be home with a place available to all. Little nothing houses, looking typically in line with the shotgun or Creole style attributed to the region, were re-made to being both contemporary in its conveniences, traditional in its facade and architectural elements, and functional based on the needs of its residents. Perhaps a new NOLA architectural style is in the making. With little code enforcements, technology advances, "what is available building materials" and varying amounts of money available for reconstruction all makes opportunities for renewed style.

New Years day, everyone in the house a napping for tonight's evening activities. It is a privilege life to be a white collar professional of moderate income, adventure and travel hungry living in the US (when possible heading to NYC, NOLA, other destinations, come home to SF all places where life happens). One does not have to be moneyed rich, if you can figure out the most affordable options, friends near and far -- I've got it made.

Taking a break -post 2009

Wow, what a year, and good riddance. 2 months ago, moved out due to "economic" necessity, somewhat akin to economic migration. The bank, Wachovia, after multiple request and applications did not refinance or modify home loan secured on documented income. However, they gave a deferment of 3 months with interest and fees added to the principal. This occurred well into the US President's Making Home Affordable edict had passed. My former home lost nearly 100k in value from purchase price, and its loan interest rate over 7%. The bank or the corporation, heart set to profit, with individuals affiliated deriving livelihood and sense of identity are not high among people with whom to break bread.

Laid off in September 2007, started an independent contracting business during the beginnings of the great recession, and held 2 PT positions. There were inadequate engagements (preferred portfolio of 5-6 on going clients), with payment schedule often times late -- keeping up with housing cost was challenging.

Making ends meet by cutting expenses, not contributing to retirement, and health insurance premiums taking 1/8 of take home salary --it is a wonder, how much effort was exerted to stay financially and emotionally afloat. All fronts were unrelenting.

Not allowing the gloom to permeate life as experienced, its challenges colored the day to day. Supportive friends offering tangible practical assistance, yoga, and appreciating waking every day was all soothing balms. The chance to re-create one’s self requires hope and keeping to a promise of doing the best you can.

Living my version of an American dream: immigrated at a young age, schooled when California led the way to high quality public post secondary education, option to leave jobs encumbered with petty politics, management lacking in creativity or tenacity, or lost its intentions for doing good, still have a home with a mortgage in the Bay Area (where my mother lives) – and writing about it, why would I not be thankful.

I need a break to breathe, pause, celebrate, and mark the coming of a new phase in adult life. Dave and I are heading to New Orleans for music, food and most importantly friendship and love. Angelamia and I have known one another since the age of twelve, our birthdays only 3days apart. She is an inspiration, keeping up a good fight after 2 major surgeries, surviving breast cancer, and rebuilding post Katrina, she rocks. Love at middle age. She found her life mate in the course of rebuilding, and recently became domestic partners. Important to her was returning to teaching music, kids and teenagers, her passion, while working in construction. She is unwavering in her commitment to herself as a creative person, working and real.

2010 is a year to look forward too, living day by day, staying true to the person I’m becoming --surrounded by loving people, memories and experiences made.

lighting solutions

moi prepping to prep

replaced the installed dome overhead fixtures with track lighting. though seemingly a cliche or so 1980's, its a functional strategy to highlight to be mounted art pieces, crafts. note the beams crossing the length of the studio, seems to scream stage lighting...

storage project on hold

future storage corner? build out static closet or movable fixture. reality or current given -- plastic storage bins are amassing, boxes to be emptied. this project is on hold till public/private spaces are completed. Note: the accent wall here I've dubbed chocolate brown next to the mimosa kitchen.

cheerful hearth

kitchen before and after move in sans appliances, cabinets and mimosa walls, the ceiling to completed will be the semi gloss frost white, in keeping with reflection and warmth scheme.

space division

division is another constant when moving into a "raw" space. allocate based on need, aesthetic order of how the space can be worked out, function, utility, need for light or view onto world outside. in conceiving the studio/loft use, i preferred to have a view to the outside world when looking away from the desk or laptop screen.

color vs no color

one of the first challenges, after the space layout was determined is what to do about color? color can help define space, create a feeling sense of the place and hints of the person's inner workings in a site specific effort.

the solutions: mimosa wall accent, mimosa kitchen, suede columns and beams, candle light ivory as the "gallery" wall color.

Studio Loft Update

one of many responses to storage needs, a bed with drawers, courtesy of a craigslist post from SF. the bed instantly added 12 drawers in the sleeping corner

mattress courtesy of DJRobynn, as she was replacing a temperpedic mattress, there is now a queen size bed.

Living LOFT (a series)

Its down to the wire... After having the keys for almost two weeks and making plans to occupy week of Jan 20, the pressure to perform is on. Hired a handy man (referral and contact info forthcoming after my project is done), to assist in building out partitions, painting, and building closet and other storage spaces.

Decided on the color scheme. Inspired by the SE Asian batik gifted many years ago from a friend who associated me to the piece when she saw it, and Buddhist influences. The base color is candle light ivory, paired with Mimosa, and suede as the 3rd color. The intention is to give the illusion of being in a warm glowing space with touches of wood (tones) and fully utilizing the teak danish furniture accumulated over time.

Late last night, after painting a wall and priming the bathroom ceiling, attributing it to the fumes, I commented to my self this is to much work for a rental. I placed sweat equity in my last condo, somehow this is an anomaly. I do, however, see this is the home, I'd wanted to have, and possession, equity, nor tax benefit were operating when assessing the effort and money I've sunk into living in a converted warehouse space.

My initial take, the colors accomplished what I had in mind. The mimosa was the closest to the Saffron I visualized, suede similarly will appear to have the warmth of wood beams as well as other monastic wear.

Already anticipate shedding many possessions, since there will not be sufficient storage after those planned are completed. Is this conscious, on my part, to live minimally and with quality in mind.

Quality by way of speaking to richness of life history and influences, as well as identifying the sources of inspiration from materials held for periods of time.

Text of Barack Obama Nobel Prize acceptance speech

Text of Barack Obama Nobel Prize acceptance speech

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