And for a limited time...

In the event that you may have missed the newest edition to the main site, and the menu to the right on this blog -- I have started an online store with Cafe Press. Designs will change every 4-6 weeks, so in a sense you will be able to buy semi-limited edition stuff. There is an assortment of goodies to choose from, including T-shirts, buttons, mugs and a clock. I don't make more than a dollar or two from each sale, but it will be interesting to see if anyone buys the stuff.

This was spurred by the shirt I made for Deborah last week. I will probably be doing some one of a kind shirts like this, which I will sell online as well. If anyone has suggestions about what to design on the sewn shirts, let me know.

Very thankful

We just returned from a Thanksgiving visit to the east coast. I am not ready to go back to work just yet, so I decided to sort through the pics my brother Shaun sent me from his cell phone. I was able to see Jose, Ben, Franziska and Dave in NYC, as well as get a new haircut from Ouidad.

I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends.

Bobbe.

Mom.

Jose

Jose dancing with Mom.

Shaun and I.

Dad

Mom and Dad's 32nd wedding anniversary at Mamlouk.

I can do that

A while ago, my friend Deborah and I saw someone wearing a really nice shirt. It was basically a t-shirt with beautiful stitching on it of a flower. I turned to her, and said 'I can do that.' Soon afterwards, Deborah brought me a plain blue shirt, and asked me to sew something on it.

Yesterday I sat down at the sewing machine and decided to try this. I chose an airplane because she is from France, and is a jet-setter in general.

While I certainly had fun, and she really loves it, I realized it's not as simple as saying 'I can do that.' It looks really home made and clunky. But I like it anyway.

I'm so tough!

My first beer in 10 years.

Busy Bee revisited

Dear blog readers,

As you may have noticed, the posts as of late have been slim. To say the least. Which my husband reminds me of daily. For whatever reason, this semester has been the busiest so far, and I have just been too tired, or too sick of looking at a computer at the end of a day, to sit and post an entry.

This Wednesday we head east to visit our families for Thanksgiving. School has slowed down a bit, and I am starting to process what happened in my candidacy review. As should be expected, the work will likely take a turn and change again. I am thinking constantly and trying to figure out what the hell I want to say in this world!

I will keep this short, as I want to go to bed soon. I'll leave you with some highlights from the last few weeks. I hope everyone had as nice and relaxing a weekend as I did.

2nd Year Review


New version of Until The Day that You are Me and I am You


German class at the Goethe Institute, as everyone is fleeing for a coffee break


Hans at the Headlands


View from the Lighthouse at the Headlands


Michael and Marcella at the Headlands


Shaun's first gig in San Francisco at Cafe Royale

29 forever!

I will soon be 29. My birthday is coming up at the end of the month, and some people are asking about what I want. Unfortunately, as you get older, your desires get bigger, and the things I want are very expensive and unattainable. I want to attend Sundance, IdeaCity05 and the Venice Biennale.

So, if anyone has loads of cash to throw around or personally knows a millionaire, you'd be making a penguin's dreams come true.

TGIF!

The end of the week is near, but there is lots to be excited about. Most importantly: my candidacy review is done with. I passed with a re-review meeting at the end of January for the committee to see how a project finishes up. The work has been taken down, the walls are spackled and repainted (thanks to Daniel) and I am done with school for the week.

I took yesterday off to decompress, and went to the movies to see Birth. It was very strange, but good. I loved all the green wallpaper, and the general opulence in the movie.

Today the class I TA for is visiting the Headlands. It's a full day of activities, speakers, guest lecture from artist Bill Conley and lots of beautiful trees. Headlands also has a special place in my heart because Max proposed to me there on the beach.

Tonight my brother is playing for the first time in San Francisco and we will listen, drink wine and be merry.

And finally - our dear friend Raffaella will be visiting with her new man Anil for the weekend. This is sure to be loads of fun.

I'm just hoping it doesn't pour like it did yesterday.

Poster from a recent school dance

A decade of love

This Sunday we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. We broke from tradition and decided to stay in. Max wanted to cook a special meal, and I was willing to eat it! The weather was cold outside, and we just hung out, lit some candles and chatted for hours. We've been so busy lately, it was like catching up with my best friend. I really love how Max always makes me feel like everything's going to be alright.

Beverage: Champagne.
Starter: Salad of fresh beets, avocado & arugula drizzled with a garlic aoli and fresh cracked pepper.
Main Course: Pan seared monkfish, served in a stew of white beans, tomato, fennel and saffron. Side dollops of garlic aoli.
Dessert (provided by me): Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese & Gouda Goat cheese on gourmet crackers.

Even the sky is crying...

The day after the election was a gloomy day, and today is no better. The weather is suddenly cold and there's a biting wind. People at school yesterday were just depressed and miserable that there will be another 4 years of Bush. The vibe can felt everywhere.

It's been a good day to stay inside and do work.

The saddest party

We had a last minute get together of friends to watch the election results on TV. Max made a wonderful spread of food, as usual. As we sat and listened to the results, I realized I never fully thought about the chance that Bush might win. I know that living in the Bay Area is sort of like living in a bubble, but I had also been looking at the news overseas, and the international community all seemed to point towards Kerry. I could feel the vibe in the apartment start to dwindle and then finally the depression set in.

This re-election of Bush is shocking to me. This time, many more people voted and so many of them for him. It makes me feel very disconnected from the population. Max is horrified and wants to move to China. I am just disappointed in this country and I'm nervous of what this means for our future.

(As an aside - the wall is not on fire -- it's just the camera working very hard to take a picture without a flash)

Voting for everyone

Voting today feels like a huge responsibility. Not only am I voting for myself, and my fellow Americans, but for the countless people around the world who are so greatly effected by force of the USA. I am hopeful that people will not let Bush run another term, but I am also afraid of what it will mean if he does.

I am sending out some seriously strong vibes today that everyone will vote for a better tomorrow.