Semi-Charmed Life

A Weekend Devoid of Pictures

I was totally lazy in using my camera this weekend, so I guess the camera gods decided to smite me for my lack of devotion by fucking up my camera. There's a white vertical line that is appearing on the left side of all my pictures. There is no visual damage to the glass as far as I can tell, so I'm not sure what it is. I'm going to try and return it under warranty this week.

On another note, Happy Father's Day! to all the poppas out there. Our family went out to eat at Spring Garden Restaurant on 65th street. It was my first time there and I found the food to be surprisingly good. The service was very subpar though, and that's judging them by Chinese standards too. I'm sure some of it had to do with it being a holiday night though.

I've only had two swimming lessons so far and I'm not sure if they're going well or not. I mean I'm not expecting to be Michael Phelps by my second lesson, but I still feel like a complete idiot in the water. Hopefully it's one of those things where it's just a case of putting in the miles.

Lately I've also been putting a lot of thought into getting a tattoo. As I'm looking more and more at different types of art and different types of artists, I find that it's becoming less about the tattoo and more about my first endeavor into visual art.  I find I often ask myself now why I like something and why it appeals to me. It sounds like such a simple question but it definitely makes you explore thoughts you might not have imagined.

When I first started to entertain thoughts of getting a tattoo, I was driving myself mad trying to make it meaningful. I was stuck on this notion that tattoos had to have some kind of deep emotional sentiment behind it. Right now though, I'm at a point where I think it's fine if a tattoo is not a memorial piece. Not every piece has to be done because there is some deep story behind it. There is such a thing as appreciating a tattoo for the artwork itself.

I also began with the notion that I stay far away from things like dragons because it seemed like such a cliche Asian tattoo. The more I look at them and read up on them though, the more I like them. There are so many positive things associated with dragons in Chinese culture, not to mention how completely badass they look. Western-styled dragons are badass looking too, but they're generally viewed in a negative light.

That's not to say that I am set on getting one, but I'm not ruling it out. Who knows, this whole tattoo thing might wind up being some unfulfilled fantasy. I've only been considering it because in the past year or so my eczema has not been acting up. This is the first time in memory that I've been free of skin problems. Who knows how long that'll last though.

Anyway, Irving came by today and gave me his guitar! I'm so happy because I've always been meaning to learn but never gott around to actually buying a guitar. Now I have one, so there's no excuse. Plus, it must be fate or something because two days ago there were flyers being passed out for a guitar school 4 blocks away from my house. I am definitely signing up by the end of summer. Thanks Irving!

Word from the Wise

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element.  It is my personal approach that creates the climate.  It is my daily mood that makes the weather.  I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.  I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration; I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.  In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person humanized or de-humanized.  If we treat people as they are, we make them worse.  If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A Weekend in Pictures

Friday

Went to La Lucha NYC for dinner. I did not enjoy my experience here. The tacos were mediocre and tiny and did not justify the price. I'd go broke buying tacos if I had to fill up on them here. The avocado was a little bland for my taste. The most enjoyable part of my meal was the green sauce they had in the middle of the table. Tasted fresh and flavorful. Considering it's also way out on the east side, I will probably never be back here.

Saturday

I went hiking on Saturday at Sam's Point Preserve, about an hour and a half north of the city. It was my first hike and I had a great time. I went completely unprepared. No water, no food, no bag, no nothin'. My friends had sense enough to bring all that though so for the most part I survived off of them.

I did not think hiking was going to be difficult at all, but by the end of the day my legs were shot and my feet felt completely beat up.

We saw this at the beginning of our hike.

We figured out a way to the top of this thing and made it to the top. Bobby's perched on the outlook.

On our way back down from the previous picture, someone spotted a little crevice which looked like a trail. We followed him into the crevice. Very tight fit and somewhat technical, but we all managed to get through it.

A patch of random mountain shrubbery.

Heading down into the ice caves.

I have no idea where we are but I'm guessing this was a part of the whole ice cave mission.

Inside the ice caves.

Getting close to the waterfall.

Made it to the waterfall! Or a nice viewing of it rather. The only thing I'm a little peeved about is the drop of water on the right side of my lens. Wish I had noticed earlier, but at least I got the shot.

At this point we were about half-way done with our hike. We still had another 4.5 miles to go, the rest of which felt extremely grueling. It did not help that the sun decided to come out in all its glory, making the hike back much harder than it could have been. So yea, that's why I didn't take a lot of pictures after this one.

Sunday

Today was a little more mundane than yesterday. Went to my swim lesson and afterward I headed to Madison Square Park for the Big Apple BBQ. Not impressed by the event. The lines were pretty ridiculous and it was damn expensive too. Paid $8 for two tiny rib pieces from Blue Smoke Grill.

I would not go again unless I had absolutely nothing better to do that day.

Geisha Girl

Keith Selle Photography

Sweet Irony

We wouldn't want that now, would we?