11/23: Take a drag

After getting my D90, I happily took on more NBN projects, knowing that I would not have to deal with that frustrating and difficult-to-use Canon SLR we own. My assignment? Take a photo of people smoking for an article on social smoking. I kept thinking, how hard can it be? I have friends in the dorm that I know smoke every once in a while. Oh, how wrong was I? Turns out, some people ran out of cigarettes, others decided to quit smoking. It turned into a frantic search for people at 11 o'clock at night.

NBN finally published the article Sunday with this teaser of my friend Peter.

Here are some outtakes:

11/22: Live high

We may have missed the Lawrence stop on our way there, but that was the least of our worries. As we stepped off the El, we walked down to the Aragon Entertainment Center only to find a line of people snaked around the stone wall next to the building. It was 4 p.m. in the afternoon. Doors were not going to open for another two hours. So much for our plan to hang out in a snug coffee shop. Instead, we grabbed venti cups of Starbucks and joined the line, hardly prepared for the 20-degree weather. People were bundled up underneath blankets and layers of gear: hats, gloves, wind-resistant jackets. Us? We lost feeling in our toes and my legs became numb despite my leggings, jeans, hat and three layers of clothing.

And it was all worth it.

To hear Jazon Mraz's beautiful music. Mraz has such a great stage presence and just blew everyone away.

So we hopped back on the El with grins on our faces, disregarding the two hours in the cold and settling down at Clarke's for a late night meal.

I love the days I spend with Janise.








Can you tell that we're freezing?



Lisa Hannigan opened the show.

11/19: Munch on this

The best part about living on the floor that I live on and in the suite that I live in is the great enthusiasm my suitemates bring to the table. Notified that it was our week for munchies, we quickly pulled together what is the best munchies of this quarter (I may be bias, but I'd say rightfully so). Sticking to our Moroccan-themed suite, we catered hommus and falafil from Olive Mountain, draped a sari over the ceiling, hung lanterns and star lamps from overhead and artistically placed scarves and blankets over the couches and lamps. My CA showed off her gorgeous dance moves and belly danced for us, only to be joined later by two boys from the second floor.

I must say, I'm damn proud to be a part of 3 Blue.

Reaching out

I never know how to act at one of these things. Funerals, memorial services, vigils. While I did not know Trevor Boehm at all, it felt appropriate to go, to pay my respects and to learn a little bit more about how he touched people's lives.

And I got more than I bargained for. It's amazing how much Boehm meant to the people he met. The way they talked about him, I wished I had met him, even momentarily.

I can't seem to gather my thoughts enough to write a coherent post. I guess the vigil just reminded me of the people I have lost and that my friends have lost. It was a reminder that, no matter what, the memory of a person still lives and burns strongly regardless of how long ago they actually died.

May you rest in peace and bring inspiration to others to be just as passionate, sincere and genuine as you were.

Black and White

I finally scanned a few of the photos from my black and white film photography class. So I'm posting as I avoid the overwhelming pile of work that awaits me.

I apologize in advance for the skewness of some photos and the off-coloring. These are all un-edited.

11/9: Last minute plans

The evening was going well. I escaped from the lively dorm scene to get some work done and planned to do my weekly copy-editing for North by Northwestern. A typical Sunday night; get some work done and publish some articles. I walked into the computer room to people talking about a fire on Ridge and Noyes.

"You're a photographer," my copy editor said pointedly. "Do you have a camera?"

Well, a girl like me, who just bought the brand-new Nikon D90, was not going to pass up the offer to cover a news event like this. I ran back to my dorm, up the three flights of stairs, snatched my camera and a recorder (just in case) off my desk and trekked over to Ridge and Noyes. This was one of the few times I wished I knew how to bike.

I got there after the fire was already extinguished and the firefighters were cleaning up, but I managed to snap a few shots.

I shot the photo of the bench on my way back and I just like how it turned out.





Update: Photo removed and changed due to publication on NBN post.

Flurries

It's snowing.

The weather is chilly, so chilly that every breath is palpable. From California, I have never really experienced real snowfall. Yes, there were family trips to Tahoe where blankets of snow have already fallen and yes, I've been to New York and Boston where snow fell, but somehow, this time around it's different. It's different seeing snow, knowing that I am living here in it. This time around, the snow is falling, but so light that it doesn't stick. It's the start of winter here in Evanston and surely, in a few weeks, the snow will cover the streets just like it did on my trips to Tahoe, New York and Boston.



Can you see the snow? I tried to capture it before it stopped.



My beautiful lucky bamboo. It does need a name.



This is how it looked about three days ago. I wish autumn lasted longer here in the Midwest. The reds, yellows and oranges are absolutely gorgeous. Combine the falling leaves with cool, refreshing autumn air and it just makes me smile.

Apologies

I know it's been a month since I have updated, but college took me by a storm and I have yet to find that happy balance between health, social life and studies. That said, I finally feel like I have things under control right now and this past month has definitely been a roller coaster nationally and personally. Journalism continues to prove itself difficult, but incredibly fun and exciting. My dormmates are absolutely wonderful and we spend time doing crazy things like playing Twister and carving pumpkins. The election? A historical moment for America definitely. However, I'm a little upset about California and Proposition 8, but I won't let that spoil my day.



This is my pumpkin. I believe this is the first pumpkin I have ever really carved by myself in my whole life.

And I bought a lucky bamboo plant from our local florist to brighten up my room. With the sun setting at 5 p.m. every day now, I feel like I have less and less time to do things in daylight and feel myself getting sleepy earlier and earlier. And, while the weather is absolutely gorgeous these past few days and I wish time would stop, the reality is that the temperature will drop about 30 degrees in the next few days and the first signs of snow are coming around. Am I ready? Absolutely not. Am I excited? Hell yes.







Also, I have a package coming in the mail that will make life so much more exciting! Hooray D90!