In Between

"Happy New Year" means it's time to make a little sub-list of resolutions.

1. Learn to appreciate what I have.

I know it's totally cliche but I really am not good at this one. I'm always looking out and ahead and pursuing those damned more-betters. I can take breaks and accept where I am but it won't be long until I begin feeling useless and eventually worthless. Extreme supreme tacos, right? I'm going to try out this appreciation tactic and hope it balances my life a little better.

2. Blog more.

In addition to inbetweendesigns, my personal design and life blog, I have another blog titled PainfullyGood [read more about it here]. Both are the main creative outlets that I am currently sustaining, and I am hoping that both will become more functional (and maybe even famous!) by this time next year. Wish meh luck.

3. Be nicer.

Yeaaaah, so I'm not outright the nicest person. I highly doubt that even my closest friends have ever gushed "Yeah, Milan is sooOoOoOo nice!", and if they have, they are fired. If now is a time for a rebuttal, here it is: I just feel that being nice is cheesy and uninteresting. There has to be a name for people like me. Sadist? But seriously, please believe me when I say my heart is NOT a blackened coal and that I do not take pride in the fact. So I can be a little mean. Is it a lack of filter or an excess of judgement? Is it immaturity or inconsideration or are those the same thing? Is it a symptom of middle child syndrome or am I just making excuses? Whatever the reason, I am trying to improve. It's probably just the natural scowl I was born with, anyway. Gr.

4. Move into my own place.

For the very first time, I want to try living roomate/family-free. I am in a serious relationship that has been progressing slowly but surely, and I feel that if there is any time in my life that I should experience living alone, this could be my only chance. I could be setting myself up for oh, I dunno, bankruptcy, but I am up for the challenge. I hear being able to talk to yourself as you walk around the kitchen in your delicates is really worth it. Plus, NOT sharing a shower and toilet sounds absolutely glorious.... right up there with winning a whopping 2,008 US cents.

5. Stay employed.

I'm just throwing this one on because a list of 4 does not sound sufficient to me. A good one nonetheless, don't you think?

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5. Get comfortable talking to strangers.

I'm scratching the last one not because I don't want to stay employed, but because I was inspired at lunch today with a new resolution. Ladies and germs: I successfully experienced, for the SECOND TIME in TWO DAYS, a normal conversation with a perfect stranger. And by normal I mean a conversation that does not REEK of baby-stealing testosterone, or leech my energy or totally demolish my sense of safety. I know in reality that it is possible to have a perfectly normal conversation with a stranger and walk away feeling like you connected in a healthy but brief way, but I have only read about it. I have always been envious of folks who can do this and have surrounded myself with friends and lover who have that skill to make up for lack of mine. Until now. Maybe I gained a bit of confidence from hanging with some really good, socially healthy people this weekend, but I hadn't really believed in the whole thing until I experienced it myself. Hallelujah. Thank you Tucky from the SF Art Guild and random IBM guy who eavesdropped on Anna and my conversation over lunch at the mall.

Oh, and to add: on the way back from lunch I was handed a flyer about Psychic Reading at 1/2 price! and was still holding it when I got into my building elevator. Still high from making conversation with the IBM eavesdropper, I had the audacity to try and start a conversation with the other elevator passenger in the time frame it takes to get from the lobby to my floor. All I had time to say was: "Interested in psychic reading?" He laughed a laugh that was too short to be friendly and said "No." and then I had no time to recover. Great, now I'm the creepy psychic from the 5th floor. Our elevator is really fast, okaaaay!??!

What are your top goals for the year 2009?

Congratulations, Raymond and Maichi! She is first one in our family to take that wonderful step towards eternal unification.

Symbollically (vs. technically), marriage has always been a goal for me. Given good timing and readiness, to find that person that you declare as your life partner is beautiful thing. I always thought that as soon as you know it, you know it. But I have also learned that it is not easy, and it doesn't necessarily come naturally nor clearly. While it is brave to believe in that kind of effortless love, I find it brave to also admit that it takes a lot more work than you might be ready for. I don't know the answers, but in my experience there will be pivotal points where one feels to quit. But when you shake off the fears and open the doors, the belief in love is restored and then the two can continue forth even stronger and happier than before. When you find that person, hang on for the ride.

So here's to the journey, Maichi and Raymond! I hope that you two are excited for the many adventures you have in store together.

I have to admit, I've always opted to buy gifts over making gifts for people; but when I stumbled upon these soft trees on littlebirds by stephanie congdon barnes, the martha stewart in me started kicking. I invited my collaboration partner Krystle Cho to spend an evening of crafts with me and it was really nice to use my hands and chat with a good friend.

Joined through a photo blogging project 3191, stephanie of littlebirds is also associated with mav of port2port press, whose work inspired me to meet with my good friend and designer colleague, Debbie Kim, and design x-mas cards for our friends & family. We chose wood-block printing as our medium and had tons-o'-fun picking out paper and ink at Blick Art Materials in Berkeley. It's pretty much a haven for alls yous artists. Plus the staff is super helpful and knowledgable.

Pics of both nights of crafts below. Happy holidays to all who happen to view this; comment and let me know you were here!

I'm feeling pretty fantastic today. It's been a while since I've been happy with all aspects of my life: Friends, Family, Work, Love, Creativity. Physical Health is not on that list because it's on timeout - always too disappointing.

I slept in this Saturday morning. I awoke to find amazing sunlight bursting through my blinds, so I let it in and my room has been glowing since. I've lit candles, eaten boiled eggs and wheat English muffins, played with the camera, organized the piles in my room into new piles, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, done sufficient web browsing and even wrote an entry for the collaborative journal. More on that when time comes.

Creativity is flowing through me and it feels so gooood. I am enjoying it thoroughly while it lasts. You know that feeling, when you have something you know is good but only temporarily? The ONLY thing you can do is appreciate it and take advantage of all that it offers, while it's being offered. Don't think about anything but the present, and don't be sad when when the moment is gone.

I'm going to go eat some ice cream now.

I love all things tender and simple like this. It makes me want.
I'm definitely going to check out their wedding sets, if time comes.

A huge huge redesign. My first big user interface design project and I found myself really enjoying the brain aches of trying to organize the information in the most friendly, intuitive, efficient and sensible order. Comprised of over 11 main pages, the engineering team did a fantastic (and difficult) job of following the mockups and making it happen.

Stats show a significant increase in photos channel views, ratings and comments overall, especially on ArtBistro's portfolios. Take a look!

Hi all! Yes, I'm alive. Yes, I've been working. Here's a few recent showable designs that I've done here at Affinity Labs / Monster Worldwide. Other things are user interface design like forms and such that are hard work but not as visually interesting to the fresh eye. =)



Quick flyer for my friend at Beachside Recycling down in LA.
Distribution 10,000 manu
facturing businesses in Orange County.


















AdminSecret.com
A social networking site for administrative professionals.
Color scheme and logo design.









WomenCo.com
A social networking site for women professionals.
Color scheme and logo redesign. The previous skin was mainly black with pink highlights and felt too 'stripperish' for professionals.







LEDegrees.com
Law Enforcement Education landing page.
Logo and skin design.




Otherwise, I'm finally comfortable working here in San Francisco and living in Emeryville - it's been six months since I made The Big Move mid-March. Most of the time I'm here at the office (and occasionally happy hour!) with my awesome co-workers. On the weekends I'm either visiting my parents in Davis, doing weekendy things with Jason, or going on a mini trip to the beach or camping or tahoe or something... I've been looking at cars lately (! Milan? A CAR!?) and hopefully will start shopping this month.

On an inner level I've been very careful about adjusting, almost to the point of being on guard all the time. I'm tired. My new mantra is "be open and others will open to you".

More to come, I hope!

Sketches for an Affinity Labs t-shirt. The theme is "the science of community", each particle/molecule/electron representing one of our community sites.

www.PoliceLink.com
www.TheApple.com
www.FireLink.com
www.NursingLink.com
www.ArtBistro.com
www.InsideTech.com
www.GovCentral.com
www.IndiaOn.com
www.WomenCo.com
www.AllHealthcare.com
www.SalesHQ.com
www.HRGuru.com
www.AdminSecret.com