Day 121: Orange and Purple Together

Who said orange and purple don't go together ? :)

Well...maybe they don't ? :P

Day 120: Busy at Home

With a bit of headache and temperature today I just stayed home, cleaning, arranging stuff, reading, listening the geese screaming from the lake nearby and thinking of my next weekend. I volunteer for face painting at Spring Festival. The staff leader recommends drawing the ideas up on the paper in advance for the kids to choose from and I'll be paddling at the lake which is a part of activities at the festival afterward. Yeah! painting and paddling in one day (while helping the community). Nothing can beat that!

Day 119: Finally, Chicken Piccata

Finally, Chicken Piccata

A busy day! Cleaning house, walking doggies, getting some groceries, doing laundry, writing blogs AND cooking Chicken Piccata. Most importantly, it's yummy!

Day 118: Also This Week

They said there is one thing about online social network that people usually show only their happy moments to the cyberworld which could cause some people feeling depressed. So let see what I haven't accomplished this week and I am going to make them happen this weekend.

First, I had this Chicken Piccata recipe for over a month now. I just need to put that chicken in the pan! Second, my place is a mess since I started painting and almost wrecked the place in order to find my last year real estate tax document that I misplaced. I needed that to file my tax return! Third I really need to go back to piano practice, studying for my professional license exam (yuck), photography. And in order to do so I just have to limit my time on the internet. I notice that I probably spend at least 2-3 hours a day in front of computer. That's 20 hours a week! Luckily I don't watch TV on regular basis anymore.

 Everyone has 24 hours a day. But how and why one can do more than others ?

It's really all about making time. Now get off that couch or the chair you sitting on. Think what you have wanted to do. Even just the smallest simplest thing. Get start, get motivated and make it a habit. You will be surprised how much you can do for yourself and others. And most importantly you will be an inspiration to others to do great things as well.

Day 117: This Week

What a productive week I had...from Saturday (I walked doggies at  the shelter), Sunday (I paddled in a rain for the first time.), Monday (I worked late to get things ready for a big meeting with my project manager. I like good teamwork. Who doesnt ?), Tuesday (I also worked late to get things I promised the client done. Then I went shopping for my sister right before the store closed.), Wednesday (I did lap swim where the folks on both sides of my lane beaten me) and Thursday (I grew zillion of plants.). I emailed a bunch of friends. I posted a number of blogs. One of my big and long projects is officially done. I had yummy food. I read great inspiring stories. I slept (too) well.

It feels great to make time to do what I like to do even though it's extremely busy at work. I used to like being laid back and do nothing. But I think I like the idea of work hard, play hard and push the limit of what I can do here and there much better. We don't know how much time we have left, do we ?

Day 116: PowerShot D10

My waterproof camera was delivered on Monday but I didn't have a chance to play with it until this evening. So even so exhausted from (sort of) lap swim I decided to take my new toy with me to walk around the lake. (I haven't dunked it in the water yet. :P) The camera is a bit bulky but still small enough to carry it with me for everyday use. The quality of image is way better than iPod Touch. I can't wait to start carrying this around and use it for fun, survey and of course my paddling trip! :)

Day 115: A Sketch from Work

Ok call me cheat. This is a sketch I did late this afternoon for one of our building renovation projects.

We are way too busy. I just got home and really want to hit the bed now. zzz

Day 114: The Classroom

And this is our classroom at Columbia Island Marina, DC.

Day 113: Paddling in a Rain

Paddling is quite an art. Check out my paddling blog for detail. :)

Day 112: A Gift for Little Sister

Years ago on my little sister birthday I created a gift hunting game for her. I basically put a hint and instruction on how to get to the next hint and (the gift in the end) the night before. There probably were about at least 20 hints I placed around the house which made her ran around like crazy. Her birthday is not today but since it's already Sunday over there so......Happy Birthday sis! Love ya!

Day 111: An Asian Girl

Still a bit cartoony. I'll definitely practice more on watercoloring a portrait.

Day 110: A Portrait...Maybe...

I think I need to practice on how to draw a portrait first...

Day 109: A Young Face

An exercise before I try a real watercolor portrait.

Day 108: Splash

My experiment on splashing

Day 107: An Unfinished Painting

Ugh. I blame tax return. ha ha. I just finished it tonight but then I didn't have much time left to finish this painting. And I feel like this could turn out to be a good one so I don't want to ruin it by speeding up the process. So please stay tuned.

Day 106: Another Flower

Oops. It's after midnight again.

Day 105: Paint by Number

Who doesn't like paint by number ?! : )

Day 104: 1:30AM

No excuse. I got home and fell asleep. And then it's 1:30am

Good morning!

Day 103: Little Elise

Little Elise (the baby) finally gained an ounce after losing almost a pound during the first couple days. The update on her is probably the best thing in our office these days. We are ridiculously busy!

And she is thousands times more cute than the baby I drew on the drawing. : )

(This doodling is referenced to the Day 79 painting in case you haven't seen it.)

Day 102: Filing Tax Return

...zzz

Day 101: ><(((0>

This fish is a part of my kayak instructor's email signature. He said he likes flying fishing. It is very cool and appropriate! I probably typed dozen of fish today.

And he's in his 60's, had surgery on both of his shoulders and still able to paddle so fast!

Day 100: 266 Days to Go

Yep. (Just remember it is a leap year!)

Day 99: My First Paddling of the Year

I did! My first paddling of this year. See photos from the trip on my (other) blog.

Now fun is over. It's time to finish my tax return, my continuing education of LEED-BD+C...oh and study for the exams.....

(--!) I think I am going to bed first.

Day 98: This is going to be a perfect weekend.

THIS is going to be perfect weekend. I was woken up by a text message on the phone at 8 am. The greatest news ever! My friend delivered a baby girl last night. Completely natural the way she wanted it to be. No drug and no C-section.

To make this a little short...I sketched a drawing for the new mom, cooking my favorite Thai Food, walking favorite doggies at the shelter, making friend with another volunteer. And I just found out that the paddle trip on the Potomac River in DC tomorrow is on! YEAH~~

And this will be a perfect weekend if I don't get lost driving to the marina in DC tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Day 97: Spring Rain

So in love with dripping the colors at the moment. :)

Day 96: Tearful Eyes

Day 95: Finally, a day off

Finally I have a real day off. I don't want to hit over a hundred hours this pay period. It's so not healthy. So I made my day off happen. I like my work but I won't let it take over my life. And wow I never realized I need this much of sleep. I probably slept like 14 hours in total! So today my drawing is a bit flimsy...sorry! Still feel very groggy!

Anyway, on my way to a doctor office this morning I passed several cars with a kayak on top of the roof. Looks like the paddling season is here. Yeah~~. If there are enough people sign up this weekend, I will be on the Potomac River too!

Day 94: Yellow Leaves

I am still trying to use up the purple color on my palette.

Day 93: Flowers, Firework or Spiders ?

Working late many days in a row was no fun. The rewarding part for today was once I stepped outside I found that the air smells soooo good tonight. It's combination of cool, humid, freshly-cut grass and quiet streets. I could stay outside all night.

Let's see. I am not sure what it is I am posting here but don't you just love looking at colors creeping up on others ?

Day 92: Purple Aster

What a busy weekend w/ all the events, activities and work combined! I didn't have a clue what I wanted to draw so I turned to the coloring books I bought a while ago and selected this lovely Aster. I happened to have red and purple paint left on my palette so there you go. Purple Aster.

And today it's the first day of the second quarter for this project! Three quarter to go. (- -!)