Day 304: My Elliptical Trainer is back

Since it's too dark to walk around the neighborhood after work these days I pulled out my elliptical trainer (walking machine basically) and placed it in front of tv. Started with 1,000 steps yesterday while watching news about Sandy.

Exercise is as important as eating healthy. Don't skip it!

Day 303: Sandy Ashores

She lands in New Jersey. We got about 50 mph wind here in DC area. Lower Manhattan and the subway in New York City floods. West Virginia got a couple feet of snow. Philadelphia is about to get the worst in an hour or two according to the news.

Day 302: Ready for Sandy ?

Not really...I don't have much food in the fridge but I cleaned all the dishes and the restrooms!

Day 301: Last Fall Paddling

Some folks at the office and I took a fall paddling tour from Agonkian Regional Park to Seneca Creek Aqueduct with Brian, my instructor today. Nice weather, fall foliage at peak, everyone smiling and willing to learn and try new thing. I couldn't ask for a better day. :)

Miss Sandy will take all away in a couple days. So this will probably be the last fall paddling but it definitely is one of the best. 

Stay tuned for the post on my NewbiePaddler blog. It's gonna be pretty crazy week with the office party. 

* Update 2012-10-28 The post and photos from this trip is up!

Day 300: Hunter's Request

Hunter came to help his mommy organizing our office this evening. So when he would like to see a hairy Santa playing hockey, I need to make his wish come true!

Day 299: Three Monsters and a Glowing Stone

Right, I am not thinking.

Day 298: Survey Day in DC

Our newly-hired young architect and I went to survey at two buildings in DC today. We took metro to the downtown (since I can't drive in DC.) It's like summer! Perfect day to walk around. Get out there before the cold temperature hits next week!

Day 297: "String Thing"

We stayed late after work to test our "String Thing" for the office party next week. Trust me our actual "String Thing" looks waaay better than my sketch! :)

Day 296: Da Trunk

I think the sketch explains everything.

Day 295: Our trip

On Saturday after relaxing the whole morning we went to have brunch at an old fashion diner place in a corner of an antique store called Englander. We spent time visiting the farmer market and several local stores. Karen, our host, got her furniture after having an eye on those since last trip.

On Sunday we visited Swallow Falls/Muddy Falls (Love it! I could stay there for hours!) and a glass blowing factory named Simon Pearce before heading back to town.

Day 294: Homemade Dinner

Homemade dinner! We had Shrimp cake, Szechwan Eggplant Stir-Fry and a cake with ice cream

yummmmmmm. (Thank you, Rebecca - our chef.)

Day 293: MSBC's Flatbread

Our dinner on Friday, 4 types of flatbread at Mountain State Brewing Co. They were really good!

Day 292: Pack for Girls' Weekend

We are taking off for a girls' weekend. (Yeah~ The boys at our office often take a whole day off for golf. So it's our turn!) I won't be able to post anything for two days since there is no internet access. But I promise I will draw everyday!

Day 291: The Second Painting

Not done either! I start freaking out.

Day 290: How I Paint Tonight

I was watching the 2nd Presidential Debate on tv as well. As the result the painting is not done!

Day 289: Sketch for the Second Painting

I wasn't happy with the pencil line on the second painting. So I sketched this thumbnail and thought that adding tree shadow on the snow might make it more interesting.

But I have never painted shadow on the snow before.

Am I looking for a trouble here ? O_O

Day 288: Painting for a Charity (In progress)

Ok. I skipped paddling on this gorgeous day to get this painting for our silent auction for a charity done as much as I can. I would say it's 80% done. I reduce the size but plan to paint another loose painting to get some variety. Better raise some money!

Day 287: Sis takes over

I was chatting with my sister as usual. Then I glanced at the corner of my living room...and there she is...taking over my chair. (It's a weird looking pillow she gave me as a birthday gift several years ago.)

Day 286: I miss spring season already!

It's sooo cold here. it's like we move from summer to winter.....brrrrr.

Day 285: "Real Men Wear Skirts"

I rarely buy a t-shirt that expresses my quirky thoughts. But when I came across this one I felt I had to have it! 

The skirt they talk about is a "spray skirt", a neoprene garment that you wear (just like a skirt) and attach it to the cockpit of a kayak to keep water out when you paddle. You don't have to wear this if you just paddle lazily on the water. But you do when you paddle whitewater or paddle long distance. 

It's very easy to pull the spray skirt out in case you have to wet exit - getting out of the boat completely when you capsize in the situation that you can't roll back up which requires some technique and practice....okay a lot of practice. 

Day 284: In Search of a Boat

Have I told you guys that I got the roof rack and am searching for a kayak ? :)

Day 283: Next Step...Cleaning

I like free sketch and love to do more often. Draw without rule. Who doesn't like that ? :) Anyway, the next step to the big painting is cleaning my palette and all the painting tools which are on my coffee table now.

Day 282: My Plant in Living Room

I am not gonna lie. I am getting nervous about my painting for the company's auction. My weekends from now will be packed with paddling and I will be of town with the girls at the office one whole weekend. Suddenly Nov 1 doesn't seem to be far away at all! So just a quick drawing today. I need to start sketching for my big painting!

Day 281: The pumpkins and a carrot

Too many days off could be bad. My idea runs dry.

Day 280: The Pumpkin

Here I am...thinking I want to take a break from watercolor for a day.

Day 279: Red Mountain

wow...I am so sleepy that I forgot to make my store name transparent.

Day 278: Unknown

Not sure what I painted...but I love the texture.

Day 277: One More Rose

Yaaaawwwn. Worked until 8 pm today but a day off is coming soon.

Day 276: Poppy

Working until 10 pm is not fun! Fortunately I had a company today. 

Isn't it strange that it's always the same people working hard and late ? Do we work too slowly ? Or did we not manage time so well ?

By the way, I really want to try Sumie painting! It should be a great way to practice brush work. :)

Day 275: Dissolved

It's sort of sad, isn't it ? Nothing lasts.