Andy McParrot

Thursday-Day for the Parrot

2012-02-17T00:11:00.001+08:00

Waking up. Don't want to get out of bed. Dreaming of snow adventures.

Then I'm awake! Cart wheels! Coffee! Sweet Potato!

Let's get pumped for the day!
I agree with everything she says: My whole house is great, I like my school,
I like my hair, I like my pyjamas,
I like my whole HOUSE!!

On my way to work, on the Scoot, sunshine, strawberry helmet... Driving at the speed of ostrich!

Listening to bouncy music:

Said The Whale - The Light Is You

WORK!

This clip reminded me of teaching Culinary Arts class! YEAH!

Next week we are making green onion pancakes - (cong you bing - 蔥油餅 )

Kids are funny.

Here's Teacher Andy's graphic organizer for our All About Me books. These are examples of various sentence patterns: I like, I love, My favorite, etc.

I made this poster for our classroom. (There are two posters but the other pic came out blurry).

Science is important:

Driving home now, time for more music!

Angus and Julia Stone - Big Jet Pla ne (Stern* Disco Remix)

I come home and look in the fridge for food.

All my food is alive, so I go out for food with Josie.

Then it's bed time, walking home through the Forest of Illusion:

That was weird, so I read about kittens.

I lay my head down on my nice soft downy pillows, and wrap myself in my comfy comforter, in my wonderfully soft bed which feels like sleeping in a warm buttered croissant...

And then, as soon as I start dreaming about tea time with Andy Samberg I hear buzzzzzzzzz!!! And I know that it's time to play hide-and-go-seek with a mosquito.
ELUSIVE F*CKER!

V Day

2012-02-14T13:27:00.000+08:00

I forgot it was Valentine's Day, so this is a little late!

Wanna see my Valentine's Day outfit? Watch out! It's super hot.

Aww! Math equation love!

This guy is putting in effort:

Poor lizard. Little does he know that Hello Kitty toast works every time.

However:

Bacon roses. It's the move.

"Roses are the way to my heart, but bacon roses are the way to my vagina" - LOL!!

Or alternatively, bacon covered cheeseburger turtles!

"Caring for your turtle" by PBF Comics

Once you've courted her with bacon roses and Hello Kitty toast, you can throw on some slow jams.

And then wait for her in the bedroom dressed like Skeletor. Hmm. Slightly disturbing.

This was my reaction too.

This has nothing to do with Valentine's Day and everything to do with boobs:

The REAL Secret:

Doctor Raptor, confusing you into submission.

Have a great day everyone! Here's a pretty sunset!

Mind Space

2012-02-13T02:32:00.001+08:00

What really goes on in Andy's head, you may wonder.

Are there marbles? Is there snow? Is it filled with cookie dough?

Well, it's a very populated place, and the map is very complicated and difficult to navigate if you do not have a compass and a kazoo. However, on the last expedition photos and video were obtained! This saves you the trouble of trying to get around on your own, and I am pleased to share this special section of my brain where silly ideas are born. It usually starts hoppin' around midnight:

Turkey In The Straw

And look! Here's our old friend Philippe (I know his name is Flip, but Philippe sounds better).

The part where he dances on the turtle is the best.

Flip The Frog

Silly Symphonies - The Clock Store (1931)

Finders Keepers

2012-02-10T22:25:00.000+08:00

Mickey's Monkey

Bosky Dell

Judith Selby Lang and Richard Lang, a couple from Northern California, scavenge the coastline and collect plastic debris. This debris is washed and sorted and made into art.

I found this clip through thisiscolossal and I wanted to share!

One Plastic Beach

One Plastic Beach from High Beam Media on Vimeo.

Aside from the important environmental aspect and the beautiful art they create, I was especially tickled about the sorting process. I like sorting and organizing things! :P

Use The Force

2012-02-10T02:35:00.000+08:00

{pin-ups found on fystarwars.tumblr.com}

Boba Fett Samurai by Clinton Felker

Kermie chillin' with the Yodameister

"Easy being green, it is not" by Peter De Seve

And this is just too great NOT to repost, so here it is again!

This kind of stuff gets me excited for Halloween. I love the little Jawa!

Star Wars Dance Off

Want Farm. Get Green.

2012-02-09T10:53:00.001+08:00

Life In Pixellation

2012-02-07T23:59:00.002+08:00

This is such a great music video!!

Goldfish - We Come Together

Thank you to Crash-Chan for posting this song!

The following artworks were made completely out of Rubik's Cubes, and made by Invader

Pixelplosion, 2005

Mario Divided, 2005

Campbell's Soup, 2006, made of 176 Rubik's Cubes

Rubik Mona Lisa, 2005, made of 330 Rubik's Cubes

And this, since I love Jimi Hendrix, is saved for last.

Experience Jimi Hendrix by Ian Wright

Taiwan 台灣

2012-02-07T10:49:00.000+08:00

I took these pictures with my little point + shoot camera.

They're just little snaps to share with my family back home and my friends around the world.

A sun shower in Taichung 台中Taiwan 台灣

An alley in Taipei 台北 Taiwan 台灣

LuKang 鹿港 Taiwan 台灣

Chinese New Year in LuKang 鹿港 Taiwan 台灣

LuKang 鹿港 Taiwan 台灣

LuKang 鹿港 Taiwan 台灣
(this one was blurry, but I liked it!)

A view of Ying Cai Road in Taichung 台中Taiwan 台灣, Hotel One in the distance

An empty market at night in Taichung 台中Taiwan 台灣

Magokoro Wo Komeru

2012-02-06T23:27:00.000+08:00

{image source unknown}

{"Sunset: The Pacific", photograph by Ansel Adams}

{painting by Andre Petterson}

{"Thunder Clouds", photograph by Ansel Adams}

{image source unknown}

{Ivan Aivazovsky, The Black Sea at Night, 1879}

{image source unknown}

{"Pine Peak", photograph by Don Hong-Oai}

{"Only Me", photograph by Don Hong-Oai}

Magokoro - Heart of sincerity

Magokoro wo komeru - to pour your heart into something.

{image source unknown}

{photograph by Ansel Adams}

{"Tetons: Snake River", photograph by Ansel Adams}

Taking Notes

2012-02-06T02:55:00.001+08:00

{My grandparent's backyard}

How I love the internet. How I love discovering through it.

I am constantly reminded that this world is amazing

and that there's so much being done to fight against the problems we face as a planet.

Please take the hour to watch this documentary. It's fantastic, and very inspiring.

Let me tell you, I was taking notes.

Natural World: A Farm For The Future

{These are all pictures from the little garden I had in my grand-parent's backyard. I grew lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and all kinds of herbs. The romaine lettuce grew almost 4 feet high!}

{My grand-mother planted these for me, she knows I love daisies.}

Everything I am discovering right now is making my goal clearer and reinforcing it's possibility. Later this week I will be posting more about permaculture, farming, and sustainability.

"When you want something,
all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it"
- Paolo Coelho -

Kapu

2012-02-04T23:18:00.001+08:00

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com has become my new favorite website.

There are some brilliant documentaries on there.
I've watched a lot of great ones and I'd like to share them all,

but I'll start with this one.

Hawaii - Message In The Waves

The Hawaiian word kapu is usually translated to English as "forbidden", though it also carries the means of "sacred", "consecrated", or "holy".

D is for DESTRUCTION

2012-01-31T17:42:00.001+08:00

I showed this to my class today and they lost their marbles.
They chanted along with each letter.

Can you guess which letter was their favorite?

The Alphabet 2 from n9ve on Vimeo.

SEDUCTION

2012-01-31T11:14:00.000+08:00

Ok guys, I buckled.

I tried to take a vow of plastic celibacy, but last night these shoes

were chillin near the googly eyes

and they used their combined seductive powers to entice me to make these:

They're SO RAD!!!

Especially when you have them all together, the TRIFORCE power of hat/shades/sneaks:

My mind is boggled and torn. I absolutely LOVE the whole creative process of making stuff like this. Actually, ~~scratch that~~, more than love: I GET OFF ON the whole creative process. How do I continue this path without supporting industries that harm our Earth? Like, I'm not trying to be an a$$hole and shove these issues in everyone's face, but it is something that we need to think about and make efforts to change. And since I've always been an advocate of ethical consumption and living self-sufficiently it would make absolutely no sense for me to construct my business without considering the impact it would have in ripple-effect.

As I continue to battle this problem, I will keep on with my other projects and hopefully find a way to consolidate these seemingly opposing matters.

This video completely encapsulates my perspective.

(I'm very wordy today, aren't I? Must be lack of sleep.)

Back to the Start - ad for Mexican food chain Chipotle (food with integrity)

"Questions of science, science and progress

don't speak as loud as my heart"

Like Leaves and Pages...

2012-01-29T17:25:00.002+08:00

Books suspended above an entrance to the Istanbul modern art museum by Hanif Shoaei via thisiscolossal.com

The Joy Of Books

"Books are a hard-bound drug with no danger of an overdose. I am the happy victim of books."

- Karl Lagerfeld -

Anagram Bookshop in Prague (now closed) - promotional images from Kaspen

The writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads...

- Dr. Seuss -

Beautiful photographs by Cara Barer

I love library porn even more than I love cabin porn.

I found Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal through

Bookstore Guide - An amateur guide to bookshopping throughout Europe.

Ok, you NEED to click this link and see the library in 360' which is just the coolest thing EVER! Scroll down a bit and use the cursor to look around.

And this is Ireland's Trinity College Library:

Lucille Moroni's book sculptures

Exploded Books by Betsy Jayne

I'd like to thank Scott for sending this to me:

It started suddenly. Without warning.

Last spring, Julie Johnstone, a librarian at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh, was wandering through a reading room when she saw, sitting alone on a random table, a little tree. It was made of twisted paper and was mounted on a book.

It looked like this was a one-off, a beautiful and delicate piece of art created by a fan of the Poetry Library. Until, in late June, the National Library of Scotland found themselves the recipient of a similar piece.

Read the INCREDIBLE whole story HERE. The artist remains unknown.

Using old books, Su Blackwell creates beautiful landscapes.

And this photograph is by Angélica Vis.

Read more about amazing art HERE at thisiscolossal.com which has become my FAVORITE website and I can't stop exploring it. It is IMMENSELY inspirational.

Baby I Like It Raw

2012-01-28T18:29:00.001+08:00

"ODB gives less fucks than Honey Badger" - LOL!!

ODB - Shimmy Shimmy Ya

Massive Goal Shift

2012-01-28T01:02:00.000+08:00

I bought clear-lens nerd glasses at the night market.

Then I bought a glue gun.

And a pair of purple shutter shades.

Gess loves unicorns, so I made her unicorn sunglasses.

And I made googly eye glasses for me:

Then I "google-i-fied" this hat and I bought black patent sneaks for future
"google-i-fi-cation":

I bought pink plush shoes with a teddy bear head on them at the night market,
(a Jeremy Scott inspired design, click here to see the originals)
and I painted a cap pink:

I got my trusty glue gun and away I went!

BAM!!!

Here's the part about the Massive Goal Shift:

I came to Taiwan with many goals. Starting my own small clothing label was one of them. Prior to leaving I photo-documented my scrapbooks and journals, carrying my many ideas across the sea. And when I started making all of these prototypes I was having a blasty-blast. I was drawing and designing and planning and getting everything ready for lift-off.

I love creating things and I get HIGH when I’m making stuff. I love freaking out on inspiration in a craft store or a thrift store or a night market. Then I put on some tunes or a documentary and go, and I end up with some crazy $hit. And then planning the photoshoot for the thing? MAN. I love it. Any creative person who has worked with me before knows how I get when I’m in this mode. My brain just blooms.

As soon as the ball was rolling on this clothing project a thought slowly embedded itself into me. It wasn’t a new thought, but it reemerged from my subconscious and caused me to reevaluate my plan. Through the manufacture of these products, as cool and limitless the ideas are, and as much appeal as they would have, I would be supporting the manufacture of materials that harm our Earth and I would be turning a blind eye to the environmental problems that humanity is facing today. And it sucks. I wish that it didn’t have to be this way, and I wish that plastics weren't so harmful, and I wish that all fabrics and dyes came from ethical sources. But I can’t ignore it.

I found that my move to Taiwan pulled me far away from the “materialistic desperation” that surrounded me in Toronto, and I’ve been able to thrive as opposed to survive. I’ve slowly reconnected to every dream I had when I was younger because I now see viable ways of making these dreams REAL. My bucket list keeps getting check marks on it, and so many of these little buckets are getting done, one by one. But I am aiming for the big bucket. That big glorious dream and I have a plan and a way. I just had to shift my focus.

My scrapbooks and journals are filled with a multitude of other things, so I’m going for them. We talked about leading by example, and living in a way that inspires others to do the same, so I’ve geared up and restructured my plan. Same big bucket, new way to get there.

Happy Birthday - one box of tissue down

2012-01-27T01:51:00.000+08:00

Today would have been my Opa's birthday. Back in Canada my family is at Swiss Chalet celebrating his memory and eating delicious french fries with that amazing spicy gravy they have. I miss Swiss Chalet, and I miss my family, and I miss my Opa.

His picture is the only one I have up in my bare apartment, right in the middle of my living room wall. My Mom hid it in my luggage and I found it when I was unpacking last August. Today I re-read some of my previous posts about him, and I still can't listen to "You Are My Sunshine" without crying.. That song is really sacred when it comes to him. We'd sing it together and I'd do the harmony. It doesn't help that the lyrics are about loss.

I thank him for so many things; Snow forts in the winter, and showing me how to garden, teaching me to skate and boat and clean a fish, playing hide and go seek with me, driving me to piano/girl guides/swimming/art lessons, roasting marshmallows on rainy days in the fireplace...

Those are blessed childhood memories. I am so fortunate and so lucky to have had him there with me when I was growing up. I was the first grand-child born so I got to spend a lot of time with him one-on-one.

I have simple and wonderful memories of his maroon flannel shirts, his safari gardening hat, his love of old cowboy songs, and how he wrote down "Dragon" as a Christmas word for Christmas bingo (a tradition carried on every Christmas now).

He was an exceptional person and has truly set the bar so high for all of my social relationships.

Maybe this is why I expect so much from myself and from the people around me...

By simply being an example, he showed me how to be a good listener, and a patient friend. By being a good husband he showed me how two people can work together with loyalty and honesty, and make a great relationship happen. He showed me how to be generous; in spirit, in heart, and in help. He was a calm and simple man who loved fully, and I thank him for teaching me to love. I endeavor to follow in his spirit in what ever I do; in my work, in my friendships, in my goals, in everything.

I don't know what happens after you die. Maybe we just unravel into the collective energy and flow atomically into everything. But I would like to think that an element of our consciousness still remains, and that a thread of his is with me always.

In your memory, Happy Birthday Opa.

Here are some songs that you loved:

Connie Francis - Tennessee Waltz

Woody Guthrie - Red River Valley

Jimmy Wakely & the Sunshine Girls - You Are My Sunshine

Make A Wish

2012-01-24T02:20:00.000+08:00

Tonight Anet and I watched Juno, which left us feeling bouncy and positive

as opposed to last night's movie, Black Swan, which left me feeling

distressed and itchy and lesbionic.

When I heard this song

"Tree Hugger" - Kimya Dawson and Antsy Pants

I was inspired to draw this

Muah Muah Muah!!!

A Self-Sufficient Life...

2012-01-23T13:52:00.000+08:00

In a cabin in the woods...

Bon Iver - "Skinny Love" (Das Kapital Rerub)

I love lots of green growing on a roof...

Essential to happiness: canoeing on a lake...

In a cabin in a wood,
A little man by the window stood
Saw a rabbit hopping by, knocking at his door.
"Help me! Help me!" the rabbit said,
"Or the hunters will shoot me dead!"
"Come Little Rabbit, come inside.
Safely you'll abide."

Living a self-sufficient life...
information about living off the grid

A ski access only cabin in Colorado

Free Cabin Porn

Leap

2012-01-22T11:59:00.000+08:00

"Paradise" - Coldplay

Fall Into Grace

2012-01-20T23:09:00.000+08:00

8 to 0

2012-01-19T02:19:00.001+08:00

Look at what my friend Mike made!

8to0 -- short film from Michael Lam on Vimeo.

Holy talent.

Check out his site and other work... www.lamiam.ca

2010_Demo Reel from Michael Lam on Vimeo.

obSESSION!!!!!

2012-01-18T00:29:00.000+08:00

WHEEEEEE!!!

Craziness

2012-01-13T22:49:00.000+08:00

Thank you Kyle for this awesome vid:

Night Time Snack Time

2012-01-05T01:43:00.000+08:00

I am a Mogwai. I really want to eat after 12:00 midnight, but I really shouldn't...

But there are snacks around, especially since I have a house-guest who is buying all kinds of Taiwanese things... and keeping them in the kitchen, which is exactly 12 steps from my bed.

DAMN YOU ANET! *andy shakes her fist in the air*

A million types of marshmallows:

Seaweed, seafood, lemon, and steak flavored chips:

UM. YAH.

It's past midnight.

Le sexy time:

YEP

2012-01-03T20:17:00.000+08:00

Dear 2011, Thank You...

2011-12-31T12:18:00.003+08:00

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.

New Year's Eve is not my favorite holiday... We attach too much importance to the countdown, and who is with us, and where we are, and it just feels like a holiday saturated in superstition and anxiety. This measure of time is passing and another measure of time is to come, and I don't really feel the same emotions that other people do about December 31st.
It's another day for me.
I feel like it's taken too seriously. We take TIME too seriously. We take our numerical age too seriously. We become too structured by the hour on the clock. And although this structure is useful and necessary to maintain global regularity, I feel that it has come to govern too much of our mental space.

What are you going to change? What are you going to do differently, now that the seconds are ticking and we sense time slipping by? Meanwhile I think that changes and choices about our lives should be made all the time, not just at the end of the year.
Like, has anyone else experienced a kind of simmering panic at the New Year's countdown?
A sadness? A nostalgia? A wave of excitement stepping into a newborn January?
I used to, and now I don't care. I'd be cool sitting on a beach and letting that moment pass by without even realizing it.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

That being said, I will recognize the end of the calendar year, and I will go out and party my face off and run around with incredible people under the open sky.
And using December 31st as a marking point I'll look back on 2011 and share what I know.

In contrast to 2010, this year has been an absolute storm.
Now, erase that dark image of thunder and destruction, and imagine the chaotic awe of an interstellar cloud of dust - many good things and many bad things and many neutral things occurring quickly and slowly and some not occurring at all.
My life was filled with a multitude of changes that led me to the other side of the globe.
Once uprooted, now grounded.

It was a year of great spiritual advances and retreats.
I had found myself, lost myself, and found myself once more.
I became younger and older and now feel ageless.
There were times when I was so happy I felt like I didn't know what to with myself.
Then there were times when I watched my spirit disappear until I could no longer recognize myself.
It was like my saying "Burn to be Reborn", but it was happening at such a fast pace that the burning and rebirth blurred into a dizzying and exhausting thrill ride. And with that momentum, like a comet, I've been catapulted and liberated. Through it all I collected knowledge and wisdom.

2011, thank you.

There are no "New Year's Resolutions".
For me, the resolutions that work are the small daily ones, the baby-steps that lead to habits and patterns and a lifestyle fueled by growth.

Things are always looking or going up even if they don't seem that way at the time.

And I know this is what it will be like for you.

To infinity and beyond, Andy

.

In the gloaming...

2011-12-29T02:29:00.001+08:00

There was a lot of "Sweet Caroline" around the campfire the summer this commercial came out:

Top 10 Favorite Campfire Songs

Hasn’t Hit Me Yet – Blue Rodeo
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Bobcaygeon – The Tragically Hip
Harvest Moon - Neil Young
Country Roads - John Denver
Looking Out My Backdoor - CCR
Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N Roses
Layla - Eric Clapton
Brian Wilson – The Barenaked Ladies
Wonderwall - Oasis
Hotel California - The Eagles
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Extreme - More Than Words

OK, I lied there are more than 10... I already thought of 3 more, but I have to stop!
The more I think about it the longer the list will become!

My name is ANDY, and I AM CANADIAN!! WOO!

Pete is a cool CAT

2011-12-28T00:44:00.000+08:00

Does a little bit of mess bother Pete the Cat?

GOODNESS, NO!

He just keeps walkin' along, singing his song...

Pete the Cat - "I Love My White Shoes"

I just found that vid, and I thought it was pretty cute.

Here are some more great kids songs/clips. You might recognize some of them!

Sesame Street - Animals Escape from the Zoo

(I love the animation in this one!)

Sesame Street - The Alligator King

I sing The Ugly Bug Ball regularly, since it's in my head a lot. And I like bugs.

Burl Ives - "The Ugly Bug Ball"

image found here

Bugs with human faces. ooOOoo!!

I have this song in my head a lot too. Especially when it's raining.

And I see a worm.

And I run through the grass.

Raffi - "Robin in the Rain"

:P Andy

Light and Shadows

2011-12-27T01:05:00.000+08:00

Miwa Matreyek's Glorious Visions

Music Monday

2011-12-26T10:19:00.000+08:00

It's Monday and already I'm looking forward to this weekend.

I ~~close my eyes~~ and see sunshine, shorelines, sunburns and sandburns...

This song...

Basia Bulat - "Heart Of My Own"

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T15:56:00.004+08:00

I'd like to share some inspiration this holiday season.

If you're at home having a relaxing Sunday you might want to

grab some mulled wine and watch the following online lectures.

There are SO many that I'd like to post, but I'll keep it to 4:

1. Creativity and Diversity

2. Feminism and Passion

3. Neuroanatomy and Spirituality

4. Valuable Life Lessons

Shea Hembrey - "How I became 100 Artists"

How do you stage an international art show with work from 100 different artists? If you're Shea Hembrey, you invent all of the artists and artwork yourself -- from large-scale outdoor installations to tiny paintings drawn with a single-haired brush. Watch this funny, mind-bending talk to see the explosion of creativity and diversity of skills a single artist is capable of.

Isabel Allende - "Tales of Passion"

Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism

-- and, of course, passion -- in this talk.

Jill Bolte Taylor - "Stroke of Insight"

Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions -- motion, speech, self-awareness -- shut down one by one. An astonishing story.

Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture - Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"

In 2007, Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, who was dying of pancreatic cancer, delivered a one-of-a-kind last lecture that made the world stop and pay attention. This moving talk will teach you how to really achieve your childhood dreams. Unmissable.

Here's a great point form summation for reference, or if you don't have time to watch the entire video:

It is an easy time to dream when we are young (and happy) and we should never lose that spirit.
Experience is what you get if you don’t get what you wanted.
When people drive you hard, they care about you. They want you to be better.
Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things.
Good parents are instrumental for us to achieve our childhood dreams.
The importance of people versus things (people come first, always!).
Never ever underestimate the importance of having fun. Choose to have fun today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter.
Work and play well with others: (1) tell the truth, (2) apologize (properly), (3) wait, and people will show their good sides.
Tell the truth – integrity.
A good apology has three parts. (a) I am sorry, (b) it was my fault, (c) how do I make it right. Most people neglect the third part and fail to demonstrate sincerity.
Be patient. No one is pure evil.
Show gratitude.
Don’t complain, just work harder.
If you lead your life the right way, if you live properly, the dreams will come to you.

XOXO, Andy

Fashion Fridays - Vintage Goodness

2011-12-22T16:54:00.000+08:00

Brittany and I share a love of vintage things, and since I have so much of that on my computer I wanted to make that the theme of today's post.

Brittany is this glamorous fashion bug who LOVES cooking and singing and dancing and lives right next door to me! She has her own Youtube channel where she makes all kinds of amazing things to eat. Sometimes I come home and from the hallway I can hear or smell lovely kitchen goings-on, and I try and guess what it is that she's making.

Here's a link to Brittany making Enchiladas Suizas... like, I want to eat them right now.

Don't forget to subscribe to her!!!

"I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food"

"The trouble with living alone is that it's always your turn to do the dishes"

"I'm on a very tight schedule of not getting anything done!"

I Enjoy Being A Girl - From "Flower Drum Song"

I love pencil skirts.

The vintage inspired outfits in the movie The Stepford Wives are some of my favorites.
It truly is the eroticism of "prim and proper" dressing and Martha Stewart-esque domestication.

Like, really, how sexy is it to be the cute little housewife who has dinner ready
for when the man comes home, tired from the days work and commute?

Some women may argue with me, but since the feminist pendulum has swung in one extreme and then the other, I feel that nowadays the movement's greatest triumph has been in
empowering women with choice.
And in empowerment itself.
And in the acceptance, inclusion, and the celebration of every type of femininity embodied by whomever - male or female.

There are amazing and inspiring things happening for gender equality all over the world,
but that's a discussion for another day, and I am digressing at an alarming rate.
IF you want to watch an amazing TED talk,
here's Tales of Passion from Isabel Allende, one of my favorites.

Back to pretty pictures, tee hee!

I love the colors and pattern in the navy and yellow dress below...

These are some images from Vogue magazine earlier this year...

The Baroness Elsa Von Schroeder from The Sound Of Music really has it going on:

Recently, I have heard it said, from friends and from bloggers online, that the older they get the more they appreciate the character of the Baroness. It's nice to hear since she's always been one of my favorite characters and in most discussions I've had to stand up for her. She is not an evil villain!

Sure, she tries to dissuade Maria from being a part of the household, but really, she goes about everything with such refreshing poise.

These days, in any crummy romantic comedy you'd see vulgar displays of anger and jealousy and all kinds of useless drama. In the Sound Of Music the Baroness just jumps in and takes control of the awkward conversation that the Captain is trying to make. What does she do? She interrupts him politely, thanks him for the time they've spent together, and tells him that it's really not working out. Then she whispers "Auf Weidersehen, darling", and leaves the Captain and Maria to be together.

Thank you.

I wish the rest of the world could see life as drama-free.

P.S. I realize it's Thursday, but in theory I have 4 Fridays this week... Tuesday was the last day before the break, and yesterday, today, and tomorrow are all wonderful leads up to the weekend.

I am going to explore some Taichung fabric stores right now, so adios and kisses and hugs and all that wonderful stuff...

XOXO Andy

BUSY!

2011-12-21T20:45:00.001+08:00

Give me a glue gun and I'm a happy girl...

Anais

2011-12-19T09:08:00.000+08:00

Time to think of decor!

2011-12-05T11:13:00.000+08:00

So, it's happened!

I am moving into my new apartment this week!

Besides being super happy and relieved, my mind is turning with thoughts of interior decoration.

And really, it's mostly fantasy, because my paychecks will be eaten up by un-fantastical but necessary items like cleaning supplies and tupperware.

I've saved a lot of pictures of "home ideas" while traveling the interweb and

the first aesthetic I look to is very bright and clean, natural fibers, and aged, painted wood,

old books, vintage items, and colorful splashes (especially red and light blue).

(image source unknown)

(image via iwishihadanocean)

(image via januarymidnight)

(image found here)

(image found on pinterst)

(image source unknown)

(image via ffffound)

(image found here)

(image via stylizimo)

(image via unidentifiedlifestyle)

(image via sharptongue)

(image via myblackbook)

And since the holidays are coming up soon I think of green boughs and gold twinkling lights...

(image source unknown)

(image via charandthecity)

(image via peacefullydoesit)

They will

2011-12-03T13:03:00.000+08:00

The nebula gets us back on track...

2011-12-01T09:41:00.000+08:00

"The light is unstable,

the wind blows it out, the lightning reignites it,

it is never simply there, shining like the sun,

but it is worth fighting for"

- Paolo Coelho, "The Witch of Portobello"

Pretty Stuff

2011-11-30T22:23:00.000+08:00

This song is so pretty... and I love accordions in songs...

Iron & Wine - "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"

And I love peonies...

This dress looks like a peony...

and I love embroidery...

(image found on A MODISTA's Flickr)

(images found here)

and lacy things...

(image found on iwishihadanocean)

I think I've listed a lot of really lovely things so far.

I just had a really sweet day with my students, and they left me feeling all cute and mushy.

It also helps that the weather here feels like a lovely early September day in Toronto, the sun is so nice and the sky is so blue... leaves are still on the tress and birds are singing...

I'll leave it at that... I'm going to go read and then go to sleep, so goodnight to you all!

XOXO Andy

Forts, tunnels, and friends...

2011-11-30T10:51:00.000+08:00

Amazing embroidered typography by Australian based MaricorMaricar

Missing My Wardrobe Back Home...

2011-11-26T11:30:00.000+08:00

So, tonight there is this "Black & White Vintage" theme party,

and I'm racking my brain trying to figure out what to wear.

I mean, I am a new immigrant.

I came here with one suitcase half-filled with clothes, and

I actually DREAM about going home to Toronto and packing up my dong xi.

(Dong Xi means "stuff" in Chinese)

I'm useless and I can't think of any creative way to make myself look vintage because

my mind keeps returning to ripped black stockings and Doc Marten boots.

Anyhoo. Here's some whips 'n' chains themed stuff for you to enjoy on this pleasant Saturday:

Awolnation - "Sail"

Bordelle Lingerie...

Lindsay Lohan in Vogue Spain, 2009

Christian Lacroix

Gorgeous shoes found via killingheels.tumblr.com

Memory foggy on where these beaded tights come from...

I strongly dislike mosquitos...

2011-11-22T22:38:00.000+08:00

A single mosquito kept me up all night, buzzed in my ear, and hid when I tried find it...

This following ~~message~~ propaganda was brought to you by the International Mosquito Alliance:

YAH EFFING RIGHT, MOSQUITO!!!

Photo found here

This morning at 8:30 am, after one meagre hour of sleep, I smushed it and had my vengeance.
The End.
I am now going to BED. Good Night!

Sunday Mindfuzz

2011-11-20T18:04:00.000+08:00

In the following video:

The bird and monkey dance sequence is thrilling.

The Avalanches - "Frontier Psychiatrist"

image found via tumblr

image found here

"Sometimes a parrot talks!"

image found via tumblr

"Some birds are funny when they talk!"

image found via imgfave.com

Kid Koala - "Fender Bender"

image found via tumblr

It's MOVEMBER!

image found via tumblr

I find a lot of cool sh*t on tumblr, right?

Ridiculousnessssssss

2011-11-15T21:52:00.000+08:00

Funny mood time!

YAY!

Bonjour Monsieur

OK!

My favorite type of humor? Where absolutely NOTHING makes sense.

Enter ?!? O-O !?! video game like so:

SEXYYYYYYY!!!

Protect the pineapple fields tiny robot!

I choose to end this interesting/strange/unsettling post with a Nyan Cat marathon.

ENJOY!

Nyan Cat - Smooth Jazz cover

Nyan Mario

French Nyan Cat

Irish Nyan Cat (I love the hat)

Japanese Nyan Cat

Naan Cat

Making Up For Lost Time

2011-11-10T21:47:00.000+08:00

(image found on Photobucket)

(this image has been on my computer for so long I have no recollection where it came from,
but it made me want to work in a Disney theme park for a while)

Lykke Li - Breaking It Up (Punks Jump Up Remix)

Paris Hilton for Heatherette

(image found on Photobucket)

Dior runway, early 2000's

Image of Raquel Reed... It's hard to find where this came from.
I think it was from MySpace a LONG time ago
and it was before I started noting my sources for things...
I know the Mickey Mouse helmet is by Jeremy Scott, the creator of many things wonderful...

Spongebob says "Use your IMAGINATION!!"

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

Animal Hat by Yang Du

(image found here)

Animal lips found via viridis-somnio on DeviantArt

Animal lips found via viridis-somnio on DeviantArt

And now for one of the most Andy-esque music videos ever made:

Junior Senior - Move Your Feet

Yes, I totally want this costume:

(Sesame Street nails found here)

Mason vs. Princess Superstar - Perfect Exceeder

Ganguro Girl inspired looks found here

Incredible fantasy make-up from Dior S/S Runway 2003

Steve Aoki - Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Remix with Klaxons)

JEM... for Gess...

My new hobby...

2011-11-08T21:45:00.001+08:00

(A slight warning: this blog post is full-out nerdy. If you like linguistics then read on...
If not, that's cool. I'm posting a bunch of great songs next!)

I love learning Chinese.

After I come home from work I usually spend an hour or two with my Chinese books. I've only scratched the surface of this language, but being able to recognize a couple of characters, or understanding a few words of conversation is AWESOME...

In Taiwan, Mandarin is the primary language, and traditional characters are used.
On mainland China the government simplified the printed language in the 50's and 60's as an effort to increase literacy. They lowered the "stroke count" and simplified the forms.

This is the word for "write" = xie

image found here

Chinese characters are logograms. The characters evolved from inscriptions found on Neolithic pottery and Oracle Bones and it is interesting to compare the ancient symbol with the modern character:

Pictograms make up only a small portion of Chinese characters.
While characters in this class derive from pictures, they have been standardized, simplified, and stylized to make them easier to write, and their derivation is therefore not always obvious. Examples include 日 rì for "sun", 月 yuè for "moon", and 木 mù for "tree".

This is an animation using many characters found on Oracle Bones:

漢字的藝術-自然篇 (天氣)

image found here

"The oracle bone script is a well-developed writing system, attested from the late Shang Dynasty (1200–1050 BC).Only about 1,400 of the 2,500 known oracle bone script logographs can be identified with later Chinese characters and thus be deciphered by paleographers". - source Wikipedia

In the following animation, we can see many of the modern pictograms. These are the easiest to memorize:

米 = "mi" rice grain

鳥 = "niao" bird
山 = "shan" mountain
日= "ri" sun

火 = "huo" fire
目= "mu" eye
口 = "kou" mouth, opening

The Animation of Chinese Characters

"Ideograms are characters that either modify existing pictographs iconically, or are direct iconic illustrations. For instance, by modifying 刀 dāo, a pictogram for "knife", by marking the blade, an ideogram 刃 rèn for "blade" is obtained." - source Wikipedia

Some words are made up of more than one character.
"Doubling the pictogram 木 mù "tree" produces 林 lín "grove", while tripling it produces 森 sēn "forest". Similarly, combining 日 rì "sun" and 月 yuè "moon", the two natural sources of light, makes 明 míng "bright"- source Wikipedia

Phono-semantic compounds are the most common, and the hardest for me to understand right now.
"These characters are composed of two parts: one of a limited set of characters called 'radicals', which are often graphically simplified and which suggests the general meaning of the character, and an existing character pronounced approximately as the new target word.
Examples are 河 hé "river", 湖 hú "lake", 流 liú "stream", 沖 chōng "riptide" (or "flush"), 滑 huá "slippery". All these characters have on the left a radical of three short strokes, which is a simplified pictograph for a river, indicating that the character has a semantic connection with water; the right-hand side in each case is a phonetic indicator." - source Wikipedia

Sometimes when I am out, I will take a menu or take a photo of words that I do not know,
and translate them at home. There are probably SO many mistakes, but I can read a little bit at least!

In addition to the multiple Chinese coursebooks and dictionaries I've accumulated, I've also been visiting this site, which I have found very helpful: zhongwen.com

I usually look up characters by stroke count and then expand from there.

The End.

I'm online again.

2011-11-03T21:51:00.000+08:00

I am online again.

I could do a back-flip. I could do a cartwheel.

I could pump my music up LOUD LOUD LOUD and dance until breathless.

I'm reconnected to friends:

new friends, old friends, friends at close distances, friends far away,

friends I haven't met yet, and friends I've never known...

I can share again. I can find again. It’s amazing how precious the internet is

to someone new to living in a foreign country.

And since I’m so happy (and in a MUCH better headspace!),

I’d like to hereby reopen this blog with something wonderful from my friend Josie:

(photo found on Tumblr)

"Perfect love is to feeling what perfect white is to color. Many think that white is the absence of color. It is not. It is the inclusion of all color. White is every other color that exists, combined. So, too, is love not the absence of an emotion (hatred, anger, lust, jealousy, covetousness), but the summation of all feeling. It is the sum total. The aggregate amount. The everything."

- Neale Donald Walsch.

My Love Affair!

2011-10-02T22:10:00.000+08:00

There is something that has stolen my heart.
I am in love with Rilakkuma Bear.

In Taiwan there are several chains of 24 hour convenience stores: Family Mart, Hi Life, and 7-11's.
They are almost everywhere you go, and each one has it's own promotion.
Family Mart has Astro Boy, Hi Life has teddy bears, and 7-11 has Rilakkuma Bear.

Click HERE to see the website and watch a commercial.

When you buy things they give you stickers. When you collect enough stickers you can redeem them for food or products, or get toys. At the 7-11 I always get a little Rilakkuma Bear.

The box looks like every other box, so you never know what's inside of it,
kind of like Kinder Toys (which I used to collect in High School).

Yup. This type of marketing works on me, and I've had a lot of help collecting stickers from people who really don't care that much about stickers (which is almost everyone).

Rilakkuma is everywhere!

And I have a wish. I want this costume for Halloween!
I imagine wearing it and walking around the halls of the school where I teach.
I think the kids would go bonkers!

"Rilakkuma Bear - Gummy Bear Song"

3-2-1 Action

2011-09-19T10:50:00.000+08:00

What the universe said to me this morning:

This.

2011-09-18T00:11:00.001+08:00

- Sent to me from my friend Levo -

Gratitude

2011-09-13T21:57:00.000+08:00

The moment I let go was
The moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off was
The moment I touched down

Photo found on beautyineverything.com

Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity

- Alanis Morissette -

Music Monday - Coming around again

2011-09-12T14:39:00.001+08:00

Dear friends, Hello again.

It's been a little while.

Adjusting to a new life abroad was harder than I had anticipated.

"I'm a strong person!", I thought before I left.

"I'm positive and optimistic. I'm happy. I'm capable. I'm resourceful.

Life has thrown crazy and life-changing situations before me, and I've faced them head-on and standing strong. So this will be a piece of cake!"

As usual, I never go into too much personal detail in my public blog musings. And, as usual, I won't list the troubles because sharing them here would solidify them and make them permanent.

And they're not permanent.

I am lifting and coming around. The emotional low is temporary.

And I am focusing on the positive, taking each day step-by-step, and noting and celebrating all the ways in which I am blessed - and there is so much to be grateful for.

I've been laying low, but I'm slowly reconnecting to myself again. I'll start shining soon!

Since it is Monday here in Taiwan, I'll share two songs that have been my "refuge songs". They've kept me buoyant during difficult times and maybe, if you ever need them, they'll resonate with you and keep you safe.

If you have some to share please send them through e-mail, or just comment!

These are mainly songs about letting go. Releasing whatever is inside of you.

Acknowledging your strength, taking a leap, and trusting the landing will be soft.

Fearless - Matthew Good

Let It Be - The Beatles

J'ai Bien Le Droit

2011-09-11T14:08:00.000+08:00

Reality Check

2011-08-13T13:24:00.000+08:00

An old Cherokee told his grandson,

“My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.”

The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?”

The old man quietly replied - “The one you feed.”

image by Nick Pedersen from his Sumeru series

E-I-E-I-O

2011-08-09T22:14:00.000+08:00

Yesterday we went to a baseball game.
Earlier on that day, my friend Cousin Alex from Toronto had written to me suggesting that I go
to a ball game here. How serendipitous!

On the way we stopped off at 7-11 and I picked up some yummy hot pot treats. II chose one of each item because I wasn't sure what each one was. In the end, I liked the tofu cubes best!

The baseball game was a lot of fun! Taiwanese people sing and bang drums and make noise the whole time, so I sang and banged two water bottles together and made noise too.

We ate lychees in the stands.

Little bats flew around the field lights eating bugs, and there was a moment when the chanting turned into the tune of "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" and "E-I-E-I-O" became part of the chant!!!

Glee

2011-08-06T14:22:00.000+08:00

This is my sister and I dancing at our cousin's wedding.

WHEE!! LOL!!

Walking In The Clouds

2011-08-05T15:03:00.000+08:00

8:00!! Wake Up!! Time for a hike!!

All of the veggies and fruits here are really fresh and delicious. We bought pineapple from a vendor on the street.

After a while of driving into the countryside we took a wrong turn and had to go back.

The roads are pretty narrow! But we did it!

Here are these fruit trees where all the fruits have been wrapped in little bags. It protects them from bugs!

The further we drove up the more misty it became.

It's really beautiful here.

Here is a map of our path up the mountain.

There are so many beautiful pictures that I want to post, but I tried to choose the best ones to share.

Here is the beginning of the path. It started off relatively steep, with many roots underfoot.

The trees were so old and beautiful.

The path started to get steeper and steeper.

Ropes appeared and we had to use them to pull ourselves along in some places.

After about an hour, I was panting, and sweating, and finally we got to this nice soft patch of flat-ish ground. "I'm so happy! So flat and nice" I say in my out-of-breath voice, "That would be CRAZY if suddenly there was this sheer vertical cliff in front of me! That would be so hilarious".

5 minutes later, Andy, meet sheer vertical cliff.

Up and up and up we go!!

The top!!! HURRAY!!

Now to go back down!! The sun started to come out and we got some great views!

The hike lasted 4 or 5 hours in total. By the end of it my legs were shaking!

I'm definitely going to be doing this hike many times and hopefully I'll be able to cut down the time.

What an amazing day!

Sending you all hugs from across the ocean, Andy

Eagle Has Landed!

2011-08-05T14:13:00.001+08:00

Hello to everyone around the world and back home in Canada.

I've landed in Taiwan, I've sorted myself out,

and I'm going to share some pics from my adventure so far!

For the flight I bought a neck pillow that looks like a pig donut.

He is filled with little teeny styrofoams and is SO soft and comfy.

I call him PEEG. Here he is sitting on my hat.

Here I am a mile high in the sky, taking a snap in the washroom before conking out.

I was prepared for sleep: ear plugs, sleep mask, blankets, sleeping pills, and PEEG.

Waking up to fried rice. The flight across to Narita Airport was 12 hours long.

Narita to Taipei!!

Landing in Taipei!! I look super nerdy in my glasses.

Sculptures in the airport by Huang Yi.

Me with "Snoot", or "Uncle Happy" as titled by the artist:

"Uncle Happy comes from the North, and comes to visit Taiwan annually. The trip is the happiest and most anticipated time of the year for him, and as he enters into Taiwan to embark on his year's journey, he brings with him lots of gifts for his Taiwanese friends".

Sleeping on the bus on the way to Taichung.

The view from our apartment!

After dropping off our luggage we went to the 7-11 to get some late night snacks.

I ate a tea egg (an egg hard boiled in black tea), some sweet and salty peanuts with little dried fish,

and a rice triangle filled with sweet meat.

Then it was time for sleep! The next day: Mountain Climbing!!

Zoom!!

2011-08-02T16:23:00.000+08:00

Uh-Oh

2011-07-27T12:19:00.001+08:00

I am going here?!?

To the magical land of this?

cute gingerbread guys found here

and this!

Skechers "Rainbow Sherbet" sneakers

and this!!!

AND THIS?!?!?!

I'm in BIG trouble...

This big bear's name is Rilakkuma.

I hope he's waiting for me when I get there.

Rufus would be jealous.

Oh The Places You'll Go

2011-07-27T01:00:00.000+08:00

Counting down to departure. One week to Taiwan!

Super excited, and super busy!

Getting ready for this big adventure!

Now you know! I've been keeping it a small secret, just until everything has been finalized.

I never like announcing things until they are 80% underway.

And nothing can be more underway than a plane ticket booked, destination Taiwan!

New Hair-Do

2011-07-21T12:22:00.000+08:00

Phoebe went to the pool.

And got her hair did.

FAAAAA BUUU LOUS!!!

Fortune Cookie

2011-07-20T23:09:00.000+08:00

IN BED!!

Andy McParrot

Thursday-Day for the Parrot

V Day

Mind Space

Finders Keepers

Use The Force

Want Farm. Get Green.

Life In Pixellation

Taiwan 台灣

Magokoro Wo Komeru

Taking Notes

Kapu

D is for DESTRUCTION

SEDUCTION

Like Leaves and Pages...

Baby I Like It Raw

Massive Goal Shift

Happy Birthday - *one box of tissue down*

Make A Wish

A Self-Sufficient Life...

Leap

Fall Into Grace

8 to 0

obSESSION!!!!!

Craziness

Night Time Snack Time

YEP

Dear 2011, Thank You...

In the gloaming...

Pete is a cool CAT

Light and Shadows

Music Monday

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Holidays!

Fashion Fridays - Vintage Goodness

BUSY!

Anais

Time to think of decor!

They will

The nebula gets us back on track...

Pretty Stuff

Forts, tunnels, and friends...

Missing My Wardrobe Back Home...

I strongly dislike mosquitos...

Sunday Mindfuzz

Ridiculousnessssssss

Making Up For Lost Time

My new hobby...

I'm online again.

My Love Affair!

3-2-1 Action

This.

Gratitude

Music Monday - Coming around again

J'ai Bien Le Droit

Reality Check

An old Cherokee told his grandson,

“My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.”

The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?”

The old man quietly replied - “The one you feed.”

image by Nick Pedersen from his Sumeru series

E-I-E-I-O

Glee

Walking In The Clouds

Eagle Has Landed!

Zoom!!

Uh-Oh

Oh The Places You'll Go

New Hair-Do

Fortune Cookie

Happy Birthday - one box of tissue down