Archive for January, 2008

A little horn tooting…

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 10:51 pm

Last night was Meredith’s and my first (and last) trial run for wedding day hair and makeup. I am so pleased and happy to report it was a smashing success and anyone who will be seeing Miss Nelson for her big day should be prepared to have their heart stopped by her utter beauty. I’m not exaggerating…she looked SO STUNNING and we didn’t even do her hair full up like we will for the main event, she almost brought tears to my eyes!

I just have to say, I’ve always loved hair and make up design, but doing something as fun and creative as Meredith’s hair for her wedding got my juices running.

That being said, if you know anyone getting married soon, I’m a very INEXPENSIVE alternative to pricey and less attentive salon stylists offering highly professional results for a fraction of the cost for any major event or party. Just putting it out there. Because I loved this, and I can’t wait to do more of it!

I will be posting pictures in March, after Meredith’s wedding, of what we did with her hair. But until then, I will not spoil the surprise for anyone else.

To quote Ivan, “wow…Meredith…you…you look absolutely beautiful”, his hand was over his heart. Yeah…

She will be breathtaking…Can’t wait to show you pictures.

In other news, I am officially more than over the Chicago cold and snow.

And in even more news, I have survived the first three of five classes. And, the one I THOUGHT was going to be my least favorite has ended up being AWESOME and I can tell is really going to take me to a new level in production.

I’m very excited. I think I learned more in one class session than I did in an entire semester of another class last year. This semester is going to be a challenge, but I think in a really good mind-expanding-in-many-directions sort of way. I feel very privileged to be a part of this program, though seriously, I secretly wish I had applied to the Book and Paper program. I’m a little bit obsessed with the paper arts right now…but Media is great too…

ANYWAY…two more days of work, one more night of class, several more days of cold and just a few snack food purchases away from the superbowl. If anyone is publess or homeless for the event, I’m having people over for fun, food, beverage and yelling at the players through the tv starting at 5. All are welcome, just shoot me a message and I’ll give you directions and what not.

It’s well past my bed time so away I go.

Good night to all.

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Radiohead – In Rainbows

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 6:04 pm

I finally downloaded it…I was planning on paying for it anyway, so I’m not upset that I missed the “free download” period…I don’t believe stuff like that should go unrecognized anyway.

WELL…I’ve already listened to “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” about 10 times and “Videotape” about 7. The whole album once through had me very excited and happy and feeling pretty *artsy*. Even Sasha is into it, she’s grooving along, or maybe she’s just rocking from another seizure..

Anyway, it almost makes me feel like I want to be in a film noir movie-scape running down some dark alley because I’m being chased by some shadowy figures all the while wearing some fabulously French inspired pencil skirt and blouse with wide belt, off set hat, short cropped do AND smoking some long long cigarette or a sexy cigar.

almost…

But anyway…it’s just pretty sexy music and I like pretty much every song. Some of it’s a little mellow, some moody, some a little more rock and some a little more experimental. DEFINITELY music for my soul and personality. I’ve been hearing mixed reviews about the album, so I’m happy to see that I, for one, am quite happy with it. Well worth the money paid.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check it out.

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One of my Favorite Moments in Koh Tao

Monday, January 28th, 2008 12:58 pm

Three fun love’n ladies having a good laugh with our snorkles.

Seriously…this was a GOOD DAY…

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busy busy busy

Sunday, January 27th, 2008 9:18 am

My friend Robert was supposed to visit me from LA this weekend. He was going to come in Thursday and leave this afternoon/evening.

Robert has been traveling on the weekends like it’s an addiction and had to cancel his trip to Chicago since he was fight mad crazy sickness and didn’t want his first Chi Town experience to be while feeling run down and exhausted.

While sad my friend couldn’t make it out this weekend, I also feel that it was probably for the best for BOTH of us. I have been so tired this entire week since I haven’t had too many nights where I was able to claim much sleep. Once you get back to reality there are so many things that need to be tended too, I’ve been running around like a chicken with no head.

I know, what’s new right? I had to stay late at work Friday night because of all the stuff piled up from while I was away. I have tons more to get to when I get back on Monday. Saturday I got to sleep in which was lovely and I slept until 9 AM, then got up and did some important emailings and spreadsheets and some stuff I needed to do before school on Monday.

Then I got to hang out with Jamie and Oliver Bean who has GROWN SO MUCH while I was away!!! How did that happen??!! We chatted and had ‘chic’n’ nuggets (soy product of course) and I ate Thai style noodles because I’m obsessed with a little place called Thailand.

After that Ivan came and picked me up and we had a quick bite at Leona’s. I didn’t get my usual vegan burger and went with the 5 cheese lasagna which was INCREDIBLE! SO GOOD. WOW. I also had a pinapple/coconut 5 liquor drink that rocked.

Finally we went to the grocery store run where we amused the Saturday evening shoppers and workers with me riding in the cart. We REALLY cracked the cash registrars up when we came to the line. One of them said “Nah, he didn’t do you like dat” and I cracked up. I said “No, I did me like this!” She laughed harder than and said, “Well alright then”.

None of this amused the bagger.

Once back at Ivan’s we checked for my cell phone which has NT arrived…oh boy…and then dropped off goodies so we could run to the 8:30 showing of Cloverfield. It was my second time this week.

I love that movie. Caught some more dialogue second time around (since I didn’t scream nearly as much second time through as I did the first…)

Then back to Ivan’s where we watched the first episode of ManStrokeWoman which is just an utterly BRILLIANT British sketch comedy show. MAN…I just love this show.

Then I feel asleep. Early. Like, 11 PM early. Next thing I know it’s 7 AM and the sun is starting to shine and I’m like…where am I? Ivan’s asleep on the couch and I putzed on the computer some more.

Here we are on Sunday morning and I’m headed home to do some pre-wedding hair and makeup trials with Meredith then off to see an apartment with Ivan then back home to collect myself and off to Oliver Beans 2nd birthday party and then finally down to Jim’s for some art.

MAN, busy schedule. But I wouldn’t change it really except maybe to add a couple extra hours into the day for sleeping.

Alas, tomorrow begins my busiest semester of schooling to date. I’m truly insane for signing up for as many classes that I did…and the classes I’m signed up for aren’t EASY…heavy writing, heavy production…oh it’s gonna kick my ass. But I’m still very excited.

Anyway, that’s the update from the Dev. More to follow…just wanted to share the jolly. If you haven’t seen Cloverfield, ignore EVERYONE talking about it/critiquing it and just go see it for yourself. Sit a little further back. Open up your mind, and enjoy.

That’s all from me for now…but as promised…Thailand updates to follow shortly.

*Namaste*

Devin

PS- LOST…THIS WEEK…I CAN’T WAIT!!!

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Forging Ahead!

Friday, January 25th, 2008 2:50 pm

I am trying to readjust to being back in Chi Town. It wasn’t *quite* as easy as I thought it would be!

Who knew jet lag could really get a person like that? I guess I understand a little better now and perhaps next time won’t plan on being back at work the VERY NEXT DAY AFTER 20 HOURS OF TRAVEL eh? Yeah.

So anyway, I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things and I just wanted to say HI! Hello to all that may or may not be reading this. I plan on posting sort of daily bits about my visit overseas in the coming days, but in the meanwhile wanted to let you all know that I’m still collecting my thoughts, gathering my memories and sorting out my feelings from the two weeks I was away.

It was a magical experience and I feel like a new person…really. Alright, maybe saying a new person is wrong. Maybe I feel like myself, newly rediscovered. That sounds a little more appropriate.

At any rate, I feel that the calm I felt while in Thailand has stuck with me far better than I might have imagined and it’s a lovely feeling. I want everyone to be happy. I want to be in contact with everyone and see and hear about the happiness in their lives.

I’ve been reading and hearing about all kinds of wonderful things happening for some people I knew, know and acquaint with…and it makes me smile and feel good. I’m happy for my friends and piers and acquaintances for having good things going on in their lives. I’m even happier to report that I’m not feeling jealous or distraught that I am not as “far along” as they are in my own life because right now I feel that I am were I am supposed to be. I’m definitely moving forward, definitely making progress and definitely working towards my goals and accomplishing my dreams. I feel that is a good place to be!

I also feel that I am definitely back on target and really ready to roll with the SERIOUS punches headed my way.

Thank you ALL for helping me get here…just hold onto that feeling. I keep repeating that to myself.

While in Thailand I lost my cell phone and on it some numbers I might never get back and some text messages that really meant something to me…and a charm that had sentimental value. That was kind of a bummer…but things happen and in reality the phone can easily be replaced. I also lost my green iPod nano…my beloved baby. I had gotten it engraved while running the race in San Francisco and it had made me SO HAPPY…but alas, I just had to let it go. “Oh well” I told myself as I let the words fall off my lips. That too can be replaced.

In fact, both already have. I will have my cell phone by this coming week and a new ‘old’ nano by next week. The sentimental stuff is tangibly gone forever, but the memory of them will remain with me for a long while to come. At least I have that.

SO…back I am in America…trying to incorporate these wonderful feelings I felt while in Thailand in a big city crazy life style and I think to myself “I’m SOOOO READY for this challenge.”

Posts on Thailand to arrive…eventually, but I feel like I might take my time with them…because you know, I came back moving just a touch slower and taking more time to enjoy the delights around me.

All smiles even though my workload is piled HIGH up around me and a crazy school/work combo starts next Monday.

“Just hold onto that feeling.”

sigh

Love, hugs and serendipitous peace,

Devin

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balance…peace…happiness…serenity…

Saturday, January 19th, 2008 12:15 am

I just don’t want to leave this place.

I can be on my computer, with the ocean breeze kissing my face and giving me love while I feel the soothing affects of really being removed from reality.

Even my computer can’t completely pull me back in.

Part of me is gone…lost forever and permanently changed.

I think it’s for the best.
Not the greatest picture of me ever taken…but I think you can see my contentment.

I love this place. I can’t express it enough.
This is us just having a great time dancing on the beach. Just little old me, Simon and Chloe my British friends and the rest of the travelers on this beautiful island of Koh Tao.

(can you tell some of us have been drinking? hee hee…)

And finally…Heather and I relaxing on are water taxi back form a smaller island off of Koh Tao after a fun day of friends, drinks, snorkling and sun bathing (yes, I even got a bit of a tan). God…life can be so good. I’m a lucky girl…these pictures will help remind me of that when I get back to reality in a few short days.

Anyway, there you have it…a small taste of the loveliest holiday I’ve ever taken.

May this be the beginning of a long time love affair with the world and travel and wonderful beautiful friends…even those I will only have for two weeks…

peace, love & harmony,

Devin

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The Bucket

Sunday, January 13th, 2008 10:22 am

Well, really I just can’t write much because I’ve been online skyping with Ivan, but I had to pop on real quick to do an update.

Basically – in the past few days I have REALLY figured some shit out. I think I might have needed to travel halfway around the world, completely out of my comfort zones, all by myself to do this. It’s been helpful for the soul and for healing and for recognizing so many things about life and love and myself that I had forgotten.

I’ve made some wonderful worldly friends and all of them have just made me laugh and smile like I haven’t done in months. The people I’ve been spending the most time with are my Irish bungalow mate Krispin who’s more or less responsible for me ending up in Koh Tao and just a funny guy, Heather the Canadian (aka Canadia) and a lovely soul, Simon an incredible British man who is sweeter than sin, the dynamic British Duo, Dave and Miller, who continuously kill me with how much they can put down in a day drinking wise and who also love to give me and everyone the finger and Chloe who is the British version of my friend Lori Theison (which is a really really good thing). These people have me rolling with laughter day in and day out…

Shit, I don’t think I’ve slept much in days…actually, Simon and I popped off to another side of the island for a little r&r since everyone else likes to drink a tad more than I’m interested in doing, and basically, while over looking the ocean from this incredible bungalow we drank Tiger beers, shot the shit and watched baby Sharks jump out of the water. OK, it was really only one shark, but it was AWESOME. That night I actually went to bed EARLY…I think 9 pm and woke up to the most BEAUTIFUL sunrise I’ve ever seen at 6 something AM. Before that night and after that I’ve maybe gotten 2 or 3 hours of sleep and wake up each morning to the cocks doing their morning calls and the sunrise.

God bless Thailand’s sunrise.

I felt rested enough to come back and the group of us hit another little island of Koh Tao and snorkled and laughed and drank some more.

Is this real? Can life really be this good? Amidst all the struggles of these past few months/weeks I would have never thought smiling this much possible. I’m …well, I feel like I’m in heaven.

My head is really starting to straighten itself out and I wouldn’t trade this experience for ANYTHING to be sure.

I find myself saying “eh” a lot and having a little bit of a british/aussie/canadian/irish lilt going on at the end of each sentence, it’s a bit hilarious.

Hilarious is a word I say enough to make Dave make fun of me quite a bit…he says HILARIOUS with his “American” accent (which is pretty HILARIOUS in and of itself) and also “dude” and “awesome” catch me a lot of flack from these guys.

There have been many other people I’ve met that have just made me laugh and learn and smile and feel great again and I promise to talk about them in future posts. I can’t believe half my time is already up. That makes me so incredibly sad. BUT, I’ve added a few things to my new years goals:

1. Learn Thai legitimately
2. Get diving certified so I can come back here and dive in open water with sharks
3. Figure out how in the hell I’m getting back here, when and for as long as possible.

Also, I’m thinking of figuring out how I can get to England to visit with some of my new friends. I’ve had many invites for all over the world and I feel that I just CAN’T pass these things up. Especially with only having to think about myself and my kitties now. I think the world traveler has always been somewhere inside of me, but hasn’t really had a chance to come out…what I didn’t know was working I guess because I knew I WANTED to travel, but I had no idea what I was missing by not doing it.

Now I’ve had a taste, and truthfully this is my new drug.

The world traveler BEAST in me has wakened.

Anyway…this experience, while different than the one I had imagined in my head, has been even more life changing than I could have anticipated, and while no, I haven’t become a Budhist \ or met some Thai artist who wants to teach me the art of Sumie painting, I have met some other lovely individuals who will have a profound and lasting affect on my life; which we can all agree is a really big deal.

I know there are still some dark or sad or trying days ahead for me…there always are, that’s life, but I have been reminded of how SHORT life is, how wonderful people CAN be and how much love people DO have to give. Some people are fighters, and I’m apparently one of them. A peaceful warrior, never giving up on what I believe, feel or need. Some people are too weak to do that. I’ve met people here who are strong, talented and driven. Who know what they want, and go to great lengths to get it. They have shown me things they don’t even know. And they have helped me remember who I am.

I, right now, sitting in my green strappy hippie-esque sun dress, am genuinely happy. I think I truly believed I had lost that for a long time. But I have found it again, much more quickly than I could have imagined, and I am so thankful.

i.am.happy.

And I love Thailand.

I think it’s possible I’m on my way to a future as an expat. I really could see this happening, so long as my kitties can come with!!!

Peace, Love & Happiness,

Devin

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…and speaking of Survivor…

Thursday, January 10th, 2008 7:42 pm

…I plan on re-applying for the show, that and also Amazing Race.

Anyone want to be my Amazing Race partner for the application? I REALLY want to do that show…but one stipulation…I’ve got to drive most of the time…I’m a TERRIBLE navigator!!!

Who’s game???

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Thailand

Thursday, January 10th, 2008 7:03 pm

…I can’t easily describe just HOW amazing Thailand is.

However, I can say this…I might not be coming back.

Seriously.

No time to write write…but updates and stories and stuff to come soon…I’ve done a lot in a little bit of time…Thailand is DEFINITELY the place for me.

But why do Thais like AC/DC? No, I mean SERIOUSLY…why?

And why did I loose my cell phone? THAT SUCKS!

Cop’en cah

That’s “thank you” in Thai…only spelled phonetically.

That’s about all I got for speaking the language thus far. But my smile takes me far here. And I’ve met SO MANY world travelers…wow…this is the life for me. Seriously.

seriously.

Thailand = Amazing.

I don’t really want to come home…but I DO miss my babies…and of course friends and family…

ah…but the islands…showering with scorpions…swimming with sharks…fighting off malaria bugs…man…it’s an adventure I tell you. a fucking adventure. I really can’t believe Survivor hasn’t taken me onto their show…I think I’d do really REALLY well…

I LOVE THAILAND…do I really have to come back home?

Anyway…stories will probably happen AFTER my return…it’s just incredible here, a completely DIFFERENT world.

I was scared shitless, and now I’m loving life. Funny how things like this happen…

Love and hugs and kisses (malaria and typhoid free) to all from Thailand…

Devin

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