Ode to Debussy

Debussy, oh how you've kept me company while toiling away on my laptop. I love how you've drowned out the incessant buzz of the office -- the never-ending white noise resulting from some architect's brilliant idea that having zero walls in a warehouse of an office will somehow free up creative energy. I love how instead of hearing everybody's phones ring, or printers churning in action or the hushed voice of a colleague engaging in a private conversation, I hear the lovely movements of water (First Arabesque). Or the sentimental whispers of the moon (Clair de Lune). Or the twinkling of leaves against a gentle young wind (Reverie). For this respite against the frenetic vibe of a bustling ad agency, I thank you, Debussy.

This kid...

...is growing up too fast.

Her limbs are getting longer, leaner. The baby fat is disappearing giving way to the little girl she is fast becoming. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled if not giddy, with the prospect of finally getting rid of that cumbersome stroller and all the other toddler thingamajigs that crowd our home. I'm just sentimental and in awe of the transformation from baby to toddler to full-fledged, bike-riding, soccer-playing little girl (sniff, sniff).

The Best Lemon Cookies Ever

I've been on a lemon kick lately. Hence the name of this blog. Actually, there are other reasons behind the name of this blog, but we'll save that for another post.

So yeah, lemon kick... allow me to share with you the best darn lemon cookies I've ever tasted -- Trader Joe's Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins. Oh man, they are delicious! Light, crisp and with the tarty sweet of Meyer lemons. Super great for snacking, dessert or whatever. I can see myself using these as the finishing touch to a lemon cupcake, atop a swirl of freshly-whipped cream frosting. Or crushed into crumbs as the crust of a lemon raspberry tart. Or dipped in chocolate! Ok, have to stop before I salivate over my laptop. Seriously people, I cannot remember being so excited over a grocery product. I ate the whole darn box in one sitting!

Texture

While I love living in Orange County, sometimes I feel the need to get out and experience some urban "texture". Geez, that sounds pretentious! Honestly, Orange County is a wonderful suburb about an hour south of LA. I love it here. But I sometimes miss what bigger, metropolitan cities have to offer -- the grit, the vibe, diversity in ideas and people, funky boutiques and restaurants... oh the list could go on and on. So this past Saturday my sister and I decided to take the kiddos to the Natural History Museum near downtown Los Angeles. Thought it would be a fun and cool thing to do on a blistering hot summer day.

I have to say that we were pleasantly surprised at what the museum had to offer. I figured it probably wouldn't be as large as other metropolitan museums (Chicago and New York come to mind), but it wasn't any less awe-inspiring. Among other things, they had some very impressive exhibits showcasing dinosaurs, and ancient mammals of North America and Africa. The imposing fossil re-creation of a tyrannosaurus rex and stegasaurus were definitely astounding.

And then there were the large, scenic dioramas showcasing different animals in their natural habitats, which were so life-like that my 4-year-old daughter, Mia, refused to even enter the rooms in which they were housed. Part of the this is also due to Mia's intense phobia of large furry things -- doesn't matter if it's a giant teddy bear, Elmo, the Easter Bunny or a sabertooth tiger museum display. If it's humongous and furry she ain't goin' near it. And I can't say I blame her. I mean, a giant, buck-toothed bunny dressed in a pastel tuxedo can be slightly disturbing. But large dinosaur skeletons with their rigid spines and spiky teeth? No problem! She'll sit there and pretend to taunt it and pose all hammy in front of it till the cows come home. Stick some fur on those suckers, however, and she'll be running around like a headless chicken looking for the closest exit. I guess it goes to show that texture makes all the difference.

So I started a blog...

For the past year I've been a regular reader of several different blogs. It would be fair to say that I may even be addicted. I find blogs a great source of inspiration. They're a wonderful way to share ideas, thoughts, images, experiences, musings... You name it, you can post it. For me, it's always been a one-way street. I read the blogs and rarely ever leave a comment. So it's really pretty weird that I, a staunch protector of privacy and occassional introvert, should decide to let the world in on what goes on in this funny, geeky, optimistic little head of mine.

But I'm doing it. I'm blogging. Starting with this post. This blog will be my nifty little electronic journal -- a means for me to document, realize and capture all those I find curious, inspiring, creative, fulfilling. All those things that make me happy, feel alive. A creative outlet, if you will. A way for me to nurture, express and share passionate pursuits. Sound lofty? Well yeah... that's the beauty of it.