Decorating: First Attempts

One of my favorite computer games from the nineties was Civilization II. A few minutes into a new game, a picture of a cave with a rock to sit on would pop up with the caption, "The people have spontaneously decided to redecorate your throne room." At that point, you could select an area of your throne room to upgrade. My first step was usually to change the rock to a chair. Throughout the game, you could continue to upgrade until you had a beautiful throne room (see below). I never got that far. But I did receive a guiding philosophy for my home decorating attempts: you don't need to upgrade the whole throne room all at once. Just be thrilled that you have a chair now instead of a rock.

I made some pillows. My mom had helped me make bean bags for our second grade fair, and I figured out it's basically the same concept.

A little painter's tape made it easy to make a Piet Mondrian knockoff. Computer desk: Craigslist. Couches: Sketchy warehouse in San Jose. Fruit: Crate & Barrel (did someone say gift certificate?). Coffee table: Ikea, how we love you.

I painted the frames in a geometric pattern. I also put together the bookshelf (notice the slight lean to the right). And that's our TV that only plays movies.

Thanks to Matt for the awesome keyboard!

Thanks to my most excellent mother for helping me sew these window treatments while I was in Virginia.

It may not be a grand throne room just yet, but at least we have progressed beyond the "cave and rock" point.

Anniversary in New York City

Aaron came down to Virginia two weekends while I was there, and I went up to New York for our anniversary.

One point for anyone who knows who shares our anniversary (it's his birthday). Two points if you know what couple got married on our anniversary this year.

Aaron pretending to be one of the Henrys (was it the eighth?) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

We got to see Wicked. It lived up to the hype.

Aaron and I in Central Park.

Virginia!

Since Aaron was going to be in New York for seven weeks for training (and we thought it would be unfair to his roommate to ask for a roll-away cot), I went home to Virginia for a while. I got to spend time with my parents, go to DC, and see Mary Poppins with one of my best friends since elementary school, Jessica. I don't know why I didn't get any pictures of my family!

My eyes are closed, but having a stranger take the picture is always a gamble.

The beautiful inside of the Kennedy Center (before the usher told us to stop taking pictures).

Before the play started. 

 

 Jump to 1:00 to see the Step in Time number 

You'd think...

If you thought that not working right now meant that I would have ample time to blog, you'd be right. However, if you thought that that time would actually translate into blogging, I apologize for grossly disappointing you.

I've made a goal to be better and blog every week, or at least every other week, or, realistically, once a month. These next few blog posts are going to be my attempt to get caught up.
 

Shortly before leaving for New York, we went to Santa Cruz where Aaron discovered a love for body boarding. I stayed on the beach and read. I foolishly reasoned that because I was half-Asian, I did not need to wear sunscreen. I had apparently forgotten that I was also half Scandanavian. Needless to say, I burned and peeled.

My awesome friend, Valerie, came and visited. We had a lot of fun going to the beach...

Hanging out with Lisa (three accountants always spells fun times)...

And eating at places recommended by Yelp and realizing that I am not a foodie. The virtues of the raved-about olive and walnut bread were completely lost on me. I say, "Give me mediocrity, and give it to me for under $7."

California Adventures

"So did you two go to the gym after work?" the cashier at Trader Joe's asked Aaron and I as we stood there in our tee-shirts and shorts.

Sorry, buddy-- no gym, no job. For two weeks, Aaron and I had no responsibilities except to explore California and spend time with each other before he starts his job. It was amazing.

Half Moon Bay

 

Aaron, the Karate Kid

 

The Roof of the California Academy of Sciences

 

Big Sur, California

Operation UT to CA

Aaron drove the truck we rented, and I drove our car behind him. We just wanted to get the drive over with. No chatting at the gas stations, one bathroom stop, no food breaks. Thirteen hours later, we were there. The boxes are mostly unpacked now, but things still look a little sparse. Decorating is on the to-do list.

Our new place and laundry confessions

We went out to California last week and signed on a little apartment in Palo Alto that we'll call home for at least a couple of years. We looked at about seven places, but this one was a standout. It has everything we wanted except a washer and dryer. We don't have one now-- so we're used to living without one. I guess I should say Aaron's used to it, since he is much better about doing the laundry than I am. We have been married for about ten months, and I have done the laundry completely by myself twice now. I refuse to feel guilty about it, though, because I know I am doomed to laundry duty for the next x years (where x = age at death - 23). I will put in my time.

Here is the place as of right now. Since I won't be working for a solid four months, hopefully it will look somewhat more decorated once we get moved in.

We'll be moving on June 10, 2010. We're sad to leave our neighborhood here in Provo, but we are very excited to be starting the next phase of our lives.