Birds of a feather...

When I run in the park I always come across tons of lovely geese and ducks (and now that the weather is turning humid: yucky bugs), but yesterday was the BIGGEST surprise: TURKEY! Who would think that you could see giant turkey in the middle of the city?!

I guess anything that flies lives in the Back Bay Fens.

Going to do a few of these today!

The gray has left us and the sun has come back this morning after a 2-day disappearance. I'm going to take advantage of this fine weather before the notorious summer humidity approaches and it becomes too debilitating to walk.

This is my favorite neighborhood run I try to do several times a week (one full loop is approximately two miles). I live in a great green/lush area in the city where most of everyone (of all ages, mind you) do daily exercise. Although the city life can tend to have its disadvantages--this advantage is golden and rewarding for everybody.

CSF Kick-off

Here's a glimpse of opening day for the Cambridge Science Festival at MIT. This year I designed the entire system for them: multiple street and building banners, program fold-out pamphlet, bags, postcards, flyers, webpage and skyscraper images, posters, a 72-page book among other things. It was the kick-off Carnival event (day 1 of the 9 day festival) which happened in April over at Kresgue Auditorium ~ and it was also one of our first warm days of the year (now that it's May, we have had several others already).

Kresgue Auditorium is that curvy building. Inside there (and under the tent) we had hundreds of vendors doing science projects for kids and families. Such fun!

This is John Durant (Director of the MIT Museum) along with the Mayor of the City of Cambridge (and a few selected others) at the podium behind the children's choir.

Our mini banners on campus. So cute!

CSF also sold some merchandise. I designed the gorgeous bags :)

This is Brenda (one of my favorite/fantastic clients) and those beautiful programs on the table were also design by moi :)

Exactly One Month Later

These 12's are too loose, now I'm officially a size 10. Aiming for an 8 :) So, from my highest point in the last year I've lost 35lbs. I really don't think I would have had this success if it wasn't for my Polar heart rate monitor and my fabulous gym (and, of course, tracking my calories ~ which was very hard to do in the beginning). But, this particular mix seems to have worked best for me whereas my other approaches did not.



By the way, Polar is the best manufacturer for heart rate monitors if you are looking for one. I use the F6 which looks like this (it does everything you need it too no matter what exercise you're into):


Other than that, meeting deadlines on design projects and training non-stop (hoping my life will begin again and throw me some better times soon).

Calories Are Always Universal

I was watching TBL this morning and found out an interesting and shocking factoid: as of June 2008, Australia overtook America as the most obese nation. 60% of the Australian population over the age of 25 is obese! 60%! Haven't been back for a few years now but, heavens, I don't remember that age group looking large on the beaches. Perhaps it's a more rural problem... that tends to happen here in the States as well.

Anyway, glad I'm not on that end of the scale anymore. In the last year of my life, I have gone from a tight, tight 14 to a well-fitted 12. And, actually, spent most of yesterday going through my closets to throw out all 14's and any XL's I could find. The goal remains: In 2 more months I'll be doing this spring cleaning again with the 12's in order to make room for the 10's... hell, who knows -- maybe the 8's and then I'll be done! :)

My Favorite Show: Season 4, Down Under!

This show is even better in Australia! I think it's because there is less game-play going on. But you never know if it will turn more to the American version. They do tend to play off of each other because the American trainers brought this show to Australia. Doesn't matter: Bob & Jillian or Shannon & Michelle--I adore them all!! The UK is supposed to start another one too (they have only done 1 season--which was brilliant). I don't know how you could not get addicted to this show! These are good, ordinary people who have sabotaged their lives and, now, are willing to go to/through all extremities in order to change that. LOVE IT!

Some East Coast Humor

A friend sent this along and I just had to share it with you. Those of you that live in the city on the east coast and have cars ~ will relate ;)

Snowy Sunday

I wish the iPhones took better pictures because it was so lovely walking home in the snow today... and this doesn't quite capture it. Anyway, a beautiful snowfall--puffy and fluffy. Perfect for snowballs and snow angels.

8 Hours Later

There is a palpable sadness in the air after a fire. It's very weird... and everyone seems to feel it together.

Fenway Fires

Horrible loss for many small business owners in my Fenway neighborhood this early morning. One block up the street from me: ALL restaurants have burned down to the ground. 6 restaurants and 1 dry cleaning business = now all charcoal. So SAD! The smoke was so raw that I couldn't stay long to take more pictures. Firemen are really incredible -- how do they do this for a living?

Dark & Gloomy ~ and only just starting!

It's been snowing for an hour and I can't wait to see how much we actually get! The first snowfall is always the most fun! We're supposed to get up to 10" here in the city... yippy skippy!!!!

Evening at the ICA

Went to an AIGA event last night which, as usual, turned kind of boring. But we ventured into the ICA gallery rooms after the lecture and discovered the most AWESOME exhibit by Tara Donovan. Rooms and rooms filled with sculptures made out of everyday items such as: straws, toothpicks, styrofoam cups, pin needles, buttons, glass, mylar, paper plates, etc., etc. It was like being in Alice in Wonderland.

This is a shot of the plastic cup room. Her work covered the floors, the walls and the ceilings! I can't get what I saw out of my mind. You have to see it to experience it! Wish I could have gotten pictures of all the mind-blowing sculptures but they stopped us before we really got started!

A Mother's Strength (literally)

The Best Outdoor Sound

This Magpie takes its time (you might want to fast forward 50 seconds) but I miss this Australian sound the most...

Laugh They Do!

As long as the Kookaburra isn't in your ear as you're trying to sleep--I think their laughing is quite fun to listen to.

4 Weeks of Fashion

And this too can happen to you without a proper warm-up.

Gotcha!

Believe me--this furball is hard to get a photograph of.

The Fenway Mascots

They know they run the neighborhood... and I have yet to see them actually fly south for the winter.

Blueberry Bombs

Only in Maine?

Yes, it's real and they're just as flattering on the inside with their decor (click on image to see it at appropriate view). But, truth be told, this place makes the best bloody blueberry pie I have ever tasted!

Sunday Sweetness

Ooooooh the life of cats.

Going to Iris Cove!

Finally! Going on holiday in October for a week and this is where I'll be grabbing some R&R.

It's rare that I get to go up and visit my parents in their natural surroundings and it will be a TRUE MIRACLE if the weather is kind enough to let us go out on the boat to fish this time of year--but looking forward to it no matter what :] ^b^

The tables have turned!

I deal with the interactive medium on a daily basis because of my profession, but I have been weary of blogging. This is because I have to sit in front of a computer all day/every day as it is--why do I want to sit even more?? 

My mum asked me yesterday about how to start her own blog. So I checked some out this morning and picked Blogger (created by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone) because it's free and intuitive. Of course I needed to set it up for myself first so that I could give my mum proper instructions on how to do it for herself (because 'ask' she shall) and I found it quite effortless and--dare I admit--surprisingly fun! 

Not sure if I found a new addiction or if this is my one-and-only posting, but I will confess that the tables have turned = my mother has led me into this internet path... :]

^b^