GRIZZLY PEAR

written snapshots

Category: Vegas Ordinary

  • Vegas Ordinary, July 2024

    In early May, this daily practice sprung up at a delicate moment. I so busy at work that I had no mental space to practice anything creative, especially with a looming job switch.

    But I made time to post a simple photo every day.

    This practice kept me afloat amidst the during a season of change. It’s now time to sunset this three month project to make time for other pursuits. Thanks to everyone who supported this little creative life raft on Substack Notes. Your likes and comments helped me persevere, turning a stray notion into a project of seeing (and framing) the mundane.

    ,

    Carpet.

    7/1

    ,

    Ceiling.

    7/2

    ,

    Wrap.

    7/2

    ,

    Checkout.

    7/3

    ,

    Cereal

    7/4

    ,

    Flowers

    7/4

    ,

    Angles

    7/5

    ,

    Dinner.

    7/6

    ,

    Cabinets.

    7/7

    ,

    Reflect.

    7/8

    ,

    Can.

    7/9

    ,

    Cloud.

    7/10

    ,

    Legs.

    7/11

    ,

    Up.

    7/12

    ,

    Plate.

    7/13

    ,

    Wall.

    7/14

    ,

    Twenty-five.

    7/15

    ,

    Telephone.

    7/16

    ,

    Games.

    7/17

    ,

    Mail.

    7/18

    ,

    Cookie.

    7/19

    ,

    Science.

    7/20

    ,

    Snowman.

    7/21

    ,

    Diamonds.

    7/22

    ,

    Phonics.

    7/23

    ,

    Blue.

    7/24

    ,

    Aggregate.

    7/25

    ,

    Smoke.

    7/26

    ,

    Elbow.

    7/27

    ,

    Retail.

    7/27

    ,

    Feet.

    7/28

    ,

    Gap.

    7/29

    ,

    So what’s next? A couple of months ago, I came up with the idea of 1P+1P (one project, one practice).

    Unfortunately, life is complicated. So I’ve changed it to 2(P+P)—two practices and projects (a creative and practical endeavour for each).

    For my Projects, I’m returning to my 2024 theme of “Settling up”. For creative, it’s time to tackle the Grizzlypear backlog (200+ drafts!). And for home, we need to fully settle into our “new” house (six months after moving in!).

    As for Practices, I need to start exercising and I’d like to work on my calligraphy. I’ve hit that inevitable point in this new hobby where it’s time to grind down to reach the next plateau. Maybe I’ll eventually give up, but I want to put in a solid effort before deciding that the next level of proficiency isn’t worth the time.

    Hopefully this dual track approach provides a better balance of fun and responsibility. We’ll see!

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  • Vegas Ordinary, June 2024

    Life has slowed down (in a good way) after changing jobs. For example, I’m posting this collection on July 7th, while I didn’t get around to uploading the previous month’s compilation till June 19th, a week after I started at the new job.

    As for this Project, I got one more month before I move on to something else. Follow me on Substack Notes if you want to see these photos in real time. Or just wait for the final compilation in late August after we come back from our not-Vegas vacation.

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    Type.

    6/1

    ,

    Mess.

    6/2

    ,

    Laundry.

    6/3

    ,

    Corner.

    6/4

    ,

    Cafe.

    6/5

    ,

    Notes.

    6/6

    ,

    Cubicle.

    6/7

    ,

    Blankets.

    6/8

    ,

    Artichokes.

    6/9

    ,

    Airport.

    6/10

    ,

    P.

    6/11

    ,

    Strawberry.

    6/12

    ,

    Foam.

    6/13

    ,

    Muse.

    6/13

    ,

    Legs.

    6/14

    ,

    Empty.

    6/15

    ,

    Draw.

    6/16

    ,

    Conduit.

    6/17

    ,

    Cinema.

    6/18

    ,

    Tails.

    6/18

    ,

    Panel.

    6/19

    ,

    Solstice.

    6/20

    ,

    Grain.

    6/21

    ,

    Laureate.

    6/22

    ,

    Office.

    6/22

    ,

    Desktop.

    6/24

    ,

    Curtain.

    6/25

    ,

    Goodbye.

    6/26

    ,

    Liftoff.

    6/26

    ,

    Keys.

    6/29

    ,

    Straggler.

    6/29

    ,

    Bed.

    6/30

    ,

    Next week will be the first time that I actually work a full forty hours for the airport. In the past four weeks, I’ve had two days of County Orientation, Juneteenth, a day of Airport Orientation, and Independence Day. Three full days of orientation is a bit of overkill, but it was better than 90 minutes of signing forms and learning the rest by asking random coworkers.

    One thing that stood out at the Airport orientation was lunch with senior managers. It was a nice show of solidarity that they would come down and join us for a meal and introduce themselves. Then again, maybe I won’t want them to remember my name after I start to ruin their work lives with the Terminal renovation!

    .

  • Vegas Ordinary, May 2024

    Things have been so busy that I can’t focus on anything outside of work.

    So I picked up a daily practice that can be instantly completed at any time since we are tethered to pocket computer cameras at all waking (and sleeping) hours.

    The title of this project is inspired by Shimzu Akira’s fun newsletter JAPAN ORDINARY.

    I’m not sure how long to keep it up, but it will run at least through June. It’s been a fun way to record the change of scenery at my new job.

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    Puzzle.

    5/4

    ,

    Lavatory.

    5/5

    ,

    Morning.

    5/6

    ,

    Desk.

    5/7

    ,

    Read.

    5/8

    ,

    Durango.

    5/9

    ,

    Yard.

    5/10

    ,

    Stairs.

    5/11

    ,

    Mouse.

    5/12

    ,

    Boxes.

    5/13

    ,

    Dishes.

    5/14

    ,

    Strip.

    5/15

    ,

    Graduation.

    5/16

    ,

    Shadow.

    5/17

    ,

    Trash.

    5/18

    ,

    Park.

    5/19

    ,

    Drugs.

    5/21

    ,

    Logistics.

    5/22

    ,

    Summer.

    5/24

    ,

    Panels.

    5/25

    ,

    Knot.

    5/26

    ,

    Nuts.

    5/27

    ,

    Fluorescent.

    5/28

    ,

    Dishwasher.

    5/29

    ,

    Flower.

    5/31

    Door.

    5/31

    Basin.

    5/31

    Concrete.

    5/31

    Up.

    5/31

    ,

    While contemplating my birthday in May, I realized that my piles of projects and want-to-do lists keep growing as my time continues to shrink.

    To balance the desire to start new projects, I need to close out old projects. (Ironic to write this on a post showcasing a new photography series!).

    So I’ve created a new limitation – one Practice and one Project at a time.

    1P-1P
    顽皮-顽皮
    “naughty naughty”
    (also the nickname of my parents’ neighbor’s cat who chills in their house all day)

    Practices could be something like taking a photo every day, playing the banjo, practicing calligraphy, writing poetry, or sketching my hand.

    Projects are specific endeavors, like finishging my Alphabet Magic series or planning our summer vacation.

    We’ll see if it helps wrangle the fuzz in my brain.

    Even so, June has turned out another whirlwind. See y’all in July!

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    (Unless you follow me on Substack Notes…then you can get my next Vegas Ordinary as soon as tomorrow!)