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i can’t believe how long it’s been since i’ve posted on this space. lately, life has felt like a big blur, and everything is moving in fast forward. so much change, so much adapting and learning, and growing.

spring is here. i can finally feel the warmth and even need to open the windows in the office on somedays. the light comes in through the bedroom in the mornings and moves through the flat into the living room during the evenings. we’ve had a couple of visitors, taken a few trips, watched dozens of sunsets from our windows, in hotel rooms, on rocky beaches, and from train windows.

life is good. sometimes you just have to say that out loud.

from kew gardens a few weeks ago.

if anyone has sent an email to my dearleila{at}yahoo{dot}com account, i might not have received it. sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused! trying to figure out what the problem is right now.

enjoy the weekend! i have no plans, just some ideas of where to visit! excited.

right before the new year, last year, we took a trip to san francisco, then rang in 2012 with our new pup, beta. she’s taught me a lot about patience, and myself. i really can’t believe today marks 1 full year of us being together!

we took a quick trip to vegas one weekend to see friends. bloody marys, fireball slot machines, and sleepless nights in casinos. burning in desert heat for photos, and drives out to see old friends.

we stayed w/ my sister + brother in-law for a weekend in palm desert. relaxed out by the pool, played board games till early morning and sat out talking for hours about life. i miss that. on the way home we did a quick drive through joshua tree! my first time there, and i hope not my last. something about the desert just draws me in. i could most definitely live there forever without any complaints. that must sound crazy, because most people hate the heat. i love it.

santa monica pier. roller coaster rides w/ my sister. french fries and sugary drinks out on the wooden tables. sunglasses and photobooth strips. laughs and seagulls.

by far, my favorite trip of 2012 was the grand canyon. we drove out to arizona and stayed in flagstaff, then made our way to the meteor crater in the morning and the grand canyon the next day. photos will never ever capture just how amazing, magical, and beautiful it really is. i’m so glad we decided to go, even though i was ridiculously sick w/ the flu. we even made it to sedona to watch the solar eclipse!

beach days w/ ron.

hawai’i in july for my birthday, to visit my family (finally!), and to shoot a wedding. i miss my family so much, so it was a bittersweet goodbye, knowing i probably won’t be back for a while.

nearing the end of summer. ice cream on the boardwalk. camelias. polaroids. fun stuff.

ron was asked to speak at a conference in paris for his work and asked if i wanted to come along. those who know me, know i have a phobia of planes and flying! this trip happened to be falling on ron’s birthday though, and the thought of him spending his birthday alone in paris just didn’t feel right. so i agreed to go. i still don’t know how i got myself to board that plane. i spent most of my time w/ my sister (she flew up for a few days), then i explored alone. lots of strolls through beautiful gardens, lunches in little cafes, room service and photos. dear paris, i can’t wait till we meet again.

the last days of los angeles. just writing that made me feel a little choked up. i miss it, and it’s only been a month. i don’t normally feel this way about leaving a place, but LA has a piece of my heart. living there has taught me so much and has helped me grow into such a stronger, more confident, loving, trusting, and forgiving person. and for that, i will always have so much love for it.

and now i’m here, in london. soaking up the soggy sunshine that every other day brings through the skylights. through the little cracks in tall shiny buildings. through the bridges and beautiful parks and historic, amazing sites that sit just about everywhere in this city. i’m ready for you, and 2013. cheers! and happy new year, everyone :)

ice

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strawb

-ice on the window, over ireland.

-beta’s been adapting to the cold rainy winter here in london. she used to cry and cry because she hated the cold wooden floors, but now i put her little furry bed out beneath the radiator, and she sleeps soundly for hours.

-clouds sometimes part and i run out onto the balcony to feel some sun on my face. the clouds seem to move really quickly here. rain, to sun, to heavy winds within minutes.

-we’ve been taking a lot of long walks around the new neighborhood recently (before getting sick). it’s been so nice exploring the streets, and tiny hidden alleys that lead up and down dark green hills.

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i’m back! well, not really. I’m tethering my phone to my desktop and it’s a bad connection, but i’m so excited to share photos again!

the first half of the photos were shot in north london, when we were apartment hunting in late november. luckily we found a place within the first week we got here, so we’re all moved in, just waiting for the stuff we sent over by ocean to arrive. the second half of the photos were shot at borough market. ron and i went down one sunday and ate pulled pork sandwiches and vietnamese curry–i’ve been daydreaming about green curry ever since!

i also wanted to say merry christmas. hope everyone is having a good day with lots of food planned in your future : )

I shot a roll of B&W film in Paris while we were there. Most photos are from the Louvre, our hotel, and Versailles.

Things are getting really busy around here w/ the move. My mind feels scattered in all sorts of directions! Can’t wait till we’re already there and things are somewhat settled. That seems so far away.

5661 Miles

Film | 35mm

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve updated this blog! I always think about posting, but lately so many things have been going on, I just haven’t had time.

After our trip to Hawai’i, we planned on staying in LA and resting. It felt like a long trip home and I was really tired from flying–it takes every ounce of energy out of me. Then out of nowhere, Ron let me know he had to go to Paris to speak at a convention for work. I didn’t think twice until he said it would be happening on his birthday! Flying 10 hours and 11.5 home isn’t my ideal scenario, but it’s PARIS and I’ve only dreamed of seeing it in real life! So I told him I’d go and we booked the tickets for the following week. Excited and nervous, but more excited than nervous, we packed and set up Beta with a happy home till our return.

Paris was amazing. My sister flew up with her boyfriend and stayed w/ us for a few nights. One morning, (in the photos above) we woke up really early and walked to the Louvre before it was open. No one was around and it felt so peaceful walking through the old halls, watching the rain clouds part above. We ate in a little cafe and I had a cappuccino and potato omelet, then we walked through the streets and looked in a few shops, where I picked up a present for Ron’s birthday. So glad I decided to go!

I have a lot more photos to share once I get them all back. I’m really going to try to update more. I miss this space.

Hawai’i

I’m back from Hawai’i. It was so good to finally see my family and friends again! I didn’t meet with friends as much as I hoped, but I’m glad I got the chance to see a few…it was much needed. I spent a lot of time with my parents and grandma, we sat around watching t.v and talking about random, strange things. It instantly transported me back to 1999, living there again. Such an odd, disoriented, but amazing feeling.

So now I’m back, readjusting and getting into the swing of everyday life. Hacking away at the pile of emails, trying not to let anxiety take complete control of me.

It’s good to be back though, as much as I miss everyone back home. Looking forward to work and the usual routine.

Hope everyone’s doing well out there in internetland!