Things to Do in Chubu #1: Hiking Kinka Mountain at Gifu City

Things to do in Chubu #1: Hiking Kinka Mountain at Gifu City

(From the side of the park opposite the ropeway station)

 This is the park at the entrance of the east side of the park. It's more oriented toward locals and there is free parking! On the other side with access to the ropeway, parking is sparse and there are fees. 

 There is a shrine at the entrance to the park. This was waiting in the stone lantern.

 All kinds of little creatures to notice on the walk up, including my favorite family of decomposers: Mushrooms. I wouldn't eat these if I were you.

 Various trails are connected from that trail, this sign is directing us to Gifu castle, for those who really want to be on top! 

 The view from the cliff side of the trail where there is a fork partway up. This is on a basic, misty, smoggy day in the Gifu. Just recently I went up after the typhoon. For a spectacular view, wait for a typhoon to wipe the smog of the auto industry away.

 This is no "walk in the park." The first time you come you may feel like it is better for mountain goats. This is on the "cliff" side of the trail. You may have to crawl up on all fours. But it's worth it for awesome views and actually proably if you attempted a second time you wouldn't feel it so difficult.

 This is from a clearing near the entrance to the ropeway (for those who don't want to hoof it up the mountain like mountain goats). The tower is in the town I'm living in. This was on a basic smoggy day. Again, when I went here after the typhoon, you could see to Nagoya and you could even see the bay/ocean in the distance.

My favorite part: there is ice cream at the top. But in the fall there are also mosquitoes. So you should come fully clothed and fully prepared to protect your face, as you can see one got me right in my forehead. >.< D'oh.

I rate it a difficult hike for someone who has never hiked before, but unless you have a condition then it is totally worth preservering to get to the top!

(Untitled 1) Work in Progress

Untitled Work in Progress: Plot Synopsis

Genre: Young - Adult - Fiction - Realistic - Coming of Age 

Samren Trouillefou is living contently in his French town of Lourdes with his withdrawn widower father with the feeling that nothing will ever change when he enters his last year of high school. He soon finds himself jerked out of comfort and complacency with his village life when his brother introduces him to a British-French near his age named Elliott Thomas. Samren is immediately drawn to the stranger's intensity and disregard for the rigid tradition so revered by the town. What's more, due a business decision his father declares that the family will move to Paris. Additionally, his father promises that they will host an American exchange student for the year as a condition of the buisiness promotion.

What results is a story that explores the role of memory, coming-of-age, as well as identity as Samren is wrenched forever from his quiet country life in Lourdes and faced with growing up quickly among new and exciting: but at times challenging and dangerous influences and people.

Using this work without recognition of the author, especially without express permission, or using any part of this plots or character names is stealing and a violation of intellectual property rights. 

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I'm so excited to be working on this story! Right now in my mind I usually refer to it as "Lourdes, August" but I'm not sure if by the time I finish the work that I'll feel the title is representative of the book. 

E-Published! First Edition of Pity Smacked!

Hello Blogspot World:

I have started a blog exclusively to follow my writings and fiction at http://maliaautiofiction.blogspot.com
It's for short writings, musings, and brainstorming writing exercises as well as for writing about the writing process and announcing any developments in full length completed works and such (if I can get to that point!) I did it in high school, I can't see why I can't do it now.

I have released my first ever full length novel's first edition. I wrote and edited this book during the time between eighth grade and sophomore year of high school. And I've chosen to e-publish this edition for kindle. Perhaps I will do print-on-demand available through Amazon once I've done a complete edit and overhaul. This will require getting back in touch with the characters to the point I feel I can accurately explore them on the written page. You really have to know your characters, even better than you know your friends. Hell, you have to feel and imagine for them. It's hard freaking work when you work a full time job. I can see why there's the stereotype that writers have to be holed up by themselves, and I'm just not that solitary of a person. Although I'm rediscovering passion for my projects.

It is imperfect, but fundamentally I think it's a great story so if you can see past little glitches, have a lot of time on your hands, and just want to see a story written from a young pure heart, this is the story for you. All original characters, and all original story line: 

This is available at Amazon.com kindle store. Kindle is functional on PCs, Kindles, iPads, and Macs once you download the software. http://www.amazon.com/Pity-Smacked-ebook/dp/B008CXL0TC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340989605&sr=8-1&keywords=pity+smacked

In the Rose Garden Bracelet

In the Rose Garden Cuff Bracelet by ~pixipatrin on deviantART

Just completed another netted cuff! This one came out really nice, elegant, and expensive looking, I think! I called it "In the Rose Garden"

I've started an online ETSY shop which will sell my beaded work and some craft items from Japan. I just started so I'm not sure the direction I will go with it, but I will put beaded and other creations up there as they're produced.

You can visit my etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mautio?ref=seller_info

Salmon in Curried Celery Sauce

Tastes similar to Panda express. Naughty, but pretty nice.

Beef, Pork, Tofu, or Chicken could be nicely substituted.

Ingredients:

1-stalk celery, keep leafy top

2-1 hunk salmon, cut into bite size pieces

3-1/4 small onion

4- Just enough flour to coat the salmon chunks

Seasonings

1 tsp mashed garlic, 1 tsp mashed ginger

Salt, Pepper

3 tbsp vinegar (any kind)

2 tbsp soy sauce

1/2 tbsp curry powder spices (turmeric, curcumin, fenugreek, fennel--your desired mix)

Steps:

1) Powder the salmon chunks and fill a pan with 1 cm of oil to tolerate med-high heat.

Grill until the salmon skin is crispy, or the meat is cooked through.

2) Drain oil. Reserve meat to the side.

Lightly cook the seasonings and celery in the same frypan and drizzle over the cooked meat.

I accidentally added the sauce ingredients to the meat, and the result came out ok. But it would look nicer if the sauce is made separately.

Cooking: Takoyaki

Max and I taught ourselves how to make takoyaki! It went well!

Shrimp and Lotus Root Mayo Salad

Shrimp and Lotus Root Mayo Salad

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Renkon (Lotus Root) 1 cut ... 8cm 300g

Onion Stalk (the green part), 1 piece ... 150 g ... 1/2 of a small onion

Shrimp (1 tray)

Salad Oil, Mayonnaise, Salt, Pepper

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(1) Prepare the lotus root: Peel, clean, and quarter lengthwise, then cut into 1 cm thick pieces. Wash thoroughly and pat dry. You may also soak the pieces briefly in water with vinegar, wash, and dry. Also cut the onion into 1 cm thick pieces. Dust the faces of the shrimp with starch.

(2) Oil a pan and sautee the shrimp until cooked. Add lotus root and onion, sautee for 1 min. Add 1 tbsp alcohol , cover and steam 2 min. Add 3 tbsp mayo and salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Thank you Oreji Peeji! (オレンジページ2011 10/2)

Daikon Steak with Curry Meat Sauce Garnish

Daikon Steak with Curry Meat Sauce Garnish

This was served over daikon shoots. So it's kind of oya-ko daikon steak :D

Parent and child on a plate together ;)

Daikon Steak in Curry Sauce

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Daikon (large) ... 8cm 300g

Ground Pork ... 150 g

Minced Onion ... 1/2 of a small onion

Watercress (or sprout, salad vegetable) ... As Desired for Garnish or Crunch

Salad Oil, Tomato Ketchup Salt Soy Sauce

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(1) Oil a pan 2 tbsp. cooking oil, med. heat, sprinkle with salt, make incisions to speed cooking in hatched pattern and grill on both sides until the daikon is nicely browned. Then cover and simmer for 5 min or until daikon is of desired hardness.

(2) Set daikon on serving plate with watercress garnish (or sprouts, or salad vegetables)

(3) In the same frypain, sautee minced onions 3 min. Add ground meat or Tofu (and minced potatoes or carrots optional) When they are finished, add curry powder and 1/2 cup water. Simmer with a dash of ketchup and soy sauce. Cover, simmer 5-6 min, allow to thicken. Also delicious with some milk or soy milk or other milk substitute added.

(4) Pour sauce over daikon and serve.

Thank you Oreji Peeji! (オレンジページ2011 10/2)

Regal Purple Netting in Purple and Silver

Design: Barbara Klann, Bead and Button Magazine supplement

This 2 drop peyote band stitched up real fast and easy, the netting took a little longer but was intuitive, and can certainly be adapted to any free form design and whatever little goodies and beads from "bead soup" you may want to put in the design. It came out wonderfully and any number of closure techniques would look good. At the Dongdaemun bazaar I found these beautiful white buttons and chose to use them. Buttons are not the most secure method to close a bracelet, but I think this one stands well as an art piece and the buttons will be more long lasting than snaps, which often can have their threads cut through by wear too quickly.

Some other applications:

-Use this design to bead a quick strap (shorter than a band), glue to a firm base, and attach as a hair pin

-Create a head band

Those are some things I would like to use this design for in the future.

Cairo Collar

Design: Susan B. Swanson

Published in February/March 2011 Beadwork Magazine

"Cairo Collar"

This one in blue.

It took quite some time to complete. I feel that it could be easily embellished and personalized beyond what you see I completed. But this was a first run and I learned some new techniques. Enjoy.

It was a great design to use up a great mass of seed beads I have in my collection.

Moonstone Bangle

Moonstone Bangle from Mixed Angles and in Mixed Light

This one is a design all my own. Unfortunately, it involves only simple bead stringing.

I have discovered Moonstone and fallen in love. I found some great quality grey moonstone and am incorporating the rounds into bracelets and maybe a necklace. I can make many bracelets but probably only one necklace with what I have left.

Unicorn Fantasy Necklace

Starting the new month with a new creation!

Unicorn Fantasy Necklace

Overview

Detail, Pendant

Pendant: Miyuki Delicas, Swarovski Bicones, and Crystal Rondelles

Detail: Rose Colored Rondelles, Freshwater Pearls, and Handmade Tubular Peyote Beaded Beads

Malia's Virtual Sketchbook: Open!

I have created a blog solely to share my art and art-related information on the interwebs.

It can be accessed at http://maliaautiovirtualsketch.blogspot.com

I'm excited. I think it will be a fun space to track my progress. It's not like I'm having any formal training (beyond looking up technique-related information online) but I'll do my best and hopefully instict and inspiration will guide me at least partway.

Birds to Fashion: Gang Gang Cockatoo

Gang Gang Fountain by ~pixipatrin on deviantART

Inspired by the Gang Gang Fountain Video (See that blog for the movie! It shows the character of this charming cockatoo.) If I can stay motivated there will be more to come! I regret using the ink. I love pen sketches which are painted with watercolors, but failed to achieve the sketchy effect. And using a camera rather than a scanner for the image didn't help it, either. It's my first watercolor work on this scale, so I'll just view it as a learning experience. I miss prismacolor pencils and using thick acrylic. I really like to pile paint on the paper. Watercolor doesn't work in the same way. I'll get used to it!

The trees are red peppercorns and the berries are one of the Gang Gang's favorite foods.

Watercolor Techinques

Major Mitchell's Cockatoos in Love

Gang Gang Cockatoos, Sorry they only have one foot

I've been spending time with a younger charge (even though I was friends with the neighbor's granddaughter back in the home country, we played tennis from time to time), than I did during my days as a tutor to college students. Anyway, it's a nice chance to get to go back to basics and just have fun without pretenses! (As you become so inclined to do at the higher levels.)

We spend hours water-coloring together. It's fun and a stress relief, so I went and picked up a set of watercolors today. But I would like to learn some basic techniques to get me started ,as compared to other mediums I don't have a clue about watercolors. Hence the state of the paintings I've put in as small images in the blog. I'd like to stick with it (I need to stick to a lot of things these days...) I prefer acrylics, but since I don't have much experience with watercolor I figure I might as well try learning a few techniques, should I like it.

Anyway, I'm leaving a link to a fun WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUE WEBSITE

I will add more links if I pursue this interest in the future.

http://www.johnlovett.com/techniq.htm (Thorough, Easy to Understand, Attractive Layout, and FREE!)

http://www.watercolorpainting.com/watercolor-tutorials.htm (Quite Detailed)

http://www.johnlovett.com/techniq.htm (Good Basic Summary)

Acid Black Cherry Lyrics Site

http://www.papersnow.net/kiku/others.html

Respect the Schedule

Haha.

Well got my first rejection today. Il'd like to believe it's not a true rejection... because the page said they had a strict deadline those wanting to work for them have to be diploma-ed by the 10th of June. Unfortunately I won't be "graduated" until the 13th of June... although my last classes are this term and I'll technically be graduated at the end of this one.

Bureaucracy!!!

So... just like America's Next Top Model I'l just apply for other stuff and remember that there is a new cycle coming up and I will be fully and legitimately diploma-ed and still have all my experience by that point. Just have to keep working hard.

There is also a small job in Aichi-prefecture that I would like to apply to. I wrote a cover letter in Japanese today but I'm kind of worried about it. I know it's probably not near perfect. And there are some things I'd like to add. They just relisted the job... which means they haven't found anyone yet ;) And boy would I love to go back to Aichi.

So there are at least three places to apply to right now... they're always really vague about when they want workers to start... but I know Amity and Aeon is usually about 6-12 months after you apply...

We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Ballet and Yoga is going really well. My strength is coming back quickly. I'd like to do a pre-pointe class and maybe even start to dance on pointe again. I'm such a water person though... always rushing... definitely hate taking things one step at a time. I'm working on it.

Stitches for Small Seed Beads

So, I have a crap load of small seed beads (11 o) that I got a long time ago that I need to use up before buying any more...

The following stitches have been cooperating pretty well:

"Leaves" "Apache Leaves" (although I've heard it referred to as some kind of Russian leaf before...)

http://www.unikatissima.de/e/?p=4327

They're cute. I should re-teach myself that stitch.

I've had success as you can see in the "Winter Beading" post with spiral stitch. However usually for the inner body of the stitch I have to use delicas or something with a bigger hole... otherwise I drive myself crazy.

Another stitch I've had success with is the St. Petersburg chain, and the 11 o s seem to be accommodating the double St. Petersburg which is pretty stunning. I hope I'll be able to embellish the top too. I'll update when I'm done.

St. Petersburg Chain (Double)

http://noeasybeads.blogspot.com/2008/11/double-st-petersburg-chain.html

It's quite stunning.

Herringbone did NOT accommodate the 11o seed beads.

http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads/Tutorials.htm

Late...and Early by ~pixipatrin on deviantART

Acupuncture, Beads, and Ballet

So I'm loving acupuncture. I get instant relief everytime I go. Not all my problems are gone, but there have been so many it wouldn't be realistic to expect an instant cure and especially without addressing the emotional stuff the problems stirred up in me. I got a funky little bruise on one of the points this time, but i was having fluish body aches all week and sinus symptoms... and the treatment with moxibustion was instant relief for the pain... and even a little bit for the sinus stuff. I think I'm allergic to my birds. Always get tingling and some "anxiety" symptoms during treatment. The energy balance is just stubborn I suppose.

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Having a lot of fun with beads, but gotta get up throughout the day. I feel yukky if I sit around too much.

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Thinking of starting up in ballet again. Looking back giving up ballet back in h.s. was a difficult thing for me. I didn't miss the competition, but I think the physical activity and core focus was really important and kept me healthy throughout my youth. It was after I quit ballet that I started going downhill. I guess for me it's sort of like yoga. I'm doing a little bit of that too, but there's nothing like the feeling I used to get when I was a kid and I could just melt into the music. I'm starting to stretch in prep for it. I remember all the technique and what my body is supposed to be able to do but know that my ankle and core strength and flexibility are definitely not what they used to be (flexibility has always been a problem) I'll talk to my parents about it over Christmas, otherwise I'll just have to figure out a way to pay for it. And it's good, it's sort of on a pay as you go system at Ballet Fantastique in Eugene. You can pay for 20 classes... which takes off the pressure of having to make it to every class in case there is a big paper, exam, or reading assignment.

Here's the clincher though, I stopped ballet in h.s. to take difficult classes, when in reality the physical activity probably would have helped me better cope with the stress of the classes. So I guess this is an early New Year's resolution to go back to ballet. I'll miss prancing on pointe now but I guess that is something spared for my feet in my "old age." ;)

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My school friend Tomona is likely coming at the end of February into March. I'm looking forward to the girl time after sort of getting stuck in Eugene with boys only. Haha boys only talking in Korean. Gotta admit it gets on my nerves sometimes when I can't understand anything. Or I understand and I'm just a mute because I can't express myself intelligibly in Korean. I can get my point across with confidence in Japanese but I've got a huge mental block for Korean. I don't know why. We'll see what happens when I get back to Korean class in January, and see what happens since my Japanese friends in Eugene (Tomona, and my student) both study Korean. They'll be excited to work on it... haha BUTTTT *ahem* I'd like to keep it in English or Japanese. Ugggh I hope then Max will know the frustration I feel. But if (WHEN) I relocate to Japan for work he'll definitely get it real close. He's so maddeningly easygoing at times I'm sure he'll adjust great.

Winter Beading

A repository for recent beaded projects. I like beading... I really want to try my hand at a new stitch as I've been doing spiral stitch for the last 3 or 4 projects I've done. Maybe I'll revisit peyote or get something out of Beadwork.

Duck Bracelet by ~pixipatrin on deviantART