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Sometimes I wonder how certain people can sleep at night. I had someone break my passenger side window today while I was working. Right in the parking lot. They took my [expensive] awesome thrift store looking Coach purse and my makeup case with all my favorite [expensive] makeup in it. Steeling a girls makeup bag is a little bit like steeling her soul, but not. Also, the bag I kept my makeup in had been passed down from my sister to me, straight out of the eighties - teal blue with hot pink “L.A.” written on it. Damn. Now its in a dumpster somewhere, probably next to my Coach purse.

Things I’m thankful for:

1. I’m in a photography class, and I take photos at work as well, so I’ve been using my camera bag like a purse lately and it therefore had my wallet in it, rather than in my purse that was stollen.

2. I took my camera in to work with me. I’ve been leaving it in my car sometimes thinking, “I’ll just come out and get it if I need it.”

3. My new laptop was safe and sound at home.

4. I get to see Death Cab tomorrow night at the Greek with fun friends.

The outcome:

No window, no makeup, no money.

Bummer.

I’m making some changes to my blog.

If things look unfinished: be patient!

Thanks ;)

Along with my parents working at/directing a rehab in Oakland most my life, they helped to construct a family camp. I have MANY memories of driving 3 hours to this piece of land a mile or two from the cute teeny tiny old fashioned town of Murphys to help my dad with new additions.

For example, laying the cement for this basketball court:

Also, building this gazebo and the dormitory behind it:

Last weekend, my mom and I decided to introduce Katie to this place where her mommy grew up playing. It was so fun to watch her run around on the same dirt I did.

Ewww [but kind of cute, if they weren’t dead]:

Also, a place my parents used to take us was Mercer Caverns. This was FUN. A cavern that goes about 16 stories deep into the ground, located less than a mile off the main street of Murphy’s. Katie loved it and of course wanted to climb all the STEEP stairs by herself. I probably had about 4 heart attacks, thinking she was gonna fall.

They like to say this is Rapunzel, after letting her hair down and being turned into stone by a witch:

And a jelly fish:

Katie & Gramma Linda:

And last one, Katie pretending to be scared:

Full List of Stuff White People Like

It is finished! I’ve officially published my online portfolio for Photography, Web Design, and Graphic Design: www.shalinasue.com. Feel free to check it out and spread the word!

Thanks, friends.

I watched the movie The Namesake the other night. It was a crazy reminder of how different cultures can be. The movie showed the contrast between the East Indian and American culture. Neither being better…just different. The main female character expressed her love for both countries for different reasons after spending half her life in each place. Ultimately though, she felt “free” in her homeland, India.

My dad grew up in India, and my mom in Africa (both children of missionaries overseas). I think they both moved back when they graduated high school and they met in college. So much happened in my life before I graduated high school! I’ve heard their stories, but I’ll never fully grasp how they experienced their lives before moving here.

Photos: Left - Dad (far right), siblings, & friends on the train to boarding school in India.
Right - Mom (middle) & boarding school classmates in Africa.

When I was born, my parents were on deputation, raising money to be missionaries in India. The organization they were with put them in the inner city of San Francisco, CA instead, “temporarily”. Well, that turned out to be a few years in SF running a community center for children, and about 15 more years in Oakland, CA where they ran a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and shelter for the homeless. That is my childhood. I believe I am very lucky for having experienced the reality of the inner city. But what if we DID go to India? My life would be so drastically different. Who would I be? Would I have a better understanding of life, being raised in a third world country? Or has living here in California given me a clear understanding of life? I have no answer to these questions.

Places I need to visit: India & Africa.

I think going to these countries would help me to have a better connection to my parents and why they are who they are, and why I am who I am. My house has been decorated in African and Indian artifacts, fabrics, and photos my entire life, and still I don’t know the feeling of BEING there. I’m ready to go.

I’m uncomfortable in life. I’m sure at some point, I’ll see that it was a time of growth. I could hit my head on the ceiling in excitement for one break I’m making and pull my hair out with sadness for another. But new beginnings are all over the place.

I’m putting together an online portfolio to hopefully begin freelancing some of my hobbies. These include, and are not at all limited to: Photography, Web Design, Print Design, and Photo Restoration. I can only imagine the fulfillment I could get from doing with I love to make a living. We’ll see where that takes me. I have a photo shoot today with one of my best friends, Christle, and her fiance, Joe. Engagement photos. Check back soon to see a few of them.

I’d love to work for this company. They take Goodwill clothes and re-design them. I might just need to take a trip into the city soon. Also, I foresee girly-artsy-redesign-thrift-store-clothes day coming soon. YA?

Click: William Good

I left the car in the forest and climbed down a cliff, scraping up my shins and feet. At the bottom was a large, open riverbed surrounded by trees. There was happiness in the freedom and perfect company. I found a rock.

If I had known it was a wishing rock,
I would have used it in fear of losing something I love.

Last night, I read a book to Katie.
Page 7 read…

Then again,
you might find a rock
with a stripe running
all the way around it.
Trace the line
with your finger–
it must circle all the way.
You have
a wishing rock,
and you whisper
what you want
before you throw it.

I should have thrown it. Instead,
I brought it home to remind me.