Learning to Love Fish

That's what I've been doing over the past few weeks.
Aaron and I had a day off together after returning from Rachel's dinner party in California two weeks ago. I had to go to Michael's store of crafty materials to look for a particular vase to make additional centerpieces for the refugee organization's fundraiser. Well, they didn't have the vases, but, while we were floating around the aisles (we drove back at 10 pm, returned to Phoenix at 4:30 and awoke at 8 for a birthday breakfast, and thus, were sleep deprived), we saw this crazy glass pedestal vase thing with a lid. It looked so fanciful that we decided we had to pay the $20 for it.
But what were we to do with it? It was a little too big to put cookies in; too short for flowers to stand inside; and too see-through to just leave on its own. So, since we had also traveled to the pet store earlier that week, we decided that either a hampster or fish would look cute. We also decided at that point that putting a hampster inside of a vase was somewhat ridiculous and maybe even cruel.
This was to be our big adventure for the day.
We went to the best fish store in town and bought 6 snails and 3 fish with other aquarium habitat materials. Mind you, I don't really have any sort of affection for fish. I think they're fun to look at sometimes but I also find them tedious as they don't cuddle and you still have to clean up after them. Anyway, this was just an adventure. So, we put the fish in the new fancy vase, leave for an hour and come back to find one fish dead. That's when my heart hurt a little. I liked his coloring.
So, we left again to find a larger, but equally fanciful fish bowl. That was our mission: it had to be bigger, but still beautiful. We decided that Pier One has all sorts of ridiculous things and we found a tiered fish bowl for $9.99. It was like one fish bowl stacked on top of another so they could go up and down... like a fish condominium.
We awoke the next morning to the second dead fish. That one was fat with googly eyes. Very adorable. That's when we decided we must make sure the last fish lives.
He was doing great until a few days ago. He'd been struggling with air because we didn't have a pump. Last night I was on a mission to save this dear darling fishling, and so I spent $101 on a new set up! Holy mother of jesus, mary and joseph, I now have a complete aquarium, I'm 25, and I don't really like fish. Silly. But, I am still worried about the fish. I must say, he's adorable and if he's alive when we get home tonight, I think it will prove a good time to name him. We'll buy frogs this week. Diving frogs. I'll post pictures later. I know you all must be dying to see our regular old fish tank. This is very exciting for me now. And yes, I now love fish. My fish.

Suit of Lyrics

The ace of spades for online radio...

red card... I think I like this one better throughout the day: Princeton's WRPB from where you can link to www.insound.com to buy an album if you like what you hear. I bought Gal Costa's "Gal" cd today and I'm anticipating it's arrival... I wish we had more room in our apartment so I could dance around a little.

http://www.wrpb.com/



black card... used to listen to this in new orleans at night... but interesting nearly all day: Tulane's WTUL. They were down for quite a while after Katrina but recently started back up online. I sometimes have problems connecting to their live stream so I think there are still a few glitches.

http://www.wtulneworleans.com/v08/



Anyway, just a suggestion if you, like me, forget to bring your mp3 charger to work... or, just want to add something to your collection ;)

About Our Volunteering

Aaron and I casually volunteer for an organization in Tempe, AZ called Community Outreach and Advocacy for Refugees. I worked with them two years ago as a student volunteer, visiting a refugee family from Burma once a week. We would go to the library, take small trips to Touscon or city parks, play soccer, make pumkin pie, or just hang out at their apartment and try to learn English together. It was fun.
Now, Aaron and I do side work for the organization, making brochures, flyers, posters, and other graphic work. They are moving into a new building, in a space that is not so temporary and they can finally call their own. So, Aaron offered his services in space design. We met last night to go over ideas and it seems like it will be a fun project that Aaron can put in his portfolio. We brainstormed some ideas together last night and I'll help when needed. But I'll post that as well when it's finished.
If ever you want to donate, this is a great organization to help, and you know someone who is a part of it now. Here's the website: http://www.coarweb.org/

The picture is from the photography exhibit that a woman has produced for COAR. They can use all of her photos in future publicity for the organization. Very cool.

256 SQ FT

This is our studio... we managed to keep all of our clothes and half of the book collection. This is how we have decided to save money. We plan to have fun pursuing our projects now that we are completely moved in. Alley. India. Volunteer. Explore downtown. Architecture for Aaron. Those are the things on our plate for the next year or two.


couch... for now.


This is the one we're getting in the mail. It turns into a bed as well.


Behind the couch... this is where we dress in the morning.


Robin's side of the closet.


Aaron's side of the closet.


The two new pieces we bought to fit the entertainment items, books, and cocktail glasses.


Grandma Main's desk, the art center, and the couch again. That was fast:)


The kitchen... again, I couldn't stand back far enough to get the full view...


We put the net on at night to make the bed into a bedroom. The bathroom has shelving to store my 'pretty princess' items, as Aaron refers to them:}