attempting to “catch up”
Ok wow.
It’s been way to long since I’ve updated my blog. I’m sorry, but things have been pretty crazy. Work isn’t getting any better but I have been searching for jobs. Religiously, but with no luck so far. Hopefully that will all change very soon 
Had two interviews for web work but I only just got my rejection on Monday for one of them. It’s not the rejection that bothers me, it’s the fact that she took 2 months to get back to me after not replying to any of my emails or calls and worst part of it all, she’s only 2 floors up!
The other interview, well pretty sure that I didn’t get that either because I still haven’t heard back after chasing it up. No stress though because I will get something. Something better!
I was on the train last night on the way home from school and I was thinking about how much I like Web Design. Hmmm I’m doing this course and I am going to finish it no doubt but I don’t think I am as passionate about it as I thought I would be. I like it. I like cooking. I like painting but not enough to actually pursue it as a career. It’s ok though because I have learnt a lot and I have new skills and knowledge that I didn’t have 9 months ago. In saying that, I would still like the opportunity to dip my toes into the industry to truly know what it’s like!
So I’m on the path of looking for a better job with career opportunities to grow and learn amongst industry professionals. What I have been trying to get back into is Production work. That I really enjoy doing and there’s always room to grow. Now to get it! I have applied for 3 major Production roles and now I sit and wait. FINGERS CROSSED!
On a very good note, I had my exhibition opening on Saturday in Daylesford. So nice of my friends to drive all that way, chill with me in the sun with beers and ciders.
We all drove back together to Melbourne, where the drinks continued at my house (never had this many people over at once in my one bedder) then partied on at Miss Libs- new hip hip/homo night. I puked at 4am. It was awesome. I am awesome
I know I’ve said I will try to keep this blog updated weekly but it’s been so hard with school and other social committments. Sucks. I need to make more time but the spare time that I do get is spent job hunting. It’s a job itself looking for a job!
I’ve also accepted more freelance work. I shot ARAB last Monday. Youth dance crews from all over Melbourne got together to put on an AMAZING show.. So jealous. Wish I could break down yo!
Also in two weeks, I’ve been hired to shoot an event and I will be dressed up as a Paparazzi!
Last month, the Mrs, Moosh and Bibi and I went to Blairgowrie. A much needed getaway. Not long enough. I want to do it again. I want to do it all the time!
I also want another exhibition. I have a few projects to finish. This time a nice group one
Also www.taykriv.com is finally up! i finished my website after learning some mad skills in school
Thanks to everyone who came to my exhibition. Love you all! Hopefully more art to come
Anyway, it’s been an interesting couple of months.Will try harder to update blog more regularly.
Here are some pics from Blairgowrie trip and Exhibition opening and ARAB just cos
xXx
Tay
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catching up!
So I am trying to catch up with the months I missed, not being able to blog.
I have been so busy trying to revamp my website, job hunt, attend school and actually learn and just photographing, painting, riding my new wheels and really just getting on with my life BUT I will try to blog weekly like I use too!
Tonight won’t be a long blog at all. I just wanted to put some new photos from random photo walks and bike rides… they are shot from my 400D and my brand spanking new G12
Enjoy, just cos
xox
Tay
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I’m back
So it’s been about 2 months since i’ve blogged. Not cos i’ve been lazy but because i ventured out on a trip to US of A for 4 weeks.
It all started on the longest flight of my life (well no, i’ve had to fly longer than this) to New Orleans! 4 different planes, 3 stop overs later, I arrived in New Orleans at 2am. What i thought was cold and raining was actually disgusting hot and rainy.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISANA is an interesting city. Lots of history. Lots of characters. Lots of ghosts. Lots of time spent following the Casey Anthony case. Hee
It’s legal to drink in New Orleans out on the street. I found it awesome yet concerning at the same time. Yes its great to be able to drink dacquiries out of a metre long tube, fill it up at another bar, sit at another bar with a drink from another pub and wander the streets drunk..but it also promotes unhealthy drinking habits, but it is New Orleans. I dont think they really care. Ahh the South. Where EVERYTHING is deep fried yall.
I ended up doing a ghost tour. It wasnt scary. It was interesting but that could have been because i was drunk. I found myself doing a City tour and passing houses of Sandra Bullock, Mr Brad Pitt, Nicolas Cage and where Benjamin Button (shit movie) was filmed. Hurricane Katrina site was an eye opener. Its sad how people cant afford to rebuild years after the damage and how many insurance companies dont even cover such disasters. So instead, these people end up on the streets.
Bourbon Street- smelly, full of booze and cigarettes and obnoxious Americans. Now if i was an obnoxious American i would probably think this was the best place ever, but no. I’m not. Reminds me of Bangkok, but at Bangkok is more interesting and way more entertaining! I did catch an awesome Burlesque show. Saw Linzzi and her band play who apparently is coming to Melbourne to check out the Burlesque scene
Whole time in New Orleans i did not sleep a wink. Now you may think, i’m on holiday and dont need to sleep but it wasnt that i was partying so much i couldnt sleep, i just couldnt actually fall asleep. Not sure if it was jetlag or that my hotel was haunted.. but a over the counter CV’s 120 pack of Melatonin fixed that shit right up!
MIAMI, FLORIDA- I honestly didnt like nor would I come back. It’s exactly like the movies. Fake. Pretentious. Rude. But each to their own. I found every clothing had some kind of “bling on it”. I could not find any plain bikinis in a city where people LIVE in bikinis. Strange.
I went to the Everglade. They are in a bit of a drought at the moment, but i did see some aligators and baby ones too. Super cute. I even held a 2-3 meter aligator. Yes maam!
Little Havana, wasnt as awesome as people say it is. Not sure what the big deal was apart of the fact they have the “best cuban cigars”. I wouldnt know. Coconut Grove and Coral Gables are the rich-ish areas of Miami. In Coral Gable, the main shopping strip- they have all sorts of stuff for your wedding. Dresses, Tux, flowers etc and to finish it off, they even have divorce lawyers. Shit, they are all sorted on one strip! ha! I ended up on a pirate ship cruise, saw mansions of Jennifer Lopez, Frank Sinatra, Shaq (before he was divorced), Gloria Estafan and Sly Stalone!! Then i ate a $100 meal and a $20 mojito.
NEEEEW YOOOORRRRKKKK concrete jungle where dreams are made of. There’s nothin’ you can’t do Now you’re in New York These streets will make you feel brand new Big lights will inspire you Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York
It had been 5 years since i had a drink with New York. Last time i was here i was living in Brooklyn with Babs and Teary came to visit. Lots of Gin and Tonics were had. Ahhh yes. We also manage to see Russell Crowe’s band 6 foot of Grunt (or whatever, they’re shit so i wont even bother googling it) this time, i saw ALICIA KEYS LIVE AT THE BEACON THEATRE IN NEW YORRRKKK best concert ever! it was her and the piano and lots of 14 hour candles. It was like i was in her living room. She performed for 2ish hours. Amazing. Hit every fucking note perfectly. She is perfect and I, yes me, got to be up close to her. I. Will. Never. Forget. This !:D I was on a high for over a week and yes im bragging. I will never not brag about this night. Thank you to Babs for getting me a last minute ticket. Next time i’m in NYC we’ll see something else x
Apart from Alicia Keys, i did go sight seeing and shopping. I wasnt too fussed sight seeing. I’ve seen it all before. Wait, did i mention i saw ALICIA KEYS!? :p
Naturally i didnt sleep after this concert. I took a 6am flight to..
LAS VEGAS- Pretty lights, Big City. I dont gamble. I dont usually get wasted. So i dont have an interesting story about Vegas. It is massive but the only thing that’s somewhat interesting is the “Strip” You could easily get lost with the amount of people, entertainers, drunks, gamblers and hustlers. Some of the hotels are amazing. Venetian to name one. Looks better inside than out. Who needs to leave this hotel when Venice is right inside with air con! Water show at the Belagio was pretty cool and Caesar.. well hello Celine Dion. Vegas was far too hot. The heat is a killer! But hey, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. All of my $1 that i gambled in the pokie machine
Hola MEHICO CITY- Wasnt at 3rd world as i thought. Not many people speak English here or maybe they just dont like too? I should really just learn Spanish. I loved Mehico. It has amazing architecture. Amazing painters. Amazing 80 cent tacos from street vendors
I walked up the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan nd i reached for the Sun to get some “energy” all i got was some wind burn. But i tried. It was amazing up there though. The view. The fresh air. Has some awesome tequila and i’m not a huge fan of tequila, mainly cos it tastes a bit rank but this one went down smoothly. Also had a local shot from a cactus. Meant to be an aphrodisiac. Maybe i needed a whole bottle to feel that.
Walked through the main part of Mehico which is called Zocolo (city square/down town). Walked through the Parliament (National Palace) where Diego Riviera’s mural hang. AMAZING. Wish i had a chance to see more of Frida Khalo’s paintings. Next time. I saw poverty. 20 mins outside of Zona Rosa where i stayed, are the “slums” i wish i had a chance to go inside and photograph but i’m guessing i wouldnt be leaving alive. Didint get a chance to see Lucha Libre (mexican wrestling) i had booked a ticket but then my tour guide decided he wanted to charge me more so i cancelled it all together. Bugger.
Visited Lady of Guadeloupe and the anthropologist museum. Learnt a lot about Aztecs. Mehico’s foundation is collapsing. To think, Mexico may not exist in the future 
What up SAN FRANCISCO- it has been 3 years since i was in San Francisco. One of my fav cities. It’s just so awesome here. The people. The city. It’s like Melbourne, but nothing beats Melbourne
I shopped a lot. I bought one to many sneakers than i actually needed. I didnt need them. I wanted them Was really good to catch up with my mates again. Perhaps smoke a bit of San Francisco green.. ehehe. I got to eatat my favorite restaurants, chill at bars and parks and just truly chill the fuck out. I have been constantly moving by this stage and this was a chance to enjoy being around good friends and having home cook meals and not dealing with hotels. Although i wasnt there long enough, it was still nice to pop in and say hello.
Aloha Hawaii- my chance to sit back, be a beached whale and sip cocktails. That’s exactly what i did for 5 days. I did no city tours. I did snorkel. It was disappointing. There were no turtles as per advertisement.. lies! I am comparing this to my amazing snorkeling adventure in Zanzibar, Tanzania
I know Hawaii is expensive but i managed to pick up a couple of watches and last minute presents for the folks back home. My helicopter ride got canceled due to bad traffic, they could pick me up in time. I was devo but next time i’m going to Maui. Waikiki is far too packed and the waves are vicious! i didnt surf, merely because i thought it was better for everyone around me not to die when i come crashing down on a surf board!
Here are some pics from my trip..just cos
xo
Tay
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Family & Food
Jammed packed long weekend filled with goodies, great company and a shit load of laughs.
Friday night I sketched a new painting that I currently have in my mind. Will start painting when I get back from my trip! Was also Ro’s birthday. We had dinner at the Great Northern Pub in Carlton. Big table full of lezzies. ha. One of the girls had a HUGE phone/computer. Big like an iPad but not as big. It was hilarious watching her be on it. Shame I didn’t get a picture. I thought it was a joke! I hovered down a parma which was technically half a chicken!
Then we moved onto the Cornish Arms on Syd Rd for Grouse. Dirty, shit music as usual but we were all there together and I was drunk. We partied on. I don’t understand why they don’t just get real DJ’s? The DJ’s that play there have no concept of “mixing” music. Surely my iPod could do a better job :S Even so, it’s always a good trashy night out.
Saturday – woke up a bit hung over with a raspy manly voice. Sexy. Stay in bed for ages doing F all! Then ran around doing erans with Tam and taking pictures. Drive-ins was an epic fail. We all got too comfortable and decided to stay in. Plus, hello, Sister Act II was on telly. I passed out as soon as that was finished though :/
Sunday, Tam had a wedding and her sister’s bday lunch to go too. I went to mama’s for some family time and some hot-pot. Mum always makes the best food! She gave me the usual earful about my hair and why I cant just grow it long and straight like a pretty little Cambodian girl. Then she had a go at me and dad for not waiting for the rest of the family and eating first, then she grabbed a bowl and joined us. Nice on. Hypocrite much? I rode around my old neighbourhood – Springvale and got some shots of where I grew up. It got really cold so I didn’t get to photograph as much as I wanted too
Then I made my way back to Tam’s where Rachel, her little niece was hanging out. Tam’s mum asked me to get Rachel into her PJ’s and into bed. Erm… I don’t have much experience with kids being the youngest of 5 but a few tickles here and there, rolling around on the carpet and 30 mins later I managed to get her into her PJ’s and into bed. We read 3 books together before lights out. Shes pretty cute. Cheeky but.
We then headed out for a karaoke sesh with Marli and Ro at Strike Chapel St. Hate Chapel St. Such dickheads. It’s the the wanker st of Melbourne. We hired out a room for 1 hour and dedicated love songs to each other. Quite hilarious actually! We tried our luck at gambling at the TAB. I lost $2. Tam could have won $8 but she got greedy.
Monday, took Tam for yum cha. I heart prawn dumplings! but I ate too much and felt sick after we worked it off by shopping on Bridge Rd in Richmond. I bought nothing. Tam bough everything. I found the jacket I was after for soo long, cept it doesn’t come in XS however it did come in XL. You cannot have XL if you’re not going to have XS. That’s the fashion rule. So the hunt continues We then got Thai Massages from our reg place. Awesome massage. She really dug into my shoulders like I had asked and for some reason my butt. Weird. The place was fucking freezing though!
Had a shit nights sleep.
Tuesday, school got cancelled. I ended up running around the city exchanging my monies to US dollars for my trip. I hate carrying a wad of cash. I also hate going into a bank and having the teller tell me how I should save and what account I should use to get a better interest. All I wanted is to withdraw my money. She also claimed that ANZ has the best travel card. Pfft. 3.5% on the loaded amount is definitely the better option as opposed to 1% at Travelex. High fives Teller lady
So after all that, I managed to get my travel card and exchange to cash! ka-ching!
Today, I felt some sort of inspiration to be creative but then I felt stuck on what to do. I thought I’d do a shoot with myself but that didn’t pan out. Instead I got cranky and jel over the lack of creativity I’ve been having as opposed to some other people. Ugh. Also paid 2 months rent in advance and a gas bill.
On an awesome note. One week from today I fly out to US of A for 4 weeks! well that’s if the Ash Cloud from Chile clears. Fingers and toes crossed! I’m off to drink pep tea and eat some fruit&nut choc block. Here are some pics. Just cos
xxx
Tay
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markets and movies
erm… well..i dont have much to say for this week. Been learning flash at school
Learning how to animate. I now have another idea for a new web site, this time for my friend Lee, who’s a tattooist and an awesome artist. I just have to get my hands on CS5 design programs. Anyone got a crack copy for MAC?
Just been busy with work and being creative. I fly out to America in exactly 2 weeks. A much needed adventure
Plan to have a new set of portraits for when i come home. Cant wait!
Erm, actually had a swim date with Keogh today. We did 20 laps of running, floating and swimming/splashing in the pool. Then we snuck into the spa and got kicked out after 2 mins cos we didnt have a wrist band
My back feels better though yay! and so does hers
Anyway enough said for this week. Aint guna bore you with useless shit.. I shot a little but my gf Tam also took the camera and came up with some random shots, guess which ones are hers ..just cos
xox
Tay
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Adele, paints & a blank canvas
So this week so far has been interesting… ill start form last Thursday.
Played Volleyball and we lost BUT we played extremely well and we’re only going to get better. Our 1st season ended with only being able to play 3 games, 2 as an actual team lol.. but next season starts soon and we will live up to our name and actually “kick ass”
Friday night, Chhen, my sister Terri and Tam came over. We pigged out on pizza and booze and talked shit. We actually managed to leave the house. Ended up at Revellers on Johnson St. Dead when we arrived at 11pm. Since when is it to early to go out at 11pm? Must be getting too old for this shit. We had endless shots at the bar and great boy band dance moves we made effortlessly. Ro and Marli joined in on the fun
Then we drifted off to Night Cat but arrived just as the band finished :/ so Maccas run it was. Cheese burgers, McChicken and nuggets, 3am… yeah clearly a good night out with the girls
Saturday was “i’m staying in bed ALL day watching movies” and it was a success! Had planned to baby sit but that fail as little Solly was sick so hung out and watched movies instead.
Sunday was spent cleaning Tam’s car and seeing my folks. Not much really.
Monday. Monday Monday Monday. FUCK YOU. Why do i always have a bad Monday as of late?
Work was meh. Got caught up in a meeting that ran 20 mins over time becos some people think its important to talk shit and feel like they have something to contribute to the team. Well ya dont. So shut it so i can leave. Natually i missed my train home which led to less time to relax before school. Metro then decided to cancel my train which left me late for school AGAIN. My tardiness is getting out of control. Walked to Essendon tram stop. Tram delayed. Awesome. Made it to class 15 mins late. Then exactly 8.50pm when class was about to end i lose ALL of my work. EFF!
All i wanted to do was cry but i didnt even have the energy for that.
Tues.. why do i work with stupid people? Why do some people actually have a job? Attention to detail MUST BE adhere to in my job but no one seems to have it. This is why customers complain. AGL get your shit together.
We also had a meeting that ran for 1.5 hours which gave me time to do some non work related sketches, also found that that restructuring will be happening soon..AKA.. YOU’RE FIRED..which suits me fine. IF i’m still there when this happens, ill be happy to take my package thanks! Fingers crossed i’m actually not there then. Still job hunting. Still positive that there’s something great out there for me. There has to be! :/
Today was great though. Work was meh.. killed a lot of time doing..i cant actually remember what.. but i painted! i painted something awesome and it feels soooo fucking good to be painting and being creative! I cant believe how well it turned out and how i managed to finish it in 3 hours. Pumped up Adele and painted away until my dumbass pot head neighbour decided to bang on the wall at 7.30. Really dickhead? It wasn’t even loud and hello it’s Adele! APPRECIATE!
Besides a new painting, i only captured 5 pics this week. Bummed out but lacked the motivation to shoot. Will try again this week/weekend.
This is what i shot… just cos
xo
Tay
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Photo Walks
Last Thursday, JK and I went for a photo walk for about 2 hours. We talked shit, laughed and photographed
We then grabbed a drink at Horse with the GF and JK’s friend. I forget her name, but i like her. She’s hilarious
<3
Spent the weekend alone. The GF decided to leave me and venture out to tassie with Fleecy to check out moma museum. Said to be amazing. I’m jealous. I stayed home and finally managed to put up my photos and paintings around the house, to feel more at home. “I have nothing to do” turns in to “i have too much to do!”
Applied for a job and fixed up the resume. Laundry completed whilst talking to this stranger Asian lady. She was nice
Kicked back with Keogh who has horrible back pain and can barely move. Knocked back a few drinks with Lil and Brady at their flash pad. Manage to also shot gun some mushrooms for when they leave
Today was therapy day. Havent seen my psych in about 9 months… this was much needed. i laid everything out on the table for him. No tears though. Just endless conversation for an hour and my hacky sack.
His evaluation was to keep doing what i’m doing and to cut down the hours at work which i plan to do. Wish i could just work part time dammit! He couldn’t find anything negative in my actions but he also couldn’t point out the reason for anxiety. Think just concentrating on the good will eventually out weigh the negative. He also gave me some meditation advice which i plan on trying. Need stop my brain from going insane! And need to find a way to fix this broken sleep i have become a custom too
Who’s an expert at Meditation?
Helped Meena’s sister with her web site project for her course. She actually paid me :S
But right now, I’m feeling weak. My head hurts and my body aches. Perhaps i’m coming down with a cold. Perhaps over worked and over whelmed is hitting me right in the ass.
Sleep. Exactly what i need and lots of it.
Here are the pics from the photo walk, just cos
xo
Tay
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unexpected…
So firstly I need to say R.I.P Lachlan, my little fishy
He died about 1 hour ago. I came home, fed them and when I checked on them a little later he was floating upside down in the fish tank . I dont have the courage to flush him down the loo so I’m going to have a proper burial for him in a couple of days. I miss him already and yeah, I cried. Squishy, Mildred and Lachlan are my kids. I had a dream about them dying last night and found relief when I woke up and they were still alive but then Lachy died.
On a good note. I have been shooting. The anxious feeling isn’t as strong as it was last week. Found some positives and just keep telling myself AGL is supporting me financially. I also stuck up some post its around me desk saying “It’s only temporary” been working so fast.
School is good. Finished Ro’s website and making it live soon! Yay
Found a couple of jobs I’m going to apply for. Might be out of my league, but gotta be in it to win it! Also called up for a Dental Lab job.. yes dental.. but it was a creative role and I’m willing to try. I called up about it and spoke to a lady named Lydia. Bitch. Adamant the job wasn’t for me and presumptuous that I was pursuing a web design career since I’m studying it. Wow. Just cos someone studies something, does it mean they want to pursue it? What happened to just wanting to learn something creative? Or to just learn?
Oh well, snobby South Yarra bitch. Wouldn’t want to work there anyway!
This weeks been pretty ok
Shooting tomorrow with JK. Photowalk in the city. Should be ace!
Keeping the creativity on the hap!
Here is what I shot last week, just cos
xo
Tay
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Just Cos By Tay
So I signed up to WordPress.Com blog because right now I feel like I’m stuck in a rut and I don’t know what to do. It’s bringing me down.
I have been working Full time at AGL Energy for 2.5 years now. It’s not exactly what I want to do, but it’s a means to an end.
I’m bored. Everyday I’m doing the same shit and feel like my brain is wasting away for the corporate man. There is room to grow, but I don’t want to grow anywhere in this company. It’s not a shit job. In fact, they pay me well and the hours are flexible. It’s just not for me.
I fell into it because I just got back from traveling America 2.5 years ago and I needed a job. I decided to take a break and just do a mundane job until I worked out what it is I really wanted to do. I still haven’t figured that out. Has anyone?
All I know is photography. I studied 3 years and worked in the industry for 8. I decided all i wanted to do is Documentary Photography, but until that can pay the rent and bills, I need something else.
This year I’ve enrolled myself into a Web Design course at Grenadi School of Design. I am there 2 nights a week, 6 hours all up until November this year. I’m not sure if that’s what I really want to do, but I wanted to learn a new skill. A creative skill until I work things out.
I’m hoping to find a creative job to make ends meet. One that I am constantly challenged in but i a creative field. I can’t seem to find anything.
I spent 4 hours after work last night in tears. Balling my eyes out cos I am making baby steps to make the change. Going to school, emailing companies to volunteer my time, even working on a solo exhibition, but I am failing to see this. I feel like I need to see results now but results will come in time. It’s never going to happen overnight. What I know is, I have to not let it consume me. Eat me up. Things will work out when they are meant too. In the mean time I know I need to calm the fuck down and do things that make me happy, that keep me creative and just remember that AGL is just putting a roof over my head, feeding my gut and paying for school. It’s temporary. But only I can make the change and I’m doing it.
Woke up this morning and decided that I wasn’t going into work today. Called in. Mental Health day. I felt a bit meh this morning but kept telling myself I am better than this and I will not let it consume me. I am surrounded by awesome friends, the greatest, most supportive, beautiful Girlfriend I can ever ask for and a caring family. There really is nothing to cry about because I will make something of my life. I will not be at AGL til I’m 40, wasting away. NO!
I had some toast, some juice and pumped up my tyres and rode my bike for an hour or so around my hood. I had my 400D on hand, 50 mm lens and my Ipod. I figured, what better place to start than shooting the things around me right now?
Listening to Little Red’s Midnight to Remember- i captured these, just cos
xo
Tay
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