pass the dutchie on the left hand side

as i was riding my bike (adoringly named sweet ride) to work today, i passed an suv whose sound system was blaring, "pass the dutchie on the left hand side." and now, i've got that one line in my head, pass the dutchie, pass the dutchie...

i've been temping as a receptionist/admin assistant this week at a property management company. with offices all around the world, france, mexico, china, poland, spain, it's not really a company, it's more of a huge "pinky, we're going to take over the world!" sort of corporation. it's a job, nothing more, nothing less. it pays a decent wage and if the biggest downside is that i suffer somewhat intense and sporadic bouts of boredom, it's not all that bad. gotta keep things in perspective. after a brief re-encounter with the restaurant world and realizing that i did not, at all, want to be working in a restaurant, especially one that was loaded with drama and bullllllllshit, i opted to temp instead.

within a week, i've gotten to know the cast of characters that essentially keep the building operating--the security guards, the management, the engineers, the administrators of the tenants. it's been interesting to observe the happenings and realize yet again how predictable office environments can be. thank goodness tomorrow is my last day.

eeny, meeny, miny, moe

for a wee while now, i've been thinking, digesting and quietly deliberating on what i'm doing in the present, immediate and not too distant future. not too long ago, i thought that going to nepal would be a great way to travel, learn new skills, and allow myself the chance for exciting and fun opportunities to arise. and now, with the sobering realization that i simply don't have the funds to ensure that that is going to happen, i've begun to focus my energy elsewhere. perhaps you are thinking to youself, "is ji sun smoking crack?!" the answer to that question is, yes. yes i am. and it's good. and i'm not sharing.

i want to thank those of you who have been so incredibly helpful, eager, and generous in supporting me (and not necessarily monetarily) these past few weeks with the nepal possibility. it has meant so much (SO MUCH!!!) to me to know that i am surrounded by warmth, love, and good cheer, especially during these times of transition, doubt and confusion. the funds that have been donated to spw, are still going to a good cause and i apologize but all donations are non-refundable. the bloggle, however, is still on. get your bids in!

for those with curious minds, i'll have you know, that for as random and sporadic as my adventures may seem, there is a grand master ji plan to it all. in due time, in due time...

a cooking/dancing/knitting lesson

want to acquire any of the above skills? would you like to learn more about cooking (and impressing a certain special someone?!?), dancing (and breaking it down on the dance floor with much attitude!) or knitting yourself a fabulous cozy, stylish autumn scarf? you may choose a 90 minute lesson of your choice, by yours truly. i'll have you laughing, smiling, and learning in seconds! guaranteed! (if a knitting lesson is chosen, you may need to purchase additional materials.)

bid starts at $10.
last day to bid, october 5th, 12am. est.

bookish lady

look looky here! a collection of writing-related goodies from bookish lady, moira mccauley (http://www.bookishlady.com)! it takes two to make a thing go right! it takes two to make it outta sight! two journals (including the taco album cover journal!), two mini notebooks, two linocut greeting cards, and 4 letterpressed postcards. boo-yah!

starting bid: $25.
this bid closes on october 4th, 12am est.

journal for writing and doodling

applauding amber haynes!

this is a lovely handmade graph paper journal made by amber, designer, do gooder, creative redhead who loves the color green. she is a multi-talented, multi-tasking goddess!

bids begin at $25.
bids end on october 3, midnight.
bid and get your goods!

earrings by kb

introducing kristina bilonick, aka kb!

kristina bilonick and i met at the first ever crafty bastards fair in dc. back in 2005, her booth was next to amber's--another kickass crafty bastard, her post coming soon!--and within minutes of meeting each other, we were chatterbox central. she silkscreens apparel (her latest is "flava flav!" check it out at the crafty bastards fair on sept 30th.) and makes the jewelry, as she says, some for keeping and some for selling. bid on these glass beauties.
starting bid: $15.
this bid closes october 3, midnight.
use the comments page to place a bid.

a star among darkness

cheer gifted bookmaker (and might i also add, yummilicious baker!):
patty lee

patty says: "a star among darkness" is a handmade book that can be used as a scrapbook or a photo album. the pages are made to expand with what you put into it. "a star among darkness" (like most handmade goods) requires a closer look. crowned with blue goldstone and onyx, at first glance it is enveloped by the dark yet upon closer admiration, there is a glimmer of light in the depths.

the book measures 8 1/2 " x 6 1/2" and is made from wood, paper, & metal. starting bid: $35.
this bid will close on wednesday october 3, midnight, est.
use the comments page to place a bid.

the hulking specters of a bygone age

high-five artist/designer/photographer extraordinaire:
kathi mcfarland.

she is currently taking a letterpress class and this is her first poster! those familiar with seattle will recognize these hulking specters, indeed.

starting bid: $10.
this bid will close on october 2nd, 12:00 am est.
use the comments page to place a bid.

bloggle

a 2-part introduction:
numero uno
this is the post where i explain the creation of sojourn, my blog. (i've decided it's not worth keeping track of my previous blog attempts--there were many. suffice it to say that i often vacillate between the desire to chart my adventures, musings, happenings, insights and hilarity online to wishing i wasn't so connected to the computer...) when i returned from my, ahem, sojourn, from new zealand, i found a summer job working as a farmers market intern at the capital area foodbank in dc. my co-worker, ann and i were chit-chatting about housing in dc and she mentioned that one of her house-mates would be gone for the month of july and asked whether i'd be interested in subletting? oh hell yes. while i didn't mind commuting (holla marc from bmore!) the idea of being able to ride my bike to work and not rushing to catch the train sounded immensely appealing. mmmmhmmm!

at the lovely house (and i do mean lovely: front porch, screened in back porch, hardwood floors, veggie garden (garden!) fabulous red kitchen counter tops) i met the other amazing ladies of fern place and began talking to julia about spw--student partnerships worldwide. based on our conversations and my desire to continue sojourning, i decided to volunteer with spw in nepal for 7 months starting this november. yes. i know. it's less than 7 weeks away. now, the thing that makes the time frame even trickier is that i have to raise a hefty sum of moolah before departure time. $6400 minimum. that translates to about $130.62 a day. and that's not even calculating other costs, like equipment or partial airfare. i must be insane.
or crafty. or both!
numero dos
i now introduce to you my idea of the bloggle. it's part blog, part raffle. you see, my pretties, i've asked my amazing crafty artsy friends to donate a fine good to my nepal fund. for each item, i'll create a post and those itching to get their grubby hands on the prize will use the comment page to bid on the goods. the person with highest bid will win! it's a win win bloggle! you win a sweet piece of artwork, i win with more dough in my nepal fund. get ready, the bloggle entries forthcoming...

names and titles

years ago, my good friend with always excellent taste in music, ryan, nicknamed me sojourn. the dictionary defines "sojourn" as a temporary stay. i like the sound of sojourner better than traveler. i like that when i sojourn, i stay places, however brief it may be. i am visiting, vacationing, resting and stopping.