Moved!

After much careful thought and consideration, I have decided to move my blog to the WordPress platform. You can find it at:

http://www.geekinheels.com/

I love Squarespace — I really do. But I have two main problems with it:

1. The lack of threaded comments. Squarespace recommends that if you want this option, you can use a third-party application such as Disqus or IntenseDebate. However, I do not like the fact that you cannot import your existing Squarespace comments to these platforms. Additionally, using these services requires that you host your comments on their servers...what happens if those servers go down, or if these companies were ever to shut down?


2. The lack of an Android app. When the Squarespace iPhone app was released, I was sure that an Android app would soon be on its way. After all, Android does not place nearly as much restrictions on its developers, and it is currently the fastest-growing mobile platform in the world. So imagine my surprise when an iPad app was released instead...with no word at all about an Android app.

I plan on keeping this site open, and if Squarespace ever releases threaded comments and an Android app, you can be sure that I will migrate right back!

Blogging Break

In addition to Claire's extra fussiness during the past week, a series of circumstances have left me severely disappointed and disheartened with the world and its inhabitants.

Furthermore, J's parents will be returning to Hong Kong tomorrow. Which means that it will be just me with the baby (and Comang) from now on while J is at work. While I am grateful for all the help that my in-laws have provided, I wish they had gradually given me more time alone with the baby so that I will not be scared so sh*tless for the upcoming days/weeks/months (however long it will take for me to adjust to my new living situation).

As such, I have decided to take a break from blogging.

I am not sure how long it will last, but hopefully it will not be for too long.

I hope everyone has a great start to the new year!

Happy New Year!

(image courtesy of Little Seouls Blog)

I remember when I was little, the best part about New Year's Day was not the gathering of family or the delicious food. The best part of New Year's Day for me — and for millions of other Korean kids — was getting dressed in our hanbok (traditional Korean dress) and doing the traditional bow to relatives while wishing them a happy and prosperous new year, who would in turn give us money. Cha-ching!

My sister and I would usually consider ourselves lucky if we received $20 from an elder. It wasn't until years later that we discovered some of our friends would receive upwards of $500 from a single relative!

When Claire gets older, you can be sure that I will be dressing her in a hanbok and drive over to my parents' so that she can partake in this tradition too. And come the Lunar New Year, we will take her to J's family festivities where she will be bombarded with red pockets filled with money. What a lucky little girl!

But for this year, while she is still a baby and too young to understand these traditions, she will merely grace us with her presence, which is all we expect from her but appreciate all the same.

Happy 2011, and 새해 복 많이 받으세요!

Adieu, 2010

Things have been a bit hectic, tiring, and cranky in our household this week as Claire has entered another difficult phase. We're not sure if it is another growth spurt or teething, but our now-3-month-old (as of yesterday!) has not been this fussy since she was 6 weeks old.

We will be ringing in the new year in typical new parents' style: a quiet night at home — that is, if we're not already passed out by the time the clock hits midnight. If we are still up, we may sneak downstairs for a few minutes to watch the ball drop (we have a decent view of Times Square from just outside our building) and steal a New Year's kiss.

My resolution for 2011 is simple: to be more grateful and thankful. I am such a pessimist (and a drama queen) that I often overlook all the blessings in my life.

I hope that everyone has a great New Year's Eve, and wish you all the best in 2011!

(And if you're Korean, may your tummies be filled with tons of ddukgook tomorrow!)

The Beauty of Pixar

When I was little I wanted to be an animator at Disney. And as I got older and became fascinated with computers, I dreamed of working at Pixar as a graphics designer-slash-engineer.

My aspirations were serious enough to enlist the help of my uncle, who at the time held the very prestigious position of VP of Broadcasting at MBC studios in Korea. After touring the studios, speaking with some of the designers (and even getting some nifty demonstrations) and having a serious talk with my uncle, I came to the conclusion that while I will continue to study graphics design, I could never work for a large studio like Pixar doing so — the work would be too tedious, the competition fierce, and I would most likely have little to no creative control for decades.

...but when you see videos like the one below, you can't help but be transfixed by the beauty and intricacy of multidimensional animation.

And while I am content with my career choices and how my life has turned out, I can't help but think back to those days and wonder "what if."