We are back home!

It was quite a trip. I think I’ll break up Hong Kong and China entries over the next week just to pick up some highlights and not write one long draggy boring entry!

The point of my trip was to go with my dad, my brother, his wife, and other members of my father’s family to visit the cemetery where my grandfather and grandmother are buried. There is an annual holiday in China to honor your ancestors, so we paired a trip to China with a few days in Hong Kong as well. In China, we visited Ning Bo, where my grandfather is from, and Shanghai. There are no pictures from this part of the trip (during which I wore my wig) because I didn’t feel that picture-taking was appropriate. While I found a lot of stuff that happened there to be intriguing, I will save those details. I am fairly open about my life, but I know that my dad is quite private.

Actually, there are a few pictures from when we were in Shanghai at my grandmother’s house (no wig), but my cousin has them and I’m not sure if I’ll see them or not. We visited my grandma and were surprised to see her bed-ridden. I held her hand, but I don’t know if she knew who I was. It’s not that we were close. We’ve always had a language barrier and an ocean between us, but I always remember her as spunky and spry. And when she visited the states, she liked to make Boboli pizza at home and slice hot dogs on top! She also liked Rice Krispy treats, so I made them for her when she’d fly home.

The following day after we visited, she passed away. My dad is back in China and my mom flew in to meet him, but my brother and I flew home according to schedule.

I am really not a sappy, sentimental person, but, cherish your elders and visit them and talk to them, and if you speak the same language, you are lucky! Or, in a more broad sense, as Manda mentioned while we ate breakfast after she picked up Hairy and me from the airport: just remember to appreciate and cherish the people who are here and who love you.

On a lighter note, here is Bunny inside of the tree-trunk dog bed/house that Hairy bought at the Ladies Market in Mongkok/Kowloon. She has always been a burrowing dog, so we figured she might like a little house..and she does!!!!

This ghetto fobulousness is heading back to the homeland(s) on Tuesday: Hong Kong and Shanghai. I’m going with Hairy, my pops, my bro, and his lady, and we’ll be gone until the 9th. I’m excited to go away, but also I will miss my puppies, and also I will be stressing about not working/making money!! I’m gonna pack a bunch of projects and hope that there is some time to work, sad but true!

Anyhoodles, this is one of the shirts I made and had printed at zazzle.com. My brother works there. I’ve never liked the quality of print for CafePress or Spreadshirt shirts. I printed the exact same design at Spreadshirt as I did with Zazzle, and the one from Zazzle is way better. Don’t expect miracles, but, honestly, I was surprised how pleased I was with the Zazzle shirts….especially on dark clothing.

Today I need to drop off a mac-n-cheese cowl at my tattoo shop for their art show. The party is on Friday, April 3rd from 8pm to 11pm at Idle Hand Tattoo in the Lower Haight. I’ll still be out of the country, but please go and tell me what it’s like!! 😛

So everyone be well, save all your exciting stories for when I’m back, and….oh yeah….. DON’T EAT MANDARINQUATS!! THEY ARE YUCKY NO MATTER WHAT HAIRY SAYS!!!

Some of you may be familiar with the awesome DiY messageboard PunkRockDomestics.com and co-founder Ms. Heidi Minx. I also had the pleasure of working together with her on her upcoming craft book with St. Martin’s Press in my past life as a literary agent.

(photo is property of Franky & Minx)

She is now working very hard to develop Built on Respect, a non-profit started in true DIY style that helps support young people who are working towards positive social change!

Built on Respect is one of three finalists in the MySpace Impact Awards; this is a great opportunity! If Built on Respect wins, the charity receives a $10,000 grant, and AMAZING recognition on MySpace’s Impact channel!

Vote for Built
on Respect on MySpace Impact!

Built On Respect

I’m still waiting for my lips to get feeling back to eat something!!!! (Dental appointment)

As an aside, the other night, I told Hairy that I hoped my “spirit animal” was Chmurka, so I could sleep all day, and eat all night.

What’s your spirit animal?!!!!