Sheila Bocchine, Photographer

Waterfalls on Jeju Island, South Korea. (Hipstamatic photograph – iphoneography)
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Dream Diary
September 2 – Thursday

I was walking around San Francisco on a beautiful evening. I came across this guy in front of a fancy apartment building. He was trying to get 5 dates. He was tall, dark hair, nice body, very handsome. He asked if I would be go out with him. I thought his project was interesting so I said yes. He went out with me and one other girl but decided that he didn’t need to go on the other dates because he found me. We went ice skating and swimming at an indoor pool. We were making out in the swimming pool and paparazzi photographed us. We were on the front page of the newspaper. It was only then that I found out how rich he was, and his mother demanded to meet this girl. I met his mom and she loved me.

It got colder outside and I was with some friends at a paper store. We were looking for holiday gifts. I thought about painting him a shirt and then decided to make him a card, but left everything in the store and went to a boutique to buy him an outfit. I remember thinking his pant size must be 34/32. I bought him pinstripped gray and black wool pants with a thick, knitted creme sweater. On my way to the boutique I walked slowly, looking for a camera card I though I lost on that street a while ago. I didn’t find it.

September 1 – Wednesday
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I was with my family. Making plans to show them around in the morning. No one could sleep. No one had anything to wear. The furniture wasn’t mine and I didn’t recognize it. In the morning I left. But I was in Arizona. I went to this HUGE empty pool with crazy water-slides and additional weird shaped pools. Next to it was an apartment building with people hanging out on their balconies. I was with Tracyann and Derrick Mains. All of a sudden the pool started filling with water. I remember wondering where was the water coming from. I went from the bottom of the pool to the top, the water rising and carrying me with it. It was this amazing place with crystal clear water. We were walking along the edge of the pool and Derrick lost his shoe. The people on the balcony wanted to know how far we traveled to get to this pool. Tracyann and Derrick lived really close, I lived really far, but they said 90 minutes. The people on the balcony thought we were crazy for traveling so far for a silly pool. They didn’t understand why this pool so was important to us. Then they asked what city we lived in. Tracyann lied again. She told them we lived in Scottsdale off of Scottsdale Road and Pine Street. She told them that the house had cactus in the front yard. We played in the water and I woke up.

I’ve decided to share recipes with you that I’ve made.  I enjoy preparing food, can’t call it cooking for my kitchen is not equip with a stove.  I had it removed.  I never used it.  It was taking up VERY PRECIOUS counter space. Now I can use a blender and a dehydrator at the same time!

I wish I had cilantro this week (and every week).  I found a recipe called Mexican Cauliflower Rice on this website.  I liked all the ingredients and it was easy to make.  I subbed parsley for the cilantro and probably over processed my ‘rice’. I also added her suggestion of red bell pepper.  Over all, I thought it was okay.  I’m sure it would have been better with cilantro. I used to love parsley until I moved to South Korea, where it’s the only herb I can find without traveling 2 hours to a little basement specialty market.

For dinner I stuffed a yellow bell pepper with rice and added sliced cucumbers.  I broke off pieces of the pepper and used them and the cucumber slices as vessels for my ‘rice’ which is now more like salsa.  I liked it better that way, but it would have been great with cilantro.

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Today I made guacamole! I went to the Galleria the other day looking for a duvet cover and left with 2 of the most beautiful avocado’s I’ve ever seen.  Granted they were $12 but I knew they weren’t going to be moldy like the ones at the market near my home. They did not disappoint. I sliced one open today and it was perfectly creamy and super delicious.  I had to force myself to save it for dinner, all I wanted to do was sprinkle a little sea salt and eat it with a spoon!  Instead I diced it, and added about 10 cherry tomatoes, half a cucumber, a splash of lemon, a cap full of apple cider vinegar and a sprinkle of salt.  OH!  How I wished I had cilantro.  What is guacamole without every bite full of zesty cilantro… well, it was dinner. I sliced a huge carrot chips and when dinner rolled around it was exactly what I needed after dealing with crying kindergartners.

August 31 – Tuesday
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I had 3 dreams but the worst was the killer flying ants. I was at work in a classroom. The layout of the school was different but I was teaching ILC materials to my students. We were trying to figure out the name of an Indian movie, but my iPhone wasn’t working. At one point it seemed my students were adults. We noticed lots of flying ants enter the room and we had spray to kill them. They were killer flying ants. When the spray ran out I ran to my bosses office and was screaming for Sunny. I needed more RIGHT NOW. She took her time getting to the door and while she was making more spray the killer flying ants were gathering outside her door. I was trying to keep them off me. I know that one, almost see thru and small bit me. I started screaming for Sunny. She finally opened her office door with the spray but didn’t have the right nozzle. We found one, I entered the classroom and held my breath and started spraying… I woke up gasping for air, out of breath.
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I was home during street fair in Concordia. Only it wasn’t Concordia. But I knew that it was. I was with a mix of my old friends and new friends. We were up high, and we wanted to make sure we had the best seats for the parade. So they told me to go into the room and they would be right in. I had to take off my shoes before entering. I went inside and got great seats in front of the big window in the front row. There were a few people already waiting inside. I wondered why none of my friends were there. I went to see if they were still taking off their shoes. They were gone. I felt so sad and alone. I called one of them and they said that I was silly and there was 12 hours before the parade, that they weren’t going to sit there and wait. They were going to the museum and to ride some rides. I constructed this long text message to them, because I had an iPhone, I could do that. I knew when I was sending it that it would come out in 6-8 texts on their phone. Then I left. I did not go find them.
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I was in Altus, Oklahoma. On the street my nana lived on, and I lived in when I was a baby. I was on a bus. I realized that I missed my stop, so I got off on the next stop. In front of me was a dirt road and beyond that were houses that looked very Mexican. I was thinking, I know I’m not suppose to go over there, but one night I’ll take a walk that that way. There were suppose to be dangerous thieves on the dirt road. Behind me it was dark, night time. I started walking down a beautiful street with boutiques and trees. I fumbled my iPhone and dropped it. A bus ran over it, then backed up and ran over it again, and once more when it started going in the right direction. I was in tears and I picked up the phone, it was almost unharmed! It had a few scratches where the pink cover came off, but the camera and the screen were perfect. I kept looking for something wrong, but nothing!! I started walking down the street. I saw a boutique called ‘Sandra Juto’. I was giddy. She was one of my favorites, everything in her window was gorgeous. I did not go in, but in the window I noticed that Sandra was actually in her boutique. There was another door and I decided to go in. I talked to her for a bit and told her that if I had money, I would buy everything up right now! Then I told her, I’ll definitely be one of her best customers once I get my first paycheck. The most adorable knitted things were everywhere. I wanted it all. Then I woke up.

Busuk-Temple in Younju, Kyungbuk, Korea (Hipstamatic photograph, iphoneography)
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I can’t believe it’s already Tuesday again. This week I decided to share some of my favorite ‘art’ blogs (and websites) with you. Again, there are numerous, making the choice incredibly difficult.  I quite enjoy stalking artists blogs and I’m so grateful for the abundance of creative energies found on the internet. There is so much art, it’s impossible to see everything, but here’s a good start! Also, if you have one that you love to read, please, please, please share with me!

1. Artforum

2. Life in LoFi: iphoneography

3. NPR: Arts and Life

4. PostSecret

5. Chris Keeney Photo

6. Flavorwire/Artkrush

7. 20×200 and Jen Bekman

8. Aperture

9. My love for you…

10. Sandra Juto (she just had to restart her blog because of technical difficulties…)

This summer I’ve been making friends with all sorts of bugs from the pizzeria to the tea house to the countryside. I’ve been fascinated with photographing them, hipstamatic style. Here are a few of my favorites (and for others click here or check my flickr):

Hipstamatic photograph of a dragon at the Lantern Festival on Jeju Island, South Korea.
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I LOVE reading blogs. I could spend the whole day perusing blogs. I could stay up all night blog-hopping (which I do too often). I love acquiring new knowledge and blogs are an incredible wealth of information. Here are ONLY 10 design blogs I like to read, too bad it’s not 20 on Tuesday or 50 on Tuesday!  So much inspiration can be found on these 10 blogs! (Hey, Yes, I know it’s not Tuesday, it’s Thursday in some parts of the world, and here, it’s the wee hours of Friday…)

Enjoy!!!

1. Design*Sponge

2.  Apartment Therapy

3. Oh Joy!

4. Decor8

5. A cup of Jo

6. gala darling

7. Inhabitat

8. The City Sage

9. Bliss

10. Bloesem

Oh! How I love the beach! Grainy sand between my toes. Ocean’s brine bursting with flavor on my tongue. Sounds of waves slowly wash upon the shore. Echos of laughter.

This was a particularly special beach day. Swirls of fog swallowed us up as we splashed under a canopy of soft, gray, rolling clouds. Warm water even with an absent sun. Post lunch, a light sprinkling of rain felt cool as we bobbed up and down in our pink Little Mermaid inner tubes. AND then! A clap of thunder, a downpour of oversized crystal raindrops dimpled the thirsty sea.

As we jumped into waves, cheering with delight, I could not help gazing out to sea, daydreaming of faraway lands and looming adventure. What great fortune to have experienced harmony with nature, to partake in this ‘water cycle’.

I spent the weekend in the countryside and at the beach in Samcheok, South Korea with some of my favorite dancers from the salsa club, Turn. I was forewarned about the rural nature of this trip and at first even declined their invitation but figured with such good company I could look past the non 5 star accommodations.  There were definitely highlights to the weekend, and I’m glad I experienced a trip like this, if only to know in the future to politely decline!

I’m not a camper, never was, never will be. I was told there was a ‘small house’ with a ‘bathroom’ that needed a bucket of water or two in order to flush.  I thought, that doesn’t sound sooooooooooooo baaadddd… Oh, but it was.  I even avoided drinking and ate less than normal, just to avoid having to face the hole in the ground disguised as a toilet.

After an excellent night’s sleep on a hard, wooden table covered with a blanket, I awoke bright and early thinking we were headed to the beach. I brushed my teeth with a water hose and needed 3 people to help me use the bathroom.  Where do I get a bucket?  Where do I put the water in the toilet?  In the bottom, okay.  No, that didn’t work.  Try the top, okay.  No that didn’t work either.  Try another bucket in the bottom?  Okay.  That finally worked.

Found out we weren’t leaving for the beach until the rest of the dancers arrived. So I went for a morning walk through the foggy countryside. I inhaled deep breaths of fresh air. I felt the humidity moisten my skin.  I was c0mpletely surrounded by beauty.

I was at one with nature. Slowly walking down the curvy road looking for an excuse to use my hipstamatic iPhone app!

I was particularly mesmerized by these stunning flowers. I’ve never seen anything like them. They were gorgeous, white and looked as if an artist knit them with strands of delicate threads. (If you know what they are, please tell me!!)

I even saw some flowers resembling the ones my mom would suck sweet honey from when I was a child, but I don’t believe they were.

I enjoy living in the city but was soaking up as much luscious green life as possible. Enjoying the clean, country air. Closing my eyes and absorbing the rejuvenating plant energy. Listening to the morning song of bugs awaking; nature’s alarm clock.

I bid farewell to the spider and hurried back to ‘camp’ hoping for a green light to the beach. Unfortunately, no one had yet arrived and I got stuck shucking corn and doing other laborious jobs like a country peasant.  (Beach photos coming tomorrow)

Hipstamatic print – Woke up early on Saturday morning and went for a walk in the foggy countryside near Samcheok, South Korea.
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I went ‘camping’ over the weekend.  Yes, we  were staying in a ‘house’ but it was essentially camping.  So this week’s 10 on Tuesday is a list of things I know to be true about myself and I shouldn’t try to change…

1. I don’t like camping. It’s as simple as it sounds.  I enjoy nature and being outdoors, but at the end of the day I want to sleep on a bed (not a wooden table) and use a real bathroom (not a room with a toilet that needs buckets of water in order to flush, that I must bring with me before I use it).  I don’t want to rough it.  I don’t want to be dirty.  I don’t want to go backpacking.  I don’t want to travel like a hobo. I don’t want to sleep in a tent.  I don’t want to hitchhike.  Where’s the boutique hotel and taxi?

2. I love big cities.  The surrounding buzzing energy is my power cord. I can people watch for hours.  I can walk aimlessly with no plan for hours. I can walk into any building that draws my attention.  I can meander through alleyways, side streets and under bridges with my camera for hours. Memorizing city maps has been a lifelong hobby.  The bigger the city the more I want to go there!!

3. I love beaches. Sand between my toes. Tropical weather. Warm rain. Fresh fruit. Salt water. Seaweed. Crabs. Colorful umbrellas. Floating. Inner tubes. Waves. Endless views of water and sky.

4. I love photography, especially pinhole and now, hipstamatic.  I was depressed for a while due to lack of inspiration. I thought moving to a new country would have cured that deadly photographer’s disease. The cure came in the form of an iphone app. Run out of inspiration?  There’s an iphone app for that. (wink, wink)!

Currently, I can’t stop taking photographs. I see in Roboto Glitter Lenses, Berry Pop Flashes and Ina’s 1969 film. Want to see some of my latest photos:

Flickr

Facebook – way more photographs

5. I love shopping!  From thrift stores to vintage boutiques to fancy department shops! I love looking at styled mannequins!  I love trying things on!  I love buying accessories! I love fashion magazine ads! I love watching the Style Channels on TV!  I love reading about the latest trends!  I love following the lines of my favorite designers!  I love that some of my friends are fashion designers!  I love high quality fabrics! I love looking at people’s fashion choices!  I love anything vintage!

6. If I read about it, I’m probably going to want to try it. If you know me, you should just agree to go along for the ride and enjoy yourself! I also can’t guarantee that it will hold my attention for very long… so when I tire of the idea, I’ll completely lose interest.

7. I change my mind. Often. Don’t take it personally. I usually want both options, so I flip back and forth, forth and back.  Everything always sounds good. Why do we have to make choices? I sometimes wish I could be one of the people who make a decision and sticks with it, but I’m not.  I probably can’t change that, and to be honest, don’t want to change that sometimes annoying personality trait!

8. I’m not sure ‘settling’ down is for me.  I tried it, I really did.  I was happy for a bit, but the longing to go explore a new city was overwhelming. I try to daydream about what life would be like if I were married with children and it’s a hilariously bad sitcom… except it wouldn’t be over in 30 minutes.  It would be forever. Now finding a lover who also feels the same way would be quite lovely!

9. I love to sleep.  I’ll cancel plans just to sleep. I have no problem sleeping the day away or sleeping 12 or more hours straight. In the morning I’ll hit snooze for an hour, just to sleep for a little longer.  Sleeping leads to my all time favorite activity: dreaming! I truly believe that when we’re awake we’re really dreaming and vice versa.  My ‘real life’ happens when I’m ‘sleeping’. Our ‘waking hours’ are really to give us a break and much needed rest.  I lead the most exciting ‘dream’ life! I never want to ‘wake up’!!

10. I don’t like laborious work. I don’t like to clean.  If I cook, I want someone else to clean.  I think I should have a maid come clean my bathroom and change my sheets every week. I could never work on a farm or in a factory. If it’s manual or hard, I’ll find a way out of it.  I haven’t done laundry in years…