i take my blogging way too seriously, part 2

--Coco Ichibanya Chicken Katsu/Cheese Curry.
--ramen!!
--Caffe Veloce Iced Cocoa.

Yeah, food is clearly associative for me.

Before Christmas, I decorated my apartment.  And then, when I went to Japan, I got some other thingys.  So now my place looks thoroughly lived in, cute, and boasts a random collection of art, Christmas cards, and small figurines. 

First up, my puzzles. Which, I might add, were a pain in the butt.  Had to get mr. lee to come drill holes in my cinderblock walls. Hope they aren't going to charge me for that when i leave...

The first one, Starry Night, a classic.  The second one is Art Nouveu, by Alphonse Maria Mucha.  I love his art.  I would like to find more of them in the future.  He really likes painting women, and series. For some reason his works remind me of neechan.  Probably cause she likes Art Nouveau as well.

Anyone who has ever visited a room I have lived in for a significant period of time has probably noticed that I like small figurines, usually animals.  Especially cats.  I kind of collect things like that.  When I was in Japan I discovered hashi-oki (chopstick rests) are great for that sort of thing. They are invariably small and usually cute.  I had two already, a tiger and a dragon from a series on the Juunishi (Zodiac Animals).  This time while I was in Kyoto, I picked up a few more.

Off to the left are the ones I had before, and then from the left - chirimen dragon and tiger, a normal dragon and tiger, but bigger and more cartoonish than my others, and lastly, a pair in Heian-period robes.  I like the chirimen ones the best, but chirimen things are just so adorable - I found out while I was there this time that it's a mostly Kyoto thing, and it's made by twisting the silk thread while weaving. 

Found these in Kiyomizudera at a handmade family-run shop and thought they were adorable. No dragons, unfortunately.  They did have lots of cows though, since that's this year.  Next year is my year!!  I hope I will get to visit Japan at some point during the year of the Tiger.  These two are very different styles, but both cute.

Last but not least - on New Year's Eve day I rode a bike down the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto and found these watercolors.   I thought they were beautiful, and so I picked out the ones I liked best.  There's some of my other stuff visible on the ledge, including my Hina Matsuri figures that Gizmo loves to play with when I'm at work.

And one last one, entirely out of order.  My museum postcards and Christmas cards.
Okay, now that's it's almost 3 AM and I have just paid $1,000 worth of bills (most of them student loans), I'm going to bed. I feel rather accomplished.  Tomorrow... other stuff.