I don’t consider myself that great with creative stuff in the artistic sense, which is why I never really got into Instagram and other photo-editing tools like it. However, I decided to give it a shot last night and had some fun with it so I might try doing it more. It’s so much effort though!

The original.

And the edited version.

Having fun with magnets!

Oh emoticons, where would I be without you?  You are an easy way for me to let the people I’m emailing and IMing that I’m just joking/teasing.  I use you to lighten up the mood with smiles, tongue-sticking-outs, and winks.  I even entertain and amuse people when I use my disgruntled face: -____-

Yup, you’re a great way for me to express myself when typing and probably crucial to setting the right tone.  I love to “say” things without words, like how much I <3 you.  Although, I must admit, sometimes it is difficult to interpret you.  What do you mean when you 8), exactly?  Or are you happy or sad when you ^__^;?

Well, whatever the case, I wouldn’t be as expressive typing if it weren’t for you.  Though you sometimes leave room for interpretation and allow for misunderstandings, I still feel I’m better off with you than without.  :)

One of my coworkers has been working hard to renovate his yard into the ultimate spot to hang out and throw some parties.  It was finally ready for its official unveiling today and he held a day-long party to celebrate!  I moseyed over around six and quickly fell into conversation after conversation.  My original plan of just stopping by for an hour or so soon dissolved and I settled in for hours of chillaxin’.  With a jacuzzi, bonfire pit, sand beneath your feet, ocean breeze swirling around, and wall projector, what more could you ask for?  This picture doesn’t do the place justice.

Between all the fun chatting and hanging out with some newly-made buddies, I took a detour to two guys’ apartments so they could change into something warmer for nighttime in the beach community.  Seeing these three places so close to the beach makes it a really appealing place to be.  Who doesn’t enjoy an ocean view?  I think I’d live a much more active lifestyle if I was right there.  It would make me want to walk around more.

I happened to have my Acu Hoop in the car, which is a 3-lb hula hoop meant for working out with.  Many tried, but few could master the moves it takes to use one of those suckers.  It was hilarious to see people try though!  Sure made for quite the entertainment when they’d try all sorts of hip wiggles and pelvic thrusts to keep it going.  Unfortunately, those motions don’t work very well for keeping such a heavy hula hoop going.  All you need to do is stand straight and move a little side to side.  I tried to teach a few, but they all attempted to move around too much.  Oh well, it was great entertainment!

I was one of the only girls there, which is quite reminiscent of my work environment, where I am currently the only girl.  It’s always an interesting dynamic, where I am either often the center of attention or pretty much ignored.  Today was much more of the former than I’ve had in awhile, and it was interesting.  I had a lot of fun even when I was teased, hassled, or otherwise talked about.  Boys will be boys, as I’ve learned.  These guys certainly knew how to have a lot of fun though and that brought out the bubbly side of me, which was great.  I haven’t been in situations like that lately, where I can be the sociable person I am in gatherings like today’s.  I enjoyed getting out and meeting new people while enjoying a really great part of LA.

Well gee, you can’t put a sign up like that without inviting me to exploit it just a little. All in good fun! I’ve taken so many action shots I’ve gotten the timing just right, but Panda still needs to perfect the skill…

Out one night with some friends and our group played Deal or No Deal, winning quite a bit!  Here are our tickets coming out:

And they just kept coming…

Finally, it was done and we were 500 tickets richer.

And what did we do with all those tickets?

Oh yes, we got ridiculously large sunglasses and then played air hockey until all our coins were gone. That is a sweet victory.

Taking a tour outside Bangkok and it’s time for lunch on the river, literally!

Then we zoomed upriver to the bamboo rafts awaiting us.

This looked like a fun party!

And a peaceful ride back down to our floating restaurant/hotel.

A short clip of an elephant ride I took and some pictures to go with!

elephant-riding from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

The elephants coming in so we can hop on for a ride!

Aww, I was tempted to try to "shake hands."

This little boy may be young, but he's an expert elephant driver!

Here comes my ride, ready for a spin.

I joined a mother-daughter pair on our elephant.

We were so high up I got a close look at these butterflies!

They've got this crazy coarse skin that feels really cool. Also note how their ears are used as racks for the hook used to cut up wood.

Check out how cool it is.

Oh dear, he just decided it was time and went for it.

Those hooks were used to get pieces of these trees for the elephants to eat. Apparently they find it very tasty.

We had a nice field to roam around and at one point, it looked like the people were floating in the trees.

And after our little spin around, it was time to return to the loading dock and head off to the next adventure.