Satoshi Kamiya Origami seminar

I went to the Satoshi Kamiya Origami seminar this past week. I think I first saw him on TV in a video my grandmother sent over, a Japanese program called TV Champion. It's a show about competing to find the ultimate in the field - and this episode was about origami. I was amazed to see this guy making all sorts of things during the show. I don't remember the show much, but I just remember I was quite amazed as he won through the competition easily.

Well, he came to Toronto to give a seminar. The one I attended was a beginner seminar that was open to the public. They apparently had an advanced seminar which would've been great to attend, but it was only open to insiders like the people at the Origami society and other Japanese groups.

Regardless, the beginner seminar was a lot of fun. It was a 1 hour slide presentation, followed by a hands-on portion where he would actually show how to make some things using origami. In the slide show, he introduced himself, how origami originated, and what kind of things he's been working on. He even took the time (about 10-15 min) to fold a bear that he created. During the time he was folding, he was doing question / answer session - and from the way he was just folding and answering questions - it seemed like his hands had a mind of its own. This guy lives and breathes origami... very smart.

The folding session was interesting. It made me feel out of touch with the origami community - there was a time when I was actively folding paper and learning... He didn't teach anything that was hard, but I didn't know any of the ones he showed, so I learned something :)

What was great was the samples of his work that he brought with him. It was displayed all around the room - and they were so crazy intricate. The dragon that he's known for... wow. Just sheer amazement. I took several photos of it but it's just amazing how he made all these - legs, claws, many many scales on the dragon from one piece of paper. I'm glad I went to see him... maybe I'll start folding something again :)

ROFL 2007 / holidays / new year!

Yes, yes... I really haven't updated at all in 2007. I should really try to update more often... Happy New Year! 2008, I hope I'd update more than I did in 2007... hahaha, which shouldn't be too hard, seeing I really didn't update much in 2007.

My holiday was rather busy this year. Because I took time off before Christmas in November, I decided I shouldn't take any extra time off during holidays... but boy, now looking back, I think I needed it.

My december started quite busy... jet lag coming back from Japan, catching a cold, crazy snowstorm and our company christmas party kept me away from the mall on the weekends. I really had not much time to shop this year for Christmas, but I think I did ok. I didn't freak out with what to get everyone this year, and got through the shopping pretty smoothly. I even got some great finds, some at sale prices! I'm pretty proud of that this year.

Christmas was a 3 day affair. Annual Family dinner at a certain buffet the weekend before Christmas kicked it off. It was after work, and with my sister-in-law's side of the family. This little gettogether really helped me get into the Christmas spirit that I was missing this year from lack of listening to Christmas music... as I was in Japan during the time malls switch to endless loops of Christmas music. Though these Christmas gettogethers always gets me in a down mood... not sure why. Maybe it's my "why am I celebrating Christmas?" mood kicking in...

Christmas day was spent with my side of the family, which is always a relief period for me. I guess it's something I appreciate because I'm relaxed with them and my family doesn't do anything crazy. This year I got to spend Christmas dinner with my family as well, which rarely happens (as I've always spent Christmas dinner at my husband's parents place, even before we got married). It was all good... quiet, relaxing Christmas day. And no turkey (my family doesn't do Christmas... we had a nice sukiyaki dinner). Ahh.

Boxing day was a crazy whirlwind of wrapping, boxing day shopping and going over to my husband's parents place for the Christmas dinner. I think we've always had boxing day to just boxing day shopping followed by recovering from Christmas dinner... This year, we just celebrated Christmas on boxing day... which was ok, I guess, but it greatly cut down on the time spent there (as we were shopping until like 6). Because we were late, everyone finished dinner already... so I was eating turkey dinner quickly while talking to people who are done dinner. I tried to eat quickly so we can open presents... but how do you wolf down a turkey quickly? Not fun, not fun...

On my last (full) day of work for 2007 year, I went to see a comedy show "ROFL2007" at the Theatre Passe Muraille. It's my 2nd time going, last year it was much warmer as it was during July. It was, though, maybe 3rd time seeing Deep performing stand up comedy. When I met him back in U of 'loo in the hallways of V2, I never thought he's the type of guy who'd do stand-up comedy. I mean, he is funny, yeah... I guess I never really knew anybody who'd go up on the stage to make people laugh. It's always great to see one of his shows, especially since I don't get to see him otherwise (last time I saw him was at my wedding a couple of years back).

The highlights included Rachel Peters who ate fire... what is more fun than a girl dressed up in a funny shiny costume eating fire... at a comedy show? It was not expected so it was funny... :)

Deep was always fun, especially 'cause I know how he's like in real life (i.e. off-stage?). Though I guess he's pretty much the same on stage or off. It's kinda funny to find out things that is happening in his life through his comedy...

The other standup that I enjoyed was the last guy on stage - Ben Mathai. He just made me laugh soooo much. If I had room on the floor in front of the chair, I'd be ROFL... It'll be nice to see him again. :)

After all that... the weekend was spent mostly cleaning and some shopping before new years. Went out on Sunday evening for a little while, to take a break from cleaning and see friends. It was a fun time with lasagna and wii games. I never realized how much I missed simple evenings like that... Gotta try to have more of those evenings in 2008.

Our place looked like a tornado had gone through after Christmas... not to mention all the stuff lying around after our vacation to Japan. It was good that I got to spend time cleaning before the new years, because I feel like we never have the time. We also cancelled our plans on new years eve and spent it mostly cleaning... and quiet dinner at home. We cancelled our plans for New Years day so that we can spend it at home. It felt like a first break we had in months - and it was great. :)

So now that the 2008 year is here, what's in store? I'd like to be more organized this year than last year... because I've been rather disorganized lately. I'm hoping I'll have more time for myself, doing things I enjoy like cooking. I'd like to be in a happier place mentally and physically... and try not to work or be stressed too much! Hoping for a goooood 2008... :)