A Pink Paperclip in Bangkok

Lost and Found

When I first saw the site, I promised to myself that I will share my story for the TCK Book Project. Today is the deadline and I just sent in 993 words of 100% Nikki. Whether or not they choose my story, it was a joy to find myself lost in the art of writing again and in articulating my TCK story for the first time.

My quote for the day, borrowed from the comedian Steve Martin: "I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper."

Rediscovery and Resolutions

I rediscovered my blog the other evening and enjoyed traveling through time re-reading my past entries. What a wonderful six years it has been. (I still can't believe it has been six years!)

I realized how much I miss blogging and told myself that I'll start again... especially since I should be able to post stuff via my iPhone. The last few months have been amazing and once again, I have so much back(b)log. Where do I start? Or is it better that I begin a new 365-day project in 2011?

I Was All Yellow

On the day I was wearing a yellow top and my happy yellow sandals, I came across this...


... my first yellow paperclip in Singapore! :-) Just when I thought things couldn't get better, the Universe gifts me with this happy sign. I am grateful.

The Fox and The Cat

The amazing May Ann Licudine and I collaborated once more for a funny version of the Grimm Brothers' The Fox and The Cat as part of the graphic novel anthology FRACTURED FABLES. It's a collection of familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes... but with a twist! It promises to be "like NO fairy tale book you've ever read before"!

Fractured Fables was launched at the Comic Convention in San Diego last July 14 and I was absolutely thrilled to get my copy at Kinokuniya Bookstore here in Singapore just a week later!

Order your copy now at Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/Fractured-Fables-HC-Various/dp/1607062690

A Red Paperclip Saves the Day

Wow! I can't believe my luck - another colorful paperclip in Singapore! :-) Things are definitely getting better. This red paperclip keychain saved the day as it unlocked the cabinet where I had to get materials for a client project.

Not One, But Two!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stepped out of church this morning. I saw not one, but TWO colorful paperclips... a green and an orange linked together! Where did they come from? Why were they linked? I don't have the answers but things are looking so much brighter now...

A Third Culture Paperclip

I had the honor of meeting Ruth Van Reken, author of Third Culture Kids: An Experience of Growing up Among Worlds, thanks to fellow Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCKs) here in Singapore. Fellow TCK Julia had told me about her book when I first visited her in San Diego in 2005. Reading her book was one of life's biggest a-ha!s: So that's why I'm different... I am a Third Culture Kid!

I had written The Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots a year earlier. It's pretty cool how the story is truly a TCK story at heart: a story about belonging, identity issues, diversity, and hellos and goodbyes. I gave Ruth a copy and I really hope that she enjoys my story.

Spending time with Ruth and the other ATCKs reminded me of an idea that was planted in my heart a few years ago: I want to write more stories for us Third Culture Kids! :-)

My Travel Buddy

My "seatmate" on the Amtrak from San Diego to Los Angeles... :-)

Bright Yellow and Blissfully In Love

She always loved sunflowers and their bright happy yellow-ness made the most perfect Spring day even more perfect. Trixy, one of my best friends in high school married Adrian, her best friend, and I'm just so happy that I was there (in my purple outfit!) at their beautiful wedding.

It was also a wonderful reunion: Julia, our other best friend (and the cream to our Oreo), was there with her husband and the lovely Leila, her 1-year old daughter. Spending time with them once again confirmed how our 15-year friendship is such a blessing. I love you both!

Half and Half

Spotted at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco

Recent Paperclip Sightings

Both were silver though. Sigh.

Purple/Yellow Ice Cream

Only in the Philippines: Ube (Yam) and Queso (Cheese) Ice Cream

Purple/Yellow Valentines

My dear friend Mia was in Singapore for the Chinese New Year weekend which coincided with Valentine's Day as well. We had a nice lunch and stroll around the Botanic Gardens on February 14 and I loved how our colors blended so well with the orchids!

Woooohoooo!

Oh happy day! I finally saw my first non-silver paperclip in Singapore today right outside our office door; bright green = there is hope!


It now has a special place on my office desk, among friends. :-)