this is too fun

madmen yourself
here, i did myself and my friend gregg:

hahaha

www.greggritchie.com: deuschland part 2

i like this andy warhol bldg!

www.greggritchie.com: deutschland! part 1

this is one of my faves:

this is one of my faves!:

nutcracker mania!!

this is one of my faves! also!

have some lunch

the most delicious you have ever tasted...ok, seen.  so vibrant, though, you can almost smell...
food is beautiful......

celebration of food

careful not to drool on ur keyboard..

gelato!!

gregg's talent/cloak of invisibility

...i think he's like a naturalist.  he doesn't ever disturb the environment; he's the consummate silent, hidden observer, never intervening or influencing.  it's pure record.  it feels like a secret he shares with you. (is that too much? i really feel that way)

he's so invisible, cars don't even hit him!

travel to far-off lands...

for free! with a great travel companion.

ITALY

SYRIA

another brilliant photog.

check out gregg's new WEBSITE!  ees gorgeous.
i esp like the cuteness in the gallery FACES.  the pictures seem very oregonian.  (u didn't know it was an adjective, eh?)

risk management with dave matthews. i like him!

here's a good song.  i like it; it works--music, lyrics, dave matthews' distinctive voice/style...
wanna hear?  you might die trying,  i first heard it on HOUSE, season 5, maybe episode 2 or 3. 
there's definitely a connection between dave matthews and hugh laurie.  he played a piano virtuoso in season 4, i think.  maybe they "jam" in real life.  as we know, sir laurie can play guitar, piano, sing, dance--quadruple threat, really.  he can juggle too.  so talented.

"You Might Die Trying"

To change the world,

Start with one step.

However small,

The first step is hardest of all.

Once you get your gait,

You will walkin tall.

You said you never did,

Cause you might die trying,

Cause you might die trying.

If you close your eyes,

Cuz the house is on fire.,,,

And think you couldn't move,

Until the fire dies.

[@davin:  the FREEZE of instinctive/primitive fear reaction.  thanks brain stem]

The things you never did,

Oh, cause you might die trying,

Cause you might die trying.

You'd be as good as dead,

Cause you might die trying,

Cause you might die trying.

If you give, you, you begin to live.

If you give, you begin to live.

You begin, you get the world.

If you give, you begin to live,

You get the world, you get the world.

If you give, you begin to live.

You might die trying.

Oh, you might die trying.

Yeah, you might die trying.

The things you never did,

Cause you might die trying;

You'd be as good as dead.

'Cuz you never did.

my hats don't fit anymore now

ARIGATO MUCHO MUCHO!!
thank you to JOHN who to my knowledge is not a relative, friend, nigerian prince, or even acquaintance for giving me huge boost of confidence and validation of my questionable blogging skillz.  you are SO nice to write me.  and now i will blatantly show off what you wrote because i'm trying to develop a healthy yet non-interfering ego.  (i know, shameless front-door bragging):

Received: 11:24 PM CST, 11/22/2009

From: John D
To: lisa.chong@stanfordalumni.org
Subject: the absolute best STL blog


Greetings,
My name is John and I have been most intrigued by your blog. I have been a
secret admirer for more than a couple of months now.

I believe you might just be the most interesting Saint Louis based blogger
I've discovered. I have had the opportunity to read many web logs, mostly
political in nature, but your writing is hilarious, smart & nonchalant. I
totally dig it.


Cheers!


John D

WHAT THE WHAT?  maybe Leos do live off flattery like oxygen? i think i'm taller too, now.
oh, john, i hope u don't mind that i posted this...whoops is this faux-pas de blogging?  now i'm really asking too much, but can you be an official follower so i feel like i gots more readers?  god i'm greedy.

since i actually have at least 3-4 readers who don't know me, and now that i'm completely wrapped up in myself, i will share some completely random personal details:
1.  i'm 5'10"
2.  i had previous career as actress/model
3.  i'm blonde, 22" waist, 32........................hahahahahaha, i can't keep this up
honestly, i'm such a big liar.  no, HONESTLY, i'm really an honest person (wink)--no REALLY i am.  i am constantly thinking how do i really really truthful pursue truth? i think about it like hourly some days.  and these days i'm disagreeing with the krishnamurti stuff--"you must see the false, to see the truth"  i find that sorta negative.  hahaha. sorry, this is an excellent way to segue into my flaws:
1.  i tend to laugh at my own accidental humor (and intentional attempts at humor, also, to be honest.)
2.  in the last 3 days i have had about...let's see, 3+4+3... rounding up, around 10 hrs of sleep.
3.  i cannot drink more than a 1¾ alcoholic drinks (i was going to say "generally", but it's kinda accurate)
4.  BUT, if i am having a really really good 'conversation' (ok, euphemism, sort of) then i can have 2+ depending on level of into-ness. ( i'm sure there's a scientific reasoning behind this.  does anyone know?  cuz i also realized that i always lose at scrabble to a guy that i'm also uh drawn to and it's become like a predictable test of how much i like someone.  do u get dumber and drunker when you are attracted to someone?  someone told me it's hormones or something. vague explanation that i didn't really buy at the time. please let me know.  am i the only one?  seriously, the scrabble-test --embarrasssingly telling.  can't focus. can't get a bingo.  and the harder i try, the worse it is)
5.  recently i've gathered from a variety of sources that i need to put duct tape over my mouth so i can stop interjecting and interrupting---it's become a real chronic problem.  i just get all revvvvved up and 5 things pop up in my head and i want to tell you sooo bad!!  it's not that i'm not interested in what you have to say! the more i interrupt is an indicator of my rising enthusiasm.  please understand that i'm REALLY into what you are saying.  but i'm working on it.  i've been subtly putting my fist in my mouth and carrying a pen/paper to scribble down little hints of what i'm thinking so i can politely express them later.
6.  i have tendency to over-share, i think.

THE END

[figuratively i am applying the duct tape now]

your turn! i'm listening

l'envy

this is aya when she was a grad student at 17, self-assured little pain..i mean GENIUS!~

aya, you lucky duck!  i will be playing brahms 2 avec le premier sac de douche chef d'orchestre de VOTRE pays (no, not bramwell tovey, kent nagano, pinchas zukerman...*triple-sigh*) while you are gallivanting around gay paris.  i should've checked my schedule before i even started to dream...i am very very joyeux that you are going though.  you've been before...? (i have not).  manger beaucoup (take pics before you consume!) and take TONS of pics.  then stop in st. louis and show them to me so i can live vicariously.  arigato!

*STUNNING PHOTO OF LE TOUR D'EIFFEL, GREGG RITCHIE.

**STUNNING PHOTO OF MS. MIYAGAWA, YOURS TRULY

let's trade eyeballs

i feel like i can borrow eyes for a moment when i see these pictures-- eyes full of worry and doubt wouldn't see things like this... so it's like an incredible favor. thank you so much. cuz my eyes don't work this way. literally life through these eyes is better, seems like. it's not a trick, or a fancy camera; it's true. (i tested it: photos taken with my camera by this person come out with this same feeling or whatever, and even in st. louis. believe it.)

go here and encourage him to share more with the world! do it for me! er i mean HUMANITY!

undisclosed location for dummies