Month: January 2019

Meow Wolf & The House of Eternal Return

Santa Fe has much to offer when it comes to art, as described in my previous blog entry. The first attraction I visited was Meow Wolf, a surreal, immersive art collective, where nothing is as it seems. The installation currently present is the House of Eternal Return. It’s like the Twilight Zone meets Alice in Wonderland.

A beautiful house where nothing is as it seems

What is Meow Wolf & the House of Eternal Return?

The backstory indicates that it’s a 2-story Victorian house harboring a secret that led to the Selig family’s disappearance, perhaps into another dimension of the universe. While the house seems like any other from the outside, it is riddled with wormholes to an alternate universe. Many portals and paths loop back into the house and back again, hence the name. The same pattern also happens in the backstory, where information loops back onto itself, while at the same time, applies to other information as well.

There are clues that give insight onto what may have happened. The visitor can go through diaries, letters, photographs, and lab handbooks inside the house, while exploring hidden passageways, nooks and crannies, rainbow caves, and even treehouses–all while charter agents in white lab coats are watching you.

A lovely day for a dinner party

It’s very easy to miss passageways or details, so you’ll come back hours later to discover them. For example, this black-and-white dining room was right under my nose for hours, because the door blended in with the wall. Seeing a doorknob piqued my interest. I’m not sure what this dining room has to do with the backstory, but it sure is a neat place to sit. Also, they’re not shown here, but there are monsters inside those cabinets.

Unraveling the mysteries of the House

The hamster’s name is Nimsesku, and he’s a crucial part of the story.

Another time, I saw a safe and couldn’t open it because I didn’t have the code. A couple hours later, I flipped through someone’s planner and found the code purely by accident! It took another half an hour to find the safe again. The code worked, and the safe revealed another piece of the puzzle.

There’s also another safe in the office of the house, which seems to be the main one. The code seems to work on both safes.

Can I just stay here forever?

It’s so easy to spend literally all day piecing together information of what happened to that family in the house. If you want to decode all of the clues and codes, you will practically need to move to Santa Fe and get an annual pass. A mystery like this one could take days or weeks to solve, with overwhelming amounts of information to sort through. Even if you succeed, it’s your–and only yours–interpretation alone. Nobody is right or wrong about their interpretations, because there are so many. The House of Eternal Return is designed to be open-ended like that. There are no formal endings to the story or mystery; it is what you make of it.

But remember to take care of yourself…

I got pretty hungry and didn’t want to eat, because that meant I would have to leave. Admission is an all-day pass, and there are food trucks outside, but it’s hard to break out of that entranced zone. The best comparison is like playing a video game, except that you are physically immersed in the game. You hear of those gamers that don’t take care of themselves because they’re so wrapped up in it… That was me at Meow Wolf. Maybe someone else may not view it as a “trap” the same way I did. It surely left an impression.

The main stage where performances are held

As an aside, Meow Wolf also hosts shows and events regularly. I haven’t been to one, but it has become a performance venue as well.

Being inside your own mind

Welcome to my home planet.

At the same time, it felt like my home planet. I never wanted to leave. It felt like being inside my own mind. Maybe that’s why it was all intuitive.

Some good advice

Santa Fe has an art scene that caters more towards the upscale. And then there’s something like Meow Wolf. This has been the highlight of my visit, and I will definitely be back!

Santa Fe, the City Different

Santa Fe, NM is the first trip of 2019, where I got to see a dear friend and her family for the first time in seven years. It’s an artistic city, where artists like Georgia O’Keefe once lived. Native American influence is also prevalent. I went during the off-season, where it wasn’t crowded at all.

Snow in the high desert

There is something about snow that amplifies an eerie yet comforting silence.

Also known as the City Different, the small Southwestern city sits in the high desert at an elevation of 7,199 feet. For a sea-leveler like me, it can be a lot to adjust to. Altitude sickness varies for each person. It’s better to take at least a day or so to acclimate to the higher elevation than jump right into working out like I did.

The very first morning after landing in Santa Fe, I attempted to run 10 miles, which was an experience. I was so out of breath at mile 7. Pressure slowly built up in my head before turning into a full-blown headache. I slept the entire day afterwards.

Navajo influences are ubiquitous, as seen on this rug.

When thinking of the desert, images could be cacti, cow skulls, and adobe homes under the bright sun. Snow doesn’t always come to mind. It’s the first time I saw snow in the desert, and it was quite a beautiful setting.

It is also extremely dry, so it’s a good idea to pack lots of shea butter and sunscreen. The UV rays are stronger in higher elevation. I kept rubbing shea butter on my hands every half hour to keep them moisturized. You may also need tissues, since the dryness can make your nose drip. A humidifier also helps when sleeping.

Santa Fe is a small city, and while public transportation exists, it doesn’t cover the whole area. The main lines run mostly near the attractions around the city, but there isn’t service from the regional airport. Ride sharing services such as Lyft and Uber are rare late at night or in the wee hours in the morning, which can be an issue if your flight comes in during those times. Renting a car would have been too expensive. I was lucky and found a Lyft to get me to my friend’s house at midnight.

A treasure trove of art and history

For $30, the Culture Pass provides access to multiple publicly funded museums and monuments in Santa Fe as well as several other cities in New Mexico. I highly recommend using it, as you can save money that way. There is also a free shuttle that goes from Museum Hill to the Plaza and even Canyon Road, so that’s also worth looking into as well.

Santa Fe has a vibrant art community. Modern art legends such as Georgia O’Keeffe lived in the town, the landscape often used as a source of inspiration. There’s a museum featuring her work, and it’s worth a visit. It isn’t covered by the Culture Pass, since it’s a private museum, but it still helps give a better understanding of her work and process.

Another day, I visited Canyon Road, a half-mile stretch of high-end art galleries inside old-world adobe buildings. Canyon Road features inspiring artwork ranging in style from traditional, to whimsical and contemporary. There are over a hundred galleries, boutiques, and eateries to brows through. A magical place like this makes it clear why many artists have made it their home.

There is another side to it all. I talked to one of the artists, and he said that he only paints what he does so that anyone with that kind of money can buy his work. He would like to paint what he likes, but it wouldn’t sell. While it’s always nice to be able to express yourself, it’s not a bad thing to make work that sells, even if it’s not what the artist prefers to do. It is, after all, a business.

Speaking of art, tomorrow I will go over what my experiences at Meow Wolf were like. It’s an art installation that is reminiscent of the Twilight Zone meets Alice in Wonderland, kind of. It’s trippy, delightful, and full of mystery. It deserves its own entry.

On being vegan…

A vegan meal from Love Your Body cafe

The vegan lifestyle isn’t unheard of in the City Different, but not everyone is aware of what it is. There aren’t many exclusively vegan restaurants in Santa Fe, but there may be vegan options at a few places. Other than that, it’s easier to buy ingredients and prepare stuff at home. My friend graciously cooked dinner for us, since her husband is mostly vegan. She was a lifesaver.

Could I live here?

I visited Santa Fe to see and catch up with my friend… and also to see just how Ronnie-friendly is this city? The vibe is friendly enough. While I appreciated the art, the vibe caters towards people on the more upscale end. In fact, the only place where I truly felt like I belonged was at Meow Wolf, which will be a separate blog entry.

Santa Fe’s public transportation system doesn’t cover the whole city, but the bike trails might get you places as long as it’s not too icy. Finally, being vegan is possible, but options may be limited when it comes to finding a restaurant to eat.

Other than that, I very much enjoyed my stay. This is a city where I’d like to return again!

A Fresh Start

New Year’s Day is probably one of my favorite holidays. Nothing feels more optimistic than a fresh start, especially when a challenging year is now behind you.

Some of you make New Year’s Resolutions. I used to do that and even kept about two-thirds of them. After going through a tumultuous time last year, I still need a little time for those lessons to sink in.

Many of my goals happen to spring up in the middle of the year, when I least expect it. Sometimes, they appear at the end. Lately, I’ve been in a good headspace to make new plans at the beginning.

Here are some plans and goals so far:

  1. Visiting Santa Fe next week. A good friend lives there with her husband and her two little girls. It will be the first time seeing her in seven years, when she moved. Santa Fe is said to be artsy, sunny, and friendly. More on that when I visit.
  2. Sugar is getting the boot for the most part. Excessive sugar is what I mean, such as desserts. Carbs are still important for those cardio workouts, so those need to stay. I will make exceptions, such as my birthday, others’ birthdays, and holidays. It sounds like a realistic goal versus cutting all sugar out. I cut out excessive sugar once last year, and it was almost like combatting a drug addiction. I’ve never had a drug problem, but I imagine that’s what it might feel like. My sugar consumption has been declining the past year anyway, so it doesn’t feel as bad this time.
  3. Lowering my caffeine intake. This one is about as hard as decreasing sugar intake, because it’s ubiquitous here. When you order decaf coffee in Seattle, people look at you like you just asked for the ultimate sin. Black and green teas are much milder and less abrasive than black coffee. Plus, anxiety can be much more easier to manage with the switch. I practically slept for three days when lowering my intake, though. At least my mind isn’t leaving my body when I’m anxious.
  4. Reaching out to friends and family more. I am an introvert through and through, like a cat. My space and time are very important to me. Last year, I fell off the face of the planet. There was hardly any energy to see anyone. I also became depressed from the isolation. At the same time, I didn’t want to burden anyone with what I was going through. Now that I’m in a better spot in life, I have more energy to give to others. I also don’t want to be so wrapped up in my own head. When you’re stuck in your own world, especially when you’re going through adverse times, you might pick up a salty attitude. I really don’t want that. My goal is to give more, and to practice more patience and gratitude.
  5. Surrounding myself with people who deserve it. Boundaries are so important. The early 30s are great. You care less about what others think and more about what is best for you. My thoughts have shifted from “who likes me?” to “who deserves me?”. Giving my time and energy to others who don’t appreciate it is a drain. I will continue practicing making boundaries and enforcing them. Instead, it’s better to spend time with those who do want to hang out and actually make efforts to do so. I’m in my 30s and am just now figuring this out.
  6. Making more art. I haven’t made much art in the past two years, as my focus shifted from fine art, to writing and traveling. In the spring, I’ve been invited to participate in an art show with two other artists! Here is some of my work. I’m going to make an entirely new series with brand new pieces. My style will also go in a different direction for this series. I. Cannot. Wait.
  7. Seeing my best friend’s family this year. My best friend, Brad, and I have made plans for me to meet his family in Santa Barbara this yea. We’re also going to Disneyland with them! He’s literally the closest thing I’ve ever had as a brother. I’ve been wanting to meet his family for a long time now, and we’re finally going to make it happen!
  8. Be more organized and efficient. I love organizing. I used to work in the records department of a law firm for five years, so organizing and labeling things is second nature. Lately, however, things fell by the wayside. I won’t repeat how last year was a doozy. But now, I have a better grip. I want to be more on top of things. As for efficiency, I’ve been meditating more as to keep my thoughts together. My mind can be so spread out, with thoughts going every-which-way. I want to be more effective and efficient.
  9. Delving into my new career more. Sometime last year, I mentioned how I went to a vocational psychiatrist and had an assessment taken on my skills and abilities. It turns out that writing is my strongest skill, except I didn’t take that advice until nearly 10 years later. Now that I’m in my new career, I will continue to go down that path. Seattle seems to have many opportunities with that field.
  10. Above all, be more forgiving towards myself. I can be very hard on myself. Growing up, girls are often conditioned to dislike themselves and to see themselves through the eyes of criticism. Where I’m from, it’s more socially acceptable for a woman to hate herself than to love herself fully. However, if those things are learned, then they can also be unlearned. It takes a lot of mindfulness to learn new and healthier habits. I want to be more forgiving towards myself and to fully own my power. And I can feel it, little by little. When you give yourself more credit and love, things fall into place easier. Things don’t work against you so hard, because you’re not working against yourself. Most importantly, it feels peaceful, knowing you can trust yourself. I feel pretty good about it.

Maybe I’ll even run a fourth marathon, if my knees can handle it. My mind has been a little clearer. I feel more like myself. Maybe last year’s challenges and rewards were necessary. It feels like an old emotional skin has been shed to reveal a shiny new layer underneath. I got this.