Ella's Notebook-Work

美麗的時光

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 16:31:59 +0800

這是人生美麗的時光. 努力於夢想與事業之間.
所有的與男人們之間的恩恩怨怨如今於我如小愛小恨.
只有在遇見可愛的藝術家們充滿創意的作品時, 我才能感覺到心靈上的滿足.
計劃一堆, 公事如麻, 可憐的Aki 任我摧殘.
因為我體力不夠, 凡事都要拜託他.
夢想很高很遠, 但有許多難關等待克服, 有夢的時刻, 最美. =)

再回首, 一切如新

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 19:52:47 +0800

終於，公司開張，一切如新！ 6月18日拜了財神爺，一切都有了個門面，找了一干人等來湊個熱鬧，也算是正式一番。原本打算為公司開個部落格，無奈太多繁瑣的事，只好拖著拖著，再回來老窩添個文章，感覺像稍做個紀錄，以免以後什麼都忘了。

前陣子被一個老外跟老外的朋友嚇壞了，原來世界上真的有壞人，外表跟內在的差異豈止十萬八千里，對所有的是是非非感到無奈，希望自己未來還有勇氣相信別人，至少我還是我自己，單純而愚蠢如常，只願找回平常心。

生活翻了好幾轉，算是人生又成長了許多許多，感謝小林、Aki、Ada、Rachel 幾位被我大加干擾的朋友，以及許多長期以來陪伴著我的人們，因為有你們，我的夢想，還在繼續。 =)

Work overtime

Fri, 19 May 2006 21:43:39 +0800

為了滿足第一位準客戶的要求, 在小週末的夜晚仍需努力加班趕製所有作品的資料卡, 今天一直陪伴我的是窗外的城市風景.

I've been too busy to leave anything meaningful on this blog. However, life still goes on. Keep busy and counting my days. =)

Well done.

Thu, 18 May 2006 23:58:03 +0800

在辦公室裡耗掉一整個下午,
算算這兩天總共用電鑽在新租來的屋子牆上鑽了9 個洞. (房東不要心痛!)
幾張大畫因為沒有內框, 還在傷腦筋怎麼展開來.
為了幫每張畫拍照好多東西都要挪來挪去, 總之就是不停團團轉.

畫面中看到的兩張椅子買貴了,
我在內湖買單張2480, 今天晚上跟AKI到民生社區吃飯,
看到一間傢俱店出清特賣一張才1500, 真是...*%$#&%*....

忙亂過後, 畫面就呈現的亂有搞頭的囉! =)

In my new office.

Wed, 17 May 2006 23:50:17 +0800

Tonight was the first time that Kassey, Tony and I had our meeting in my new office. This was also the first meeting of this office. Everything goes back on track again after this meeting. Well…now I know what I should focus on in the following days. =)

Giving up the chance to go to the meeting in China with Vincent allowed me to review my art business in more details. Sometimes I feel this is not a business, this is just for fun, for my silly, simple dream. But that's also what supports me to go on my life.

Whatever, it seems that my first client is coming soon. Cheers!

What's going on?

Tue, 16 May 2006 23:27:55 +0800

I experienced some turbulence in my own mind a few days ago. I fought with myself and I lost to myself, which has been a complex story. And that is why now I feel extremely tired both physically and mentally.

But my adventure is right there waiting for me. I have no time to be tired. I have to be strong and never give up. I am happy that I still know who I am. =)

Thanks Aki. He has been tired out too for helping me on tons of things. Thanks are never enough. But now that is the only thing I can give to people.

The paintings on my hand recently comfort me very much. I know these visuals will be in my mind through the rest of my lifetime.

An update

Fri, 12 May 2006 00:57:50 +0800

It was a very difficult decision to not stay in the same office with Lin in the future. And I have had too many difficult decisions like this for me to make recently, which has sort of confused me. Am I really the lady of my own destiny or I am just an instrument for God to make things happen and amuse herself?

I lost 2 kilos running around with Ansuya over the past few days. I realized how tired I really was after she left. Now I have a sharper jaw line again and that is cool. But I'm starting missing her.

However, since I have to catch up on a lot of scheduled activities for my own business and Vincent’s project, I actually don’t have much time to think about other things. I hope this is another good thing for me at this moment. Good to be stressed out in the daytime and sleep deep at nights. Keep going forward! =)

I met a lot of doogies recently. They are always cute!

I am doing well. =)

Fri, 05 May 2006 23:34:02 +0800

I think I have been kind of repeating myself in this blog. I am writing on similar subjects such as how much I am grateful for people who help me and the progress that I have made on my business. However, those things are actually the most important things happening in my life recently.

After the days of Lin sharing his space with me, I finally found my own office today. My new office is going to have big windows and lots of sunshine. My landlord is an interior designer, which makes the space more perfect and also moneywise. Thanks Aki, he is very supportive on this matter.

At the same time I got the signboard for my company done today. I feel solid about my own business now. Excellent!

Besides, I wanna thank Vincent who introduced me to a senior artist and Ada who made some important calls for me a few days ago. I really appreciate what people have done for me. God took some things away from me but gave me other amazing stuff instead.
My life is actually a surprise, and that is good! =)

the artist's studio

Simple Happiness

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:06:13 +0800

* 小林的飛天小耳朵. ^O^

Three paintings have been received and now sent to be framed. All my art books have been moved into the work place. Some great progress in my business has been made today, perfect.

I just realized how great my life is without any relationship troubles. Today has been a wonderful day! Cheers! =)

Yesterday in Vincent's office

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:13:15 +0800

(繼續閱讀...)

My life is brilliant.

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 08:53:57 +0800

My life is brilliant. I got my first payment from Vincent (the marketing consultant) even though I am not sure if I have done my best job for him. Anyway, things seem to be going well.

Kassey found a new partner Tony to build the website with him. They look like two kids, very talented and energetic people. I feel quite comfortable working with them.

I am now trying to catch up on some self-study in art and hopefully I will produce something very good for my blog and my new business very soon.

Although I cannot always get something or someone that I am deeply fond of, my life is still good.

Time to move on. And smile. =)

Yesterday
Today

Who is with me?

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:18:18 +0800

I wanted to write some things about negotiation because I just earned more discount from a supplier, however I am too tired and have no energy to do this now.

Someone said "We shall control what we can control and let go what we can not control." Simple rule, but difficult to follow.

I have been so stressed out and could barely laugh, I even mixed up my memories from today to yesterday. Not sober even without drinking… very terrible.

And I met some young designers earlier today and truly admired their vivid spirits that they showed up with.
Now time and money are not on my side for my new business and I have to work out more ideas from here. I am very frustrated.

So, who is with me at a moment like this?
Well. ....
.

Trendy Spring

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 11:33:52 +0800

.
Spring really is here, isn't it?

.
There are hard workers everywhere and I have been one of them.

This is a photo of the herb tea that Vincent (the photographer) ordered when we met yesterday. He is such a passionate person with his own style. Whenever I get together with some fancy people like Vincent, I can feel that I would suddenly become very trendy and fashionable. Is this delusive?

Yes, I know.

An evangelist's letter

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 16:00:35 +0800

It is true that not many people support my decision upon to start up a business relating to fine art today. And that’s why this afternoon when I received an e-mail from lecturer Yen who inspired me to study contemporary art, I almost burst into tears.
.

.
Actually 3 weeks ago I sent him an e-mail inquiring his opinion on my decision. In this responsive letter he explained the reason why he couldn't reply to my mail until today.

He said talking about fine art is actually too heavy for some groups of our society, but it is still a business worth a trial. For him, all art workers are idealists, they are evangelists. So the job is definitely toilsome.

I don't know if I could succeed to be one of them in the future, but from the depth of my heart, I wish the shepherds can be always there. =)

Yesterday once more.

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:08:57 +0800

To ease the pressure of not having a regular income lately, I've taken a part-time job. I am helping Vincent who is Sylvia’s husband on a project working for an automobile company. I kid you not, this job is lousy. However, people can’t only do what they like to do, can they? And that’s why I am doing what I am doing - given a limited time, trying my best to organize all the papers and information in front of me for a big enterprise, this task makes a person feel smaller than s/he really is.

I thought this had been the history of my life. Whatever, I am happy to have an extra income when I have to spend most of my time planning for my own company in the near future. If only money can come quickly after all these burning nights. I've been greedy lately. =)

Still living.

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 23:45:10 +0800

In the past few days Lin has been helping me to finalize my decision on the office and an accountant. Kassey and A-kuei are preparing to build a website for me. Next Monday I will talk to Joyce to see if she can help to organize the documents. These guys are truly nice.
Keep pushing everything forward a bit everyday.

I might have got some people into troubles again, sorry for that... You konw, too many things are in a mess and far more difficult than my expectation. I really don't know how to clear them up, only wish I could be able to communicate with aliens. Maybe God is an alien too...

Korean dramas, DVDs, snacks and my bed have become my best friends. Cannot believe this.... Not cool at all...sigh...

.
Anyway, the orchids in my balcony are sprouting and this is good.

Work hard and really tired -..-

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 08:53:45 +0800

Nearly Out Of Mind

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 03:23:59 +0800

Finally Megan, Rachel and I met to discuss the ideal project that we've been talking about for a long time. And we went through the serious stuff with our regular foolishness, so lunatic...

Believe this or not? - If I keep sucking in bulk information like what I just did, I am gonna burst and shatter madly very soon.

And it is ironical that what I am doing now is to start a new business for someone else, not for myself, even though if lucky enough, it will sort of benefit myself in the end.

Exhausted… badly. Crazy? Truly.

How to do it right???

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 23:08:09 +0800

I am trying to figure out a right business model for Lin and I before a meeting tomorrow. This has taken me one whole day in front of the desk with tons of analyses. I haven't studied something so hard for a long period. Now my mind is in knots and my head is too heavy... My goodness, life is tough. ><"

a mess of everything

Sat, 04 Feb 2006 22:41:41 +0800

Usually there are only two things that can truly make me happy. One is to learn something new and fun; the other is to meet some decent and interesting people. Today I got both done, footling around the whole afternoon with Sylvia and her sisters in a chic place called ‘the kid of light’ till the sun went down, nice. Actually we were trying to start a new project regarding art. God bless we can make it go well in a very near future as what we have thought.
Oho ...Not too bad… I’m still a dreamer.

Without Ramon to correct my English writings regularly, I must have had many errors on them these days. Whoever can tell my errors, would you please let me know? I got a bit lazy on English. You know. I HAVE BEEN VERY VERY VERY TIRED!!! Who the hell asked me to study English!!! >O<

Well…Myself.

Now I am running my days more like a freelancer and start counting them without a routine job. Have no mood to enjoy my spare time anymore. I’d better find something for me to run longer ASAP.

Vision. Vision. Vision. uh… My brain is empty, again. ^O^

(繼續閱讀...)

Easy days.

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:43:27 +0800

I've got some job opportunities these days, yet none of them are confirmed. It’s very possible that I have to embrace this uncertainty through my Chinese new year. There are also some other choices for me to make, like to join some friends’ franchises or not, but actually I am not sure if I am ready to have my own business like that.

In my mind my original plan to have my own art gallery is still present. But you know…that requires so much working capital and so many connections. My life is still long, and I have plenty of time to get that ready. Plus, I already own an art gallery in my heart, don't I? It’s a pleasure to collect things you like and the process can help know more about yourself.

Now I have time to review some books that I read when I was very young, and as my junior high school teacher once said, "you can always get a second perspective when you read a good book twice." Well, Milan Kundera, nice to see you again!

Hello Moto !

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 07:44:39 +0800

昨天最後一天在畫廊上班, 離開的時候跟進去的時候心情居然都一樣 - 開心的不得了! 覺得自己也算一絕! 老闆還是發了紅包, 害我笑不攏嘴. :D

總是有些時候會忽然很不想講話, 可是又希望這個筆記本可以每天每天的繼續著, 這是一種很奇妙的感覺, 彷彿這樣做是對一些人的陪伴.

跟瑤說覺得現代人都好現實, 又好機車, 結果瑤說: 你沒聽過Hello Moto的笑話嗎? 下次看到讓你有這樣感覺的人, 就說 Hello Moto吧!
Um...Hello.......everybody! (^.^)

The complexion of a commercial world

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:32:50 +0800

For once upon a time I used to think that the commercial environment was so obnoxious and people inside the ‘money cube’ could only trap each other everyday for their own interests. From another point of view, just think if only one day you are really successful at your business and had enough profit, you could have the ability to do something that would truly surmount most of the falsehoods in our daily lives. I am an ordinary person who wasn't born with a golden spoon, which forces me to equip myself and join the human struggle. Now it's time for me to seriously consider my next step into a new chapter of my career and life.

Usually I don't expect much when I begin reading, but sometimes some reading can do me really good. Below are some quotes from what I read these two days:

Every product has a message. The message can be good, inspiring or sophisticated, or it can be repressive or boring. We hope that we are on the inspiring side. If all this comes together in the end, not as a crusade, for that would be too much pathetic, but as a crusade, for that would be too much pathetic, but as a movement that the customer relates to, then I think in the end we will have succeeded on many levels. I am sure of that because in the world of objects that surround us, people are looking for more. The design that succeeds is not only merely the result of a purely rational process, but also the work of a great personality expressed. - Rolf Fehlbaum, the head of Vitra International

Vitra Design Museum is another masterpiece by architect Frank Gary
Photo source: http://www.figure-ground.com/travel/image.php?vitra
You may not have the heart or guts for this now, but some day your conscience will tell you that you are procrastinated long enough and that in addition to making money, it's time to start making a difference. After all, business should be more than a profit vehicle; it should provide a platform to make the world a better place. And rather than being passive little patsies who surrender their values to politicians and militant social outcasts who protest and picket for sport, business leaders should become activists for causes they believe make the world in which they do business a more productive planet. - Dave Anderson http://www.learntolead.com

Holiday season

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 23:11:57 +0800

It became very difficult for me to write daily, partially because my thoughts have been much more complicated, or say, sophisticated than earlier days. Even though I already have many friends who are truly warm and nice to me, I could still feel kind of isolated these days. Aki was the only person who did check me out everyday, and I really appreciate it.

In the morning Max, a very sweet gay friend, gave me some really useful information about where to buy the Xmas decorative stuff. Therefore we could go to buy a lot of dazzling little things like in the pictures for our Saturday party, including a sparkling Xmas tree. It has been a very interesting shopping route. I couldn't stop thinking if only I could have my own party on Xmas day, then I could invite many winged, fashionable friends like Max to rejoin again. Next year... I will. I wish.

The sun in the winter

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 16:01:33 +0800

The sun on this winter day was especially warm, but I can only stay inside the office. Plenty of shows and speeches are going on outside, I feel caged. Some visitors from the US will visit our gallery with some government officials tomorrow, and a lady from Sotheby's HK is scheduled to come on Friday. It seems that my bosses fancy hoeing up weeds in the yard more than doing business with anyone, which makes me absent-minded at work. Time is passing by slowly during the days of waiting. I am expecting the time of my life.

Xmas coming !

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 17:10:06 +0800

I didn’t feel in the Xmas mood until yesterday when I went to Eslite bookstore and brought this home:

Now this snow chicken man already stands on the desk in our office. This morning everybody, including my two bosses, came close and pressed his foot to make him sway, waggle and sing a silly Xmas song. His gestures were so funny and comic that he lightened this small gallery with lots of laughters. What he sang is:
You better watch out, You better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He's making a list, And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.

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Tea lessons

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 16:39:07 +0800

The Sun has been sharing its big smile with Taipei today. It’s so hot! Good time to start our tea lessons. It helps a lot to purify my mediocre stomach.

I just ordered a set of Taiwanese ballad albums from Asia Recording and hopefully will receive them well before tomorrow noon.

My colleague just said 'See how childish our artists are!' - You know what? She is right.

It's been an easygoing day!

Cats two

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:36:13 +0800

Two cats in the backyard of the art gallery:

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Under construction

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 12:15:09 +0800

Our gallery is under construction these days. So am I. I am now studying 4 courses:

1.Contemporary art 2.English 3.Jazz dance 4.Relationships

All of them are not that easy for me. Guess which one I will be really good at in the end? Could be none of them. Keep learning!

Life goes on

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 16:52:13 +0800

* Tons of work are now piled up:
1. Plans to join the art fair which will be held in China next year
(Budgeting, Artwork data organization, Delivery arrangements,
Plans for publicity)
2. Apply for artists’ subsidies provided by some institutions
3. Contracts with new artists
4. Prepare for the next exhibition

5. Website development
6. Sales kits design

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Something meaningful

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:45:47 +0800

"Something big is going on! We are going to do something big!"
It's hard to describe how excited I am at this moment. Just the idea of this project is a real buzz. Isn't it great if you know you're going to do something that's really good for the land where you were born. It's difficult to tell you what it actually is. The thing is that we've got an wonderful idea to promote our gallery and our artists today. Even though the project is still under the planning stage and nothing is yet solid, the idea itself is great enough. I've been so moved by it and believe it will work out anyway.

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Think of nothing

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 00:46:33 +0800

Nothing to say after a day like this:
5:30 Started my day as an early bird
8:30 Met up with my boss
       Had a cup of coffee together before leaving for Taichung
11:00 Arrived Taichung. Visited an artist's studio:
         a cool place beside the WuJu station along the railway.
         Talked about the law and tax. (Damn serious!)
12:00 Had lunch in a Hakka restaurant with the artist couple
14:00 Attended the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.
         Negotiated prices for 4 artworks and got 3 sold.
         Talked with Ms. Pang about the culture enviroment.
15:15 Took a break at my boss's home in Taichung.
         老闆原來是田轎子啦!
18:00 Returned to the gallery after 2.5 hours on the highway
         Got numb on my seat in the office
         看看德朵夫人拍的那隻跪著吃草的羊, 真的好好笑喔 :D
18:30 Helped photographing artworks in the gallery
         林先生:您下次再那麼晚開工, 就等老娘劈了你 !!!!
22:30 Got off work
23:00 Had my dinner
=.= zzzzZZZ

Hu's artwork, music and the chicken

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 21:45:05 +0800

Hu came to our gallery today. He spent the whole afternoon but only completed hanging one set of his new works on the wall. The artwork that has been hung up is absolutely fabulous! I was astounded when I first saw it. But soon it will be taken down again after taking photos and will not be seen in public until next Feb.

I am not sure if it's due to the artwork or the coffee that I made for Hu, I feel myself much closer to him today than before. Or, maybe it's just because of the wonderful music that I was listening to in the early morning, which kept me very relaxed for the whole day, even though we've had lots of heavy physical work.
I was physically exhausted, but in an easy and valuable way. =)

I kid you not!
I am truly fond of this 'Chicken Little' and will definitely go to the movie theater for him soon. Before that, let me just dance!

(^_^/*
.

Freshener

Sat, 29 Oct 2005 13:47:03 +0800

Today after our daily coffee break, my boss said:
"Since both you know coffee very well now, my next step is to instruct you in Chinese tea, and after that I will instruct you in wine."
This gallery turns into be a world of 'taste' far beyond 'Art'.
Odd... (*_*)

A Freshener for Myself.

Edward Ruscha

In front of the big future

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 23:13:51 +0800

Is it a good sign when your bosses get highly aggressive and excited about the big future of your company? Will you be benefited by that? I doubt it. Now the only thing I can feel is pressure.

I've been bombarded with all the new strategies, new investment and the new scope chart of our business for the whole day. When I left the conference room, I felt deaf and numb.

On my desk, there is still a grand chart awaiting me to put in all the information about 7 major art fairs in Asia.
The documents for our website are on hold, the billing stuff and the storage report for October are expecting my attention.
Some new works for our next exhibition are going to be crammed into our space next Tues, before that some things need to be moved out, and other things need to be hung for a while for a photo shoot. To top that, I am going to have a 2 days business trip soon.

The thing is that I've been overloaded with too much work that I don't really want, I never expected this situation before. Today I prefer to be one of the cats who can play around on the roof of this art gallery rather than working inside it. Shall I try?... Meow~ >'O'<

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Make things work

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 20:46:37 +0800

I was busy preparing for our next exhibition. There are lots of ongoing projects: print ads, artwork albums, DM, layout of the exhibition, delivery process, artwork lists and the artist's profile. I was so supprised that the artist's profile was in such a mess. The English and Chinese versions barely resembled each other. Thanks God that I've organized them well before getting off work.

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Still working

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 13:00:57 +0800

My boss assigned us a lot of homework before his business trip next week,
I list them down as below,

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後院一景

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 23:59:24 +0800

這是畫廊後院的照片，也是我們每天早上要固定清掃落葉的地盤，其實利用打掃的時間運動運動身子，也是一樁好事。

除了打掃外，還有一項好玩的工作就是學習煮咖啡，因為老闆有一台價值二、三十萬的咖啡機，所以練習煮咖啡也成了例行公事，結果每天都是練習煮來給自己喝。

上頭兩位老闆大人每天都很忙碌，我們自己的工作量則還好，大部分的時間都拿來看畫冊跟研究資料，只是不知道這樣的好時光還會延續多久，颱風快來的星期六，我的心情跟天氣一樣清清涼涼，舒適的很！

晚上有三個飯局ㄍㄚ在一起，原本想奮力拼三場，最後卻只完成了公司聚會這一項，另外兩個聚會都沒有赴約，就已經搞到了晚上11點多，心理累了，卻掛記著某人今天生日，「希望你今天過的很快樂呀」我心裡這麼想著，可惜對方不可能再感受到了吧。雖然無法接受這種冷酷事實，但除了接受也沒有其他辦法了，還好我有東京愛情故事裡莉香的特質，微笑面對一切吧！ Tomorrow is another day =)

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第三週

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 21:43:14 +0800

新工作的第三個禮拜，
時常會有莫名想抓狂的衝動，
拼命忍耐的結果，
我的表情就常常變成像
Chaim Soutine這張畫。

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星期六的上班日

Sat, 24 Sep 2005 11:23:02 +0800

感謝這個早上11點上班的工作，讓我連續三天晚上可以跟朋友吃吃喝喝、聊天打屁，只是做不完的回家作業，畫作價格、藝術家背景資料、表現風格、庫存管理....弄得我七暈八素...

圖: 畫廊大門

腦袋退化中，連續兩天沒帶鑰匙出門，前天跟今天都沒帶手機就來上班，一吃完午飯腦袋馬上完蛋，小腹微凸但小腦萎縮，星期六的上班日，腦袋脫離身驅在半空中遊晃~

謝謝昨晚寶貝夫妻Vicky, Edward 跟他們的朋友Rita 的陪伴，讓我幾乎忘了自己眼前所有的煩惱事，讓人生又多了一篇章談天說地的好時光！