Chrissie

Our dear @lb_seeing_you made such a sweet drawing of a photo taken the night of @heyitsaarongold ’s proposal to me. 💍🥹❤️ I love it and can’t wait to include it on our wedding planning!

A month ago we were filming for the camping episode of @dontmindtheshow before Christine moved to Chico for her job, so along with our wonderful crew, her siblings and friend were there to “help out and say goodbye before she left.” Haha. Sucker. Turns out I was going to propose. Big thanks to @sharihazlett @thomasdunn624 @natedog5th @dnsevenfour for everything! Also thanks to @daz_z_ @_agarra_la_onda_ and @bloodbinch for showing up to help make the surprise all the better.

Took advantage of some freebies in Redding after work: Pam Tillis and the most cowboy Korean ribs I’ve ever had (not a knock—just an observation.) Loved her Patsy Cline cover, not featured. And a walk after dinner did me good. 🤠 #countrylegend #goodeats #california

Feeling so much better after following doctor’s orders post-bike accident. My curls are starting to come back, too—at least as waves. Gotta keep my hair tame for the old day job but it’s nice to have some texture again. On the clock for a graduation story today! #sunshine #norcal

It’s true what they say: Comparison is the thief of joy. So this afternoon I pretended I wasn’t eating a bagel, but simply a piece of bread—and could I enjoy that on its own? Don’t expect a certain gummy texture, saltiness, or moist inside. Just the food as-is. It improved my mood to consider it independently and not compare it to back home. 🥯 I did the same with cheap Chinese food yesterday when I needed a pick-me-up. (Emphasis on cheap; I wasn’t searching for Peking Duck in a banquet hall. I was trying to approximate “hood” Chinese takeout.) 🥢It’s approaching the one-year anniversary of me graduating from Columbia Journalism School and then doing the summer painting intensive at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. I never would’ve imagined myself living exactly the life I have now, but I’m happy that it’s a life that still involves storytelling—journalism and art. I knew I had to go elsewhere for a little while to build up my broadcast experience. 📺 It’s been a time of tremendous growth since landing in Northern California about three months ago. A room rental turned chaotic and a bike accident are some lows, but there’s also been a lot of good. I have to keep looking at the sunny side. And there’s lots of sunshine in NorCal! 🌯 Soon I’ll be back in Brooklyn with my love. We have lazy time and wedding planning and an engagement photo shoot in Central Park. We’ll be hopping over to Jersey City for my IN7 experimental film residency and to Astoria for a screening of “Canarsie Pier” at the Triborough Film Festival. I’m excited to see friends and collaborators! 🎞️ Plenty to look forward to as I spend a little more time in bed, taking ibuprofen. #adventure #artistlife #norcal #newyorker

Just some minor soft tissue damage 🪶 Some time off from work. Thanks for the messages, loves. 17 days until Brooklyn. ❤️ #norcal #sunshine #downtown

Bike accident yesterday and dealing with insurance today. 😢 First day of Pulitzer Center climate video workshop—an honor to be selected and I can do it before work once a week. In a garden with my laptop. Still mildly intimidating.🌹 Online traffic school for speeding on the job. 🫠 Trying to decide if my watercolor of the Paradise fire is done. 🤔 Kind of a lot for a Tuesday. 🤯 2.5 weeks until NYC & Jersey City. Couldn’t be readier for it. 😻

Snagged some homemade ice cream: Avocado and horchata… That was my reward for getting doored for the first time in my life. Years of riding my bike in New York City and Richmond, Virginia, and never had that problem. Oh well! It’s certainly a growth year. I got to enjoy One-Mile, a public swimming creek, for the first time after filing the police report. (The driver was appropriately remorseful.) Dipped my feet in the water but mostly took photos and admired. While there, I started on a watercolor of the Paradise Camp Fire, illustrating a poem by @writinggales for @quailbellstudio , and read a good book under a tree. 🌳 A day with ups and a big down but here to tell the tale! #bicycle #outdoors #norcal

Work in progress day with lots of sunshine and bike time. Watercolors, editing photos of my NorCal adventures, writing. Recorded my awkward intro for the Pulitzer Center’s climate video accelerator. Tried a Redwood Sandwich for the first time (sourdough always hits). Evening soundtrack: The debate for California’s 1st Congressional District - CA01. 💜 #politics #art #norcal

Today I learned what mutton busting was—and luckily had my DSLR on me. Basically, little kids try to stay on a young sheep as long as possible. I was at the Redding Rodeo launch party, where I saw country western line dancing in real life for the first time, too. Tri-tip came with my comp ticket—ok, not bad! Then I went to a fire show for a bit. I hadn’t seen that much fire poi performance since my RVA days. #cultureshock #norcal

My first Fiesta Days Parade! When it was all over, I admired some of the local architecture and botanicals. BUT FUCK IT’S HOT!! 🪶🥵 #smalltown #cultureshock #norcal #summeralready

Not much of a break but I’ll take it! Music, art & a burrito before biking home. 🌯 #friday #artsfestival