Just a few days left of NaBloPoMo. Are you all tired of reading about it everywhere, every day, especially here? I have to say, it wasn't (usually) as hard as I thought it would be, but at times, it seemed a little bit silly to be running back to the computer once I realized that if I didn't post NOW, there would be no more time before midnight. Still, it was a commitment, and dammit, I've been determined to stick to it. Ha! All of you people who thought I was a commitment-phobe! In your face!
Next thing you know, I'll be saving for my retirement and doing other responsible grown up things that require commitment. A tattoo! That's a commitment. Also, it's totally grown up, right? Because you have to be 18 to get one. Ok, I'm probably not going to run out and get myself branded just to show that I can have stick-to-it-ivness. That would be silly. But if I did, I would totally get something classy, like this:
click through to see more terrible lovely tattoo ideas.
Happy Tuesday!
I read PostSecret every week. This week, there's a little movie. A way to visualize that we all have our own shit to deal with. Sometimes it makes me feel better to know that my burdens are so insignificant in comparison, and sometimes I see something on there I can relate to. I think I like it so much because it's a reminder that we are all, in some way, connected. The song in the background is lovely, too.
some stuff I like. Click through the pictures to get more info.
sigh...awesome. I know, I'm such a chick. But what a good reason to go to San Francisco. It's a choose-your-own-adventure love story spray painted in the Mission District.
I might not even be able to tell what time it is with this clock, but I don't think I'd care. 
it may not play as loud as my modern iPod dock, but it's way prettier.
these cufflinks are made from stadium seats. Yankees shown here, but lots of stadiums available. Oh, they also have pens, bottle openers and corkscrews for those of you who aren't the french cuff type (you should rethink that, though, because chicks dig cute cufflinks).
Puebla, Mexico hotel was once a water purification plant. I suddenly need a vacation.
people who are capable of making a statement through an image
truly effectively.
this series will be exhibited at the Von Lintel Gallery in New York from June 14th to the end of July. Opening reception on June 14th. More info at www.vonlintel.com.
The Daily Monster is back...only not so much daily anymore, but weekly. I highly recommend that you subscribe to the feed so you can be greeted by these little buggers who will make you giggle every week. Wait til the end for extra coolness.
Poor, innocent little monkey. She was welded onto a copper fountain, minding her own business. If I find out who took her, someone's getting a beating.
This tattoo is so brilliant. This is also one of Lillian's favorite games I play with her, and by the time I get to the "wee wee wee...all the way home" part, she is shaking with laughter. The fact that this reminds me of her is probably why I like it so much. I miss that baby. Must find a way to steal her from my sister. I promise to give her back when she gets to be about 12 and all bershon on me.
I've discussed before my fascination with tattoos in general, because some are so cool, but they're so damn Permanent. That freaks me out. Besides, I couldn't tattoo my toes, because they are way too cute.
Haven't you totally felt this way?
...This is how I love you, six of seven deadly sins and only one virtue with which to save myself, too proud not to be angry, too generous not to give you everything I’ve no right to give. Broken on the wheel, smothered in fire and brimstone, this is how badly I want you.
If you haven't, my hope for you is that you will someday. Then you, too, can read Kat's writing and love it as much as I do. I realize that the link to Kat brings you to the page where she announces her blogtirement, but you can request archives from there, and she seems really nice, so maybe she'll let you into her lovely world.
people being (maybe too?) creative
Posted by elizabeth at 12:57 AM Labels: artsy, mac geekness, stuffI think some people have been taking National Creativity Month really seriously.
I love me some coffee, but I am far too sleepy in the morning to get into any of this:
click pictures for more
If anyone would like to come over in the mornings to create fun pictures in my latte, you may apply for that position via comments.
These people are really into two things I love: Photoshop and the (please, please, please) forthcoming iPhone
For those of you who are mac-centric, you likely are aware of MacWorld in a few days. If you're planning on going, feel free to pick me up one of those when it's announced there. Thanks.
Then there's the guy who makes portraits out of gum:
The fact that it's tacky is fitting...cheese might be a better medium for that particular model, though.
Happy New Year, all. As you can see, we have undergone a bit of a facelift. A little more than the normal monthly changes, in celebration of 2007.
Yes, January is National Creativity Month. So, even if you think you are not creative, use this first month of the new year to get in touch the creative you. Whether you write, draw, knit, paint, or rock, do it more than you normally would this month. My goal is to spend at least some time in the studio every single day this month. Don't think you have any special creative talents? Here are some ways to tap into it:
If you have a blog, redesign something...add a graphic (even if someone else creates it)
Cook up a mean meal at least once a week. Experiment, make it pretty as well as yummy
Maybe you're a DIYer. Use this month to work on a project you may have thought a bit outside your scope. There are so many resources out there, there's no excuse to not try something a bit more challenging.
Whatever your talents, use them. I'd love to know how you plan on celebrating your creativity.
p.s. If you're using safari, you'll notice that things are a little bit weird. I'm working on it.
Who's there?
Well, it's a door knocker...duh. It's my latest project, just sent out in time for someone's Christmas present. I'm happy with the funky yet minimalist look of it. I hope the recipient is, too.
I've been working on getting my website built for my art...well forever. I decided that in the interim, I'm going to put up some pictures on an artist portfolio site. It's pretty much just a sample of some of my stuff, but at least I have someplace to direct people when they ask. If you haven't seen my work (or if you have), go take a look, let me know what you think (unless you're going to be mean, because I'll hunt you down and bite you). But really, be honest (and by honest, I mean praising and complimentary). Ok, go. Thanks.
I want to be one of those bloggers who always has something funny and interesting to say. Unfortunately, sometimes, there is just life drudgery and it's not so much blogging fodder. Here are the things that aren't so bloggable, but are true:
I've had a kink in my neck for 3 days now. It's totally annoying
I haven't made my bed for the same number of days (which is very much unlike me)...I think I'm subconsciously punishing my bed for making me wake up with the kink 3 days ago, and won't stop until said kink is gone.
People keep asking me to make them monkey sculptures. I've decided that for each of these commissions I take, I will be charging incrementally until it is cost prohibitive to make such a request. This will ensure that when it stops being fun, people will stop asking...or people will be willing to pay such a ridiculous amount, that I will make it fun if it kills me.
I've been unusually sleepy the past few days. While I'm happy about this, it's a bit disconcerting for an insomniac. Maybe my body is slowly switching to narcolepsy. That would be hilarious.
My heartbroken friend has stopped attempting to win back the woman who jilted him. I am both relieved and sad, because now that he feels the situation is hopeless, he can begin to heal, but in the meanwhile, he's depressed as a human being can possibly be. That sucks.
Would it be rude to go out and start collecting moving boxes to help inspire a more swift moving-out of the roomie?
I'm often asked about my favorite places in NYC, and while I touched on some of my favorite neighborhoods when Sitboaf visited, I feel traitorous that I left out my absolutely favorite building in the whole city.
Yes, there are amazing skyscrapers, art deco buildings that have inspired artist and architects for decades, and countless gorgeous lofts, brownstones and townhouses. But if I could choose any building to live in (if money were no object), I would throw a couple million at this place and call it home. It's not residential at all. Many media companies work out of here, and the ground floor is all very cool retail/restaurant space. Food Network has a studio here, as well as NY1, and the Oxygen Network.
That's all totally beside the point to me. The beauty of this building is in the building itself. I really should go there and take pictures because I'm finding it difficult to find any that convey how truly cool it is. It's very industrial, with tons of cool metal work, and innovative uses for old architectural and structural stuff. If anyone has a few milion sitting around and would like to make a dream come true, you can buy me some space in this building in which to live and work from. I'd live on one of the upper floors, in a big, open lofty space, and work from one of the storefront spaces. Wouldn't it be fun to walk through and watch an artist at work, grinding and bending metal? That's totally worth the investment.
***Oh, right..i forgot to mention. This is Chelsea Market. I expected you all to become psychic suddenly.***
A fun-filled day yesterday in which I played the anti-tour guide. This means that when someone comes to New York who doesn't know their way around, I traipse them all over the city, with no real destination. Want to see the Empire State Building? The Statue of Liberty? Anything of historical value? Find a real tour guide. I will take you to my favorite neighborhoods, stumble upon a place to eat, and generally wander until you fall over. My poker-addict friend, sitboaf, was the victim of this NYC tour, and he was a trooper. We hung out around the South Street Seaport, had lunch, wandered through SoHo and met up with the recently New York transplanted vajrabelle for a cocktail, before boafie had to run off to Foxwoods.
While wandering around SoHo, we stopped into a couple of galleries, which is one of my favorite things to do. There was a really cool exhibition of Iraqi artists at the Pomegranate Gallery and Cafe, which also revitalized me with a yummy frozen mocha. I think sometimes we forget how the regular civilians of a country are deeply affected by the nightmare that is war. The work was beautiful and a sad reminder of what so many people of Bagdhad have lost. If you're in the area, I highly recommend it. We also wandered into a place with sickly realistic cityscape paintings. And as if that didn't make me feel withered enough at my artistic prowess, we came upon c.i.t.e., which is a very cool modern furniture store. What drew us in was this, which oddly is not featured on the store's website. It is a chair made of 1/2 dollars. Not only is it cool, but its base, which you cannot see in that photo, is engineering and welding genius. Inside, we found a chaise made of nickles, some chairs made of glass jars, and a coin lamp. You can see more of his stuff on this site, which is a collaboration with another artist. I also found when reading about them, that they worked with the artist whose work was my first influence to learn how to weld. They all transformed a factory in Queens into a crazy art exhibition. Even more can be seen on his independent site, including detail shots of the furniture.
Their combined genius makes me want to track them down and rub myself on them, to try to absorb some of their talent.
First of all, thanks to those with advice on the living situation, both in comments and via email/ichat, etc. Part of the blogging exercise, for me, is to put my thoughts down and figure stuff out, which I had pretty much done by the time I hit "publish". Still appreciate the input. Here's the plan:
Will try the roommate situation out and see how it goes. I would rather not move if I can help it, and this seems to be the only solution to that desire. If it sucks, at least it's fodder for my bitchfest here.
In response to Jeff's McShrinking of my brain in regards to relationships, and also because I'm sure many who read the dating stuff on here have the same idea, let me clarify my process for you. This is also a good opportunity for me to turn the tables on the Man Notes, and focus more on what's in a woman's brain. If you possess the xy chromosomes, you will likely be confused, and that amuses me.
- First Meeting: I, like many women I know, can pretty much determine whether a guy is dating material in a matter of minutes. I'm not super focused on the physical, though it doesn't hurt, but for the most part, the easiest way for me to agree to go out with a guy is if he makes me laugh.
- Level of infatuation: Here is where the hopeless romantic/cynical parts of my brain become like dueling swordsmen. If I go out with a guy and have a good time, I pretty much reserve judgment for the next date or two. If he does just one thing that really annoys me, I know at that exact moment I won't see him again. If, however, I have a really good time..the kind where I could stay in his company for days and the conversation flows endlessly, and there's laughter and all that good stuff, I get easily infatuated. This doesn't happen all too frequently. The most interesting thing about this to my close friends is that the first example, where I'm not really sure if I'm even interested, and the last one, where the phone ringing the following day gives me butterflies in my stomach...fairly indecipherable to anyone but me. Both of those guys would know I had fun, and would fully expect me to go out with them again. But I would put really good money on the fact that the guy I'm totally crushing on would have no idea that I'm more than merely amused by him.
This is not an intentional thing on my part. Like I said, it's the romantic/cynical battle manifesting itself. I'm not playing it cool, or other such stupid game, it's just the way I am. I am, by nature, very affectionate. I flirt, I hug, I playfully shove at times. Both of those scenarios would include all that flirting, so it's not like I'm a poker face. I just don't reveal too much of what's in my head. - Finding Fault: I joke about looking for what's wrong in MWP, and with any guy I have the infatuation thing for. Am I really looking for things to pick apart? Not really. I am merely reminding myself that those things are going to be there at some point, and not to turn a blind eye just because he's so damn adorable. Some of those things are superficial and of no consequence, and some are actual fatal personality flaws that are deal-breakers. I just think it's important to be able to distinguish between the two.
- When the guard comes down: This is tough, because when the guard actually goes down and when it appears to are vastly different. The fact that I am so flirty and I easily make light of things through sarcasm can make it seem like my guard is completely down long before it is. I think it's fair to say that I wait until I feel like I really know somebody, and not just the face they put on for the early dating stage, where, let's face it, it's a bit like a boyfriend audition. I get the list of fabulous attributes (I cook, I went to so-and-so school, I have opinions about this and that, etc), which is all good stuff to know, but the long haul lies in the details. The quirks that make all of us "us". Those things need to mesh, and they don't fully reveal themselves until someone is comfortable enough to let them out.
- Laying it on the line: If things have progressed past the point that my guard is down..this is where it gets tricky. I have been in two loooong term relationships (7 and 6 years), and I'm not very old. In between, there were shorter relationships/brief dating spurts, but they generally never got to this point. There is one exception, and more on him in a moment. The tricky part to me is the commitment/let it go question. I used to think I had a fear of commitment, and perhaps in a way I do, really. I obviously spend way too much time when I'm in a relationship that isn't going to work because I want to believe that love will conquer all (Is there a surgery to amputate the hopeless romantic gene?). That doesn't mean I've been foolish enough to make the big leap to marriage, because I knew that there were very innate problems. I was, however, foolish enough to think those problems would get resolved at some point, and hence the sticking around for years. My biggest lesson has been to recognize that, and I hope I've learned it by now. Only time will tell.
The last scenario that pummeled through the stage of letting my guard down was a test of that recognition, and I have to admit, while a part of me is proud that I really tried to apply that lesson, I still sometimes have brief moments when I question what might have been. It was classic infatuated me, but it was all-consuming. He is the one guy, ever, who likely knew that I was really into him almost immediately. I just couldn't hold back, in all honesty, and I don't know that I would have wanted to. It was intense and fun and terribly romantic, but it was short lived. There were difficult circumstances (he lived very very far away) and I was still dealing with a failing relationship when we met, so it was complicated. The part that tested me was when things went quite suddenly from intense and amazing to strangely indifferent. There could have been a myriad of reasons for it, including the aforementioned complications. I simply didn't stick around to find out. The last time I saw him, things had changed. It was that simple to me. I could have dragged it out and tried to see if it would get better, but I do have a belief that people are put in our lives for a purpose, and for some reason, I really felt like it was time for me to figure out that I couldn't wait around for something to get better, and just let it go. Even after the long term relationship experiences I've had, it was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I was heartbroken. But I took control of the situation and I didn't let it happen to me. It was oddly empowering. A very small consolation for the suckiness of it all, but something nonetheless.
Hopefully someday, the Man Notes will contain the subheading "How you know you found 'the one'". Until then, we're all just learning together.
