{ postcards from the side of the room }

Seven cloudy days.

2011-12-27T12:52:00.000-05:00

Not entirely sure how it is that I've never heard of Francesca Woodman until today, but I've just spent part of the morning feeling simultaneously inspired and desperately alone after looking at her photographs in a coworker's book. Haunting and heartbreaking.

101 things in....1 year

2011-12-27T01:00:00.015-05:00

Today marks t-minus 1 year till my Day Zero. Posting my list again, just to remind myself that it's ON.

Travel

1. Get my passport

2. Use my passport

3. Visit Seattle

4. Go to NYC with someone who has never been there before

~~5. Go to the beach~~

Creative pursuits

6. Submit at least 10 things to literary mags

7. Knit myself a cardigan

~~8. Give exclusively handmade gifts for Christmas~~

9. Play at Gallery Hop at least 5 times

10. Finish recording my full-length CD

~~11. Put this list on my blog~~

12. Establish a routine for posting on my blog

13. Join a writers' group

14. Make my own soap

15. Start another novel

16. Finish it

17. Do something with it

18. Enter a songwriting competition

19. ~~Take photos of that insane Wonderbread sign before they sell the building~~ < DISQUALIFIED--the sign is gone.

20. Write a poem every day for a month

21. Start a new etsy shop to pay off my library fine!

22. Make an art card every day for a month

23. Inspire someone else to write something

~~24. Write 10 new songs (10/10)~~

25. Put new songs on my Myspace music page

Big stuff

26. Live in the same place for longer than 18 months

~~27. Find someone to date who doesn't suck~~

28. Pay off credit card debt

29. Buy a new car (I'll need one within 1001 days...)

~~30. Graduate!~~

31. Save up for a pair of Fryes instead of buying crap from Target

32. Go on a vacation for at least 5 days

33. Learn how to relax / control anxiety better

Quality of life

34. Do some form of exercise at least 3 times a week and keep it up for at least 10 weeks

35. Take a tap class

36. Buy a bike

37. Try vegetarianism for a month

38. Try veganism for...a week

~~39. Get real health insurance~~

40. Walk Columbus half-marathon with my parents (Fall 2010)

41. Stop saying "like" as an all-purpose verb

~~42. Try Pilates~~

43. Learn 5 tried-and-true recipes by heart

44. Learn how to make a salad at a salad bar so that it doesn't turn out like a Dumpster Salad

45. Cure my caffeine addiction

46. Try going carless for a week

~~47. Go to a therapist~~

~~48. Get totally, completely, forget-it-ever-mattered over __________~~

~~49. Stop fiddling with my cell phone so much~~

Organization

~~50. Clean out my closet~~

~~51. Clean out my trunk once and for all~~

52. Organize my desk and file cabinet

~~53. Make my bed every day for a month~~

Good will

54. Pay my library fine

~~55. Donate graphic design services to a local non-profit~~

~~56. Buy someone dinner just because~~

~~57. Loan out my favorite books with no intention of getting them back~~

58. Make scarves for a homeless charity

59. Give to NPR

60. Send postcards to everyone who matters

Appearance

61. Get tattoo #6

~~62. Buy The Perfect Black Heels~~

63. Get tattoo #7

~~64. Buy a decent bra~~

~~65. Nose piercing?~~

66. Find the black pencil skirt of my dreams

67. Drop 1 dress size

Upgrade

6~~8. Buy pots and pans that aren't pathetic~~

~~69. Get a new cell phone~~

~~70. Get new glasses~~

71. Upgrade my makeup collection

~~72. Find a bedspread I like~~

73. Buy an amazing, expensive (?), last-forever bag

~~74. Buy an iron~~

Higher learning

75. Finish Level 1 of Rosetta Stone Russian

76. Apply to NYU & Hunter College MFA programs per my pact with Jessica

~~77. Learn to shoot a gun (research purposes!)~~

78. Learn the proper way to sew on a button so the experience isn't so agonizing

79. Teach Claire to play a song

80. Learn to like red wine

Just because

81. Get a Russian penpal

82. See Regina Spektor in concert

~~83. See a real play in a real theater~~

84. Send birthday cards to everyone

85. Send thank you notes whenever I get a gift

86. Make creme brulee

~~87. Read Flannery O'Connor~~

~~88. Go out for good sushi~~

~~89. Go to Shakespeare in the Park~~

90. Learn to drive a manual transmission

91. Buy the Elsa Peretti K pendant from Tiffany & Co because i've been wanting it for years

92. Sell my old computer

93. Do a thrift store scavenger hunt

~~94. Visit a winery~~

~~95. Go to an estate sale~~

~~96. Buy myself flowers~~

~~97. Host a party~~

~~98. Try 1 new restaurant every week for a month~~

~~99. Go out to dinner by myself without a book~~

100. Replace the battery in my watch

101. Give that guy his Georg Simmel book back

Extra Credit

~~102. Fix front screen door so I can actually have the door open~~

~~103. Make screen for bedroom window so I can actually have the window open~~

101 things, revisited

2011-07-29T14:36:00.001-04:00

I'm 484 into the 1,001 days for my Day Zero project. Day Zero itself is December 27, 2012, which I just discovered using this (in case you ever feel the very specific need to calculate the number of days between two dates). I'm not doing as well as I might have hoped at nearly halfway through, but it's getting there.

Travel

1. Get my passport

2. Use my passport

3. Visit Seattle

4. Go to NYC with someone who has never been there before

5. Go to the beach

Creative pursuits

6. Submit at least 10 things to literary mags

7. Knit myself a cardigan

~~8. Give exclusively handmade gifts for Christmas~~

9. Play at Gallery Hop at least 5 times

10. Finish recording my full-length CD

~~11. Put this list on my blog~~

12. Establish a routine for posting on my blog

13. Join a writers' group

14. Make my own soap

15. Start another novel

16. Finish it

17. Do something with it

18. Enter a songwriting competition

19. Take photos of that insane Wonderbread sign before they sell the building

20. Write a poem every day for a month

21. Start a new etsy shop to pay off my library fine!

22. Make an art card every day for a month

23. Inspire someone else to write something

~~24. Write 10 new songs (10/10)~~

25. Put new songs on my Myspace music page

Big stuff

26. Live in the same place for longer than 18 months

~~27. Find someone to date who doesn't suck~~

28. Pay off credit card debt

29. Buy a new car (I'll need one within 1001 days...)

~~30. Graduate!~~

31. Save up for a pair of Fryes instead of buying crap from Target

32. Go on a vacation for at least 5 days

33. Learn how to relax / control anxiety better

Quality of life

34. Do some form of exercise at least 3 times a week and keep it up for at least 10 weeks

35. Take a tap class

36. Buy a bike

37. Try vegetarianism for a month

38. Try veganism for...a week

~~39. Get real health insurance~~

40. Walk Columbus half-marathon with my parents (Fall 2010)

41. Stop saying "like" as an all-purpose verb

~~42. Try Pilates~~

43. Learn 5 tried-and-true recipes by heart

44. Learn how to make a salad at a salad bar so that it doesn't turn out like a Dumpster Salad

45. Cure my caffeine addiction

46. Try going carless for a week

~~47. Go to a therapist~~

~~48. Get totally, completely, forget-it-ever-mattered over __________~~

49. Stop fiddling with my cell phone so much

Organization

~~50. Clean out my closet~~

~~51. Clean out my trunk once and for all~~

52. Organize my desk and file cabinet

~~53. Make my bed every day for a month~~

Good will

54. Pay my library fine

~~55. Donate graphic design services to a local non-profit~~

~~56. Buy someone dinner just because~~

~~57. Loan out my favorite books with no intention of getting them back~~

58. Make scarves for a homeless charity

59. Give to NPR

60. Send postcards to everyone who matters

Appearance

61. Get tattoo #6

~~62. Buy The Perfect Black Heels~~

63. Get tattoo #7

64. Buy a decent bra

~~65. Nose piercing?~~

66. Find the black pencil skirt of my dreams

67. Drop 1 dress size

Upgrade

68. Buy pots and pans that aren't pathetic

~~69. Get a new cell phone~~

~~70. Get new glasses~~

71. Upgrade my makeup collection

~~72. Find a bedspread I like~~

73. Buy an amazing, expensive (?), last-forever bag

~~74. Buy an iron~~

Higher learning

75. Finish Level 1 of Rosetta Stone Russian

76. Apply to NYU & Hunter College MFA programs per my pact with Jessica

~~77. Learn to shoot a gun (research purposes!)~~

78. Learn the proper way to sew on a button so the experience isn't so agonizing

79. Teach Claire to play a song

80. Learn to like red wine

Just because

81. Get a Russian penpal

82. See Regina Spektor in concert

83. See a real play in a real theater

84. Send birthday cards to everyone

85. Send thank you notes whenever I get a gift

86. Make creme brulee

~~87. Read Flannery O'Connor~~

~~88. Go out for good sushi~~

~~89. Go to Shakespeare in the Park~~

90. Learn to drive a manual transmission

91. Buy the Elsa Peretti K pendant from Tiffany & Co because i've been wanting it for years

92. Sell my old computer

93. Do a thrift store scavenger hunt

~~94. Visit a winery~~

~~95. Go to an estate sale~~

~~96. Buy myself flowers~~

~~97. Host a party~~

~~98. Try 1 new restaurant every week for a month~~

~~99. Go out to dinner by myself without a book~~

100. Replace the battery in my watch

101. Give that guy his Georg Simmel book back

Extra Credit

~~102. Fix front screen door so I can actually have the door open~~

~~103. Make screen for bedroom window so I can actually have the window open~~

Arms and shoulders

2011-03-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

Come on home.

2011-01-08T16:38:00.001-05:00

"Person Person," from Mirah's You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This (best album title ever?)

When I get low, I get high.

2010-12-31T19:23:00.000-05:00

Fiona Apple + Nickel Creek

Damn your eyes!

2010-12-07T19:11:00.002-05:00

Just one of those days. Oh, Johnny Cash, you are missed.

Sweet.

2010-12-02T15:34:00.000-05:00

I would love to make this Knitty skirt in a plum color. I am always nervous about apparel knitting projects though, because what if I put in the time to make it and then don't like the way it fits? Being unemployed at present, I have oodles of time, though.

All the trouble you looked for all your life.

2010-12-01T10:57:00.000-05:00

The genius boys of Spoon combine so many tasty sounds on last year's Transference that it is hard to pick which track is my favorite. The whole album is a good one for walking in the cold.

Trouble, baby, doesn't always come in threes.

2010-11-23T21:31:00.000-05:00

Wasted hours in the library of man.

2010-11-23T15:13:00.002-05:00

The night was young, and so were we.

2010-11-17T18:05:00.000-05:00

Hear me

2010-11-07T22:39:00.000-05:00

It seems like most of the new music I fall in love with lately is from commercials. Either commercials are getting better, or I watch too much television. Anyway, Sean Hayes "Powerful Stuff," coming to a Subaru commercial near you.

What brought us to this.

2010-10-26T16:39:00.002-04:00

So envious of Anna Ternheim's voice.

What can I do?

2010-10-26T15:50:00.000-04:00

I know this song is everywhere, but I cannot get enough of it.

Sunny

2010-10-15T12:50:00.000-04:00

Love this print by Souvenirs from Wonderland.

Traveling light.

2010-10-09T18:29:00.000-04:00

Lovely vintage train case from a flea market this morning. It doesn't look like it was ever used, but my interest in it is the "Amelia Earhart" brand. I think this is destined to house some of my old camera collection, or else go on display in its own right.

Perfect

2010-10-07T19:37:00.002-04:00

I went for a walk at sunset today and this song just felt so right.
Kaki King is a goddess.

Perpetual Motion

2010-10-07T14:47:00.000-04:00

"Perpetuum Mobile" by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. I know I've heard this one elsewhere, but last night I watched "Mary & Max" and fell in love with the song all over again.

I recommend the movie, too.

Adventures in rice pudding.

2010-09-26T21:38:00.005-04:00

This is my improvised "I should have either gotten rice pudding at the restaurant today, or else I should have gone to the grocery store and at least gotten cinnamon and real milk" rice pudding recipe, since I couldn't find a recipe that used the sad assortment of ingredients I had at my disposal. Against all odds, it's amazing.

6 c water

1 tsp nutmeg
1 c brown basmati rice
3 c skim milk
2/3 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Boil water and nutmeg.
Stir in rice. Cook on low heat until rice is soft and water has evaporated.
Add skim milk, sugar, and salt. Cook for another 15 minutes or until mixture thickens.

Wow & Flutter

2010-09-24T13:36:00.001-04:00

April Smith & the Great Picture Show, "Wow & Flutter." This song is in a current commercial for Wisps, which are fucking awesome in their own right.

2010-08-08T15:22:00.001-04:00

I love you, Mark Strong

2010-05-23T20:54:00.004-04:00

...even though you don't get to be handsome in movies very often. Or likeable. But I know the truth, Mark Strong, and I appreciate you for it.

But seriously, I know I've posted before extolling the virtues of Mark Strong but I saw Robin Hood today and I thought one more round was warranted. If you aren't familiar with him, you're wrong. Because he's been in pretty much every movie ever made. Okay, not so. But he's in Robin Hood (villain with scary face scar), Sherlock Holmes (villain with snaggle-tooth), Body of Lies (complicated character, though he does get to be handsome in that one at least; see the photo), Stardust (villain), Sunshine (scariest villain ever) and the list goes on. Rocknrolla is an exception to the supporting-actor rule; he's a lead in that one. He's versatile, great with accents, and his voice gives me chills.

Look for him next year in the Green Lantern (as, yes, a villain). And hopefully some more stuff where we can actually root for him.

I heard you asking for it.

2010-04-23T12:04:00.001-04:00

"Hell's Bells" from Cary Ann Hearst, who has to be the coolest lady around.

Be kind to me, or treat me mean.

2010-04-13T18:03:00.002-04:00

Even though I specifically remember where I was the first time I heard this song (my car, November 2005, Dublin, Ohio...) for some reason it is inexplicably spring-y and hopeful in my mind. From the eternally marvelous Fiona Apple, who owes me new music in the worst way.

101 things in 1,001 days.

2010-04-01T18:02:00.017-04:00

Claire inspired me to do this, and so here it is. My own Day Zero Project, a listy of 101 things in 1,001 days. This list is active starting today, and it will live over there under "Elsewhere" until the conclusion of the 1,001 days, which is about 2 3/4 years. Is anyone else skeptical about my ability to clean out the trunk of my car in the next 2 3/4 years? Yeah. Anyway, here we go.

Travel
1. Get my passport
2. Use my passport
3. Visit Seattle
4. Go to NYC with someone who has never been there before
5. Go to the beach

Creative pursuits
6. Submit at least 10 things to literary mags
7. Knit myself a cardigan
8. Give exclusively handmade gifts for Christmas
9. Play at Gallery Hop at least 5 times
10. Finish recording my full-length CD
~~11. Put this list on my blog~~
12. Establish a routine for posting on my blog
13. Join a writers' group
14. Make my own soap
15. Start another novel
16. Finish it
17. Do something with it
18. Enter a songwriting competition
19. Take photos of that insane Wonderbread sign before they sell the building
20. Write a poem every day for a month
21. Start a new etsy shop to pay off my library fine!
22. Make an art card every day for a month
23. Inspire someone else to write something
~~24. Write 10 new songs (10/10)~~
25. Put new songs on my Myspace music page

Big stuff
26. Live in the same place for longer than 18 months
~~27. Find someone to date who doesn't suck~~
28. Pay off credit card debt
29. Buy a new car (I'll need one within 1001 days...)
~~30. Graduate!~~
31. Save up for a pair of Fryes instead of buying crap from Target
32. Go on a vacation for at least 5 days
33. Learn how to relax / control anxiety better

Quality of life
34. Do some form of exercise at least 3 times a week and keep it up for at least 10 weeks
35. Take a tap class
36. Buy a bike
37. Try vegetarianism for a month
38. Try veganism for...a week
~~39. Get real health insurance~~
40. Walk Columbus half-marathon with my parents (Fall 2010)
41. Stop saying "like" as an all-purpose verb
~~42. Try Pilates~~
43. Learn 5 tried-and-true recipes by heart
44. Learn how to make a salad at a salad bar so that it doesn't turn out like a Dumpster Salad
45. Cure my caffeine addiction
46. Try going carless for a week
~~47. Go to a therapist~~
~~48. Get totally, completely, forget-it-ever-mattered over __________~~
49. Stop fiddling with my cell phone so much

Organization
50. Clean out my closet
~~51. Clean out my trunk once and for all~~
52. Organize my desk and file cabinet
~~53. Make my bed every day for a month~~

Good will
54. Pay my library fine
~~55. Donate graphic design services to a local non-profit~~
56. Buy someone dinner just because
~~57. Loan out my favorite books with no intention of getting them back~~
58. Make scarves for a homeless charity
59. Give to NPR
60. Send postcards to everyone who matters

Appearance
61. Get tattoo #6
~~62. Buy The Perfect Black Heels~~
63. Get tattoo #7
64. Buy a decent bra
~~65. Nose piercing?~~
66. Find the black pencil skirt of my dreams
67. Drop 1 dress size

Upgrade
68. Buy pots and pans that aren't pathetic
~~69. Get a new cell phone~~
~~70. Get new glasses~~
71. Upgrade my makeup collection
~~72. Find a bedspread I like~~
73. Buy an amazing, expensive (?), last-forever bag
~~74. Buy an iron~~

Higher learning
75. Finish Level 1 of Rosetta Stone Russian
76. Apply to NYU & Hunter College MFA programs per my pact with Jessica
~~77. Learn to shoot a gun (research purposes!)~~
78. Learn the proper way to sew on a button so the experience isn't so agonizing
79. Teach Claire to play a song
80. Learn to like red wine

Just because
81. Get a Russian penpal
82. See Regina Spektor in concert
83. See a real play in a real theater
84. Send birthday cards to everyone
85. Send thank you notes whenever I get a gift
86. Make creme brulee
~~87. Read Flannery O'Connor~~
~~88. Go out for good sushi~~
89. Go to Shakespeare in the Park
90. Learn to drive a manual transmission
91. Buy the Elsa Peretti K pendant from Tiffany & Co because i've been wanting it for years
92. Sell my old computer
93. Do a thrift store scavenger hunt
~~94. Visit a winery~~
95. Go to an estate sale
~~96. Buy myself flowers~~
~~97. Host a party~~
98. Try 1 new restaurant every week for a month
99. Go out to dinner by myself without a book
100. Replace the battery in my watch
101. Give that guy his Georg Simmel book back

Extra Credit

~~102. Fix front screen door so I can actually have the door open~~

~~103. Make screen for bedroom window so I can actually have the window open~~

Do you really know the difference?

2010-03-28T12:24:00.001-04:00

Ohioan Joey Hebdo, who rocked the house at the Rumba Cafe last night.

Rest in pieces.

2010-03-21T18:12:00.003-04:00

Here is a shot from my Lubitel, in memory of The Stove. Shortly after I took this photo, The Stove randomly stopped working and was hauled off by the landlord (after first sitting on my back porch for 3 days, which was exactly as classy as it sounds) and has probably been junked by now, but I maintain it was a thing of retro beauty despite the fact that the clock didn't work, the timer didn't work, one of the burners didn't work, and eventually, the oven part didn't work either. The Stove's replacement is brand new but also ugly and soulless and has no window in the door--hardly an equal substitute.

When we are not good enough.

2010-03-20T20:15:00.000-04:00

Staring at your photograph.

2010-03-18T16:11:00.002-04:00

Beth Wood should be hella famous. I special-ordered her debut CD from Borders when I was like 14. Sadly, I think she's still just as hard to find.

What do you need?

2010-03-17T17:45:00.002-04:00

Undefinable Need turns 9 months today! Please go visit, and tell the Internet what you need right now. It's easy. And fun. Kind of. And if you need more that 1 thing, feel free to enter as many as you like. Anyway, it lives here. Go on, now.

Life's a great balancing act.

2010-03-03T12:17:00.003-05:00

Yesterday would have been Dr. Seuss's birthday--106 years old. I'm a bit obsessed with the man's work, both the words and the art, because being a writer and artist myself, I am in absolute awe of his ability to make nonsense so very meaningful. Today's title is from Oh, the Places You'll Go! which, aside from being a fairly common graduation gift, is a lovely and (oh God, I'm going to say the i-word) inspiring poem that makes me feel hopeful despite the bleakest bleak sky through my window right now.

Cameradventures.

2010-03-01T20:23:00.006-05:00

The vintage camera gods are smiling on me lately. These are two new acquisitions: a Lomo Lubitel-2 (manufactured in the USSR 1955-1977) and an Eastman-Kodak Duaflex II (circa 1950-54). Both are medium format cameras, 120 film in the Lomo and the now-extinct 620 film in the Kodak. So far I've only tested the Lomo, and I am happy to report that it is in brilliant working order. Here's a shot from it:

It's worth mentioning that this camera (found via Craigslist) even came with the original Lomo leather case, which is rare indeed. If you haven't heard of Lomos before, there is an entire photo communitydevoted to them.

I'm testing the Kodak this week, thanks to eBay and the camera nerds out there who are still selling 620 film.

Such great heights.

2010-02-23T09:33:00.002-05:00

Luke Beard is creating artwork based on a song lyric, every day for a year. Him: brilliant. Me: jealous. Found via Hot Child in the City.

Halide.

2010-02-22T13:03:00.003-05:00

This color makes me quiver with excitement. I have no idea what it must be like to have a dress custom-made for me, but I'd sure like to find out.

It's true.

2010-02-15T00:05:00.002-05:00

Yes, I just posted a video of a car commercial. But: I think this is a fun ad for an interesting campaign ("The freedom to change your mind..."), and, most importantly, what a great song. It's called "Oh Boy" by Miss Li.

Taken by a nursery rhyme.

2010-02-13T18:58:00.000-05:00

Haunting.

2010-02-10T19:22:00.000-05:00

This gives me chills.

Lesson time.

2010-02-10T19:05:00.005-05:00

Have you seen Obsessive Consumption? Brilliant blog (& now a book) detailing one woman's "battle" with consumerism. Kate Bingaman-Burt draws what she buys and posts it on her blog. It's visually interesting, but it also makes you think twice before you grab a bunch of crap off the check-out aisle at Target. Consumerism is a pretty complex and interesting topic, and I really like her approach.

I also really like Annie Leonard's "The Story of Stuff," a blunt but fun look at the problems related to consumerism. Here, now, the latest in the series: a look at the front-running "solution" to the climate change problem. I just wanted to share!

Hiroshima.

2010-02-08T20:50:00.000-05:00

"Hiroshima" by Daniela Spector. I wish I could speak Hebrew so I could sing along with this gorgeous melody.

Knitting as character-building?

2010-02-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

I made this for my friend Jess, after she showed me a picture of a J. Crew oatmeal-colored aran scarf she liked. I did my best. Knitting cables is a pretty hardcore experience, but the triumphant feeling I had when it was all over pretty much made it worth it. I used Bernat Roving, which is cheap but pretty neat to work with, and size 11 needles.

It's cold.

2010-02-08T20:24:00.000-05:00

Snuggling is the only option.

Statement

2010-02-05T21:03:00.000-05:00

Badass bedspreads are generally hard to find. I think this qualifies.

Clever.

2010-02-05T20:41:00.000-05:00

Trixie Delicious is full of lovely, ladylike plates and teacups that have been modified with decidedly un-ladylike statements. This falls into the category of "things I wish I had thought of."

Sweet as can be.

2010-01-25T18:32:00.000-05:00

Nellie McKay has a new CD--a Doris Day tribute comprised of delightfully stripped-down (no Broadway-esque arrangements here...and no "Que Sera Sera" either, for which I'm grateful) jazz numbers and a completely adorable photo spread in the liner notes. Nellie's voice is perfectly suited to songs such as these and it makes for a very enjoyable listen, although nothing can quite top her debut album: "Get Away from Me" (best title Ever.)

Want.

2010-01-18T19:43:00.000-05:00

Paint by number dishes from Anthropologie. I saw them in the flesh today and thought, "What would I do with dishes that cost $8 each?" But then I realized: it doesn't matter. Having them would be fun enough.

Tell your story walking.

2010-01-01T21:18:00.001-05:00

Deb Talan, inspired by the brilliant Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem. "tell your story walking" is my next tattoo, by the way.

My shoes, they seem to be my only home.

2009-12-31T18:37:00.000-05:00

From Julian Casablancas' (the Strokes) Phrazes for the Young. Sonically, this reminds me a little of another love of mine, Rufus Wainwright ala his debut album, albeit electronica-ed. Phrazes for the Young is not what I expected for the Strokes' frontman's solo project but it's a great listen, very bounce-around-the-room-ish. Go listen.

the New York post.

2009-12-16T17:27:00.000-05:00

No, not that post. My post! I took a trip to the Big Apple last weekend and wanted to catalogue some of the sights here.

First up: the windows at Bergdorf-Goodman. They came in 1st place in the arbitrary holiday window contest in the city, followed by Macy's and Barney's. It was really no competition at all. The winning windows were like the glory of Anthropologie on a massive scale, and I photographed all of them (and got screamed at by a man on the sidewalk while doing so, meh).

Another great spot was the Chelsea Market (hard to find, since any signage on the building is completely obscured by scaffolding, but well worth the expedition). It's a former Nabisco factory turned foodie market--think little bakeries and wine shops--not to mention a great spot for buying gifts, thanks to the indie Christmas market.

And what would a Christmas post be without a tree? I saw the tree at Rockefeller Center but I thought it was nothing compared to this--

--which gets its magical sparkle from broken compact discs. It's part of the market's eco-art display for the holidays (which also includes chandeliers made from disposable plastic cups). Here's a close-up of the CDs.

In tomorrow's post: Brighton Beach and Coney Island.

::peers around corner::

2009-11-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

So, I sort of deserted my good intentions to return to blogging full-force, because of the previously described NaNoWriMo adventure. But. I did it! 50,000 words in 30 days. The novel isn't finished yet, but it's definitely getting there.

In other news: my mother & I cut apart a pomegranate the other day. Just to see. It was...weird. And after the cutting took place, we had a "now what?" sort of movement because, it turns out, dealing with a pomegranate is not exactly intuitive. In the end we decided to freeze the seeds and make ice cream with them later but I'm open to suggestions. Go!

Get out the map.

2009-11-04T12:12:00.000-05:00

As evidenced by the image in the sidebar, I am participating in National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. I'm writing a mystery, because writing a mystery novel is a blast and I recommend it to everyone I know. Hey, you: try writing a mystery novel. Too much fun, I tell you. Anyway, my mystery is once again set in Brooklyn, always a favorite place of mine to visit. No matter how many times I visit, though, I still occasionally need to refer to a map so that my orientation of neighborhoods is correct. I usually just Google "map of Brooklyn neighborhoods" and use the first result that pops up, until I found this animal. So cute and suitable for framing that I might just need to buy it and put it on the wall instead of relying on Google Maps for my authentication purposes.

Well, hello there.

2009-11-02T15:55:00.001-05:00

I want to share this lovely image, which I find hopeful and compelling. By Jocelyn Nevel, whom Claire & I met last night at a Wild Goose wine tasting.

But anyway: I'm not all that thrilled about the way 2009 has turned out. There, I said it. But, it's now November and after a month or so of sulking about recent loss of job and other displeasing life circumstances, I'm determined to eek out the rest of the year with as much positivity as I can muster. And to that end, out of my half-lit apartment and back to observing the world.

Then the house burned down so fast.

2009-09-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

Company of Thieves, live with an acoustic version of "The Fire Song." The whole CD is $5.99 on iTunes at the moment and I love it. The CD includes a lovely string-arranged acoustic version in addition to the "plugged in" one and I actually wanted to post that--cellos, yum. I couldn't find it anywhere though, but I did find this one. Anyway, curses to CD101's SummerFest being sold out a couple weeks ago, because they played there and I wish I had seen it.

Birds all sing as if they knew.

2009-08-27T09:32:00.000-04:00

Ellie Greenwich, October 23, 1940 – August 26, 2009. Legendary co-writer of numerous pop songs from the '60s, when it was rare for a woman to be on the behind-the-scenes end of the music business, and much more rare for a woman to succeed there. And by "legendary," I mean legendary. Ms. Greenwich penned tunes such as "Chapel of Love," "Leader of the Pack," "River Deep - Mountain High," and so on. As a performer, she was the lead-and-background singer of the "girl group" The Raindrops, a duo made up of Ellie and her husband/songwriting partner, even though the group allegedly featured two females--album artwork featured a photo of Ellie's sister Laura, who otherwise had nothing to do with the band. On the rare occasion of public performances, Laura appeared onstage but merely lip-synched into a dead microphone. Ellie Greenwich was also credited with the discovery of Neil Diamond, and even provided background vocals on a number of his songs. Even if '60s pop music isn't your thang, you have to admire the sheer volume of her body of work, and the fact that she made a name for herself in a boys' club like the record industry of 40-some years ago. RIP.

Did I ever tell you how lucky you are?

2009-08-26T09:37:00.000-04:00

I had a dream last night that I got a Dr. Seuss tattoo, and I woke up thinking that this was a very interesting idea--I am a big Dr. Seuss enthusiast, maybe that explains things. Maybe not. But anyway, in case you're a fan too, I wanted to share this, Who's Who & What's What, a 157-page "directory" of Dr. Seuss characters with descriptions. No images, but still very interesting reading. This was compiled by someone at Dartmouth, and it's possible that person is my soulmate.

Empty walls.

2009-08-25T14:19:00.000-04:00

Another new apartment means more empty walls I need to fill. This would do nicely, I think.

And, from the same shop, this. I collect fortune cookie fortunes and I always get excited by related art projects / themes. The shop in question is Lucky Bluebird Art and it makes me so, so happy, something I dearly needed today.

A little shameless self-promotion never hurt anybody.

2009-08-21T09:22:00.001-04:00

Very excited about the opportunity to play at Java Central -- many thanks to Ralph there for having us. The show is Labor Day weekend, so if you aren't at a cookout you should come & listen.

In the middle of the night, everybody loves everybody.

2009-08-11T23:28:00.000-04:00

"Take Off Your Sunglasses" by Ezra Furman and the Harpoons, who opened for Ida Maria tonight at the Basement. I'd never heard them before, and I like what I heard. The Basement, though, turns out to be the worst place ever to see a show. There are very few good places to stand because it is an actual basement, meaning there are support pillars all over the place, and they block the view of the teeny tiny stage, especially if you are a rocknroll kid and you are standing up close, next to the speakers. Then your view is obscured by the pillars AND the speakers, and you go home totally deaf. Yup.

In lieu of a craptastic cell phone camera picture (I have it here, but some tall kid's striped hooded sweatshirt is taking up most of it, and the aforementioned speaker is taking up the rest), enjoy Ida Maria here in a non-deaf-making acoustic recording.

I, for one, can't wait.

2009-08-11T09:20:00.000-04:00

...but I'll have to, at least until Christmas day, for the new Sherlock Holmes movie. I am a hardcore Sherlock Holmes enthusiast already (the lit, of course, and also the old BBC show starring Jeremy Brett = perfection), and I love it when my very favorite things are thrown into the spotlight for everyone to enjoy. However, I have a bit of a complaint already. That gravely voice you hear at the beginning of this trailer? That's Mark Strong, a British character actor you might not know by name, and who absolutely should have been cast in the lead of this movie. tHe would have made the best Sherlock Holmes ever--maybe even giving the Jeremy Brett incarnation a run for his money.

(You've probably seen Mark Strong before, and often: Stardust, RocknRolla, Body of Lies, to name a few. And, yes, I'm a little bit in love with him. What?)

Blog love.

2009-08-11T08:57:00.000-04:00

red nails; wrong city is the most breathtakingly gorgeous photo blog ever.

The whole night.

2009-08-10T00:10:00.000-04:00

I don't really have any place to wear a dress like this, but I think its general fabulousness might somehow lead to invitations. How much fun is this? By Glamarita.

Out the way.

2009-08-03T17:20:00.000-04:00

Columbus band Bird & Flower.

Rawr.

2009-08-03T17:09:00.000-04:00

My cat, lounging on me while I attempt to read Milan Kundera. I know, this doesn't really belong on my blog. Then again, it's my blog, so.

God don't make lonely girls.

2009-07-31T00:02:00.001-04:00

So this evening I relived my high school glory days via a pretty fantastic show at the Newport: the Wallflowers. $20 (well, plus $5 for a single Stella Artois and $10 for a cd...see below on that) is definitely a fair price for 90 minutes of Jakob Dylan-led rock n roll, I always say. And, yes, I was totally one of those people who whipped out her cell phone to take a picture--what? What?

Anyway, an added bonus to the evening was the opening act--a stylish lady named Serena Ryder, who totally blew my mind. I excitedly bought a cd from her and I do love it, although I was hoping it would be an acoustic recording she has a band here though, honestly, she doesn't need one. She played solo tonight and rocked the house.

And, lastly, since I'm talking about music: I'm playing on Saturday's Gallery Hop, outside L'Antibes at 772 N. High Street. Come listen!

Slacking no more.

2009-07-29T10:16:00.000-04:00

Many apologies to my wide body of readers (hi, Claire) for the fortnight of No Posting. But I'm back! My new plaid dress has inspired me to rejoin the world. Anyway, I know chandeliers are crazy hot right now, inexplicably on everything, everything (like ALL the mod girly home dec stuff at Target, even the things that it makes no sense for them to be on--ESPECIALLY on the things it makes no sense to be on.) But that doesn't mean I love them any less. And this print is a particularly fun example. I love the feathery, eyelash-y details and, of course, the pinkness. Check out Eva Vaughan for more.

I feed my habits daily.

2009-07-15T07:11:00.000-04:00

This is an original song by Tracy Cupitt, musician and artist who blogs at Gingerhoneycat. I am so happy to have discovered this song. The melody and music on the line "different as I may be" is going to haunt me all day, I do believe.

Looking at stars.

2009-07-14T09:59:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Rebecca and her lovely blog Dog-eared, I discovered this today: a huge collection of astronomy-related photos taken by the experts themselves--NASA. The photo archive goes back 14 years (yep. 1995.) and features a new image every day. Some are diagrams, some are video, some are breathtaking shots of good old Earth, and some are so lovely that it's genuinely hard to believe sometimes that these things exist on their own.

14 years, 1 photo every day. That should keep me busy for a while.

The city.

2009-07-12T21:43:00.000-04:00

I'm blogging from New York City at the moment, just to say I did. The above photo is from a different city--Rome. Check out Study for more gorgeous experimental images (this one's from a Lomo Diana.)

Get out the map

2009-07-06T13:26:00.001-04:00

So, I have a thing for cufflinks. Especially clever ones like this, from DLK Designs. If all the boys I know would stop being silly boys, maybe I'd buy these for somebody. Be sure to check out the rest of her shop for more map-related goodness.

You don't need poltergeists for sidekicks.

2009-06-27T12:04:00.000-04:00

Finding a new band is one of the best feelings ever. I recently discovered Mother Mother, Canadian indie rock superheroes. According to me, anyway. This song, "Ghosting," off O My Heart, is definitely worth sharing.

Why the world goes slow.

2009-06-25T20:53:00.000-04:00

Who but Regina Spektor could pull off a gorgeous & catchy song that just so happens to contain the phrase "macaroni pieces"? Regina Spektor makes beautiful music, and she is sort of weird. If you've listened to any of her other albums in entirety, then you know both of these things. If you haven't, then this is as good a place to start as any. Far is her fifth release (her second major-label one) and boasts the same insanely catchy melodies, lovely piano and vocals, and, well, weird stories as her other work. There might be a few too many songs here but when she's good, she's good and therefore it's forgiveable. 4/5 stars.

Brought to you by the letter K...

2009-06-25T19:48:00.001-04:00

Words would cheapen the experience, I think. Just look at this beauty. From Kent & London, who make really expensive furniture.

(found via when you were young, you were the king of carrot flowers)

Silver lining included.

2009-06-25T16:12:00.000-04:00

I just love these. Everything at Roll & Tumble Press is pretty sharp--vintage-inspired, but still clever. I have a giant apartment with precious little artwork for the walls--tragic, I know. And if I had an unlimited budget, I would certainly have me some of these posters.

In other news, you should visit a friend's project here and read an interview I helped proof-read, given that I am an obsessive grammar wizard (and proud of it.)

Your two eyes are like two doves.

2009-06-24T06:44:00.000-04:00

Dirty Projectors played a show here on Sunday, and I went, and they opened with this song which is perhaps the loveliest piece of music I've heard this year. "Two Doves," off their new album, Bitte Orca. Thoughtful album review coming soon, because I cannot stop listening to it.

Modern Material

2009-06-22T12:49:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I went to the Gahanna Jazz & Blues Festival (meh). But on the bright side, I discovered Modern Material, a Columbus-based "indie designer rock brand" which markets everything a chandelier-and-fleur-de-lis obsessed gal like me could ever want. Paper goods, apparel & accessories. Go shop!

Robot love.

2009-06-20T14:13:00.000-04:00

In honor of the robot-related GeekFest at Wild Goose Creative, which I did not attend but wished I had, behold. Handknit robot sweater, designed by Good Egg, who must be some kind of genius. Here is a brilliant quote from her Etsy shop: "i think about the knit stitch as a pixel. look for an intersection of modern and traditional motifs and displays of dense colorwork."

This is a work of art. And it just so happens to be done in the best color combination in the world. Check out her shop for more astonishingly clever knits.

Unrelated: thanks to anyone who checked out my web project, Undefinable Need. If you looked at it early on (Wednesday or Thursday of this week), you might want to have another look because it absolutely exploded with activity. And, if you can think of anyone who might appreciate the concept, please do pass it along.

A project.

2009-06-17T10:55:00.000-04:00

A new project of mine, documenting the un-define-able concept of "need." It lives on the internet, here. Go visit. Tell people. I would appreciate it very much!

Write this down.

2009-06-15T09:22:00.000-04:00

I love the idea of this calendar for keeping track of birthdays. It's a "perpetual calendar": no years or specific days of the week, just dates. And the floral illustrations + offbeat lettering style for the months just makes me so, so happy. From Amy Marcella.

All the names in the world.

2009-06-10T06:40:00.001-04:00

"Consolation No. 2"

At any given moment
there are hundreds maybe thousands
of things to ruin you
and not in subtle ways either.
You might be swept off by the wind
and no one notices. You turn a corner
and some resurrected sadness
knocks you down
(sadness is good at this). But
you might hear someone say
your name and then you know
that at any given moment
despite all the names in the world
there is someone who is only
saying yours.

Dear Frye.

2009-06-08T13:31:00.000-04:00

Dear Frye:

There is something kind of creepy about you, because it feels like you are reading wishes directly off my soul.

Love,

Kristen

But really. In all seriousness, these boots could not be more lovely. I love the added detail on the harness and the higher angled heel that separates these from the regular harness boot (which is also a thing of beauty, don't get me wrong.)

Breaking & entering.

2009-06-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

Found via the Perfect Binge. This is from A Softer World, where everything is brilliant and wonderful. Go here for more photo-comics. They're not funny. Not that kind of comic.

Deco.

2009-06-03T08:33:00.001-04:00

I rent, so I have no right to daydream about home improvements. However, this dreamy wallpaper from Ferm get me started anyway.

And while we're at it, I'll take her shoes, too.

2009-06-02T13:02:00.000-04:00

I love the blissful expressions on these darling kitties. And yes, I like my cat more than I like a lot of people--what about it? More lovely illustrations at The Dancing Cat.

nearby & neighborly.

2009-06-02T10:13:00.000-04:00

If you haven't heard local Columbus band The Floorwalkers, you need to get to it. You can find them every Wednesday at Ruby Tuesday on Summit but this weekend is your extra-special chance to hear them sans cover charge: at the Columbus Arts Festival. Saturday, 6:45. Go!

map of the world.

2009-05-28T07:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, so a map of the country. Anyway, I'm not sure how I got signed up for this guy's email list but I did, and it turns out I'm glad. Because Dolan Geiman has some of the neatest paper prints and I have many a bare wall that could use adorning.

shake it like a polaroid picture.

2009-05-26T22:58:00.001-04:00

Polaroid cameras rock, let's face it. In light of this rock-ness, it's pretty sad that digital photography has taken over the photo world; Kodak ceased production of all Polaroid film production as of last year. How long will it take to deplete the global stockpile of instant-film supplies? We may not have to worry about it, thanks to the brilliant folks at The Impossible Project, an independent organization "re-inventing"the technology behind Polaroids. Science + art = swoon.

ida maria.

2009-05-23T18:38:00.000-04:00

Think I'm a bit late on getting on the bandwagon here, but here it is. This is from Ida Maria's (say it: ee-dah. She's Norwegian!) album Fortress 'Round My Heart, which is like 35 minutes flat of bouncing around the room. Love it. She's got a great look, too -- I want that blouse.

fortune cookie fortune.

2009-05-23T08:22:00.000-04:00

Among other things, I am obsessed with fortune cookie fortunes. I save them, because it seems like they could be a part of an amazing project at some point. Anyway, the other day I went to a Chinese restaurant with a friend and we both got the same fortune, this one here. And, in fact, it was one that I already had in my collection. This takes away some of the magic, I guess, but it's still a lovely message.

Once, I got a fortune that said, "Duplex switch stuck on." ::shrugs::

home.

2009-05-22T21:52:00.000-04:00

portal.

tunnel.

pulp fiction.

2009-05-22T21:36:00.000-04:00

And not the movie, either. Although I am a fan of that as well. Who knows what went wrong in my youth to make me obsessed with "hard boiled" detective stories, but something did. I'm not a collector but there are bound to be interesting characters at this convention here in C-bus, July 31 - August 2, downtown.

trouble is my business.

2009-05-22T21:26:00.000-04:00

Reading Raymond Chandler, early stories. "The minutes went by on tiptoe, with their fingers to their lips." Anyone who disagrees with me about the genius of Raymond Chandler needs to step outside.

watching.

2009-05-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

Diving Bell & the Butterfly home for the weekend. Among others. Will report back.

on the street where you live.

2009-05-22T20:38:00.000-04:00

My neighborhood, coming alive Saturday, June 13. Music, art, wine tasting, home tours. There is a community yard sale on this day as well. Let's go? More here.