Dreams make me tired, but I really don't wanna stop.

The other night I dreamed Saturn crashed into Earth and landed in 3 parts surrounding the farm where I was in the kitchen hiding under the sink in a cabinet.
Made me feel weird all day.

Spooning Max's Art

Spooning Maxwell Loren Holyoke's art at his Anno Domini show!
How fabulous is he for letting me do this!?!
BTW- new art website is up: www.zhibit.org/quitecontrary.
Please give my guestbook a little shout out yo!!!

3-Ton Steamroller Prints

"Doin art in the streets of San Francisco"
Tomorrow I will be here- the SF Roadworks steamroller printfest!
I'm working a booth with my friend's cute purse/fabrics company, "Beyond Wonderland"...
Given my week, seeped in Alice in Wonderland, it seems like an appropriate way to "let out steam"...
Whahahaha...

...yeah.

Salsa!

Just completed an Alice in Wonderland mural for this:

Art on the Square & 1st Annual Salsa Festival
The final Art on the Square is this Saturday September 20th which coincides with the Redwood City First Annual Salsa Festival which includes salsa competions (the edible kind and the dance kind), four stages of music and fun family activities.
Saturday, September 20, 2008, 12-8pm
On Broadway between Middlefield and Hamilton
Downtown Redwood City
- just look for a random 8ft. Alice holding the Cheshire cat on her finger like a bird... could be anywhere in front of a construction site, in a kiosk... who knows... pics will come when I get over there. Should be up for a little bit.

Ya know when u play video games and you complete a level how you have that feeling of exhaustion but excitement to see what's going to happen on the next level? Well, that's how I feel... I kinda wish Nintendo had a cheat sheet for this sort of thing...

Greed is good?

So what I heard an investor say today was that he was taking his money and buying up yen and francs.
THATS his investment right now!
Crazy...
This is the best explanation I've seen on the current financial upturn...
Did you know, for example that this is the "worst slump in U.S. housing since the Great Depression."
Eek!!!

Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe is a short documentary film directed by Les Blank in 1980 which depicts director Werner Herzog living up to his promise that he would eat his shoe if Errol Morris ever completed the film Gates of Heaven.



That's a friend...

If I...

Had a little girl, I would so buy/make her little lolita clothes like these from Shirley Temple...

How to Build a Global Community

From "The Syracuse Culture Workers":
Think of no one as “them”
Don’t confuse your comfort with your safety
Talk to strangers
Imagine other cultures through their poetry and novels
Listen to music you don’t understand*Dance to it
Act Locally
Notice the workings of power & privilege in your culture
Question consumption
Know how your lettuce and coffee are grown: wake up
and smell the exploitation
Look for fair trade and union labels
Help build economies from the bottom up
Acquire few needs
Learn a second(or third) language
Visit people,places, and cultures – not tourist attractions
Learn people’s history*Re-define progress
Know physical and political geography
Play games from other cultures*Watch films with subtitles
Know your heritage
Honor everyone’s holidays
Look at the moon and imagine someone else,
Somewhere else, looking at it too
Read the UNs Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Understand the global economy in terms of
people, land, and water
Know where your bank banks
Never believe you have the right to anyone else’s resources
Refuse to wear corporate logos: defy corporate domination
Question military/corporate connections
Don’t confuse money with wealth, or time with money
Have a pen/email pal*Honor indigenous cultures
Judge governance by how well it meets all people’s needs
Be skeptical about what you read
Eat adventurously*Enjoy vegetables,
Beans and grains in your diet
Choose curiosity over certainty
Know where your water comesfrom
and where your wastes go
Pledge allegiance to the earth;question nationalism
Think South, Central, and North-
There are many Americans
Assume that many others share your dreams
Know that no one is silent though many are not heard
Work to change this

Advent Conspiracy Ideas

Felt Gnomes... Seriously so cute!

Website

I need one. I really do.
I need to figure out how to market art so I can have fun all day long!
Let's join forces- together we will be unstoppable!
I need Etsy ideas...

The Little Revolution

I think anti-gas price increases needs to start with the Honda Metropolitan Scooter... The 2009 in "Ghost" color is just too hipster! I'm considering it thanks to Charlie and ASTRONOMICAL overspending on gas.
Cuz I'm pretty sure my money could go towards much better things.
Trying not to eat out as much either.
What's your little revolution against consumerism?
XOXO

Q & A

Q: "What is one thing that you know for certain returning from Haiti- about God, yourself and the world?"

A: "I know for sure that Consumerism is wrong. I know that I need to be loved and need to admit my insufficients and needs so that others can be who they fully are as givers. I know that the Holy Spirit is in me and in many of the eyes of the children of Haiti- and I now know what that means, having seen voodoo at work. I'm getting a sense of my identity- I am the storyteller prophet."

Haiti Links

There is much to tell about Haiti- I think its best in small doses.

The TEAM BLOG is worth reading. I wrote one section while in Haiti.

The team also took tons of beautiful PICTURES worth looking at for a visual story of the experience.

Stories to come...

XOXO

Going...

to Haiti...
This is officially the 48 hour count down to a life changing, eye-opening experience of loving 3rd world style...

Preparation for Haiti

At our prayer night for the Haiti Trip yesterday, it occured to me that going to Haiti will be like a fast... a modern day fast from comfort (in everyway- food, shower, bed, heat, technology, habits, work, jeans/pants...).
I thought I would share these two things with you all: First of all our team picture now improved! by awesome Charlie:

(Arg!!! say I, Charlie dearest!!!)
And Isaiah 58, hopefully as a connection to those of you who have been a part of this process with me over the last two years and as a new insight for new friends!
Isaiah 58 was given to me by 3 random people during a 24 day fast I was doing...

Isaiah 58
Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground
1-3 "Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
They're busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people—
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?'
and love having me on their side.
But they also complain,
'Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'

3-5"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?

6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places
9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
13-14"If you watch your step on the Sabbath
and don't use my holy day for personal advantage,
If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy,
God's holy day as a celebration,
If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,'
making money, running here and there—
Then you'll be free to enjoy God!
Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all.
I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob."
Yes! God says so!

"Silence"

"Silence"
What's happening here?
I was once so alive and now I'm so full of dread and almost dead
Show me your wounded head that is lead to communion with the father
But where did he go?
His presence seems farther and farther away each day
but I'm trying so hard to steer his way
Yet still lonely and confused on this cold hard ground I lay

Speak to me wise mouth and say “it's all good kid, it's nothing that you did, and though it feels like I'm not here with you right now just be still and silent and listen for that sound..
Shhh..
Did you hear it?
Listen again.
Did you hear it?
That silent voice that just spoke nothing, that is me, I'm listening to your plea with open ears Counting all your tears flowing from your irritated eyes
Searching the skies looking for that hope that beyond there lies.

Oh you young worrisome sparrow, find rest
Lay your battered head upon my omnipresent breast and make it your nest
No strong cold wind could ever blow and carry you from this your home
Look around, see the life shooting up from the ground
Spring colors springing fourth and celebration of your trusting

It's a constant process this is
Growing you into the man you are to become
But when you sense the setting of the sun know it is only rising and has just begun
Now go fourth, sing songs of faith, and lift up others in the midst of this race
And if you can't keep the pace or lose sight of my face
Know that I'm always near so you need not fear
But don't worry about all that right now
Just sit here and enjoy the peace I offer in my silence
When I am silent I am listening, and not abandoning.

-Bradley Hathaway

God Bless The Inventors of Coffee...

VII (Very Important Information)
To soon replace Saturday morning Cartoons...

The most famous of the stories about the origin of coffee involves an Abyssinian goatherd named Kaldi who one day noticed that his normally docile goats had suddenly become exceptionally lively. On closer investigation Kaldi discovered his goats were nibbling the bright red berries from a shiny, dark-leafed shrub nearby.

Bravely the goatherd tasted these berries himself and soon found, to his amazement that he felt extraordinarily stimulated and invigorated. Convinced that he had discovered a miracle, Kaldi picked some more of the berries and rushed off with them to show his local Imam, a learned holy man. The Imam, on hearing the story, pronounced the beans to be evil and flung them onto the fire, whereupon a delicious and exotic aroma soon filled the air. Hastily the Imam, changing his mind, raked the beans from the fire and threw them into a bowl of water to cool, and then tasted the water. So was the first recorded coffee "brewed" and enjoyed.

Because of stories like this, coffee was first thought to have originated in Yemen on the Arabian peninsula when it was seen growing there by Europeans at a much later date. But the botanical evidence indicates that the coffee plant "Coffea Arabica" originated on the plateaus of central Ethiopia where it still grows wild.

Somehow the Arab traders got the beans from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen around the 6th century AD. Black African cultures were using the bean before this, but as a solid food: the ripe berries were squashed, combined with animal fats and shaped into round balls, which could be carried and eaten on long journeys.

1475: History's First Coffee Shop

The first coffee shop in history, named Kiva Han, was invented in Constantinople - what is now Istanbul. Coffee had been introduced to the region by the Ottoman Turks and became so popular that a woman could file for divorce if she did not get a daily quota of coffee from her husband.

1668: Invention of a Breakfast Tradition

It may be hard to believe, but at one point in history, beer was the preferred drink at breakfast. It wasn't until 1668 that New York City claimed coffee as its breakfast drink of choice. The world followed suit and, in another hundred years, it was declared an American's patriotic duty to drink coffee.

1713: Accidental Marketing Innovation

In 1713, the Dutch accidentally supplied King Louis XIV of France with a coffee bush. They may have been more careful if they knew that the French would transport a seedling overseas, where it would result in over 19 million coffee trees 50 years later. This historic coffee bush of the Dutch became responsible for over 90 percent of the world's coffee production.

1822: Invention of the Espresso Machine

Despite its Italian-sounding name, the espresso machine was invented in France. A prototype appeared there in 1822. It took over a hundred years for the invention of the espresso machine we know today - this time in Italy. The modern espresso machine was invented by Achilles Gaggia in 1946.

1901: Instant Coffee Invented

In 1901, Satori Kato, a Japanese-American chemist, invented instant coffee in Buffalo, NY at the Pan American Exposition. Kato received a patent for his invention and coffee history was made. He even started his own coffee company - appropriately named the Kato Coffee Company - in Chicago.

1952: Invention of the Coffee Break

At this time in history, workplaces in North America were becoming a bit more humane, installing lunchrooms in factories and offices for their employees to have a place to sit and relax. The American Coffee Bureau saw a marketing angle in the situation and invented the coffee break. It even had a slogan - "Give yourself a Coffee-Break -- and Get What Coffee Gives to You."

Today, coffee is loved all over the world. By 1995, over 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed every year. In fact, after oil, it is the world's second-largest commodity.

(Soooooo... Oil, Coffee, Diamonds??? That's the order of the highest consumed products on the planet? We humans are a strange lot!!!)

Unmask the Mysteries... of Creating a "Designer Mask"...

This "Tribal Mask" was created for the "Unmask the Mysteries Masquerade Gala" which will "will benefit the AIDS Coalition Silicon Valley and 9 AIDS service and prevention agencies in Santa Clara County. Come for an evening of unique entertainment, foods, wines, and masks in the theme of Carnival in Brazil!"
It's my first attempt at a "designer mask", which is actually pretty fun...
"I fought the feathers and I... won!"

3 Hours of Research
7 Hours of Construction
30 Minutes of Transportation
$30 in materials
(Incl: gold, feathers, jewel, twine, shell "glitter", & acrylic paint)

I had no idea the theme was "carnivale" so, this might not be the most event-appropriate mask, but I still thought it was cool...
I'll be going down to "volunteer" tonight but I'm pretty sure I'll come back with loads of inspiration from the body art by MAC (!!!), food by the Fairmont Hotel and the freakin cool Velocity Circus (contortionists).

I feel like this was a really cool opportunity! Masks are not something I would normally make... so THANK YOU CHARLIE!!!

Fishy

I told someone I was a pescatarian. He thought I said "presbyterian" and went off on this 5 minute tangent on his growing up Presbyterian. It was funny... I giggled after politely listening and said, "oh, wow, that's cool. But I'm not Presbyterian. Not sure what I am in that department. But I'm a PESCATARIAN- ya know, like a vegetarian but I eat sushi..."
It was awesome.
Best part?
I'm now an Artist in Resident at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz... which just merged with a Presbyterian Church...

...It's the little things...

Geishas for Haiti!

I've posted the 5 thus far created on my art blog...
Busy Busy...

Alice in Superstition Land Event!

This is totally stolen from miss "Giovenetta". I will put up many pics on my art blog, but I wanted to give you a sense behind the piece... This just sumarizes the whole thing way better than I could have explained it... I am searching for video footage so you all can hear how AMAZING she was!!! UH! SOOOO love painting to her opera vocaliciousness!!! It was great to paint an actual model and Tony's rendition of "Jabberwocky" was downright delicious! Rawr, people, RAWR!

I think Gio summarized what it meant to collaborate with artists in other mediums well. She said, "I didn't have to hold back. When you sing in choirs, everyone has to hold back for the good of the group. But here, you singing out, being your original self was for the good of the group."

I LOVED that!

BTW, I also need to give a major shout out to the Red Paintings for giving me an ultra booster of inspiration this last month! You guys are FABULOUS!!!

...Thanks Gio for this:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Alice in Superstition Land Event! Pics!!!
Check my picture album~

I had the AMAZING opportunity to sing Gretel exerpts from the opera Hansel & Gretel for a collaborative art event called: "I'm Late", conceptualized and organized by Trina Merry.

It was really an awesome experience.

She showed her canvas art on the side of the room consisting of striking Geishas painted specifically to raise money the Haiti missions trip she is undergoing in only a few weeks! She did one canvas every day for an entire week.

(That's a lot of creative energy and work!) Go Trina-Woman!!!
Not to mention SHE'S GOING TO HAITI!

Anyhow, where I fit into this picture is just a small piece, but significant to me. She and I entered the audience carrying the White Rabbit on a stretcher, debilitated by the somthing that bound him.

After setting the stretcher down, Trina invited the Rabbit out of his paralysis where all are able to see the clocks that are tied around his waist. They are all set to 3am.

Apparently this particular Rabbit is bound by a fear which had been paralyzing him. The clocks signify that fear. It is a superstition about 3am. (BTW- this event occured on Fri the 13th, hence the focus on superstition) After the Rabbit was revived, Trina proceeded to envigorate him using color, by painting and I by singing. I sang the Gretel exerpts because the lyrics and music embodies the message of awakening from a dream to a refreshed state of being.

Trina continued to paint Kate's, our White Rabbit, entire body save shorts and waistcoat.

During the last half hour I got to help, by Trina's invitation, along with several others!

Check out the pics in my new album titled: Alice in Superstition Land, to see Trina's ( and my ^-~) body painting and her GORGEOUS gallery art!
Oh, and both of us dressed up as Alice, w/ our own respective rabbits.

Thank God...

... I have a place to live!
Not just any place- a super fabulous place.
I will be moving to the 1 bdrm. guest house on my family's property which is currently, happily acting as studio/photography/craft storage for various members of my family.
This means as it gets cleaned out, i may get cool things- like today, for example, i got a freaking drafting table! A "light" one, no less with storage!
I get free cable, utilities, and internet.
How much is a 1 bedroom on Newport with all these perks and more?
...$400...

I forsee bills paid, art supplies purchased and traveling in my near future...

Especially with "The Red Paintings"... since Trash told me last night they are MOVING TO L.A.!!! They are going to have "Animal Rebellion Marches" here in the states and I plan to help out! How fun! Trash will dress up like Noah and lead the Rebellion like this:

Chocolate Jesus

"The Mass of Humanity goes to the grave with their song still inside."

-HDT




XOXO

Things in the Past, Things in the Future- Stop and Pick a Strawberry

There's been a lot going on for me. Ever since Cinco De Mayo, things have been sorta psychotic- and not in a sexy, blurred eye liner kind of way. In kinda draining, "look ma no hands" sort of way.

For starters my aunt passed away and that just flat out sucked. You have all these conversations you never want to have like "what color coffin do you want"? I will do a future post on my ideal funeral just to put it down somewhere, but I am too exhausted tonight.

But I did get to see family memembers I haven't seen in forever. And it was a Greek Orthodox funeral and it was like she was lullabied to sleep. I liked that. All these memories I leave behind as an "adult" flooded back and I have yet to process them all out. But many of them are good...

Then it was on to LA cuz Jaclyn bailed out on me and everyone else, actually, in search of herself or something. She moved without telling ANYONE to San Diego. Pretty much sucked for me since that gave me approximately 10 days to move out, go to this funeral, and well, figure out how to be homeless for a while. I was pretty pissed, but I'm getting better. I went down to LA and had a really good time with Caroline and the Red Paintings (especially a particular drummer) and it was really good to see Jac- she is one of my best buds and its just not cool to suddenly have to disconnect a strong friendship like that- made me feel super abandoned.

I came back and had TWO days to move out. TWO! All I gotta say is, thank God for Grandma, Dad and the Rempels! Yeesh!

After that I pounded out 17 hour days to pick up the delegated pieces people screwed up for the Compassion Unleashed Conference. That was a pretty crazy experience! The power went out TWICE! So from a tech standpoint, we had to get pretty inventive. My favorite invention of the day went to Josh Rempel who engineered electricity from his van in the parking lot and brought light to the building! Also triumphant were the 200 candles we lit for a rather romantic morning.

Right now I'm painting and trying to sleep off this cold that's been lingering too damn long.

I have so many things going on creatively- its awesome and I'm just trying to keep up! I move into my new studio on the 15th.
Before that I have the Haiti Comedy night that I'm supposed to create some form of booth for and an art piece to auction off- what I've been currently painting is somewhat dark and I'm not so sure it's event appropriate. Hmmm...
On the 13th is the next Artist Quarters and I will be performing the second day of creation... I kinda want to skip ahead to a different series of seven- the seven deadly sins- but I don't really have the brain capacity tonight...

With all that is ahead and behind me, I was really grateful for this story Brennan Manning shared in his recent book on Tenderness- its about a monk who is being chased by a lion. He slides to the side of a cliff. He starts so slip and sees the jagged rocks below. Should he go back up? He looks up at the snarling lion. No, that wouldn't work. So what does he do? He looks around and sees a patch of strawberries growing. He reaches out and picks a strawberry and says, "Mmm, best strawberry I've ever had".

I probably butchered that story, but I like it right now. Mmmm... the opportunity to write... Mmm... bubble bath. Mmmm... fun cuzzies house with Wii and DDR games... Mmmm... fun things to paint...

BTW, if anyone wants cherries, there's a ton on this tree out here and they'll prob only last the week... come and get it!
XOXO

Happy Valley

So Jaclyn and I have been wanting to move to the woods for a couple of months now, and the perfect place landed in our laps...
HAPPY VALLEY!
Happy it be! It's about 12 minutes deep from the 17 in thick forest jungle ISH complete with ready to eat garden, kiwi and avocado trees! There's easy hiking to a nearby winery and super chill people on the property!
The main room is hexagon shape which means the bathroom and kitchen are huge.
Its mostly run on propane, and the floor heats up from the bottom- like those butt warmers in cars BUT FOR YOUR FEET! There's a woodfire stove for the cozy factor and the bedrooms are at least 20' x 25'!
So, along the tree house right outside in the works we will be guest ready! Sure it's in the Santa Cruz mountains, but we're told the meth labs are over in Boulder Creek. As long as everyone's fine that I choose to shower and shave, I think we'll all get along fine...
We're just waiting on the final ok... then we are open for creative goodness!

Artist Quarters

Pics from last night's performance at Artist Quarters.
Thanks to canvas Dan Eisinger, the folks putting on Artist Quarters and all the inspiring artist and musicians!

The idea I had was to do 7 of these to represent the days of creation. But, with only two days to plan my new idea, I decided to keep it simple and do one:









"Let There Be Light"
Acrylic on Human
Approximately 6'
=)

After the initial "ooo a tribal man" and "what the..." I got a lot of "that is the COOLEST thing I have ever seen" and "I love watching you paint"...

Yeah I took a risk doing this at Westgate (I'm not really sure WHY, but I guess it's unusual), but hopefully more people will be encouraged to jump out of those boxes...

Where has all the art gone?

I am making a seperate blog now for different art projects i attempt.
You can find them HERE. Here's a teaser...
Good old Bob Dylan (my first attempted celebrity)...

It's not a great blog yet and I'm hoping to get a website of sorts up soon... but in the meantime, its something.

Quirky, Veeeeery Quirky.

Am I quirky? Some would just call me flat out weird, but they really love me for it. I think that's nice. It makes me feel really loved to be known, quirks and all, and still treasured. Makes me feel special. So, since Charlie, one of my favorite quirky of quirkies, who can finish my weird thoughts for me, asked to hear 6 non-important things/habits/quirks about myself, I will oblige. Charlie's oh so cool quirky blog inspired a bit of honesty on my part...

Slight tangent, one of my best friends, Sarah, introduced me to the song "That Time" by Regina Spektor with... "You HAVE to hear this song! It reminds me so much of you!"

"Hey remember that month when I only ate boxes of tangerines...So cheap and juicy! ...tangerines."

Yeah.

Some quirks...

1) I am cuddly, almost like clockwork, at 10pm. No matter where I am, I will suddenly be more touchy. I am also ridiculously cuddly for about 15 minutes when I wake up. My former cat LOVED this and waited until I woke up so she could stroke my hair with her paws, lovingly look into my eyes and start purring.

2) I am ridiculously in love with the smell of cloves. I used to chain smoke 5 of them in a row just for the smell! (And now have smog and fiberglass asthmatic lungs. yay!) I will gravitate to wherever the smell of cloves is and scour the Internet, health and spa stores for clove essential oil (actually difficult to find) cuz I think it makes a superior perfume. I am told it stimulates the circulation (and creativity) which makes sense to me because I am perpetually cold and in search of anything warm in the vicinity (see #4).

3) I wear beaded bracelets because I like to move them, almost like prayer beads, when I walk. I pretty much always like to have something in my hands and prefer to be on the move. I also should say that, while I'm walking or on the move, I avoid tall straight lined fences that cast distorted long lined shadows on the sidewalk. For some reason, that really makes me feel weird. I'm much more comfortable with circles, like beads and bracelets and chain linked fences, then lines.

4) I am almost always cold. If you are almost always warm, I'll probably be sitting right close to you, as close as I can socially pull off, cuz I'm freezing. This is even more true at night. I sleep with a space heater right next to me. When I was a little girl my sister would crawl in bed with me around 2 in the morning cuz she would get so hot she couldn't sleep and I would absorb all her heat. I'm sure theres something to that physically, something that can be scientifically explained, but for the meantime, I'm just drawn to people that are warm. If there's a fire in the room, I'll be right in front of it until my pants start to smoke...

5) Speaking of weird physical things, I just found out that I have larger than normal (substantially so) optical nerves. So much so that the optomotrist says they have to keep checking them, keep them under observation, just in case it "grows" to glacoma someday. But for now, it's just the way my eyes are, more sensitive. I've always known I had larger than normal pupils. They almost never need to give me those eye drops cuz my eyes naturally take in a lot of light. So why is this weird? Cuz I'm an artist and very sensitive to light and color. I used to read in the dark. It fascinates me that God would make me that way, like physically design me to be an artist. Or, I guess some could argue that I evolved that way and some people end up evolved into artists or poets. But is that true? Can you be more physically pre-disposed to live one way? Charlie says she thinks I have secret superpowers. She definitely might be onto something...
It's probably more like a talent you have to work at. For example, I also have ridiculously good hearing. Like I can hear what people are saying across a house. And I also have long skinny fingers- a freak genetic accident cuz no one in my family has fingers like mine. People predicted I would be a phenomenal piano player, but I just didn't develop that skill as much as other musical instruments, so I never became a great pianist... but maybe I could have been. So, I don't really know what's quirkier here, the fact that I have these bodily quirks or the obsessive fascination I have in analyzing them...

6) If my nails aren't well manicured, I don't feel pretty. I feel like a slob. Nobody ever REALLY told me this makes you slobby, and I don't really think that when I look at other peoples chipping nail polish, but I can't stand looking at my own screwy nails... by the same token, I think paint splattered all over my hands after painting is even prettier. I also think that people writing or paintings on my arms or body might be one of the funnest things ever.

Tag stratagem: I will tag Shannon, Jon and Raquel because I am SUPER interested to see what they will put down as their quirks... you creative funnys you...

Rules:
1. link to the person who tagged you.
2. post the rules.
3. share 6 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. tag at least 3 people.
5. make sure the people you tagged know you tagged them by commenting to them.

We all need a little Poet, don't we?!?

Bradley Hathaway.
He's the coolest kid in your town, somewhere, maybe.

I just saw him at Vintage Faith Church on the "Dang Dang Tour"...

The Website: http://www.thebradley.net/

The Music: http://www.myspace.com/bradleyhathaway

Let me know whatcha think!

Easter, Nephew, Photoshop-BAH!

Up late tonight Xacto-ing contact paper on pretty birch; making some version of Aaron as Lazurus and ALSO some version of Aaron as Jesus, resurrected, pulling Lazarus up from the dead. Whatever that means- mostly I'm SO happy to have a real model.

Today Charlie blew my mind with photoshop. She saved me from a fate worse than death cuz you can see, in advance, what your painting could look like in different colors. Let's just say my ideas of making a contemporized Icon look pop-esqe would have been a painful choice. Thank you Charlie. (To be performed on Sunday- pictures to follow).

Finally saw Angela and baby Calvin (NOW ONE!) after nearly a month. Calvin is eating real food (Mickey Mouse pancakes!), has more teeth and curls and is kinda walking. Oh, and all that death metal Daddy listens too has seeped in- I have one growling, monster nephew!

New Post, Older Art...

I'm pretty slow on putting up pictures, but I thought I should still share...

"I take thee in Holy Patrimony"

Acrylic on Canvas

French Lesson of the Day...

"J'ai ta main"

...Your hand in my hand.

My newest obsessions...

Ben Harper and the Chunky Strawberry from Jamba Juice.
Seriously, mix in a little spring with the budding trees, sunshine and wind-temperature just right, and I'm happy.
Happy Spring!

I'm in love with...

BANSKY!





Thank you Urban Outfitters for carrying his book!









I've had a hard time being inspired by much of anything lately and this guy just tugs at my mind and heart in a way that screams "Freedom"!



For more...
http://www.banksy.co.uk/
He and Andy Goldsworthy have my full attention...

Ah Me Lucky Charms!

They're Magically Delicious! *ping*



The Cuteness hurts... but my procreation skills are mightly encouraged today... hehehe...

"I can't get no... satisfaction"

“Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water…If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably, earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only arouse it, to suggest the real thing.”
--C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

... So, what are your desires?

The Man Who Might Change My Life

Sounds important yeah?
But he wears a title unassuming.
He is The Ice Cream Man.

I met him last night at Noise Pop's opening party.
http://noisepop.com/2008/

I asked him why he was giving me free ice cream- and also if it was filled with Ruffies.

He told me he basically got fed up with what he was doing and convinced himself he could do anything with his life. And by "anything", he means traveling around the country, handing out free ice cream and reviewing music. He has corporate sponsors like Levi backing him and gotten donations from jakprints and ice cream companies.

So how good are his reviews? You can decide for yourself here:
http://www.icecreamman.com/

I can vouch the ice cream is good. I got a strawberry bar that said "Mexico" all over it. It was wonderful. =)

I was just thinking that was a cool way to do life. I've been fed up with all these things I've been filling my life with and here is a guy handing out ice cream for a living- cuz it's fun!

I totally hugged him.

He's thinking about doing a documentary on what he does and I told him I own a production company and would TOTALLY tour with him.
I guess we'll see...

You can see videos of him here: http://www.myspace.com/icecreamman

Oh & I asked him what music he plays in his ice cream truck. His said he has a friend that makes him music but the old skool dinky kind is the best. You can hear what's he's thumpin these days on his website (see above).

Don't you want to do something else with your life now? =)
I know I do!!!

CREED

You are a Riddle with no answers,
A Puzzle with no pieces;
A Star fallen from the heavens
To form a crater in my chest.
A Whisper on a vapor
In a land that has no time.
A Promise and a Twinkle
That keeps my heart in rhythm.
The Glimmer in the moonlight,
The Sparky in the fire,
The Dance that keeps my scatterbrain
Snapping an unlearned song.
You are the Wind in the branches
That moves my arms, Invisible.
You're in the moonlight and the ice,
That Blue Sorrow that keeps throbbing.
You're dancing on the waters,
Teaching me to dip and twirl.
You're the Perfect Lover
My heart searches the world for:
A Jester walking a tight rope
Between buoyant living
And a dream of a dream
(Where I like to vacation).
A Muse and a Protector
With very absorbent arms.
The Fire in my chest
Where the hole used to be;
A Riddle with no answers,
A Puzzle with no pieces.

Evangelism

I'd like to fly forever:
To reach the stardust,
To grab a fist of dreams,
To touch God's bonnet;
I'd throw it down to Earth,
So they'd finally "see the light".

It'd be my final creation
And I'd never look back.

Orphanage...

It seems inevitable as a creative individual that people will give you room and liberty to dream and then chop your metaphorical balls off-
Poop on your heart, if you will...

Enter the conceptual idea orphanage.

Meet orphan "Gals Getaway Video".

A damn cool idea- do a retro B Movie trailer to motivate people to go on a estrogen-rich retreat.
I was told I'd have a month to produce something great.
I took the bait- ate the dangling carrot, despite my tired-eyed intuition...
What they didn't tell me was that it would take THREE of those FOUR weeks to APPROVE a fairly easy concept (it's a known genre, for crying out loud!).
And now I'm getting bitched at for not wrangling FREE actors and filmmakers to make something IN A FREAKIN WEEK!
Gonna give em the finger... gonna... almost...
Here's the PG version...

Am I a capable producer? Yes.
Will I make crap? No wanna...

The orphanage is opening its doors to the abandoned dreams and ideas...

Apparently I need a new muse.
A quick turn-around, fast-thinking, corporate muse... ya know, a whore.
Yeah, pissed off today.

Post Wedding

Boo Baptist Teetotaling Reception! Hurray Weirdo Acalapulco Karaoke Birthday Party we crashed...
Wedding AND Birthday Cake? Can't complain...
See?
Chaz will eat his umbrella if you'll let him dance!

At least we're hot...

And fun...

But seriously, there's a reason why Jesus' first miracle was changing water into wine at a wedding...

What's Goin On...

We out-sang the poor girl doing karaoke.
If you look closely, you can actually see me smack Auburn!

If I was a Mythological Creature...

And god help you if you are a phoenix
And you dare to rise up from the ash
A thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy
While you are just flying past
-Ani

You Are a Phoenix

Driven and ambitious, you tend to acquire material success easily. You have grand schemes - both for your own life and for changing the whole world. You are a great leader, and you have no problem taking the reigns. However, you aren't all business. You also have great talents for performing and visual arts.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

NO...

One day I'll learn that word...
One day I'll use it...
Until then... don't wait up!

Dear Sirs,

Regretfully, I will not be able to paint your six bodies over this weekend's services due to a most unfortunate step-sister wedding I must attend. The invitation, which came last Friday, was sudden, unexpected, and unanticipated. While I would LOVE to still be able to paint your bodies (I am partial to human canvases, afterall) and decline said wedding, I am told it would oppose all things mannered and honorable.

Puttin' it in the Piggy Bank,
Trina

Somedays I wish I was a Centenarian

I talked to Mom.
She said don't swear because it's not ladylike.

She said she feels the same way I do
Even though she doesn't-
I'm still going through a quarter life crisis;
She's going through a mid-lifer.


Mine's all about identity, truth & striving.
Her's is about men & menopause & a second shot at life.
My life has yet to begin.


Mine's all about jobs & marriage-
Who am I going to be?
What do I want to accomplish?
Who do I want to share life with?

Her's is about-
Where did I get lost?
What did I want to do and didn't?
Why did I marry those bastards?

She said life is hard for everyone.
She said its short and not to take it seriously.
I said,
"I know.
I'm fully ready to check out
& get on with the good stuff".


She said:
1) Smile
2) Read a Book
3) Listen to Music
4) Watch a Movie


I said, "That's escaping".
She said that I laugh and have fun.
I said, "That's escaping too".


She said I have good days & bad days.
She said today's bad, but I'll have a good one soon.


I said, "thanks for encouraging me",
Because I don't want her to give up on me & stop calling.

For some reason, that scares me more.

Negative Two to Thirty

Now that I'm turning 28 tomorrow, does this mean I have to start "getting my shit together"?
Boo.