Sunday, January 31, 2010

Yeah, I know

I need to write more. The photo thing was never meant to replace the writing, rather offer a different perspective to fill in the gaps between inspired writing and shit.

I watched a documentary tonight that left me feeling inspired. The message was to do what you love, and to make more time each day for those things that you love. I love writing, and I don't do it nearly enough.

My new computer helps make it feel fresh again, so I hope to have some inspired writing here soon.

In the meantime, watch Lemonade and see if you get inspired too.

Friday, January 29, 2010

365 Photos- 29/365

That big ball in the sky? That's the moon. It looked much better in person, and somehow it also looked better earlier this evening than it did later tonight. Still, it is beautiful.

It's bigger than anything else right now, and that's comforting. Things are in a state of unrest, there's flux, but somehow I can look at that big damn ball in the sky and know that there are things that are constant.

29/365

I'll take the good camera out this weekend.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

365 Photos- 28/365

Very long week at work, I know my photos have slacked. But I figure since I took a few Banksy pictures last week that makes up for the pictures I slacked on this week. It's like fuzzy logic.

I call this photo, "A few of my favorite things."

28/365

Friday, January 22, 2010

365 Photos- 22/365

I made this on television today with Chef Bryan Woolley. Note the decorative edge, I made sure he taught me how to do that with a fork.

I also learned you shouldn't say, "pound the potato" when mashing a giant pot of them.

Who knew?

22/365


For the full recipe for Chef Bryan's "Pot Pie Puffs," click here.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

365 Photos- 21/365

Yeah, I missed a photo yesterday. I know. But not without good reason, I got a new computer and it's been time consuming setting everything up. Fear not! I've got a great photo for today!

One of my favorite artists right now is Banksy, an unknown British street painter who travels the world creating beautiful works on otherwise dingy, abandoned spaces. His pieces are much more than just a can of spray paint on buildings, they provide poignent social insight sprinkled with, sometimes, a sense of humor. I was first turned onto his artwork shortly after New Orleans sucked the water out of their city after Hurricane Katrina. Banksy's works showed up throughout the area, and I wanted to know more.

Apparently nobody knows this masked painter's identity, kind of like Batman with Krylon, but one thing's for sure, he's becoming a cultural phenomenon. Banksy has allegedly shown up in Utah to promote the secret showing of his new documentary during Sundance. The evidence? Banksy-esque works showing up in places from Summit to Salt Lake Counties.

21/365


This was on the corner of the building on 300 South where the Zephyr used to be in downtown Salt Lake. I was a little awestricken as I took the photos, for more you can check out my flickr page here.

And for even more, here's Banksy's official home page and a recent Tribune article about Banksy's emergence along the Wasatch Front.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

365 Photos- 19/365

I'm currently frustrated with technology. Therefore here's a good picture of me that I didn't take. Enjoy while I take the easy way out tonight.

19/365


Monday, January 18, 2010

365 Photos- 18/365

Thanks to the fantastic Amy Allred (and her whole family, which this project took up their home and lives for several months) I have learned to make a quilt out of old radio station t-shirts from many of my past lives. Not only does this represent many sweet memories of former jobs, but it also keeps me mega-f***ing-über warm. (Yep, that's a technical term)

I am wondering if I enter the quilt into the fair, will I get struck by lightning? I'm not a domestic homemaker, I do not make fruit preserves and I think we went through several bottles of alcohol in order to tie this stupid quilt. Does that go against the spirit in which the Utah State Fair was intended?

If so, I don't want to be right.

18/365


This photo is crap, I know. But it was taken with the camera phone because all I want to do is crawl under said quilt and go to sleep. Still, it looks very cool and it's much nicer than a giant stack of memories sitting in a closet, unworn.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

365 Photos- 17/365

As my mom and I were leaving lunch today, I noticed across the parking lot another way of eating lunch. Though I didn't partake of the Mexican food myself, I did noticed that they also serve up the HCG Diet next door. This way, you can go and gorge yourself on refried beans and spicy meat and then go shoot up semi-experimental weight loss hormones to counteract the burrito bomb.

Why do so many gyms/diet establishments exist in strip malls next to fat fast food joints? One dance studio I frequent is sandwiched between a donut shop and a Maverik. My gym is next door to one of my favorite pubs. The pilates place where I take Zumba makes me walk past House of Bread. Though willpower is on my side, it's sometimes easier than other times.

Those other times being when I stuff a donut, beer and crusty bread loaf in my piehole.

17/365


Saturday, January 16, 2010

365 Photos- 16/365

I took a trip to Big Lots today to find some cheap, blank DVDs and was amazed that I found so much more the store had to offer! I found a case of Ultra Douches (douchi? What's the plural of douche?) stashed on a shelf next to a case of Performance Energy Powerbars and laughed out loud. Of course! If a person is going to crack into a case of Ultra Douches, of course they're going to need a bunch of energy to do that! I'm so glad to see that Big Lots is sensitive to what is likely to be a fairly extensive process.

Upon further inspection of Big Lots items, I found probably the cutest box of tampons I've ever seen. Dittie tampons are, "the first premium brand of tampons that give women superior quality, ultimate reliability, diva-worthy style and a whole lot of fun..." And they even make you feel like you're a better person with their "mood uplifting messages printed on each and every tampon."

16/365


Who's the crazy lady taking a picture of Big Lots tampons?

Friday, January 15, 2010

365 Photos- 15/365

Friends don't let friends buy street corner blankets.

15/365


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

365 Photos- 13/365

This is my friend Natalie. I haven't known her for very long but she's an amazing person with contagiously uplifting energy. We had a Keytarmy rehearsal tonight and it was her birthday. On Saturday she's leaving for two months in India so we all had cupcakes and wine.

13/365


More on Keytarmy coming soon...

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

365 Photos- 12/365

I don't know what's worse...
This store torso's perky nipples, or my trying to pinch them through the window by using photographic magic.

12/365


No mannequins or nipples were harmed in the making of this blog post.

Monday, January 11, 2010

365 Photos- 11/365

Continuing onto the wine theme from last night. My decanter, how I love it so. I know that must be strange to think so fondly of a decanter, but it's my Princess Decanter and it makes me smile. Every time I walk in and see that shiny pink diamond on top I feel sparkly and pretty. And when I drink the wine I feel like wearing my tiara.

And opera length gloves.

And bust out my scepter, on the jerks who live next door and won't turn down their damn bass.

Remember what happened to the last guy who didn't turn down his bass next door? But I digress. I love my Princess Decanter.

11/365


Sunday, January 10, 2010

365 Photos- 10/365

There's something to be said about a good glass of Bitch wine. However, it poses the question: Are you really what you eat?

10/365


I love that it's a good 2005 vintage.

Saturday, January 09, 2010

365 Photos- 9/365

Did somebody say "shredded beef?" I don't think so.

9/365


Friday, January 08, 2010

365 Photos- 8/365

I had a rehearsal for an 80s band I'm dancing in and choreographing. One day soon, we'll perform. Until then, my knees are screaming in pain. Hello Kitty makes it all better.

And reminds me it's Friday.

8/365



Thursday, January 07, 2010

365 Photos- 7/365

I'm going to brag for a bit here: I lost five pounds over the holidays. I know what you're saying right now, but save it because it was no easy task giving up desserts, fattening foods and even drinking less alcohol than I would have liked. So in my plan to continue last year's healthy eating into the new decade, I've taken up bananas.

I never really liked bananas, it's a textural thing, to where any more than over half a banana hits the gag reflex. (Insert joke about gagging on a banana here.) But they are really good for me to eat during the first part of the day, and I've noticed the potassium helps out with keeping my post-workout muscle aches to a bearable level.

Now let's talk banana color, shall we? I only like yellow bananas that are ever so slightly green on the tips. If the bananas are too brown and spotty, I am immediately turned off as my spidey sense tells me the insides have turned to squish. I feel the slight green tip color lends itself to a firmer banana, a texture that is less likely a culprit in triggering the gag. (Fine, insert another joke here.)

Tonight, I saw an entire grocery store display of probably the most disgusting bananas I've ever seen. There were rows and rows of completely green, icky, unripe bananas; a shade of green so disgusting I've never seen it in reality. (Of course, I've never in my entire life changed a diaper of a baby who has consumed curry, so perhaps it does exist somewhere in reality. Or in India.)

And then I noticed the sign over the hideous zombie banana display read, "Golden Ripe Bananas."

7/365


I hate grocery shopping.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

365 Photos- 6/365

Red Sox garden gnome is already gearing up for spring training...

6/365


Tuesday, January 05, 2010

365 Photos- 5/365

Shameless self-promotion. I'll write more this week. Later.

5/365


Monday, January 04, 2010

365 Photos- 4/365

My neighbors were very ambitious after this last snowstorm. While I did get a feeling of "stranger danger" when I stepped onto my porch and saw this out of the corner of my eye, it was alleviated when I noticed that Mr. Snowman was wearing a fedora.

And the bottom of him was sprayed pink. That was weird, so I just concentrated on his fedora-clad happy face.

4/365


Sunday, January 03, 2010

365 Photos- 3/365

I'm a fairly healthy eater, but in the past couple of weeks have fallen off the food wagon by trading in real meals for easier, stress-free food like Triscuits and Laughing Cow cheese. A bag of Red Vines and microwave popcorn is apparently not a good dinner. A whole bag of pistachios is apparently not lunch. Fine. I understand that, and went to the grocery store this afternoon armed with a plan for cooking this entire week, in search of items to help me win the battle against eating like total crap.

In everything I've read, you should always start with fresh ingredients to make the end dish taste even better. Today at the store I found something even better than fresh ingredients, I found fersh ingredients!

3/365





Imagine my surprise to find a fersh bunch of green onions! And two fersh bunches for just one dollar! Just what I needed to add to a fersh soup I'm planning on making. I am excited to start cooking with these fersh ingredients, and I'm hoping that by using those fersh items I will make something really fersh and pleasing to my tastebuds.

Saturday, January 02, 2010

365 Photos- 2/365

I had the pleasure of trying a new beer on New Year's Eve, Delerium Noel, and very much enjoyed it! For more of my thoughts on the actual beer, you can check out my beer blog over at The Brew Darling but if you don't feel like reading it then just bask in the glow of this happy bottle. Yep, that's a pink elephant wearing a Santa hat on the label. Holiday flavors! Pink elephant on the label! Beer containing 10.6% alcohol! What's not to like?

2/365


Friday, January 01, 2010

365 Photos- The Beginning 1/365

I've always wanted start a photo a day project which I plan to add to this blog in addition to more regular written posts. It seemed daunting at first, but then I realized I want to take better pictures to force me into learning new things about my own creativity through photography. I don't expect all the pictures to be winners, but they'll at least get my brain thinking with shutter clicking.

So, here goes number one of 365. I'm soon beginning rehearsals for Eurydice at The Grand, opening in March 2010, so here's the woman I've already been curling up with as I start to learn more about the amazing script and playwright, Sarah Ruhl.

1/365