mary campbell

Hidden

2010-04-21T22:08:00.000-04:00

Hidden

If you place a fern
under a stone
the next day it will be
nearly invisible
as if the stone has
swallowed it.

If you tuck the name of a loved one
under your tongue too long
without speaking it
it becomes blood
sigh
the little sucked-in breath of air
hiding everywhere
beneath your words.

No one sees
the fuel that feeds you.

-Naomi Shihab Nye

Ode to Time

2009-10-06T18:47:00.003-04:00

Fall is always a time of reflection. Looking back on the year that has passed, thinking about where I was a year ago, dreaming about where I'll be a year from now.

I recently acquired a book of poetry by Pablo Neruda and came across this last night. I love it and think it is worth sharing with the 3 of you out there who still read my blog.

You may need to click on the image to read it, but it's worth it...trust me.

by Pablo Neruda

Creativity.

2009-08-15T12:16:00.003-04:00

It's been a long while since I've devoted time to my blog. Alas, kind readers, I've been busy here in Atlanta...working, teaching, freelance. Life with a "real" job takes up a lot of time. Time that could be used for painting or blogging. What I have realized about the working world is that it leaves very little time for exploration, learning, wandering. I do miss this. I miss the tangents that natural curiosity fueled by time and mental space allow one to go on. I miss the hours of studio time that gave way creative discovery. I feel pressed to go quickly, to get things done...faster, faster, faster. Time for error, time for accidents that can take us down new and exciting roads is not built into the day. Perhaps some artists and creative people do not need this sort of time but, for me, I've always needed time. Warm-up. Jumping into a painting cold...never a good idea. I realize that creativity is a mind-set. It is not something you "do," it is something that you are. You cannot turn it on and turn it off when it is convenient. You have to live in the moments of inspiration and action. You have to be willing to drop everything and tune into that energy when it is upon you. Most importantly, you have to be open to it. It's rather magical in that way and frustrating, too. It is not something you can really control. So, perhaps, my goal is to get more fluid in my creativity. To make more time for it...to be open to it, to live more in the moment of it rather than try to schedule appointments with my painting wizard.

Another New Blog.

2009-07-01T12:12:00.004-04:00

So, clearly, I am heavily relying on friends and family to supplement my blog...today, I bring you my sister and her husband's blog. You can learn all about the joys of drinking scotch and eating corn as well as see adorable photos of my niece and nephew. All of these exciting activities take place in the megatropolis of Waco, Texas...a place known for dramatic Branch Dividian compound fires, Baylor University and some damn fine mexican food.

Maybe one day I'll return to the land of blogs and provide some original content. Until then, enjoy my family's and friend's food for thought!

Another New Blog.

2009-05-20T15:30:00.003-04:00

Kind readers, today I bring you my dear friend, Jennifer's, blog. She is a wonderfully talented writer, painter, dog lover, tequila drinker, runner and poet--to name a few. She is also a new-to-the-blog-world-blogger. Enjoy. www.jenniferthink.blogspot.com

worst. blogger. ever.

2009-05-07T12:46:00.002-04:00

I know, I've been lame. No time for blogging due to an over-loaded schedule and, to add insult to injury, I am posting "leveraged" material that I found in the drafts folder of my e-mail account. I have no idea where this little nugget came from, but I loved it so much I decided to use it as fodder for my almost-3-months-after-my-last-post blog post. So....here goes....and if anyone knows where this came from, let me know.

"It doesn't seem fair that we can look back and connect the dots in life, and see what led from that to this, but we cannot look forward and anticipate in any way what constellation today's dots will form in the vast space ahead of us. I guess it's just best to assume that heaven is right here, right now, and let the stars fall where they may." --author unknown.

New Blog.

2009-02-18T10:39:00.002-05:00

As you all know, I love food. I also love blogs. I have a new blog for you all to enjoy and it has the best. name. ever. "Barn Appetit." It is a blog about cooking, food, recipes and life on the farm. There is also Crema De Limoncello recipe that I am going to make VERY SOON.

Simplicity.

2009-02-12T21:38:00.006-05:00

I think, mostly, we all kind of wander through our lives slightly tuned out to a LOT of what is going on. There are, perhaps, a myriad of reasons for doing so....we are afraid, we are comfortable, we don't know any other way to live. It's hard to be present. It's hard to live in the now. As Marshall McLuhan suggests, "We look at the present through a rear-view mirror. We march backwards into the future." Living in the now requires peace with one's past, hope for the future (without any attachment to possible outcomes) and a focus on the here and now. I don't know that I have ever been completely present in my life. I have mostly been distracted by anticipation over what is to come or angst over what has passed. Until now. Something shifted in my life several months ago. And, for--maybe the first time in my life--I am truly present. It's the best I have ever felt about my life.

The Buddhists say that all suffering comes from attachment. Attachment to physical things, and attachment to feelings and outcomes. Attachment to a future possibility or a past regret. Never before have I understood the simplicity of this concept. That said, the more I understand it, the more I understand that simplicity is anything but easy. Simplicity requires mental and emotional discipline. I'm not certain I have completely gotten the hang of this practice of discipline, but I'm well on my way...and I am relatively certain that it may be the key to sustained happiness in life.

Poetry Friday.

2009-02-06T07:38:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I have been told by colleagues that the sophisticated poet may not care for the writings of Billy Collins. Having several poet friends, I hesitate to show my unworldliness, but I really like this poem that I read yesterday and I'm going to share it with you all in hopes that I am not judged a literary simpleton. Enjoy.

Adage - Billy Collins

When it’s late at night and branches
are banging against the windows,
you might think that love is just a matter

of leaping out of the frying pan of yourself
into the fire of someone else,
but it’s a little more complicated than that.

It’s more like trading the two birds
who might be hiding in that bush
for the one you are not holding in your hand.

A wise man once said that love
was like forcing a horse to drink
but then everyone stopped thinking of him as wise.

Let us be clear about something.
Love is not as simple as getting up
on the wrong side of the bed wearing the emperor’s clothes.

No, it’s more like the way the pen
feels after it has defeated the sword.
It’s a little like the penny saved or the nine dropped stitches.

You look at me through the halo of the last candle
and tell me love is an ill wind
that has no turning, a road that blows no good,

but I am here to remind you,
as our shadows tremble on the walls,
that love is the early bird who is better late than never.

Ranier Maria Rilke.

2009-02-01T09:31:00.002-05:00

I was reading the oh-so-intellectual publication Marie Claire the other day while getting the oil changed in my car and I read an interview with Renee Zellweger. She quoted Ranier Maria Rilke, a german poet, on the notion of what a "good marriage is" and I thought it so lovely, true and worthy of sharing: "A good marriage is that in which each appoints the other guardian of his solitude."

Shameless Promotion of Others.

2009-01-27T07:36:00.002-05:00

Today, I bring you 2 new blogs that I think are pretty awesome. Both have food-centric content. I love food...all food...any food. There is not much I would not eat at least once. I love to cook, too. I will try to cook most anything, but I am not that into baking. There is something about the letting go of baking that I cannot get comfortable with. I like to tinker and adjust and add and taste and modify right until the moment that the food hits the plate. Baking requires a sort of cooking-faith I have not yet cultivated. But these ladies have something far more interesting to say about food and cooking than I do, so check them out:

Adventurous Tastes

Michele Niesen

Nieces are Nice.

2009-01-24T20:32:00.002-05:00

Today is my niece's 4th birthday and I love her. She does not make me want to re-think my decision not to pro-create, but she does make me enormously happy that my sister and her husband did make the decision to pro-create...twice. I made this little video for her because she lives in Texas and I do not...I think I am going to do it every year from here on out. When she gets married, I think it will be a nice video-montage that will embarrass both her and me tremendously. So, today, I am grateful for 4 year old nieces named Anna who are sweet, cuddly and magical.

Along the theme of presence....

2009-01-20T07:01:00.001-05:00

January 19, 2009

2009-01-19T23:08:00.002-05:00

Today I am grateful for the present. The past is done, the future is yet to be determined, but we do have the here and now...and I am satisfied. Hopeful looking forward, at peace looking in the rearview mirror but fully vested in right now.

catching up....

2009-01-18T16:53:00.004-05:00

Well, clearly, I have dropped the ball on my daily affirmations of gratification. So, today am grateful that no one has sent me hate mail or thrown fruit at me on facebook. I am also grateful for my dogs...they are faithful, loyal and patient companions and I love them dearly.

25 things.

2009-01-13T23:13:00.004-05:00

I am stealing Audrey's latest blog idea and rocking it, Mary style.

Here are 25 random things about me.

1. I love peanut butter more than any food product on the face of the earth.

2. I love cheese almost as much as I love peanut butter

3. I carry tweezers in my car to pluck my eyebrows at red lights

4. I've been journaling since high school and keep all of my journals

5. I have a scar on my shin that I got when I was 11 and fell in a hole on the playground

6. I point my fingers when I attempt to dance...my sister does, too...we believe it is genetic

7. I collect dictionaries and thesaurai

8. One day I will live in a house I design on a moderate plot of land somewhere beautiful where I can have many dogs

9. I have only gotten sick once from drinking too much. It was gin.

10. It took me about 5 years to be able to drink gin again.

11. I have probably seen every Law and Order, at least twice.

12. I love my dogs more than words can say.

13. I always watch when I get blood taken.

14. I have never played on a team.

15. I love wearing hats.

16. I do not regret any part of my past.

17. I enjoy talking to strangers.

18. I don't use paintbrushes when I paint...I use my hands.

19. I used to hate my freckles.

20. I love mornings.

21. I am uncomfortable writing creatively.

22. I believe that life is fair and people are basically good.

23. I value freedom over security.

24. I am ridiculously optimistic.

25. I love my life more right now than I ever have.

January 12, 2009

2009-01-12T22:44:00.007-05:00

Tonight I am thankful for my ability to be honest with the people I love in this world...I used to be so afraid to say what I feel.

This Blows.

2009-01-12T13:47:00.002-05:00

Kind readers, I urge you to support my friend, Jennifer, in her efforts to ban gas-powered, noise polluting, over-the-top, obnoxious leaf blowers.

January 8, 2009

2009-01-09T22:39:00.003-05:00

Tonight I am grateful for weathered hands, strong minds and the warm love of friends.

January 7, 2009

2009-01-07T22:11:00.006-05:00

Today I am grateful that I have enough courage do things I am afraid of, to take risks and to go outside of my comfort zone because, quite simply, I want to grow and I insist on living my life without regrets. I have always been stubborn, strong willed and independent; it is both endearing and maddening to those who love me. I know this. I know these traits have caused pain to people who love me because I might seem reckless, dangerous and misguided. I simply cannot help it. It is who I am.

Oliver.

2009-01-05T22:02:00.005-05:00

(Oliver is the handsome tabby on the left)

Today I am grateful for the love and prayers that my friends and family have extended to me and to my Kitty, Oliver. Oliver is 8, has been suffering with an unknown illness for the past 2 years and it has finally gotten to the point where I have to put him down. It is the worst thing to make this decision but even worse is to see an innocent creature for whom I bear complete responsibility suffer. Please say some prayers at 9am tomorrow morning; I know he will be in a better place–I am grateful that he will no longer suffer...and he will be missed tremendously.

January 3, 2009

2009-01-04T01:00:00.001-05:00

Today I am grateful for my amazing friends, their ability to make me laugh until I almost pee on myself.

January 2, 2009

2009-01-03T00:36:00.002-05:00

Okay, don't get TOO mad...I see that it is 12:37am on the 3rd of January, but I am going to file this under January 2nd's "things to be grateful for"

Today, I am grateful for my amazing friends and family. I love them so dearly and am so grateful for all that I have learned from them about who I am, who I am not and how to be in this world. Thank you.

January 1, 2009

2009-01-01T16:42:00.002-05:00

Today, I decided that I would attempt to BLOG the things that, daily, I am thankful for. We'll see how long this lasts, but I am really going to try to do it. Please feel free to scold me, throw a chicken at me on facebook, or send hate mail if I fail to post.

Today I am thankful for the opportunity to begin anew and vitamin-enriched peanut butter.

New Years Resolutions

2008-12-31T17:07:00.000-05:00

I am always glad to see the passing of another year. I am not one of those people that believes that that the “time of my life” was somewhere in the past. I do not covet youth, not even my own. I look forward to becoming wiser, more colorful, shedding the naivete of my youth. I imagine being an old woman, wrinkled and round, wise and content in my soul.

I am glad to see 2008 come to a close. It has been a difficult year. Perhaps, more difficult than most, but with the onset of 2009 comes opportunity, a new start and the beauty of new beginnings. I have great anticipation of what will come into my life this year and I have decided that I will be very specific with my intentions. As it stands right now, I have created the life for myself that I have always imagined. I have a job that I love, I am going to start teaching at Portfolio Center and I have ample time to paint. All of this has come to me through hard work, not settling for “good enough” and having enough courage and confidence to ask for exactly what I want. I am truly happy and appreciative for everything that I have. If it never got any better, I would be satisfied.

My resolutions for 2009 are the following:
Take more risks personally and professionally
Be honest and remain unattached to the outcome
Get clear and what and who I want in my life
Each day, write down at least one thing that I am thankful for

2008-12-25T11:33:00.003-05:00

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." -Calvin Coolidge

FEAR!!!

2008-12-19T07:26:00.005-05:00

I was talking with a friend about fear the other day and it got me thinking about the role that fear has played in my life. According to FDR, the only thing we truly have to fear is fear itself and I couldn't agree more. The thing about fear is that it is like emotional cancer; once it is alive in your mind, it spreads to all of your emotional tendrils. Having been completely incapacitated by fear and anxiety at one point in my life, I have an intimate understanding of this. What I learned from that experience was the importance of knowing who I was, believing in the internal resources I had to manage any situation and that it was up to me to manage my perception of my life experiences. A lot of learning for a 12 year old. I think I made a little pact with myself then that has stayed with me over the years...that I would never let my fear control me again. That is not to say that I do not get scared; after all, I am still human, but I've made conscious choice to understand that fear signals opportunity to grow if I can slow down and examine what is causing the discomfort.

What I know so far....

2008-12-08T22:14:00.005-05:00

Life is short and living with regret over the past, fear of the future and lack of presence in the here and now is a sure-fire recipe for misery.

There is very little, if anything, we have control over short of how we choose to think about and perceive our reality.

Always find the courage to do what you are most afraid of.

True friends are more important than anything else in life.

Be honest. It is easier in the long run, even though it is sometimes difficult.

When you love someone, you should just say so.

Look both ways before you cross the street....you could get hit by a bus and then it would all be over.

Urban Cottage

2008-12-07T19:42:00.004-05:00

To all Mary Campbell Original Art collectors out there, please visit Urban Cottage in the Virginia Highlands where my newest pieces, and some golden oldies are being sold. Urban Cottage is a lovely montage of home decor items, gift items and furniture. VERY cool stuff, including my friend Lee and his wife, Laurie's, hand made super cool signs. So, readers, get the hell out there and support both the economy and your favorite local artists!

From the blog of Daniel Pink

2008-12-06T11:29:00.002-05:00

This is fabulous. I love it. I've always thought there was a special place in hell designated for people who pester animals in cages...and,perhaps, the people who put those animals there...but that is another blog for another day.

metaphors.

2008-11-19T21:45:00.004-05:00

I don't know that there is anything more annoying than a splinter. Splinters jam their way into a place just beneath the surface of the skin; not deep enough to be dangerous and just deep enough to create a nagging dull pain that does not go away. Try to remove a splinter and you usually end up getting just the tip or, if you are lucky, 60% of the little booger. Then comes the valiant attempts at do-it-yourself surgery including but not limited to needle punctures, exacto-knife incisions, and non-stop pushing and picking. If you are lucky, you can infect yourself and end up requiring real medical attention. So, what is the best course of action? If at first, the splinter does not come out easily, nature must take its due course. Eventually, the body will work a splinter out.

I was thinking about splinters tonight on my way home from work as a great metaphor for things we don't understand, things that cause us pain in our lives. We live in a world that demands solutions, that asks for things that are not easy to be removed. We do not see the purpose in struggle, in pain, in suffering. We see those things as splinters that must be removed. Consequently, we end up harming ourselves further by trying to eliminate all suffering. Suffering teaches us lessons that may not be apparent as the suffering is going on. Anguish and confusion are emotional splinters that are clearing a way for joy and peace but we have to allow the infinite wisdom of our souls to work through the discomfort. We have to sit with the discomfort, allow it to seep into every inch of our being, wrap ourselves in the blanket of these dark and brooding emotions and simply acknowledge them as part of who we are and then let them go. It is the last thing on the planet that anyone WANTS to do, but it is the emotional work that is required for us to grow, to evolve, to attain a greater understanding of who we are and what our purpose on this earth is.

Change I can believe in.

2008-11-09T18:24:00.006-05:00

Times of change are always difficult because it means that life as we know it is shifting and the future we thought we could envision will be very different. It makes one feel very uncertain, unstable, insecure and anxious. Okay, maybe that is just me. As much as I like change, I am fearful of it because, let's face it, routine is routine. Predictable is predictable. Nothing right, nothing wrong. Dramatic life changes shake everything up. They are scary. I have decided that therein lies an opportunity for more growth. Rather than hunker down and rail against the inevitable shifting life tides, why not just jump right on in? That is what I am doing in this particular time of change. Practice what I preach. Pull myself up by my bootstraps and determine a course of personal movement that sustains me in every way. Let go of the past and heal my soul in ways that are vital to my movement forward. Today I threw away about 8 FULL boxes of stuff...stuff that I've been lugging around since I graduated college including but not limited to notes from my college chemistry class and the employee handbook for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Why was I holding onto that stuff? Mostly because I truly thought I would need it one day...at least that is story I told myself. Today, I think I just recognized that it was time to let go, really and maybe I just finally found the courage to do that.

today's mantra.

2008-11-01T08:44:00.008-04:00

“The great thing is, if one can, to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions in one's "own" or "real" life. The truth is, of course, that what one regards as interruptions are precisely one's life.” -C.S. Lewis

John O'Donohue

2008-10-28T19:07:00.002-04:00

Today, I listened to this podcast; it is beautiful, relevant and poetic. If any of you have any interest in religion, ethics, or ideas, check out Krista Tippet's program...she always has amazing, interesting, and diverse thinkers on her program.

Here is an excerpt from his book, Anam Cara:

"In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and cara is the word for friend. In the early Celtic church, a person who acted as a teacher, companion, or spiritual guide was called an anam cara. It originally referred to someone to whom you confessed revealing the hidden intimacies of your life. With the anam cara you could share your innermost self, your mind, and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. … In everyone's life there is great need for an anam cara, a soul friend, in this love you are understood as you are without mask or pretension. Where you are understood, you are at home."

Soulful Excellence.

2008-10-23T22:54:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I spent most of the day walking around New York. My friend, Diana, and I went to the Whitney (which was, of course, AMAZING) and then went in and out of galleries in Chelsea until around 8pm. I saw some amazing art....and I also saw some ridiculous art, but all-in-all it was a perfect day. Here is a "smattering" of what I saw taken via my very low-tech phone-camera.

Love.

2008-10-21T18:22:00.002-04:00

I don't have much to say, but I have been painting....and trust me, you'd rather see my paintings than read my ramblings.

more....new.....work.....

2008-10-12T20:53:00.004-04:00

I'll recap about the Candler Park Fall Fest once I am not exhausted....but, until then, one of several new pieces that I premiered at this weekend.

Candler Park Fall Fest 2008

2008-10-10T09:33:00.002-04:00

Please come to the Candler Park Fall Fest this weekend and see me and Anne Elser at the festival. I promise free vodka drinks to the first 10 people who show up to support their favorite local artists. For directions, click here.

more.

2008-10-07T10:50:00.006-04:00

A new piece I did last night. The photograph is not so great and makes the colors not quite right, but I don't really feel like color-correcting in photoshop....I'm lazy, that's right.

John Keats

2008-09-28T22:26:00.003-04:00

This is from John Keats' Endymion...and I thought it rather beautiful.

Weekend Fun...?

2008-09-27T15:24:00.003-04:00

Tonight, I am attending a bachelorette party. Honestly, I cannot imagine a more hellish sequence of events than the following:
1. Dinner with 10-12 girls ranging in ages from 23-27 (obviously this excludes Montana and myself) who I don't know.
2. Attendance of a local strip club where I've been warned that the MALE strippers may try to "tea bag" me....every gay woman's dream, I tell you.
3. Dancing at a local club where I am told to dress like I am looking to "get laid"....by a man. This means cowboy shirts, NIKE flip-flop and cargo pants are out of the question.

A normal Saturday night for me usually consists of a nice bottle of wine, dinner at home or somewhere less than 5 miles away, some quality time with Nancy Grace and bedtime at 10pm. I think I'll start drinking now.

33

2008-09-25T12:06:00.001-04:00

I've had a bit of a creative resurgence. I did this last night...shaking off the cobwebs and getting back into the flow is not for the faint of heart.

Better than most of my recent posts...

2008-09-23T11:34:00.006-04:00

I've spent the greater part of my life worrying about things that are beyond my control. Perhaps, the greatest insights I have gleaned from my short time on this earth is that there is very little that we absolutely have control over, failure is a part of growth and that love and kindness are truly the things that matter the most. Bearing witness to this extraordinary time in our history, I have felt a mixture of anxiety, excitement, fear, dread, hope, and irony. Despite my concern over the tactical aspects of being: will I continue to have a job, can I pay my bills, will I be able to afford to drive my car, what about retirement, is this a run-on sentence; I am finding that there is something rather freeing about this chaotic and uncertain time. Maybe it is just realizing that we don't really have control over anything, that the future really is uncertain, and that, above and beyond it all, the only thing we can really do is decide how we are going to live in the midst of it all. I have decided that I am not ever going to stand on the sidelines while my life passes me by. I have decided that I am always going to be optimistic about the future. I have decided that I am going to seek out creative partnerships and opportunities that feed my soul. It's that simple. It's my line in the sand.

in case you missed it.

2008-09-14T22:32:00.001-04:00

Regardless of your political beliefs...simply brilliant.

insomnia.

2008-09-13T04:11:00.002-04:00

What is it about insomnia that makes me want to buy this?

out of the flow.

2008-09-01T14:48:00.004-04:00

Why is it that inspiration is so illusive? I have been in a creative dry spell for several months now and it is sheer frustration. Today, I come off of a week-long beach vacation and have an entire day to myself to work on some paintings...sounds great, right? Not so much....nothing is coming. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zlich.

I, of course, think I am losing it. I no longer have access to that part of myself that is able to freely create and express whatever is in my head or heart. "IT" is gone. But what is it? And I have to believe that "IT" is not gone, but just not accessible to me right now. But why? Theoretically, I am relaxed. My stress is moderate, but not high. Life is generally pretty great. So what gives? I know that when I "try" to be creative, I fail miserably....I am pushing when should be pulling, going north when I need to go south....all of those things. Maybe it is simply a relaxation thing. Maybe I am judging myself too harshly and not allowing the process to be fluid. Maybe anxiety is blocking me. The question, of course, is how to get unstuck, relax and get back into the flow.

Any suggestions?

Vacation. Day 1.

2008-08-23T01:06:00.002-04:00

Truer words have never come across my computer screen.

Vacation Countdown

2008-08-21T20:55:00.003-04:00

It has been 16 months since a "real vacation." Count em' one-six. Am I losing it? Possibly. Is it due to a variety of factors? Most likely. Do I want to delve into any of them here in a public forum? That is highly unlikely. I will share that a lack of vacation leads to irritability, excessive squirliness, slight melancholia, and bouts of insomnia. All of which I suffer from. Alas, Montana and I are finally getting to go away...for a week....to the beach. Sun, sand, books, naps, margaritas, no power point, no e-mail, no work, no worries.

That is, until, FAY....seriously, folks, (ahem, MOTHER nature), what the f*ck. Give me a break.

Hair, hair everywhere....

2008-08-17T17:14:00.004-04:00

So, lately, I've been really busy. Not much time for blogging but have somehow found PLENTY of time to try on fake hair via the Ladies Home Journal "Try on a Hairstyle" program. Here are a few options....

What do you all think?

Chris and Don....

2008-08-13T22:14:00.003-04:00

So, normally, I wouldn't go out of my way to see a "gay" movie...really, I make it a point NOT to go out of my way to see most movies, but this one caught my eye and it was fabulous. A beautiful story about the relationship between two men who, under most extraordinary circumstances, lived and flourished in a relationship that lasted 3 decades. A beautiful and soulful story that everyone should see.
Enjoy!

"junk" mail.

2008-08-04T09:27:00.002-04:00

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." Victor Hugo

I got this quote in my inbox today...junk mail from an unknown sender. I often wonder how I get random offers for viagra, levitra, penis enlargement surgical procedures, etc. etc. Perhaps, now, the junk mail gods in the sky have figured out those offers do not really mean much to me and they are going to start hitting me up with information that would actually mean something to me. Even better was that there was no link to anything for me to buy! What a lovely way to start off the work-week.

My New Favorite Toys.

2008-07-31T16:02:00.001-04:00

When you can sell these and make a living, you must live in the best country in the world.

Spirits in Camphooperville.

2008-07-20T21:07:00.003-04:00

Despite total exhaustion, oppressive heat and mosquitos, and a vacation TOO far away in the future, the ladies of Camphooperville are hanging in there with not too much to report, other than a possible spirit infestation in the homestead.

Here is recap of our other-worldly run-ins of the past 5 days:
1. Montana wakes up at 3am to hear her iTunes blaring Elliot Smith from the room where Oliver and Sprout sleep. The keyboard is stowed beneath the desk and there is no reason iTunes should spontaneously be playing at any time....

2. Red and Fox, who sleep in their comfy box, bust out and come wake us up at around 5:30am. The box is latched and there is no way they could unfasten it, without assistance.

3. I make coffee on Saturday night so that on Sunday morning, all I have to do is hit "on"....I wake up and do so, only to return to see the water streaming all over the counter. I am CERTAIN that the basket was in place when I hit "on." Certain.

All I can figure is that whatever is going on....whatever spirit, energy, what-have-you is going on in our home, it must like dogs, coffee and music. Go figure.

the Girl effect.

2008-07-18T09:30:00.001-04:00

beautiful, simple execution...great message. design at its finest.

Go Cynthia, Go!

2008-07-10T13:52:00.005-04:00

My boss' wife, who owns Pink Magazine, recently edited *ahem* "Men at Work" signs around town. It has resulted in this article in the AJC as well as over 40 pages of "colorful" responses. Too many of these are hate-filled verbal vomit....I think we should all respond in support of someone who is bold enough to go after seeing a problem and demanding a solution.
this, from another enlightened Georgian:

and yet....more dead things.

2008-07-01T21:58:00.001-04:00

This evening, while cooking dinner, Red, the trusty dead-thing-retriever brought a dead bird inside....and, of course, laid it on my side of the bed.

Nancy Grace isn't the only Nancy I love.

2008-06-23T14:03:00.004-04:00

Brought to you by NPR, one of my favorite childhood book series....Nancy Drew....
"I loved Nancy Drew because of her curiosity, a fascination with assembling clues — or facts — into a story and her certain recklessness. For me those qualities add up what it takes to be ... a reporter." ....or a designer :)

Kill update.

2008-06-23T12:48:00.002-04:00

This is what I woke-up to this morning from my beautiful beagle, Red.

A dead rat....................on. my. bed.

catching up....sort of.

2008-06-16T08:50:00.004-04:00

Whoa, were those two of the lamest. posts. ever? Yeah, well that is what you get when you are balls-to-the-wall busy. Sadly, I must report that my weekend included neither margaritas nor a pool. On the upside, I did see the new Sex in the City movie...and it was fab. Made me want to run off and live in NYC...that is, until my beagle kindly brought a dead bunny into the house...onto the couch...and I realized this could never happen in the middle of Manhattan. Aah, domestic bliss.

my new favorite youtube.

2008-06-13T15:23:00.001-04:00

weekend bliss.

2008-06-13T13:22:00.004-04:00

This is what I want for the weekend.

a few things about me.

2008-05-30T12:37:00.003-04:00

50 odd things about me:

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes

2. Have you ever smoked heroin? uh, no....

3. Do you own a gun? not yet.

4. Your favorite song? currently, I am into bluegrass and Lucinda Williams.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? only when I've had unprotected sex

6. What do you think of hot dogs? they are only good with beer at a festival

7. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? coffee with real half and half (color just slightly darker than brown paper bag)

9. Can you do 10 push ups? YES!

10. Favorite thing about the 80's? that it's over.

11. What's your favorite jewelry? my watch and rings...

12. Favorite hobby? cooking

13. Secret weapon to get the opposite sex? hmmm.....in my case, being a lesbian.

14. Do you have A.D.D? not right now.

15. What is one trait you hate about yourself? I can be controllling and demanding.

16. Middle name? Caldwell

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I want a nap. I hope Oliver (my cat) is okay. It is FRIDAY.

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday? Taco seasoning, chips, refried beans.

19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? red wine, water, coffee.

20. Current worry right now? A broken washing machine and a sick cat.

21. Current hate right now? gas prices and mosquitos

22. Favorite place to be? home and at the beach

23. How did you bring in the New Year? champagne, food and friends.

24 Where would you like to go? Spain....or the beach.

25. Name three people who will complete this: people who feel like wasting a good chunk of time.

26. Do you own slippers? Yes

27. What shirt are you wearing? white v-neck t-shirt

29. Can you whistle? Yes

30. Favorite color? orange

31. Would you be a pirate? no, they are mean and have beards

32. What songs do you sing in the shower? whatever I wake up with in my head

33. Favorite girl's name? I don't know

34. Favorite boy's name? Cooper. Harry.

35. What's in your pocket right now? nothing

36. Last thing that made you laugh? my co-workers

37. Best bed sheets as a child? plain ol' white ones....they smell like my mom's linen closet.

38. Worst injury you've ever had? I fell into a rusty pipe on the playground in 7th grade a busted a hole in my shin.

39. Do you love where you live? Completely

40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 1

41. Who is your loudest friend? Amy

42. Do you have a dog? 3: Red, Fox, and Pfeiifer

43. Does someone have a crush on you? my beagle....but it's mutual.

44. Favorite cartoons? watched Spongebob the other day...pretty funny.

45. Who is your favorite author? Don't have one specific

46. What is your favorite candy? reeses peanut butter cups

47. Your favorite Sports Team? LSU

48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Go forth into the world in peace....whatever, i'm cheesy today.

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? looking for my cat in the yard.

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? it's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dreams.

2008-05-21T09:32:00.003-04:00

WHY do I continue to have dreams of planes crashing? Last night, I dreamt plane after plane after plane after plane crashed to the ground...some just couldn't make it into the sky, some got about half-way through ascent and crashed, but I just stood there watching.

This is what DreamMoods.com says:
To dream that a plane crashes, suggests that you have set overly high and unrealistic goals for yourself. Your goals may be too high and are impossible to realize. You are in danger of having it come crashing down. Alternatively, your lack of confidence, self-defeating attitude and self-doubt toward the goals you have set for yourself is represented by the crashing airplane; you do not believe in your ability to attain those goals. Loss of power and uncertainty in achieving your goals are also signified.

Well I say FUCK THAT.

Yup, it's Monday.

2008-05-19T13:58:00.003-04:00

I know...I am the worst blogger ever. I have been utterly slammed at work and my Lady and I spent the entire weekend putting ourselves through the ultimate relationship challenge: assembling an oversized piece of IKEA furniture. We survived, but the endeavor left me tattered and bruised not to mention exhausted and longing for an extended beach vacation. I did, however, purchase some new NIKE running shoes in honor of my friend, Audrey, who is moving to Portland today to work for NIKE...plus, my knees are basically turning into two piles of sawdust, so it is time for some new kicks. Not that anyone really cares, but I need fodder for this entry.
Which brings me to today.
Monday.
The most important nugget of wisdom I can proffer to my kind readers is to ALWAYS make sure that, when ingesting vitamins, one must do so on a FULL stomach. Wow, who knew vitamins on a banana and OJ could create such disharmony in one's gut.
Cheers and Happy Monday!

Justice is Served.

2008-05-13T12:49:00.000-04:00

Thank God.

public transit.

2008-05-08T13:19:00.000-04:00

"Somebody git my hair so I can GO!"

Catching up....

2008-05-05T15:40:00.005-04:00

Whew, has it been nearly 2 weeks since my last post? Crazy how life goes by so fast. I am sad to say that I have been mourning the passing of my hard drive....it crashed about 2 weeks ago and I have been struggling to catch up with and restore my digital life. It is crazy how much we rely on these little metal boxes. A gentle reminder to BACK your work up because when it is gone it is GONE. In the meantime, Montana's mom was in town for her birthday...much fun has been had and many brain cells killed over Grand Marnier and dice. (see below photograph).

I'm sure there is much more interesting news to report, but i am easing back into blogging....I wouldn't want to strain myself.

Please be patient.

Yes

2008-04-23T12:24:00.003-04:00

This is "leveraged" blog content from 37 Days, but so beautiful and so perfect for. right. now.

Yes

It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.

It could, you know. That's why we wake
and look out - no guarantees
in this life.

But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.

- William Stafford

New Painting.

2008-04-16T10:54:00.005-04:00

Here is a new painting I am working on....it may be finished....I'm not sure. Hope you like!

incredible.

2008-04-13T10:03:00.002-04:00

This is amazing! The human form is absolutely incredible and these brothers from Poland (I think?!) do things I did not think were humanly possible.

Lauren Greenfield

2008-04-12T08:01:00.004-04:00

Wasting time on the internet, I came across this site today: Lauren Greenfield Photography.. A very happy find and VERY relevant to my previous post. Here is a little bit about Ms. Greenfield:

"Acclaimed photographer Lauren Greenfield is considered a preeminent chronicler of youth culture as a result of her groundbreaking projects Girl Culture and Fast Forward. Her photographs have been widely exhibited and are in many museum collections including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the International Center of Photography. She was named by American Photo as one of the 25 most influential photographers working today."

what?

2008-04-11T13:12:00.005-04:00

I am, by no means, a prude. I think human form is beautiful. I paint it, I photograph it, I don't have any freaky-weird hang-ups about nudity, but I have a serious problem with this company. (No offense, Lonny....my friend who works for Abercrombie and Fitch and has launched this new sub-brand). The first glimpse we get at this new arm of Abercrombie and Fitch is a "promotional" video on their website which, by the way, you have to submit your age in order to view. The video is a montage of naked, anorexic-looking young women and buffed, tan men swimming, dancing, flirting and hanging up laundry in the great outdoors. My problem with this is that the target audience for A&F consumers is usually 18 and under (partially because of the style and partially because no one with an actual ass or thighs could wear their clothes otherwise)...the women featured in this video could not be older than 18, IF they were even that "old." What I want to know is WHY do we need to use sex to sell to girls that are 14? I mean, seriously, that is so ridiculously unimaginative and lame. 14 year old girls have neither the ability nor the maturity to understand these messages or make informed choices regarding what this brand is telling them. Do I think they should be banned? Absolutely NOT, but I don't think A&F supports or endorses healthy, substantive role-models for young women and uses ideas and images that send inappropriate and confusing messages to young women (and men). I just wonder who makes decisions to put these images and messages out there and why. It is not smart, it is not anything new, and it feeds a social beast that eats away at the self-esteem of so many women. Where is ANY sense of responsibility?

Life Lessons.

2008-04-07T11:17:00.003-04:00

I have learned something VERY important in the past 3 months. I will never be a "suit." I'm curious and interested in what happens in the "world of business" and I completely understand that it directly relates to what we do as designers and consultants, but my strengths are definitely in the realm of creativity, innovation, putting things together in new and different ways, aesthetics, and visual communication. That is where I find joy, meaning and purpose. I find myself, at times, feeling inadequate....like I don't know enough (not that one ever really does) or that my skills are less important than those of us more skilled in business. That is a tough one for me because I never want to be perceived as "not smart enough" and, honestly, I feel that more than not these days, but you can't be EVERYTHING in this world. Maybe some people can, but in that race to be first in everything, I will probably expire from exhaustion and frustration. I suppose as a curious person, I will go down the rabbit hole from time to time, get lost in worlds I know very little about and then start to question how I got there in the first place...perhaps that is where I am now and it is just a matter of finding my way back to MY home. Maybe it is really just as important to know who you are NOT as it is to know who you are. Alas, you will not find me at Talbots shopping for a new navy blue business suit anytime soon.

So true.

2008-04-06T16:05:00.002-04:00

This is a hilarious parody of what would happen if Microsoft were to design the iPod packaing...further proof that the best design is reductive in nature and reason #3490 that Mac will always be the designer's tool of choice.

Bobos.

2008-03-30T21:56:00.003-04:00

A book I recently read and love:

If you've ever wondered why our culture has become obsessed with stores like Starbucks, REI, Anthropologie, Whole Foods and Volvo...read this book. It is a non-judgemental, humorous, and insightful look into how we have become a culture of principled, borderline snotty, over-intellectualized (at times), capitolism-loving, bag-of-contradiction embodying consumers. A must read for ANYONE in creative, culture-defining vocations, a shocking reflection of self (for some), but absolutely critical in understanding the values and principles of a population who is driving much of our country's policies and cultural values.

Yeah, take a minute to soak that in.

BrightHouse Excellence.

2008-03-24T17:01:00.002-04:00

Not to bombard my kind readers with assorted video footage, but this is a work-video I put together for my most dynamic boss, Joey, on his ideas around "soulful excellence," the complementary business practice to "operational excellence." Let me know what you think and don't be TOO jealous of my video editing skills!

Happy Monday :)

Joke Friday

2008-03-21T12:34:00.003-04:00

I am going to attempt to start a Friday tradition. I'm going to call it "Joke Friday" and I will broadcast a video of myself telling a joke that I think is pretty funny. It may suck, but I am willing to take a creative risk. Let me know what you think!!

Chilling.

2008-03-15T12:10:00.005-04:00

WATCH THIS STORY
What is so alarming about these photographs, is, exactly what the commentator says, that these were REAL people, with REAL lives, families, and pets...they were just like anyone else. But they were responsible for exterminating millions of people, simply because they were different. Group-think is such a scary phenomena...it happens today, all over the place, in the US, in our schools, in our communities...we should ALWAYS question EVERYTHING. Always dig deeper, always go to the source, make your own decisions, take the time to figure out the TRUTH. I think that is what is really missing in our current culture. We exist on headline news, commentary from blogs, powerpoint-condensed information but seldom do we take the time to really go to the source and decide for ourselves what to think. It takes time, it takes energy, it takes a willingness to be wrong, to look at things differently, but the truth is the most important thing we can seek. Perhaps if more people had looked deeper, questioned authority, questioned themselves, this horrible atrocity would have never happened.

Lucky.

2008-03-10T13:19:00.002-04:00

These are the cookies I made yesterday for my co-worker, Ashley. She is awesome and it was her birthday on Sunday.... At BrightHouse we usually get cakes and champagne for people's birthdays but Ashley doesn't like cake so I made peanut butter-cookie sandwiches. Don't you wish you worked with me? I'll post the recipe because they are mmmm, mmmm, good.
Don't be TOO jealous.

a couple of observations....

2008-03-09T12:30:00.002-04:00

1. Spring Forward Tonight. Yes folks, daylight savings time happens tonight and I could not be more pleased. I didn't realize how much I loathed the darkness and cold temperatures until I was forced to face them as a result of having a 9-5 job that prevents interaction with the sunlight during the week. Whoa, I could NEVER live in the north where it is, more often than not, cold and darkness prevails. Kudos to those of you who do.

2. Current Fashion. My lady and I went shopping yesterday and all I have to say is what the FUCK? I don't know if I am getting to that point in my life where I look at current trendy fashions and don't identify anymore....maybe this is a sign that I am getting older, not identifying with the "youth culture," but I need some things. I need some shirts, some skirts, some pants....and I refuse to wear skinny jeans (I mean, seriously, who can wear those things?), I don't want a lot of ruffles and I hate these poofy-sleeved shirts that are reminiscent of the 60's. I just want simple things. Simple lines, a nice color pallete, nothing too crazy, but things that look good on my body. Yesterday's outing was nothing short of humiliation....I did, however, get a new pair of glasses that I am pretty excited about. I'll debut them here soon....once I spend the one million dollars to have my super-sonic lenses created due to my near-blind vision.

3. Dogs. I think that dogs are the best thing on the planet. People who do not like dogs, I just don't trust. They are such perfect little souls that require so little of us but love, food and petting. Is anything in life really that simple? I think not....

Hillary.

2008-03-07T10:20:00.003-05:00

This just in....compelling new photographic montage of democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton from DanzFamily.com.

Whoa.

Liars and Brains and Dogs, oh my!

2008-03-06T11:04:00.004-05:00

On my way to work today, I was listening to this program via my local NPR station and the topic was, "the brain of a liar." I was struck by how similar a liar's brain is to a creative's brain in it's ability to quickly parse and assimilate information. I've never been a good liar...I've tried but failed more often than not which is why I believe (for the most part) that, despite our biological tendencies, the one thing that does separate us from animals is our ability to choose...to make thoughtful, rational choices. This may not be as accurate when it comes to things such as mood but it certainly does when we talk about behavior. If not, then there is no difference between human beings and dogs....not that I'd mind being a dog...Lord knows, I love dogs....but what do you think?

Milton Glaser

2008-03-05T11:31:00.001-05:00

So, for my "March Forth" I decided to start a series of "paintings/illustrations" of "famous" designers....or, better said, designers that I think are exciting, smart, inspirational and interesting. My first one is Milton Glaser....I've been reading Debbie Millman's book and decided that in a future life, I would like to come back as Milton Glaser's daughter/best friend/maid/whatever. What an amazing man.

New Favorite.

2008-02-29T12:21:00.002-05:00

This is my new favorite blog.

March 4th. BrightHouse Style.

2008-02-28T14:08:00.001-05:00

As you may know, we celebrate a special holiday, March 4th. We don't take the day off, we take it on and March 4th on our dreams. This year, together with Campus MovieFest and Phyzix Concepts and Choreography, we created a short film. We hope it inspires you to share it, to make your dream a reality, and even to post your own video response on youtube of what you did on March 4th. Enjoy the film and the holiday.

books.

2008-02-26T21:41:00.003-05:00

I am notorious for reading about 10 books at a time. I am lucky to finish any of them within 6 months but so far this year I'm doing pretty well. I've read the first 3 books of "Tales of the City" which a co-worker told me I must read before I could consider myself TRULY gay. Who knew? Certainly not me...and how foolish could a homosexual feel being schooled by a heterosexual on how to be an authentic gay. Truth be told, I started reading them about 4 months ago...but they are a very fast read.

I just finished "Confederacy of Dunces." I would have to say it is probably the funniest book I have ever read. I LOVED it....completely loved it. Having lived in Baton Rouge and frequented New Orleans a lot during the years I was there, it made me think of a lot of really good memories and made me a little sad that the New Orleans I loved is not the same. I'm almost ready to read it again...except that it does make me laugh out loud which does not help lull to me into sleep at night.

For a good sleeper, try Molecules of Emotion...whoa, great topic but probably the most boring read I've ever encountered....I've been gnawing away on that book for over 2 years now and am STILL not finished.

So, what is anyone else reading that is interesting? Care to share?

BrightHouse!

2008-02-26T12:59:00.001-05:00

This is a video from BrightHouse, where I work....you'll see a cameo of me riding a scooter in here.
Pretty cool.

Dreams.

2008-02-20T13:49:00.006-05:00

This is a short film....my first film with a purpose...about Dreams...sort of a "work" project, sort of not.
I'd like to thank my wonderful girlfriend, Montana, our pets and the Beatles (for letting me use their song, "Flying" for this film.)
Enjoy!

LIFE.

2008-02-19T11:20:00.002-05:00

There must be something in this theme of "timing" these days...repetition is usually an indication that life is handing us a lesson.

A quote by Carl Jung.
"There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness."

ONCE

2008-02-18T10:51:00.004-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am, probably, the most movie-illiterate individual on the planet. Blame it on my undiagnosed ADD, but my ability sit and stay long enough to watch a movie has created a real information/culture deficit in the stockpile of otherwise worthless information that taken over the majority of my grey matter. That said, through the amazing convenience of NETFLIX, I have started to watch many more movies. True, I mostly watch documentaries....most recently, Ayn Rand:A Sense of LIfe (I give it 4 stars...watched it twice), C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia (I give it 1 star, it was really quite boring and didn't illuminate anything truly interesting about this amazing author and thinker), My Architect: A Son's Journey (I give it 4 stars....it is about Louis Kahn, a famous architect....very interesting), The Nazis: A Warning from History (definite 4 star rental....so interesting and offered a different perspective on one of the most profound tragedies of our recent history).

Last night we saw ONCE. For a movie with not MUCH of a story line, there is something most amazing and spectacular about this movie. Perhaps, it is the music....which is amazing....I just downloaded the soundtrack. I would say, more than likely, what makes this film so special is its authenticity and emotion. Maybe it is just that life is about timing. And, really, the older I get, the more I realize that everything comes down to timing. It is one of those things that makes life so amazing and confusing and mysterious. In hindsight, perhaps everyone of us can look to a situation, a relationship, an experience and say, IF ONLY the timing had been different...if only I had been older, younger, more mature, less mature, braver, less scared, if only things had been different...but they weren't. And that is life. I guess things don't always work out the way we want them to, they don't happen when we want them to, they come together and fall apart in moments that don't make sense. What I do get is that our timing, our need to have things the way we think we should have them is not always the way we are supposed to experience our lives. Maybe this is the "divine" plan that we are intended to live. I don't know...maybe that is just a way to have peace with the "bad" timing. Whatever it is, I am endlessly curious in trying to figure it out and I guess I'll be busy trying to figure it out for the rest of my life as I don't think there really is an answer or a reason or a theory that will satisfy my concerns.

Don't laugh.

2008-02-12T13:48:00.000-05:00

Okay, so lately I have been suffering from incessant insomnia. I mean...up all night tossing and turning, twitching, jerking, not getting any rest. Needless to say, I am a bit crabby and borderline insane. Has it helped my creativity? No. So, for those of you who think insanity lends itself to creativity, I am here to tell you that it does not.

While surfing iTunes today to find some "relaxation" music/pod-casts/whatever, I came across this: a PurrCast. If you simply search (not that anyone other than a sleep-deprived lesbian would) "purrcast" on your iTunes, you will find it and WOW it is so relaxing. I don't recommend listening to it while at work the day after you have not slept the night before but I am going to give it a whirl if I wake up during the night tonight.

I'll let you all know how it goes.

BS.

2008-02-11T20:22:00.000-05:00

I don't mean to be insensitive...really, I don't. I have such respect for anyone who struggles with mental illness...I have seen too many friends and loved ones suffer at the hands of depression, bi-polar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety...you name it. It can be debilitating. Your life can be literally ruined by something that doesn't cause you to bleed, lose your hair, or cause you to run a fever. Mental illness is misunderstood, underestimated and discounted in its destruction.
It is not, however, an AMERICAN TRAGEDY.
COME ON, Rolling Stone. This is not the Dalai Lama...it is Britney Spears. She is a girl who suffered from arrested development which clearly developed into some SERIOUS mental health issues. Uh, shocker?! What would you expect? The ONLY reason we care is that she is a celebrity...but what a heinous over-statement.

Super? Tuesday.

2008-02-05T11:33:00.001-05:00

Well, unless we have a composer-candidate...looks Iike I am screwed for this election...here's where I fell politically acoording to Political Compass

ME:

THE COMPOSERS:

THE 2008 CANDIDATES:

My favorite Superbowl Ad.

2008-02-04T10:35:00.001-05:00

Save My Rawhide!

2008-02-02T12:51:00.000-05:00

This could very well be the Beagle, Red once senility sets in....or it could be me in a few years due to my declining mental health. God save us all.

Takin' care of business.

2008-01-30T19:48:00.000-05:00

Yes folks, I finally got around to ordering my business cards for work...we have to choose words to describe us...to give people a sense of who we are...I think mine are pretty accurate? What do you think?

Hmmmmm......

2008-01-24T15:51:00.001-05:00

Who should I vote for for president in 2008?

	Bill Richardson - 66 match You must be looking for a moderate liberal with impressive credentials. If you live in Iowa or New Hampshire, you could have voted for Bill Richardson. Otherwise, you're out of luck. After finishing 4th in both states, Richardson dropped out of the presidential race. Experienced in state, national, and international politics, Richardson has been a Congressman, an ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, and is now the governor of New Mexico. He is pro-choice, strongly favors rights for the LGBT population, advocates for affirmative action in government contracts, and even championed the idea that Congress should revoke the original authority it gave to go to war with Iraq. Richardson also supports the death penalty and gun ownership rights.
	Ron Paul - 63 match Congrats, you have very socially conservative Libertarian...err... Republican points of view. Ron Paul, who is known in Washington as "Dr. No" because of consistently rejects proposals that do not adhere strictly to the original constitution, was once the Libertarian Party's pick for President till he changed sides a few years ago. He's a favorite of technologists and the Internet community mostly for his hands off approach to... well anything.
	Barack Obama - 58 match You must be ambitious and idealistic, like Barack Obama. Obama is a liberal democrat who, unlike his rivals, opposed the Iraq war from the start. With only 3 years in the Senate, his inexperience worries some and sometimes reveals itself in the debates, but he also has the charisma and popular support that the others lack.

Take the test.

and the winner is....

2008-01-21T09:58:00.000-05:00

American Cities That Best Fit You:

60% Atlanta

60% Honolulu

60% Washington, DC

55% Austin

50% San Francisco

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

Sunny and Warm?

2008-01-21T09:38:00.002-05:00

Well, it has been a cold one here in Atlanta. Believe it or not, we got snow. That's right folks, snow....the white stuff. I don't know about you, but when the temperature says "feels like 3 (degrees)," that is a signal to me to stay inside, cook pot roast, make stuff on my sewing machine and read blogs which is precisely what I did yesterday. For the dogs, however, snow means something else entirely. Fox and Pfeiffer thoroughly enjoyed racing around in the snow, getting completely soaked and frozen while Red (the coveted Beagle) was more into lounging on the couch, sipping on some hot cider and protecting his smoked pig's ear. Per usual, the cats were unimpressed. Does anything ever impress a cat? I think not. My lady, being from the great state of Montana very much enjoyed the snow and thought my snow-ball snowing skills were a bit sub-par. Well people, that's what you get when you combine a Louisiana Native with no sporting skills or eye-hand-coordination.

Fox, playing in the snow.

Our cozy home, covered in snow.

All of the kids in the backyard....I think Red is looking for his buried rawhide.

I heart Diane Keaton

2008-01-16T11:50:00.000-05:00

Let me just say, for the record, I want to have Diane Keaton's spirit when I am in my 60's...no doubt, if I ever get the chance to be interviewed on national television, I will drop the f-bomb, too. She F@#*kin rocks!!!