tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30414753015119366262024-03-13T02:19:56.862-07:00Fits and Starts<b>Fits and Starts</b>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-21105825277454471842010-05-05T19:42:00.000-07:002010-05-05T19:50:05.478-07:00CHECK IT OUT!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you see that banner up there?</span></span><br /><br />Pretty fabulous, amirite?<br /><br />That's me, just so you know.<br />In what appears to be my neighborhood.<br />What am I doing walking around with my eyes closed on such a beautiful day?<br />Daydreaming, perhaps?<br /><br />If you're interested in these illustration skillzzzzz, talk to Ms. Moorea Seal at <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://ruminationread.blogspot.com/">Rumination Reading Room</a>.<br /><br />She'll hook you up.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For realzzzzz.</span></span><br /><br />End the excessive use of z.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><br /><3</span><br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-25975085753887542442010-04-27T16:59:00.000-07:002010-04-27T17:46:40.012-07:00AM/PM<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">These days, I'm only half here.</span></span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />Half being the amount of the stimuli I am capable of processing.
<br />
<br />Here being the external world.
<br />
<br />Michael will finish a sentence. I am aware that he has finished the sentence, but I'll respond either with, "Will you repeat that?" or some nod/smile combination out of shame. I can listen and hear him just fine, but my brain is not performing the comprehend function.
<br />
<br />Same goes for books. I have at least five books started right now and none finished. I read a chapter, a paragraph, or a sentence and by the end of it all I have to ask, "What just happened?" I can only reread something so many times before fantasizing about stuffing it in a paper shredder.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cut to my recent obsession with shorts.</span></span>
<br />
<br />It's called flash fiction.
<br />Extra short short stories.
<br />
<br />I found a collection that my mind can digest.
<br />
<br /><a href="http://ameliagray.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">AM/PM by Amelia Gray</span></span></a>
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDhLRVUeJQTjtrH8V708Tx_9a3ZI3F0oNRC4bZrqXZGnlIImA3wOdbyd2RSOEj1aVp5j4u1XerCdo5r_OMJSyIHiVU3KUI1IliurGqFMwbwSHTzCRQLLfltSXBQ9Q5EDqAcoKDdARab0/s1600/35640425.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDhLRVUeJQTjtrH8V708Tx_9a3ZI3F0oNRC4bZrqXZGnlIImA3wOdbyd2RSOEj1aVp5j4u1XerCdo5r_OMJSyIHiVU3KUI1IliurGqFMwbwSHTzCRQLLfltSXBQ9Q5EDqAcoKDdARab0/s400/35640425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464977484448552866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This collection makes me feel a little voyeuristic.</span></span>
<br />
<br />For those of you that find yourself people watching and dropping eaves for enjoyment, you'll love AM/PM. Imagine 120 opportunities, day and night, to be an empathic fly on the wall in the most intimate moments between friends and lovers, and with oneself. Whether these moments are hilarious or heartbreaking, they're all totally insightful, in 150 words or less.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">30:PM</span></span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Olivia dreams that her body becomes pliable enough that she can stretch very thin and cover most of the rooms of the house. Her body is so thin that the bones are clearly visible, and the veins stretch, and the blood has more distance to travel and as a result, the edges of her body are very cold. Reginald opens the front door, removes his shoes, and takes only one step before recoiling in horror at the chilly mass that is Olivia's body, stretched and waiting. In Olivia's dreams, she controls every aspect of her life.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></span></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-80294075797605208902010-04-25T10:16:00.000-07:002011-02-03T14:41:14.476-08:00Newfoundland Pal of the Pen<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Now I remember why I stopped sending snail mail.</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I had forgotten how slow the rate of the mail's movement actually is.
<br />
<br />Sarah of <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://atlanticatlantis.blogspot.com/">Atlantic Atlantis</a> and I took the Pen-Pal Oath.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sarah's letter was sent on March 15th from Newfoundland, Canada and reached Chicago over a month later!</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br />FINALLY!
<br /></span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJy2rf34f-CaUKs0OSxH4sjmuCkgypiniExtv89xWkAPZzLYaNuaBfINGARrRKUX_wUTQ9IEIqLB__BAcX_7HFX_TmiVWEld4XEqqQlScj4qp-m3FLy_UVFJIR1mKtDPtiReZ6bMkNbw/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJy2rf34f-CaUKs0OSxH4sjmuCkgypiniExtv89xWkAPZzLYaNuaBfINGARrRKUX_wUTQ9IEIqLB__BAcX_7HFX_TmiVWEld4XEqqQlScj4qp-m3FLy_UVFJIR1mKtDPtiReZ6bMkNbw/s400/DSC_0148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464136484164513186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uaemQlPcZHylEaAIAUUg83hgXI23EjRDidmoq0_UPOrb1onYOhyswHdFyQaDSRHC_ZWDRuJrTrSMbfVkgnw6SIhNRmImlMYm1TOBmO2vpcg3uoU6b9mxIY1zDYz9Pg-Mtmi40ntFcxQ/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uaemQlPcZHylEaAIAUUg83hgXI23EjRDidmoq0_UPOrb1onYOhyswHdFyQaDSRHC_ZWDRuJrTrSMbfVkgnw6SIhNRmImlMYm1TOBmO2vpcg3uoU6b9mxIY1zDYz9Pg-Mtmi40ntFcxQ/s400/DSC_0152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464136495367752514" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><span>Altogether, Sarah sent me a beautiful handmade card, Spiderman and My Little Pony stickers, as well as a Canada sticker I've already found a place for on my Moleskin planner, and an Arctic Blend tea, which I have yet to try. You know that feeling, when you love a gift so much, that you have to force yourself to use it? Someday I'll actually drink the tea, instead of constantly putting it to my nose to sniff.
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I <3></span></span></span></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-66889772766254058702010-04-22T16:35:00.001-07:002010-04-22T17:35:34.882-07:00Lifetime of Gaia Worship<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >As of today, EARTH DAY, I have been celebrating Mother Nature for 23 3/4 years.</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> In other words, for 8,681 days.
<br /></span><span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">I think of my life as a constant celebration of the world in which I live.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">What's one day a year, compared to 8,681 days and counting?
<br />
<br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppJOGc7wLVNtwqA517gTymgSIxbu38afgZPYPAA4hauIoUdZoYYeJ8onbJNVQvx3esUhpBLw1yuCpRNDzsfNRfrGV6iFFxfuRtKTRO8L5bOSOrwE5XvWT-BLn7AvBMMGjmz66oT70gGw/s1600/Trees.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppJOGc7wLVNtwqA517gTymgSIxbu38afgZPYPAA4hauIoUdZoYYeJ8onbJNVQvx3esUhpBLw1yuCpRNDzsfNRfrGV6iFFxfuRtKTRO8L5bOSOrwE5XvWT-BLn7AvBMMGjmz66oT70gGw/s400/Trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463118932033451810" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span><span style="font-size:100%;">You can't change the way you impact the Earth until you really get out there and see what's at stake.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">PROOF
<br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6ofRff5ssnEz9bIATyEPzuE_C8-Xy_q10MJZCl7LrtL_PT-qzFjDa9rpUFULZ-4LAIub01hQd5yN0gJrLbH2mndsN2iFlJxRH-2RHGjf7lwasMQIavALJT-kFgudego8eOOTdKvT0C0/s1600/Cave.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6ofRff5ssnEz9bIATyEPzuE_C8-Xy_q10MJZCl7LrtL_PT-qzFjDa9rpUFULZ-4LAIub01hQd5yN0gJrLbH2mndsN2iFlJxRH-2RHGjf7lwasMQIavALJT-kFgudego8eOOTdKvT0C0/s400/Cave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117704825377522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QV5h2KtN471613CLClehNGx9_IRMPPGPROMcybHabjm6mNz_ulmM2TFy6cdKxvt1nECaeGD7TGeNjYSrDxwK2vcx9h3abq8oCoyKia2ouUE3VS8ZapG5R-S-CFM-kZgCbuIU6QZ0xnI/s1600/Clouds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QV5h2KtN471613CLClehNGx9_IRMPPGPROMcybHabjm6mNz_ulmM2TFy6cdKxvt1nECaeGD7TGeNjYSrDxwK2vcx9h3abq8oCoyKia2ouUE3VS8ZapG5R-S-CFM-kZgCbuIU6QZ0xnI/s400/Clouds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117707433733474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VuCQo2spLJbP17_R9Qw1zHFwxpcvbsvV8IvyzV-qRE0WbeCj8zq_QdBqWICP3FNBalgtw1UjEqC6sdVrmaGHypfK4KGId-uGrVhfwjmai64wLJwMR5YwTrQUX-GuxpC_YJbALLywySM/s1600/Sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VuCQo2spLJbP17_R9Qw1zHFwxpcvbsvV8IvyzV-qRE0WbeCj8zq_QdBqWICP3FNBalgtw1UjEqC6sdVrmaGHypfK4KGId-uGrVhfwjmai64wLJwMR5YwTrQUX-GuxpC_YJbALLywySM/s400/Sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117970105956242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BT4U-_VfxysSPCbJHbNOAL6rJsp__Ze_RUPE5_oOIF18pRVeUnSSBtS4DiO9sNE-hi4rEHGmvNutJMLxahVqkymwriEbUgTbLfUGVsrUda1ztdKG-f3DLCTg8RuSULthr0sS0cnwhyphenhyphenE/s1600/Waterfall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BT4U-_VfxysSPCbJHbNOAL6rJsp__Ze_RUPE5_oOIF18pRVeUnSSBtS4DiO9sNE-hi4rEHGmvNutJMLxahVqkymwriEbUgTbLfUGVsrUda1ztdKG-f3DLCTg8RuSULthr0sS0cnwhyphenhyphenE/s400/Waterfall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463118941489435010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwljFik-hs9rxY_JPw-NnDd6b6poGnKrZW8CLc5GQGj-nsuSUZ4RjXDkR98eHuYNr12xW4FWbNJ_89tOl65poRgm_Y_efqGINpyIONWcC1k12cVvTMysO7Dh3iHJwebxhwu5AiMDVAA4/s1600/Moth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwljFik-hs9rxY_JPw-NnDd6b6poGnKrZW8CLc5GQGj-nsuSUZ4RjXDkR98eHuYNr12xW4FWbNJ_89tOl65poRgm_Y_efqGINpyIONWcC1k12cVvTMysO7Dh3iHJwebxhwu5AiMDVAA4/s400/Moth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117949282661762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEAArsw3SMqK4n3cwfhTzPRI60F8xLnFXb5rd27EKhXyPq87l2oK4bb-2WuKy_mEt__s5jz-rsR9nxjU4AbidvHsDSuryJLD6pL_Vqbl0fCvAMgZOiJ4RbTkFiC869f5e3xGoRU4NEpM/s1600/Pier.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEAArsw3SMqK4n3cwfhTzPRI60F8xLnFXb5rd27EKhXyPq87l2oK4bb-2WuKy_mEt__s5jz-rsR9nxjU4AbidvHsDSuryJLD6pL_Vqbl0fCvAMgZOiJ4RbTkFiC869f5e3xGoRU4NEpM/s400/Pier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117951631353474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S2ZWPi1fgvNDu854G8jBdjtesmDPDc6i8D4v1uI0k8dWMszPGKxTnwtmOh0kxBcQ39hYfIHl0dUnlF_Imj_blcwh30_r_okrzbWIP-fZPPVbmhyphenhyphenFKON1022qL_pnWR4mj75SwXJgt0c/s1600/Snail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S2ZWPi1fgvNDu854G8jBdjtesmDPDc6i8D4v1uI0k8dWMszPGKxTnwtmOh0kxBcQ39hYfIHl0dUnlF_Imj_blcwh30_r_okrzbWIP-fZPPVbmhyphenhyphenFKON1022qL_pnWR4mj75SwXJgt0c/s400/Snail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117966959986386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmFFoXiix2cZPbnHouLV_GJpJJm6ltbjYANN_8_1kBVG43cfF-11g4sH5GHRSMb14EtWuCnCf8WV9hSuswN3Sfa9Rmu_jV7jnLkyK8snvZoMRu3TiZfaO9ok8GIkTGEKXwQmx1hWNi8s/s1600/Jump.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmFFoXiix2cZPbnHouLV_GJpJJm6ltbjYANN_8_1kBVG43cfF-11g4sH5GHRSMb14EtWuCnCf8WV9hSuswN3Sfa9Rmu_jV7jnLkyK8snvZoMRu3TiZfaO9ok8GIkTGEKXwQmx1hWNi8s/s400/Jump.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117711204956482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskpAeh_f431HZFiKijCzGOFfFwUK77LCNCxIPRjIR01kIsx6AkK8cZ9DLeHvDw-7bEr6wDbnaMxUd5FLgQCxjdw3c1BndfBaox_VLbjci8Y2DC7anyCWxE3k6Qk_czJBwi49FfY1FUyY/s1600/Moon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskpAeh_f431HZFiKijCzGOFfFwUK77LCNCxIPRjIR01kIsx6AkK8cZ9DLeHvDw-7bEr6wDbnaMxUd5FLgQCxjdw3c1BndfBaox_VLbjci8Y2DC7anyCWxE3k6Qk_czJBwi49FfY1FUyY/s400/Moon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117726469329954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltuuotPlk6sDPeyDmMYds9HqaDLXuVQ6kElbv5hYs7i4lcKFlVao8YLmm39hMWe7Zn6_2_GTjwwoMm8lB686Sww1NQu19ywWxaSmDz_22V8pjsQ9Ze4a1BeA5vQ7s-xvqoZdNAR5XNj4/s1600/Lynn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltuuotPlk6sDPeyDmMYds9HqaDLXuVQ6kElbv5hYs7i4lcKFlVao8YLmm39hMWe7Zn6_2_GTjwwoMm8lB686Sww1NQu19ywWxaSmDz_22V8pjsQ9Ze4a1BeA5vQ7s-xvqoZdNAR5XNj4/s400/Lynn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463117720541034210" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/consider-4-things-actually-matter.php"><span style="font-style: italic;">Consider four things that actually matter</span></a> </span><span><span style="font-size:100%;">(via Treehugger)</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> that you can do to improve your stay on Earth, as it's only temporary, but your footprint remains. Drive less, buy local, craft green, and be energy efficient!
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Also, go over to <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://thesixtyforty.blogspot.com/">The 60/40</a> to check out Roxanne's many informative Earth Day posts!
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span></span>
<br /></span></span></span></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-42797358363691441022010-04-21T18:29:00.000-07:002010-04-21T19:01:16.155-07:00Cameraddiction<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My <span style="font-size:180%;">Nikon D40</span> is too big to carry around all of the time.</span></span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The film for my <span style="font-size:180%;">Polaroid</span> is too expensive.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The lighting for my <span style="font-size:180%;">Actionsampler</span> has to be perfect.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br />And my <span style="font-size:180%;">Canon AE-1 SLR</span> won't give me pictures right now.</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />What to do? What to doooooo?
<br />
<br />I'm in the market for a cheap (like, really cheap), compact (fits in my pocket), point-and-shoot camera, whose picture quality isn't total crap.
<br />
<br />Any suggestions?
<br />
<br />In the meantime, here are some old favorites, taken by me with the Polaroid and Actionsampler, that I found myself perusing this evening.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Polaroid</span>
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15nf7eHgcgGnW47a8ENripPIy8a7Vtz5zb_Qw1fAxUr0j93EGLVBiliCK8brQN89k-tVjB2AHvNBeTLZt4T3k5ruGv3_yGGFhqOeoSNqa6tOFL4SlnHZyvXRaXsyTupvQDf7ZfPtsmGM/s1600/MichaelandCaitlin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15nf7eHgcgGnW47a8ENripPIy8a7Vtz5zb_Qw1fAxUr0j93EGLVBiliCK8brQN89k-tVjB2AHvNBeTLZt4T3k5ruGv3_yGGFhqOeoSNqa6tOFL4SlnHZyvXRaXsyTupvQDf7ZfPtsmGM/s400/MichaelandCaitlin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462773526657865346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8jeA0SYxgd3firzb2TRSDTiWTj7bEvnz3_l7VVUqFKxKL-mILh3RuHutCHcLPuvR5kmXYyHBKjzGvyjXkNXleiEqDBBdhh8esDqcdCFDyGJ6knv-uVO7PQ2CQatvs5WxEIYLwYtJ_0E/s1600/Nicole.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8jeA0SYxgd3firzb2TRSDTiWTj7bEvnz3_l7VVUqFKxKL-mILh3RuHutCHcLPuvR5kmXYyHBKjzGvyjXkNXleiEqDBBdhh8esDqcdCFDyGJ6knv-uVO7PQ2CQatvs5WxEIYLwYtJ_0E/s400/Nicole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462773537947709730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ai4EPRun5azsU59_fPrdP8FBQomFyFjXJ3PEY396qjU00gDMXCfTnkYrVlZOHZzfGKlo8NESg8Jfb1N2gZRdOrF6-i5SLtP-Pl_Kcnls_CyTPhpWUTFSsCvGgAlCwu8UPWvFFQVy1eo/s1600/Joshua.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ai4EPRun5azsU59_fPrdP8FBQomFyFjXJ3PEY396qjU00gDMXCfTnkYrVlZOHZzfGKlo8NESg8Jfb1N2gZRdOrF6-i5SLtP-Pl_Kcnls_CyTPhpWUTFSsCvGgAlCwu8UPWvFFQVy1eo/s400/Joshua.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462773539172183730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Actionsampler</span></span>
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNO-be7nLsZpi12yQ0OF-GkrZi1QpoQQXGviI4mqGp6UuSzzbGaUcIt8plz1zJb5hTJUgoV39SsbpWAcd7IFPGYoDeJo0Ux3ELKg3wI2_285NoRNzJGvsDLEtX1BrnzddPZLIQEPeUm8/s1600/Girl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNO-be7nLsZpi12yQ0OF-GkrZi1QpoQQXGviI4mqGp6UuSzzbGaUcIt8plz1zJb5hTJUgoV39SsbpWAcd7IFPGYoDeJo0Ux3ELKg3wI2_285NoRNzJGvsDLEtX1BrnzddPZLIQEPeUm8/s400/Girl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462774955481901266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvXuyyya0Gpgjze9oEQcbHm-j-mu04Skxpf6nP3W6dyZCw2hJNRQWVolkUAGR9ituJHOZINpaVPi1KkhpJRCGcxPTeImYZhSf2EejdmiOtITjPzxge7Qm9ErbjRPjn3YQ1N8poZihkgg/s1600/Elephant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvXuyyya0Gpgjze9oEQcbHm-j-mu04Skxpf6nP3W6dyZCw2hJNRQWVolkUAGR9ituJHOZINpaVPi1KkhpJRCGcxPTeImYZhSf2EejdmiOtITjPzxge7Qm9ErbjRPjn3YQ1N8poZihkgg/s400/Elephant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462774981368887890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbzBFa_vyp0HxPoOXc64LDSA6LKUbuAvX0PbHFi8B-CROn8TgmVhKFbSQNJocMvfRShqBnIo5eHX8Ny344OM0VanbHN4f1AnlIail36fBB3dW2oJ1sO2hSLFuNaoNAtN79RU1eEEBGso/s1600/Monica.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbzBFa_vyp0HxPoOXc64LDSA6LKUbuAvX0PbHFi8B-CROn8TgmVhKFbSQNJocMvfRShqBnIo5eHX8Ny344OM0VanbHN4f1AnlIail36fBB3dW2oJ1sO2hSLFuNaoNAtN79RU1eEEBGso/s400/Monica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462774974380763618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivedAiF9Euds7GjPfGAN_m8LC_GCSaN9tX0CBQ8POslQZbx8UhhgC3KG5wd8RjZ8ta5nICaO7EXhLwb9WwNyi2waTWWCdLYvtPQ7bUgncjphNVkrY1NdWmirK30uXofOM82hPk_Dlvt7A/s1600/Nikki.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivedAiF9Euds7GjPfGAN_m8LC_GCSaN9tX0CBQ8POslQZbx8UhhgC3KG5wd8RjZ8ta5nICaO7EXhLwb9WwNyi2waTWWCdLYvtPQ7bUgncjphNVkrY1NdWmirK30uXofOM82hPk_Dlvt7A/s400/Nikki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462774968194216370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-12568642945507981992010-04-19T15:48:00.000-07:002010-04-19T16:24:35.749-07:00Oolala Apron<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Once upon a time, there existed a vintage dress.</span></span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />A beautiful floral, corseted dress.
<br />
<br />Whose warped ribs dug into my sides and gave my chest a silhouette a-la Madonna's pointy bra.
<br />
<br />You can't tell in this photograph because clearly my silly grin fools all.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEI8yABZ_g1wyfiiSS_QKD4LYhyphenhyphenmPjAe0gbRBKGzvZ8EX6kuZRnqkWmrpZC_AQszuv1YBw9iXH2T008xts_xWez4Ummt4m-xmwOuwxw_6QHGDGuXbcvKFTCOQJW0pOMeArc3YuxkI8cY/s1600/26231_105550266135205_100000406954041_133435_5731210_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEI8yABZ_g1wyfiiSS_QKD4LYhyphenhyphenmPjAe0gbRBKGzvZ8EX6kuZRnqkWmrpZC_AQszuv1YBw9iXH2T008xts_xWez4Ummt4m-xmwOuwxw_6QHGDGuXbcvKFTCOQJW0pOMeArc3YuxkI8cY/s400/26231_105550266135205_100000406954041_133435_5731210_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461990342913902146" border="0" /></a>
<br />Just for the record.
<br />Beauty =/= Pain
<br />
<br />Thus, I cut the damn dress up.
<br />And made another pretty apron, of course.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHteBPnmzQ6YjcbCWc3mV3vCRgp6eSatxCNNj2uWBVJ9iXdeMA6Ik6RgXTwKhJSNUEUxwofGQHXb_VEg-XBNaMQfx8KUQZ-Ciq48pf4DHkpJ92DzAzzKHvewrkP7lbveF5Q9ahN0xPuc/s1600/DSC_0138.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHteBPnmzQ6YjcbCWc3mV3vCRgp6eSatxCNNj2uWBVJ9iXdeMA6Ik6RgXTwKhJSNUEUxwofGQHXb_VEg-XBNaMQfx8KUQZ-Ciq48pf4DHkpJ92DzAzzKHvewrkP7lbveF5Q9ahN0xPuc/s400/DSC_0138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461993038159358754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuVu9ivAkZkb3P1ZcszwRVWdyFJx9UrnMewThrn6_lMMHego04_AL1iJE0f9pFedJulyGKXaaTUv-vPRqMA2F4dK4yk6DfSqbjP5YuvJLxqvYQatzPBv9tUxYm12LI_MnMEuLjlIMOUM/s1600/DSC_0142.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuVu9ivAkZkb3P1ZcszwRVWdyFJx9UrnMewThrn6_lMMHego04_AL1iJE0f9pFedJulyGKXaaTUv-vPRqMA2F4dK4yk6DfSqbjP5YuvJLxqvYQatzPBv9tUxYm12LI_MnMEuLjlIMOUM/s400/DSC_0142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461993047049837570" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-31978208694586714202010-04-18T15:55:00.000-07:002010-04-18T17:15:51.280-07:00Humble Park<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you ever feel as if you have been brainwashed?</span></span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />Through media, our parents, and our peers we are socialized to have certain body standards. I can't speak for you, but neither does my shape nor my size live up to those standards. This has been a HUGE source of anxiety for me (and most of the women I know) and has left me with feelings of inadequacy and severe discomfort in my own skin.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Let the relearning begin.</span>
<br />
<br />When are we going to stop torturing ourselves with extreme diets and exercise? When are we going to value the beauty of all humans regardless of shape and size?
<br />
<br />Listen, I am a promoter of a healthy lifestyle. I do not support anyone sitting on the couch all day long and junking out, but seriously, I'd rather not spend half of my life in the gym, or limit the sort of foods I can eat. I was born with these genes and I am not going to take all the fun out of my life working against them. I just want to be happy. Constantly worrying about my body has done too much damage to my mental health.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you ever heard of </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://haescommunity.org/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Health at Every Size</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">?</span></span>
<br />
<br />It's a health approach that sounds pretty much right on for me.
<br />The main principles are self-acceptance, normalized eating (intuitive eating - eating only when you're hungry and stopping when you're full), and pleasurable physical activity.
<br />
<br />Michael and I dosed ourselves with some pleasurable physical activity and intuitive eating this weekend. We rode our bicycles against the wind to eat at the [amazing] Flying Saucer in the Humboldt Park neighborhood (there and back coming out to about 10.6 miles). Afterwards, we took a stroll through the actual park.
<br />
<br />Humboldt is predominately Puerto Rican. You can see the Puerto Rican flag everywhere, hanging out of windows, flying from cars, and even in an arch over the street.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ERz0ALI5MslVw5M7ze1NDhaP_jTbnlBbPOR78vEutZRDaW2WyhJhLolK6EsWmU6q4ooPbp63-0XtfSsS0wH7HI0GlYZRgsSt-VYsfKFaco5xabv2mxib_lPUZqd2bTdfXAQfvg0nypc/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ERz0ALI5MslVw5M7ze1NDhaP_jTbnlBbPOR78vEutZRDaW2WyhJhLolK6EsWmU6q4ooPbp63-0XtfSsS0wH7HI0GlYZRgsSt-VYsfKFaco5xabv2mxib_lPUZqd2bTdfXAQfvg0nypc/s400/DSC_0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461628632017721250" border="0" /></a>Like Pilsen, Humboldt Park boasts some pretty rad wall art. This mural is on the side of an auto repair shop!
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGXJv5Wn_6QbkeEAzfNWyGjJBRCZ-7Vbf4m7dMM9t1mfWTeuXtDeqKgftlZ6QdNwGj_7KEdQhsWkzFJD2ZQEtGZSp000UH0hChucvZWlbXpMIRViH-v-7soo2Uw4rfgV7Ive-xWu17Gk/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGXJv5Wn_6QbkeEAzfNWyGjJBRCZ-7Vbf4m7dMM9t1mfWTeuXtDeqKgftlZ6QdNwGj_7KEdQhsWkzFJD2ZQEtGZSp000UH0hChucvZWlbXpMIRViH-v-7soo2Uw4rfgV7Ive-xWu17Gk/s400/DSC_0118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461635019438006850" border="0" /></a>
<br />Michael and I ran into a statue or two (this one is called Home), watched the fishermen across the pond, and played a game of goose, goose, duck.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUocYrrd5wG2DrrrulPY6I0yot5FjWSCV2fcSXwxo1JL2ckJ2IK963JjAO-zBPFy0WW8LkMjCrrC9mJw0tpn77VS72VUhyphenhyphenGrQz3P6HCMvxQyDVYpRPshBP04OdmbwolOn13AOUkfTR10Q/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUocYrrd5wG2DrrrulPY6I0yot5FjWSCV2fcSXwxo1JL2ckJ2IK963JjAO-zBPFy0WW8LkMjCrrC9mJw0tpn77VS72VUhyphenhyphenGrQz3P6HCMvxQyDVYpRPshBP04OdmbwolOn13AOUkfTR10Q/s400/DSC_0121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461630404847778594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QkQa_-VcO52Pleka58nolQoD0w6mjNQhlLSSQ_wlPTYfV2N0gOqeKSjKSHu9IImOsbH9gwLslE9xaeiA6nXxaCkhaI8dc2FynQDXfOy3Kf0NF4Fh3SaBY8hJgEfr8Lr2TjMp0SpK54A/s1600/DSC_0130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QkQa_-VcO52Pleka58nolQoD0w6mjNQhlLSSQ_wlPTYfV2N0gOqeKSjKSHu9IImOsbH9gwLslE9xaeiA6nXxaCkhaI8dc2FynQDXfOy3Kf0NF4Fh3SaBY8hJgEfr8Lr2TjMp0SpK54A/s400/DSC_0130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461630419203071858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJflKvTWwPcbJdJgRD-zI2q_yT4sQuEpuX1Td3eNsmujZLpGNzI4dtQU_RPl2RhI0r3IqKKMK8Xl2Cz_44Sf8ymumt3UEHuxBDVPuhEcny6AYUasHt2c3sOxZ19lnBIaPp2ksst-H45nE/s1600/DSC_0135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJflKvTWwPcbJdJgRD-zI2q_yT4sQuEpuX1Td3eNsmujZLpGNzI4dtQU_RPl2RhI0r3IqKKMK8Xl2Cz_44Sf8ymumt3UEHuxBDVPuhEcny6AYUasHt2c3sOxZ19lnBIaPp2ksst-H45nE/s400/DSC_0135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461630414066859346" border="0" /></a>
<br />Let me just tell you, Michael has pretty effin' long legs and arms. No, really. Perfect for climbing, and swinging, and generally getting into trouble.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzqlkBm00tFGuD_vhwduWjEs7YzkC6pivLAmxzuXdjHk0HGW9zdb6BpBoylDMAVuhH8VjQWtJBkfqltK-bZALzbk7SbvkvRIxY0LEk6n_Ul9sb4nPZktig4r8iSFAarx62cNL2Ueo2RU/s1600/DSC_0126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzqlkBm00tFGuD_vhwduWjEs7YzkC6pivLAmxzuXdjHk0HGW9zdb6BpBoylDMAVuhH8VjQWtJBkfqltK-bZALzbk7SbvkvRIxY0LEk6n_Ul9sb4nPZktig4r8iSFAarx62cNL2Ueo2RU/s400/DSC_0126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461630426202397826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviYYFonUdSonzkdpxIOpPfxicsXNyLzUbBNioVuy8zaxQj55TADai_-qC-_W2jAvQRvSfEMHPumKP8szrlWfjAhAen-wJePcraAtYLSDQRYguITqi4M7v6k9KD-zP1N3Vr1STpNmbZsg/s1600/DSC_0127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviYYFonUdSonzkdpxIOpPfxicsXNyLzUbBNioVuy8zaxQj55TADai_-qC-_W2jAvQRvSfEMHPumKP8szrlWfjAhAen-wJePcraAtYLSDQRYguITqi4M7v6k9KD-zP1N3Vr1STpNmbZsg/s400/DSC_0127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461630430288374722" border="0" /></a>All in all, it was a pretty successful day. I asked Michael to take some photographs of me in the park to share with my readers, but thereafter deleted every single one.
<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Of course, self-acceptance is the toughest to achieve.</span></span>
<br />
<br />But, I'm working on it.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-28120623207886229492010-04-17T17:33:00.001-07:002010-04-17T18:23:44.173-07:00The Anatomy of Angst in Moorea<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Angst ain't so bad now that I'm all grown up.</span></span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />At the same time, no one said it was easy to harness angst in productive ways. It's something that even I have not quite mastered.
<br />
<br />There are days when angst is debilitating for me, when I really contemplate all of the hate, suffering and corruption in the world or when I feel as if who I have become is not quite right.
<br />
<br />Yet, for [us] crafters, artists and activists, angst is also inspiring. Our anxiety about the state of the world or our lives often fuels our passions and forces us to act, to do something with the overwhelming feelings inside of us. Out of our angst comes creation and change.
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<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Moorea Seal knows.</span></span>
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<br />For those of you who have not visited <a href="http://ruminationread.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Rumination Reading Room</span></a>, the personal blog of Moorea Seal, what in the world are you waiting for? Get over there!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_DTwTHwT_sEyOdUaBQw1HD7JHpPVd0zLJ_mTUwHacLhs4FJeYzuP84IRbjMWVZztaOjHd5MBKz4k82HLeipLlYmNJ_jjmMxuIsnsxUZUowfdSAaONrAUlA7ZUbzIg5m0XTlglfN_5gk/s1600/4465799796_c99c4b7800_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_DTwTHwT_sEyOdUaBQw1HD7JHpPVd0zLJ_mTUwHacLhs4FJeYzuP84IRbjMWVZztaOjHd5MBKz4k82HLeipLlYmNJ_jjmMxuIsnsxUZUowfdSAaONrAUlA7ZUbzIg5m0XTlglfN_5gk/s400/4465799796_c99c4b7800_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461278706236934146" border="0" /></a>
<br />Moorea made <a href="http://ruminationread.blogspot.com/2010/04/best-kind-of-angst.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">this post</span></a> a few weeks ago about the best kind of angst.
<br />The kind that gives us power!
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<br />I made this painting for her, as a way to relate, to feel connected to her experience of angst, even though she's in the far away land of Seattle (sounds magical, right? So is Moorea).
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<br />I named it the Anatomy of Angst in Moorea.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSyEvAZWT54rewXM3YtmH-_BbpeixYVxYLSFlLbqM8fJV7Si8gjltRpUsmZWKXciSbHmb_k6hw53_pdKDnIPPwiXi0iXUMiPisZ44eeQ4AM3HO5qOGjJ5H7VpL2AJEJTFknRsukIK0Ik/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSyEvAZWT54rewXM3YtmH-_BbpeixYVxYLSFlLbqM8fJV7Si8gjltRpUsmZWKXciSbHmb_k6hw53_pdKDnIPPwiXi0iXUMiPisZ44eeQ4AM3HO5qOGjJ5H7VpL2AJEJTFknRsukIK0Ik/s400/DSC_0110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461278710764246434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wk0by58nlCYCZwBxeSGDjobH6sTG39L_txK5s3p_4smwWQhu8J0Ytelx7_detqpTMBULXVyqzEEVG9DLUyGf6tepIi4iqGzK3L8QMxjgk5oPgwnoxDMQYzSuEKGyazD6yvMAIlZo-k0/s1600/DSC_0107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wk0by58nlCYCZwBxeSGDjobH6sTG39L_txK5s3p_4smwWQhu8J0Ytelx7_detqpTMBULXVyqzEEVG9DLUyGf6tepIi4iqGzK3L8QMxjgk5oPgwnoxDMQYzSuEKGyazD6yvMAIlZo-k0/s400/DSC_0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461278727834239570" border="0" /></a>
<br />After completing the painting, I contacted Moorea about her angst. I wanted to get a little closer to the emotions of a stranger. She enthusiastically agreed to answer all of my burning questions, and gave her consent to share them with you.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Tell me three words that describe your emotional experience of angst.</span>
<br /> excitement, frustration, competition (with myself)<div class="im">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. How do you experience angst physically?</span>
<br /></div> I get crazy butterflies in my stomach like it's nobody business. My eyebrows raise in shock and excitement, my heart suddenly starts pounding, and I just want to let out a giant scream! Sometimes I scream in my pillow or jump around my bedroom. I feel hyper and excited, but in a way that all of it feels held up inside of me. Champagne bottles pop pop pop in my tummy and all I want to do is find a tactile reason to create so that those celebratory bubbles have reason for being there! I feel angry and driven to accomplish something.<div class="im">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 3. Name some things in your life that provoke angst in you.</span>
<br /></div> If I haven't been creating illustrations, jewelry making, or singing in a few days I just go nutso. It is in my nature to always be creating and to always be seeking out inspiration. If I have been working hard and nothing seems to be turning out the way I imagined, I feel super angsty too, desperate for inspiration. And then when I finally do find a blog, an illustrator, an artist, a musician or a designer that really innovative and unique, I get those butterflies in my tummy too, ready to begin again on my own work now that my eyes have been refreshed! I guess there are lost of types of angst for me :)<div class="im">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 4. Do you remember your first experience of true angst?</span>
<br /></div> Oh man, I've been angsty, stubborn, strong willed and self determined since before I could walk. I have always been intensely independent and have had a fire in me to always pave my own way and do it with passion. My first sentence was "Me help me!" ...it is still hard for me to ask for help haha! And when I was 9 I changed my own name from Ashley to Moorea. Yes, I picked my own name. I had never felt like my name suited me and always felt a bubbling of angst in me to find the name that really embodied who I was/am. You can read more about the story of my name here: <a href="http://ruminationread.blogspot.com/2010/03/true-tales-tuesdays.html" target="_blank">http://ruminationread.<wbr>blogspot.com/2010/03/true-<wbr>tales-tuesdays.html</a><div class="im">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Do you openly express your angst? How?</span>
<br /></div> I am actually a pretty shy person and am cautious about being very expressive with those around me. But, once I feel really comfortable around friends, I am ridiculously silly and expressive. I feel passionately about many things, from art and music to civil rights to nerdy blog/twitter/etsy/technology chatter. I constantly crave change and progression, so when something inspires me to change, to be better, to work harder, I have to let it out! Sometimes I create a drawing or a painting, sometimes I write a song, I write it out, or I laugh and shout and dance with my friends and sisters.<div class="im">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 6. Do you feel angst is always a bad thing? How has angst inspired you?</span>
<br /></div> Oh no angst ain't bad! Angst is a great thing. It is that thing inside of you that drives you mad in the best sense possible. It is that part of you that begins to erupt when you feel like your stagnancy has lasted too long. Its that powerful drive that kicks in when you have been bored for too long. Angst gives you something to fight against, to overcome. It is the launching point from which I begin each task, each project, each experiment. Angst is like the most intense competition you could ever feel. It isn't competition with anyone else, it is simply you fighting against yourself, driving you to achieve what you have yet to even begin!<div class="im">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 7. In moments that you want to rid yourself of angst, what sort of</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> activities help?</span>
<br /></div> <b>Making a list</b> of things I want to accomplish. Momentary things, things to be completed today, this week, this month, this year, this lifetime. I love checking things off. completing something that was driven by angst is the most satisfying accomplishment. :) Making lists of people who inspire me. Singing along with crappy music and doing impersonations of pop divas. Jumping around the house with my roommates and dancing to r&b and hip hop from the late 90s and early 2000s, think Nelly, 3LW, JLo, Usher etc...And then once that's all done, draw, make jewelry, play guitar, write songs, sing, paint. anything physical and tactile.
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >
<br />Get Angsty!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-56413244654109714822010-04-14T17:38:00.000-07:002010-04-14T17:56:34.244-07:00Confession<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Folks, I didn't mean to go all MIA on you.</span></span>
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<br />Guilt =/= Productivity
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<br />Admittedly, I'm tired and stressed.
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<br />My writing and language skills have been in the OFF position this week.
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<br />Craft/Brainstorm mode has been switched to ON.
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<br />The benefits of this mode will reveal themselves soon, my loves.
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-37655067860528243862010-04-07T16:00:00.000-07:002010-04-07T17:23:18.909-07:00Mystery Brew<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My boyfriend is an artist, a creator of craft beer.</span></span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64ikyGvF1N4jjNoDIuyRm47d3Dg4sRMpOZkL_2aDPZ2iblF_9uuZpNB9NzLVs_FPQtgHm1vCpwMuNIH5Xjoc7UJ5M-5PEl8hJpfGh6lncpZSHr-gNGlzZIn0weoZ9BPHnneefWgU4Jzo/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64ikyGvF1N4jjNoDIuyRm47d3Dg4sRMpOZkL_2aDPZ2iblF_9uuZpNB9NzLVs_FPQtgHm1vCpwMuNIH5Xjoc7UJ5M-5PEl8hJpfGh6lncpZSHr-gNGlzZIn0weoZ9BPHnneefWgU4Jzo/s400/DSC_0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457534789321443010" border="0" /></a>
<br />I'm fairly certain that Michael wakes up thinking about beer. Now, he's not an alcoholic, because he does not drink all day long, but he sure does talk about it a lot. I know for sure that he goes to sleep thinking about it since he began reading about the science of brewing. I've been around during a few of his brew sessions, but have still not caught on to the process completely.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopTOGjbX9OO2ypTvws9t5wutMQEAxPQXeovWyC5XfR2ro-qjDHHsoVwag3NxGv895VOKXT0abS8FMymGIljYpGbRayd4o5BLpJ4sHtHaDcnDLcj-1l03LFgmsyN1254C0fK1RHJ8LUPM/s1600/DSC_0076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopTOGjbX9OO2ypTvws9t5wutMQEAxPQXeovWyC5XfR2ro-qjDHHsoVwag3NxGv895VOKXT0abS8FMymGIljYpGbRayd4o5BLpJ4sHtHaDcnDLcj-1l03LFgmsyN1254C0fK1RHJ8LUPM/s400/DSC_0076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457545603100742914" border="0" /></a>
<br />From what I gather as a mere photographer and laywoman, it's a lot of adding ingredients to a big ol' boiling pot of water and allowing it to simmer for a period of time specific to each ingredient, which comes out to about an hour (for a Belgian Wit, similar to Blue Moon or Hoegaarden, malt extract from barley and wheat, wheat, hops, coriander, and orange peels).
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHs-QHS5hS2Gex2YRbawwySpZJ7HaPXtLOuc0PpT8Ms_cTRjOsxZOrJYx5GF8ESBwRCodBfGLGjoDzfbzUjnNKuTy-rudVFZamYtztwqxkRA_zXSasICgG9zkNACYhQmCuaoJK5tvtjw/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHs-QHS5hS2Gex2YRbawwySpZJ7HaPXtLOuc0PpT8Ms_cTRjOsxZOrJYx5GF8ESBwRCodBfGLGjoDzfbzUjnNKuTy-rudVFZamYtztwqxkRA_zXSasICgG9zkNACYhQmCuaoJK5tvtjw/s400/DSC_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537043340882402" border="0" /></a>Dry Malt Extract
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4RiX3xvb9mqcrya28D8iD6C2_IsRlY4uPnl3K9MByyL9sBPjtMR0URVV59DILH-cZPntiE7QAaWzFvqLuxgikEjfHZ1zFDqpsdjhPahZ6i7eRoT95zdI9lpibHdp-BFtiHbZBxEKnqo/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4RiX3xvb9mqcrya28D8iD6C2_IsRlY4uPnl3K9MByyL9sBPjtMR0URVV59DILH-cZPntiE7QAaWzFvqLuxgikEjfHZ1zFDqpsdjhPahZ6i7eRoT95zdI9lpibHdp-BFtiHbZBxEKnqo/s400/DSC_0064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537061441749090" border="0" /></a>Liquid Malt Extract
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn-7bZo9v1TnjRCHccUPsYOqk31_h6FXDEAYovrRz3uTTHSluVRtclrih5U-m5-37m5nZEiaxu7HWqGuTgvO_R_DbkvnDE5RLuQAuJkXa1IoUV68wb6U0Ba3zSnqCWoAhT5dF_G1f7tM/s1600/DSC_0070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn-7bZo9v1TnjRCHccUPsYOqk31_h6FXDEAYovrRz3uTTHSluVRtclrih5U-m5-37m5nZEiaxu7HWqGuTgvO_R_DbkvnDE5RLuQAuJkXa1IoUV68wb6U0Ba3zSnqCWoAhT5dF_G1f7tM/s400/DSC_0070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457545597280373378" border="0" /></a>Pelleted Hops
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvfTDxGFYeQ-7RYrIPw0msIM6o6gKxrvPPai5_b2BxONxPeghoSlTjAaZdCpexWzLB_Vhm6iIyTyr9JwjFszhwpa2VTFPQChJ9IXMA-rEw2W0XZow_cLlero_mk2Db3IewDspUyMQ7OM/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvfTDxGFYeQ-7RYrIPw0msIM6o6gKxrvPPai5_b2BxONxPeghoSlTjAaZdCpexWzLB_Vhm6iIyTyr9JwjFszhwpa2VTFPQChJ9IXMA-rEw2W0XZow_cLlero_mk2Db3IewDspUyMQ7OM/s400/DSC_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457549702478654706" border="0" /></a>Flaked Wheat
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00TYnI4PfAjCff-h6wocL3jj4nbzFRsY5agJDdGwshH0xOJFg8KXMGAEaiC5bXW8wnMJb2SVmHZN4GkFVajCdTAbJsJhZoW6S3ugRJRPlM6DPUFjL6ZAPZVRcNNsE-GylvZuHwydqiZE/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00TYnI4PfAjCff-h6wocL3jj4nbzFRsY5agJDdGwshH0xOJFg8KXMGAEaiC5bXW8wnMJb2SVmHZN4GkFVajCdTAbJsJhZoW6S3ugRJRPlM6DPUFjL6ZAPZVRcNNsE-GylvZuHwydqiZE/s400/DSC_0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457549716369863506" border="0" /></a>Orange Peel
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5onfZS-F0xc90xxVzsHQbrJZffIASYG0wnRYjjo_OQpvPzOcpi9Vje3dLnriosvfvENUtzmTXvKWjl2O2p9ZW0lCxbq6aLUbeO6B8NonSVuXIvBic3NRrKgud0196ERujiRGoqqG9KI/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5onfZS-F0xc90xxVzsHQbrJZffIASYG0wnRYjjo_OQpvPzOcpi9Vje3dLnriosvfvENUtzmTXvKWjl2O2p9ZW0lCxbq6aLUbeO6B8NonSVuXIvBic3NRrKgud0196ERujiRGoqqG9KI/s400/DSC_0081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457549707658622242" border="0" /></a>Full Leaf Hops
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<br />Hops are my favorite part of the brew process ... and, really, beer, in general. The aroma and taste is so strong and delicious. For those Tom's Deodorant users out there, you may already know that hops is the main ingredient, used as a natural deodorizer. Although, I wouldn't recommend eating your deodorant.
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<br />Chill your concoction, add live yeast, ferment in a jug (called a carboy) for a week, and bottle! One should wait at least a week before serving the beer. Michael and I have found that the longer we allow the beer to condition, or continue to ferment, in the bottles, the more complex (and better) it tastes! Mmm.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojkE8A8394owJBYWuZQ9aVcznXSsA-Bn-LOQuK83IlicdfjnBV57_gnBWkiGSZexigkgYna_t_cxxQ-VOrP9KWUgRzRmSmV4Wkd2nVaZG8edO4ZliaHKsDqJMpAzoeYdycpdx-JCEaus/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojkE8A8394owJBYWuZQ9aVcznXSsA-Bn-LOQuK83IlicdfjnBV57_gnBWkiGSZexigkgYna_t_cxxQ-VOrP9KWUgRzRmSmV4Wkd2nVaZG8edO4ZliaHKsDqJMpAzoeYdycpdx-JCEaus/s400/DSC_0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457548494164099282" border="0" /></a>Carboy
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you haven't caught on, I am a beer enthusiast.</span></span>
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<br />With the boyfriend to thank.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OtmXSFYVyfESNKRv3jnTkKAb5TqCUA7EaaMYOSBxMs5tYr33puvg2iwHMIII055RSn2tsE5FUxRJ-o3TDnYN8kGGcLbU2RN1e_nKHOGQjmDf7MBj5VRiQ7l7hZIC65zO2L-WhzP0i8M/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OtmXSFYVyfESNKRv3jnTkKAb5TqCUA7EaaMYOSBxMs5tYr33puvg2iwHMIII055RSn2tsE5FUxRJ-o3TDnYN8kGGcLbU2RN1e_nKHOGQjmDf7MBj5VRiQ7l7hZIC65zO2L-WhzP0i8M/s400/DSC_0078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457554066208618802" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-55540840031767533682010-04-05T16:36:00.000-07:002010-04-05T17:21:37.355-07:00Riding in DIY Style<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Today was my first bicycle ride of the season!</span></span>
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<br />And it felt effing fantastic! Seriously, since the ride through my neighborhood this morning, I've been more energetic and happier times infinity plus one! The sun was shining, the wind was calm, and I fixed my bike up real pretty over the weekend (reference <a href="http://fitsandstartsandcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/02/winter-blues.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">this post</span></a> for a before shot). Riding around in style definitely makes me a more confident biker, something that is totally necessary on busy Chicago streets.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc8dLN1Vt3kPxFpb85kLu0CIMbsRiX6VDQx5fPENrnZBRXdPwqRNuDLTqOUIkXou_1gP3w6sPKU-Y_K8DZJfSyIqzz5Yk9efZMgZMYDIXvXF6lVV-9p4i1ogluyzXSAD-yGLR0UHYpZk/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc8dLN1Vt3kPxFpb85kLu0CIMbsRiX6VDQx5fPENrnZBRXdPwqRNuDLTqOUIkXou_1gP3w6sPKU-Y_K8DZJfSyIqzz5Yk9efZMgZMYDIXvXF6lVV-9p4i1ogluyzXSAD-yGLR0UHYpZk/s400/DSC_0099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456803645437152242" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2HfUA50CScmcy6K1ANYiha4BkvmWSKS8myMOFGSUFn3BFOfLmIKAmncZQcvF1mNnpF8EZebj1Ckh6aUKh38Ty2UaSHSCQYOi4LRtHpnsbo1tD2JppMz0M6Ffc4V1HOX6sLZCD5-qH6M/s1600/DSC_0101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2HfUA50CScmcy6K1ANYiha4BkvmWSKS8myMOFGSUFn3BFOfLmIKAmncZQcvF1mNnpF8EZebj1Ckh6aUKh38Ty2UaSHSCQYOi4LRtHpnsbo1tD2JppMz0M6Ffc4V1HOX6sLZCD5-qH6M/s400/DSC_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456803659342108130" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCA3U7oOYBJ3IVLDkftkrXZ7Gs9r6RyoiSnJlrFf_2B-l7ElVNHuTp3VXNmNT6aKWjcEGhBKjUv1EKEFlhyphenhyphenFb4pJYOWYJ2F1kTaVFX2DtBHRmhfY80EfX2psyT9CHqTZ_ZLZZsEi-YAJs/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCA3U7oOYBJ3IVLDkftkrXZ7Gs9r6RyoiSnJlrFf_2B-l7ElVNHuTp3VXNmNT6aKWjcEGhBKjUv1EKEFlhyphenhyphenFb4pJYOWYJ2F1kTaVFX2DtBHRmhfY80EfX2psyT9CHqTZ_ZLZZsEi-YAJs/s400/DSC_0105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456803662574232562" border="0" /></a>
<br />Originally, I had intended to repaint my bicycle. Realistically, I knew I'd never get around to the work involved in prepping a bike for new paint, like sanding, taking it apart, etc. Instead, I cut up an old dress that was in my fabric box and sewed some frame covers to match! As you can see, I've got a red chain, red grip tape, and red details on my tires, too!
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Check out that backdrop!</span>
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<br />The Pilsen neighborhood, where I live and thrive, is covered in murals. Pilsen is an exuberant Mexican community and absolutely amazing for so many reasons, but the art is one that is really apparent, even to mere passers-by. Now that the weather has improved, you should expect pictures of my favorite wall art from around the barrio. I'd actually like to do posts featuring many of the neighborhoods throughout Chicago, as they are all so different, and all so vibrant.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFTIWOnNvZMjeK3c_SfP1zecmzOldsDskxnpoZBcZVO8LtgLEMLo6qQOQb4y6fRKvKXOnhYO9y-Hslv1VjiTdCYDoRV5ycbxQ3G8A095UoOcPfRzAMhLtTLxBpr0ewZoq0gzZ4iXUvQ4/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFTIWOnNvZMjeK3c_SfP1zecmzOldsDskxnpoZBcZVO8LtgLEMLo6qQOQb4y6fRKvKXOnhYO9y-Hslv1VjiTdCYDoRV5ycbxQ3G8A095UoOcPfRzAMhLtTLxBpr0ewZoq0gzZ4iXUvQ4/s400/DSC_0102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456807867061539618" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_calendars">Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican Calendar</a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0Dejefy2Z00L0_ZNbRhKMNAVsWrc-FeyfIvclJ5yGbMw0PyIDqmpDUiFdfVcunIb5PBT9MP7GOYfCp0UoquiuIM9FTS3Vq7Q9q5YxORbOiNmM6cHH1nblV7DA_KF3FrzzkOntxojTYI/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0Dejefy2Z00L0_ZNbRhKMNAVsWrc-FeyfIvclJ5yGbMw0PyIDqmpDUiFdfVcunIb5PBT9MP7GOYfCp0UoquiuIM9FTS3Vq7Q9q5YxORbOiNmM6cHH1nblV7DA_KF3FrzzkOntxojTYI/s400/DSC_0104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456812532868391858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_SYqcsNg1h7wP6QRE1Pb-v8QTLWRL3uuy5_435389iyt2abPQYOmIseA_1rLsfnzSvTg4tplJtmkOHmBW_pGkO1kM5gCDjUoJoP4LaLz_G5Lf1SLjdqim8Tq3DPHxpGmXYYrdZUI8B8/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_SYqcsNg1h7wP6QRE1Pb-v8QTLWRL3uuy5_435389iyt2abPQYOmIseA_1rLsfnzSvTg4tplJtmkOHmBW_pGkO1kM5gCDjUoJoP4LaLz_G5Lf1SLjdqim8Tq3DPHxpGmXYYrdZUI8B8/s400/DSC_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456807876887007026" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-25155492582432526062010-03-29T19:09:00.001-07:002010-03-29T19:46:14.949-07:00Reclaim the Apron<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For too long have such beautiful garments represented female oppression!</span></span>
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<br />I made an apron this weekend.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiChYOq8mm_Z3FLuIEWvu4nF6iD9_jj9oI1Dxsb0wy3vAJjqiSKJCxpCRP5t55tXuDFpTKbfbTi41Bu4e0Lhyphenhyphennf35hhRrKpDA7wtjasTq4mIj-JiK3zb3nu7oVekesD5QZHBw0chyphenhyphenQ8E/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiChYOq8mm_Z3FLuIEWvu4nF6iD9_jj9oI1Dxsb0wy3vAJjqiSKJCxpCRP5t55tXuDFpTKbfbTi41Bu4e0Lhyphenhyphennf35hhRrKpDA7wtjasTq4mIj-JiK3zb3nu7oVekesD5QZHBw0chyphenhyphenQ8E/s400/DSC_0087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454243748337407282" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Just so you know, I will not be wearing my apron to do any of the following (although, I will not hold it against you if you <span style="font-weight: bold;">choose</span> to do any of the following in your apron, as they actually are quite functional):
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<br />Dishes, sweeping and/or mopping, vacuuming, dusting, wiping anything down, scrubbing, spraying, sweating, feeding/playing with/burping/having a child, any role society expects me to perform simply because I am a woman.
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<br />If you consider it to be housework, I will probably not be doing it in my apron.
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<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRP2MyvnB17n-_-nHup9Ft-gTCTGsTrmzLVODKuh2xQ-DUciJKGxCCL4kYQqd6CuSqOiv2BPspxdTQLOYqteuhhdzvzRE_oVnD1EnsXQaR-AtxbDtnZHUNBmzyNmm2PlFXhaKaSor-PU/s1600/DSC_0090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRP2MyvnB17n-_-nHup9Ft-gTCTGsTrmzLVODKuh2xQ-DUciJKGxCCL4kYQqd6CuSqOiv2BPspxdTQLOYqteuhhdzvzRE_oVnD1EnsXQaR-AtxbDtnZHUNBmzyNmm2PlFXhaKaSor-PU/s400/DSC_0090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454243743213946130" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Just to clarify, I do not experience any of the following as housework (although, I will not hold it against you if you do experience any of the following as housework):
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<br />Sewing, cooking, decorating, weaving, nesting, organizing, rejecting any role society expects me to perform simply because I am a woman.
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<br />Aprons are just cute and fashionable, okay?
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<br />If when I wear my apron outside of my house you respond with a comment about where my gender should be, including, but not limited to, the kitchen and/or bedroom, I will probably intensely fantasize about your demise and kindly remind you that, historically, men wore aprons first.
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<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83hTP2BbIs8q4SSIagmFpejT2TxnyCetwagiJVtFaXZASmtEEuZWZS9RYzeUpSYfEP9cY8C9mWEYVXCpgalkXNFY87ReJZxEdiEUH93DknMJnGWG_xMWJdOICuE-sto5Edqrdnl67Vlc/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83hTP2BbIs8q4SSIagmFpejT2TxnyCetwagiJVtFaXZASmtEEuZWZS9RYzeUpSYfEP9cY8C9mWEYVXCpgalkXNFY87ReJZxEdiEUH93DknMJnGWG_xMWJdOICuE-sto5Edqrdnl67Vlc/s400/DSC_0086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454243761307950946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Reclaim your apron!<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><3</span></span></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-55031179924471676952010-03-24T11:42:00.001-07:002010-03-24T12:08:53.202-07:00Reflect and Distract<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Like animals to shiny objects, I have always been attracted to reflections.</span>
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<br />Michael and I distracted ourselves for at least fifteen minutes bouncing up and down on the kitchen floor to create ripples in the reflected image from a pot full of water.
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<br />I truly value those rare moments when I am entertained and amazed by the world as easily as I was when I was a child.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8qxF4LaHlYUnL72Gd8uwwcef6h7fNQXwADUWuW9Tnj9XYn2p11XMyc4sHf3nkzLKyUHCW4yzXax3CYgHuAIhVvcnl7RvmYn6LbiXZwGRUAG8VerSigbB_tD6v7yoGt4UiPmnH2SPuQQ/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8qxF4LaHlYUnL72Gd8uwwcef6h7fNQXwADUWuW9Tnj9XYn2p11XMyc4sHf3nkzLKyUHCW4yzXax3CYgHuAIhVvcnl7RvmYn6LbiXZwGRUAG8VerSigbB_tD6v7yoGt4UiPmnH2SPuQQ/s400/DSC_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452274612664319746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEpWdmjg6DX0QgbaKuvQEcP0f6vuqN6I25r6gdMOkO9wtkH35lBD7HNjqclfm60J2NgInfpRP4WVSvI03QhPJR5-p5hcr9aiEjJ8EPMy3A7fo_sUmkEJMFIF4h80RDgNNQ2UhyywN8PM/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEpWdmjg6DX0QgbaKuvQEcP0f6vuqN6I25r6gdMOkO9wtkH35lBD7HNjqclfm60J2NgInfpRP4WVSvI03QhPJR5-p5hcr9aiEjJ8EPMy3A7fo_sUmkEJMFIF4h80RDgNNQ2UhyywN8PM/s400/DSC_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452274619822388530" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My crafting has been slow lately. </span>
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<br />I've recently had a lot on my mind, so this project was perfect for directing my thoughts. The repetitive motion and pattern really helped to neutralize my negative thoughts.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felt, embroidered embellishment to a skirt I made.</span>
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<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5jSXiCbKIb8RuK5thkoOo8SwEkqUmiLgtZMg8NdGPpGc7Kl6qsv3dsbD9kvr757gon8o_3LHhEE9aIxlixNd4C72aIUfq2BQhTAj_hZAffuOaYhX15ifL58sO7OnSXUTA365W3ZFtxs/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5jSXiCbKIb8RuK5thkoOo8SwEkqUmiLgtZMg8NdGPpGc7Kl6qsv3dsbD9kvr757gon8o_3LHhEE9aIxlixNd4C72aIUfq2BQhTAj_hZAffuOaYhX15ifL58sO7OnSXUTA365W3ZFtxs/s400/DSC_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452274629444366226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AU50-OsWnkQC8wNjC_WBXwOT4g6PNLSkgkRu9H-Gpbfo0SeIXq7CZbJoVNYgpMi-i1PCTQTa31YKAXFD9BPkm3j2h5SnaYNluJBftGK-oKWeTvrZSWHkBSiOEGuH8FO-Ds5D-IpjCNU/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AU50-OsWnkQC8wNjC_WBXwOT4g6PNLSkgkRu9H-Gpbfo0SeIXq7CZbJoVNYgpMi-i1PCTQTa31YKAXFD9BPkm3j2h5SnaYNluJBftGK-oKWeTvrZSWHkBSiOEGuH8FO-Ds5D-IpjCNU/s400/DSC_0049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452274641310660914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoa_R6N20qr0Jo4Hj8HVpTA-YFXVaSxEozeo3GXjkd5O7qaVdiGC2_2H_LNxJYSKrUccSEwB-a6xutfik8vCzeWXlg20RL8PlQdwg2FminNjT8_HFwDPbepCsBt_CyML6FEiWkd_AYQw/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoa_R6N20qr0Jo4Hj8HVpTA-YFXVaSxEozeo3GXjkd5O7qaVdiGC2_2H_LNxJYSKrUccSEwB-a6xutfik8vCzeWXlg20RL8PlQdwg2FminNjT8_HFwDPbepCsBt_CyML6FEiWkd_AYQw/s400/DSC_0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452274653794306898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >
<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >How do you distract yourself from sometimes incessant negative thinking?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><3</span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-83148587423396047672010-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:002010-03-19T12:43:24.592-07:00mORGAN<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My favorite human organ is the brain.</span></span>
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<br />And considering that an organ is totally a thing (reference, The Anatomy of Things), I made a screen-printed plaque to honor the brain, with all of the major lobes labeled!
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am officially a nerd.</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptHrqZDDuIVT6FY_dtMF0jnLierj34aA7oDRSC2e7KIyQW7VG4PX_AL1UPU1VoSqKNmyCNyvhaJ4kgY3mw-9L1ZxmCiJcCd16SPoHBp73WyJjFqZ9lvFNizPUr6nBut_80egpCpX7u44/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptHrqZDDuIVT6FY_dtMF0jnLierj34aA7oDRSC2e7KIyQW7VG4PX_AL1UPU1VoSqKNmyCNyvhaJ4kgY3mw-9L1ZxmCiJcCd16SPoHBp73WyJjFqZ9lvFNizPUr6nBut_80egpCpX7u44/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450428406858851042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurqMDZqULgu5hhDLINwWrRktFqyOAroHVxDSPoWl8Rwk-DyoWj15BR_Za8c2VcSNH4t_pSFNtpqxKGpsJ8fR0_Y1TPXLb_ANA4nnmOwyxZi6l089sAoiwfEcXwBDB8LtGkLYE15oO0uw/s1600-h/DSC_0041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurqMDZqULgu5hhDLINwWrRktFqyOAroHVxDSPoWl8Rwk-DyoWj15BR_Za8c2VcSNH4t_pSFNtpqxKGpsJ8fR0_Y1TPXLb_ANA4nnmOwyxZi6l089sAoiwfEcXwBDB8LtGkLYE15oO0uw/s400/DSC_0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450428417673626258" border="0" /></a>If you share my brain obsession, it would be very wrong if you have not heard VS Ramachandran speak about the brain's influence on civilization (<a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_neurons">mirror neurons</a>) and his experience with various brain syndromes and what they teach us about the brain (<a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capgras_syndrome">Capgras Syndrome</a>, <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_limb">phantom limbs</a>, and <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia">synesthesia</a>). So cool. Watch them at TED.com, a super sweet website full of lectures about all sorts of interesting topics.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">What is your favorite organ, and why?
<br /><3></div></div></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-64227636428452938032010-03-17T11:30:00.000-07:002010-03-17T17:48:03.526-07:00Little Bunny Stew Stew<div style="text-align: center;">Occasionally, I would browse the animals for adoption on all of the local, no-kill shelter's websites, such as PAWS Chicago and The Red Door, just to overload myself with cute until I could not bear to look any longer. At some point, Michael picked up the habit, too.
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<br />And one day, he proposed to me, "What if we <span style="font-style: italic;">actually</span> adopted a bunny? This one, maybe?" </span>
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<br />There was this adorable, itty-bitty bunny named Smitty with which we fell in love over the internet. No wonder he was gone by the time we contacted the shelter, but I was relieved to hear that more bunnies had arrived that were not posted online. Michael and I drove to the far north side just to play with all of the rabbits.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >We stayed at the shelter for hours. </span>
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<br />There was Tawny, an attention-starved rabbit that we labeled a puppy-bunny because of its size. She would stretch up towards your fingers, to force contact with you like a cat. We were told that most people didn't like to adopt big bunnies and Michael and I honestly felt we didn't have the room to house such a giant.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirERAlvNAsOwS6MuWWjk6vkM7YZIaZl4SAxTo7p5wEhZpJ4DqQx2_UILWgQXWSlbx68ftuy2Uit0ITkP2RyoolCoGOzQzQPE-Q7wNyt_J_tPfVfC63ba7ohlyB4fH-IU1D-PSD1QYy_-k/s1600-h/Tawny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirERAlvNAsOwS6MuWWjk6vkM7YZIaZl4SAxTo7p5wEhZpJ4DqQx2_UILWgQXWSlbx68ftuy2Uit0ITkP2RyoolCoGOzQzQPE-Q7wNyt_J_tPfVfC63ba7ohlyB4fH-IU1D-PSD1QYy_-k/s400/Tawny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449751074356277794" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.reddoorshelter.org/adopt_rabbits_chicago.html">Tawny - source</a>
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<br />Then there was Pinto, a sweet, but hyper bunny that hopped around us in circles and made us too dizzy to take home.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiu3ytArr4n3ilrJ8w_V6dudMNUj8rHj9Gp6FEuIEJ6_7tBzaHnezWc22txuD1VPHZrdSldYlEfl_WoR6sgv3k4oOnh8RqdvFnKgJfLt8WY-FJaaOlVQhwtZDcVFV9EcTz3ENRjCEcQE/s1600-h/Pinto.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiu3ytArr4n3ilrJ8w_V6dudMNUj8rHj9Gp6FEuIEJ6_7tBzaHnezWc22txuD1VPHZrdSldYlEfl_WoR6sgv3k4oOnh8RqdvFnKgJfLt8WY-FJaaOlVQhwtZDcVFV9EcTz3ENRjCEcQE/s400/Pinto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449751065601350018" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.reddoorshelter.org/adopt_rabbits_chicago.html">Pinto - source</a>
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<br />There was Avery, a bunny with the most beautiful coat and friendly affect. He followed us from one side of his pen to the other, even when we were outside of the boundaries, just to be near to us. Avery has a serious heart defect that had kept him from being adopted for two years! Michael and I were pleased to find out that he had finally been chosen, but was awaiting surgery to be neutered, a potentially fatal operation for Avery. We wished him luck and moved on!
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<br />Finally, we met Dandelion, a bunny I nicknamed Dandy. Dandy was high on pain-killers, as he had just been neutered. Michael and I were unsure if it was the drugs, but Dandy was so calm and loved the pets (as in, rubs)! I stood at Dandy's cage a lot, stroking his soft, sandy fur. Dandy was a gorgeous bunny, with big cheeks and a cute butt he stuck up in the air when he was being touched.
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We took Dandy home one week later.</span></span>
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<br />We drove with Dandy in a small, plastic pet carrier. I was a worried wreck on that drive home. Every single road bump felt like a mountain, every pot hole, the depth of the ocean. I talked to Dandy the entire time. He was totally chill, burrowing into an old sweater I used as a bed in the carrier. Considering that bunnies do not respond to their names, and despite the fact that I did like the name Dandy, Michael and I decided to change his name. Michael insisted on Bunny Stew (because he is punny) and I compromised with Stewart, to pay homage to Sir Patrick Stewart.
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br />I introduce, Sir Bunny Stewart!
<br />(applause)
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbLyid-euuKC2bF_p1ICnsvq85kleYOXDjoTC5D1uNSOpzsizrnWFpsi8rgq64nE00s3F-1VpQ_gzh_X0P5K43FptzeHs1vrJa5NSgXOLMh3KmqSjoaaQ2u-xAuZw6ZM1_bTqKs45KZE/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbLyid-euuKC2bF_p1ICnsvq85kleYOXDjoTC5D1uNSOpzsizrnWFpsi8rgq64nE00s3F-1VpQ_gzh_X0P5K43FptzeHs1vrJa5NSgXOLMh3KmqSjoaaQ2u-xAuZw6ZM1_bTqKs45KZE/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449679993850953794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stewart's life since coming home with us has been very simple.</span></span>
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<br />Stewart spends a lot of time in his litter box. I still find it strange that bunnies eat their hay and defecate in the same place. Ew.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMopWy-ddtlC5KjbdEFx3_R15JikVuoiSE2CJRnV24sHF12aQ11MWfdPxND77jsK1vzhAK-tszfZ_41cdhv_MzaPuZ-wxfprsE7_YWCqqyOeA1MkRM5BxCAgIsXHh_e7u69c1vM2TYp8/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMopWy-ddtlC5KjbdEFx3_R15JikVuoiSE2CJRnV24sHF12aQ11MWfdPxND77jsK1vzhAK-tszfZ_41cdhv_MzaPuZ-wxfprsE7_YWCqqyOeA1MkRM5BxCAgIsXHh_e7u69c1vM2TYp8/s400/DSC_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449680006582092562" border="0" /></a>Stewart has totally kicked his pain-killer addiction and still loves the pets.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua8I1Y8zSZO46Im9Ui_8HuFEn6B1sBdkx3kH33kJbr_VfEgJH4fEin5XDyKvy0NpPiJmvFXu1fY43xK8K4LE4aMQJb9XdtNp4bjw1Zp20YBoJM0k5ap5kZXahGkXxhM3m2bPF-WFiJ4w/s1600-h/DSC_0039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua8I1Y8zSZO46Im9Ui_8HuFEn6B1sBdkx3kH33kJbr_VfEgJH4fEin5XDyKvy0NpPiJmvFXu1fY43xK8K4LE4aMQJb9XdtNp4bjw1Zp20YBoJM0k5ap5kZXahGkXxhM3m2bPF-WFiJ4w/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449680024019871538" border="0" /></a>And Stewart eats.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc099qtqBOV8c-ICcdt2jDP_dhNFQi510sQXAdxmMQdQL24o0ul5ICjWqZghrhMrdFSQbxqZL1sSonk-dDxhyphenhyphen4HMRA0Zrybao0q-iM5In2Uo1gPdXkCLp9pLF7k632vZQgAnUKo_Instc/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc099qtqBOV8c-ICcdt2jDP_dhNFQi510sQXAdxmMQdQL24o0ul5ICjWqZghrhMrdFSQbxqZL1sSonk-dDxhyphenhyphen4HMRA0Zrybao0q-iM5In2Uo1gPdXkCLp9pLF7k632vZQgAnUKo_Instc/s400/DSC_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449680016258201298" border="0" /></a>
<br />And eats and eats and eats and eats.
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >ALOT.</span>
<br />Om nom nom nom.
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<br /><a href="http://gifup.com/show/abb92a7391" title="GIF animations generator gifup.com"><img src="http://gifup.com/data/gifs/a/b/b/abb92a7391.gif" alt="GIF animations generator gifup.com" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Stewart looks darn cute no matter what he does.</span>
<br /></div> </div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><3</span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-45262857971575115812010-03-14T18:45:00.000-07:002010-03-14T19:06:48.887-07:00Wacky Weekend<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Saturday was bonkers.</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y-6SY8ROxPb6gyz-qZUCp5jAnFEYFufoKglvAv33kdOK-ZHStAtbG99eWDmEfxM_2xadqC4kDlxNvuW340ePkoB2Zn5p8HM3bF-0-1Mtbx-fTkJslfirXdfndQ9uP0sIT1zVjkcHVM0/s1600-h/24614_675267551579_32814576_38827225_5816738_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y-6SY8ROxPb6gyz-qZUCp5jAnFEYFufoKglvAv33kdOK-ZHStAtbG99eWDmEfxM_2xadqC4kDlxNvuW340ePkoB2Zn5p8HM3bF-0-1Mtbx-fTkJslfirXdfndQ9uP0sIT1zVjkcHVM0/s400/24614_675267551579_32814576_38827225_5816738_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448675651261349666" border="0" /></a>
<br />[Too] early rising for a weekend, ex-boyfriend's wedding, jealous brides and envious glances, prom pictures, stained glass dome, "I want to eat from your buffet", rainy day, sea of green, drunken throngs, bunny rabbit name change, road bumps bigger than usual, happy hour with Three Floyds, questioning the newlywed about wading through rivers, forgiveness between foes, not my clap, cancelled flights, Just Married rickshaw, big inebriated mouth, blubbering in a bathroom, designated drivers do the job, and what we learned from House, everybody lies.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo updates coming soon.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-29424599637992143022010-03-11T14:50:00.000-08:002010-03-11T15:12:42.464-08:00The Anatomy of Things<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Think of biology class dissections, minus the stink of formaldehyde and gore and flesh.</span>
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<br />And that would represent perfectly my new craft direction. I'm not sure from where the inspiration came, probably looking through photographs of sewing machines for tattoo ideas, but all of a sudden, an overwhelming urge overcame me to see the innards of all of the mundane objects by which we're surrounded. To cut through plastic and metal; and to name the little bits and pieces inside.
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<br />I've been experimenting with screen printing a lot lately, so I figured this would give me another opportunity to hone my skills. And let me tell you, this was tough. Having to cut out the teensy-weensy sections of the sewing machine picture! Oi! My neck and back and fingers hurt by the end of it, from having to focus so intently and tense all of the muscles in my body to better control the Exacto knife. For my first try, and considering the detail it entailed, I am satisfied with the outcome.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSDaf2pVsqm5enKIftmCf2J97kRbNjGD_uWKIir5H94HqQ4IaZO92dVUhctwYEyZFZHPY4igbrvII7in2dHDc1TSSr6Q0bVrQcTlrfVGndQvYt2-RACq0LgxucDxDnsewqNB6uBl76KA/s1600-h/DSC_0369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSDaf2pVsqm5enKIftmCf2J97kRbNjGD_uWKIir5H94HqQ4IaZO92dVUhctwYEyZFZHPY4igbrvII7in2dHDc1TSSr6Q0bVrQcTlrfVGndQvYt2-RACq0LgxucDxDnsewqNB6uBl76KA/s400/DSC_0369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447516051179109794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1mpzXbUmYY8bzjEbwKShB-dh9QbJXvAHu9JpKwvDFFfy_sMhdwWo5LKYpo_6vcIpTb-6FFZigxFQipu7-HU8KY3sjXFVxClIRvfRaI1oG5e5zJvKmdbiJbvEuyuAE-u0PXjS-s2JM7A/s1600-h/DSC_0370.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1mpzXbUmYY8bzjEbwKShB-dh9QbJXvAHu9JpKwvDFFfy_sMhdwWo5LKYpo_6vcIpTb-6FFZigxFQipu7-HU8KY3sjXFVxClIRvfRaI1oG5e5zJvKmdbiJbvEuyuAE-u0PXjS-s2JM7A/s400/DSC_0370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447516061448993986" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately, there are a couple parts where the paint bled under the paper and it looks sloppy. This can totally be solved in future prints by using a thicker piece of paper or another material. I had to fill several parts in by hand that were not adequately painted when I silk screened the image, as well. I used acrylic paint for the screen print, as well as to darken the outer edge of the plaque. It looks a lot like a nice wood stain, I was impressed.
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<br />To hang the plaque, I simply put push pins in the back and attached some string around them, leaving it a little loose so it could hang.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TAkLfAjQB0C4YwOv2Jt4N4XMsPetxf9jjhjpoxU8zX4KWbj9HLraBxgQPTOoOwWeFeH3jyTxTyTQUIo2DA4r8rkRF4MI1UopXeuI1m4cMrjPKRYZAilKocvJfFnlR5Dz6tAI63LDnMI/s1600-h/DSC_0371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TAkLfAjQB0C4YwOv2Jt4N4XMsPetxf9jjhjpoxU8zX4KWbj9HLraBxgQPTOoOwWeFeH3jyTxTyTQUIo2DA4r8rkRF4MI1UopXeuI1m4cMrjPKRYZAilKocvJfFnlR5Dz6tAI63LDnMI/s400/DSC_0371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447516072346763442" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Although it will be awhile before its opening, I've decided to name my future Etsy </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Anatomy of Things</span>.
<br />
<br />I intend to continue this style for a while, on plaques, bags, t-shirts, and notebooks, but I figure the title will apply no matter where I take my crafting.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Is there anything in particular that you'd like to see dissected?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><3</span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-11165080741794477652010-03-08T23:18:00.001-08:002010-03-09T11:49:39.115-08:00Craftivism<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >"Finish what you start," she said.</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9EkkZJT1YdGImU37RvWQUEo0FU93A9ju7hnRW6mJbZB8rJF6W1yoyFO8muIxJvFf_QP8EHahXin4DCTXiSQPzYEoVGp7H-YTVxhsWuX0uU9CzWYiBTJux-ufgFjGQIPJqk90QOQnamc/s1600-h/DSC_0353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9EkkZJT1YdGImU37RvWQUEo0FU93A9ju7hnRW6mJbZB8rJF6W1yoyFO8muIxJvFf_QP8EHahXin4DCTXiSQPzYEoVGp7H-YTVxhsWuX0uU9CzWYiBTJux-ufgFjGQIPJqk90QOQnamc/s320/DSC_0353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446700965829298770" border="0" /></a>
<br />At the screening of Handmade Nation, the film-maker Faythe Levine made me very aware of all the creative new things I've started. Enter my natural fear of it all slowing down to a stop. It has been five days since I last posted, and I am feeling terribly guilty about it.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/448644048_5e9da888f5_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 381px;" src="http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/448644048_5e9da888f5_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-4533-SF-Literary-Culture-Examiner%7Ey2009m3d10-Wed-lit-event-DIY-Handmade-Nation-documentary-premiere">source</a>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The truth is that I am overwhelmed and distracted.</span>
<br />
<br />When at work, my focus should be on my clients, but instead I am thinking about crafting. When with my boyfriend, my focus should be on conversation, but instead I am thinking about crafting. If the internet is available in my presence, then I am probably using it to explore the blogosphere, including the online Indie Biz 2.0 class I am taking to prepare myself for opening an Etsy. I feel really disconnected from the direct world because of this obsession that has overcome me and it feels great. It's the first time in my life that I've actually felt creative and a part of something big. But, it's also becoming detrimental to my relationships at work and in my personal life.
<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >How do you find balance?</span>
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://api.ning.com/files/3okgQD7KlYKhSYrIhVe7oLe1pdFU*qGeZO*SeFqurp8cmRC-WT8qk50hAQSA59xu6JJHeZL1X1cOpseM7lvin8CFDLE97Spm/DSC_0359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 335px; height: 356px;" src="http://api.ning.com/files/3okgQD7KlYKhSYrIhVe7oLe1pdFU*qGeZO*SeFqurp8cmRC-WT8qk50hAQSA59xu6JJHeZL1X1cOpseM7lvin8CFDLE97Spm/DSC_0359.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Handmade Nation inspired me to the core.</span>
<br />
<br />I have been thinking more about my involvement in the DIY craft movement as a form of activism, or <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.craftivism.com/">craftivism</a> (a word coined by Betsy Greer). Activism against capitalism, against big business, against the mass production of goods, against sweat shops, against the pretentious world of gallery art, as way to express my dedication to the solution of the social problems around me.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Think of crafting as a more approachable way of raising consciousness.</span>
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<br />Ms. Levine described crafting as, "making the mundane noticeable." If I can do that to spread ideas that I believe will transform society in positive ways, then I can sleep soundly at night.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-79585911758695315632010-03-03T17:56:00.000-08:002010-03-03T18:27:13.354-08:00Creole Vegetable Soup-dee-doop<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Winter is almost over and I am going to miss soup weather.</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />To mourn the incoming heat, and the unbearable sweating that will ensue if I eat soup in said heat, here I will post a recipe for Creole Vegetable Soup.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Ingredients</span>
<br />(which can be adjusted as you please)
<br />
<br />1 cup of split peas
<br />3 large carrots
<br />3 medium onions
<br />1 large sweet potato
<br />1 stalk celery with leaves
<br />2 tablespoons of minced parsley
<br />6 tablespoons of butter
<br />2 quarts of water plus 1 cup
<br />Pinch of cayenne pepper (I used way more)
<br />2 teaspoons of salt
<br />1/4 teaspoon black pepper
<br />1/2 cup light cream (I used soy milk)
<br />Croutons
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Directions</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >1.</span> Soak peas in water overnight and drain.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw-PuzY3arbX6okKRWxRorIQOSkQRE0lrXslSCaxW9PYRtA53zX3YwQj5XdtTMjpEyQgpt2D3WQo45khH_08oqsxEBWwmcshViSxhGaypA_-0EgLWlQNDvXGGgBb7CB_bBhFV_HAeg3E/s1600-h/dsc_0176.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw-PuzY3arbX6okKRWxRorIQOSkQRE0lrXslSCaxW9PYRtA53zX3YwQj5XdtTMjpEyQgpt2D3WQo45khH_08oqsxEBWwmcshViSxhGaypA_-0EgLWlQNDvXGGgBb7CB_bBhFV_HAeg3E/s320/dsc_0176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444593604373488850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >2.</span> Peel and slice the vegetables, mince the celery and leaves, and place together in saucepan (there was so much, I used the soup pot) with parsley, butter, and 3/4 cup of water. Cook uncovered until the water evaporates.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvIplGCr_n5E7nD1QjJhcRnZOh7bdRhEptN67hwn34Kz91iVMQZ_cojRInAwCkWSGFCAv0CESUuCyhLBFaIxe0_IBL5MtdQT5w03OGTl8eIKackdh4mQLEZ-_fumV_2QyAxivg4cyino/s1600-h/dsc_0178.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvIplGCr_n5E7nD1QjJhcRnZOh7bdRhEptN67hwn34Kz91iVMQZ_cojRInAwCkWSGFCAv0CESUuCyhLBFaIxe0_IBL5MtdQT5w03OGTl8eIKackdh4mQLEZ-_fumV_2QyAxivg4cyino/s320/dsc_0178.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444594382985685202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpeiXty39bBm1VUtbZYhm8szFblMVCvA3HS67vYRTsTURTiw6fD6ETFE2OXiKWEwuU1RP7OzlkeA6pMGNyWueiGQKUxQrZYWRzcBm6vU_CMcmV8ycJms4dd74UpbOxPtkB7s7FZEMHi0/s1600-h/dsc_0180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpeiXty39bBm1VUtbZYhm8szFblMVCvA3HS67vYRTsTURTiw6fD6ETFE2OXiKWEwuU1RP7OzlkeA6pMGNyWueiGQKUxQrZYWRzcBm6vU_CMcmV8ycJms4dd74UpbOxPtkB7s7FZEMHi0/s320/dsc_0180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444594396822362818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZqE4h4PBiZBB5ALVica7OJcIcSJlIQUDbQXzZeMa706fS-G0KMOz30aYvXEUq7wgCZcAUBga9xkcMMRb_YkE_QKoWpsLQsUUIclVZZbIBzjh6yktmv3lzEmePMqH6SOnGNoQ-SBAa2k/s1600-h/dsc_0181.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZqE4h4PBiZBB5ALVica7OJcIcSJlIQUDbQXzZeMa706fS-G0KMOz30aYvXEUq7wgCZcAUBga9xkcMMRb_YkE_QKoWpsLQsUUIclVZZbIBzjh6yktmv3lzEmePMqH6SOnGNoQ-SBAa2k/s320/dsc_0181.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444594405595123794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >3.</span> Combine the cooked vegetables with the drained peas in the pot and add the rest of the water and seasonings to taste. Simmer for two hours.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GtLGlKZ5ddK9ZiC0yCXuZd4Sunha_VHTKtmN2N6gMsNPl-OpK5sLk32DYQNI29LhlvrdH-xFxlbvtPEvTYkpuvKcyMEO8AuAZYnPr7KUJgWstUG5_4yJ0MXkoyLY_OpOlFX4dnh-IxI/s1600-h/dsc_0182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GtLGlKZ5ddK9ZiC0yCXuZd4Sunha_VHTKtmN2N6gMsNPl-OpK5sLk32DYQNI29LhlvrdH-xFxlbvtPEvTYkpuvKcyMEO8AuAZYnPr7KUJgWstUG5_4yJ0MXkoyLY_OpOlFX4dnh-IxI/s320/dsc_0182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444595851123507282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKv-DwP4ygOxxaa-pc_ld8RLMdasmIHhL46ffH9zAdEYb9Quepz5_UxoVZ_qE2oZkaCc7JNbAYXP1S6sfpI7nVO8msa-MWKbakpMTKI1OoNBJdjbG_hK7-wqSfPIXcSAzLZFp8zES-1s/s1600-h/dsc_0185.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKv-DwP4ygOxxaa-pc_ld8RLMdasmIHhL46ffH9zAdEYb9Quepz5_UxoVZ_qE2oZkaCc7JNbAYXP1S6sfpI7nVO8msa-MWKbakpMTKI1OoNBJdjbG_hK7-wqSfPIXcSAzLZFp8zES-1s/s320/dsc_0185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444595865476698306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSj_7rby43W5-QBL0sH11JgDhArN9_FNqdqcS5f6a3z4ZOFb_aeztf6dw7Wvc19d0WsKVBNjydawh0WX8mrCiKLHbsnvvDlLcbZK8ebZ7XjFdV0FZ9HEKQ_VknuuJrmrqgT43IeiNro4/s1600-h/dsc_0186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSj_7rby43W5-QBL0sH11JgDhArN9_FNqdqcS5f6a3z4ZOFb_aeztf6dw7Wvc19d0WsKVBNjydawh0WX8mrCiKLHbsnvvDlLcbZK8ebZ7XjFdV0FZ9HEKQ_VknuuJrmrqgT43IeiNro4/s320/dsc_0186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444596559159431618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >4.</span> When the concoction is done simmering, separate the vegetables from the broth using a strainer. Save the broth in a bowl.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpStFadb7vct7gLIXeB_CTtR9EqBJkBmctJkvnhQe-EwpGrUsSYT3Xzh4skUbjUwNbL1qIuAiBla3p47G4pqmjRngHU4hZWFEap2mSHEdPo5P-cRxuFRJgZw1O-7HEMAp5uJsghIGs70/s1600-h/dsc_0188.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpStFadb7vct7gLIXeB_CTtR9EqBJkBmctJkvnhQe-EwpGrUsSYT3Xzh4skUbjUwNbL1qIuAiBla3p47G4pqmjRngHU4hZWFEap2mSHEdPo5P-cRxuFRJgZw1O-7HEMAp5uJsghIGs70/s320/dsc_0188.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444597216084851458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >5.</span> Purée vegetables using a blender.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazUdpqoRZ8IzCo0KIOR_zayWREzLP-VrQ-WeWdbLlBpiV3uTOPR3MNwpnmFyt4p0Ae_z0zGNwip4aaVXKsghpQUEL0uS3L-XdCZcQzY0PAek15qaB5WDk6wZLxLEa4wRf_qmwdFs1YC4/s1600-h/dsc_0190.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazUdpqoRZ8IzCo0KIOR_zayWREzLP-VrQ-WeWdbLlBpiV3uTOPR3MNwpnmFyt4p0Ae_z0zGNwip4aaVXKsghpQUEL0uS3L-XdCZcQzY0PAek15qaB5WDk6wZLxLEa4wRf_qmwdFs1YC4/s320/dsc_0190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444597221789342450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R2mCV2_4BL1Uhn4WbqknxxyhrZxCR4kOwMb8kEnaxWEuXxx25R4s7xL61Hgp8CAIcGAv0FBDHrhTO3FfFX6cRHpYdTwsFr_fKzOt2ZmzCj-aADJcoCGl8MCtje4P3gnHfFJV4rSh82s/s1600-h/dsc_0191.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R2mCV2_4BL1Uhn4WbqknxxyhrZxCR4kOwMb8kEnaxWEuXxx25R4s7xL61Hgp8CAIcGAv0FBDHrhTO3FfFX6cRHpYdTwsFr_fKzOt2ZmzCj-aADJcoCGl8MCtje4P3gnHfFJV4rSh82s/s320/dsc_0191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444597229135357842" border="0" /></a>6. Combine the puréed vegetables and the broth in the kettle. Add the cream (or soy milk). Stir until completely mixed. At this point, I also added more cayenne to make it spicier.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDxNfgcRIMv080mydOXwqcr6Plg8upwO021Q8-AfZPeehy_ua0xb43pqInoXwFLDPXvgyj9pXXPE3kgeDLo_hB5Wrx3NxHGx0AJ4DLXHQ8LYYv_QxEm__2bIQ1mZTzqqJiqeYvaBLsxI/s1600-h/dsc_0193.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDxNfgcRIMv080mydOXwqcr6Plg8upwO021Q8-AfZPeehy_ua0xb43pqInoXwFLDPXvgyj9pXXPE3kgeDLo_hB5Wrx3NxHGx0AJ4DLXHQ8LYYv_QxEm__2bIQ1mZTzqqJiqeYvaBLsxI/s320/dsc_0193.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444598401390007426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ8kNms1pI4cnApT65551_QTnFEmzh8_OUj0XfQ9r8igriNm-tQHAjNAP-AoohERcTvO62G9qDNzyZVj2KAod-6VvXxVMFieMQV0q4vcqE6jLRta8GyT7veABUG6Qx3i0aBoCNO2LPvU/s1600-h/dsc_0194.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ8kNms1pI4cnApT65551_QTnFEmzh8_OUj0XfQ9r8igriNm-tQHAjNAP-AoohERcTvO62G9qDNzyZVj2KAod-6VvXxVMFieMQV0q4vcqE6jLRta8GyT7veABUG6Qx3i0aBoCNO2LPvU/s320/dsc_0194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444598625387709010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >7.</span> Serve topped with croutons.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYAJvFFdkn3Z4IuxmbrTverh70Vv-2z2_rfLIbRy2zry3BxEK8xfGOmGGPU8COAkB-TswHDVHwT6n04ObN9uKBCzGZZGELEB_JfVZMd7bxuTLFZySY75A4ErEl_kqD0_UfFiZh3P6O2o/s1600-h/dsc_0198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYAJvFFdkn3Z4IuxmbrTverh70Vv-2z2_rfLIbRy2zry3BxEK8xfGOmGGPU8COAkB-TswHDVHwT6n04ObN9uKBCzGZZGELEB_JfVZMd7bxuTLFZySY75A4ErEl_kqD0_UfFiZh3P6O2o/s320/dsc_0198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444598408791822290" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >If you're not slurping it, you're not eating it right.
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<br /><3></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-29473137942799900672010-03-02T18:59:00.000-08:002010-03-02T19:57:46.404-08:00Tattoos of the Future<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">There is so much skin on my body to be filled and I have so much to express.</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />I am addicted.
<br />Don't bother to do an intervention.
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<br />I have some basic ideas brewing in my noggin for future tattoos, but no actual designs yet, which means it will probably be a long while before they take up some skin square footage. Not to mention, my ability to fork over the funds.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh, dear.</span>
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<br />To celebrate the creative power within every woman and to exalt the beauty of femininity, I'd like to get the ten muses, including Sappho.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/mitraillette/muses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 377px;" src="http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/mitraillette/muses.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://eng2culturalmuseum.blogspot.com/">source</a>
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<br />The style I am thinking about for this tattoo is best seen in Gustav Klimt's painting Fishblood. A lot of line work in black. I decided a long time ago that I was not going to get any color tattoos, besides maybe earth tones, such as brown and its variations.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://yepez.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/gustav-klimt-the-blood-of-fish-1898-19075211.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 387px;" src="http://yepez.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/gustav-klimt-the-blood-of-fish-1898-19075211.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://yepez.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/the-blood-of-fish-gustav-klimt/">source</a>
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<br />To revel my own, personal creativity, as well as that of the women in my family, especially my grandmother, and her mother, too, I'd like to get a vintage sewing machine tattoo. By the time I was old enough to learn, my grandmother had the hardest time working with her sewing machine. It was always broken (even if it wasn't) and she could never get that darn thread in the needle and it frustrated her so. This tattoo is for her. For me, the sewing machine also represents self-sustainability and the ability to mend oneself, whether emotionally or physically.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pinkofperfection.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/vintage-sewing-machine-illustration.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 492px;" src="http://www.pinkofperfection.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/vintage-sewing-machine-illustration.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.pinkofperfection.com/tag/sewing/">source</a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you think of these ideas? Do you have any tattoos of the future?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-33472352080716901272010-03-02T11:50:00.000-08:002010-03-02T13:02:25.157-08:00Tattoo Tuesday<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For those of you who follow <a href="http://sometimessweet.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes Sweet</span></a>, you must be familiar with Tattoo Tuesdays!</span>
<br />
<br />As it is Tuesday (right?), and I have some tattoos of my own, I thought I'd share them with you, as well as plans I have in mind for future tattoos.
<br />
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hello, there. </span>
<br />Showing off my tattoos makes me a feel a little vulnerable, can you tell?
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<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN4uct7HLx670QjJPDz7iH-b7eEE7oXrWKkg_nh6ppEWekfP36WcDhIfL1EbLwOv0KmgeTHW7Qv2fk9QjfBxWeah79dFpU7R2Wq9RJ1R92wXceOyj2Ql4GXG2KxkNLryanhUKuTI-k60/s1600-h/dsc_0348.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN4uct7HLx670QjJPDz7iH-b7eEE7oXrWKkg_nh6ppEWekfP36WcDhIfL1EbLwOv0KmgeTHW7Qv2fk9QjfBxWeah79dFpU7R2Wq9RJ1R92wXceOyj2Ql4GXG2KxkNLryanhUKuTI-k60/s400/dsc_0348.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444128420605548306" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">My newest addition is the separation of Pangaea. On one end, all of the continents are conjoined to form the land mass Pangaea. As you follow around the band on my arm, you'll watch Pangaea begin to separate until you find the continents in their present placement.
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<br />As our world becomes more and more globalized (in good ways and bad), we humans find ourselves further and further connected to each other (in good ways and bad). This tattoo represents that change. The distance and differences we perceive between people from around the world are only an illusion. Yes, we have experiences that are unique and we are socialized by distinct cultures, but really, to our core, we are the same. For me, Pangaea represents the <span style="font-weight: bold;">link between us all</span>.
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQZC9k5IFs95sbQtK3wRT-jo5Ys1hgyFBmdNPBSLxhI6weA9kbLA4l9bzOPR3KSiTDU7qsLwVQ3S0PGxA5j5KQDb9DDDnI09M3ygqIUVkeIEKIJJr3SEAd3LcWfMs6JZFbPR3qrviSSo/s1600-h/dsc_0345.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQZC9k5IFs95sbQtK3wRT-jo5Ys1hgyFBmdNPBSLxhI6weA9kbLA4l9bzOPR3KSiTDU7qsLwVQ3S0PGxA5j5KQDb9DDDnI09M3ygqIUVkeIEKIJJr3SEAd3LcWfMs6JZFbPR3qrviSSo/s400/dsc_0345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444128428615584178" border="0" /></a>
<br />My next tattoo, which I saw in a dream and planned for years before I actually inked it, is a lightbulb with a brain inside. Some of you are aware of my love affair with the human brain and neurology. This tattoo is a token of those affections and a tribute to the amazing and mysterious <span style="font-weight: bold;">powers of the brain</span>. To think that everything we see, hear, say, feel, touch, taste, think, perceive, and experience takes place in our brain totally astounds me. We have so much to learn about human experience and behavior. I believe these answers will come from the brain. As Fiona Apple said, "He said it's all in your head, and I said, so is everything, but he didn't get it."
<br />I get it, Fiona, I totally get it.
<br /></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQSUwBUgjFyZ-dCttbpAD0P9ZGdrw21GsPVy5roje9rgaPU7yKtBHI7e_mAxsGoPpz_SVbHIRrQHqTx8s_fCho7VIDpv_F_jyYJVknnw3_UUmoPLHygyg77ni0azugFjS8Qn8Z3YwcV0/s1600-h/dsc_0337.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQSUwBUgjFyZ-dCttbpAD0P9ZGdrw21GsPVy5roje9rgaPU7yKtBHI7e_mAxsGoPpz_SVbHIRrQHqTx8s_fCho7VIDpv_F_jyYJVknnw3_UUmoPLHygyg77ni0azugFjS8Qn8Z3YwcV0/s400/dsc_0337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444128439753617602" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">This set of symbol tattoos is a doosy. I didn't get them at the same time and the meaning of the symbol I got first has changed significantly for me.
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<br />The infinity symbol came first. A now ex-boyfriend and I got the infinity symbol on our wrists together, to represent the length of time our love would last. How foolish and naive were we? Our relationship ended not long after we got the tattoos, but I can say that I will care about him deeply forever. The kind of love I have for him has changed a lot.
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<br />Hence, the delta, or the triangle, the symbol for change. I got this tattoo next, paired with the infinity symbol, to represent the idea that <span style="font-weight: bold;">the only thing that lasts forever is change</span>. Reminding myself of this has helped me through a lot of tough times.
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<br />The last two symbols have fairly simple explanations, as they represent my belief in and struggle for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">equality of all humans</span>, no matter their gender, sex, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, class, etc. Also, my <span style="font-weight: bold;">rejection</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">of the dichotomies</span> of sex (male-female), gender (masculine-feminine), and sexuality (heterosexual-homosexual) is represented here.
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<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQkg_b0kLIJPlrbB3Ogyyu31H7zrPnQpmhVyCrfOGHEYMFY21iCQLeS5EgOngGJhcTSaFkQuPVtUhyLbWp4_Krar8Iek3aFvdnutia7iTRYvC7R-ilOiX5w2bYr4hGwNpl2kJTodCO-8/s1600-h/dsc_0338.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQkg_b0kLIJPlrbB3Ogyyu31H7zrPnQpmhVyCrfOGHEYMFY21iCQLeS5EgOngGJhcTSaFkQuPVtUhyLbWp4_Krar8Iek3aFvdnutia7iTRYvC7R-ilOiX5w2bYr4hGwNpl2kJTodCO-8/s400/dsc_0338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444128449163610370" border="0" /></a>
<br />The last and oldest tattoo, located between my shoulder blades, I got spontaneously when it was finally legal for me to do so. Embarrassingly enough, this tattoo design can be found in White Fluffy Clouds, a collection artwork and writings by Brandon Boyd. That's right. The same Brandon Boyd of the band Incubus. I was a total fan girl throughout high school. I still love the design, but nowadays I usually explain it away by my trip to India. Shh, don't tell. What I did learn from getting this tattoo, is that I will probably never get another that I didn't design myself. There you have it.
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesgjyXJgzTFi05rA36ctBdw3qiOe_TTvhym4-DPUNtmPW7EzOK9T1ha4rj6D-wLN_ESjsQK9ding9xdCHWhjkBDiBQwH6_xoQEdHg3emSRZ54GjcR7Cjx53rdvoqcybWuFGjFl3WqimY/s1600-h/dsc_0343.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesgjyXJgzTFi05rA36ctBdw3qiOe_TTvhym4-DPUNtmPW7EzOK9T1ha4rj6D-wLN_ESjsQK9ding9xdCHWhjkBDiBQwH6_xoQEdHg3emSRZ54GjcR7Cjx53rdvoqcybWuFGjFl3WqimY/s400/dsc_0343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444128453573753298" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I wanna see and read about your tattoos, too! Send me a link to a picture or write a blog post to share!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-27298634488617748992010-03-01T20:25:00.000-08:002010-03-01T21:10:18.207-08:00Casimir Pulaski Day<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HAPPY CASIMIR PULASKI DAY!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Pulaski aided the American Revolution, despite being from Poland, and despite not speaking a lick of English (or so the story goes). We celebrate his birthday (which actually isn't until the 6th) in Chicago because we have one of the the largest Polish populations in the world, second only to Warsaw.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am not Polish, nor did I truly celebrate this holiday.</span><br />But, it gave me an excuse to post the video of a song that has been stuck in my head all day long. Maybe you've heard it?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="213"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xm32t?width=320&autoPlay=0&additionalInfos=0&foreground=%23CFCFCF&highlight=%23834596&background=%23000000"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xm32t?width=320&autoPlay=0&additionalInfos=0&foreground=%23CFCFCF&highlight=%23834596&background=%23000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="320" height="213"></embed></object></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-71775063615380943352010-02-28T15:34:00.001-08:002010-02-28T15:39:49.009-08:00Handmade Nation<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am totally going to see a screening of this at Columbia on Thursday.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">So excited.</span></span>
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<br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iwFbMFqfsKM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iwFbMFqfsKM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object>
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<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >DETAILS</span>
<br /><p><span class="Headline">March 4 - <b>3:30 pm </b></span> <b> (Please note earlier time)
<br /></b>
<br /><b>Faythe Levine & Betsy Greer
<br /></b></p> <p><span class="HeadlineOrange">"Craftivism" Documentary Film Screening of Handmade Nation with Lecture/Discussion</span>
<br /></p> Faythe Levine is an artist, photographer, filmmaker and curator based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is the director of the film Handmade Nation and co-author of the book <i>Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft & Design </i>(Princeton Architectural Press, 2008). In 2004, Levine founded the alternative craft fair Art vs. Craft and in 2005 opened Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery which closed in 2009. Her work has been shown in internationally and reviewed in many publications including the <i>New York Times Magazine</i>, <i>Adorn</i>, <i>Venus</i> and <i>American Craft </i><i>Magazine</i>. She is currently in production with her new documentary about sign painters and opening a new gallery in Milwaukee in 2010.
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<br />Betsy Greer is a writer, researcher and maker from North Carolina and author of <i>Knitting for Good </i>(Trumpeter, 2008). After developing a fascination with the relationship between craft and activism, in 2003, she started <a href="http://www.craftivism.com/">craftivism.com</a> as a sociology experiment wondering, What happens when you unleash a new term on the Internet? After years of studying the indie craft movement predominantly in the English speaking world, she is branching out into a broader range of histories, cultures and customs. Now working around themes of war, craft and creativity, she hopes to keep uncovering the connections between these constructs to further unpack why and how they have shaped our lives.
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span></span></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-39140885301715807662010-02-28T08:31:00.000-08:002010-02-28T09:00:36.309-08:00Stay Cool<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I had one of those nothing-can-go-my-way weekends.</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />And I surprised myself by staying totally calm, cool, and collected. Most of you don't know that I am the sensitive type, my days easily ruined by the silliest, mundane reason. But, I've been working on it. And all I could do was giggle at the ridiculous nature of my misfortune.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It all started with a boot.</span>
<br />A yellow immobilizer I found on my car late Friday night.
<br />Not unlike this one here:
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.universalboot.com/ub/ecomm/images/78/gp_6ffc395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 260px;" src="http://www.universalboot.com/ub/ecomm/images/78/gp_6ffc395.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Now, you have to understand, it's mostly my fault. Yes, Chicago is one of the worst cities for parking tickets, as they've completely privatized parking, but I could have dealt with my pile before it came to the boot. Anyway, I won't state the exact sum I had to pay to get the boot off of my car, but just know, it's up there, like, way up there.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then, my craft project failed.</span>
<br />Actually, it started out really strong. I was impressed at how well I was doing for my first intricately layered screen print. I got a little over zealous, and when I added the last layer, which should have been a lighter color than the rest, I added a dark green, because it was the only paint I owned that I hadn't yet used. I was excited, okay? I just wanted to finish it!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCutNR_9RT5Mr4wVAj6RtAiI_fUa49i03uDonGXVp2cFcJM7hkhuPK9MtfRSnOpkKc0OU0nLZQnAecQz4T4NporCZCvi2__orgL-jpKUHhavE0JwSEQNYiwVr99eAycuKPL5ZC0AS3o5M/s1600-h/DSC_0335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCutNR_9RT5Mr4wVAj6RtAiI_fUa49i03uDonGXVp2cFcJM7hkhuPK9MtfRSnOpkKc0OU0nLZQnAecQz4T4NporCZCvi2__orgL-jpKUHhavE0JwSEQNYiwVr99eAycuKPL5ZC0AS3o5M/s400/DSC_0335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443337106058547714" border="0" /></a>
<br />So, it's not TERRIBLE, but the color scheme was all thrown off because of that damn green. Plus, I forgot his teeth. You really can't get a sense of how good I was doing before the green because, in this picture, it sticks out like a ... sore (green) thumb? Eventually, when I open an Etsy, I want to include customizable, screen-printed portraits. This WILL NOT suffice as an example. Try, try again.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If anyone is interested in letting me use a photograph of someone special to them to create more of these for practice, I will totally do it, FOR FREE (for a limited time, only), and send it to you as a gift!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Hooray!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><3</span>
<br /></span></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041475301511936626.post-60652517276885811362010-02-25T18:41:00.001-08:002010-02-25T19:38:15.819-08:00Snail Mail<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I love snail mail (<span style="font-size:85%;">when it's not bills I'm receiving</span>).</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br />I miss the good old days, when I'd exchange letters and pictures with my cousins in Minnesota and friends who had moved. And how lovely it was to be given pen pals in school, to learn about far away people and places through an envelope. To peek in the mailbox everyday, anticipating, imagining its magical contents.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I received a postcard last week, from a friend only a few miles away.</span>
<br />And it totally made my day.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpec6YJnRhStTLqoTVrPwWrQ2TdhgkqJ04I1EfHyWeoFOkza1WiYSIa40stPrapwngHTBCyu2-Gw2TTvI9wXzWDRcdKpV_nbjijQS2wBA8Fw29xIdd8Yb7t4p1clzkats_g7LZIvvVlGc/s1600-h/DSC_0330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpec6YJnRhStTLqoTVrPwWrQ2TdhgkqJ04I1EfHyWeoFOkza1WiYSIa40stPrapwngHTBCyu2-Gw2TTvI9wXzWDRcdKpV_nbjijQS2wBA8Fw29xIdd8Yb7t4p1clzkats_g7LZIvvVlGc/s400/DSC_0330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442379700699754546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXFCyWpjA0A1GaXFwHl5MSsqXr2WUty3eV0TYhloGlGr_d04j9OKCAPW3e-8V1VXVibqM0ROyKZ0-I8DBRQpMApBVf0L2a9jEB2zKk5T7aFRogqTWKfNt28y-KxVUQGfM8BjPdYzj9Fw/s1600-h/DSC_0323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXFCyWpjA0A1GaXFwHl5MSsqXr2WUty3eV0TYhloGlGr_d04j9OKCAPW3e-8V1VXVibqM0ROyKZ0-I8DBRQpMApBVf0L2a9jEB2zKk5T7aFRogqTWKfNt28y-KxVUQGfM8BjPdYzj9Fw/s400/DSC_0323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442380039595695506" border="0" /></a>Last summer, a couch surfer left me a postcard he made (<span style="font-size:85%;">titled Unic-horn</span>) and a cute note in thanks! I saw him again when I visited Portland at the end of the summer. What a wonderful character. Bem.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyvuZjkrM7DkWDAvbETKVulLekd1qCF2RBhOvCASiATRJ_t8S-EWR_R9jnwLkcjeKZ_bxsEa6jwPxkROO3nA3FSISyhKJdkkMFekjwq-BzlC8WvWE4nIMlCezRsbPYsDlU2xhO9UC6l8/s1600-h/DSC_0324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 363px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyvuZjkrM7DkWDAvbETKVulLekd1qCF2RBhOvCASiATRJ_t8S-EWR_R9jnwLkcjeKZ_bxsEa6jwPxkROO3nA3FSISyhKJdkkMFekjwq-BzlC8WvWE4nIMlCezRsbPYsDlU2xhO9UC6l8/s400/DSC_0324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442381552583142562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZunCu3yPxSTvHHUnb_01yC06OYmjONlBFloePz_wyo5uQTCBmM5H_dbdN6aH_FBsdOiRHy3MZgLRo8tOW9MnlA541A7s6jTdhowQlsxWCSxQc9fA-IkqkMfHc94_1ujJ38aOR72nyamw/s1600-h/DSC_0325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZunCu3yPxSTvHHUnb_01yC06OYmjONlBFloePz_wyo5uQTCBmM5H_dbdN6aH_FBsdOiRHy3MZgLRo8tOW9MnlA541A7s6jTdhowQlsxWCSxQc9fA-IkqkMfHc94_1ujJ38aOR72nyamw/s400/DSC_0325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442381558006021362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopv6C0HdL7ngVLJn0nmO6Js751aCW5IJBQD9j_ISepEyVOW2MmMbawKhmMpWW2PWZTOzrieiWwp4WTmLNDxQG8w6TSOp2ywN1b3BmZqrCcLIVPrZFuUr2P6QPU0m2XZHQdeDASSnct08/s1600-h/DSC_0328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopv6C0HdL7ngVLJn0nmO6Js751aCW5IJBQD9j_ISepEyVOW2MmMbawKhmMpWW2PWZTOzrieiWwp4WTmLNDxQG8w6TSOp2ywN1b3BmZqrCcLIVPrZFuUr2P6QPU0m2XZHQdeDASSnct08/s400/DSC_0328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442381571235247410" border="0" /></a>I decided that these fellows deserve snail mail in return.
<br />Really, who doesn't?
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And so, I created a postcard to send into the wild.</span>
<br />It's so gaudy, but still, I love it.
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<br />This picture makes the colors look a little funny.
<br />It's a bit darker in real life.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FGgIRPdhdjMA6VwFpmxPWQhuoAqGSyRu3vXjqbzVd-4Ijv-J_R022rPA2kI-e2HNJLvyu6ZYm4OlrfDjoGw5pNCu161vwYiqWEZKf5ocinLaFy-_8bwEZ5WRr_5iudN0A45vtfjt-ok/s1600-h/DSC_0320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FGgIRPdhdjMA6VwFpmxPWQhuoAqGSyRu3vXjqbzVd-4Ijv-J_R022rPA2kI-e2HNJLvyu6ZYm4OlrfDjoGw5pNCu161vwYiqWEZKf5ocinLaFy-_8bwEZ5WRr_5iudN0A45vtfjt-ok/s320/DSC_0320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442384016749628274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx_QxZqCfFFS78M2HT7oSi86qi8ULk4SEet85Opgwmm2G6SXjNfNwcarSjaJQq7gY_R3SOEXJ2PxglhiEUTnxSEYriACGNB-iGEvZ4GK6mrQtprUsfSaCFf08kQGBHN8Qgu-ejQd5WJw/s1600-h/DSC_0321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx_QxZqCfFFS78M2HT7oSi86qi8ULk4SEet85Opgwmm2G6SXjNfNwcarSjaJQq7gY_R3SOEXJ2PxglhiEUTnxSEYriACGNB-iGEvZ4GK6mrQtprUsfSaCFf08kQGBHN8Qgu-ejQd5WJw/s320/DSC_0321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442384026388843154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1xbqMfZevVRRDuLN8jfMVySyyYlXwa2XTzrG6whNk7EgkXS81vsibVbKJkVnHnbBWw0DTNYA-ol5W-7k6pKkE9yrsknLSzNM65nDN3doR1Tjh6jj4LBy417iLw_Hm79CWdIHM_Ps3Pk/s1600-h/DSC_0333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1xbqMfZevVRRDuLN8jfMVySyyYlXwa2XTzrG6whNk7EgkXS81vsibVbKJkVnHnbBWw0DTNYA-ol5W-7k6pKkE9yrsknLSzNM65nDN3doR1Tjh6jj4LBy417iLw_Hm79CWdIHM_Ps3Pk/s320/DSC_0333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442384029914510626" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Furthermore, what is this man doing selling cotton candy with snow on the ground?</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYoH7ePgmWevvcDWZHqXTqAkfsq1WsiBSTg06e8JkbTqy8vwe8S4GLAbc1UnoqqUzsW9x2aTV5Pt3mb87wUfozqi4K-tdD1C_H3ON4kQ8Rbr1HT8-5ToF-1b-XNk1XeqwuDNfnrJO8dg/s1600-h/DSC_0332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 379px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYoH7ePgmWevvcDWZHqXTqAkfsq1WsiBSTg06e8JkbTqy8vwe8S4GLAbc1UnoqqUzsW9x2aTV5Pt3mb87wUfozqi4K-tdD1C_H3ON4kQ8Rbr1HT8-5ToF-1b-XNk1XeqwuDNfnrJO8dg/s320/DSC_0332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442384031746298050" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><3</span></span>
<br /></div>Morganismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410617786438929484noreply@blogger.com5