snow princess in a swan boat

window 3, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Inspired by Christine's post about planning a trip to NYC, I went back and looked at my photos. It was almost this time last year when I ran away to NY, didn't tell anyone where I was really going to visit with someone who turned out not to really care as much as I thought they did.

While it was sad and cold and rainy, I did explore the city a little bit more than I had before.

Highlights:

Christmas shop windows on 5th ave
Top of the Rock was open
fabled Tiffany's on 5th Ave and the little pendant bought that came in the iconic blue box and white ribbon
Realizations and revelations that while NY is fantastic and glorious, it does not contain a home for me.

My NYC photos can be seen on Flickr.
May 2005
Dec 2005

danger- snow has fallen

danger- snow has fallen, originally uploaded by smoooch.

only 2 days left

head's up, faithful follower or one time lurker of More Kisses Please. I'm running a little contest encouraging delurking and more importantly, comments.

From Nov 10:

For every comment I receive from YOU, I will enter your name into a draw for either:

$25 US or Canadian Gift Certificate for Lush Cosmetics, redeemable only in stores.
or
$15 in an ITune or Amazon.com Gift Certificate
or
A specially made with love embroidery and a photo card from my collection of photos, enscribed with some kind words of thoughtfulness by yours truly.

You post a comment, you get entered in the draw. Every comment gets an entry. You win, you pick your prize. Postage and handling included, if required. Friends, family and strangers all equally qualify. All comments must be from November 06 and previously posted comments in November count.

Go read, go comment.

a lovely Vancouver

Here's a lovely webcam view of vancouver, currently under a blanket of snow, updated avery 15 minutes.

in lieu of snow photos

in the pot, originally uploaded by smoooch.

2 1/2 pounds of lean, boneless beef chuck, cut into 1" cubes
1 large onion
6 carrots, diced
2 turnips, diced
6-10 new potatoes, quartered
2 cups pearl onions, peeled
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced (totally optional, yuck.)
2 1/2 cups beef stock
2 1/2 cups red wine
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
bit of butter
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste

Prep:

Trim and cut beef into 1 inch chunks
Chop onions
Wash and scrub carrots, turnips and potatoes
Cut carrots and turnips into chunks, and quarter potatoes
Peel pearl onions by quickly boiling, drain and rinse
Measure beef stock and red wine, keep seperate
Mince garlic

Method:

In skillet, saute the beef chunk in the vegetable oil until brown on all sides. Season with salt & pepper to taste. When finished, transfer to large cooking pot.

Add onions, carrots and turnips to skillet, add sugar and cook over medium high heat for approximatly 8 minutes. Remove the vegetables and reserve in a large bowl.

Optional part: In a bit of butter saute mushrooms over medium high heat for approximately 10 minutes. Transfer to the reserved vegetables. Or not.

have a swig of wine and add the measured to the skillet, scrap up sides, then add the beef stock. Whisk in tomato paste and rosemary. Cook for a couple of minutes and add to pot with meat.

Add potatoes and garlic to the meat and cooking liquid. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.

Add remaining reserved vegetables, half the chopped parsley and continue cooking for approximately 30-45 minutes or until the meat is tender.

Ganish with remaining parsley.

Serve with another bottle of red wine and a nice loaf of french bread.

stew, originally uploaded by smoooch.

documentary

I found this blog of a girl in Florida who, because she turned 30, she is posting a photograph every day for one year. She's on day 38. You can watch her progress here.

It snowed hard.

snowy road, originally uploaded by rinlee.

not my photo but I thought it was lovely. You can more of this photographer here...http://www.flickr.com/photos/shameless/

knuckled

lovesick, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Noticed this yesterday as I stopped into Joe's Cafe on Commercial Drive for a hot coffee in effort to steel myself against the onslaught of freaky weather. (see below, and might I add I am not the slightest bit homesick for the weather common to Albverta and other eastern locales. This is the coast. This snow is wrong.) And since I I feel drawn to photograph words like "love" or "kiss" and things like that, I did. There was a friend with Hero Zero on his knuckles. You can see it here and here.

Thanks to both of them for letting me invade for photographic evidence.

not right

This is snow. Lots of it. In Vancouver. One word. Wrong.

IMGP3668, originally uploaded by smoooch.

group therapy

group therapy, originally uploaded by smoooch.

I printed this as a Christmas Card, among others. My sister, Catherine, was over yesterday and while giving each one a title I came up with this one.

Alternatively called "Competition".

transported

transport, originally uploaded by smoooch.

I love the old rusty trucks abandoned in the field imagery so much. Today while checking out the ARC building as part of the Crawl, I saw a similar shot but during the day and in a blustering wheat field with puffy clouds against a blue sky. It was better. Although it wasn't exactly for sale, it's now mine.

This pleases me.

allegedly

allegedly, originally uploaded by smoooch.

By the way, yesterday was the 43rd anniversary of JFK's passing and the start of many conspiracy theories. Many of which are still being feverishly discussed as though it happened yesterday.

on your hands and knees for art

Do you live in Vancouver? Near Vancouver? I hope so because if you do you could be one of millions currently enjoying (read: enduring) the city wide water ban. What does this mean? It's not so much a big deal, you just can't drink the tap water. Well, you can, but you have to boil it first. Big deal. I personally stopped drinking tap water a long time ago after I saw the mysterious pink stains in the sink and tub from a persistent water drip and have the convenience of a month's worth of filtered water in a 19 litre jug. Clearly I do not drink the required 8 glasses a day.

However, that is not the reason why I'm hoping you are in the Vancouver area. It's not the rain, nor the wind, nor the mucky bran flake like muck on the streets thanks to fallen leaves and torrential rains. It's not the stellar mountain views or the quirky neighborhoods either. The real reason is this weekend is the 10th anniversary of the Eastside Culture Crawl.

A record 47 buildings are involved and god knows how many artists, but..wow..it should be gales of fun.

"The Eastside Culture Crawl is an annual 3-day November/December event that involves artists who live in Vancouver's Eastside in an area bounded by Main St., 1st Ave., Commercial Drive, and the Waterfront. Painters, jewellers, sculptors, furniture makers, musicians, weavers, potters, writers, printmakers, photographers, glassblowers; from emerging artists to those of international fame... these are just a sampling of the exciting talents featured during this unique chance to meet local artists in their studios."

Now get out and support your local artist and don't forget your local crafter either.

It's a good thing I get paid this week.

get this in your head

Oh my.. this is too much. Go look. And I'm sorry. Truly.

you found me how?

I love to see how people find my website. It's often very entertaining. It's bonkers how many people google "How to build a paper lantern" and find my easy step by step instructions. I really feel I have done a public service there and helped the world illuminate through paper lanterns a little bit easier.

Other common and pleasing searches include various looksee's for Janis Joplin, and umn..boobs. One search that found me, did so by combining the two and mispelling photos as phoots. PHOOTS BOOB Janis. Go figure.

I also get a lot of hits from "lipoma below collarbone" which hits this post. I wrote, "Incidentally Lipoma surgery is the #1 reported out-patient surgery in the United States, so I'm not alone." Clearly not.

But today I got a hit that made me laugh and made me write about the weird and wonderful ways someone finds this blog. Someone in Mattoon, Illinois googled "easy to find marijuana in vancouver? 2006".

Are they coming to visit? Do they know the local hangouts? Will they get ripped off by some shady character downtown? Who knows, but I hope they found what they were looking for.

Tell me, how did you get here and did you find what you were looking for?

10 random blogs participating on the National Blog Posting Month, aka NaBloPoMo

Stick Bunny
Redolence
Color me Blue
Ice Cream Mama
I Rant Therefore I am
Yoga Gumbo
Hula Seventy
Drive By Booking
The Pre-Read
Jabbering in my Jammies

Enjoy. Leave comments. All Bloggers love comments. except for Charlotte Gill who doesn't allow them. Bah.

childhood dreams delivered

Wow.

"Open up your very own pretend play tattoo parlor. This easy-to-use tattoo maker kit includes an electronic tattoo pen and funky stencils. Using soft, safe pulsating action, the tattoo pen creates realistic, washable designs with dramatic effects. Requires two AA batteries (not included)."


The website reccomends this for 6-12 year olds. I 'm speechless at how along with instilling a sense of respect for permanent body adornification (insert sarcasm here), it also pushes home phonetics by calling itself the GR8 TaT2 Maker. How bizarre. Be sure to read the equally puzzling comments.

I honestly can't believe this one is for real or can I honestly imaging how bizarre my childhood would have been like had my parents allowed me to have one.

make a masterpeice

Here's a little something I found while surfing the blogs out there. While I think it would be, of course, a good idea to put my own creation up, I have ot admit, the half way mark of NaBloPoMo has caought me a little lazy..maybe tomorrow. But have fun. Participate in my contest with comments by leaving yours instead.

no monkeying around

What's lightweight, compact, portable, bendable, wrappable, grippable, and gorilla fun!

This is the coolest gadget ever. From Joby- the Gorillapod.

This inspires me to attach my camera to trees, to rest on uneven rock gardens, to mount to the curvaceous Henry Moore sculpture and to not be afraid of lugging around a tripod which I almost never do because the usual tripod is bulky and heavy and awkward. Too cool. And check out the funny video on the website.

Gorrillapod + Chair, originally uploaded by Phutta.

grr its friday and raining and I feel glum

grafitti tunnel in Deep Ellum, originally uploaded by smoooch.

a rose by any other name smells just as sweet?

IMGP3638, originally uploaded by smoooch.

A native of Texas, Arizona and other hot dry climates, the Rose of Jericho or Ressurection Plant, was an easy souvenir from my recent stay in Texas due to its unique and seemingly magical qualities.

The image at the top is how I bought the plant. It will apparently stay rolled up in this ball for years and years and years. It will literally stay that way until you put it in a bowl of shallow water where it will unfurl itself, turn green and sprout small white flowers. The picture below is from 1 day in a bowl of water.

Magically, if you remove the plant from water it will dry out and roll itself back into a ball to be stored again until you put it back in water. In a sense, it is the plant that never dies. Naturally, when I received my declaration card for customs, where it asks you if you are bringing back any plants or fruits and vegetables, I said no in fear that they would take this little gem away.

open, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Further reading can be found here

The red neon pegasus of the Magnolia Bldg

I found this incredible graffiti'd tunnel north of the Dallas city centre in an area called Deep Ellum. Does anybody know what this symbol is from? It looks really familiar.

update: Thanks Christine!! The Magnolia Bldg! I drove all over downtown Sunday night trying in vain to get a shot of the Red Neon Pegasus. I didn't know why it was affiliated with Dallas, until now.

Le Baiser (The Kiss)

Le Baiser (The Kiss), originally uploaded by smoooch.

One of many that Brancusi created. Another version sits in Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris, marking the grave of Tania Rachevski, a 16 year old girl who took her own life.

it'll do ya good

Southern Lady #1: Well back then, yuh know, we'd fry our bacon first and then, yuh know fry our eggs and grits right after in the same juices cuz ya'll know it tasted better. But know we'all know better to not do that now. All that grease, it's bad for you.

Southern Lady #2: Oh the hell with that! Every psychic in the world will tell you you're going to die one day. I say have a little something something every now and then.

oh the places I've been..

And that concludes my visit to Dallas Texas. It's been just a smash up good time.
Here's a few link of the things I've seen and the places I went.

The Dallas Museum of Art- great sheaves of wheat exhibit.
The Nasher Sculpture Gallery- where I found a version of Brancusi's Kiss (currently on the masthead)
Sean Fitzgerald Photography-hosted the wedding reception I was invited to.
Pioneer Plaza
Dealey Plaza- link complete with live webcam. I could go out there right now and wave, but would you be watching?
Northpark Mall- had a little party in one of the stores which will of course remain nameless.

umm? maybe not

While, I have found the characters of Sasha Baron Cohen funny. You know like Ali G and the gay fashion reporter from Austria and sometimes even Borat. I'm not sure I'll go see the movie and I'm not sure if you want to either. If you're humming an hawing..check out these two reasons why you should spend you money elseware.

Reason # 1

Reason #2

Dealey Plaza

me: Well you know, it's arguably one of the most pivotal moments in US political history.

him: Well YEAH. It's, you know, in my opinion, its bigger than Jesus Christ getting killed.

me (changing the subject): Is that the grassy knoll?

him: No, that's it over there. See that cross on the road? That's right where it happened. I put that there. See that picket fence over by the grassy knoll? That's where the shooter was. There's a storm drain behind there and whoever shot him slipped down there and clear done got away.

me: Oh, is that so? I'll have to go take a look.

him: Are you going to go now, because if you are, I'll go with you.

nickname

of wisdom, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Pearl was the name Janis Joplin wanted to be known by. Just before she died, she was apparently sick of being Janis and would often tell people, "Call me Pearl from now on." Maybe that's why she named her last album Pearl. So, naturally, while I was driving around Dallas and I saw this little corner bar with a band set up, I pulled over and went in. I should have had a shot of Southern Comfort in tribute.

know it- The Big D

- settled in 1841
- 9th largest city in the US
- population is 1,083,508 and growing
- entire Dallas/Fort Worth has combined population of 5,037,345
- 7-Eleven stores started in Dallas 1922 (WHO KNEW!!). Now in 18 countries worldwide.
- the first shopping center with stores surrounding a central parking area opened in in Dallas in 1931.
- first drive-up bank window.
- first frozen margarita was invented by a Dallas restauranteur, Mariano Martinez, in 1971.
- Barney, the lovable purple dinosaur, comes from Dallas area.
- has the largest wholesale merchandise mart in the world.
- is the top visitor destination in Texas
- has more restaurants per capita than New York city (Holy shit, that's alot of restaurants, I wonder what the stats are for serving staff? Has more waiters per capita than any US city?)
- has more shopping centers per capita than any city in the United States. (more shoppers than anywhere in the US as well? SDe below)
- has the largest fashion and marketing center in the South and one of the top convention destinations in the US. (I believe this wholeheartedly. I have seen 3 already)
- has the third busiest airport in the WORLD.
- has the world's largest bronze monument located at Pioneer Plaza
- Home of the Ewing ranch,Southfork. Dallas was the one show that brought my mother, sister and I together at the same time. That and Mash.
- was witness to, what might be argued as the single most pivotal moment in US political history, the assasination of JFK.
-and last but not least: chicken gravy is served at breakfast with bisquits.

delurking bribes

I grabbed an idea off another blog.. I can't remember which one.. but it was a good idea and I've decided to put it to work.

Since I am participating in NaBloPoMo, which means I promise to blog at least once a day for everyday in Novemeber, I have decided:

For every comment I receive from YOU, I will enter your name into a draw for either:

$25 US or Canadian Gift Certificate for Lush Cosmetics, redeemable only in stores.
or
$15 in an ITune or Amazon.com Gift Certificate
or
A specially made with love embroidery and a photo card from my collection of photos, enscribed with some kind words of thoughtfulness by yours truly.

You post a comment, you get entered in the draw. Every comment gets an entry. You win, you pick your prize. Postage and handling included, if required. Friends, family and strangers all equally qualify. All comments must be from November 06 and previously posted comments in November count.

OK people, get those comments rolling in- YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!

Good luck.

the big D

Pioneer Plaza 7, originally uploaded by smoooch.

You know what they say.. everything is bigger in Texas. And I've found it to be true. Today I arrived in Dallas, Texas and saw the biggest flag of the United States I have ever seen. In fact, I almost thougth it was the biggest flag ever until I noticed the bigger one of the state of Texas flapping behind it. If I wasn't going 120 down an unfamiliar 8 lane freeway, I would have stopped to photograph it.

Instead, I went to Pioneer Plaza which boast the world's largest monument in bronze. 40 larger than life longhorn steers are herded by 3 larger than life cowboys on horseback.

"From the 1840's until right after the Civil War, cattle, mostly longhorn from south Texas ranches, were driven along the Shawnee Trail to northern markets in St. Joseph and St. Louis, Missouri. The Shawnee was the first trail of its kind in Texas and marked the beginning of an era that would make cattle the number one agricultural product in the Texas economy. The Shawnee Trail crossed near the site of Pioneer Plaza and proceeded up the Preston Trail (now Preston Road) to the Red River then turning northeast to Missouri."

You can see all my photos of Pioneer Plaza here.

Pioneer Plaza 10, originally uploaded by smoooch.

48 things

1. FIRST NAME?
Jillian

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I heard a rumor about a stranger's baby named Andrea Jillian. Mom- any truth?

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
When I was feeling overwhelmed with my new apartment, painting the kitchen alone and my boyfriend had just left for the UK and I was irrationally thinking I would always be alone.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Most of the time.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?
Turkey with left over cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving on thick homemade brown bread.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yes. But I’d be jealous of my nimble fingers. See this post.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL?
This is it.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes. Thanks Mom. She doesn't believe children need to be seperated from their tonsils.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Yes, by slowly climbing off the edge and hanging by the fingers until I just simply couldn't hold on any longer. Then I would scream.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Porridge with berries.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Depends if they have shoelaces.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Only when I remember that I got to Paris at 11pm and found a hostel in a deserted area north of the city. I was terrified but I did it and now it's a measure to remind myself I can move through the fear.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Coffee.

14. SHOE SIZE?
7 and a half

5. RED OR PINK?
Red. Blood red.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My inability to delay gratification.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My maternal grandfather. Hands down.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Only if they want to.

19. WHAT COLOUR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Patched jeans, a lime green sweater, white socks and cream leather Deisel runners.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE?
A pomagranate.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Jeffery Gaines, A Hero In Me on satellite radio in the office. Blogging on a break.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue-grey

23. FAVOURITE SMELL?
Peonies after a spring rain.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My mother.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?
The way they walk.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM?
I like her blog.

27. FAVOURITE DRINK?
Southern Comfort on ice. Hot chocolate and Baileys. Chocolate Rooiboos with milk.

28. FAVOURITE SPORT?
Gymnastics to watch. Croquet, maybe.

29. EYE COLOUR?
Blue but my right eye is half brown.

30. HAT SIZE?
Average.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No. My whole family wears glasses except me.

32. FAVOURITE FOOD?
Chicken and potatoes, pumpkin pie, eggs benedict.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings all the way.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Spring.

36. HUGS OR KISSES?
Depends who’s offering.

37. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
Something my mom makes or Creme Brulee and Creme Carmel, warm pumpkin pie and fresh cream.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Who knows.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
The lurkers.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
A book on Swiss Ball excercises. I'd like to have "The Son of a Witch" by the guy who wrote Wicked.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
nothing. It's boring.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV?
CSI Miami

43. FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
Cat purring, silence, jazz from the 40's, tea kettles.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES?
Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME?
Isle of Skye, Scotland

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?
I have nimble fingers.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Alberta.

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
No one. I found it on a blog.

25 things

1. He doesn't spit in public.
2. He doesn't litter.
3. He doesn't yell.
4. He doesn't make me pay for everything.
5. He doesn't hardly ever get mad.
6. He's not mean spirited.
7. He rubs my back for a long time if I want him too.
8. He pays every other time, no matter what we're doing.
9. He is a good kisser.
10. He is funny and makes me laugh.
11. He is gentle and loving.
12. He is considerate to others.
13. He looks after my things for me if I'm away and buys me flowers when I come home.
14. He's creative and clever and handy with a drill.
15. He can fix things and put up shelves.
16. He's thoughtful and generous.
17. He's a great movie mate with lots of cuddling.
18. He makes a mean cup of cocoa.
19. He's smart as a whip.
20. He's taller than me and blond. This is not so important, but I like it.
21. He likes to dance. We need to go out dancing more.
22. He plays with my cat.
23. He has an accent. Same with #20. Not so important, but I like it.
24. He is a kind hearted person.
25. He is my boyfriend.

speaking of crafts

Speaking of crafts, if you live in the Vancouver area and especially Commercial Drive, another craft fair is coming your way. But isn't it anyways, since so is Christmas? Anyways, chin up, this one is cool.

Head down to I Heart Crafts on Nov 25th at the Legion hall on 7th and Commercial. I'm a crafter so I heavily encourage you to support your local handy dander, go to the sales, and give the gift of homemade gifts by either making them yourself or paying someone who is more talented than you. I mean that in the most nicest possible way. Not everyone is Miss Nimble Fingers, you know.



Today's NaBloPoMo links:
An Open Cupboard
French Toast Girl
Knitorious

ambitions in embroidery

embroid, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Small and dainty, the french knot is a very effective and beautiful embroidery stitch. It's the small blue dots in the picture. and a seemingly easy one to do. It's a knot. How hard could it be? Not so hard but holy time consuming. I spent 5 hours on French Knots today. That's about 350. And I'm not done. And it's only one pillowcase. I have yet to do its matching pair.

Todays NaBloPoMo links:

A Frayed Knot
Always Listen to Your Pig Puppet
An Eye For Detail

coming home

blondy, originally uploaded by smoooch.

I'm looking forward to seeing you again.
lovejill

an unexpected turn of events

Days go by. One after the other. Nothing special happens except life and you begin to expect the usual suspects.. in life. So you fo about your business and you make your daily plans. Go to the bank. Pick up a coffee. What should you have for lunch? Don't forget to do yur laundry. Etc.. etc..

It was raining today. Raining hard. I ran my errands and got my coffee. I came home in the interim to try and warm up and dry off. The next errand to run was for 10 cent embroidery floss. All the way downtown. I wasn't exactly motivated to go back out in the torrental rains so I wasted time.

The phone rang..

him: "Hey Jill, it's Todd. We're shooting a little thing right now and our stills photographer bailed. can you come down and shoot some stills for this indy thing?"

me: "Well, I don't promise anything, but sure, sounds like fun."

So, in a split second everyday life switched up and I ended up in a situation that I never expected to happen when I woke up. In the end, it happened to be 10 minutes from the place where my next errand was and by the time I was done, the rain had stopped too.

traffic

Traffic on the internet speedway is on the go and more and more people seem to be taking the More Kisses Please turn off. This is good. I like this. I can attribute it entirely to my involvement with the National Blog Posting Month. I have gotten hits from a few site posting me as a link so in all fairness, I offer my viewers some choice links of bloggers bringing the world together..all chosen from the head office and randomly based on titles that caught my eye..

The NaBloPoMo Randomizer
A Smeddling Kiss
Big Girl Underoos
Cakeface
Jennyology

In fact I think I'll keep up the highway turnoff signs during NaBloPoMo. Go on an adventure, a internet road trip. Pack some comments, have fun, go look-see, and be one with the blog.

my ball & chain

You may not know this. I don't post about it often or even really talk about it. It's like having a dirty little secret, something that as an adult, you think to yourself- why haven't I grown out of this? But whatever. You have these things and well, it just is was it is. And recently with a innocent little comment on a previous post and I had realized my commitment to my affliction had waned and I was HORRIFIED.

Horrified because my fasicnation is as strong as the day it started. Proof can be found in a day last month when I travelled to Seattle. I payed the $20 US entrance fee and went to the Experience Music Project. I spent awhile wandering around, politely looking at the exhibits, staving off my anticipation, waiting for a glimpse in the corner of my eye for a piece of pink feather to know it was there and then I would slowly take in the full view, enamored with every thrilling moment. Yes, the pink feather attached to a certain pink feather boa belonging to one and only, Janis Joplin.

Well I wandered around, and slowly began to feel duped. Stood up by a bad boyfriend. I asked a few staff, "where is the pink feather boa?" and was told "it's on the 3rd floor" "no I think it's on the walk of fame" "um, I'm not sure did you check the Jimi Hendrix exhibit?". I walked faster, determined to finally see it, the only reason I was really there. No luck. Finally I askked a staff member that was looking like an aging hippy. Surely he would know.

him: "Oh that. That's in storage."
me: "Great. Let's go to storage."

Anyway, today in my flu induced haze, I realized the wrong doing of my distracted life. A quick google search and I realized I had forgotten to pay tribute.

So.. A month late but not forgotten..

Janis Joplin passed away 36 years ago on October 4th.

janis joplin, originally uploaded by maría::rock your soul.

wise

wise, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Was it wise for me to sign up for the NaBloPoMo? Will I be able to find adequate material to post each and every day this month. Or will I slid into a sesspool of letters and vowels, mumbling to my end, unable to form neither complete nor complex sentences.

It should be a fun month and a worthy archive at the end of it all.

To kick off the month, I include this picture of my boyfriend's friend Kennedy. We sat on a neighborhood patio after relocating Michael's belongings, the afternoon sun setting warming our faces in the crisp autumn air. I think he looks like a Yoda, or a sage, maybe a wordsmith or a spinner of tales.

Someone with a story to tell. What's your story?