nkotbsb

don't laugh, but i just bought tickets to the new kids on the block and backstreet boys concert on may 25th. i know it's really cheesy but these are two groups that i grew up listening to and while i understand they are not the most musically talented groups, it will be fun. my friends and i saw new kids on the block a couple years ago and it was a blast.

little notes

dear janine.

i was happy to help you move this weekend, but next time, please hire movers. i. am. so. tired.

dear lemon street gallery.

thank you for changing the artwork at my favorite coffee shop. I’m glad the painting of the creepy boy is gone, even if it has been replaced by a disturbing painting of a cat in a dress.

dear common grounds.

we've spent a lot of time together in the past week or so. while i love you dearly, i hope to spend time away from you and your afternoons of textbook-reading and paper-writing.

dear adelyn.

congratulations on your baptism. it's too bad you slept through the entire thing. actually, i was a bit jealous about that part.

dear technology.

i like you, why can't we just get along? did i do something to upset you?

{image via weheartit}

Graphology

My sister has a friend named Lester. Lester is about 70 years old {most likely closer to 80 than 70}. He's the kind of man that would make Studs Terkel foam at the mouth for an interview. In my limited conversations with Lester, I've found out that he makes his own seasonal grappa {the kind that can put a little hair on your chest}, honors the vernal and autumnal equinoxes with parties, makes his own jewerly and other wood-workings, used to manage a Chicago night club complete with "ladies" and is adapt at "collecting people" {but not in the John Wayne Gacy kind of a way}.

He is also every kind of -ologist that you can think of. Yesterday, I found out that he is a graphologist as he proceeded to analyze my handwriting. He said my small handwriting, crossing my Ts low, leaving limited empty space on pages and dotting my Is rather than drawing circles {or God-forbid hearts} above them means I am intelligent, non flighty, not overly self-conscience and am frugal. Yep, that sounds about right. I was a little surprised when Lester began explaining my writing, but I would like him to take a little more time and go over it again. I find it very interesting.

Check out a few sites on graphology here and here. I've been reading up a little more on it lately.

{P.S. Wouldn't you love to talk with Lester for hours about his life? I think he would make a lively character in a book.}

“Looking Into The Past”

Isn't is so interesting to see the differences between old and new?

Looking at these pictures makes me want to try it out. I just came across a huge box of my grandmother's photos from years and years ago taken all over the United States. I think I'm going to try to capture a few of these extremely cool images of my own.

See more images here.

Question of the week

My big sister is a little quirky and fun so it’s no surprise that she is a favorite barista at the coffee shop she works at. She just makes it fun to go in for coffee or a visit. Every week, Maggie asks all of her customers one silly, though-provoking question. She asks some off-the-wall, fun questions that make people smile. Some customers really enjoy playing and come up with some hilarious answers. And some customers take time to really come up with true responses. {Maggie said she asks everyone that walks in the door no matter their apparent mood. “They may just be having a bad day so I don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t play along,” she said.}

Some previous questions with a few favorite answers:

If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?

If you were a tree, what would you be? “If I were a tree, I’d be an Aspen, but sometimes I’m just an ass.”

What is your guilty pleasure? “It requires batteries.”

Who would you bring if you were stranded on a desert island? “The cast of Glee, but just the ladies.”

We were joking that next week she should just pull out a Rorschach ink blot. People already expect some kind of a silly question {most actually now ask her what the question of the week is} so how funny would it be if she just had a picture of an ink blot. ‘What do you see here?’ I would love to answer that.

{image via wikipedia}

the oscars

I admit I am one of the few people who did not watch the Oscars the other night. I actually never do. I get incredibly frustrated when critics tell me to see a movie that is “phenomenal” and they give two thumbs up and I think it’s terrible so I refuse to watch an awards show that focuses on many movies that I’ve never and most likely, will never see. It may be a tad out of spite, but I typically don't watch the movie that won 'Best Picture.'

But with that said, I heard Natalie Portman won best actress for her role in Black Swan. This is one award I completely agree with. The movie was a tad creepy and disturbing, but great and her acting was phenomenal. I also just really respect her as an actress and person.

On another Oscars note, I heard the two other movies I really want to see were big winners: True Grit and The Fighter. I hope to see both this weekend.

Learning sign language

I work with several children with learning disabilities and speech impairments so to communicate with those children, I have been learning sign language. As a Girl Scout many, many years ago, I took classes in sign language, but I’m sad to say I don’t remember much so I’m starting fresh. I’m surprised that it’s much easier than I thought it would be. Most signs are very practical and almost what you would expect. Of course, I’m also working with very young children so I’m not learning any complex words at this time. I picked up a book on sign language the other day and plan on trying to learn one or two new signs every day. I really enjoy learning the language and I’m happy that I’m better able to communicate with my children now and can help them increase their communication abilities also.

{image via weheartit.com}

Back to the future photography

Aren’t these photos cool? Photographer Irina Werning’s new project allows people to relive their past by recreating old photographs. I am completely fascinated by the detail put into recreating the photographs to almost exact detail. I think this is such a fun idea and I would love to try it with a couple old family favorites of mine too. Check out her web site for a few more great photographs.

currently...

reading...

zeitoun by dave eggers. about a syrian-american who waits out hurricane katrina in his new orleans home. after the hurricane, zeitoun paddles around the flooded city, helping neighbors and saving abandoned dogs. later, he is arrested by guards accusing him of being al queda. {that's as far as i've gotten so far, but read the new york times review}

watching...

true grit. it's an amazing movie with a fantastic cast. this little girl, hailee steinfeld, is crazy good.

listening to...

wilco. non-stop. and wishing that i could go see them in concert during their next tour, but unfortunately the closest concert is in new orleans so that won't be possible. frontman jeff tweedy is also going on a solo tour, but the madison, wisc. tickets are sold out. bummer.

thinking about...

my best friends from college and i live in eight different states {wisconsin, illinois, minnesota, missouri, south carolina, tennessee, iowa and washington d.c., which counts as a state for this purpose}

i shared so many great times with them in college, it's sad not being near them anymore. i guess i've been spoiled in that i've never lived too far away from good friend and family. i never had to go more than a month without seeing ones i love, but now i only see some once or twice a year.

{image via weheartit}

Bubble Photography

My dad always sends me chain emails about interesting artists and odd projects so I was really surprised that he hadn't heard of Tom Storm's bubble project before me. Storm captures incredible landscapes and monuments in reflections on bubbles. This is a very creative technique that, despite the medium used, includes a new perspective and incredible detail. {Here's a good interview to read.}

Here are a few of my favorites of his work: