Sunday, January 13, 2008

lunar.

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I've decided that once in a while I will post a photograph I really like, since I love pictures so much. So to start, here is a picture of my sister Courtney and our two best friends, Abigail and Lindsey, who are also sisters. I love all three of them very much!

Friday, January 4, 2008

wish I was the moon tonight.

I am seeing this lady, Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
on February 2nd!! With Cathy, Shane, and Aaron. Terribly exciting. Neko Case's music sounds like nothing else and I love walking into a store and recognizing her voice on the speakers. There's something so heart breaking and lovely about all her songs, perfect for that exquisite kind of wallowing. I just might feel like painting tonight. Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I just purchased two CDs: Girl Groups of the 60s and Sh-Boom. ahahaha. I can't even tell you how much I love this type of music. It's possibly my favorite just-mine, rainy day, doing anything kind of music ever since Court, Ab, Linds and I recorded our own version of The Leader of the Pack in 8th grade. Josephine Baker is on her way here in the mail. Excitement is all around!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

porch boy.

Some pages from the sketchbook I worked in May-November 2007, which was lovingly titled "the unofficial number three" the day I bought it. I get really connected to sketchbooks, journals, etc., and then when they are filled and I have to move onto the next one it's actually quite hard. Does anyone else have that problem? Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
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I've also read several short stories from this book today: Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I went on my usual book search which occurs every time I've finished whatever it is that I've been reading (in this case, The Seas by Samantha Hunt - excellent). I like being at school for this journey more than being at home, because Camrbidge has my favorite place: The Harvard Bookstore basement. Last night, Borders had to do. I was looking for a book called Black Swan Green which a friend told me about, and which had excited me very much (I have an obsession with black swans in green water). Unfortunately, it was not in stock and had to be ordered. Since I was in desperate need of a book NOW, I followed my usual procedure, which means wandering around aimlessly until something speaks to me. I find the best books this way. This was how I found Ruby by Francesca Lia Block, on a particularly ominous day involving a snow storm and a run-in with a haunted elephant bead in front of the T entrance. While my trip to Borders was not half as eventful as the day of ominous elephants, I found Nissen's book and knew it was the one as soon as I saw that her first name was Thisbe. I read the back and I was sold. First of all, the very first story is entitled "The Mushroom Girl." I am automaticallly a purchaser of any book that shares a title with one of my paintings. The characters are lovely and messed up in delicate and realistic and beautiful ways all involving love. And you know that I love love. Her writing is somewhat reminiscent of Karen Russell for me. They came out around the same time. They are reminiscent of each other: unintentionally, perfectly. My favorite lines of Thisbe's, I think, are the following, and it is only because they explain the exact way I would describe my mind's thought process on the topic: "He doesn't even want what he's supposed to want: a partner, compatibility, we-both-like-to-take-long-walks-with-our-dog kind of love. That's yuppie love. Drew wants crazy love: fated, astrological, intense, cosmic, I-saw-you-and-I-knew love. He thinks maybe he could find that with the mushroom girl. He doesn't know why he thinks this, he just does." And I'll leave you with that. Love, me.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Adopt a Soldier

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You can adopt a soldier at soldiersangels.org. They assign you a soldier overseas who isn't getting any mail at mail calls. It really is such a lovely and inexpensive way to do something. All that's required of you is to send letters and packages to your assigned soldier, one letter a week and one package a month. It's a wonderful program, and if the amount of mailing is a bit overwhelming, you can share with your family or a few friends! My family and I just joined the program and are sharing a soldier for the year. I hope you all had a wonderful new years eve! cheers! - Amanda