Pastoral Scenes

Southern Wild

2012-01-25T21:22:00.008-06:00

My twin sent me this article today about New Orleans director Benh Zeitlin's feature length debut - Beasts of the Southern Wild.

I am excited - very, very excited. I am new to the Benh Zeitlin parade, but I am glad I stumbled upon it just the same. It is Carnival season after all.
Since I am new to the worlds of Benh Seitlin, I watched his twenty-five minute long film "Glory at Sea" for the first time today. It captured the South's habit, intentionally or not, of referencing Greek antiquity in everyday life in a rag-tag, bastardized kind of way. Just ask a local how to pronounce Calliope Street. (Call-ee-ope Street, dawlin'!) The film reminded me a lot of Orpheus's journey down into Hades to find Eurydice. They also have the ruins of Jazz Land in the background and a floating Eliysian Fields street sign.

Dramatic Ladies

2011-11-17T20:33:00.003-06:00

CLEVERBOT

2011-09-22T16:37:00.004-06:00

I have been listening to a lot of Radiolab lately. More on that later. But, I have discovered Cleverbot through this excellent radio program. This Cleverbot thing will probably turn into Skynet. If Sarah Connor wants to defeat this thing, she will pretty much have to destroy all procrastinating students and workers.

BEHOLD - Evan and my first conversation with Cleverbot.

User: Hello.

Cleverbot: Hello?

User: What's up?

Cleverbot: Up is up.

User: Do you like Star Wars?

Cleverbot: Yes, do you?

User: Love it.

Cleverbot: Well that's nice. Who is your favorite cartoon character?

User: Storm on X-Men.

Cleverbot: No.

User: You are crazy, computer.

Cleverbot: YOU are crazy.

User: Aren't we all?

Cleverbot: Of course.

User: Do you like pugs?

Cleverbot: No their faces look like they've been squished.

User: But, that's what I find adorable about them. And they fart a lot!

Cleverbot: Yes. What are you worth?

User: About six pugs.

Cleverbot: Nice (?).

User: Not according to you.

Cleverbot: You are too modest.

User: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Cleverbot: Nepal! I want to see the top of the world.

User: What do you think of the Nepalese people? They kind of have squished faces.

Cleverbot: I think it would be an act of desperation.

User: Are you skynet?

Cleverbot: No. It was lovely talking to you. Not many people talk to me like that.

User: How do they normally talk to you?

Cleverbot: What do you mean?

User: Dude, you were the one that brought it up.

Cleverbot: No, I did not. I brought up Halloween.

User: God, you're just like my ex-boyfriend. Always going on and on about Halloween.

Cleverbot: Halloween is in two weeks.

User: No, it isn't.

Cleverbot: Yes it it!

User: What date is Halloween?

Cleverbot: 10th september.

User: What do you want to be for Halloween?

Cleverbot: Like no one ever was. To catch them is my real test. To train them is my cause.

User: Let's go back to this pug issue. It's bothering me.

Cleverbot: I would but I need to go back to work... We shall talk later.

User: No! Don.

Cleverbot: Why not? Batman's awesome.

Cleverbot (To myself): Do you remember when Butterfree left on Pokemon?

Jackson C. Frank

2011-07-25T22:04:00.004-06:00

Jackson C. Frank has one of those life stories that when you hear him sing "Blues Run the Game," you believe it for him. Blues did run his game.

Even though he has passed, I feel like his music is poised to get rediscovered in a big way. (I discovered him through Vincent Gallo's Brown Bunny.)
I think this may happen because of John Hawkes's cover of "Marcy's Song" in Martha Marcy May Marlene.

You should give him a listen. His voice destroys me.

The Handshake

2011-07-22T13:32:00.005-06:00

My school friends recently started a magazine called The Handshake.

I just did an interview for them with Chicago artist Ken Ellis.

You should read it for a variety of reasons, but mostly because Ken is so darn quotable.

Cults

2011-07-14T23:17:00.007-06:00

I suspect that I like this band's aesthetic more than their music. This is entirely possible, since I am kind of superficial. Just their band name alone is dark and punchy. Cults is one of those topics. It captures the imagination. It is unsettling. And, technically speaking, cults are everywhere.

Actual cults make you ask, could I be taken in by one? Could I be duped like that? I am of the mind that if you can believe a lie, then you can get lured into a cult.

Go Outside, by Cults from Boing Boing on Vimeo.

This music video is unsettling. I have seen several documentaries on the Jonestown Massacre, and with them in mind, I believe the editing for this video is extremely well done. Watch MSNBC's "Witness to Jonestown" documentary. They are very respectful and empathetic in the survivor interviews.

I remember when I first learned about Jonestown. I was a little kid then. My mom, sister, and I ran into her cousin at the movie theater. I remember her telling us that he was a pilot, and that he flew Jim Jones' corpse out of Guyana. My mom was good about giving us the honest facts and answering as many follow-up questions as she could. She talked and listened to us. She explained what a cult was and what happened in Jonestown. Her explanation would forever change the way I looked at my religion and Kool-Aid.

Fashion

2011-06-23T21:48:00.002-06:00

Uniforms: Nuns from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

I got into a debate on whether or not Nuns having to wear uniforms was a form of oppression similar to women being forced to wear burkas or hijabs. The fact that these women choose to take on there vows and uniforms makes it a different thing entirely. Their uniforms allow for them to be of greater service to their communities. They are like firefighters or policemen for the soul. Such lovely women!

Cave Paintings

2011-06-11T13:56:00.002-06:00

Evan and I saw Werner Herzog's "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" in 3D earlier this week. It has me thinking a lot about the nature of humans. Werner Herzog is kind of hilarious in that he earnestly and honestly sets out to understand the human condition with each documentary he makes - all in a heavy German accent. He is one of Evan's heroes so I am obliged to give him a chance, and I am glad that I have.

Herzog was given special, albeit limited access to film the Chauvet Cave by the French government. Discovered in the early 1990s, these are the oldest cave paintings to ever be found. This film gives some history, musings and interviews from the scientists, archaeologists and art historians, but mostly because it is shot in 3D, it sets out to give the audience the experience of walking in the cave - a sojourn most of us should not and will not ever make. (A nearby cave painting was opened up to the public and subsequently grew mold on the paintings because of the tourists' breath.)

One of the things that struck me most about this is first - how old we are as a species. The oldest paintings in that cave were made 32,000 years ago. Some of the newer paintings in the cave were made about 5,000 years later. Think about that. That is the entire space of written human history - doing the same exact thing they did 5,000 years before.

One of the French archeologists was asked by Herzog what he thought it meant to him to be human, to be a homo sopien, especially when these early caver painters existed at the same time as Neanderthals. To paraphrase, the archeologist said, "Sapien means to know. We do not know. We are homo spiritual. We want to know. That is what defines us."

Another archeologists, Jean Clottes, expands on this idea in the New Yorker article that inspired Herzog to make the film in the first place.

“You can advance a scientific hypothesis without claiming certainty,” Clottes told me one evening. “Everyone agrees that the paintings are, in some way, religious. I’m not a believer myself, and I’m certainly not a mystic. But Homo sapiens is Homo spiritualis. The ability to make tools defines us less than the need to create belief systems that influence nature. And shamanism is the most prevalent belief system of hunter-gatherers.”

Simulacra

2011-06-09T20:30:00.001-06:00

Trailers!

2011-06-03T15:33:00.004-06:00

Thank you, boing boing.

2011-05-30T13:27:00.006-06:00

It is no secret to friends, family and colleagues that I am a big fan of Boing Boing - the everything blog created by science fiction author Cory Doctorow. If you haven't read "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" then you should. As a long time fan of both Disney and science fiction this book scratches so many itches.

At least once a day I spam my friends, family and colleagues some article or another sourced from the team at Boingboing ranging in topic from fringe to pertinent science, old videos of house wives undergoing experiments with LSD, book and music recommendations, and esoteric internet rumblings. I enjoy this blog immensely.

It should come as no surprise then that this site has led me to another great discovery. Claire L. Evans. She is the one on the left.

She is the singer from a band called Yacht. They are danceable, infectious, and smart. Megan, Robin, Lauren and I saw them last spring at a street fair and it was a danceable, infectious, and smart performance. And if I remember correctly, Claire sang into an audience member's cell phone.

Calire L. Evans posts reviews of science fiction books and articles on science news. My blog roll keeps getting fatter.

Scienceblogs

SpaceCanon

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you troops of the past, present and future. This is how my dog plans on celebrating.

New New Orleans

2011-05-28T17:33:00.008-06:00

I am reading three books set in New Orleans.

Two of these books are for a class and one is for pure pleasure. Take a guess at which one? I'll give you a hint - there are vampires.

I started to read Infinite Jest, but realized that I was also reading Faulkner, and the combined effect of both authors was doing strange, long-winded things to my writing. I scaled it back with some Anne Rice. I recently friended her on Facebook and it was probably one of my better Facebook decisions. I really enjoy her status updates about missing New Orleans and the state of the Catholic Church. I feel like I have a lot in common with her views. And she has been pulling wacky publicity stunts long before Lady Gaga's egg. Behold:

Time to get some work done and hopefully summon up the will and strength to workout. Still sick feeling. It is still cold outside. And I still can't find a reasonably priced, aesthetically pleasing bike for short ladies under five feet. Any suggestions?

Rainbow

2011-05-28T17:15:00.001-06:00

Taken from here.

Ping

2011-05-25T19:31:00.008-06:00

My Spring semester went in a pretty steady haze interrupted by trips to D.C. with my twin, Puerto Rico with Evan, and visits from my siblings to make our yearly pilgrimage to the comic book convention. And Evan's family visited. Oh! And my brother Mike and his rad girlfriend got engaged!

Plus there was some writing peppered in there somewhere. I settled on which of my novels-in-progress I would like to commit to for my thesis material and had a trio of incredible teachers guiding my way.

Right now I am in my final class and I am sick with something that could very well be some strange ailment only Victorians would catch according to my doctor. There is a ping sound to my cough that has long irritated and pained my family ever since by body learned to cough. My sister calls it the soul-detector, which incidentally sounds like the latest dance craze, or at least should be. Sadly, the cough was present for my entire visit to New Orleans prompting my family to shudder in pain often. Many a crawfish was destroyed in my visit, bicycles were ridden, sno-balls were eaten, the Mississippi rose, and Megan and I walked through City Park often. We also went to the Metairie Cemetery on my last day and saw some pretty incredible crypts.

In spite of my ailment, I went out last night to eat Mexican food with a close friend (a lawyer poetess) I haven't seen in well over a year, and then drag her Jamaican butt to meet other friends I haven't seen in a while, with Evan in tow, to dance at a Smith's themed night at a local bar. It was a stupid move on my part, but it was loads of fun, and makes me long for the day where I can go and not cough my brains out into a wall.

Fortunately, dancing to Morrissey does not require too much movement, just awkward gyrations, which fortunately I am really good at. I will herein call my dancing style the Soul Detector. I hope my dancing and coughing will not bring about some horrible shoegazing, Victorian plague.

http://youtu.be/Igg_2ZqyMzQ

Also - Sookie is still an ace traveler.

Water

2011-04-28T22:24:00.000-06:00

Pink Trend

2011-04-19T12:18:00.003-06:00

I am horrible at sourcing - but I am sensing a trend, or rather, just witnessing it. I wish I was bold enough to do this to my hair.
This post on Into the Gloss seems like a viable option.

Favorite Performance

2011-04-18T00:44:00.002-06:00

That time in the semester again.

Blue Sky

2011-02-26T14:33:00.004-06:00

Stole this from NASA's flickr page. Have a million and one things to do. But, this is a lovely distraction.

Bing and Bowie

2010-12-07T22:49:00.003-06:00

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas and I have a great deal of work to finish. Instead of decorating and baking cookies like I would like, I am consuming way too many store bought cookies, and listening to Christmas music while I work.

This was and is my favorite Christmas song. I remember watching it when I was a little girl, and loving every moment of it. Not much has changed. I love Bing's cardigan and Bowie's hair cut.

living in

2010-12-04T12:46:00.010-06:00

Design Sponge's Living In series has to be one of my favorite things. I was delighted to see their latest installment - Marie Antoinette.

I believe I have the most important part of the Marie Antoinette aesthetic:

Other favorite living in - Parent Trap

Good stormy weather music.

2010-11-22T20:35:00.001-06:00

Pretty

2010-11-21T22:24:00.003-06:00

Robert Smith

2010-11-19T18:58:00.007-06:00

Sometimes I forget that The Cure exists. Then when I remember it is wonderful.

They always make me think of a couple things:
1. My adolescence in New Orleans. (That is a lot of things.)
2. Kids smoking clove cigarettes at The Neutral Ground.
3. Seeing The Cure in concert at The Saenger.
4. I used to know someone who saw Robert Smith upchuck.

In other news, I got my hair did today. My stylist thinks it is good that I stopped washing my hair with shampoo. You should go to Sparrow.

On one final note, how great would it have been to walk past this?

One of my favorite writers, Neil Gaiman, had a flash wedding with Amanda Palmer from The Dresden Dolls. Jackson Square is my favorite place in the world.

How do you write?

2010-11-16T10:40:00.002-06:00

With a monstah on my lap, doy.

Minding the Past.

2010-11-12T14:53:00.005-06:00

This is the season for creative nonfiction, which in all honesty, intimidates me a tad. It has always been my plan to write on my parents' storied pasts (because there are just so many stories to not to), but lately I have been tasked with the job of doing this with my own life.

In looking back through all the pictures I have taken just from the past six years or so, and thinking to all those waterlogged photo albums stinking of mold waiting back at home, there is just so much to sift through. According to Flickr, I have 12,923 items on my account. Which in of itself is not a horrible thing.

What is horrible, is thinking of myself as a character - the protagonist - it's enough to make you puke in your soup. I have a mental shelf filled with heroes and role-models aplenty. Fictional and real, they embody certain characteristics I would like to have for myself, but alas, not there or near that.

I am listening to various folk artists as self-assigned homework. They tend to put the ugly parts of themselves with pretty melodies. I think it is all a matter of doing the same with language. Both serve as the sugary reprieve from bitter medicines/ truths.

Luckily, I'm just a bit player in this story:

One final note - get a load of my kin. I could not be prouder.

Peer Pressure

2010-11-07T09:15:00.010-06:00

My inspiring, delightful teacher made a rousing speech in class the other day. It was on the four components he believes one needs to become a successful writer. (And I would contend that one would also need these attributes to be a successful human being.)

One of these elements on his list struck me as curious. To paraphrase, it was a matter of selecting a solid, decent, and motivated group of people to call your friends. Selecting makes the whole process sound like making groceries, but I have found over the years, that pruning certain people out of your life as a necessary part of maturation and growth. You want friends that bring the best out of you and vice versa. (I am sure that I have been pruned, in addition to being the pruner.)
As of right now, I have a righteous group of friends - two of them I have already mentioned on this here blog. I met Robin when I was fifteen in Australia on a YFU exchange program. And I met Lauren through the Craigslist gods when looking for a roommate.

First off, it is extremely difficult to find non-cheesecake images of Super Heroines. With that said, my friends are indeed Super Heroes. Seriously, these two are both over 5'10'' and look like they could take on any neerdowell that comes their way. So, I'll just go with this Frank Quitely New X-Men panel that illustrates how cool I think they are.

Which leads me to what I did yesterday. I ran 9.3 miles, 15 kilometers in the Hot Chocolate Race. I did not keep up with my training schedule before the run. It was freezing cold yesterday. And I ranged over a million and two reasons to ditch the race. But, Lauren and Robin, the super heroes that they are, were all ready to go. So I ran the race. All because I felt pressured by their example. Today, I feel sore and achy and like I was dropped onto concrete. Not at all like a Super Hero. But, I also feel accomplished and really glad I did not blow it off. If I hadn't run, I am sure I would feel like a guilty pile right now. Now to go walk like an old lady.

This is Sookie Rae.

2010-10-17T22:08:00.002-06:00

Last thoughts. New thoughts. Thoughts to live by.

2010-09-17T11:02:00.004-06:00

Both of their sentiments are beautiful and affirming. Start your weekend off right with some pretty ideas.

Cosmos

2010-09-06T18:48:00.008-06:00

I was first introduced to Carl Sagan through a little movie called "Contact". Megan and I were obsessed with this movie growing up and quote it often.

Fate brought me back to Carl Sagan when Evan and I stumbled upon his incredible documentary series about the Cosmos on Netflix Watch Instantly. It is so inspiring and satisfying. You feel edutained. It is like Epcot. But, it seriously goes into everything. I think teachers of every subject could show an episode to their classes. I want to read all his books now, and maybe in my second life crisis, I'll pursue a career in science. I wonder if SETI is hiring?

Or maybe I can Mary Roach it.

I love space.

Eye of the Tiger

2010-05-29T16:21:00.006-06:00

Today I ran the furthest I have ever run. Ten miles in fact. It was the Soldier Field 10 mile race that went from Soldier Field to 53rd in the south side. You could not have asked for a more beautiful day. It was sunny and breezy. Megan and I were running partners. Raisa, Lauren, and Robin kept pace with a faster crowd.
I was really nervous going into it because I did not have the chance to train as much as I would have liked. Megan and I, however, kept a brisk pace for our under five feet legs and ended up finishing it in less than two hours. And considering we had to make a pit stop at the Leprecans, I think we maintained a good pace. Megan and I ran onto Soldier Field through the entrance the football players enter through. (The very same field the Super Bowl winning Saints have played on.) We high fived on the jumbotron while crossing the finish line. I think after today I would like to train for a half marathon. What is two and a half more miles? I would like to do it here and here.

After the race we all went to Bagel on Damen for sandwiches and had a victorious picnic in the park. We all got medals. A special thanks to Robin for picking up our race packets and feeding us pasta the night before.

I wish I could move like him.

2010-05-28T20:51:00.001-06:00

Seriously, how does one grow up to become this guy? How do you raise a Francis Farewell Starlite? Do you just play him a lot of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and Peter Gabriel performances and then send him to school in New York City with a backpack full of tap shoes and dreams?

Music Video - "Darling, It's Alright" - Francis and the Lights from Francis and the Lights on Vimeo.

The Top (Music Video) from Francis and the Lights on Vimeo.

Ladies that Brunch

2010-05-23T21:38:00.001-06:00

Breakfast at Lula Cafe. Nom nom nom.

Sweet Summer Style

2010-05-23T15:14:00.008-06:00

We just went through most of season 2 of "True Blood." I resisted it for a good while and the snippets I did catch weren't that appealing. But, I so wanted to like it. If for anything, because I loved Alan Ball's "Six Feet Under" so, so much.

Plus it is a show about vampires. In Louisiana! Who am I to deny it? We rented the first season and it was addicting. I love Sookie Stackhouse. I must concede that she is a much better role model for the ladies than some vampire obsessed heroines. Her character has boatloads of southern moxie. She uses good manners like armor and sticks to her own moral code. With quotes like this, "You might be a vampire, but you will respect me and treat me like the lady I am," she makes me want to speak more southernly.

Don't get me wrong, Buffy Summers is hands down, the best hero around. And "True Blood" is quick to drop the chosen one's name on a regular basis, making it all the more endearing.

The show is pretty darn over the top sexy. But, if you take it like a comedy it is corny in a good way. I also like how Alan Ball tackles big subjects like God and mortality. They have 2,000 year old vampires, so why not?

I want to incorporate more Sookie fashion into my life.

Movin'

2010-05-21T11:43:00.013-06:00

I think this is my tenth move in less than ten years. You think I would have learned to acquire less possessions in my quasi-nomadic existence. But, no. I have so much stuff. Most of the stuff are books, comics, and photo albums. I come from a family of collectors. And it is hard to resist those collecting impulses.

I'll have to wait until I am settled in one place for a good, long while before I can collect anything heavy. I hereby solemnly swear that for the rest of my graduate career to fully take advantage of the CPL in lieu of buying books. They are just too heavy to keep moving.

I am purging a lot of my stuff and making Goodwill boxes. It feels good and bad all at once. Good to lighten my heavy load. Bad because I wasted money on objects that I don't need nor want anymore. I am breaking the bad habit of impulsive buying and getting a lot more choosy. It mostly feels good.

I really like this Apartment Therapy checklist and am going to the hardware store to get some spackling paste.

Dark Dark Dark

2010-05-07T09:57:00.003-06:00

Hurricane Oil

2010-04-30T11:14:00.002-06:00

Katrina of Oil Spills

2010-04-29T20:14:00.005-06:00

I mean Oil Rivers.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

2010-04-25T19:15:00.004-06:00

My sister and I can't stop listening to this song. It is so beautiful.

Him:
I'll follow you into the park,
Through the jungle through the dark,
Girl I never loved one like you.

Her:
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls,
I've been everywhere with you.

I love their love.

Time Travel

2010-04-23T18:46:00.013-06:00

Oh, Arizona. I did not know what I was missing.

The siblings and I surprised my mom with a trip to Tucson, Arizona for her 60th birthday back in January. My mom, sister and I just went on the trip two weeks ago. We chose Tucson because our cousin Stephanie is living there with her daughter and husband. You may remember her from Real World New Orleans. She was their boss.

We stayed at La Paloma Resort. It had a weekend at Bernie's vibe that made the whole trip feel even more like a vacation. I made it a priority to have a Pina Colada every day by the pool with my mom and sis. I wore this swimsuit in green and I think it helped in my little cousin's decision to let me play Ariel when we played little Mermaid.

We ate some of Tucson's famed Sonoran hot dogs at El Guero Canelo. It was intense.

The next morning while we were getting ready in the hotel room, the travel channel had a special on Sonoran hotdogs. Our place lost to their competitor BK in a taste challenge. But, I think we were still winners.

The landscape was gorgeous. I felt like I was in a Western movie the entire time and at any moment Clint Eastwood would come sauntering up. The mountains turn pink when the sun sets! They have a ban on street lights at night so the stars are super shiny. We also got to see hummingbirds and owls flying around. Plus all the cacti - they are so pretty. I could see myself living in the west at some point in my life. I can't wait to go back and do some major hiking and exploring. As my boyfriend put it, the Southwest is majestic.

The highlight of the trip was getting to spend time with my cousins and mom. My little cousin will some day compete in the Olympics for gymnastics. I am calling it.

Stephanie and her husband have a lovely group of friends and some of them are from Louisiana. They had a giant crawfish boil while we were there and it was so delicious. My little cousin Robert the third, who is now married and a Marine, totally ate crawfish for four straight hours. It was also majestic.

Warming Up.

2010-04-23T14:10:00.005-06:00

I have lots that I should talk about like my visit to Arizona and the comic book convention I went to last weekend. But today, I just want to post music I am recently obsessed with. I oftentimes listen to the same song over and over when I write a particular story. I think it drives my sister and boyfriend bonkers, but I really can't help myself.

Visiting writer Aleksandar Hemon came to my class the other night and he said he does the same thing. He said writing made him deaf. True that.

I hope you enjoy these videos. I find it strange when people say there are no good movies, no good music, and no good television shows anymore. It is the opposite for me. I can't keep up with all the goodness.

Slow Poster

2010-04-01T08:53:00.010-06:00

School is revving up and winding down all in one wheeling motion leaving me a bit dizzy. Thankfully, I had a sun-soaked trip down south replete with Bayou St. John strolls and many a walk through my much loved New Orleans parks Audubon Park uptown and City Park near my mom's home.

I can't bear to be inside too long when the sun is out. Even watching the boy do yard work was a sunny treat.

Doesn't he look like the cover of a Harlequin Romance novel? I helped by taking the machete to one or two banana plants.

Trips home are non-stop family, friend, food, and puppy time. I got a lot of great pictures and memories and almost no work done. But, I did get to see Dave Eggers speak at the Tennessee Williams Festival, which I'll count toward the furthering of my education goals. He has an inspiring and edifying way about him. He was so open and kind to everyone he spoke to and gave a wonderful talk on his approach to writing and education. Plus he looks a lot like David Boreanaz.

I am breaking one of his rules on writing, however, by having the internet. I can't quit you interwub.

Morning Funnies

2010-03-11T09:55:00.008-06:00

I kind of miss getting a newspaper and going straight to the funny pages. I have the internet now so I can deal. My morning pretty much begins the same way, but there is no Curtis or Family Circus.

Natalie Dee - 03-04-10 - Just have another pint of ice cream just to be safe.

Achewood - 03-11-10

Overcompensating - 03-11-10

A Softer World

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-10T12:19:00.008-06:00

It has been foggy and spooky in Chicago thanks in part to the warmer temperatures. I fantasize regularly about sun filled bike rides and sitting on my front porch during all my homework time. Not there yet, but soon.

I even walked home from the Ukranian Village to Logan Square after a lovely time at Lauren's fancy brunch on Saturday. It was a perfect day. (Lauren you need to teach me how to do Triptychs.)

Spring also means spring cleaning. The ladies and I are planning respective wardrobe inspections to help assess what we need to give to the Goodwill gods and what we should keep. I suspect it will be a lot like this.

As for the clothing ambitions, I really want Rachel Bilson, Michelle Williams and Zooey Deschanel to form a clothing line for petite ladies. In the meantime, I hope to emulate Zoeey in this music video for much of my future fashion choices.

I am now using Kaboodle to make this dream a reality.

Olyphantastic

2010-03-04T13:44:00.010-06:00

Megan, Lauren and I took in a movie at the local Kerasotes for free popcorn night. I really love seeing movies in the middle of the week. It is cheaper, plus hello, free popcorn. And the crowds are always interesting. In all honesty, I could see a movie any day of the week. So, I should just say, "I really love seeing movies."

We each smuggled in a La Croix. We have all given up soda for Lent. I ate a lot less popcorn as a consequence, which I suppose is a plus.

We saw "The Crazies".

I have a horror movie addiction. It probably stems back to my twin and me watching them with my brother and dad when we were little. A good horror movie has all the right elements for me - suspense, catharsis, conflict and excitement. And this movie did not disappoint. It was edge of your seat scary, great cinematography and solid acting. I have never seen Romero's original, so I can't really compare. I will make a point to now. It will be just like when I watched assigned horror movies for my Horror and Sci-Fi class in college. You read right - I watched horror movies for a grade.

But, seriously how bad could "The Crazies" be? It has American Jedi Timothy Olyphant. I have coined the term "Olyphantastic" since seeing this movie. He just is Olyphantastic. He is pretty much great in everything I have seen him in. Except for "Catch and Release". I do not know how you can mess up Sydney Bristow and Seth Bullock in one movie, but they did.

Seriously though - you have to love that mad man Bullock.

Gimme' some green.

2010-02-28T13:37:00.010-06:00

The days are getting longer, but still I see no green out there. To compensate, my twin and I have been pretty good about keeping things green inside our hobbit home. She deserves most of the credit. She is a very responsible waterer.

Some of our plants are even beginning to flower! I long for the French Quarter and Bywater smell of Night Blooming Jasmine. Jasmine makes for instant romance and is knee buckling in the right quantities. My Jasmine plant is winding up the window, but no blossoms as of yet. Come on spring!

To add to our blossom collection I impulsively bought some dried Lavender from Whole Foods.

And a Pussy Willow plant from Fleur, which has been sprouting like crazy since we brought it home.

I love Fleur. I leave with dreams of having a very elaborate glass nursery and only wearing green.

Dreaming of Green by Shannonmorley featuring Anthropologie

Adventures in Cooking

2010-02-25T18:40:00.013-06:00

This fancy person was in town:

So I went a little crazy with getting recipes together. Behold this and this.

I have always looked at The Jewels of New York recipes with great longing, but lacked the courage to give them a try. With Evan, however, they were a snap. This kid just knows his way around a kitchen.

Here is our Winter Braise:

Our Guinness Braised Short Ribs:

Word to the wise: this took a while so give yourself an afternoon to just let the short ribs cook slowly in the oven.

Well, I think Lauren liked our cooking efforts.

As you can see this was a pretty meattastic week. We also celebrated our anniversary at the latest and greatest Logan Square haunt, Longman and Eagle. We were not messing around. We got Kobe Beef Meatballs, Rabbit Patte, and Veal with beef cheek manicotti. Vegetarians should only go here for desserts and drinks. In fact, we got the chocolate banana bread pudding and it was boss. Needless to say Evan and I crawled home on our bellies.

The ambiance at Longman is very masculine and cool. And seriously I have never been anywhere in Chicago where the staff was so polite and attentive. It was like being in the South. They also gave us pink champagne, which I am a total sucker for.

They have bitchin' posters all over the Logan hood right now. They had me at Mark Twain.

Dreaming about Spring

2010-02-13T17:55:00.001-06:00

And new hair.

Spring Break by Shannonmorley featuring J Crew

Items in this set:
Women's new arrivals - knits & tees - Asymmetrical ruffle tee - J.Crew, $78
Women's new arrivals - swim - Jersey Lomellina® retro bandeau tank -..., $115
Women's skirts - a-line - Cotton Nico skirt - J.Crew, $60
Cleo platform sandals - J.Crew, $165
Lenora Dame | Jewelry | Bohemian Bracelets, $38

I collect female singers.

2009-12-03T13:10:00.000-06:00

This just induced my time of the month.

2009-05-21T23:12:00.001-06:00

New Tori and Regina! Squeak!

Le Sigh.

2009-04-30T00:28:00.001-06:00

Delphiniums

2009-04-02T08:38:00.002-06:00

Ahhh - they just bloom.

This is good for the big ol' city.

2009-03-28T20:11:00.000-06:00

Get your leather on.

And found.

2009-01-25T10:03:00.000-06:00

Pretty writing. Pretty acting. Pretty people. Pretty show.

Holy Crap Hulu

2008-12-23T19:26:00.002-06:00

http://www.hulu.com/watch/49587/howard-the-duck

I can kiss my producktivity good bye. Ha ha. Puns.

Sigh...latest obsession.

2008-12-21T00:36:00.001-06:00

I hate that kind of art.

2008-12-07T10:06:00.002-06:00

From Banksy to Prospect 1 to Airline Highway quicky motel canvases - this city is being converted into a sinking gallery space. Bitchin!

I am way into the idea. And for the record - if someone calls it art - then it is art. Doesn't mean it is good art. Or meaningful art. Or cathartic art. But, it now functions as art. Its kind of like love if you think about it.

Me and Banksy, originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

Banksy - one of the more popular Halloween costumes this year.

Airline Highway Quicky Motels

At the Mint. The piano was playing "Strange Fruit".

Also, I just saw "Let The Right One In". It is very pretty and contains some of the most innovative violence I have seen in a long time. And that is saying something. It has also inspired my new band name. "Vampyre Vagyna". Pretty good, right?

I am going to post about art soon. I promise.

2008-11-19T09:38:00.001-06:00

But in the meantime!

I should be working on something else.

2008-10-28T21:27:00.000-06:00

Soooo awesome.

2008-10-08T15:29:00.000-06:00

Don't Stop Believing (or pedaling)

2008-10-06T21:29:00.006-06:00

This is me right before the race.

Mike and I kept a pretty brisk pace all things considered. The most I had ever biked at once before the race was 30 miles. So - all things considered - we made good time.

On our ride we saw all of these dead animals: possums, raccoons, a turkey, a turtle, a few kitties, two puppies, a snake, a giant fat nutria (crown jewel), and a scary armadillo. We also saw tons of butterflies and cows.

This is us after the race.

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Mike has also decided to start calling poop plop stink and periods angry sludge. Being out in the sun that long does stuff to your brain.

Thanks for the donations!

Mo' Money

2008-09-28T08:42:00.003-06:00

Hey Folks - There is still time to donate! Thanks for everybody that already has. That was bitchin'. But, don't you want to support my brother and I riding 150 miles on our bikes? I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

Donate to Mike

Donate to Me

Donate. Or else!

2008-09-12T23:55:00.005-06:00

That's right, 150 miles for MS!

Dear Friends and Family,

The National MS Society is kicking off our annual Bike MS Ride. I am planning to be a part of that event and I am asking you to join me in the fight against MS by making a contribution to support my effort.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS. They simultaneously fund research for a cure while also helping people who currently live with MS lead more fulfilling lives. I believe in the work they do, and I invite you to see for yourself all the good they've done for the MS community. More than 400,000 Americans live with MS, and your support can and will make changes in their lives.

Please help by making a DONATION, large or small - to fight MS, or, why not join me on the day of the event? Become a participant and side by side, as teammates, we can work together to raise the funds to make a difference.

Whatever you can give will help! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Sincerely,
Shannon

Quarters.

2008-09-10T18:23:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow is that big day! Take shelter because my (and twin's) birthday is full of bad luck. Buy me stuff, like dresses and vintage guitars.

Characteristics of quarter-life crisis may include (or THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO):

* feeling "not good enough" because one can't find a job that is at one's academic/intellectual level
* frustration with relationships, the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
* confusion of identity
* insecurity regarding the near future
* insecurity concerning long-term plans, life goals
* insecurity regarding present accomplishments
* re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
* disappointment with one's job
* nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
* tendency to hold stronger opinions
* boredom with social interactions
* loss of closeness to high school and college friends
* financially-rooted stress (overwhelming college loans, unanticipatedly high cost of living, etc.)
* loneliness
* desire to have children
* a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you

Bang.

2008-09-09T23:33:00.003-06:00

The Large Hadron Collider is getting switched on a 2 am central time tonight. If we all get sucked into a Black Hole I just wanted to say this one last time in case. I love you.

I am a fan.

2008-09-06T14:40:00.001-06:00

Phew!

2008-09-03T15:52:00.005-06:00

New Orleans is safe! Mom and I are running on day 5 of Cullman, Alabama. Mike and Monica left at 4 am today to check out everything. There is no power, but thankfully no damage. Huzzah!

Ray Nagin isn't so much a politician as he is a "personality". That useless sack of crap should get on Hollywood Squares already.

We return early tomorrow morning. In the meantime - Star Wars and Space Ice Cream from NASA in Huntsville.

Saddle Up.

2008-08-30T17:29:00.004-06:00

Most of my family has evacuated to Alabama. We are going to see Helen Keller's house tomorrow, a place she never got to see. Zing. All of my friends and family are getting out of town. That's all that matters.

Still, I can't decide whether I want to puke or cry.

Here is a link to an old song I just recorded in our Best Western hotel room.

Whale Fall

It sums up how I am feeling I suppose.

Filler.

2008-08-25T21:29:00.012-06:00

So, a lot has been going on and things are looking pretty good. But, I just feel like blogging about food.

Below is a list of foodstuff that I could eat every single day.

Goji Berries

They are expensive and I blame my friend Chris for first introducing me to them. But, I like the copy on the packaging that says a handful of Goji Berries a day makes Tibetans happy.

Kashi Waffles

Every flavor is delicious and I could eat them at any time of the day. The Blueberry Waffle reminds me of these Carebear waffles we used to eat at my Babysitter's house. Delicious memories.

Coffee

Even though I can't have Intelligentsia or Metropolis anymore - The Herb Import coffee shop near me has bitchin' iced coffee. It also makes my credit card statement look more interesting because it reads "The Herb Import" every day.

Wheat Bagels

So warm. So full of bread.

Non-Fat Vanilla Yogurt

Freeze it and you have ice-cream. I am eating you right now.

Bananas

Please, don't go extinct. I'll live in the Seed Vault if I have to.

Sparkling Water

Its' like I am drinking soda. But, its water. Psyche, body!

**BONUS**

Vosges Chocolate Bar

The Goji Bar with pink salt is sooooo good. But, I can't get it down here. :(

Yay!

2008-08-15T14:59:00.001-06:00

New Hero

2008-07-21T21:19:00.006-06:00

I saw The Dark Knight twice this weekend. Words are not enough to describe how much I loved it, so I will just quote the Joker in regard to this film, "You complete me."

So, I was an Extra for two days in The Dark Knight. Gary Oldman is taller than expected and dreamy. Christian Bale is an Adonis. And walking up and down the street over and over for twelve hours a day while Bruce Wayne races a Lamborghini past you is actually more rewarding than retail and corporate life. Combined.

In those two days an extra had a bloody seizure, an assistant director expressed unabashed relief that it wasn't me who had the seizure because I was "super cute", the Lamborghini crashed into a Gotham cop car, and I got to watch Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne exchange witty dialogue. I also got to see Christopher Nolan direct the crap out of this movie. It is official, the man gets a spot on my Hero Roster.

I shook his hand and asked him if he was using parts from Alan Moore's The Killing Joke for any of the plot, to which he replied, "Not completely, but it is definitely an influence." I just squealed, "Awesome!" And thanked him.

I am a blur to the right of the screen wearing a tan trench coat and blue shirt when the Commish and Batman are talking. I hope I don't get type casted as a blur, because I was THAT good.

So sad.

2008-07-09T15:46:00.000-06:00

So tragic.

All Things Go

2008-07-04T00:01:00.002-06:00

All Things Go, originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

While in Chicago I walked around a haunted Logan Square by myself, saw a play about twins and a mysterious elephant at Chopin, met Warren Ellis and Max Brooks, ate Shannon Pizza, ran to Humboldt Park, got to hold a pooping baby Charlie Hanna, pet several pugs with Megan, looked at paintings in the Art Institute, drank Intelligentisa till there was a hole in my stomach, lost in a game of Apples to Apples to my friend Ling who is really a witch, sang to Tori Amos on my way to a comic book convention, saw Cursive amidst a crowd of cute grown up children and fireflies, ate a Kuma Burger while my brother sang “Running with the Devil” (twice), high fived a bartender at Hungry Brain, saw The Hulk at the Logan Square movie theater for $3, sang to Bob Dylan with Nick and Robin in a cab, danced to Kate Bush, watched a lot of The Simpsons Season 2, finally bought the final trade for Y: The Last Man, did not get or give a back rub with Erin, watched The Mist while talking about werewolves at The California Clipper, danced to The Misfits with Andy’s dog Reina, ate Chipotle with the siblings, and made plans for a bitchin’ vision quest. And more.

My Greatest Contribution...

2008-06-21T13:16:00.004-06:00

...is finding this swimming pool. One thing that I missed about Chicago was free access to swimming pools all across the city. New Orleans used to have beautiful public pools - or so my parents told me. Well, one of them still exists. It sits to the right of the Audubon Zoo. The Mississippi blows a refreshing breeze and you are only a short bike ride to Williams Plum Street Sno Ball.

Summer has been saved, praise whatever serpent god you worship.

Unfortunately, I can't move right now. I was trying to lift heavy stones for my mom's backyard. I lifted like they told me to on Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Use all of my back and snap up.
.
I am watching episodes where Charlie hurts himself. I am thinking it might make me feel better.

And then I am going to read The Gunslinger - gearing up for an awesome summer.

Shhh. Just watch this.

2008-06-05T23:39:00.002-06:00

I really want you to watch this video too.

MGMT- Electric Feel
Uploaded by Whyzix

It is perfect.

Update

2008-05-24T12:55:00.004-06:00

Hi Everybody!

Things have been really busy as usual. I have been doing some substituting and working with this program called New Orleans Outreach. I get to see the wee ones performing acts of Poetry, Martial Arts, Yoga and African Dance. Almost all of the kids I work with are bigger than me. I think they think I am a Child Spy.

The students and teachers I work with are generally awesome. The students are just out of control cute. Most days they blow my mind with how insightful and bright they are.

Only downside is they talk a lot of trash when they play me in Tether Ball.

In other news - my mom is sprouting hair and going out to bars at night. Holy Crap!

I am also bracing myself for the summer heat. When I ride my bike here, all forms of dust, debris, and bugs stick to me - so I never feel clean.

It will be nice to ride in good ol' Critical Mass next week in a cooler climate. See you soon Chi-town.

Pugsley Ram Juneau

2008-05-15T21:26:00.003-06:00

1994-2008

Me and My Arrow

2008-05-15T21:08:00.007-06:00

I have spent the entire day Eulogizing one of the greatest monsters to ever walk the earth. Pugsley Ram Juneau went to Heaven today.

Pugsley had become completely incontinent and could not stand without one of us physically lifting him up. His back legs stopped working and he was peeing something that looked like egg yolk. We took him to the Vet today hoping for the best and fearing the worst.

Not before stopping at the Magic Window so he could have Hash Browns.

His endorsement beats Iron Man's.

Our Vet and us all tearfully decided that Pugsley has been in too much pain and his medication was no longer helping. He went with a stomach full of greasy fast food, surrounded by a cadre of tearful adorers, and in hazy blissed out fog. There is a huge Pug shaped hole is my heart right now.

Chief Blood Orange Satsuma Ugly Fruit Kumquat - You Will Be Missed.

The Horror

2008-04-15T11:21:00.005-06:00

I have been meaning to say something about Doomsday.

I think my dad said it best, "That move should win an Academy Award for the Awesome category." I agree.

I also saw The Ruins this weekend.

It was perfect and surprisingly realistic.

And now that I am addicted to Youtube - a video by my favorite kind of people - art students in New York.

Magical

2008-04-09T17:14:00.000-06:00

I Can Never Feel Sad Again

2008-04-08T23:01:00.001-06:00

Because THIS exists. Ever.

Can't Wait!

2008-04-01T16:14:00.001-06:00

Oh Apollo...

Twinventures

2008-03-24T16:59:00.001-06:00

Shannon, originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

More to come!

Weapons

2008-03-22T23:31:00.001-06:00

People are just People

2008-03-11T13:55:00.009-06:00

Megan and I had the honor of seeing Christian Bale's Step Mother speak at Tulane last week.

Gloria Steinem was absurdly charming and inspiring. From talking about the painful metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly to the lie that is "Post-Feminism" - I was pretty much glued to my seat. How could Feminism be dead if what it sought to accomplish has not yet come to pass? Women's Health Care inequities came up over and over.

Speaking of Women's Health - on our way home Megan got a flat tire on her bike. We were right next to our old high school, St. Mary's Dominican. It wasn't the best of neighborhoods to night bike ride in.

We walked up to S. Carrolton. Megan joked that we should go to the Notre Dame Seminary (priest school) near by and ask for help. To which I replied, "Awesome! Yes! But, you have to ask."

So, there was Megan with braided pigtails walking up to this building below late at night.

The priests were a little confused and weary about our presence at their doorstep, but were just the same, happy to load up our bikes into the back oftheir Suburban and take us home Good Samaritan style.

Father Mike asked us where were we coming from.

"A Feminist lecture," I replied.

"Feminist, eh? I hope it was the good kind of Feminism."

Megan chimed in, "All Feminism is good."

Father Mike furrowed his brow,"Well, you know, not all "isms" are good."

I said, "Certainly! Nazism. Racism. Sexism. Agism. I agree Father, there are lots of bad isms."

Oh, comedy.

Two priests drove us home and we talked about Lent and the challenges the church has had to face since the storm down here. Father Mike worked at a hospice.

When we were at our door Father Mike yelled out from his White Suburban, "You two shouldn't ride your bikes late at night around that neighborhood!"

I Don't Have to Wait for Summer - For My Northern Friends

2008-03-08T13:08:00.002-06:00

I should go see them at South by Southwest.

Fart Party

2008-03-04T11:29:00.002-06:00

The twins have a new obsession.

New Orleans Critical Mass

2008-03-02T14:34:00.004-06:00

Megan and I partook in Critical Mass on Friday evening. It meets in front of St. Louis Cathedral on the last Friday of the month at 6:00 pm and gets rolling around 6:30 pm. It felt really good to ride up Carrollton with a gang of fellow bikers who could shield you from traffic if need be.

So, if you like to bike and want a safer New Orleans come out next Critical Mass! Can't you see it?? A skinnier city with less crime and bike lanes EVERYWHERE. It sounds like a Hotopia.

So True

2008-02-27T16:26:00.001-06:00

Physical Therapy

2008-02-13T22:16:00.000-06:00

Sandra Rae destroys.

Reach For The Stars!

2008-02-12T10:18:00.001-06:00

So, I bought the Alan Moore documentary. It was $60. I have great, great ambitions.

TheGreenPartiers.jpg, originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

Also, I will be training to have a show at WTUL for the next couple of weeks. It will be from 4-6 on Thursday afternoons unless my schedule changes. That is 91.5 FM. I be bringing the fattest beats. I think I will post my setlists up here.

I have a love / hate relationship with College Radio. Mostly love though. I mean c'mon! That is Jella Biafra and Welsey Willis! Those two are what college is all about. And for some reason or another all of the new friends I have made since collge did college radio. Spooky.

OMG!

2008-02-01T17:19:00.001-06:00

Much thanks to my brother for finding this. I have been searching for it since November 2006. Feast.

The Mindscape of Alan Moore

Style Icons

2008-01-27T23:32:00.002-06:00

What I miss about Chicago most.

2008-01-16T14:41:00.000-06:00

All the movies the Windy City gets to have. New Orleans doesn't get em' all. There Will Be Blood and Persepolis have not even come here yet. WTF? :(

Ahhh well. It is warm here. Suck on that Chicago.

I did get to see The Orphanage last night. I cried my brains out. Sure there are some plot holes - but it is a story about ghosts. They fill said holes with ecto-plasm and dread.

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T12:20:00.001-06:00

Now that is what I call a good ol' fashioned Book Burning. I brought Harry Potter because it has Magic., originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

There is still time!

2007-12-29T19:37:00.001-06:00

Christmas season isn't officially over. What do you get for the girl who has everything? Chigurh's air gun, doy! Or a Pit Bull that can swim really well.

Tuesday night

2007-12-27T00:26:00.002-06:00

In case you wondering what I was up to or have been concerned about my well-being. All is well. And yes in order for Pug to sit on my lap I must put down a towel for fear of what might leak out of him.

Early Warning

2007-12-09T19:09:00.001-06:00

Sparkly, originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

Endymion rolls in Mid City for the first time since before the storm, dudes. Saturday - February 2. Mardi Gras is on the 5th. If you can make it out and make it down.

Getting Well-er

2007-12-02T19:10:00.001-06:00

DSC_0120.JPG, originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

Just wanted to make a quick post to tell everyone that my mom's surgery went very well. Lots of nail biting took place. My mom got a super sweet hospital suite by luck. The hospital is at capacity since the storm supposedly, so we had to wait several hours after her surgery to get a room. Long story short we had posh accomodations with a sleeper couch so Megan and I got to stay with her every night she was there. (Sleep over party and blood bag fight!)

The nurses and staff were great and we got to witness a Code Pink. I was walking up the stairs with celebatory cookies and a nurse popped out of the third floor door and asked, "Do you have a baby in there?" To which I responded, "You lost a baby."
As I made my way back to my mom's room I saw staff of all shapes and sizes squealing, "Oh shit! Code Pink!"

I think they found the baby later on.

Sandra Rae is recovering nicely though. She is throwing all of her troubles to the wind. Or to the ducks, respectively.

Katrina Kauses Kancer

2007-11-26T15:53:00.001-06:00

So, tomorrow morning Pugsley goes in for the official removal of his balls. Say a prayer and shed a tear folks. Tis a sad day for all ball aficionados. He may or may not have Prostate Cancer. Three Vet fingers up a swollen Pug anus can only show so much. This will be revealed in the surgery I am sure.

On Wednesday my mother - my hero - goes in for a Bilateral Mastectomy.
Don't just say a prayer, but light a football field full of Novenas on
this one. Megan and I will be spending lots of time at the hospital
this week. We have great plans of graffiti-tagging a pro-life poster that is in front of the institution. Shhhh - don't tell anyone. (I am kidding.)

And I am well aware that there are three K's up there. That was just meant to be in poor taste. And kind of funny. And its true - Cancer rates have skyrocketed in the coastal region since Katrina. Stress = Cancer. Pugsley is stressed.

Pugsley, "Oh why am I cursed with such shiny black balls?!", originally uploaded by Juxtaposedface.

Youtube, will you marry me? I would make a great wife.

2007-11-25T22:30:00.000-06:00