I Think It'd Be Cool If They Still Did X-rays In Shoe Stores.

Fascinating article from Wired about the history of photography to capture what the human eye can't. It's worth the read.

I Would Literally Be Staring At The Ceiling All Day.

I don't know how anyone would get any work done. Love the quote at the end of the article though.

Another Stupid Question You Shouldn't Ask Me.

I think it should be a common rule of etiquette not to ask about someone's availability without first saying why. Nothing frustrates me more (I'm exaggerating) than someone asking me something like, "Hey, so what are you doing next Thursday?"

Whenever I get asked that question, I immediately rack my brain for a vague answer. Why? Because whether or not I'm busy depends on why you're asking. Want me to help you haul stuff to the dump? Oh, I'm sorry, I already have plans for that day. Want me to fill in for you on a $40/hour shoot? Sure! My schedule's free and clear!

Most of the time, my answers have been along the lines of "Oh, I have a job penciled in, but nothing's definite yet" but you can only use that so many times. Plus, work's been notoriously slow these days, so I'm getting even less mileage out of it.

So help me out here folks. A simple sentence like "What are you doing tomorrow? I need someone to _____" would avoid a lot of future awkwardness.

Instead Of Your Heart On Your Sleeve, It's Colored Lights On Your Chest.

[][][][] / "Sigur ros - Gong" / Eric Lerner from Eric Lerner on Vimeo.

At first I thought this was a bit cheesy, but then it got amazing beautiful. Must watch it!

Amazing Hand Drawn Work By David Bray.

It pretty much goes without saying that I wish I could draw like this guy.

To Mervyns: A Love Letter.

As weird as it may sound, I have fond memories of Mervyns. Despite having a stigma about it of being the Walmart of department stores, their selection and prices were appealing for a young girl trying to transition from the grungy-tomboy look to the cute-girl-next-door one.

Even as I got older and fashion wiser, I'd still occasionally return to buy a belt or other accessory. Due to their lack of logos on their clothing, it was the perfect place for getting those basic items like camisoles and cardigans that no one would be able to tell where you got from anyway. It was the store you go to all the time, but would be embarrassed to be caught shopping in.

I'll admit that I'm sad to see the store go though. Some of my earliest shopping memories were of Mervyns, and I guess I just assumed it'd always be there.

Anyway, I decided to check it out one last time while I was at the mall the other day and I scored these:

Cute, cheap, and without a designer name or label in sight. Ahh... That's so Mervyns.

Gotta Love Tulsa...

I don't know if this is supposed to paint the business of drug dealing in a good light or bad. On the one hand, the cops took my Escalade. But on the other, hey! I had an Escalade! Either way, I found it hilarious.

"I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up..."

This has been my anthem lately.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60.

A good example of how the right angles, poses, lighting, hair, makeup and wardrobe can manipulate a picture.

One Of The Stupidest Questions To Ask Right Now...

I'm dreading the Holiday get togethers even more than usual this year. It was hard enough explaining what my job is/"was" in previous years and I have a feeling it will be even more horrific this year trying to explain why I'm not working as much.

Plus, there's even the more dreaded question: So what have you been doing this whole time if you're not working?

I mean, I can't exactly tell them that I've been watching a lot of TV and baking cookies. And you know what? That's a stupid question to ask anyway. I mean, unemployed people all pretty much do the same things. Look for work and wait for an opportunity. We watch TV, make dinner and vacuum the rug while we worry about our financial future. Sometimes a load of laundry or two is thrown into the mix.

I know that the question is asked innocently enough, but damn, it's annoying.

Kris Kuksi's "Imminent Utopia"

I don't know which to praise more: Kris Kuksi's vision, or his meticulous attention to detail.

If I was in New York, I'd so check out his exhibition.

Am I Turning Into My Mother??

My mom called me, and I told her when I was probably going to start the drive up north for Thanksgiving.

"So have you finished packing yet?"
"Uh... No mom. I don't leave for a few days."

Mom's can be so silly sometimes.

I've Heard This Story So Many Times I Feel Like I'm In "Groundhog's Day".

I'm tired of all this SAG/AMPTP strike talk. It's because of these "talks" that I'm not working and I have friends leaving the business.

They've been "talking" for about six months now, and every time they "talk", neither side budges. Now they're having new "talks" and guess what? They're all saying the same damn thing!

For Pete's sake SAG, your industry is at a standstill and most everyone is out of work. There are five other unions (and tentatively a sixth) who more or less took the same deal. This is the one industry that's historically been "recession proof", but now it's losing money. What makes you think threatening to strike is a good idea? It's a three year contract for crying out loud, and if you had taken the offer to begin with, it'd already be 20% over and you'd be reaping the benefits of the better terms instead of still working off the old, expired contract. Either put the damn strike out to a vote, or take the AMPTP's offer. Stop being childish.

Spendelicious.

100 cards. 100 designers. Some of these are pretty fabulous.

B of A Somewhat Redeemed.

I figured out the secret to bypassing B of A's customer service hell: Call on the weekends.

I was trying to sort out some new account/old account mayhem and I immediately got a couple of the nicest customer service people I've ever spoken to on the line. Like, people I wouldn't mind hanging out with kind of nice.

I'm not saying that they've been fully forgiven for the previous incident, but I feel a bit better about them now.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

I got a call late last night from a guy who who's hired me before in the past. He was checking my availability for a job... in Las Vegas.

No idea on the budget, rate, crew, gear, dates or anything else. The only thing that's for sure is Vegas.

Sounds a bit shady, but in a bright, glitzy, neon lights kinda way.

I'd Want Mine To Say "Mmm... Cake..."

Neato idea from designer Sakurako Shimizu. Sound wave jewlery.

I Probably Just Jinxed Myself, But...

I don't know why, but today seems like a good day you guys.

Maybe not a great or spectacular, but a good one nonetheless.

The sun's shining, the fires are out, and Thanksgiving's less than a week away! What's not to love?

It's Disgustingly Beautiful.

Zune Paint from Sibling Rivalry on Vimeo.

This is one of those things where you just... can't... look... away...

Guys Can Be Such Girls Sometimes.

You know how there are those people you used to be friends with, but then things either got awkward, boring, or annoying? And for whatever reason, you two just don't talk to each other anymore, but their number's still in your phone because it's not like you hate them or anything. It's just that your friendship kinda faded so what's the diff if you still have their number? It's kinda like keeping an old work number in your phone. You don't work there anymore, but you're too lazy to delete it and what does it matter if you still have it?

Anyway, I just got a text from one of those people. Apparently, he was going through his contacts and found that he still has my number. "Let me know if you want me to delete it" he says.

Uh... Newsflash: It's your phone. Keep it if you want to. Delete it if you don't.

I mean, WTF is that?? It is kinda sad because we were once good friends, but come on, we haven't spoken to each other in ages and honestly, I totally forgot you were in my phone until this morning. I couldn't care less if you kept it or not, just as long as you don't post it on a bathroom stall somewhere. Why are you asking me if YOU should keep my number in YOUR phone? And FYI, your melodramatic text reminds me why we kinda stopped hanging out in the first place.

This Pretty Much Sums Up The Past Few Months.

People Who Do The Hiring Are Either Stupid, Lazy, Or Both.

This is the second time in a row now where I submit my resume to a production, and get a generic reply that's OBVIOUSLY been copy and pasted onto who knows how many other applicants.

Yeah, it's hard/annoying to have to type the same basic info for each e-mail you receive. I get it. I really do. But hey, you managed to take the time out and throw in my name for that "personal" touch, how hard is it to slip in the JOB TITLE that you all seem to think I'm "perfectly suited" for??

And they all want to meet with me too, which is the funny thing. Like I'm really gonna jump at the chance to meet some nincompoops to interview for a position I don't even know.

Oh, and have I mentioned that they all want me to do these mystery jobs for free?

My Holiday Resolution.

I think I'm going to let myself get fat this holiday season.

It just seems like the right thing to do.

Cracked Out Spiders.

I hate bugs, spiders in particular, but I found this to be pretty interesting.

Check out the webs spiders weave when they're doped up with drugs like LSD or pot. The above picture is what my web would look like if I was a spider.

From The Back Of My Vitamin Water.

Something tells me this bottle's marketed more towards the female crowd.

I Love You But...

I spent some time poking around loveyoubut.com, and while I think some of the pieces are a tad superficial, there are some that I think are really strong. Take a couple minutes out of your day and check it out.

Today Kicked My Ass.

For whatever reason, I'm just gosh darn beat today. Work was a breeze and easier than expected, but damn, when I got home all I wanted to do was crash for the night. I ended up taking a nap on the couch after dinner, which usually perks me right up and screws up my sleep schedule for a few days, but not this time. I awoke still feeling groggy and sluggish.

It's not even 11pm yet, but this old gal, who normally stays up all hours of the night, will now be crawling into her bed and fall asleep watching episodes of The Tonight Show on Hulu.

Goodnight.

Ugh... I Think I'm Getting Too Old For This...

Work was pretty fun today, despite waking up late and only having five minutes to get out the door. It ended up being a "half" day today, but I still feel like I went a full 12 hours of real work.

My plan for the rest of the night: watch TV and eat ice cream. Yum.

(Oh, and we stayed indoors for the better part of day, but the air didn't seem that bad anyway.)

Sucky Air, Sucky Weekend.

I'm going a bit stir crazy right now. I haven't left my apartment all weekend except to go get the mail yesterday. Because of the poor air quality from the fires, everyone has been advised to stay indoors.

I've got a shoot to go to tomorrow though, and it's out in Santa Monica where the air is supposedly even worse. Hopefully it won't be so bad.

Le Café

I have no idea what they're saying in this video...

Le café
by pheneu_et_meleu

...But I love it anyway.

Fires, Fires, All Around.

SoCal's on fire again guys, and this shit is getting crazy.

Homes are gone, but fingers crossed that everyone got out okay.

The Killers on MTV Europe Awards

The Killers - New Music - More Music Videos

I'm loving this video for the following reasons:

1) I'm a fan of The Killers and this is an awesome song.
2) This is the best performance I've seen from a band in a while, and they aren't even really moving.
3) The film theory geek in me is freaking out over the whole 3D image created from a single plane while watching it on a single plane. Kinda like Michael Snow's Wavelength, but waaaay shorter and way cooler.

Tidbit Notebooks

I could so go for one of these... I'm always ripping corners and such off pages simply because that's all the paper I need.

Dreaming of Turkey.

The more I think about Thanksgiving, the more excited I am about going home. Even though it's still about two weeks away (and a whole week before I can even think about heading up north), I just briefly considered starting packing already. Haha. I'm so lame.

This Is The Most Interesting Thing That's Happened To Me In A While.

I had a dream last night where I was a camera operator on this weird documentary and we'd shoot the whole thing using little point and shoot digital cameras. I was damn good at it too.

Laundry Day!

I normally hate doing laundry. I'm one of those people who tend to leave their freshly cleaned clothes in the laundry basket for a few days. Usually until I get tired of tripping over it.

But not today! It's a pretty overcast and chilly outside and I took joy in folding the warm, fluffy towels fresh from the dryer.

Mmm.... I had such a huge smile on my face, I felt like I was in a commercial for fabric softener.

This Makes Me Wish I Needed Glasses.

If I had to wear glasses, I'd so get a pair of these.



I'd probably stick the chopsticks in my hair more than I'd use them to eat with. I can never find a good hair tie when I need one.

Little Red Riding Hood.

Loving it.

Untitled Post For Sunday

The clouds and sun have been playing peekaboo all day today, but it's now getting late enough that it's starting to get a bit dark out.

And I'm still in my PJs from this morning.

Yeah, it's one of those days.

Already Thinking About Thanksgiving...

My mom called me today.

"So you'll be home on Tuesday, right? Because I just made a dentist appointment for you for the 26th."

Yeah, that was how the convo started. Mom's not big on pretext.
Meanwhile, I was caught off guard and didn't even know what to say. Probably because I hadn't even thought about when I'd be making the trek back home and was trying to figure out if she had gotten the date from something I've said or if she just made it up.

Anyway, after the conversation ended and I hung up the phone, I started thinking and counting back the months. I haven't been home since last January for New Years, making this the longest I've been away for. I usually at least pop in for a visit once or twice a year but I guess this year's been harder because of the lack of work.

It used to be that I'll have a month or two booked up and I'd drive up and spend some time with the folks before things got super busy. But now that I no longer have the luxury of knowing when I'll get my next paycheck, I'm pretty much stuck staying in town since most of my money these days have been from random last minute gigs, which can be kind of a bummer.

And now, for the first time that I can remember, I'm actually looking forward to going home. I mean really looking forward to it. And that is what I'll be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Seriously??

I decided to give soymilk creamer a try and as I pour some into my morning cup of coffee, I notice this warning on it:

Wow... Really? There has to be a warning for that??

I makes me kinda sad to think that some parent out there probably thought it was okay to feed their baby French Vanilla flavored soy based creamer thinking it was as good as infant formula.

Baking GALS - Food For Thought

As my team host/manager can probably verify, I had a ton of questions about sending a care package to our soldier. I've never sent anything to an APO address before, or out of the country, so I had a million questions floating around in my head. How much would it cost? Is there a weight limit? Do I have to package it in a certain way? How long would it take to get there?

So I packed up Amie's cookies, cookies, and more cookies, along with some Lemon Heads, Blow Pops (I figured they might've missed Halloween), packs of gum, and some Lipton Green Tea On The Go. The package, with all it's sugar coma inducing glory, weighed a little over four pounds!

Luckily, after waiting in line for what seemed like forever (I usually don't do post office lines. I'm APC proficient!), I found myself being helped by a kind, older gentleman who I soon learned had been working there since at least 1996. Unlike his co-worker beside him, he always had a smile on his face and took the time to answer all of my questions. The whold thing ended up costing me about $11 to send via parcel post ($17 for Priority. Next time, I think I'll consider using a flat rate box!).

As he was pushing some buttons on his computer and making markings on the box, the teller, glancing at the name, asked me if she was coming home for Christmas. I told him I didn't know her and explained the Baking GALS project, and he seemed impressed.

But after our transaction was finished and I headed back to my car, enjoying warm sunshine and crisp autumn air, his question hit me like a ton of bricks. Does she get to come home for Christmas? And if not, when does she get to come home? Does she have a family waiting for her? How long has she been gone? How old is she?

When I signed onto a baking team, I felt like it was the right thing to do. I had the time, energy, and the means to participate, and I knew it'd make some people, who are working very hard for this country, our country, very happy. I knew there was a person I'd be sending things too, and as I put together her package, my mind was filled with thoughts of what else she might like. Doing all this made me feel good inside. But for some reason, she didn't seem all that real to me. I've been treating her like a friend who had just gone off to college. I made her cookies and sent her reminders of "home". But you know what? She's not my friend. I don't know anything about her. And she didn't just go off to college. She went off to serve our country. To fight in a war. Thousands of miles from wherever she considers home. Who knows when she'll be coming back? And how many Halloweens, Thanksgivings, Christmases and birthdays will she (and has she) miss?

I suddenly find myself wishing I could've done more. Maybe signed onto multple teams. Perhaps load the box up more with more thoughtful items. Or perhaps instead of treating this whole thing like a project to feel better about myself, actually stop and think about those on the recieving end of these packages.

All this from one simple question asked by a USPS employee.

Prop 8

I found out that a good friend of mine, one who I inspired me many times when I was down, voted Yes on Prop 8. He even worked on an ad campaign, along with another friend of mine who I thought for sure was against it.

I can't help but think if I had just spoken up about my thoughts on the issue when we were sitting there on that cold, rainy day, would he have voted differently?

It's ELECTION DAY!

Finally. It's November 4th. I decided to spend the day all cozy-ed up in my apartment, spending the afternoon doing things around the house and baking for the troops. No long voting lines for me. I made my Proposition and candidate choices weeks ago and did an absentee ballot.

And while it's relatively quiet inside my little nest, I'm sure it's mayhem for the rest of the nation as everyone eagerly awaits the outcome. I'm almost too afraid to turn on the TV. I'm both excited and nervous; hopeful and optimistic that my candidate of choice wins, but at the same time, I know that it'll be a relatively close race.

We'll see what happens.

Today Was A Good Day.

The freelance life is crazy. One minute you're going months without work, and the next you're on a few sweet back to back jobs that end up paying a bit more than was agreed upon.

You also end up suddenly overworked, crawling into bed before eleven, and wanting to do nothing but sleep for days. And when it's all over, you're back at square one, wondering where the next paycheck is coming from.

Ahh... This is the life.

Rewrites.

Amendment to previous list of goals:

I'll clean one "problem" area of my apartment a day, unless I'm working. There's simply no way I can fit both in if I'm going to take either job seriously. Plus, otherwise it means that my new resolutions didn't even make it through two days. =Þ