The Metaphorical Magpie

"It's Only Natural"...that

I'm excited Crowded House announced last week they will be reuniting. They are working on a new record and will play Coachella. Frenz.com will have all the details as they emerge. I was fourteen when they released the Crowded House record. I was completely in love with the band. "Something So Strong" was one of my favorite videos. I loved the way their collars stuck up so jauntily.

Other stuff to be excited about:

The Leonard Lopate Show Amy Sedaris Craft Challenge: "Amy wants you to get crafty. The challenge: make food come alive with googly eyes! In I Like You: The Art of Hospitality Under the Influence, Amy Sedaris dishes up whimsical advice on how to be creative at home and on Friday, February 9th, she shares some of her favorite projects on The Leonard Lopate Show. To join in on the Amy Sedaris Craft Challenge: add googly eyes to any item of food, then send us a photo of your creation. Amy will choose her favorite entry on-air on February 9th.
The lucky winner will receive a signed copy of her book I Like You, and a fake cake handmade to order from Amy."  Rules here.

The new Queensthings website and jewelry collection inspired by the book "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Jenny Vorwaller's work is marvelous. I'd like to have each and every piece. 

Culture Shock: Vol.3

1/22: Sick day means lots of TV: The View interviewed Justin who plays Alex Kurev on Greys Anatomy. He's got five kids! Oprah had an update on the people who went on her debt diet last year. There were also tips on how you can save money right now. Random shows on HGTV while I snoozed on the couch. Reading: Poetry by Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman. Oprah magazine (Dec 06). Film: Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte which was made by the same director of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? I'd recommend the latter.

1/23: Listening: Piqued by a Brooklyn Vegan post, I listened to some tracks by The Pippettes and Amy Winehouse. The Pippettes are perky and poppy. Listen to a sample of their stream here. Think I'll stick some old Motown if I want a girl band fix. I found Amy Winehouse to be much more listenable. A track named "you Know I'm No Good" goes right to my Bad Girl heart. On the Leonard Lopate show, a really inspirational segment with  5th grade teacher Rafe Esquith explains how he inspires his students to rise above the violence and poverty of their Los Angeles neighborhood in "How To Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire"

1/24: Listening: Bright Black Morning Light "Bright Black Morning Light", made Valentine's Day themed mix cd for the Five Things swap. Lots of lovey dovey songs. Tracklist will be posted soon.

1/25: Listening: Belle and Sebastian library on the ipod

1/26: Listening: segment on procrastination on the Leonard Lopate show

1/27: TV: Greys Anatomy (1/25) Film: part of Carlito's Way while I was up with Quentin

1/28: TV: Men in Trees (1/25), 60 Minutes, The Simpsons, Extras, Meet the Press interview with Arkansas Gov. Huckabee who just announced his candidacy for president in '08. Let's just say I (don't) Heart Huckabee. Film: An American in Paris, The Last King of Scotland. I'm so glad this came back around to the theaters.

Double Happiness

 

Sweets and I are celebrating two years of togetherness this weekend. We planned to go either New York or Philadelphia for a fun day out but Quentin needs us to coddle him right now. That change in our plans didn't stop Sweets from having a gorgeous bouquet of roses delivered to my office. They smell divine.

Two years ago, we crossed a frozen beach on a starry night and we've been walking side by side ever since. He took me back to that beach in March to propose to me. The past two years have been the happiest time of my life. I feel loved and cared for. I can rely on him for a laugh when I need it or tea when I'm sick. He makes me feel special and sexy and that's it okay to be precisely who I am. We really are a team. Together we can tackle just about anything.

Happy Anniversary, Sweets. I love you more each day.

We took the photo above at  rose garden in Portland, OR over the fall. Some of my other favorite photos together are:
Our first photo taken together
Smooching on the ferris wheel at a county fair in Indiana
More smooching. We do it alot.
Cutting our engagement party cake
Photoboothing
On a picnic
At the Bridal Veil waterfall in Oregon

Quentin-Boo-Boo

Sometimes I talk about Quentin B. but I'm not sure if I've ever shared a photo of him here. We're close to celebrating our ten year anniversary together. Which means he's getting kinda old. Twelve or thirteen years old. You certainly wouldn't know it. He's still energetic as all get out. He chases squirrels. Leaps off the steps two at a time. And that leads to a little problem. The other morning he ran out the doggie door, jumped off the deck and yelped. He came into the house hopping on one foot. We thought he just had a scare and let him rest. Sweets checked on him at lunch and he didn't want to eat or drink or come out of his doggie pod. By the time I got home, we knew he needed to see the vet. There's an emergency animal hospital close to our house so we bundled him up and went to get him checked out.

He tore the ligament in his leg that is comparable to the ACL in humans. We had two choices. Do nothing, take him home and he'd rapidly develop arthritis which would be painful and lead to lameness. Or an operation that puts a nylon band in to replace the ligament. We went for the operation. It wasn't cheap and it comes at a time where we are planning  big expenditures for the wedding but what can you do?  I'm big on saving for an emergency. It felt good to be able to do what I think is best and not worry about the cost. All that thriftiness just paid off. Quentin and I already have ten good years together. I want as many as we have left to be good ones, too where we can run and jump together.

For the time being though, there will be no running, jumping or playing. For two months, he has to be confined to a crate unless its potty time. He's still in pain so he's taking it pretty well, mostly snoozing. Last night, I split my time between the bedroom and laying on the couch to be near him when he cried in the night. My little Quentin has a boo boo. I'm going to kiss it every day.

Culture Shock: Vol.2

1/15: Reading: Wedding Chic: The Savvy Bride's Guide to Getting More While Spending Less by Nina Wildorf, Metropolitan Home (Dec06/Jan 07), saw a possible wedding favor idea in Popoutz birdfeeders made of recyclable plastic or metal TV: The Golden Globes awards show. Impressed my Meryll Streep when she said" It's amazing what you can get when you quietly, clearly and authoritatively ask for it." Listening: Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC. An hour of gospel music in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Daniel J. Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music, explains the nueroscience of why music moves us, and the segment I was excited about for days, a discussion about pigeons with Andrew D. Blechman, the author of Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird. Listen to the whole show or just a segment here.

1/16: Reading: Country Living (Dec 06), continue on Wedding Chic

1/17: Reading: Interview (Feb 07) issue devoted to Elizabeth Taylor Listening: Mr Cee's Throwdown at Noon on Hot 97 Film: Seven Up and 7 Plus Seven, the first two films in the UP series which began following a group of children at age seven and returns to check in on them every seven years. I'm anxious to see the next five installments.

1/18: Reading: flipped through rest of Interview TV: ER (1/11) before work and then TV night with Sweets and JPo after work. The Office, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy and Men in Trees. I stayed up way too late. I'm going to start watching Tivo'd Men in Trees and ER on different days. Listening: Seattle's KEXP's Music That Matters with Kevin Cole broadcast on New York's WNYE. So, so good. You can get the podcast here for MTM and other KEXP shows.

1/19: Reading: New York. Articles of interest: Profile on David Chang, chef and owner of Momfuku Noodle Bar and Ssam. Cover story on finding Inner Peace. Listening: Leonard Lopate segment on messy people with Eric Abrahamson, author of A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder--How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place. He says messy people are more productive and lose things less than organizers. Aha! I knew it. Abrahamson was also featured in the New York Inner Peace article. TV: late night decongestant induced insomnia spurred viewing of The Fall of the House of Usher on TCM.

1/20: Reading: Stealing Buddha's Dinner cont. TV: Ebert & Roeper

1/21: Reading: Finished reading the delicous memoir Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen. More decongestant fueled insomnia led to reading Budget Travel (Feb 07) TV: Desperate Housewives, Extras Film: The Last Kiss

With the snow comes a cold

Earlier this week I was bragging since I had my tonsil removed I don't get sick. A few days later and I've got a whopping head cold. I just about wore my nose raw from constant blowing from the moment I left for work. I looked forward to coming home to a hot bath and tea. Sweets provided me with both. He ran the tub and plunked me in with a Lush bath bomb so fragrant I could smell it despite being all stuffed up. Then onto the couch wrapped in a blankie with a magazine and a steaming mug of tea until I couldn't keep my eyes open.

A few hours later, I am wide awake. Maybe too much tea or decongestant. Now I'm up watching  The Fall of the House of Usher on Turner Classic Movies. Vincent Price movies have always been a secret vice of mine.

Cruising around YouTube, I found a funny video of a guy lipsynching  songs from "Dreamgirls".

Now, I should probably try to get some more sleep.

Keeping a lid on it

I was actually jesting the other day when I said I couldn't find a wedding dress. I have and I'm so thrilled with it. My maid of honor hasn't even seen it yet, so first things first. I'll give you a peek after she gets one. We've been down to Philly the last two weekends meeting with caterers, hotels, gelato makers and more. I don't want to jinx anything by talking about it before we get contracts signed but we're close. Very close! I can't wait to share the details. Wedding planning is incredibly tiring. Whoo. When's the honeymoon?

Can't talk long here today. I'm heading out early this morning to stop for swap supplies before work. Jek created a new swap Five Things where  six participants make 6 similar items, send them to the swap hostess, who  rebundles packages to include one goody from everyone- including yourself and then mails them back out. Sounds like fun. I've come up with an idea for my Valentine inspired item. Hope it works out. I'm always so nervous when I'm making things for other people.

One thing I don't want to keep under my hat today.
Jek has a new blog for kid's activities, Scrumdilly-do! I don't even have any pipsqueaks and I'm loving it. It's chock full of book selections, craft ideas, paper hat making tutorials,recipes for fun  and Jek-sims which are the best part, of course.  Best of luck to her in her new endeavor. Show her some lurve, as she likes to say.

I couldn't find a white wedding dress.

because all the white gowns in the universe were worn to the Golden Globes tonight. All these ladies wore white- Kate Walsh, Annette Benning, Nicollette Sheridan, Cameron Diaz, Sienna Miller, Kyra Sedgewick, Ellen Pompeo, Emily Blunt, Teri Hatcher, Kate Winslet, Heidi Klum, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Garner. (Kate Walsh was my favorite.)
I'm blinded it by all the white.
Once my eyes refocused I was able to admire Rachel Weisz looking ravishing in red and super skinny post baby, Beyonce lookin' like Willy Wonka's golden ticket and Katherine Heigl tooting her own horn in a trumpet skirt.

Culture Shock: Episode 1

A few days ago, I was reading New York magazine and got sucked into a feature on tracking the media intake of three people over the course of a week. I decided to start keeping track of my own media intake in a little journal I'll carry with me. I plan on doing this for the year. We'll see how far I get with it. The people in the article tracked the precise times they took in their media. I don't think I'll go that far. I'd like to list what I took in and perhaps what struck me. For example, in the New York Times Dining In section, I specifically remember an article about absinthe. I'm going to call the chronicles Culture Shock, as I'm sure to be shocked by how much I'm taking in. Or missing.

Here's a peek at my consumption since I started:
Thursday 1/11: Reading: New York(1/15/07), started Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen
TV: The Office, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy

Friday 1/12: TV: Men in Trees (1/11) Reading: cont. New York. Interested in article on Dash Snow. worked on crossword puzzle Sweets started Listening: Mary J. Blige "The Breakthrough" , All Songs Considered podcast "Best Albums of 2006", The Jayhawks and Wax Wings on MySpace

Saturday 1/13: Film: "Blood Diamond" Reading: New York Times -Dining In (1/03), Thursday Styles, The Arts and House & Home (1/11)

Sunday 1:14: Film: "Notes on a Scandal" TV: Desperate Housewives, Extras Listening: The Wailin' Jennys "Firecracker"

A-Z

A is for AGE: I've spent so much time telling people I'm officially 29, I seem to have forgotten how old I really am. After some quick math, the answer is 34.

Did I just say that I'm middle aged? Like I said, I'm 29.

B is for BEER of choice: Does ginger beer count? I've never had more than a sip of regular beer. The smell reminds me of childhood unhappiness.

C is for CAREER: I started working at my local newspaper after school at 17. Now at my third paper, my title is Night Photo Editor. Which essentially means 1) I work at night with all the other newspaper elves that make a newspaper magically appear overnight 2) I edit photos coming in for international, national and local stories. The paper I work for serves roughly a half million readers. Putting out something that will intrigue, inspire, educate, outrage, move or entertain them is my primary goal. The job is stressful and I always threaten to give it up but I've got news in my blood.

D is for favourite DRINK: Iced tea with lemon. Gin and tonic. Chai. Coconut soda.

E is for ESSENTIAL: Cellphone, camera, notebook, pen, sense of humor. 

F is for FAVOURITE: song at the moment: Right now I'm in love with this entire record: Continued Story/Hi, How Are You by Daniel Johnston.

G is for favourite GAME: Scrabble. I thought I was good but Sweets' family has some dirty tricks up their sleeves. I work with some competitive players. They say I need to drop my principles and play dirty, too. It's on!

H is for most memorable HOLIDAY: A combination of memories from trips to the west coast. Stepping onto Ruby Beach in WA to get my first glimpse of the almighty Pacific Ocean, dim sum at Yank Sing in San Francisco, going to the Japanese bath house alone- and nude, my first camping experience at the Womad Festival, marveling at America's quilted topography from above, finding the best donut shops, hiking at Mount Rainer, the stones on Dungeness Spit ...
 

I is for INSTRUMENTS played: in fifth grade, I became quite good on the trumpet but my mother didn't let me keep going. Inthe late 90's I bought a vintage Wurlitzer electric piano and took lessons. I didn't have enough time to focus and let the lessons trail off. I sold the piano last year (for 4 times as much as I paid) to help finance the renovation of our studio space upstairs.

J is for favourite JUICE: I've found this amazing blood orange juice that is packaged in Poland I think. It's such a  tasty treat. But I don't drink much juice usually.

K is for KIDS: The idea intrigues me and scares me all at once. I find myself staring at kids in public, studying them. And then  people tell me those stories about how they were up all night with a child throwing up repeatedly and I can feel my womb shrinking. Sweets and I want to try to have at least one child. I think he's more ready than I am.

L is for LAST KISS: Sweets left for work almost an hour ago. He always gives me a kiss before leaving. Or lots. I'm pretty kissable. :)

M is for MARRIAGE: The countdown is on. The last thing I thought before sleeping last night was about changing my name. I think giving that up is harder than anything else. Even the forsaking all others bit.

N is for full NAME: It's printed on that pretty save the date card on the post below this one.

O is for OVERNIGHT hospital stays: In 2001, I spent four nights in the hospital with a clot in my leg. Probably wasn't the first one I had. Turns out my blood likes to clot more than other people's. So I can't give blood. I'll have to give myself injections of blood thinners while planning and during pregnancy. Which adds to the freaked out about kids issue.

P is for PHOBIAS: Oh, geez. Fire .Which I've gotten much better about. I couldn't even light a match. Aim n Flame lighters saved my life. Then there's the squirrels. No, I'm not kidding. But I'm getting better about that one, too.

Q is for QUOTE: "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death." - Auntie Mame (written by Patrick Dennis.  See the movie (Rosalind Russell version, please). Read the books.

R is for biggest REGRET: I don't think about regrets often. Probably not finishing my bachelor's degree. I decided I was already working in journalism and focused there. As a kid, I saved for college. I won scholarships. Then I walked away before I was done. It does make me feel bad. I'd tell another person in that situation to stick it out and finish school.

S is for SPORT: Doesn't really occupy my mind. I will watch the Olympics.

T is for TIME you wake up: About 4:20 am for no apparent reason. Then for real between 10-10:30 am.

U is for colour of UNDERWEAR: All sorts of colors. I subconsciously match the shirt I wear to the color underwear I've put on.

V is for VEGETABLE you love: Fresh corn on the cob. Gorgeous thick sliced tomatoes.  Sugar snap peas.

W is for WORST habit: Overextending myself.

X is for X-RAYS you’ve had: Chest, teeth, head when my nose was broken.

Y is for YUMMY food you make: shrimp and grits, fish curry, glazed pork tenderloins, grilled cheese, ham and tomato ...

Z is for ZODIAC sign: Gemini. It's fun being two people in one body.

Thanks to Muppinstuff for the meme.

Self Portrait Challenge: Resolution #2

 

Correspondence is becoming something of a lost art in today's society. It's much faster to blog, email, comment or simply pick up the phone. Yet there is something delightful about sitting down with a pen, some pretty paper chosen specifically for your receipient, a clear mind, an open heart and hopefully a good cup of coffee or tea. While growing up, My Grams made sure I wrote out thank you notes to people who gave me gifts. I enjoyed the task.

When I receive letters and cards, I stash them away in a special box on my nightstand. Sometimes when I need a lift I pick some out to read. It always cheers me up.

I like to send out cards at Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween or whenever I suspect one of my pals need a lift. This year, I'd like to resolve to correspond more.  It could be a quick note or a long letter.  Even a post card. I vow to send out personal mail every month this year. Want me to write you? Just ask.

Above are thank you notes to people who've done nice things for me in the past few weeks- an uncle who sent a Christmas cheese box, a friend who came to Christmas eve supper bearing her famous homemade liquor and a co-worker who bought me a copy of Martha Stewart Weddings as a surprise treat.  In the past I would have said thanks in person and let it go. This year, I'm going to go out of my way to send notes. Maybe I'll get a few back. That would be lovely. Want me to write you? Just ask.

By the way, the personalized note is by Juniper Designs. Jen made some up for me when she sent me a photo swap over the summer. I think I'll have to order some more after my name changes this summer. Having notes imprinted with your name seems so fancy and grown-up. I love it.

For more resolutions, check in with the gang at Self Portrait Challenge.

Want to write notes but not sure about when or how? Consult Emily Post's Ettiquette . I keep my copy very near. It's invaluable. Or get inspired by Letters to a Young Poet. Rilke's words are still an inspiration to anyone attempting to lead a creative life.

Recently, we sent out our Save the Date cards which Sweets designed. It's been really touching when people were excited about receiving them. Next month we'll send out the invitations. They are still yet to be designed. Sweets just finished the map of Philadelphia. It's very cool. I'll post photos of it and the invitations when they are ready.

The wedding's bird theme was already in my mind before we even had the good fortune of finding the John James Audubon Center was a possible location. We're incorporating vintage bird imagery with recycled paper and envelopes. Sweets created the feathered edge by hand on every card and created a custom distressed look for the typography to give a vintage feel. I'm really so lucky to have a resident design genius.

Drippy day

It's been raining hard since last night. Not easy to get motivated but I'm trying. I made the coffee. Sweets made the oatmeal. We watched CNN report a story there is a strong natural gas like odor in New York City and across the river in New Jersey. Which means my day will probably be crazy at the newspaper.
Before slipping out into the rain in my red hooded jacket, I thought I would share the view from inside my living room window.

The dogwood outside delicately balances burgeoning buds and droplets. I'm looking for balance in my day today, too.

Creative juju

Last month, I bought myself a few gifts. Sweets frowns on that type of thing. One of our friends bought herself so much she didn't leave much for us to buy her. I didn't go that far. I just bought myself a much needed new scarf and this pin cushion from Toni at Simple Sparrow that made my heart pitter pat. It's so pretty, I haven't had the heart to prick it with pins yet. So I set it up with some of my vintage buttons until the time comes to stick it to her.

The creativity of other people constantly floors me. How I long for the free time to really get mine to flow steadily instead of in tiny spurts here and there. At least I can support the people who are living each day to the creative hilt.

The past few nights, I've been coming home to Sweets deep in thought as he designs a map of Philadelphia to send to our wedding guests. He amazes me. The first version folded up like a Monopoly board. I loved the concept but was afraid it would be less than funtional to have a slit in a map when it's open. Last night, he'd solved that problem, moved on, altered the design  and was writing up entries for places we suggest people visit. I can't wait to show you all the finished product. I am so proud of  him.

Stephanie at Little Birds and Mav at port2port are collaborating on a wonderful new project, 3191, where they will each share one photo of their morning presented as a diptych. The project is only a few days after launch but already it is full of grace and gorgeousness. As I sit here at 11:35 am, still in pjs, munching on biscuits, pineapple and coffee in a living room the morning light has already passed through; I get to enjoy their morning impressions. I look forward to watching their collaboration unfold over the new year. I think after it's all done, a book of their work would be a wonderful way to start the day.

If you are in or near Portland, OR, stop into the Sugar Gallery. Brooklyn-based photographer, Elizabeth Weinberg is opening her first solo show tonight.  The show will be open until the end of the month. I'm quite a fan of her work. I think you'll like it, too, More info on the gallery show here.

Another show opening this week, Floodwall, builds a wall of 600 drawers collected from abandoned neighborhoods in New Orleans after Katrina's destruction. The installation is on view at the World Financial Center in New York through Feb 9th. The artist, Jana Napoli, spent hours each day for several months collecting these drawers, recording the location where she found them. More on the exhibit.

And now friends, at 11:55 am, I have precisely 5 minutes to fix  myself up and head out to work.

Have a creative day. Even if it only comes in tiny bursts.

News of note

As someone who works in the news industry, I try not to use this space to sound off about news stories. Professionally, I need to remain unbiased. I'm not going to begin sounding off on the news of the day here but I've decided to try something new and put up links to stories I come across from a variety of sources that  I find interesting.

Time Magazine's Person of the Year was me, um and you, and you blogging over there, too. Anyone using the internet as part of a community can proudly be counted. I was impressed by Ali Khurshid, a architect student in Pakistan, who is photographing his country's beauty and posting on Flickr. After reading his story, I promptly added him to my contact list and sent him a note. Because I'm one of those online community builder types time was giving props to in their story.

I listen to Leonard Lopate on WNYC almost every day on my drive to work. Some recent segments you might be interested include an interview with Guillermo del Toro, director of "Pan's Labyrinth".  Listen to the podcast. Or a fascinating explanation on how the dioramas at The American Museum of Natural History are created. Podcast here.

Read the LA Times  review of The Flaming Lips New Year's Eve party I wish I attended.

Library tells kids to shh or they'll be shut out.

Scientists look into how the brain thinks about the future.

Treehuggers try to decide how to save the nation's largest Sitka spruce. In the Oregonian.

Snackologists opine on what gets American's gums smacking. Find out what's being marketed to "highly educated, overstressed women."

Website lets you buy all the trappings seen on your favorite tv shows. Get in Izzy's jeans, McDreamy's trailer or Bree's shoes.

Self Portrait Challenge: Resolution #1

In 2007, I resolve to spend more time in nature letting the edges between us become as fuzzy as the mohair of my Kangol beret.

I love twilight. I miss it almost every day. Cooped up in the office, I turn my attention to the news of the  next day and often ignore savoring the day I'm in.

I want to take more walks. Let my troubles try to keep up as my pace quickens to track down the sound of ducks ahead. My cheeks will be pink and my mind clear. I will be present in the day.

When I travel, I am drawn to natural beauty. Going out of my way to hike near waterfalls, wild beaches, quiet trails., Breathing in clean air.  My heart belongs to the Pacific Northwest's grandeur. But there must be  something here for me, too. This morning, I stepped outside in my robe. I watched Quentin nibble at  grass taller than him. Caught sight of  a junco in the tree above. Felt the chill of the morning air. Hesitated before turning back inside to join all of you here. Tomorrow, I'll linger a while longer in the crisp air of a new year.

For more New Years resolutions at high resolution, turn to Self Portrait Challenge. Is joining the community on of your resolutions? Getting involved again was my number 2 resolution  for 2007. More of those from me next week.