Wednesday, September 30, 2009

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I like it when my veggies make concentric circles.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009

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Finally, I'm getting to the good stuff.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

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Well, I'm smitten.

Things I'd rather be doing...

1. taking a nap
2. laughing at a joke
3. going for a hot air balloon ride
4. eating buffalo chicken wings
5. watching my fish
6. riding my bicycle
7. selling my art
8. painting my toenails
9. photographing vegetables
10. seeing a movie
11. smelling coffee at the grocery store
12. swinging on a jungle gym
13. stomping in rain puddles
14. singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" with my fam
15. drinking an authentic Mojito
16. driving through the Rockies
17. going to the theater
18. baking Christmas treats with mom
19. playing uno
20. snacking on a cheeseburger
21. getting cozy with someone special
22. sailing
23. swimming in the ocean
24. petting a dog
25. building a bonfire
26. making out
27. cutting a watermelon
28. looking at the stars
29. shopping for art supplies
30. getting a tattoo
31. flirting
32. wandering around the park
33. planting flowers
34. cutting paper patterns
35. going home

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Friday, September 25, 2009

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There was a little girl
who had a little curl
right in the middle of her forehead
When she was good,
she was very, very good
and when she was bad she was horrid


My mom used to recite this to me...

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Things I'd rather be doing...

1. taking a nap
2. laughing at a joke
3. going for a hot air balloon ride
4. eating buffalo chicken wings
5. watching my fish
6. riding my bicycle
7. selling my art
8. painting my toenails
9. photographing vegetables
10. seeing a movie
11. smelling coffee at the grocery store
12. swinging on a jungle gym
13. stomping in rain puddles
14. singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" with my fam
15. drinking an authentic Mojito
16. driving through the Rockies
17. going to the theater
18. baking Christmas treats with mom
19. playing uno
20. snacking on a cheeseburger
21. getting cozy with someone special
22. sailing
23. swimming in the ocean
24. petting a dog
25. building a bonfire
26. making out
27. cutting a watermelon
28. looking at the stars
29. shopping for art supplies
30. getting a tattoo

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I really want to eat a salad right now.

Produce Pic of the Day


Last night (when I got home at 2 am) I couldn't get the internet working fast enough to upload this pic...so now I'm behind.

Guess I'll post another tonight then.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

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Oh I shot the best new photos this morning at hell, I mean work.  This is NOT one of them. 

We'll get there.

Monday, September 21, 2009

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Ultra-productive day...gotta keep up the momentum.

Studio


Matting Day in the Studio:








Returning Roses

I had another strange dream last night.  I don't remember most of it except patchy blurs.  However, the basic plot of it was my sister Jessica's wedding.  It wasn't anything like her actual wedding at all though  (except maybe the ladies being a bit grumpy about the groom's lack of involvement).  The most vivid part I can remember was right before I woke up.  After the wedding and all the festivities we ended up taking several roses back to the flower shop.  The shop was overrun with bridesmaids and flower girls preparing for another wedding.  I remember exactly how many roses we were returning: a small bouquet of six blood red roses and one long stem red rose that was in full bloom.  I still can't figure out why we were returning them at all.  I'm the kind of person who dries out the flowers I receive so as to enjoy them that much longer.  Also, at Jessica's actual wedding, there were artificial flowers and the color scheme most certainly didn't include blood red.  This was definitely the strangest dream I've had lately and I have no idea where it came from.  I am, however, enjoying my new daily recall of dreams so I'm going to keep on recording whatever I can remember when I wake.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Things I'd rather be doing...

1. taking a nap
2. laughing at a joke
3. going for a hot air balloon ride
4. eating buffalo chicken wings
5. watching my fish
6. riding my bicycle
7. selling my art
8. painting my toenails
9. photographing vegetables
10. seeing a movie
11. smelling coffee at the grocery store
12. swinging on a jungle gym
13. stomping in rain puddles
14. singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" with my fam
15. drinking an authentic Mojito
16. driving through the Rockies
17. going to the theater
18. baking Christmas treats with mom
19. playing uno
20. snacking on a cheeseburger
21. getting cozy with someone special
22. sailing
23. swimming in the ocean
24. petting a dog
25. building a bonfire

Produce Pic of the Day


I am like a lone celery stalk in a sinkful of roma tomatoes.

'We've got to move these refrigerators'

I just had a really long complicated dream stretching from when I got out of bed at 6:30 this morning to turn off the a/c (why it was on, I don't know.  It was only 53 degrees out last night) and when I got up for good at 10:00.  The only part I can vividly remember was the stress of trying to reach something I was never going to be able to reach.  Whatever it was I was trying to get at was on top of a massive refrigerator at the back and center.  None of the stools or chairs in the room would give me enough height to even hoist myself up onto the thing let alone reach for my target.

It's interesting how I've been dreaming lately.  Usually I don't really remember them.  I'm finding that my frustration in life is echoing back in my dreams.  I wonder if there actually is a way to shape them into more positive outlets for the shitty parts of my life so that I don't end up wishing I had dreamt about sunbathing on a beach with my sweetie every time I have a strange dream.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

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I changed the order I slice veggies in so I rarely take photos with the lettuce heads in the sink anymore...I almost forgot what it was like to have all 5 veggies in the same shot.

Friday, September 18, 2009

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I made a RED scarf and a GREEN hat today.

My Chicago

 

 
I just found this collection of photos that I've had since freshman year of college.  They were mostly from a particular day I had shortly after I moved to Chicago.  I went on an adventure with several new friends who I would end up spending a substantial amount of time with that year.  I've since then sort of fallen out of touch with all of them but I still think about them and all those great memories from early college.  It hasn't really been that long but it seems a lifetime ago.  I have a daily reminder, in a way, because these photos led to a painting I did at the end of freshman year, a painting that presently hangs on my living room wall.  It is a collage of memories that I pieced together after being on my own in Chitown for 6 months.  
 

I had the craziest dream this morning...

I had to work the last four mornings, so this being my one morning off this week I got the chance to sleep in...
It didn't work as well as I'd hoped.  I woke up when I usually do at 5:30 and then again at 6:20.  Sometime between then and when Holly came into my room to use my mirror at 7:55, I had a lucid dream that made me cackle upon waking from its hilarity...
I was at the store (something like K-mart or Shopko) near closing time.  I was shopping for a nipple for a baby bottle (presumably for one of siblings' future kids).  I picked out a pack that seemed reasonably durable for the price.  I proceeded to the check out to pay for my item.  Upon leaving the store, I opened the package and found the nipple was ripped and therefore would be useless if I tried to feed my niece or nephew with it.  I returned to the customer service counter to exchange it.  The plump woman behind the counter was in her late 50's and perpetually smiling.  She seemed friendly enough until I explained to her how I had just purchased a defective product.  She told me that "all sales are final" regardless of the state of the product.  I didn't think she was serious at first but she kept smiling and saying that I couldn't return or exchange the ripped nipple.  By this point, she had seriously pissed me off.  Her friendly smile had turned to a smug smirk as she came out from behind the counter and walked away from me.  I shouted, "this is BULLSHIT!" and chucked the nipple after her.  To my surprise, she caught it and just laughed at me.  I flipped her the bird and marched to the front of the store.  I snatched the intercom away from one of the cashiers and shouted into it a warning to all of the customers, "BEWARE what you buy at this place because ALL SALES ARE FINAL EVEN IF IT'S BROKEN!!!!"

I think my extreme over-reaction to the situation was what I found so hilarious when I first woke up.  But really I find myself over-reacting to a lot of little things lately...I gotta stop sweating the small stuff, but it seems like everything is big stuff lately.  I think I need a perspective change...

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Glowing Rosebud


The summer's gone...All that's left are little reminders of how lovely it can be.

How early is too early?

There was a guy sleeping outside the store when I got to work this morning...He said he had an interview with my boss at 9.  IT WAS 7 AM!!!  I texted my boss to let him know the guy he was going to interview later had showed up 2 hours early...Then I find out the interview isn't until 10.  The guy spent the next couple hours doing one of three things:  leaning against the front window asleep, pacing back and forth in front of the store, and watching me do my prep.  It was seriously creepy and weird.  Does he still think he has any chance in getting the position after showing up 3 hours early and creeping me the opener (and my boss's right hand for several years) out?  I'm no expert but I have been job hunting lately and I definitely think that's an interview fauz pas...

Produce Pic of the Day

It doesn't matter if you're skinny
It doesn't matter if you're fat
You can dress up like a sultan in your onion head hat.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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The internet was totally screwing with me all day long...how irritating.  At least this onion hat is amusing...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Things I'd rather be doing...

1. taking a nap
2. laughing at a joke
3. going for a hot air balloon ride
4. eating buffalo chicken wings
5. watching my fish
6. riding my bicycle
7. selling my art
8. painting my toenails
9. photographing vegetables
10. seeing a movie
11. smelling coffee at the grocery store
12. swinging on a jungle gym
13. stomping in rain puddles
14. singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" with my fam
15. drinking an authentic Mojito
16. driving through the Rockies
17. going to the theater
18. baking Christmas treats with mom
19. playing uno
20. snacking on a cheeseburger

Produce Pic of the Day

Auntie Ashley...

I just posted a new slide show of various Chloe pics up last night.  Since I don't actually get to see my sweet niece that often, I want to see her face in pictures as often as possible.  This collection is mostly mine with a few favs I snagged from Jon, Jessica and Laura ranging from her first weeks up til now.

Obsessive Compulsive As Usual

I thought it would be nice to spend my afternoon of art making also watching Ghost as a tribute to the now late, great Patrick Swayze.  I haven't seen it in awhile.

I found it online in 5 streaming parts but it's taking forever to load...

I may have to get my external hd going and watch Dirty Dancing instead.
Now, a lot of people claim that they've seen that movie 'like a hundred times'.  However, I actually have, and probably many more times beyond that.  It came out when I was in diapers and I've been watching it shamelessly over and over since.  When I was a kid I would watch it every time I stayed home from school sick or whenever there was a snow day.  And I definitely still geek out and watch it again pretty frequently when I'm home alone.  There's nothing like rewatching a classic great movie to make me feel all tender and girly.  Plus I enjoy predictability and routine in my film selection, as I do with most everything.

I guess I'm just a creature of habit.

Monday, September 14, 2009

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Are you blinded by the shine on these waxy romas?

Baby Seaman


 My brother Aaron and sister-in-law Terri are with child.
These are the very first pictures of my new niece or nephew (from last week's ultrasound)
They are approximately 7 weeks along.
Soon I will have pictures of my other future niece or nephew as my sister Jessica and brother-in-law Matt are also expecting.

Things I'd rather be doing...

1. taking a nap
2. laughing at a joke
3. going for a hot air balloon ride
4. eating buffalo chicken wings
5. watching my fish
6. riding my bicycle
7. selling my art
8. painting my toenails
9. photographing vegetables
10. seeing a movie
11. smelling coffee at the grocery store
12. swinging on a jungle gym
13. stomping in rain puddles
14. singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" with my fam
15. drinking an authentic Mojito

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Produce Pic of the Day

Sinking celery...

Things I'd rather be doing...

1. taking a nap
2. laughing at a joke
3. going for a hot air balloon ride
4. eating buffalo chicken wings
5. watching my fish
6. riding my bicycle
7. selling my art
8. painting my toenails
9. photographing vegetables
10. seeing a movie

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Things I'd rather be doing...

1. taking a nap
2. laughing at a joke
3. going for a hot air balloon ride
4. eating buffalo chicken wings
5. watching my fish

Produce Pic of the Day

Cucumber bad spot for another bad day.

Friday, September 11, 2009

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I'm facebooking a cousin I saw once last year but I haven't really talked to in several years...It's pretty awesome... :D

On Syncronicity

I was walking down the sidewalk a little while ago, on my way to Genesis to return some staples.  It's only about 5 blocks from my apartment, so an easy walk.  I couldn't help but want to ride my new bicycle (since I didn't have 3 giant mattes in tow like last trip).  When I thought of that, I immediately knew I'd be riding on the sidewalk if I had been able to ride to the store.  At that exact second, a guy on a red bicycle breezed by my left elbow on the sidewalk momentarily scaring the crap out of me...

I think it's really interesting when you think of something and that something happens at almost the same moment.  I'm actively aware of syncronicity in my everyday life because one time several years ago someone brought it to my attention and I can't seem to ignore it now.  It amuses me...and seeing as I've been in need of cheer lately in more ways than one, I wanted to dwell on the amusement for a few moments longer...

Thursday, September 10, 2009

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I have nothing thoughtful to say at this juncture except that cutting vegetables is easier than assembling a bicycle...

I'm freaking out, man...

I've been fighting with my new bicycle for over an hour trying to put it together properly.  I'm so frustrated right now that all I want to do is chuck the seat off the deck at one of the parked cars.  There's no one around to help me; no one around to talk me down.  I'M SERIOUSLY FREAKING OUT!  I just want it to work...and I need something to help me calm down because writing in my blog IS NOT HELPING!!!!!!!!!


#@$!$%^#$&*%(&&*^%$@#!@$$%#^&$*%(^*)&&^%$#!@

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Produce Pic of the Day

I'd really like a piece of celery right now topped with some peanut butter.  Maybe even add some raisins...ants on a log...

...my backbone is paper thin...

Cave In by Owl City

Please take a long hard look through your text book
'Cause I'm history
When I strap my helmet on I'll be long gone
'Cause I've been dying to leave
Yeah, I'll ride the range and hide all my loose change
In my bedroom
'Cause riding a dirtbike down a turnpike
Always takes it's toll on me

I've had just about enough
Of quote, "diamonds in the rough"
Because my backbone is paper thin
Get me out of this cavern
Or I'll cave in

If the bombs go off
The sun will still be shining
Because we've heard it said that every mushroom cloud
Has a silver lining
(Though I'm always undermining too deep to know)
Swallow a drop of gravel and blacktop
'Cause the road tastes like wintergreen
The wind and the rain smell of oil and octane
Mixed with stale gasoline
I'll soak up the sound trying to sleep on the wet ground
I'll get ten minutes give-or-take
'Cause I just don't foresee myself getting drowsy
When cold integrity keeps me wide awake

Get me out of this cavern
Or I'll cave in

I'll keep my helmet on just in case my head caves in
'Cause if my thoughts collapse or my framework snaps
It'll make a mess like you wouldn't believe
Tie my handlebars to the stars so I stay on track
And if my intentions stray I'll wrench them away
Then I'll take my leave and I won't even look back

I won't even look back

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

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Considering that the only thing that I really enjoy about work anymore is taking photos of vegetables, I really need a new job.

Monday, September 7, 2009

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I think I'll call this one "Eight Cucumbers Court My Left Elbow"...

Nightmare turned happy news...

I was having a seriously crappy dream about my fish a little while ago.   Since I spent the last two days with my folks I wasn't really around my apartment much, including meal time on Saturday night (Holly fed them).  In the dream, I came back home from a short vacation and ALL 13 of my fish were in my 10 gallon tank with less than 3 inches of water in the tank.  All of them looked dead.  So I scrambled around trying to fill up the 55 gallon tank as fast as possible and treat the water.  Someone was there helping me but I don't remember who.  She tried putting the hose directly into the tank the fish were and I slapped it out of her hand.  While I was filling the water, I could tell some of the fish were starting to perk up and move a little.  I quickly transfered them one by one to the big tank and everything seemed fine...except that the bettas were all in with the koi and the goldfish...and then the phone woke me up to even better news than my fish all being alive and well (but I can't really share that part yet).

*I forgot to come back and state that the happy news was about my sister-in-law Terri and my brother Aaron.  They're finally gonna have a baby!!!* (9/18/09)

Sunday, September 6, 2009

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 I like the way the leaves on celery look but they're certainly a bitch to clean off.
Although, I always do it the same way I used to pick long stem grass that's gone to seed when I was a little kid: pinch the stalk just above the leaf (or clump of leaves) and pull gently towards the tip.  I always end up with the perfect little rosette of leaves between my thumb and forefinger.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Produce Pic of the Day

The very first think that attracted me to photographing the produce at work was the shape of the celery after cutting it uniformly down on the slicer.  The little crescent moon shapes next to the bulbous tomato shapes makes my geometrically-inclined heart sing.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Produce Pic of the Day

I've been brainstorming what to do with this series of photos I've been taking over the last 2 years or so.  Though the physical project is still in its idea stage, I'd really like to share the photos with my online community.

The project is called TomatoFoolcelery

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Let sleeping parents lie...



I get to see my folks tomorrow night.  I've been really down and out about money and life lately and could surely use the support.  I can barely wait...

"It's been a long time. But they always come. They're my people. People keep you going. People are better than no people."
-wise old woman, Grey's Anatomy

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Turning irritation and frustration into productivity...

That's what the rest of today is for...

I just want to throw something out into the internet universe that I decided today that I want to do.
I want to go on a hot air balloon ride with my best good friend.
If I do that, I may one day consider sky diving.  I just think that being that high up outside an airplane is a rush I can only dream of...and I want it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6OQFnUrbW8