hitt or miss

Oh, Did You Want Cat Butt With That "Kinks" Album?

2008-07-14T21:28:00.006-04:00

The Most Perfect 4th

2008-07-09T22:17:00.009-04:00

Fourth of July in Peconic, Long Island, Heaven.

Call A Head

2008-07-08T23:59:00.003-04:00

NYC Pride Parade 2008

2008-07-01T23:36:00.009-04:00

Pride weekend was fun as shit. I shot 7 parties and then messed up my knee jumping on and off the GO Magazine float, which crawled down 5th avenue slower than a slug in a rainstorm. I got a Red Bull and some chips at a deli, waited in line to pee, peed, and went back into the street and the GO float had barely made it to the next block. Highlights were: I kicked Dani Campbell's ass, drank lots of Red Bull, kissed my girlfriend in the rain and immediately we got imitated by Sophia and Natalia as they cruised by on the float and I gave them the finger.

HAPPAY

2008-06-26T23:44:00.003-04:00

No, I didn't misspell it, I made up a word. Two syllables, can end on either a high or a low note, like: "Ha-payyyyy", or "Ha-payyyy!" In Vietnamese, the tone would be the critical difference between calling someone "mom", or "rice grain", but there's no confusion here. I'm happay. I'm also too tired to post pictures of anything. This weekend is pride-a-paloooza in NYC and I'm shooting 7 events over 3 days. I hope I'm not blinded by Dani Campbell's brilliant white teeth.

2008-06-10T21:45:00.001-04:00

pork and chives

2008-05-27T22:55:00.015-04:00

A summary of pictures from last week. I don't know if it was cruising into the holiday weekend on Friday with the most perfect weather and evening imaginable, but this past week has been excellent and photogenic.

Celezbians and/or on lesbionic tv shows, Jill Bennett and Maeve Quinlan

Susi birthed @ West End Girls, hk lounge

My camera got f-ed and a few shots got spliced in a cool way

Happy Birthday Brooklyn Bridge

36 Dumplings, 25 consumed, 5+6 remaining, I lost.

Bros night out

work is cool

2008-05-22T22:04:00.008-04:00

Graham Avenue Fiesta

2008-05-18T12:18:00.011-04:00

My sister came down from Boston to perform at the Graham Avenue Fiesta with the Bryce Dance Company. I took pictures and ate corn, and there were happy chubby kids in strollers everywhere. A young guy tried to sell me a game of darts three times, and the last time he almost had me but Sunny said something to the effect of, "No, you don't need that", like a good older sister. We all went back to my apartment and drank beer and ate ice cream.

My neighborhood

2008-05-16T21:30:00.006-04:00

From the Archives

2008-05-14T19:25:00.023-04:00

I was trying to find a particular photograph of a bed with sheets (which sounds boring when described, as most photographs sound boring when described), but I couldn't find it. I roamed the internet for a while and found some of my favorite photographs by Helen Levitt from her book, Crosstown.

She never makes children look small. She shot most of her photographs from the hip, looking down at her subjects through the viewfinder instead of shooting above them. Even though her images could be considered off-beat (they're not), they aren't focusing on the strangeness of kids playing in their own world or looking too old or simply out of sync with their age, as if it's unreal to not look exactly 6, or 7, or 30.

I also like the New York in these pictures. Most of them were shot in the 1930's.

Dinner For Twelve

2008-05-12T00:28:00.004-04:00

In the coming days, my Queens-bred friend will post a thorough account of a very successful dinner party. Two of the finest dinner guests said this picture of him looks like a Vermeer painting.

Batman in Vietnamese

2008-05-11T03:09:00.008-04:00

My Vietnamese language skills can't decipher this really cool comic from 1966 (from BoingBoing, Batman in Vietnamese). I get some of the exclamations like, "Oi!" and when they talk about being friends and how far things are, but that's it.

In case you missed it, here's last year's Vietnam Idol finals. Phuong Vy singing her first song for the top prize:

Does anyone know what this song is? Is it a Vietnamese version of an American song? There's some really intense judging before the 5-minute mark and Phuong Vy ends up defending herself and then singing a verse of something to prove she's got the pipes. For a second I think she's talking back to the judge, but then I remember that that's how all of this works in pop culture - just because it's Vietnam doesn't mean the contestants will stand and take their criticism without a word. They still use the correct pronouns with each other, Vy referring to herself as "em" (younger sister), and referring to the judge with the older sister/respected elder pronoun, "co".

Where can I get good Vietnamese food in NYC? Nowhere? Somewhere? Matt Gross, I know you know someplace I can roll out of bed tomorrow and get a bowl of pho. Give it up.

Greenporno

2008-05-11T02:56:00.003-04:00

Greenporno, starring Isabella Rossellini.
Here's a clip from "If I Were":

The costumes are incredible and the shots are pitch-perfect, nevermind it's an elegant way of looking at sex and relationships through the natural world.

Cinco de Mayo @ West End Girls

2008-05-06T23:42:00.009-04:00

West End Girls @ HK Lounge. Every Monday.

I hadn't eaten much for dinner so I shoveled Smartfood and chugged a Redbull across the street. Those pictures aren't included below.

Champ

2008-05-05T18:40:00.004-04:00

marriedtothesea.com

Sunday

2008-05-04T19:50:00.010-04:00

I bought "Heathers" on DVD yesterday at Virgin.

Here are some pictures from last Monday's West End Girls @ HK Lounge. I love this party, but I'm starting to think it should be bi-weekly or maybe even monthly like Choice Cunts.

I have things to blog about but no energy so. . .

2008-05-03T04:00:00.006-04:00

This is the website where I read my horoscope. It's different for every person even if they're the same sign - for example, my horoscope as a Leo is different than Tamara's horoscope as a Leo. Wow, I know, right? Soooo interesting.

Maine

2008-04-26T19:01:00.018-04:00

I went home on Tuesday to get more of my stuff and fill up on good food (I've been eating lots of beans and canned corn). Chase's was closed unfortunately, but I got to eat filet mignon and ride my motorcycle and stack firewood for my dad, and all week the weather was perfect. Last night I ate raspberry sorbet with fresh strawberries and watched Jeopardy! with my parents, and this morning I pounded back bacon, fresh eggs, and waffles. Then I got on the bus and my next "treat" was an iced coffee from Burger King in Connecticut. I win some, I lose some.

Absolutely never do this for god's sake. Not that anything bad happened, but watching it freaks me out because of the 8-trillion what-ifs:

Career opportunities

Filet mignon with fresh shitake mushrooms

My mom's garden plot. By September this will be overflowing with squash, kale, sugar snap peas, zucchini and tomatoes.

I got my mom this cherry tree for Mother's Day last year and planted it in the back yard.

Something has been eating it, probably a porcupine.

West End Girls 4.21

2008-04-24T17:27:00.006-04:00

West End Girls, Mondays @ HK Lounge.

BFF 4EVER, aka DJ Sophia H

loft life

2008-04-20T23:11:00.010-04:00

your new favorite band, Uno Dos Tres, performing Un Deux Trois' "Janice Says"

Sophia Got New Glasses

2008-04-20T22:11:00.005-04:00

Bill Nye The Science Guy or a chem teacher? Still running the numbers on that one.

Jelly

2008-04-17T02:08:00.005-04:00

marriedtothesea.com

West End Girls

2008-04-16T00:12:00.015-04:00

Monday night @ H.K. Lounge, 523 9th Ave, DJ Sophia H and go-go dancers Natalia and Persuasian

Matt's barbecue

2008-04-14T01:07:00.009-04:00

Matt's barbecue yesterday was a success: grilled sea bass (him) and pork ribs (me), asparagus, eggplant, booze, and lots of nice people I'd never met.

A snail on one of the chairs:

Later in the night (and well into the imbibing), a fish got dropped on the ground.

Tonight I'm editing Crossroads footage like a maniac and drinking so many kinds of caffeinated drinks that my heart might explode. I woke up this morning on another robo-trip, ugg, this time from Vicks. So far tonight I've had 3 iced coffees and a PG Tips. My eyes feel like they're being pressed outwards with a spatula.

I'm sick.

2008-04-11T23:13:00.018-04:00

I have a cough that erupts out of nowhere and can't be curbed. I went to a pharmacy and the pharmacist recommended Robitussin, which I bought and opened with my grubby hands and drank on 14th street. I thought I drank 2 teaspoons, but that's questionable. The pharmacist said it would provide immediate relief which it didn't, so I drank more at Mama's Food Shop. I swigged some more before I left, after eating an entire plate of green beans and fried chicken. So, basically, I had a mild to intermediate Robo-trip on the J train.

It increased with every stop, and by the time I got to Kosciuszko I thought I wouldn't even be able to pull my pants down and pee, which unfortunately, was not true because that would make for a much better story. I got into the apartment and fed Rhonda, the loft pitbull. We sat on the couch and I managed to pull off my boots and finish off the remains of two bottled waters, set my alarm for an hour, and promise her that after our nap we'd go for a walk and she could poop. I did all this and more.

Sometimes the coughing - especially when I'm on the train during rush hour - turns violent and I have to cough into my sleeve and hold my breath until my eyes water and I can't hold it any longer, and then wince and cough into my other sleeve. Acknowledging that "I'm coughing and I hate it" is really important when I'm around a lot of people. Like, "Damn, This Really Sucks Hard, Sorry You Have To Witness, Feel For Me". I try to look like I need to be taken care of but that I'm gonna suck it up and take care of myself. It makes people feel hopeful for me and distracts them from the germs I'm practically painting all over their iPods. I pop a cough drop with my free hand and hope that no one sees the dirt under my fingers - dirty hands make it seem like, instead of "doing" something with my hands, I'm merely pawing at things. Sick sucks.

shotgun weekend

2008-04-07T22:51:00.013-04:00

Birthdays, beers and queers.

Planet B-Boy

2008-04-04T18:50:00.002-04:00

Clips from the documentary, "Planet B-Boy":

awesome

2008-04-02T19:03:00.006-04:00

Wow. For an asian person, I cannot cook rice. I'm making dinner right now and I've managed to burn the bottom of the rice, so what would have been 4 servings is now 2 1/2. Cool.

Choice Cunts 3.29

2008-03-31T00:13:00.008-04:00

These sum it up.

"Unusually-named toy doll sets"

2008-03-29T21:18:00.005-04:00

From boingboing:

"I was in a children's store today and my friend pointed out these doll sets from Plan Toys, a company that actually makes very good toys. The choices are "Asian Family," um, "Ethnic Family," and, er, "Doll Family."'

Oh jeez.

2008-03-29T20:48:00.008-04:00

Happy birthday Saiya

2008-03-28T23:44:00.007-04:00

In the last week two strangers have told me I look like these celebrities. wtf

K.D. Lang and Liza Minelli? I mean I get it but seriously.

LIFE IS GOOD

2008-03-27T01:51:00.010-04:00

Today at work we took apart a marble sink, and after work Lisa made toothless faces.

pink paper

2008-03-25T22:17:00.008-04:00

who let the ducks out

dog shit block

2008-03-24T19:33:00.003-04:00

I almost step in you every day. What. is the deal.

Chris Matthews drops Ellen and it's awkward

2008-03-19T23:42:00.002-04:00

Cat Power

2008-03-16T01:10:00.008-04:00

"Lived In Bars"

"Hit The Road Jack"

"Cross Bones Style"

"The Greatest"

my hair and my ID badge

2008-03-13T23:00:00.013-04:00

Me and Sophia are getting haircuts tomorrow. Hers is long like mine except longer and different. I got my official ID badge and I'm really excited about it, partly because it says I'm a "Contractor", which I am absolutely not.

Today I learned how to use tiny pry bars to pull off a picture rail - a long piece of wood that meets the top of the wallpaper and the bottom of the frieze, that has a rolled groove/edge on the top to allow the hanging of big oil paintings of deceased plantation owners, relatives, etc. Tomorrow will be more of the same and more!

Oh! And with my ID badge I get into any museum in the country, for free.

Barack Obama Has A Balloon For You, Hillary Clinton Made You Loan Her A Hundred Bucks

2008-03-11T20:44:00.006-04:00

BarackObamaIsYourNewBicycle.com

HillaryClintonIsYourNewBicycle.com

GeorgeBushIsYourNewBicycle.com

Also try Ralph Nader and John McCain. Thanks Katy.

2008-03-11T02:52:00.000-04:00

"How To Keep Your Husband Happy" - a must read!

2008-03-09T17:38:00.000-04:00

Some great records at Ella's in Boston.

Hello, Goodbye

2008-03-08T04:05:00.000-05:00

My last view of Belfast on my drive out on Thursday.

Bon Voyage!

2008-03-05T21:35:00.000-05:00

We had going-away drinks and played pool last night. I totally bashed my knuckles on the pool table at th end of the night and they tore open and bled! Tamara took the picture. I'll probably miss this place more than I think, but I know it's time to leave.

Blacksmithing and motorcycles

2008-03-03T22:43:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I hung out with Alan, who works on our cars and has recently learned blacksmithing. I watched him work for a while, and when he was finished he gave me the product - a steel hook with a leaf on one end. He drilled a hole in it using a powerless drill that was probably 100 years old. I really went over there to look at his motorcycle, which I'm trying not to buy with my tax refund. Tell me not to do it. Tell me to do it.

Pyww-pyww-pyww!

2008-03-03T13:09:00.000-05:00

The other night we took turns shooting cans from the deck with Seth's air rifle.

The Spite House

2008-02-29T11:56:00.000-05:00

The Spite House, a 7-foot wide house in Virginia built by the owner of an adjacent house to prevent horse-and-buggy traffic from the alley.

Photos by Michael Temchine for the New York Times.

Am I A Flight Attendant Yet?

2008-02-28T19:44:00.000-05:00

United emailed me a few Fridays back (on a Friday night? seriously.), and gave me a long-winded rejection. It was formal with a spot of, albeit cold, encouragement - I may re-apply, but they ask that I please restrain myself and wait 12 months. Wow, isn't that like a year? Here's my theory about the rejection: I just don't look like an adult. I sort of have a baby-face. One of my bosses said, "maybe it's because you don't look comforting". I don't know what to make of that, really. Anyway - I thought I did very well in the interviews and the group activity; I had the right amount of owning my shit and not dominating the discussion, and I've never felt more confident and interesting responding to totally boring questions.

In a weird way it's a relief: I'll do this job in NYC and if I like it, I'll stay; if I don't, I'll find something else. This is more naturally me. But damn, I am missing those free flights already.

Last Sunday we went to the Strand in Rockland to watch the Academy Awards on the big screen. I've been a loser lately and haven't been taking pictures so you just have to imagine what we looked like: hot. We ate popcorn and candies and scoffed every time Cameron Diaz came on the screen, which was every 4 seconds. Katy pointed out that she's one of those people that always looks high.

Big Gay Sketch Show, Sally Field, and Stylettos

2008-02-22T14:22:00.000-05:00

"Lesbian Phone Sex" from The Big Gay Sketch Show (Logo)

A Parody of Sally Field's Boniva ad

Lesbian video from AfterEllen.com

Mad TV's "Glamazon Huntress"

How to Walk in High Heels

If you liked that one, for dessert try: Stylettos

There's a video of a high heel race. I found this blog by accident while Googling a motorcycle. I also found several "food crush" fetish videos while searching for the Glamazon videos. This is my favorite of those (favorite is a loose word. . . favorite on what terms, I don't know).

Honda Benly 50 S

2008-02-22T13:18:00.000-05:00

Want...need:

Honda Benly 50 S.

"Obama vs. the Phobocracy"

2008-02-20T11:00:00.001-05:00

Obama vs. the Phobocracy
By Michael Chabon
Monday, February 4, 2008; Washington Post

"There are many reasons not to support Barack Obama's candidacy for president, but every one of them is bad for the same reason.

Because I have come out publicly for the senator from Illinois, I am often called upon to listen as people offer up -- with wistfulness and regret, or with a pundit's show of certainty, or with a well-earned but useless skepticism -- their bad reasons for not giving Obama their support. For a long time now, I have listened to these people with forbearance and with a sense of duty -- not to some principle of open debate or of the inherent merit in the free exchange of even meritless ideas, but rather out of obligation to the candidate whose cause I champion.

Because Obama appears to be a patient, forbearing man with a gift for listening, I figured I owed it to him to play the thing his way. So I have nodded and looked into their eyes and hummed sympathetically as people gave their reasons and made their excuses and generally offered up, as if they were golden ingots of profound wisdom, the handful of two-penny nails with which they plan to board up the windows of their hopes for themselves, their families, their country and the world."

continue reading here.

Count Dracula

2008-02-16T20:56:00.000-05:00

Uh, Damn.

2008-02-16T00:53:00.000-05:00

Will.I.Am's "Yes We Can"

Sophie B. Hawkins' cover, "Damn! We Wish You Were Our President"

Yesterday's caucus and then some

2008-02-11T20:17:00.000-05:00

Only yesterday, after caucusing (and becoming the alternate for my town to go to the state convention), did I actually seek out articles about the campaign. Here's one by Nora Ephron, called "The A.D.D. Election", and another by Matthew Dowd, "Obama Will Win Nomination", in which he writes (regarding Obama in the lead with delegates but possibly losing if the super delegates vote undemocratically):

"It would be an untenable position for the super delegates to award the nomination to a candidate who is behind in the pledged delegate count. And if that was to happen, then the November election becomes a very difficult prospect in motivating voters who backed Obama in the nomination process. And since he seems to be the only one inspiring new voters to the polls, it is hard to dampen that enthusiasm."

I don't welcome a Bush - Clinton - Bush - Bush - Clinton presidency. I think it's bullshit. If it happens it will look like the United States has only a theoretical committment to democracy (which it does, and does not need to affirm further). I wrote a whole bunch that turned into a heated mess with no brilliant ending, so I'm going to quit here and go to bed. The bottom line is Obama has my vote, and I hope the elderly lady who's our official delegate can't go to the convention so I can drop that vote in for him myself.

Double Dutch

2008-02-09T01:20:00.000-05:00

Me, Katy and Tamara took a double dutch class last Saturday, and, judging by the skills in this video it would take every Saturday in this life and the next to pull off these moves. Like every other thing I want to add to my skill-set, I believe that mastering this is the one thing between me and complete happiness. (Until something else distracts me, like juggling flaming torches or skydiving.)

The Raveonettes - Love In a Trashcan

2008-02-06T16:12:00.001-05:00

Mardi Gras!

2008-02-05T18:23:00.000-05:00

I'm going out to a Mardi Gras party tonight, and since I haven't had much to eat my tolerance will be at an all-time low! I'm wearing a plastic mask left over from the prom at Simon's Rock my senior year - one eye is slightly warped so it looks like I have a lazy eye.

And here's a picture of me at that prom in 2006. Prom king, what!

The Candyman can.

2008-02-05T12:22:00.000-05:00

One of my YouTube favorites. . . a groovy lemon pie.

puppies

2008-01-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

I signed a confidentiality agreement before the interview so I'll have to rob you of the juicy details. But I think I aced it.

Here's Macey from The Daily Puppy.

An Upright and Locked Position

2008-01-18T21:22:00.000-05:00

A while ago I applied to be a flight attendant at United and forgot about it. Yesterday a nice, ~~gay~~ chipper man called and said he was "following up with my application" and wanted to know if I could come to Chicago for a one-on-one interview.

"Can you come to Chicago for an interview this. . . Tuesday, January 22nd?", said John, a "Telephone Interview Specialist" from Spherion, the company that handles United's application process.

I thought about it for 1 second (since I'm unemployed and uncommitted to pretty much everything but bodily functions and my friends):

"Yes. Yes I can."

They're flying me in for my interview, which is at 1:30, and they said it could take 4-5 hours - not because they'll actually spend 4-5 hours with me (or will they? I wish I had friends with corporate jobs!), but because they'll probably interview a whole slew of eager ~~blonde white~~ go-getters just like me! And that could take a while.

I have to bring a copy of my resume and watch a video online before I go. I'd post a link to the video, but that might be illegal so I'll just describe it. The first section after the introduction covers what everyone wants to know: "What the hell will I be wearing?"

The camera pans to an older lady whose title is, "Senior Staff Rep - Appearance Standards". She says, "It's a conservative look. We update it frequently; usually every year or two we update a couple of the pieces." From what I've seen online, the pieces are all variations of Royal Blue Boring.

The camera cuts to another woman:

"It is a uniform for a reason: so that everyone looks the same, therefore everyone projects the same image."

I'm thrilled. The idea of being a flight attendant is really, genuinely thrilling, but wearing the uniform and walking the walk in pleated pants, a blouse and a smart little scarf is thrilling in the way that being in drag is thrilling: I'm into it, I'm embarassed, then I'd like a drink please.

The rest of the video is about being on time.

I'm very excited. I've thought about being a flight attendant for years and just recently realized that this is the best time in my life to do it: I have no committments, no real job, no pets, and I need dental insurance so I can get my wisdom teeth out. Waiting tables and taking pictures of my feet isn't going to make that easy. I'm interested for many reasons, but mainly because it will combine my good qualities in a way that's interesting and beneficial: I'm nice to strangers and I want free flights. Also, Roommate Candidate #2 and I (see below), need to go to Vegas and do it up right, and this would make that possible in a wildly entertaining way.

What should I wear to the interview?

updated to say: I have nice things and I can put myself together well. But I looked at my shoe situation today and I've scuffed up everything I've ever put on my feet - my Dansko's have gone to shit and my boots are supposed to look like shit. They didn't show the shoes in the uniform section of the video but I'm imagining some sort of leather thing with a buckle, sitting on top of a sensible, stocky ~~stump~~ heel. Barf.

NYC-bound

2008-01-15T20:55:00.000-05:00

I got a job in NYC for March and April, with the possibility to make it full-time if I like it and I'm not bad at it. I'll be working as an assistant to a couple that does restoration and finishing work for museums and private individuals. The project is at the Museum of the City of New York, delicately dismantling two rooms that used to belong to the Rockefellers and have been on display since the 20's. I've never done work like this before, but they actually prefer that. I think most of it will look like, "Hold this up, get that, stand up on that ladder, get the hack-saw and. . . ". I saw some photographs of a similar job and every piece was photographed and documented, including brass fittings and fixtures. Every nail we extract will be cataloged. It looks tedious but I like the sound of it. Mostly I'm excited for NYC. And if I like the work, I know every project will be different.

Since I don't have any new pictures to show, here are pictures of my ideal roommates in NYC. If you have their contact info pass it on so Janeane and I can start watching cable and eating eggrolls together.

Wedding Day Video

2007-12-29T08:55:00.000-05:00

Oh, Happy Day

2007-12-27T13:54:00.001-05:00

This morning my mom woke me up early, pulled back the covers a little and hugged me and asked me if I had a good night last night. I had been awake for 3 seconds so I couldn't remember what I did last night. "I think so", I said.

Mom: "Did you hear Sunny and I laughing this morning?"

Me: (sleepily) "No"

Mom: "Well, Daddy and I are getting married. At 10 am, so get up!" Then she laughed!

Me: "Really, REALLY? I am so happy, oh, GOD!"

My parents have been married and divorced to each other twice. They were first married in Korea when my mom was 19, and divorced about 7 years later. My mom saved up money for 6 months and then traveled for a year around Europe on her own. My dad had a brief marriage to another woman and had a son, who is my half-brother Clifford. They divorced and my parents found each other again and married for the second time, this time in a simple ceremony in a town office in New Jersey. Shortly afterwards, my mom was pregnant with my sister and they moved from NYC to Maine to start our family.

They got divorced when I was 13. We owned a log house that was the original house on our property, and had been renting it out until my parents got divorced. Our tenants left and we picked up the house and moved it 1/4 mile (the length of our driveway) up through the orchard and put it on our land across the road. So my mom, sister and I lived in the log house overlooking my dad's place below the orchard in the valley. Sunny went away to college and I eventually went to Camden when I was 15 for a year of high school before starting college at Simon's Rock. Their parting wasn't sudden, and because my parents didn't move miles away from each other, I didn't really experience the typical geographic separation that characterizes divorce.

While I was in Camden my parents reconnected and worked through a lot of stuff, so when I left for Simon's Rock my parents were living in the same house. Things got better and better since then, and now they are the happiest they've ever been. For my parents to get married again seems natural to me, though the idea only occurred to me this year.

This morning we went to Marty Crowe's office here in Belfast, and my parents sat in two big leather armchairs and my dad pulled out his old solid gold ring that he got in Korea in 1968. The gold was so soft that the ring wasn't circular anymore, but sort of triangular. Mom had her ring at home in a little box, so she brought that with her. When I had gotten up this morning I heard my mom yell, "Robert!" from the floor of the living room where she was doing stretches. "Where's your ring?" He forgot that it was in a safe deposit box at the bank so he got in the car and went into town to pick it up and the marriage license. I took pictures in Marty's office and my sister and I signed our names as witnesses on the official license. After we left Marty's office, my mom went to get a haircut and my dad hung out at the library reading magazines. Then they went to Rollie's drank Irish coffee and got their rings straightened at the jeweler's, and we all went out to lunch. When the house is finished this summer we're going to have a big party and a real civil ceremony.

Hoppipolla

2007-12-27T00:59:00.000-05:00

I went out to dinner tonight with Sarah and met up with Myranda at Gilbert's. My friends from Maine are wonderful, and even though I see them for what feels like a matter of minutes out of the year it's still something and it's still meaningful. Sarah and I went to a Chinese buffet that closed at 8 for some reason. They were vacuuming up around us and gave us our bill at, oh, 7:20. We were standing in the breezeway buying tattoos from the vending machine and a man came out with keys and stood next to the door, basically asking us to leave with his eyes. I said "Thanks!" and he smirked as we went out.

This morning my sister and I took the cars to the car wash because they were totally filthy and I couldn't even open the door without getting scum on my hand.

Another, better, family picture from Christmas Eve.

Car wash.

Sarah.

Me eating watermelon.

Myranda

Happy Holidays

2007-12-25T14:09:00.000-05:00

Last night we went to an annual Christmas Eve party and Yankee Swap. My mom made nori rolls and teriyaki chicken and I spent most of the night drinking mulled cider.

A Christmas ornament I made when I was 6.

Sunny and I dressed up for the party.

Me in 1st Grade.

Sunny in Kindergarten.

MaryE

llen

Party time.

Classic wrapping job, a la my dad.

NYC to Virginia

2007-12-17T14:32:00.000-05:00

A few pictures from NYC and a couple from our first hours in Virgina (4am and so tired, but the trees were covered in ice that would melt in the morning).

welcome

2007-12-12T19:01:00.000-05:00

My sister and I are leaving on Saturday to go to Virginia. We're working on the Crossroads dance project in the Shenandoah Valley with Shannon Hummel, a choreographer and the founder of the Coradance (www.coradance.com) dance company. The project brings creative writing and modern dance to high school students so they can share their perspectives on growing up in a changing rural community. The students translate their writing into movement and put on a performance about youth and place for the public.

Sunny is shadowing Shannon and taking notes to create a teaching manual so the Crossroads project can be done in other communities by their own community members. My job is to make a film documentary of this whole thing. I'll be making two films: The first is a promotional-type piece that will be included in brochures and funding packages. The second is a longer documentary for the teaching manual.

I've never taken a film class or made a real film before, but somehow, I'm getting paid and relying on my Photography degree (I knew that was worth something!) to carry me through. Wish me luck!

In these early stages of this blog I'll write about this project and post pictures daily (hopefully). After we get back from Virginia I'll post updates on this project and other things going on here in Maine: my dad's timber frame house project, my photography show in Portland, and anything I photograph in the day-to-day. A few days ago, the deer walked a heart into our front lawn: