gone fishin'

On my way to the UPS store today I spotted two people sitting next to a canal on the side of the road, fishing.

If you've seen the canals that run through south Phoenix, you know there ain't no fish in there! If there were, they'd probably be high on meth and full of stray bullets.

Perhaps the odd couple was in it for the scenery or the relaxing experience that comes with surrendering a day to the water. If so, you'd think they would move their rusty aluminum folding chairs down the way a bit. Seriously, they sat right on the side of 24th Street, 15 feet from the bust stop, waiting patiently with fishing poles in hand, hoping to catch I don't know what.

If I wasn't such a fraidy cat around urban nut jobs, I would have asked to take a picture.

a new favorite artist

Check out this amazing construction paper art by Jen Stark. I love her drawings too.

Falling Apart

I don't know what the dickens is going on with my body this week. I've felt nauseaus since Friday, sustaining on apples, giner ale and pretzels. Last night, I made a big huge meal and couldn't eat one bite of it. Today, I finally got a whole cup of coffee down but since then it's been touch-and-go.

Yesterday, I woke up with an incredible nerve pain in my right shoulder that is persisting with painful vigor today. I can't reach my arm over my head and no amount of heat, ice or stretching offers any relief. And now, to top it all off, I'm growing a gigantic zit on my lower lip.

Don't you love it when people complain about their ailments on the internet?

I Do My Little Turn on the Catwalk

While I'm not quite ready for a career change, walking for Audrey's show on Friday was a blast. All those years getting called the Jolly Green Giant as a painfully-tall, adolescent girl finally paid off. I love how the fashion world is all about the tall girls.

For the first time in long while, I'm wearing high heels all over the place and not feeling self-conscious about it.



Fancy, non?

You get lots of attention when you're one of the models and it's fun to play when everyone there is a friend, but I can only imagine the kind of pressure that comes with the job when you're really working to make it. It certainly takes a tough (but flawless!) skin.

do whatever

toothpastefordinner.com

The War Zone

I saw War Zone Diary last night. It was only an hour long but I think, in that hour, something in me was transformed. I don’t agree with war I think in most cases, especially with this one, it’s short-sighted.

Richard Engle's documentary was deeply disturbing. I have an image flashing over and over in my head of bloated, faceless, blue and red bodies lined up in the sunshine. I keep seeing that man shaking around that severed hand screaming about the injustice that Americans have inflicted on the Iraqi people. I can’t escape the river of blood washing out the door of the mortuary, really just a room piled high with bodies bound at the hands and ankles.

I know that our soldiers and reporters are risking their lives, but I’m not sure for what. I didn’t get a sense from the documentary that the soldiers have a clear sense of purpose either, other than they feel like they are doing their part to protect the American people. And, in some very important respects they are. I just can’t find the point, I can’t find the reason behind such pain and destruction. It’s so hard to fathom that this pointless war is still raging four years later.

baller

Since when did we start giving our business cards to cute boys at bars? I think a few things have changed since the last time I was single. It's fun to be back in the game.

pancakes

I love Sundays.

If You Don't Know, Now You Know

A: "Did you hear the gun shots last night?"
B: "Uh, no."

A: "The neighbors did and called the cops."

B: "..."
A: "Welcome to the neighborhood!"

If you didn't know already, my roommate Audrey Thacker is a very talented jewelry designer. This is a completely wonderful perk for me as her jewels are beautiful and she lets me wear them out to parties. Check out her website and buy yourself, or that pretty woman in your life, a pretty little present.



The weather in Phoenix was a sunny 85 today. These warm breezy days are perfect for lounging by the pool, daydreaming to the sound of swaying palm trees. So relaxing.

Modern Letter Project, Take One

Written on the shaggy carpet of my bedroom floor.

Orphic Conjecture

One of the most important keys to living a truly happy and successful life is fostering honesty in ourselves. Lately, I've been more cognizant of the energy I attract. I am learning that when you recognize some responsibility for things you once thought were out of your control, you can let them go and see a in truer light. I tend to attract a certain kind of situation for myself, especially in relationships. I go from long-term relationship to long-term relationship, which in itself isn't a bad thing, I'm not complaining. I've had so many joyous times with gorgeous boys. But, there are some patterns that have emerged over time. I've often chalked it up to being too ambitious, too wild or too aloof. I seem to induce anxiety attacks and job-paralysis on perfectly calm and capable men. Each relationship has ended with me knowing that it's not going to work out but remaining in the comfortable spot of a mediocre partnership for a long while.

I'm not going to get into all the reasons I think this keeps happening. I will tell you though that the only consistent in the equation is me. Wow, I bet you didn't think you'd be reading all this personal shit about my life on the Internet today, did you?

In the end, I think it's beneficial for us all to think about what kind of energy we're putting out in the world. Are we mad behind the wheel of our icy cars stuck in miles of traffic? Or, are we floating down the open road with incense furling out the windows on a sunny, cloudless day? The beauty of the situation is that it's our choice.

hedgehog

I've been speaking on here in photos lately. Not sure what, if anything, that means.



This is a lovely specimen of hedgehog cactus I came across during a hike yesterday. Isn't it cute?

From a Plane

in the slo

I've been to San Luis Obispo now a few times and I just love it; especially, the way the wrinkled, green hills meet the unspoiled and rocky coast. It's a little niche of paradise. SLO exhibits so many of the great things that California has to offer not only in agriculture and natural beauty but in the positive and creative culture that buzzes in town. I've been staying in Pismo lately, walking along the pier and drinking coffee with the waves.



This is Morro Rock in Morro Bay, just north of the SLO. Apparently, this is the home to a nesting colony of Peregrine Falcons. Unfortch, I didn't have binoculars to bird watch or the time to hike around out there, so I didn't see the fastest animal on the planet in action. The fastest recorded speed of the Peregrine Falcon is 242 miles per hour.



There is something so comforting about these mountains. It reminds me a little of the Green Mountains in Vermont. Alhough, they're closer together here forming plushy canyons and farm-spotted valleys. I can't wait to come back in May when I can drive with the top down.