Coming Out... of Hibernation

That's Keen is back... sort of.

Stay tuned, friends. Good things are on the horizon

Change Is In The Air

I think we both know how much I have been slacking on the blog in recent months. I'll spare you the lengthy apology and explanation for my absence, so let's just pick up where we left off shall we? In addition to life keeping me busy these past months, I have also been invited to be in an art show - Collective Conversations In Clay: Merging Media. The show opens this Saturday (please come out and support me!) and my finished piece, No. 9, is that lovely square accompanying this post. I am pretty damn proud of it, but I am more proud to say that along with its completion I have set many wheels in motion for the months ahead.
It's good to be back. Now that's keen.

Hello Capricorn!

1.25.08 So guess what happens on this date at precisely 8:37pm central time??? Pluto enters Capricorn!! Woo! Not to get all new-agey on you, but the reason for all the bogusness in my life for the last 12 years was because Pluto was in Sagittarius, obviously! I have been dealing with Pluto taking it's sweet time since 1997 and I am so ready to enjoy it's stay in Capricorn for the next 15 years. If you are a fellow Taurus circle the 25th on your calendar! I figured I better make this news public so when something awesome goes down Sunday night my astrological beliefs will be validated. As long as I'm not on the couch watching Rock of Love* as would normally be doing at that hour I will consider the Capricorn kick-off a success! Stay tuned for the follow up blog...

*Don't judge loyal readers. You know you watch and love that trashy show too.

Relaunch!

Yo. Has anyone else noticed that it is 2009 already? How the heck did that happen??? I don't know about you, but I am rubbish at making and keeping resolutions. Sometimes if I call them "goals" I fare better, but this year I am taking a different approach and pretending the new year hasn't really begun. I'm starting to get into the swing of things and slowly but surely embrace what I need to do... like be more diligent about updating my blog. My horoscope the other day told me to get ready to be catapulted out of a rut, and to that I say bring it on! In the spirit of resolutions past, present, and future I give you an old drawing...that has since been updated...involving a habit I am trying to kick. Here's to a fresh start! Happy (slightly belated) New(ish) Year.

Happy Holidaze

So much for the more frequent blog posts... something to add to the list of resolutions I suppose! In the meantime I hope everyone has a great holiday. I know I will, thanks to these cookies: Do yourself (but not your waistline) a favor a whip some up... Ritz crackers, peanut butter, and melted baking chocolate... apply in that order and attempt to let the chocolate harden before gobbling them up. Easy peasy and oh so yummy! See you next year...heh heh.

Maroc n Roll

For those of you who want more, or have yet to see any... the complete picture archives from Morocco have been uploaded to flickr for your viewing enjoyment. Now that this daunting task has been taken care of the blogs will be more frequent. Hooray!

Boo!

Well, it's Halloween again. A holiday, in my opinion, worth celebrating by all. Here are my tips for having a great Halloween:

Nerds. Best candy ever. Kids, try to get em', adults give'em away and you will be the hit of the neighborhood. Yum.

Trick-or-Treaters, forgo that tiny orange plastic pumpkin and opt for the pillow case. I know it's not as stylish, but trust me, you will get WAY more candy. You can thank me later (by sharing your Nerds).

Want to celebrate with a quiet night in? Partake in a scary movie that leaves you sleepless and wanting to leave the lights on. My pick? Rosemary's Baby. Freaks me out, and Mia Farrow could not be cuter. Not really gory either, so those with weak stomachs can handle it. If Blockbuster is out, you can use The Silence of the Lambs or Misery as back-ups.

Last of all, scare someone. All day long. Pretend it's April Fool's day and you are the annoying person shouting "April Fools!!!!" except say "Boo!" My favorite method is the oldie but goodie of entering a room a few steps ahead of someone and hiding behind the door. Gets 'em everytime! Fake bugs are good as well.

Ok there you have it, my tried and true tips for a successful Halloween. If you can't find any Nerds, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups are pretty good too...
Happy haunting!

Erg Chebbi

Back to the seeming calmness of Chicago after the madness of Morocco...
It will be days before I can sort through my hundreds of photos and post a link, so until then enjoy my blissed out phone pic from the Sahara. Off to dream of mint tea and harira, and sleep off this jet lag.

Sensory Overload

I can sum up the past few days simply: Morocco is the most overwhelming place i have ever been.

this computer is french, so pleqse excuse the typos and lack of punctuation, as the keyboqrd is not what i am used to, yet another thing that is so vastly different about this place

My travels have been more insane and amazing than i could ever begin to type here in the short time that i have, so for now i will just say this country is something that words, pictures, and movies can barely scrqtch the surfqce of

The easiet thing for me to do is give a stream of consciousness from the past 5 days:
cars people bikes mopeds donkeys carts and CATS everywhere, its hqrd to walk without tripping over one of the above

within the first 30 minutes of arriving i sAw 4 people on a moped built for 1, and a cat in the airport

our riad is the most amazing place ever, a true oasis in the craziness of Marrakech, a place i hqve looked forward to returning to every day, and a place i am heart broken to leave tomorrow, there is an orange tree in the courtyard outside our room which gives us fresh juice every morning

the medina is a maze like nothing i have ever experinced, one thqt requires you to pay someone to help you find your way and requires directions like turn left a the first fountain, right at the second fountain, and when you see two trees take a left until you find a covered market then go through the two arches, but if you reach the spice market youve gone the wrong way

mint tea is the best invention ever, something i never tire of

tagines are a close second

berber soup is amazing

4am prayer calls are not the best thing to wake up to when your riad is directly next to a mosque, but the other 4 durring the day help you know what time it is

it takes a really long time to drive to the sahara

it takes an even longer time to drive back when you are tired, smelly, and sore from riding a camel

always pack a spare tire when driving to:from the desert, as you never know when it might come in handy

a sunrise over the dunes of erg chebbi seen from camel back is pretty much the best thing ever

moroccans are known for their hospitality, camels are not
they like to fart, pee, poop, burp, and grunt in your presence, and to say that they spit is an understatement____ more like vomit up white sticky phlemmy froth

thankfully my camel was very sweet

if youve seen one kasbah, youve seen em all

djemma el fna is best left for another blog, but suffice it to say it is every bit like what people say it is multiplied by 100000000000000000000

the souks are fun to get lost in, and even more fun to bargain in
i have found a place where my stubborness gets me what i want!

you can never but too many poufs, tagines, or scarves!

be weary of the spice man with wandering hands

be weary of the stewed prune tagine when you have a long bus ride ahead of you

tonight was spent relaxing at the riad after a crazy day at the souks, tomorrow we are off to essaouira on the western coast, so computer time will be limited as it has been for the majority of the trip

i cant wait to share more about this amazing place and post pictures!!

2009 is our year cubbies!!! until then....

Adios Madrid!

An update is due, as this is potentially the last time I will have access to a computadora.... y agua caliente... hot water. Hopefully Morocco will be on the interwebs, bu who knows until we get there. A few hours left in Madrid before leaving for Marrakech, and today´s to-do list consists of: pasteries, a trip to Reina Sofia, relaxing in the park with some ice cream, and a snack at the Museum of Ham. Yes you heard me correctly, we are going to eat dinner at el Museo de Jamon. Should be interesting...

Ill updtae again as soon as we return from the Sahara and I can find a computer! Go Cubs!!!

UR2CUTE2B4GOTTEN!

LYLAS! BFF! Yearbooks are so fun! If you are bored at your computer and have access to a pic go yearbook yourself and you will be laughing faster than you can say "Have a great summer! CU next year!"

Here are my favorites for your viewing pleasure: 1960, 1970, and 1990!








I also just acquired an old yearbook from 1941 to do some collaging with, and in it I found what may be the cutest inscription ever:


Dear Bevie,
I've known you only a little while but I've found you to be the one. You're the sweetest & loveliest girl in school and the best dancer I've ever come to have met. Here's hoping to see a lot more of you in the future.
Love till infinity +
Bill

Can't you just imagine Bev and Bill at the sock hop being the most adorable couple you ever did see!? Too cute.

Correct Me If I'm Wrong...

...but for $30,000+ shouldn't this thing ACTUALLY HOVER???!!!???

According to the auction description
The illusion of Michael J. Fox as “Marty McFly” hovering through the air was achieved with practical effects, with actors in rigged harnesses being “flown” via cranes, with special effects taking care of the rest.
So why is this selling for so much!?!? Please tell me a harness and personal crane operator are included in the auction price since they seem integral to the correct use of the hoverboard.

Given the wood build and use of metal components, it looks and feels like a “real” prop.
Uh, maybe because it is a "real" prop as opposed to a "real" hoverboard??

This piece has the complete fully functional and rear ballbearing-mounted footpad that rotates 360 degrees, as well as the bottom “magnet plates”.
Well whoop-dee-frickin-do. Fully functional...except for that hovering part.

And while we are on the subject, isn't this the future? I'm tired of waiting for the flying cars already! Man, I'm so bummed I can't get a real hoverboard...

Chickens Just Back From The Shore...

Feist is too cute, and this Sesame Street remix is so adorable!

Watching this video made me think of all my favorites from Sesame Street that I enjoyed while growing up. Hopefully these will bring back some memories for others as well!



This song is so catchy! It wasn't aired often, but it stuck in my head after all these years. Probably my most favorite song, next to this.....

...Me & My Llama, Goin' To The Dentist!

What's not to love? This girl is allowed to walk around NYC unsupervised AND she has a pet llama! Awesome!



I remember when I figured out that Bruce inspired Sesame Street...for years I thought it was the other way around!


Oscar was my favorite. Does this explain why I can be so grouchy?


I loved the animation in these! I was always mesmerized by the cup rising up from inside the counter top.


This one makes me laugh now, but when I was a kid I was always frustrated that the U wouldn't leave him alone!

Okay, I'll stop now! I could post these all day!

Daddy-O

Happy Father's Day to all the pops out there. I can't believe my dad was ever that tiny. Too cute.

If Loving This Is Wrong...

...then I don't want to be right!
So delicious! Words can't even do it justice. Bacon really does make everything better. On a related note, has anyone else seen this sticker in the Gingerman bathroom? It cracks me up every time!

OMG PBJ!

Just the other night I was thinking what to eat for dinner, and I decided upon a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "You are never too old for a PB&J and they never stop sounding delicious," I though to myself. Seriously. "I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY and I'm not afraid to shout it from the rooftops!" I exclaimed, as I laid out my bread and spread on some peanut buttery goodness, topping it off with a little spoon of strawberry preserves. I was really feeling the love for my meal, and when I put my slices together it went to a whole new level because there was a heart on my bread!!! No kidding! We are talking cuteness equated with babies and puppies here people. My PB&J loves me back! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Awwwwww...

Happy Mother's Day

Moms are awesome. Don't forget to call yours!

Simon Says

It is wise advice to dress for success. This applies to job interviews and dates, and it definitely applies to meeting Simon Doonan, which I had the pleasure of doing on Saturday.

What's a girl to wear when she has 60 seconds to make a good impression on one of the wittiest and most creative powerhouses in the world of fashion and pop culture? What will tell Simon without words that I too am on the same trajectory of coolness that he is? Clearly the answer was my good friend the owl. We chit-chatted for a bit while he signed my book, the usual "It's so nice to meet you, how do you spell your name, I love your philosophy on life, etc" banter that typically occurs at book singings while the people in line behind you eye you to hurry up. After he lifted his pen and returned my book to me Simon said "I LOVE your owl pendant!" SCORE! In my mind I thought "I KNEW you would!" We chatted about how it was my mothers and how I should be wearing it with something long and flowy and then he reiterated his adoration saying "It could be worth a lot of money. It's so groovy!" No Simon, you're groovy.

I'm so smitten with this man! I sort of think we are long lost best friends. I couldn't help but notice an eerie resemblance in our handwriting, and I know we share a love for all things witty and British. Basking in the glow of my compliment and newly autographed book I kept thinking how great Simon was and how much I wanted to just miniaturize him and put him in my pocket. Think of all the fun you could have with a mini Simon Doonan in your pocket making jokes and giving you fashion advice! I think this is a great idea, so I would like to debut the prototype here. I give you Pocket Simon: GENIUS! Pure genius! If Pocket Simon was around today he would probably say "Are you seriously wearing that gray sweater that you have been wearing all winter again??" To which I would reply "Yes, Simon, I am. It's a lovely 30 degree day in late April in Chicago and I think it is perfectly appropriate." Then he would tell me to don the owl necklace and all would be right with the world.

Africa In Pictures

A taste of Tanzania...

File Under: I'm a Nerd

For all 4 of you that read this on your iPhone I just added a webclip icon so if you want to add me to your home screen this nifty graphic will pop up: Yee-haw! This is another classic example of me wanting instant gratification without taking the steps to actually learn something along the way. Who needs guitar lessons when my 15-year old self can just get the tabs to learn all the songs I want to play? And who needs to know anything about HTML when someone else does the coding for you?

While we are on the topic of blogging, I think all of you "anonymous" commentators out there can click on the Name/URL option and type in your name to leave a note. Don't fear, you don't need a URL to just sign your name :)

Hope to get some Africa pics up later in the week...