Music to My Eyes

I love a good cassette tape just as much as the next guy, so obviously I am totally digging this art by irI5. These portraits are so spot on, and the creative use of the otherwise out of date cassette is genius. If only I would have been inspired by these in my youth instead of wasting valuable hours desperately winding beyond-repair tapes back in to their case with the end of a pencil...
Make sure you take a look at her flickr set for more fun pieces.

Ode to the DCW

Just finished this housewarming gift. Who doesn't love a little more Eames in their life?

*Yawn*

Is it just me, or are there not enough hours in the day? I feel like there is no time to accomplish my to-do list AND get a good night's sleep, and I am always trading off one or the other. I think it is time to take drastic measures and go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up earlier. I can hear those of you familiar with my night-owl behaviors and love of sleeping in laughing out loud as I type, and trust me, I too think it is a crazy idea, but it just might be crazy enough to work... famous last words.

Firstly, I think a snazzy alarm clock might make waking up more fun. The red clock above is made by Twemco and can be found here. I am also very intrigued by this contraption: The Soleil Sun Alarm Clock, which mimics the sunrise to gently wake you without sound.
Ahhh I am feeling more rested already...

This whole waking up with the sun concept brings me to my second energizing plan, purchasing Spent, by Frank Lipman MD. His theories on energy and exhaustion have been getting a lot of buzz lately, and it is worth a look at his website. Normally I wouldn't buy into the hype, but when I read a recent interview his reasoning really struck a chord with me.

"When I started seeing so many patients who were exhausted, with no energy and low immune systems, I obviously started thinking about why this was happening. And I realized that the only time I never saw patients who had these symptoms was when I was working 28 years ago in Kwandebele, a rural area in South Africa. I was seeing diseases symptomatic of poverty and malnutrition, but not the same types of problems I see today in New York City or when I worked in urban areas in South Africa, where patients are more likely to come in complaining of fatigue, insomnia, depression or various aches and pains. There was no electricity, indoor heating or refrigeration in Kwandebele. They went to bed when it got dark, they arose with the sun, they ate whatever foods were available in season. They lived in accordance with the cycles and rhythms of nature."

I can say based on my short time in Africa that I have never in my life felt as rested as I did when staying in Tanzania. I truly feel my energetic state had more to do with how I was sleeping (in bed by 7:30 or 8, up at 6) and what I was eating (fresh bananas, avocados, pineapple, etc ) and less to do with the fact that I was on vacation. I have been trying to recapture that circadian rhythm for a year now, but it is tougher to do in a nation where most children aren't even in bed by 7, and the snow on the ground impedes the growth of anything fresh. I will keep you posted on my journey, and hopefully my increased energy will bring about many new blog posts! Now if you will forgive me, it is past my bedtime...

Docs Rock

photo by Gour, Kids With Cameras

I am so gung-ho about watching documentaries lately!! While I can appreciate a good Hollywood story, so many movies are a poor adaptation of a book or a lame re-make, so if I'm going to watch a flick inspired by something it might as well be real life, right? When I saw Slumdog Millionaire I thought it was so wonderful, but watching the trials and tribulations of these young children in India reminded me of the amazing movie I just watched last year, Born Into Brothels. It came out a while back, won an Oscar, and is pretty much a must see in my eyes for anyone who is an artist, has a passion for photography, or wants to be inspired and humbled by a bunch of talented kids. Just writing about the movie makes me want to go watch it again, and if you are friends with me you have probably heard me gush about it once or twice. If you are a fan, it's worth your time to take a look at Kids With Cameras to see what the kids from the movie are up to and admire the other photography projects the organization has in the works.

As far as other docs are concerned, here is what's on tap in the Netflix queue:

Helvetica
Wordplay
King Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters
The Sound and the Fury
The Corporation
The Devil and Daniel Johnston.

I really want to see Madonna's I Am Because We Are when it comes out too. Suggestions?? Recommendations??

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.