Enough

An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching. Mahatma Gandhi 

 

My friend texted me the other day news about an x-friend. It was good news. Luckily, I was in the car and I was having difficulty completing my thoughts and a text while driving. The delay kept me from saying something snarky and sarcastic which were the first thoughts to come to mind. I didn't want that energy out there. I kind of broke down why I would say that. Do I think I'm better? Am I jealous or hurt? More deserving of good things? Do I wish them a life of mediocrity? No, I love my x-friend. When I feel like that I remind myself there is enough. So I texted back something positive and drama free.

The idea that there is enough health, wealth and happiness for everyone makes sense. There is not a finite quantity of good. Someone elses success does not prevent mine! The negative feelings are my responsibility and have nothing to do with the other person. That's my work.

Fear of lack is that root emotion for times when we have to compete to survive. I let it float in and then out of my thoughts.

Luckily I don't need that now. All I need is love.

Kid Haters Have A Heart

"My mother did this for me once" she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby's neck. From A Mother's Prayer by Tina Fey.

How having kids changes us has all been said before. If you have them you know. To those who don't have kids we would think our kids are annoying too but they are miracles to us because we are proud we haven't killed them yet by doing something wrong like poisoning, starving or strangling them. Miracles because we parents lived through another day where we didn't die from tripping over random Lego's left in the middle of the floor or tumble down the stairs while carrying kids, car seats and 23 related items up and down them all day. Getting through a single day is a victory for us in so many ways. Our little miracles! Can I get an AMEN!

Meaghan Curry Photography

So when you are cruising on your way home from a really awesome mini-cation with your besties and you stop at the store for some cigs only to hear a mom asking her child, "Do you need to poo?"  Remember, you were once that kid and someone was kind enough to toilet train you. Support your fellow parent and screaming kid. Their quality rearing is important. That child could be your doctor or an SNL writer someday.

Eyes Like It

 Last week I went Pinterest crazy. I was on a mission to find as many images I could for group boards; Poolside/Beachside, Orange Crush, Mellow Yellow and a few of my others.

eggs and waffles

Upon this scurry of activity I found the cutest images from graphic artist Erin Jang.  

They make me happy and tickle my fancy. So simple and fun. Here is an interview with her. I like typefaces too but I've never openly talked about it;

Truly Smitten:
What are your favorite typefaces at the moment?
Erin:
Memoriam, Futura, Gotham Rounded, Clarendon

One of the great things about Pinterest is you wander around finding image after image and sometimes something really pops out and inspires you.

The Gobbler Supper Club



The Gobble Motel

Here is some quick eye candy. I stumbled upon these images today and have been obsessing a little ever since. The fact that something so unusual was in Wisconsin makes it even cooler. A turkey business man with some extra cash and a creative idea! 

The Gobbler Supper Club

More images of The Gobbler Supper Club and Motel !! Now I'm going to have to watch the movie Missed Connections which was NOT shot in California and was shot on location of The Gobbler. I'll be looking into Supper Clubs too. Have a great weekend!    Gobbler Wikipedia info  

The Dark Side Of Us

I read this article yesterday;
10 Things I Learned When I Stopped Yelling at My Kids and I really have been wondering about our dark sides and how they effect our families and significant others.

I have been on the giving and receiving end of bad behavior. Over the years I've heard many friend's stories about such topics of fighting, drinking, hitting, eating, depression, cheating, spending etc. Let's face it, no matter who you are you either have a secret dark side or have been lucky enough to conquer one. I have tackled several myself and am about half way done.

In theory I think this "stopping for a year" is something everyone could consider applying to their own dark side. At the end of the day the bad behavior is a substitution for something we are missing and if we stop the behavior long enough we'll be forced to figure out what it is we really need. The world would be a whole lot lovlier, don't you think?

Vegas Sober

Neon Boneyard 

Las Vegas! There is something for everyone, freak to geek, in this wild sunny place. Hotels keep trying for bigger and better. Tourists benefit because the strip gets an extreme makeover every 3 years and there's always something new. Some old hotels downtown update themselves some just exist while Fremont Street unites them with a Time Square like energy. Street artists and characters hang out there for photo ops. You can zip line from end to end, listen to music, visit casinos and sip a rainbow assortment of adult beverages served up like soft serve ice cream right on the street.

Fremont Street

Now there is a whole new dimension of tourism beyond gambling, showgirls and night clubbing. History Channel groupies are lining up for Pawn Stars and American Restoration  tours. Several Vegas based TV shows come to life when you walk through their surprisingly ordinary work shops. 

Vegas is a photographers dream. The Neon Boneyard Museum was the highlight of the trip for me. Plus there is good old signage all over town and the light is very white and clean.

Neon Boneyard 

We enjoyed X Burlesque at the Flamingo. It was classically trained dancers sexing it up a little with poles, sans tops and Flash Dance like short dance numbers. The comedian at intermission had me bent over laughing. 

Bring all of your personalites and have a ball.

 

To Reupholster Or Not To Reupholster



Hans Blomquist

For several years I have fantasized about having a custom upholstery  piece of furniture. We are considering moving a sofa we have to a new spot but it's not dog/kid friendly. So I thought I'd look into seeing how much a slip cover would cost.

One thing that had often stopped me was I didn't know where to begin. But I got online punching in my zip code and a search came up with a couple of businesses in my area. One person called me right away and made an appointment to come out and give me an estimate. I had looked at her website and liked her work.

I wondered who does this old art form anymore? Silvia arrived and was a stylish, slender woman who brought fabric samples and a measuring tape. Kneeling here and there and willing to walk out in the mud to see the other stored piece, she was professional. She learned how to upholster from her parents business in South America and came to Virginia in 2000. I wanted to go to Sylvia's workshop and watch the process. I want to learn how to transform old furniture into beautiful things! But I can barely thread a sewing machine, what could I do?


I saw a special on Jack White where he said he was an upholsterer before he had his band which made me like him even more. He learned guitar after work at that job.
    
Silvia said she would come and pick up the sofa and have it returned in two weeks. The cost is almost as much as new sofa so I have to think about it and find the right fabric. On the positive side I would have something exactly as I want it, one of a kind and washable. And it's recycling too.

Part 2: Wilco Wasn't Here But I Was

The reason he had to go to the birthday party had layers I won't go all into it but what's cool is when he applied for the IT job at Paul Reed Smith, 500 other people did too. In order to stand out at a guitar manufacturer's company he brought in his guitar and performed numbers at the interview. It worked, he got the job. They had a weird relationship from what I was told. I think he was well liked by his boss but suffice it to say they were friends with undertones of rank. He had to be at the party.


picture courtesy of Yolkie on blogger

 Back to the band. The venue was a warehouse up on a ledge overlooking a river. I don't know where we were, around 695, maybe Towson. It was cold and damp when we arrived to set up and practice we were locked out for a long time. Finally, when we got in we were met stiffly by a tenant. It was an uncomfortable welcome. On entering the place either side had padlocked doors. As we moved through the art filled foyer it turned into a huge open space where a woman was burning sage all around like she had a wand. There was a Buddha statue off in a small alcove behind the stage and modern art was scattered around. The entire far wall was all thin glassed windows with a view of the river. So these artist types rented out their space as a business. It was so friggin' cool. Their bedrooms were by the entrance and the rest of the place was for parties. There was a big cafeteria style kitchen with a roll up window for food and drink orders.

After rehearsal we headed out to kill time before the show and the Wilco dudes were coming in. No, I was not noticed and catapulted from my normal life into one of luxury and fame. Perhaps another time. The musician dudes talked shop. Come showtime it went great. The shy artist really nailed it and I was impressed by the evolution of the practically impromptu band. They supported their friend and were able to learn the tunes really fast and rock out. The small crowd was mostly friends as usual and afterward a couple of us bolted to the birthday party in Baltimore. I don't recall much about that party. The thrill of the night was the novelty of everything going on around me.

We did hightail it back to the warehouse to hear Glenn Kotche's band rock out. When we got there I was amazed because now the place was PACKED. I could barely see the band through the crowd. The windows were steamed and I wandered around taking unnoteworthy pictures of an extraordinary night.

Wilco Wasn't Here But I Was

February 18, 2006 was a good night. I have to document it before I totally forget because it was pre-Facebook and my journal was destroyed therefore it may not have happened. I have a few photos somewhere possibly on film, dear God.

It was a time of some chaos in my life. That night was no different. I was living with a musician and he and his friends had been on the music scene around College Park, MD for 15 plus years. One of their previous band mates, the least motivated in the bunch, had just gotten a break and was picked up by a major metal band. The metal band was browsing a local music store asking if anyone knew of anyone who could play a Hammond organ. His name was given, they knocked on his mom's door and he was signed, on a tour bus, money in his pocket within days. An absolute 180 from getting drunk and sleeping on mom's couch. Everyone was a bit shocked "the dream" happened to him out of all of them.

This brings me to another dream-come-true story which created this night. I don't remember his name but he was a musician and a fan of Wilco. He wrote on their MySpace page. Glenn Kotche checked out his music liked it and said, "Hey, you find a place for us to play there (Baltimore) and you can open for us." Something like that. All I know is 1. He was going to get to perform his music (which had never been performed nor was there a band to preform it) 2. He was going to get to hang with people he admired 3. He was going to open for Wilco musicians and plan their flippin show.

Wilco

It was a side project with Glenn Kotche and maybe Pat Sansone but I can't find what the name of the band was, nor recall it. I'm thinking this gig was just for kicks and I'm the only one documenting it. Afterall, it all went down in some random warehouse.

A day or so before the show, there was a quick practice. I attended. My roomate was the drummer and his bandmate the guitar player for these never performed songs. I went because I love being a fly on the wall. Especially that afternoon. The poor guy was a shy talented person. I wanted to see how he was going to work this out in such short time. Nothing like a dream smacking you upside the head. You have show up son! The guy was all nerves and doubting himself. That afternoon he was in the 'I'm not going to do this' stage.

The guitar player in the band was in a bit of a bind. He wanted to help his friend out and play the gig but that same night he had a prior commitment to attend a party for his boss and friend Paul Reed Smith. It was his 50th birthday party and a big bash was planned at The Ram's Head that night. He HAD to be at the star studded party. He planned to set up at the gig run to the birthday party and then come back to play then get back to the party. Whatever his plan it was tricky. Tricky, and he needed my help. Both were private parties.
To be continued...

Neon Boneyard

This week I found a cool place to visit when I'm in Vegas called the Neon Museum. A culmination of some of my favorite things; letters, vintage signs, neon and awesome photo opportunities. It's a place where old Vegas neons go to retire or get born again. 

Photo credit Glark on Flickr



Here are a bunch of shots on Flickr. Looks like a fun place.
 

This week I took advantage of Old Navy's 20%-40% off sale for the kids. It's over tomorrow and they have great basics cheap and they arrive fast. I'm getting ready for summer. I'm hopeful about the suns return.

 

Elisabeth Irwin

I am also getting ready for Sam's 1st birthday. I am trying to decide on a theme. Since he came early he didn't have a shower or announcements so I want the invite to be extra special. I've been looking at paper airplanes for a theme. Check out my Pinterest board to see what I've pinned so far. My mom was a stewardess in the 50's and my dad a navigator for USAF so aside from just liking planes it's a family thing.