sx70girl

Happy 2010!

2010-01-08T18:29:00.003-05:00

I should have written sooner, I know. And I hate reading blogs where people are apologizing to no one in particular for not keeping it up to date. Promise I won't do it again.

I have new photos to add. And they will be here soon.

Dream Street Inspiration

2009-07-27T19:55:00.011-04:00

I saw this car today while dropping off some books at the library. It reminded me of an image I have hanging in my darkroom by W. Eugene Smith called "Dream Street". So I drove home, grabbed my camera, and drove all the way back just to shoot this photo. It doesn't quite have the same feel as when I first saw it but it's the general idea. It's down a dead end street that turns into someone's driveway. The driveway is lined with trees that have their branches hanging over the road. But unfortunately my little camera can't capture the scene with the branches and the car, so I opted for a close up.

While I was in the neighborhood, I browsed through the library's historical garden. Apparently these are the same plants and flowers that could have been planted when the library was first built in 1851. Here are some bees being busy as bees.

TTV Photos

2009-05-05T01:41:00.002-04:00

Beginning to look A LOT like Xmas.

2009-04-06T17:45:00.006-04:00

I haven't forgotten about you, dear old blog. I just don't have much to say. But you are on my mind. As soon as something cool presents itself, you'll be the first to know.

As a side note, I did see an allergist today. I have hives up and down both arms. Turns out I have no food allergies, but slightly allergic to dogs, cats and yikes! feathers. I am very allergic to something called Timothy grass. I can't be allergic to my bird. No way. I also had to do some major blood tests and I won't know the results for a month. Scratching and swelling continues.

You know, it's April friggin 6th and there's a full on blizzard outside my window. The hell's up with that? Mother nature, get your act together! This is Toronto, not the north friggin pole.

From -17C to +30C in under 2 minutes.

2009-02-03T00:14:00.008-05:00

That's what happened to me on Saturday at the Buffalo Zoo. It was bone chilling, tongue - sticking - to - pole - cold. But the zoo has a fantastic new indoor interactive rain forest exhibit that's hot and humid. Wouldn't want to be in there in the middle of a July heat wave, but on a snowy Buffalo afternoon, it's perfect. It's a giant greenhouse, with monkeys, anteaters, ocelots, capybaras, dwarf caimans, tons of free flight birds, plus a whole bunch of other animals. And the fun part is that every 15mins or so, it actually rains.

Here are some of my photos:

I can't believe how close I got to the elephants. That was pretty awesome. When I grow up, I want to be a zookeeper. :-)

Rockin out...but not really.

2009-01-26T16:37:00.005-05:00

Here are 2 B&W videos sent to me by Edward. 1 is of Dick Dale and the Deltones doing his song Misirlou in what looks like a really bad movie, and the other is of The Chantay's on the Lawrence Welk Show. I feel bad watching them play. They can't get too excited and rock out, so they just stand there waving their guitar necks around. Wouldn't want to offend anyone!

I can't figure out how to get videos off Youtube, so here are 2 links for you to click on and enjoy.

The Chantay's

Dick Dale & The Del Tones

So sad I could puke

2009-01-19T23:27:00.004-05:00

Did you know today is the most depressing day of the year? It's officially called Blue Monday.
I couldn't agree more, but for me personally, it's more of a bright pink Monday. Pepto pink to be exact. I don't know what's going on in my house, but my mom & I are sick. She's a hellofa lot sicker than me. We're going through a bottle of Pepto Bismol at an alarming rate. I think it's food poisoning from the chicken pizza on Saturday. She thinks it's the flu. What ever it is, it needs to go away. At least I can half function and make emergency trips to the drug store. But I'm not as energetic as this guy.

Surf Photograher - Joni Sternbach

2009-01-12T16:47:00.007-05:00

I came across these stunning surf photos while browsing books on blurb. If I could afford it, I would definitely buy one of her books. I'm not sure if it's kosher for me to post some of the pictures here, but I think of it as free advertising.

Now THAT is a long board!

The photographer's name is Joni Sternbach. She shoots with an 8x10 camera and produces "tintypes" which are prepared and developed right after shooting. Believe it or not, a lot of these photos were shot on Long Island at a spot called Ditch Plains. Who knew you could surf on Long Island?

Please check out her website for more stunning photography.
Her artist statement is very informative as well.

Yesterday, another swollen lip day

2009-01-12T13:45:00.002-05:00

Wow. What the heck is going on with me? This time it's really messed up my bottom lip. The the inside texture is all bumpy and peeling. And the tip of my tongue is numb. Couldn't do much about it except take a Benedryl and lie down. Once that drug gets into my system it acts pretty much like a sleeping pill. So because of that, I missed out on bird counting in the Rouge Park (and the fact that it was supposed to be -20.) I don't have winter clothes that can deal with that kind of cold. Every year, for the past 5+yrs I've been saying to myself, "I need proper winter boots, but I'm going to hold off and see if I can get by without. Just 1 more season." There's maybe 3 more months of winter left. Let's see if I can squeek by another year without boots!

Surf Guitar

2009-01-06T15:20:00.005-05:00

I don't play guitar or have any aspirations to learn, but I do love the way they look. If I were to collect guitars (and surfboards!) this is probably what I would get. Aren't they cool? Love the case, but I think it would look better without the girl on it.

From the website:

Legendary Surfer magazine publisher and much sought-after surf artist John Severson created a unique take on Southern California’s favorite pastime: surfing. Severson put his many years of experience from the ’60s to today into making his two Fender Sonoran SCE acoustics true works of art. Hang ten with the Surf Fever model (shown here)—inspired by the surf posters of yesteryear—or rev it up and go with the Woody. Each instrument features a maple neck, Stratocaster® guitar headstock shape, die-cast machine heads, Fender preamp, John Severson hang tag and Severson’s signature on the back of the headstock to create a truly cool look that’s all Fender!

See photos of it being played while surfing at SurferArt.com.

Swollen lip, again.

2009-01-06T15:00:00.003-05:00

I woke up yesterday with a big ole swollen lip. Since I can't seem to remember to write it down on a calender every time it happens, I'll blog about it instead. Not much to say about it. I took a bunch of Benedryle and was just stoned the entire day. Eventually it will go away but there's still a little swollen bit left today. The skin on your face isn't supposed to be stretched like that. I'm a bit worried about getting stretch marks on my face. :P

Read all about this grossness here.

Glowing budgie

2009-01-01T18:47:00.004-05:00

Not so stoked

2008-12-31T01:12:00.004-05:00

This is probably the first new years eve where I don't care what I'm doing or not doing. I know what I wish I was doing, and since I'm not doing it, I'm kinda bummed out.

12hrs of Bounty Hunt'in on Xmas Eve

2008-12-25T01:26:00.009-05:00

If I could ask for anything for Xmas eve, it would be that the networks play something on TV for the rest of us that are sick of Xmas music, Xmas tv shows, and Xmas all together. A & E heard my prayer, and presented me with 12hrs of my favourite show, Dog the Bounty Hunter. After my own personal "bounty hunt" with an wallet full of $10 coupons at a certain organic food store that shall remain nameless, I parked myself infront of the TV with the chocolatly peacan fruites of my labour.

I love Dog's wife on the show, Beth. She's definetly my favourite "character". Unlike me, she embraces her womanly attributes, and I love her toughness and dedication to her family.

My left eye.

2008-12-21T19:08:00.007-05:00

I've got allergies. And once in a while I'll wake up in the middle of the night (why is it always in the middle of the night?!) with a swollen facial feature. Today's freaky facial feature is my left eye. Swollen. Shut. I look like I got into a really cool fight. Anyhow, looking in the mirror makes me sad. so I prefer to look at someone who doesn't look like a fight club reject.

Here are some Marilyn photos I really like, for sale online.

About the photo:

This rare one of a kind candid photograph was taken in the bleachers, while the director Joshua Logan, Marilyn & Milton were reviewing the site for the rodeo sequences in the film "Bus Stop". This original was a 35mm kodachrome, which was recently found in the bottom of a file cabinet and has never been seen until this time.
About the photo:

This image from the 'Ballerina' series, one of Milton & Marilyn's most recognized collaborations was taken in 1954 at Milton's New York City studio. Clothing designer, Ann Klein, sent various outfits to Milton's studio for Marilyn to wear, however all the outfits were 2 sizes too small. All of the poses in this sitting amusingly deal with Marilyn's problem of holding up the ill-fitting toule and satin dress. The most recognized image from this sitting was chosen as one of Time/Life's 3 most popular images of the 20th Century along with Albert Einstein & Winston Churchill.

Ed bought this photo. It's hanging in his bedroom.

About this photo:

A rare candid that Milton did of Marilyn in Los Angeles in 1954. This image shows her posing in front of her new caddy that was given to her by Jack Benny for appearing on his television show.

About this photo:
This image of Marilyn, admiring a primitive statue, was taken at producer Joseph Schenck's villa in October 1953, a month after Milton and Marilyn's first sitting.

Bird photo of the day

2008-12-17T19:57:00.004-05:00

He loves to sit on my monitor and talk to me. He speaks in English but it's not too clear what he's saying. He'll get it right one day. He just needs more practice.

Paid for blue, but got green.

2008-12-16T14:23:00.010-05:00

This is my new "ish" budgie. I've had him for a year. The above photo was taken when he first came home. He was a baby and the cutest thing around. He let me touch him, rub his belly. The below photo was taken recently - a year later. He's got a receding hair line, his feathers changed from blue to green, he begs for table food by flying into my plate or landing on my fork, and has developed a bit of an attitude, & he bites. But he's curious about everything, he talks, he's playful and we love him!

He also needs a name. I'll have to come up with something soon, or he's going to think his name is "Did you poo on me?" Suggestions?