Roles

This, regrettably, is going to be rushed.  I have had a long night, my knees and shins are aching, and my boyfriend, bless his heart, is crawling, exhausted, into bed.  I, for once, would like to join him and hold him tight before our eyes close.

I wanted to post this tonight, though, despite being beat, and a little bit uncertain as to exactly what will come out, because today has been one of those rare days in which life grants you vision.  Not clarity, per-say, nor a view of what should be or could be, but simply, eyes open enough to see more than one angle.  You see, we all have roles in our lives, many that we are conscious of, and a few now and then, that evade us.  Not because we are stupid, or slow, or because anyone is really better at looking than we are, but simply because there are too may angles for any one person to see consistently (unless he or she is perhaps in a constant state of meditation and detached reflection, but even then, I'm sure the cosmos would be glad to sneak something in, unseen).  The bottom line is, we rarely take the time and cultivate the peace of mind to stop long enough to consider that the people we encounter day to day are juggling far more than we grant them credit for at face value.  

Our friends, our co-workers, and the people we hold dear; we are so quick to dismiss their free-time as we plan ours, and as a result, forget to look for the things that genuinely matter in between their lines.  The boss, who may seem distant at work, preoccupied, goes home to juggle wife and kids, and would probably not know what to do beyond cry for joy at the opportunity to have 45 minutes alone.  The dear friend, who presses on through adversity and financial difficulty and loses touch with dreams because money doesn't allow time to cultivate progress, to cultivate new employment, to cultivate dreams, to cultivate more money.  Lovers, who love, but can't touch, because life gets (so often) in the way.  Co-workers who work full days, and come home in the evening, not to rest and take care of themselves, but to work again, tirelessly, at another job, another life (for their own personal pursuits, or even just to make ends meet), all without much mention to anyone else during the day.  We take these things for granted in everyone else...and no wonder!  Look at how busy we are juggling ourselves!

So tonight, or tomorrow, for those of you who have already gone to bed, and are lying in wait for another busy day, please take just a moment to think of the people in your life and the roles they might play.  Don't just envision the masks that they wear for the stage you share with them, but consider the credits of the other Playbills their names grace, and perhaps you will find new insight into their actions and just which roles, for them, might hold the most weight.  I know I did.

Goodnight.

Musical Finds

This Christmas, I had a wonderful time with family and friends, and blessed as I am to come from a split family, the fun continues for me today as my mom and I celebrate our belated Christmas day.  But this post is really only about the holidays in a round about way.

You see, this year, my Christmas wish list included an Ipod touch, and as its a fairly expensive gift, it was one that I didn't entirely expect to receive. Needless to say, I was oh, so surprised and grateful when it arrived under the tree in a roofing equipment box [thanks much, Dad! :)]. 

Since then, Itunes has been a close comrade, primarily due to Ping, which, if you're not aware, allows people to share musical preferences, much like Facebook status updates or Tweets.  Generally speaking, I think Itunes is an interesting platform, and a unique way about music sales in the digital age.  But in terms of Ping, I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised, as already I've stumbled upon bands I may not have otherwise, via the suggestions of others.

I have been out of my musical loop for the past year or so.  Its funny, lyricism has always been close to my heart, and as both an amateur singer and songwriter, I have made it my mission from time to time to "binge song search," so to speak.  Not having cable and being rather removed from the mainstream (as somewhat of a personal experiment) in the past year, I've missed a few opportunities to do this, but now I'm back in...wholeheartedly.

All of that in mind, if everyone has already heard and loved my latest find, then "Here here!" to all of you, and my apologies for being last on the bandwagon.  If not, I would urge you to check out Mason Jennings' album, The Flood.  Most spectacularly, it includes a song titled Between the Lines, which I am happy to say has swept me rather off of my feet.  Its been quite some time since I've stumbled on an honest, unassuming love song, and let me tell you, this one has a big, kind heart, with a sweet-home sound.  Somewhat reminiscent of older Ben Kweller, but with a bit more depth, its bound to go down in my personal hall of simple love song fame.  Kudos, Mason Jennings.

Dear Everyone,

I am so tired I could scream. 

That is all.

-Jen

Cookies in the Bathtub?

I intended to post last night.  I baked and baked and had a lovely time!  I took photos and thought of all the wonderful commentary I might share with you about the experience and about holidays and tradition.  Then, 8:30pm rolled around and I realized I was quite out of time; I had an important ladies night event to attend at my friend and manager's house.  So, I bagged up my goodies, set the brownies to cool, and burst through my front door into the frigid night air...blog un-blogged.  Alas, my friends, this post is doomed to be a strange one, full of half finished thoughts and yesterday's mental meandering. 

BEFORE I can get into the events of days past though, I feel its probably wise to preface with my experiences thus-far today. 

2am: Curl up in bed next to an already sleeping Tavi.

2am-5am: Listen to Tavi almost-snore...which is not his norm, and most definitely an annoying occurrence.

8:15am: Wake up to Tavi's alarm as he gets ready to leave for a haircut.

Sometime roughly between 8:15 and 8:45: Hear lots of shuffling and Tavi profess his love to me.  I am surly in the mornings and most any circumstance in which my sleep is disturbed, so I said something along the lines of "I asked you to be quiet, and you're telling me you love me??  Go get your haircut and let me sleep for another 15 minutes!"  (Apparently I take this sleep stuff WAY too seriously.  As an afterthought I feel kinda bad, but the truth is, its just how I roll.  I blame my mom.  She never woke me as a baby.)

9:05am:  Fine.  I'll get out of bed.  I hate you all.

9:20-9:45: Get ready and for some stupid reason decide to dry my hair since its frickin frackin freezin outside in lieu of eating breakfast.  Dumb. But you'll see why soon...wait for it...

10:00am: Arrive at work.  Instant crowd.  Oh, my dear god, its cold.  Why are you people here already?  Wow, retail the last Saturday before Christmas, I love you? Heh heh...

Noonish...maybe...I have no concept of time during this point of the day: Tavi arrives, as per my txt request (thank you past self, for thinking ahead on this one), to be my hero in shining armor, baring the sweet sweet gift of Jamba Juice.  Yum!  Thanks, love, you saved me!

4:00pm:  I ask Amanda, my manager, "Hey, Amanda, has anyone had their break yet?"  To which she chortles and replies, "No, and its 4:00pm...."  She went on about something involving grabbing food if we want but its almost not worth it or something.  I tuned out.  It was 4:00pm???????????????????  Good, god, when did that happen?  Ok, fuck eating, lets just be done with this workday.

4:25pm:  This is the slowest goddamn hour in existence.  

5:20pm:  Leave work.  Get in car.  Head towards Wendy's for a Spicy Chicken Ceasar Salad (my fast/quasi healthy food of choice these days).

5:50pm: Stop at home to use ladies room and change my coat.  Get in Jayney's car with Tav and Jayney to go to Willow Creek for their annual Christmas Eve show (a Tavi and Jayney tradition).  Yes, I did pout internally about having to go.  I wanted to lay down on my bed and not move all night.  My stomach hurt and I was hungry...I did NOT want to sit in church for an hour +.  BUT, I went.  And it was great.  Beautiful music, stunning dance, and a wonderful visual story of what the birth of Jesus might have been like if it had happened in 2010.  I nearly cried.  For real...tears to the eye...and not just the kind that form when you're yawning and trying to hide it because you're in church and you don't want people to think that you're really crying because the priest is saying something about the economy and hardship and you're ten and all you want to be doing is reading or something, but that's disrespectful...and its not like you don't enjoy the sermon, its just that you're ten...but that's another story.  :)  ANYwho, Willow was worthwhile.  I got to sing loudly and very much in tune (which, I remembered, was one of my very favorite aspects of church, back when I attended regularly...I no longer do, for various reasons, but that too, is another tale for another time), and I was blessed with precious memories with Tav and his mum.

9:30ishpm: We are at Kohls in Wheaton, and Tavi, bless his heart, is agonizing over what coat to get.  Long story.

10:15pm:  Finally, back at home.  Yes, Tavi, dear, we did make it in the time-frame you mentioned.  Good job.  Here's a cookie.  Ooooh, wait...burn!  ;)

10:25pm: I shoot the shit with Andrew for a bit, whom had a very physically trying day of recovery, but was able to bond with his bed.  I'm jealous. 

11:00pm:  Tavi returns with Arbys.  Yes, more fast food.  I'm sick of it, but you know what?  I'm starvin, Marvin, and there's NO way I'm making a meal right now.  Tav is now downstairs watchin tv, I'm blaggggin, and Andrew is still in bed.

Soooo, all of that said, you have about 10 more minutes of my time.  Then I will be retiring to my gloriously comfortable bathtub, which will be filled with epson salt for my aching back and shins, as well as lovely lavender bubbles...because I am a woman, and we, as the fairer sex, have earned the right to aroma therapy (what with centuries of childbirth and all).

I love the holidays, don't get me wrong.  I will never be the person who moans and groans about them, no matter how hectic they get.  There is something quaint and reassuring about the ebb and flow of tradition and time spent driving family batty, all to the sound of White Christmas, over and over again.  This year though, has been a new type of busy for me, and I am proud to say, that in the midst of it, I was able to find calm in baking.  I made chocolate/mint chip cookies (which are apparently the rage this year, as Amanda made them too...yes, two people = rage), and yummy Ghirardelli chocolate chip brownies. 

Yes, mum, I did get to eat some of my treats...and some of the brownie batter.  And I am convinced, beyond all doubt, that I am impervious to salmonella poisoning via egg, simply due to years and years of building raw cookie dough tolerances.  I WILL be passing this on to my children.

Here are the pics!

And yes, my spoon is smiling.  :)

Ok, bath time.   And maybe a cookie.  Probably a cookie.


*mmmmnnnummmnuuuumm* *crunch crunch crunch* *ahhhhhhhhHHhhhhhh*

-Jen

Winter's Lament

The sun is heavy;

Already tired as she moves

Pregnant, full

Across the November sky.

Nay, it is December,

And her weight is born

Of the same cause

As my worn forgetfulness.

It is slowing time.

Molasses, gathers in our blood,

Yet we ignore

This call to hibernate.

Unnatural creatures,

Rarely giving pause

To surmise the design

Making our fellow mammals rest;

Oh soft, how they move,

Shaking their heads,

For they know the pace

 To which the race ends.

 -JMS

This is an original poem that I penned at the birth of winter last year (2009) and haven't shared with the world until now.  I can't say I currently feel quite as introspective as I did at the time I wrote it, but I think that's all the more reason to post it now.  I'm quite busy, and happy to be, as most of my free-time work is centered around art and creation, a point for which I am grateful.  Freelance projects seem to be knocking at my door regularly now (thank you to those of you who have a hand in that!), and I have the outlines of a plan for my future forming in my head, after many long months of self actualization drought.  All of that in mind, it still seems important to remember a slower, more natural pace.  For even though my life, as governed by our society, cannot currently rest for the winter months, I can find example in the creatures who wait patiently for their Spring to come.

Tangled

Tangled was superb.  Definitely a throw back to Disney's past animated glory.  For those of you who would consider some of their more recent flicks a disappointment, rest-assured, this new production lends hope to the theory that they are returning to an era of well written screen adaptations and classic animation styling.


That's my two cents. 

I'm dead tired.  Sorry to be brief.

Ciao!

Busy Times for Busy Minds...

...And mine is running on overdrive!

So, in about 3 minutes from the time I sit down to write this post, my Blueverve Studio will be featured in the Photography Art section of Etsy. Wooohoo!

Ok, so this is actually a purchased spot, and not actually as cool as it would be if I had been placed up in a featured position because a webmaster at Etsy thought my store was the bomb-diggety, but that's ok. It's a step in the direction of getting noticed, and at this point, that's the best I can do. If you get a chance to stop by today (as yes, it is now past 12:00am on Thursday, December 2nd, 2010), be sure to let me know what you think of the prints I have posted thus far. I'm all ears for suggestions in terms of what you'd like to see more of (print sizes, types of photography, color schemes, multiple prints from a series for sale together at discounted rates, etc.).

Also, on a related note, last night I was able to finish up my first oil on wood, large scale painting. I'm pretty excited...it turned out pretty well for a first go. There's certainly a lot to take in, so give it a few moments to "speak to you." Its been pretty funny, most of the people who have seen it thus far in its various stages of completion have been very vocal about what they've seen hidden in the tree trunks. I'd love to hear what you can see! :)

Thus far we have:

Mother Mary
A baby
A witch
A frog
A duck
A goblin
A lion
A moon
An old man or 3
A man

and my favorite comment so far...a penis with arms? You know who you are! ;)

I've posted quick cell phone shots for now, but once its dried and I figure out the best back mount it will be up for sale at the Etsy shop with detailed photos and description.

Thanks for your time...I hope you're having a happy start to December! (I am! It's been a long day full of physical exhaustion and pain, but man, oh man, there was SNOW!!! Yipee!)

Cheers,

Jen

Blueverve Studio Opening!

Its Cyber Monday, a time for excessive online searching and maddening deals, so in the spirit of such wonderment, I'd like to announce the opening of my Etsy store, Blueverve Studio.   Visit today and recieve 20% OFF of your order when you enter promo code "CyberMonday2010"!



 Recently set up in order to better serve your purchasing needs, my shop will offer a wide range of fine art photography prints, fine art paintings, crafts, and handmade goods (all of which are original creations, of course).  Right now there are various photography prints posted, ranging in price from $5.00 to $55.00 (for a set of 3 8x12 prints), so please take some time to peruse the goods!  Many are set up to be printed upon order, so if you are looking for holiday gifts, please keep in mind that items listed as such will require an additional 3-5 days to arrive (so, somewhere between 6-12 days with shipping, in the United States).

I'm hoping to have some lovely oil on wood paintings up for purchase within the next week or so, and an additional acrylic painting or two as well, so keep checking in for those, as I'm not sure how long they will be around.


Thanks for your support...and happy shopping!  I hope you enjoy Blueverve Studio, as well as all of the other stops along the way on your cyber journey today!


-Jen

Not 24, not 26

I wonder what it might be like to have my youthful beauty back
To feel as though the world were easy, expansive and free
Too quickly fled the times of daydreaming and making up
And now I know my right to stand in defiance was more than justified

I wonder how it would feel, to walk around that track again
To feel as if the evening stars were always on my side
Too quickly all those memories fade and leave an empty nothingness
And now I know my arms reach out, wishing they were wings

I wonder what it might be like to dream on solid clouds again
To make reality stand still, in essence, while I write
Too quickly past the date time sped, racing towards tomorrow
And all the while here I stand, knowing I might find

The Hippos are Coming!

Never fear, the hippo blog will soon be here!

Its been a pretty busy extended weekend, jam-packed with adventure (Bristol Ren Fair, Key Lime Cove, and Six Flags), and surrounded by planning and decision making, so I'm a tad behind on the hippo post, as requested by Tav. BUT, I did some research this evening, and a post is forming, so hang tight, and there should be something pretty fun headed your way soon.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are enjoying a glamtastic week so far. Yup, glamtastic. Fictitious word of the day!

Cheerio!

Jen