timewhine #5

Depressed yet? I love to blog about sad things apparently. I also love to create graphics that are fancier ways of saying "duh".

People die. Things go away. Nothing lasts forever. But tragedy can be repurposed.

Beauty ends. Life goes on. Sit on that.

timewhine #4

I recently used a few vacation days. The original idea was to go on an extended weekend getaway. Plans fell through, but I should add that it was without any regret. Although I would have welcomed a change in scenery I also thought about all the things I could do free from the shackles of work. And I thought, and I thought some more. And I got very familiar with Evernote, and didn't just make regular notes, but fancy notes. The whole process only makes you feel slightly better about not actually getting anything done by the way. So that happened, and nothing happened. My accomplishments were in spending a little too much time giving myself mental lashings for having "doer's block" (it truly is like being stuck in mud -- you get angry and a little panicky), and feeding and dressing myself. Yay for a shining a dim light on achievements in lameness.

timewhine #3

Unless you're Michael J. Fox in 1984, or have strangely morphed into some form of playable media, your options are a bit limited.  And let's face it, even DeLoreans aren't totally reliable. The awful truth -- what's done is done, and you can't go back. Carry on*.

*Feel free to wear an orange puffy vest. It couldn't hurt.

bonfires & my vanity

There are bigger problems in the world than the color of my face, but damn if it's a bothersome thing -- wondering what shade of flame is on display.  And when the heat is on, I can't but help but want to run for some low-lighting. Oh well. What doesn't kill you, makes you red. I guess I can live with that.

timewhine #2

Ah, the American dream. And one that some of us (*cough*) dive into without ever coming up for air. Note: taking a moment to breath is a good thing.

timewhines #1

Time. I feel like it's generally working against me. I end up taking it personally, as if it's a thing with a will, with emotions and agendas. Begging, borrowing, and negotiating don't seem to work. The train is coming, and it doesn't stop. Now I'm airing my grievances.


P.S. Don't click for more if bad language makes you cringe. And for those that couldn't avoid it, sorry, I drop bombs sometimes. It's my "feelings" word.

confliction

I need to tape this to my hands. Always free, doesn't mean always eat. So stop it Erin.

film friday: summer c(h)amps

The end up summer is upon us with Labor Day just around the corner. Technically the season carries on a bit longer, and here in Texas, the weather thumbs its nose at the calendar and keeps on keepin' on until October or November. For many though, this holiday weekend marks the end of vacations and outdoor adventures.

With this change to the seasons I thought it was the perfect time to squeeze in my silly homage to one of my favorite movie genres -- summer camp. Is that really a genre? Let's just say it is.

When I was growing up, summer camp represented to me either hijinks or getting hacked up. This is at least the expectation that film represented; there was no middle ground, just extreme experiences and outcomes -- anything goes (virginity, body parts). Reality, on the other hand, delivered a dose of arts and crafts, swimming, and letter writing. Not quite as exciting, but probably for the better since I left with my head still attached. Bill Murray would have been a welcome addition to the camp roster however.

So good-bye summer, but long live one of the stickiest, ickiest and raunchiest pleasures of cinema.

Trailers of each movie after the jump:

deep bullshit

I actually made this a while back as part of my Deep Bullshit series. I don't think I ever posted it and today seemed like a good day for some sap.

need to want less

The urge to buy is strong in this one. I have the full virtual shopping carts and dog-eared catalog pages to prove it. Usually these rituals are enough to squelch my desire to spend, and I stop there. I've tried to be wise with what money I have, although after rebounding from a long stretch of unemployment I did buy myself a few small treats.

So while I'm proud of my initial resolve to refrain from shopping, it's when I give in that things tend to go off track quickly. I (for better or worse) have no credit cards so when it comes to spending I am thankfully bound to a limited budget. But damnit if I'm not completely transfixed and drawn in to the latest and greatest, therefore am terrible at waiting for a deal and also lack the patience to hunt for a bargain. What's so wrong with last year's model of this, or the clothes that my eyes have seen on the rack for months, or the generic brand of that? What is it about New that gives me tunnel vision? And why does being lazy come with such a high price tag? Seems like I should completely stay away until I can figure out how to pay the right way.

2012 - nuff said

I've mentioned this before but I'll say it again -- I really don't do resolutions. Refraining goes against every OCD list-making tendency I have, I know.  I think this is because with such specificity I open myself to failure and there's no real chance of immediacy in checking things off. "Get in shape" getting scratched off (maybe) 6 months down the line is far less gratifying than "go to the post office", which can be done that day. When it comes to list making I'm in it for the quick thrills.

And when it comes to actual goals is there really any new territory to cover? I can either jot down for the millionth time "stop eating things that slowly kill you", or come up with something new like "learn how to Benjamin Button yourself". Ugh, so it's tiring or implausible. Last year I made an attempt at resolutions by casting a very wide net. I'm pretty sure that there were some misses even with that generous vagueness. So this year I'm thinking it's time to really get broad, leaving a definitive opening for accomplishment and self-improvement. If this doesn't work maybe next year I'll resort to "breath and stuff".

need to want less

Cheese and I go way back, and have had a long, though not always kind, love affair with each other. It is sometimes cruel to me (hello, stomach upset), and I sometimes treat it poorly (hello, processed cheese product). Lately I have been trying to upgrade my tastes and delve deeper into the world of artisan cheese. I thought to myself... if I enjoy something so much why not learn the most I can about it. So I've gone to an Antonelli's (aka paradise) cheese class and some beer/cheese pairings, and even picked up one of these Scout journals.

My aim is not to elevate my knowledge so that I can pass judgement on your Kraft cravings, because lord knows learning about the finer things doesn't mean I will shun the grosser things. And because my addiction runs so deep I find myself not eating better (i.e. good shit in moderation), but more. My passion has taken a visible form which is my pooch. Please, if you happen to see me shoving another cheesy delight down my gullet, I give free reign to knock it out of my hand or give me a scornful stare.

1 minute photoshop: determination

Seriously, some days it almost feels possible to get everything done. But then I need a good nap or extended sleep and everything gets derailed. How do people sustain constant doing? I'm going to keep trying to figure it out and if I discover the magic key to daily list domination I'll share my secret.

film friday: final resting place

What is Halloween without horror movies? And what's a good horror movie without a dedicated place to unleash some mass murder and mayhem. Hotels and motels provide a perfect backdrop for the lazy homicidal maniac.

If you like a little ridiculous with your horror, I strongly recommend Motel Hell. A classic. If you like inn keepers with killer alligator there's a film for you. And if you like John Cusak, you're also in luck... times 2.

HORROR BUSINESS:



More after the jump:

1 minute photoshop: deterioration

Getting older feels like it's happening too fast. But maybe I should take my feet off the pedals and just enjoy the ride. Will be more fun than fretting I'm pretty sure.

1 minute photoshop: temptation

I truly do imagine a world where I feast upon nothing but fresh veggies and clean unprocessed food. Then my hair and skin gets extra shiny, and I can jog 50 miles every day... oh and I become a female Benjamin Button and am suddenly a healthy 20 year old again. Well fantasy aside I always get that gnawing thought that my diet needs to get better asap. Then I remember the bacon. Sizzling, salty, sinful bacon. And the dream dies.

1 minute photoshop: deathtrap

I don't really know how to say what I'm trying to say, so I'll jump to my default which is using crude shapes to poorly explain the map of my brain. I wish there was an endpoint, a final destination, for how I process death... that when I landed on the shaky ground that barely qualifies as acceptance, I was able to stay there. It's not a nice place to be but it's better than the alternative. Instead the cycle starts all over again and I obsessively dwell on what will never be, what could be, what won't be known. The light at the end always leads back to dark. If anyone has an instructional manual on how to vanquish needless worry and premature regret I'm all ears.

lazy sunday

welcome summer

Technically it may not be Summer yet, but Memorial Day has just passed so I say it's close enough. The air smells like BBQ, the heat is edging toward the oppressive triple digits, and I have two swimsuits I'm mulling over in a virtual shopping bag. It's hot and this means I have popsicles on the brain. I have an internal clock that seems to strike at various times of the year, creating romanticized images of activities that I have an overwhelming desire to incorporate into my day. Right on time, I'm gearing up for my multiple viewings of Jaws and am ready to eat sweet treats while wearing my cut offs. Welcome Summer! It will probably be a short-lived joyous affair but I bet we'll squeeze in some fun before saying adieu.

TASTE THE RAINBOW:
Most expensive popsicle
Scratch and sniff sticker - Garfield & popsicle
Tangerine Lemon Basil popsicle recipe
Jan & Dean "Popsicle"
Favorite popsicle photo

new in the shop!

Well I finally put these up in my shop... yay with barely enough time for V-day. I have discovered that I loathe taking product shots. So I kept trying and trying and I was unsatisfied with how they turned out... maybe those pockets of time to take the pictures was too small and I felt rushed. Anywho out of frustration I opted for no pictures on Etsy. Hopefully this is ok. If someone is absolutely dying to see a real live photo of the cards I will happily send some.

This set of cards is like the bigger sibling to the little Symbolisms cards I have done in the past. One design is actually from that project. The cards are professionally printed on 5x7 100# paper. They are blank inside and come with a brown bag colored envelope. AND if you purchase by February 11th shipping is FREE. Each card is $4. Follow the link(s) to purchase.

Honey You're The Sweetest
Your Love is My Fuel
Ready to Go All the Way