2013 -- no duh

In an ongoing annual tradition, I am issuing yet another broad proclamation about the upcoming year. I must be in denial because this is pretty much a resolution, even if I pretend it's not. For 2013 I'm going the no-duh route and challenging myself to FINALLY, ACTUALLY, REALLY, TRULY make a conscious effort to treat my body and mind better. I've heard rumors that putting good things in leads to good things coming out, with side effects like happiness, health, longer life, better memory, restful sleep. It's so crazy it might just work.

happy weekend

Have a jumpin' weekend!

weekly prescription

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:

Read -- [ randomhouse.com ] ... do it, read it, love it

Watch -- [ Magpictures.com ] ... probably one of the best movies I've seen all year

Listen -- [ YouTube ] ... scary obsessed

Do -- [ Wallstreetjournal ] ... maybe THIS is the key

Austin Event -- [ texascraftbrewersfest.com ] ... the weather couldn't be better

project lemonade: dead tree

I make no promises that this will become a regular feature, because let's face it, there is nothing regular about any of my postings as of late. BUT, the intention here is to occasionally focus on those not so great situations or blights in life that pop up every now and then, and find the positive spin. Some people call this making lemonade.

Today we unfortunately have to say goodbye to a gargantuan tree that's in our front yard. We've known that it's diseased, however it still looks glorious and provides a ton of shade. The moment that a giant limb basically plopped onto our house in a very mild rain storm we knew the time had come to take some drastic measures. The downside.. well, it's a lot of money. Also, it's a living time capsule. It's kind of hard to make the conscious decision to remove a thing of beauty. (Quick note: there is an implied "we" in this story, but the tough choices have landed in my better half's court.)

So what can you do with a tree that's been given a death sentence? Find out after the jump...

my shirt does the talking

Never has t-shirt been more appropriate for me. And now I own it. My life is complete. Would it be weird if I wore it everyday? It feels like a necessary preamble... I am Erin, read my shirt. Done.

Available via the wonderful folks at Print Liberation.

I wish this was

It's been a very "streamy" kind of week, as I also recently watched Urbanized, a documentary by filmmaker Gary Hustwit. All together I really enjoyed it, and the emphasis put on public transportation, collective design, and community voice. The latter was represented on US grounds with artist Candy Chang's New Orleans project "I Wish This Was".

After Hurricane Katrina she placed vinyl stickers across store fronts in neighborhoods ravaged by the storm. Each tag prompted action by leaving an empty spot for folks to jot down what they would rather have in that building's place. Of course it's visually interesting, but better yet allowed the city to give feedback that otherwise was falling on deaf ears. It's a pretty great marriage of street art and real life.


[ image via Candychang.com ]

map of texas

I recently watched the film Bernie, which is based on a true story that took place in East Texas back in 1996. For some reason my expectations were fairly low, or maybe non-existent is more apt. Lo and behold it was a pretty great movie, in large part due to the performances of the chatterbox townsfolk. If memory serves (and I'm apparently too lazy to look this up AS I TYPE ON A COMPUTER WITH INTERNET) many players were not actors, but actual citizens of the town. This scene is one of my favorites. And if you live, or have ever lived in Texas, you'll know why.

wiener wednesday

Apparently the great Gaines-burger shortage of yore didn't make it to the history books. This crisis is news to me. Thankfully the legions of dachshunds were able to carry on.

[ via The Long and Short of It ]

summer weather

I'm 100% in love with this series by Michael Jang. Summer Weather documented folks in the 80's as they tried out to become weather reporters, and was recently rediscovered by the photographer. It's one hell of a time capsule, and it's just been released in book form. I wonder how they all fared, especially Miss Intensity in photo #1 (who strangely reminds me of a teacher I once had, and / or the lost member of Stryper that not only sang rock'n hymns, but surely also developed synchronized hair dancing).

Read more about it here, and check out all of Jang's work over on his site.

confliction

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