Away We Go

As always, I'm inspired by the idea of travel...with tons of free time on my hands, today I put in one of my favorite movies "Away We Go" and with that plus my recent decision to pick up the book "Into The Wild"...plus the idea of travel itself...I was led to this art journal entry. I used a lot of Western imagery (nowadays I'm eager to explore the Western culture of my native land).

I noticed an annoying recurrence today when uploading this entry...when I photograph my work it seems it is lacking tremendously. This appears half done at this point...yet again. I'll revisit it in the coming days. There's always something positive that comes from stepping away from something for a couple of hours or days so that when you return it is with a more clear and objective eye...

It All Ends

I have been horrible about blogging lately. I blame the move...and then the lack of internet after the move. But, I'm finally settled and have tons of free time until I get a job. I'm hoping this happens sooner rather than later!

A couple weeks ago my best friend and I threw a Harry Potter party in spirit of the release of the final film. She and I grew up with Harry from age 10 until the final book was released, the summer before my sophomore year of college. It was a sad sad sad day. However, at the very least we still had the films to look forward to (as awful as they were). But after July 15th at around 2:30am, my childhood abruptly and finally ended. At least that's how it felt. We walked out of the theater feeling lost and even deserted. However, there is some comfort in knowing that Harry will always be there for us to return to on the many pages J.K. Rowling gave us as well as deep in our hearts.

Here are some images from the party. Now the images I just don't feel do the party justice. We had snitches hanging from the trees and the pergola, bunting in the house colors, home-made butterbeer, chocolate frogs, cupcakes decorated with house-colored, home-made icing, jelly beans, and numerous other Harry Potter themed decor and foods. (Now this was also my sister's 13th birthday party, so luckily we had more guests than just Jessie & myself). We screened the 7th movie Part 1 while eating and relaxing in our Gryffindor wardrobe. Oh it was a fabulous night, well-worth the hard work and I will forever be proud and unashamed of my somewhat obsessive nature when it comes to the wizarding world given to us by the beautiful, talented, & brilliant Jo.

Jo, thank you ever so much for sharing this world with us and giving me a childhood that consisted of eagerly awaiting the arrival of a book. The anticipation of that moment for me is matched only by the excitement of seeing a loved one after prolonged separation and the excitement of stepping onto a plane off to explore unknown land & cultures. And, I think that's pretty impressive for book!

Let's Dine

I have finished my dining room chairs! They were $6 a piece, purchased at different times...sanded, painted and dressed with little cushions. It's really a shame I didn't take before & after pictures...

Finished just in time for move-in.

Summer, Puppy Love

My college roommate and dear friend & I went out today to take pictures of her and her pup Jasper. It was lovely to get behind the camera again with the purpose of documenting something for someone else, rather than just myself. These first two are two of my favorites that I edited for myself and reedited for Beth.



Here are the rest of the best images of today's puppy love shoot :)

WANTED.

As previously shared, I was truly taken with the story of the capture of Whitey Bulger and his girlfriend. My next journal page surround this event. The left page looks neglected...honestly I got bored with it. I'll probably go back & give it more attention at some point.

Fascination/Obsession

"Whitey" Bulger & Girlfriend Arrested

What a story...I can't stop thinking about it. The idea of bank robbers (in the 1950's sense) and Irish mafia leaders is something that has existed in my mind as something from the movies. I never had a way to tie it into reality and therefore it is a thought that I find to be far more intriguing and glorified than it ever should be. After all those people killed with no mercy and it's a horrifying thing to imagine.

The recent capture of the notorious "Whitey" Bulger struck my interest. Devouring the article I realized more clearly the gruesome lives these individuals lived. But despite this revelation, my fascination in the 1950s crime world of suspenders & cigarettes, felt fedoras & large trench coats, ill-informed/shameless girlfriends, slicked-back hair & guns has risen an abnormal amount. I assure you I have no intention of adopting any part of this culture...but I WILL most certainly continue to study it.

Summer Saturday

Today was my first free Saturday at home in about 2 months and I planned on enjoying every second of it...and I have. I spent this afternoon outside reading...I am DETERMINED to finish this 1,000+ page novel that I've been working on periodically for the past THREE years. And don't get me wrong, it is a magnificent book...at times I just need to step away from the harsh, hard world that the characters are forced to endure due to others' desire for money and power.

The heroine, Dagny Taggart, so beautifully recites her determination to overcome such a world:

"I started my life with a single absolute: that the world was mine to shape in the image of my highest values and never to be given up to a lesser standard, no matter how long or hard the struggle..."

Another quote I loved by John Galt:

"...you will see that through all the years of your struggle, nothing had barred you from Atlantis and there were no chains to hold you, except the chains you were willing to wear."

Journeys Past, Present & Future

When I returned from Morocco I gave my dear friend a bottle of wine from a local vineyard an hour outside Rabat. The city was Meknes. She insisted on sharing the wine with me so tonight I brought over my recipes from the beautiful Khedija and we cooked Moroccan couscous and I brought over home-made kesra (a Moroccan bread) that I baked yesterday for just this occasion.

To top the night off we also made Moroccan donuts for dessert and enjoyed them while planning our next adventure which looks like: Paris, Greece, Italy, & Barcelona. I'm thrilled & elated, with my finger poised, ready to click "BUY" on my computer screen to purchase the most expensive part of any trip...that plane ticket. That's the step that makes it real...and we have a date set for this monumental moment: July 1st.

Keep those fingers crossed.

Georgetown Sunset

A photo from my film camera from April.

Art Journal 5

I finally finished my fifth page in my art journal...which is really just a collection of images of doors and other items from Morocco.