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I know, I know... Shameless self-promotion is at hand, but I thought I would give it a shot. I mean, why not if I have the chance to win $1,000 scholarship or cash, right? Lend me a hand, or at least a mouse click, + please vote for my photo!
The other night, I was up late [uh, like tonight] + couldn't sleep so I tried watching random things on the tele to tire my eyes out. While flipping channels, Samuel L. Jackson popped up on screen. Now, Mr. Jackson is just the kind of person that immediately commands anyone's attention, so I watch for a bit to see what the man was up to. He walks into this auditorium filled with a massive audience, which he is supposedly hosting along with Uma Thurman. It was for the UK's Swarovski Fashion Rocks for The Prince's Trust benefit where they integrate live musical acts with fashion models strutting their stuff down the stage-turned-catwalk. And by "stuff", I mean the stuff VersaceArmaniDolce+GabbanaCalvinKleinChanelBurberry are made of.
"Ooo..."
So, yeh. Next thing I know, I'm glued to my *coughIKEAcough* couch + end up watching the entire show front to back. I really thought it was interesting the way they mixed in both industries onto one stage. Made for a fun show, no doubt about that. Oh, something funny... While the video crew was panning the audience, they spotted Gwyneth Paltrow covering her ears in discomfort during Iggy Pop + the Stooge's brash performance. I guess she doesn't really like that type of rock even though she is wed to a "rockstar". Hehe, it was hilarious. All the while, folks like Kate Moss were busy rocking out + weren't afraid to show it. Yee-uh.
One band @ Fashion Rocks that caught my ear is called Shy Child, which is a 2-man band from NYC complete with vox + synth keytar + drumkit. Yuh. I said "keytar", as in keyboard + guitar. The song they performed, "Drop the Phone", started out a bit minimal + funky, but it peaked my attention to keep me watching--not to mention the fact that the "giraffe" models clad in Stella McCartney were playing musical chairs! Then, past the few first verses it really started to pick up; enough to get me moving.
"Oke, who are these guys?? Must find out more..."
Here, you can find out more, too.
Alright, I have to admit, the keytar just feels right with them...
Nine Inch Nails presents Ghosts I - IV, a brand new 36 track instrumental collection available right now. Almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over an intense ten week period last fall, Ghosts I - IV sprawls Nine Inch Nails across a variety of new terrain.
Trent Reznor explains, "I've been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn't have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective - dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I'm very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts."
My macro photo titled "mixed" was featured on S. Pellegrino's web site! :))) It was used for an article titled "Sienese Confections, Medieval Flavour" to help illustrate an Italian cake called Panforte.
Here is a tidbit from the article: There are several legends: one story of the Panforte relates that it was invented by chance by a young nun who put several ingredients together - dry and candied fruit, spices, honey, a little flour - and made a strong flavoured cake that keeps for a long time, hence the name "forte".
"The official [San Pellegrino] website is dedicated to the S.Pellegrino and and Acqua Panna waters - with its extensive sections spanning all the interesting nuances of Italian culture, from the thousands peculiarities of our food and wine tradition to works of architecture, art and design; from the selected tourist itineraries to the best restaurants, their gourmet cooking and the Italian Lifestyle on the whole."
Passionately Pink for the Cure "Showcase your passion for the cure by uploading passionately pink photos to help raise vital funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Share photos in honor of a survivor, in memory of a loved one, to celebrate Passionately Pink for the Cure events. Or simply share a pink photo that inspires others to rally around the cause.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Yahoo! will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for each pink photo added to this flickr Group from October 1-31, 2007 up to $50,000! This donation will be used to fund breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.
Pick your Pink. Play Your Part. End Breast Cancer."
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On a very personal note... In June 2003, I underwent surgery to have a large tumor 2 inches in diameter removed from within my left side. When it grew noticeably large, I was really freaked out + too scared to figure out what I needed to do that I didn't tell anyone about it at first. I waited too long to have it checked. Then, I told my parents about it, + of course they were upset with me that I didn't tell them sooner. They said that our family really has no history concerning breast cancer, so that weirded me out even more. I was 25.
I have been thanking the good Lord that the biopsy proved it benign. The doc called it a "giant Fibroadenoma", which is the most common benign breast tumors seen in women under the age of 35 years. It was the very first time I have ever been under the knife so it was quite nerve-racking. I wanted to recount what I was feeling during that time, so I leafed through my online journal archives + found the entry I wrote after it happened:
out from under | 24 June 2k3 _ 01:01 p.m.
"The weekend _/ i am back from going under. everything went well for those of you who are aware. it all happened last Thursday afternoon. the 1.5 hours of preparation. the reading + the signing of the millions of papers. the waiting. "You're going to start to feel a bit relaxed, hon." photos to document to be picked up tomorrow evening. recovering from a deep sleep an hour or so later. very supportive family + friends. phone calls from distant + not-so-distant loved ones. much needed days off. first [+ hopefully last] time for everything. thank the lord for watching over everyone, meaning EVERYONE involved."
To all the ladies out there, examine yourselves + be aware.
PHOTO NOTES: _ 15 Sept 2k7 _ The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The weekend we moved into our new apartment, we decided to take a break from lifting to feed our bellies. Driving around the city, we heard a Native American chant + punk music—two things I love. So, me + J parked the car off Independence + moved towards the sound. It lead us to the front of the NMAI building.
A large crowd—some sitting, many standing—was collected in front of 4 tall individuals on a stage. They called themselves Black Fire, a passionate Native American band of siblings with a purpose. Their father also joined them on stage to add in traditional chants on a few songs. Joining of the old + new. I was immediately hooked. I have found myself a new band. ^__^
For a long time, I've been wanting to customize my own route just to figure out a faster way to get around town. Google Maps has finally figured it out + that makes me a very happy driver. The drag + drop feature is FABULOSO. You can also add multiple stops on your way to your final destination. And it's about dang time, too.
...to drop everything just to go back to the reason why I fell in love with art in the first place. Drawing is something I don't do much anymore—except, of course, if you count the funky handwriting I draw on my morning task lists at work.
Again, I am here to shout out loud about the creativity flowing out from others that inspire me. I scrolled through my weekly newsletter from the good folks at Lost At E Minor [Gine should hook herself up with this, too] + the work of an artist by the name of Autumn Whitehurst caught my eye. Now, when you look through her portfolio, what you're seeing is all vector art [for those who aren't aware of the jargon, there are no photos/pixels involved—it's ALL created art + shapes if that makes any sense]. Her detailing is amazing + so lifelike. You should definitely scope her work.
With that said, what are you waiting for? Go!Go!Go!
*drool on both your skills!* I discovered 2 very talented artists out there that I feel deserve another plug or two on das interneten via my bloggity blog. Makes me want to break out my sketch pads again. *bigsigh*
*Editor's note: I would really love to display a sample of their beautiful art somewhere within this entry, but I feel it wouldn't be right unless I had their permission. So, that just means you have no choice but to click on the links above. :)
I love { creativity | inspiration | sketching | print design | interactive design | photography | guitars | music music music | code = HTML + CSS | my family + my friends + my hubby + God | fireflies | cherry blossoms | MAC + PC | roadtrips | sushi sushi sushi | General Tso's chicken lunch special on white rice | spicy food [thankths a lot, Joshua] | live rock shows | soaking in nature | playing house | dancing with people who love to dance | coffee | doorbells | designers | musicians | painting | ancient egypt | good sleep | Savannah | Vinnie's, B+B's + The Bar Bar | Charleston | New Orleans | Miami | Jacksonville | the District! | late nights | a good roll of film | nice jeans | nice hair | nice kicks | betta splendens | exploring new places | my 2 doggies Simba + Nala | computers | cameras | subwoofers | red, black, grey | photobooths | no drama | no stress | respect | henna + mehndi art + tattoos | I cannot stress it enough, *music* }