self portrait research

Some of you remember I started a self portrait series back in the day, right after I got out of college.  It was titled "To Scare My Mother".  It was awesome [smile].  And something I'm still pretty proud of.

So I've decided to revisit the idea of another self portrait series.  In college I studied Cindy Sherman who did a series of awesome self portraits back in the day.  And I figure, although my friend pool is growing up here in the bend, I still don't have a ton of people who would feel comfortable having me photograph them.  So, I'm comfortable in front of the camera, and I have time right now to do awesome photo/art things... so why not!

I'm mainly going to focus on things that are a bit out there, and more unique than the hum drum portraits [I can take an awesome portrait, what I want to take is an awesomely AWESOME artsy ART portrait].  In my research [pinterest, you are so ever helpful in this!] I've found, however, google apparently thinks "Glamour Portraits", really means topless chicks with giant boobs... wtf.

I realize nudity is all over the art scene, and I TOTALLY appreciate the figure and nudes... but "glamour" does not freakin mean nude!

Meh.

End of rant.

I'm sure I'll share eventually when I get one or two done.  I'm thinking I need to start out easy, and then work my way up.

Here are my "To Scare My Mother" series:

-mrp-

ps: everytime I write a blog... or really anything... I have to go back and erase like, at least two or three "that" or "that's".  Thank the Lord one of my mentors senior year in high school pointed out how often and ridiculously I use that stupid word :).

really though...

It totally ticks me off when people use their facebook accounts for the sole purpose of spreading hate, bitterness, ugliness, and just bad shit.  And I don't even think the people that do it, realize what they are doing!

There is so much of that in the world anyway.

You are probably right, that the world is out to get you... and everyone else... But really, the only thing you CAN do, is determine how you respond to that world that's out to get you.

I'm not saying there's no legitimate thing to bitch about on facebook [I'm a culprit of this every once in a while].  But when you seriously post every.single.time... about how you are being taken advantage of, or being disrespected, or how the president is taking away your freedoms... it's just too much.

There are so many beautiful things to share.  And so many awesome things happening in this world.  Why can't we share those things, and bond together about awesomeness, instead of bitterness and the things that we tsk and shake our heads about... why do so many people not share the story about the dude that offered the indianapolis guy a job, after he found out he was going to trek through the snow for 10 miles to get to a job interview [right!?!].  But will instead share our ragingly one sided opinions on everything.

I just wish people were more aware that they have to be the change in the world.  We have to educate each other, and that doesn't mean sharing links and bonding over negative things via facebook.  It instead means we need to do better to change things.  To be living life off of the computer in an effort to make a difference.

And I need to do better at this too... once again, I'm my a culprit.

-mrp-

snowy day

Yesterday it snowed the prettiest snow.

There was sun shining down between the clouds.

Like a handful of confetti, being blown out of ones hand.

The kind of snow that floats and is found in dreams and fairy tales.

Going up and down and around before reaching a resting place.

Like a soft swirl of a snow-globe.

-mrp-

pink

There comes a time every winter where I decide that it's time to paint my toe nails bright pink.

This year it's mid February.

-mrp-

Gendercide

I'd never heard of the term "gendercide" before today.

But it makes sense.

I read about it on the Mommy Monologues blog [I read it cause I'm her friend, not because I'm preparing to be a mommy, fyi].

And it's so tragic.  And awful.  And cruel.

I think of the amazing women in my life, and am so sad for the girls that weren't allowed to live and become amazing women as well.

-mrp-

Quizzed...

So it's V-Day and Ronald is out of town [we haven't had a valentines day together since we got married, it's no big deal; I do miss him in the general sense, but I'd be more pissed if he missed my birthday or Christmas, or our anniversary].

IN ANY CASE... I was fb-ing earlier, and came across this [mixed in between all the lovey-dovey, the card companies are the devil, and the general here's some zombie news]:

A Downton Abby Quiz

This is my result:


Matthew & Mary

The road to your union may have been rocky, but now that you're together, you are, like Matthew and Mary, the "it" couple, perfectly matched in looks, intelligence, and values. You are equally well matched in strength of will, which sometimes allows for differences of opinions to escalate. Fortunately, you always relish the opportunity to make up! At the altar, Mary told Matthew, "I should hate to be predictable." Even so, you and your partner are predictable in one way: you were made for each other.

I think they probably got it right :).

-mrp-

Hair...

This is me now-ish...

And orange-ish, apparently... [smile]... reception lighting...

I'm thinking I want to grow my hair out long.. maybe a few more inches... and I'm also thinking about going with some bangs again, like this:

Tim, my most awesomess hair dresser in Springfield, MO said I could totally pull it off :)...

So, as a reward for finishing the two weddings in January, I'll be making an appointment.

Last time I had bangs it didn't last long, but I think with the long hair, maybe it will last longer?  We'll see :).

*right after timmy cut and styled it... i love him... i wish i could have him style me every morning.

-mrp-

"If you want to start a book club...."

"If you want to start a book club, you should read the book, "So I want to start a book club".

Have you guys heard that commercial?  I can't remember if it's off pandora or hulu... but I've heard it a lot, and it's sort of annoying actually [almost all commercials are really], I can't even remember what it was advertising.

But today, I sure did google, "starting a book club" [I read a link on Oprah's site].

And then we had our first meeting, which was cool.  I'm hoping to talk a few other people into it, so that we can have some more diversity.  But people are noncommittal [I started out with "anti-committal" which I kind of like better].

Things I was glad for:
-almost all of us [with the exception of one dude], have never been a part of a book club [I'm choosing to believe this is a good thing :)].
-everyone seems pretty financially practical [library books, free kindle books, etc].

***I just heard the commercial!  Pandora, for carmax***

-the people that showed up seem really cool.
-although totally not a huge deal, the whole "smart" thing bothers me occasionally  right... so being a part of a book club makes me excited, but also sort of hmm... defensive on my smartness.  I'm hoping I'm not too awkward when it comes to that.
-4 out of 5 of us are not originally from SB.  I think this is also sort of cool.  And interesting.  I most often connect with people who also don't have roots in whatever town I'm in.  It's neat.
-We ended up picking Same Kind of Different As Me [damn, just looked that up, and the author is coming to Elkhart in September!  Woah... that's awesome.  It's like we're a big city!

Also, sort of interesting... Ronald and I start things, and commit to thing and groups easily enough... and pretty hard core 100% if we're in it, we're totally in it.  Not half assed.  And yet, we're sort of anti-committal on things like buying a house, or a car, or having a relationship [before Ronald, I didn't date anyone longer than one month].  Just sort of odd, right.  Oh well.  Maybe that's because of our priorities.  Community is high on both of our priorities.  So committing to them is necessary.

In any case, I'm excited for the book club.  If we do end up keeping it small, then we might be able to host at a few peoples houses, which I think would be awesome, and comfy, and more conversation-producing.

All that to say... yay.  Book club is going to be fun... and maybe Ronald will join us too.  We'll see.

-mrp-

mall walkers...

I was in the mall today [thanks to some awesome coupons for aerie], and I got there close to when it opened at 10am.  I learned 2 things while there:

1. If you have a toddler and are a stay at home mom, the malls kid area is the place to be in the winter [it's a pretty good idea, all the toddlers were having a blast playing together].

2. Mall walkers freak me out.

Seriously, about #2.  They turn following some unknown-to-me path, and you sort of don't want to be awkward and stop so they can walk in front of you [this isn't a driving situation, after all], but you also don't want to walk in front of them, only to feel like you have got to speed your stroll up so that they don't catch up to you.  Sheesh.

Mall walkers... totally make my shopping experience awkward.

-mrp-

ps: they were all decked out in workout clothes too... which I know I shouldn't judge [how many times have I put on my workout clothes and not worked up a sweat].  But it was weird to see them in the mall, dressed up to work out, and creeping up behind you every couple of minutes.  Between them, the random guy that's either handing you lotion, or asking to straighten your crazy looking hair, it's no wonder I don't spend more time in the mall... eek!