This is my 421st post and also an indication of my personal apocalypse. I think, today, I have become allergic to two things: hops and marijuana. Help. I love hoppy beers, Pale Ales being some of my favorites. Today, after a nice meal and 2.5 beers, my skin itched, my joints ached, and it felt like I wanted something to pull and stretch all of my limbs, also, my gums itched. I am attributing it to the hops in my beer because I have noticed (you know accidentally when that horrible person passed me (what I thought to be a tobacco cigarette) marijuana, I felt similar symptoms. Please, someone tell me that it's all just paranoia.
Happy Day
I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. I am glad to have slept in and contrary to some, I am happy to be cooking as well. Today, my contribution for the day is a pumpkin/yam bake. It may or may not have been invented by yours truly, if I am wrong, please correct me. Like most all of my recipes, I have no measurements, just free will, street smarts, and a penchant for good food (thank you momma).
I think it's a good time to have discussions about our country and the manner in which food gets to the table. I know I hold on tight to my small (1/16) native american roots, but even that 1/16th is enough to have a sense of pride about myself and pride about this gorgeous landscape we reside in. I grew up in a town that removed its only gas station because it was discovered to be built upon an Indian burial ground. Topanga Canyon has been gas stationless ever since. Lesson: you never know where energies lie. Politics aside, it is undeniable that we live in one of the most beautiful, diverse, and enigmatic landscapes in the world. Our native american ancestors acknowledged this; they revered the land, prayed to natural gods - gods of the animal kingdom, gods of wind and fire and water. I feel it is important to embrace the natural world and invite its magic into our daily lives. Feel the wind and feel life. Forget about the systems (money, math, the 9-5, words, and football) we've created to make us feel more "human". My Thanksgiving Wish is for everyone to get natural, if even for a minute.
Pumpkin/Yam Bake:
1 can pure pumpkin
1 can of evaporated milk
4 yams
1 sweet potato
1/2 stick of butter sliced
Crushed pecans
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Salt
Ginger powder
Cayenne Pepper
Vanilla Extract
(marshmallows if desired)
Preheat oven to 350
I halve and quarter the potatoes(<-----sorry stephanie)
place them and the butter slices into a corning dish
Mix pumpkin, milk, and spices in a separate bowl and pour over the potato mix
Scatter pecan atop and place in oven
about after 30 min or so, you can add the marshmallows if you so desire a sweet dish.
Probably about 45 minutes later - voila!
Me in the Day: A Response to Stephanie
So, Stephanie posted some high school photos of herself and they were true gems; true markers of a time that I, too, shared. Since I wasn't too big on the school thing, I don't really have much evidence that I was even there. I have since lost my yearbooks. This is the best representation I could get, given my limited resources.
Due to my reckless nature, I spent a great deal of time hooked up to machines:
On occasion, my mother made me take photos...I was approached to do a Jolly Rancher commercial and they wanted me to rollerblade. I said, "no thanks, I skateboard." That was pretty much the end of my acting career.
And when I decided to chop off the hair and my mom made sure I had a stylist finish it so I didn't totally ruin myself (whatever):
I did go to a school dance or two. Speaking of which, I wish Adam O'rourke would send me the pic of him lifting me up for the prom photo because I was on crutches. This is also the photo that demonstrates the time in every girl's life where they feel the need to dye their blonde hair black.
Oh If I Could Somehow Find a Satchel of Unmarked Bills
Things I love from one store, Creatures of Comfort. Please visit Gnarlitude and discover a deal if you like what you see below.
Garage Doors
I can't begin to explain how much I'd love to integrate a garage door into my home. Firstly, I need a home. I remembered how cool it was that my friend's bar (The Bye and Bye in Portland, you should go, because I endorse Jacob Wallace) used the old rolling doors of the previous garage that occupied their now bar. It's also pretty awesome that the view from their shop windows is a big cathedral.
The Bye and Bye's version:
Some really swanky versions:
oh.my.god is right
After conducting a brief survey of those who I work with, apparently Lauren and I are the only people to have played with Mario Paint Composer. I find this video to be amongst one of the funniest of its kind.
I May Be a Vampire
Here are the facts:
I hate the day.
I love the night.
I'm Eastern European (Austrian-Hungarian).
I love to wear black, or at least earth tones.
My mother, despite all of life's attempt at taking her life, she lives.
I love the Lost Boys (not #2).
This could be unrelated (only related through keiffer sutherland), but I also loved that movie Flatliners.
I wear capes. 
I can't be too much of a vampire if kitties still want to snuggle with me:
The socks serve as proof for Jody. And a many thanks to Heather. Jupi and I have come such a long way - form scars to sleeping bags...
My Route to Work
Much to the chagrin of my coworkers, who hate bicyclists or hate sharing the road with cyclists, and because the world hates me and it's going to be sunny all week - I'm riding to work and not taking the bus. So, you know who you are, if you see me riding, remember my legs are my brakes, so don't crash into my shins. Here is my route so you can take another way to work. Peace Love and Wilderness
Dries Van Noten
The post below made me thing of geometric silks with blacks and whites and then I placed it: Spring RT Dries Van Noten. I love this silhouette - sort of 50s, sort of not. Here are my highlights (more than anything else, I loved the shoes):
From the Sartorialist Today
I must admit that most of the photos Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) takes are pretty bland, boring, people already in the "fashion" industry and they all look like a sign of their time with nothing new to add except that viewing his site is somehow more acceptable than, let's say, Perez Hilton. They are, in my opinion, speaking the same language. Instead of looking at the fashionable people on the Sartorialist, I am left, not inspired, but just confused and sad as to why I don't have that kind of money and why I don't live in a fashionable metropolitan city. With that being said, there is also something fun about finding nuances in the photos that might not be overstating. I don't care which designers the person is flaunting.
Then, today, he posted the photo above. And today's picture is nothing understated. I don't think the woman wearing the ensemble is really fashion forward or anything, but the colors of the skirt are what blew me away. So, basically a bunch of pointless prologue just to say that. AMAZING COLORS. AMAZING LAYERS.
I want to paint with the pallette of her skirt. Now. that. is inspiration.
Twins
Twins, the poetry zine is now available. If you'd like a copy to call your own, let me know. There are a couple of excerpts on my other blog, Good Writtens.
Tiger Beat Interview with Me
Heavy Feather and I always dress alike: it's become sort of a phenomenon. She just posted a questionnaire or sorts, and her picture - well, she's wearing b&w stripes, as I am below, so I felt inclined to answer her questions (I usually am anti-questionnaires, so read it and weep - you won't see it again).
Q:how would your mother describe you in one word?
A: talent wasted
Q:What is your favorite flower?
A: clavel (carnation)
Q: What is the most insane question you have ever been asked?
A: is that a wig?
Q: What word in English do you wish you had invented?
A: quintessential or motherfucker
Q: Where would you like to live?
A: amongst an almond tree grove in spain. p.s. that show in american with the bimbos holding suitcases with money amounts, is a show from spain called "alcornoque" (the cork tree)
Q: What is the first quote that comes to mind?
A: "shit for breakfast"
Q: What animal would best describe the guy you're interested in?
A: Scorpion
Q: What do you miss about childhood?
A: the world - all of it
Q: If you could change your name what would you change it to?
A: Bitchin'- but really, i've been debating this for a while since my name isn't Danielle on my birth certificate anyway, I figure I should have free reign on changing it.
Q: What is the main fault in your character?
A: suspicion (however, this goes hand in hand with inquisition, so i'm ok with that)
Q:Who is your favorite historical figure?
A: Emma Goldman
Q: Describe how you kiss in one word
A: wtf - i love you
Q: What in the world do you least desire?
A: eternal supply of packing peanuts (heather's answer...i couldn't think of a better one)
Q:Why do you think most guys date you?
A: It's gotta be the attitude
Q: Finish the sentence "Happiness is a thing called ___________?"
A: me
Sew Sexie!
Finally, I have my scarves on Etsy. You can buy them here. They're pretty bitchin' as you can see below. Click on any of the photos and it will take you to the etsy store. The holidays are abound and it would mean buying something handmade and in the usa! I know, I love you all too. 
Willie Cole at the UMFA Tonight
Sculptor of found objects and contemporary artist of much more, Willie Cole, will be speaking tonight at the UMFA. I am excited to hear about his approach and concepts and blah blah. I particularly like that his studio was/is at one time/or still covered in found shoes. I particularly like his prints of the undersides of irons. He labeled them all a different slave ship's name. Interesting.
More Inspiration: Jenny Saville
Her paintings are huge - her models, mostly, are too. I love how she uses the play between warm and cool and the result is like a sunset stretched upon skin. 
400 Blows
This is my 400th post and Obama is President and I have new boots. Hence,my victory dance:
"Heal the divides that have setback this nation."
And raise hell we will....
On Secrets and Discoveries
Today, in class, we discussed Walker Evans amongst other photographers that had been hired by the FSA during the depression to document America and mostly the Dust Bowl and plight of farmers and of the destitute. Walker Evans did his own thing (which is also probably why he was one of the first hired by Stryker and the first fired); he was an egoist, a brilliant artist, and a man who followed his own path and found a small space in the universe in which one makes a living doing what they love. I personally believe that he was probably an asshole. However, something he was quoted saying intrigued me and my own egotistical self.
He said this, "It's as though there's a wonderful secret in a certain place and I can capture it. Only I, at this moment, can capture it..."
It got me thinking about nuance and circumstance and our desire to have purpose in life, in general. In my own personal reference to art, I think this quote speaks a lot to me. I also feel there are certain visual elements that help people associate with "the secret" (not the capitalistic shallow mantra people are all about these days, thinking they will win th lottery if they "secret" it...give me a goddamn break) the artist has seized and captured and quietly exposed to the world. I think pattern and visual repetition helps this. When a viewer discovers a subtle nuance of pattern, whether it be via use of light, texture, pattern, or the repetition of a form, there is something inherent in what those as symbols convey that makes us feel something emotional and help us resonate deep memory or desire. It's like seeing something repeat throughout a day. It's déjà vu. It's like speaking of someone or dreaming of someone and then seeing them, and having them call you. There is an implied fate in repetition. And that is what I think Walker Evans' "secret" was talking about. The moments drove his purpose, as do the moments in my life drive me.
It's All Happening
SO, about 20 minutes ago I was looking at the election tracker and noticed that OBAMA was BEATING MCCAIN in the Utah polls. Holy Shit. Anyway, he's since lost Utah to its red roots, but it was a nice thing to see. Sudden Update! OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA IS THE NEW PRESIDENT!!!!!!!
November 3: Brunch!
I must say, brunch at Caffé Niche is amazing. Italian eggs, french toast with fresh berries and a custard sauce = heaven. Speaking of heaven, if there is one above, certainly it;s praying that the McCain/Palin campaign crumbles like the ruins of Vesuvius. 
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