Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Perception
People tend to look at me funny sometimes when I whip out my camera to take a photo of something weird that they would have never taken a photo of or if I contort in a strange angle or lay down on the floor to get that shot perfect shot. I generally hear “What in the world are you taking a photo of THAT for?”. I guess I just love to make something beautiful that we walk by every single day. I love to show something that you see all the time and make it unique. I see things as an artist, everything is an interesting subject. A mushroom growing at an unexpected angle in a shaft of light, a piece of gum on the bottom of a chair, a rusted out tire rim or a leaf looking sad; I see these as something MORE than just an everyday object. I also just happen to love photos taken at unexpected angles, angles that most people don’t look or photo things at. I particularly adore angles from really high up or down low, and lately I have loved everything that is close up. When the light is right, which it often is in LALA Land, all I want to do is forget the bustle of city life around me and appreciate the different ways of looking at ordinary things.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Ani DiFranco
Ms. Dancer took me to a concert tonight. We had such an amazing time. We went to an Italian café around the corner where the waiter was a complete brown noser. Ahh I remember the days when I waited on tables trying to get the best tips I could. He made me reminisce about the old days. Ms. Dancer also gave me a surprise. Internet meet Tink, a head rubbing devise that feels just DIVINE. Here I am modeling it.
P.S. It is not a good idea to try to use this in the car. The rapture it created was hard to bear.
Ani DiFranco is one of my favourite singers and when Ms. Dancer found out she was playing and that she could get tickets at a reasonable price she got them. This was my first time visiting the Orpheum and I was suitably impressed with the sign.
Once we entered I really fell in love with this smaller venue. The hall had great stadium seating. We were in the balcony and I felt like we were able to see the artist well. What I particularly loved with the old world gilded architecture. It was super opulent just the way I one day want my bathroom. I particularly loved the ceiling.
Ani of course was amazing. I think what I love most about her is that she is unique and that her song lyrics really feel like she is talking to the powerful women that all of us are. She really connects with me and to me that is priceless.
Thanks for a great night Ms. Dancer. YOU ROCK!
P.S. It is not a good idea to try to use this in the car. The rapture it created was hard to bear.
Ani DiFranco is one of my favourite singers and when Ms. Dancer found out she was playing and that she could get tickets at a reasonable price she got them. This was my first time visiting the Orpheum and I was suitably impressed with the sign.
Once we entered I really fell in love with this smaller venue. The hall had great stadium seating. We were in the balcony and I felt like we were able to see the artist well. What I particularly loved with the old world gilded architecture. It was super opulent just the way I one day want my bathroom. I particularly loved the ceiling.
Ani of course was amazing. I think what I love most about her is that she is unique and that her song lyrics really feel like she is talking to the powerful women that all of us are. She really connects with me and to me that is priceless.
Thanks for a great night Ms. Dancer. YOU ROCK!
Kenneth Hahn Park
Mrs. Cutie Pie, a teacher, is finally off for the summer. So she is now able to hang out during the day. We decided to go on a hike today to a park close to my house. It is one of my favourite hikes in the area because although it has a few steep parks most of it is relatively flat. There is also some wonderful vistas of Downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding area. We spent two hours sweating in the sun. Even though my thighs were killing me from my four hours of roller skating the day before we managed to make a two hour hike through the park. After the hike we curled up on a table and ate a picnic in the sun. It was such a wonderful simple afternoon. We had such a great time that we are going to attempt to hike often.
Of course I brought my camera. Here are some of my favourite shots.
Of course I brought my camera. Here are some of my favourite shots.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Cat vs. Dog
I know there are some hard core dog lovers who would argue that dogs are the best pet and cats are terrible beings, and I also know people that would champion the best pet to be a cat. I fall somewhere in between both. I love the rough, adoring, “OH MY GOD YOU ARE HOME WE MISSED YOU SOOOOO MUCH” love that my dogs give me. I love that we go hiking together, and take walks, and play fetch, but once and a while my dogs exhaust me. In these instances I fall to peanut butter for a brief break. My cats on the other hand are lazy lounging creatures. They never listen, they wont be told what to do, or where to lay, or when to come. They never greet me at the door when I enter the house but on those lazy days reading in bed they nuzzle up and purrrrr for hours. They are my wonderful quiet companions that give their love on their terms and screw the world. I respect them for that.
So I find myself loving one side more than the other on the days when I feel most active outdoorsy or quiet and cuddly.
Saturday morning I took some photos of my animals doing what they do.
Picasso was sunbathing… He looks so content.
After about ten minutes he stretched.
Then went back to lying down sunbathing.
He made me calm and peaceful just watching him.
I then moved onto the dogs. Phoenix AKA the spaz machine went wild with a tennis ball. It took 45 minutes to take a proper photo of her because she just would not sit still.
After getting that shot I went to grab a glass of lemonade because wrangling a 7 month old puppy for a photo was a lot harder than it should be and left me a little parched. I returned to the room to find Phoenix with her favourite toy wrapped around her head. And she managed to stay still long enough for me to grab a proper shot.
I returned to my computer to download the photos. I noticed that the dogs were actually quiet for a change. Of course I went to go investigate because silence generally means trouble. I approach the dogs and this is the scene I get to, Rogue and Phoenix among the carnage of their favourite decimated toy.
Point being the silent calm peaceful feeling I had photoing the cat was eradicated when I moved to photo the dogs. They may not be peaceful but they can be exciting little terrors that they are.
So I find myself loving one side more than the other on the days when I feel most active outdoorsy or quiet and cuddly.
Saturday morning I took some photos of my animals doing what they do.
Picasso was sunbathing… He looks so content.
After about ten minutes he stretched.
Then went back to lying down sunbathing.
He made me calm and peaceful just watching him.
I then moved onto the dogs. Phoenix AKA the spaz machine went wild with a tennis ball. It took 45 minutes to take a proper photo of her because she just would not sit still.
After getting that shot I went to grab a glass of lemonade because wrangling a 7 month old puppy for a photo was a lot harder than it should be and left me a little parched. I returned to the room to find Phoenix with her favourite toy wrapped around her head. And she managed to stay still long enough for me to grab a proper shot.
I returned to my computer to download the photos. I noticed that the dogs were actually quiet for a change. Of course I went to go investigate because silence generally means trouble. I approach the dogs and this is the scene I get to, Rogue and Phoenix among the carnage of their favourite decimated toy.
Point being the silent calm peaceful feeling I had photoing the cat was eradicated when I moved to photo the dogs. They may not be peaceful but they can be exciting little terrors that they are.
BBBS 15 – Round and Round We Go
Because Ms. Little had a blast the last time we went to the rink, and since I did not do HORRIBLY (aka I managed to NOT fall on my butt all the time), when she asked to return there for our outing this week I played along. I am a sucker for her like that. She asks with those beautiful doe eyes of hers and I melt. Unfortunately we made these plans last week and today by the time I had to leave the house and pick her up I was feeling particularly tired, exhausted really even though I have no excuse. There are some moment’s right before I leave the house for an outing where I consider cancelling. I will use my imagination and come up with a million REASONS to cancel like a sick friend, an emergency vet visit because the puppy swallowed 10 pairs of my underwear, or a raging case of diarrhea. Generally this only lasts for a moment, the desire to stay at home rather than drag myself out of the house. Sometimes however it lasts all the way until I am at the event I said I would go to. I am glad that I never give into this weakness of mine, I am glad I make the effort to keep the plans I make, I think that it is very important and even doubly important for BBBS matches. It is important for me to do what I say I am going to do. This is why I will never cancel plans, unless there is a real emergency, which is very rare, because it is rude to re-juggle a schedule just because a part of my brains inherently want to never leave my house again. I think this is a clear indication that I am becoming more of a homebody and less of a go out all the time kinda girl like I was in my 20s.
I managed, despite my arguing brain, to pick her up on time and we were off to the rink. Where the blisters are large, the music is loud and the constant circling of the people on the polished floor feels like piranha circling its victim. The thing about leaving the house while your brain is arguing weather or not you should use the ‘stung by a bee excuse again’ is that it does not leave a lot of leftover space to remember other important details. I had left my socks, yes my socks, one of the most important roller skating requirements. They are on the counter; the comfy super thick socks that I was hoping would cushion my feet so I that the fancy skates they have at the rink would not give me a blister like last time. So we made a detour to the ever so wonderful Target.
While in the car I use the time to talk about many different things that I think Ms. Little would benefit hearing or learning. Generally at least a half an hour every outing we talk about something important. Today we continued our discussion about maps and directions. Within the past few months I have been handing Ms. Little my new iPhone, oh how I love this little piece of technology, and she has been using the map function to navigate me through the city on our outings. We talk about the directions of the compass, how to gage how many miles we have gone, what is the proper way to write an address, and memorizing major roads and expressways. Usually we end up navigating to the destination together and then on the way home it is her job to get us back. Peppered in our navigation conversation we talked about a range of things. We discussed boys, school and the importance of getting good grades and her reading issues. Since reading is her worst subject by far in school we discussed possibly starting a library of books for her that we could read together. I was even thinking of getting and painting a book shelf for her room that we could start to fill with her own books. I love to read and I am hoping that maybe if we read a lot together this summer than I can pass some of that love onto her.
I hope in these conversations that she retains a little bit of what we talk about every time we hang out, that our outings and our relationship will make a difference in her life. And that she will have a chance to break out of the cycle that she is in. I know I cannot help everyone, my heart breaks for all the poverty I see here. But this one little girl, I hope that working together and giving her a positive role model I can give her a chance at a better life.
When we got to Target I asked Ms. Little to pick me out a pair of socks and to get herself a new pair also. After carefully considering all the choices, and damn Target has a ton of options, did I mention that I love this store. Anyways she chose a pair of black socks with stars for herself and then this is what she chose for me.
I am not sure if she thought they were funny or if she thought that they were cool. Pink is her favourite color and I guess I can be seen as preppy so argyle is defiantly in my realm of comfortability but seriously these were a tad bit loud even for me. I wore them regardless and even managed to get two compliments from people at the rink (go figure).
So once we got to the rink and since I was still mind numbingly exhausted we headed to the concession stand and got a Blue Raspberry Icee. Giggling and making faces together as we sucked down the cold drink, and fighting mild rounds of brain freeze I started to feel the million pounds of sugar coarse through my veins. This defiantly provided the jolt of sugar high I needed to get through the rest of the day and gave us some marvellous blue tongues which Ms. Little thought were cool.
I managed not to fall one single time and I even managed to impress Ms. Little with my leg crossing over turns. I did attempt to teach her but that did not go as planned. It did however end up in lots of laughter and smiles. We even called her mom and stayed at the rink an extra hour, I blame the Icee for my newfound bravado for thinking I could roller skate for four hours. I know my legs are going to be barking tomorrow. As I dropped off Ms. Little and pulled away from the house I noticed that my mood is almost always humming with happiness. I know that this program is developed to give the child a better chance and provide a positive role model but in turn she is giving me an elixir sunshine of happiness.
I managed, despite my arguing brain, to pick her up on time and we were off to the rink. Where the blisters are large, the music is loud and the constant circling of the people on the polished floor feels like piranha circling its victim. The thing about leaving the house while your brain is arguing weather or not you should use the ‘stung by a bee excuse again’ is that it does not leave a lot of leftover space to remember other important details. I had left my socks, yes my socks, one of the most important roller skating requirements. They are on the counter; the comfy super thick socks that I was hoping would cushion my feet so I that the fancy skates they have at the rink would not give me a blister like last time. So we made a detour to the ever so wonderful Target.
While in the car I use the time to talk about many different things that I think Ms. Little would benefit hearing or learning. Generally at least a half an hour every outing we talk about something important. Today we continued our discussion about maps and directions. Within the past few months I have been handing Ms. Little my new iPhone, oh how I love this little piece of technology, and she has been using the map function to navigate me through the city on our outings. We talk about the directions of the compass, how to gage how many miles we have gone, what is the proper way to write an address, and memorizing major roads and expressways. Usually we end up navigating to the destination together and then on the way home it is her job to get us back. Peppered in our navigation conversation we talked about a range of things. We discussed boys, school and the importance of getting good grades and her reading issues. Since reading is her worst subject by far in school we discussed possibly starting a library of books for her that we could read together. I was even thinking of getting and painting a book shelf for her room that we could start to fill with her own books. I love to read and I am hoping that maybe if we read a lot together this summer than I can pass some of that love onto her.
I hope in these conversations that she retains a little bit of what we talk about every time we hang out, that our outings and our relationship will make a difference in her life. And that she will have a chance to break out of the cycle that she is in. I know I cannot help everyone, my heart breaks for all the poverty I see here. But this one little girl, I hope that working together and giving her a positive role model I can give her a chance at a better life.
When we got to Target I asked Ms. Little to pick me out a pair of socks and to get herself a new pair also. After carefully considering all the choices, and damn Target has a ton of options, did I mention that I love this store. Anyways she chose a pair of black socks with stars for herself and then this is what she chose for me.
I am not sure if she thought they were funny or if she thought that they were cool. Pink is her favourite color and I guess I can be seen as preppy so argyle is defiantly in my realm of comfortability but seriously these were a tad bit loud even for me. I wore them regardless and even managed to get two compliments from people at the rink (go figure).
So once we got to the rink and since I was still mind numbingly exhausted we headed to the concession stand and got a Blue Raspberry Icee. Giggling and making faces together as we sucked down the cold drink, and fighting mild rounds of brain freeze I started to feel the million pounds of sugar coarse through my veins. This defiantly provided the jolt of sugar high I needed to get through the rest of the day and gave us some marvellous blue tongues which Ms. Little thought were cool.
I managed not to fall one single time and I even managed to impress Ms. Little with my leg crossing over turns. I did attempt to teach her but that did not go as planned. It did however end up in lots of laughter and smiles. We even called her mom and stayed at the rink an extra hour, I blame the Icee for my newfound bravado for thinking I could roller skate for four hours. I know my legs are going to be barking tomorrow. As I dropped off Ms. Little and pulled away from the house I noticed that my mood is almost always humming with happiness. I know that this program is developed to give the child a better chance and provide a positive role model but in turn she is giving me an elixir sunshine of happiness.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Taste Buds: Ultimate Bread Pudding
This is something that my grandmother made for my mother, something that my mother made for me, and someday I hope that I will be making this delicious dish for my kids. I have made a few little modifications to my recipe and I have added Grand Marnier for an adult twist. Oh so yummy.
For the Bread Pudding
10 Texas Toast Slices
2 Eggs
Pam for the Dish
1 Cup Milk
½ Cup Half and Half
3 Tablespoons of Sugar
1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon of Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon of Grand Marnier or Brandy
½ Cup Raisins
For the Sauce
½ Tablespoon of Corn Starch
½ Cup of Sugar
1 Cup of Hot Water
2 Tablespoons Butter
The Bread Pudding
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Combine in a large bowl; Milk, Eggs, Sugar, Liquor, and Nutmeg.
Whisk everything together until well blended. Set bowl to the side.
Pam a baking dish so the pudding does not stick.
Cut up Texas Toast slices into squares.
Place the squares in your baking dish.
Mix the raisins with the bread.
Pour the milk mixture over top of the dish making sure to soak all the bread.
Sprinkle the cinnamon on top.
Break up the butter and place small pieces all over the top of the bread.
Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until brown and fluffy.
The Sauce
Put the sugar and the corn starch into a small sauce pot and stir together thoroughly.
Put the stove on medium and add the cup of hot water very slowly to the mixture making sure to stir steadily.
Bring the sauce to a boil making sure to keep stirring steadily.
After the sauce has been at a full boil for a minute add in the butter. Keep stirring until the sauce is nice and thick.
Once the sauce is complete remove the bread pudding from the oven.
Serve this dish in individual bowls with the sauce poured on top.
Divine and OH SO SWEET!
Taste buds enjoy.
For the Bread Pudding
10 Texas Toast Slices
2 Eggs
Pam for the Dish
1 Cup Milk
½ Cup Half and Half
3 Tablespoons of Sugar
1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon of Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon of Grand Marnier or Brandy
½ Cup Raisins
For the Sauce
½ Tablespoon of Corn Starch
½ Cup of Sugar
1 Cup of Hot Water
2 Tablespoons Butter
The Bread Pudding
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Combine in a large bowl; Milk, Eggs, Sugar, Liquor, and Nutmeg.
Whisk everything together until well blended. Set bowl to the side.
Pam a baking dish so the pudding does not stick.
Cut up Texas Toast slices into squares.
Place the squares in your baking dish.
Mix the raisins with the bread.
Pour the milk mixture over top of the dish making sure to soak all the bread.
Sprinkle the cinnamon on top.
Break up the butter and place small pieces all over the top of the bread.
Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until brown and fluffy.
The Sauce
Put the sugar and the corn starch into a small sauce pot and stir together thoroughly.
Put the stove on medium and add the cup of hot water very slowly to the mixture making sure to stir steadily.
Bring the sauce to a boil making sure to keep stirring steadily.
After the sauce has been at a full boil for a minute add in the butter. Keep stirring until the sauce is nice and thick.
Once the sauce is complete remove the bread pudding from the oven.
Serve this dish in individual bowls with the sauce poured on top.
Divine and OH SO SWEET!
Taste buds enjoy.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Photo Phriday: Graffiti
Recently I saw this article about a guy who vandalized a few snails homes. The graffiti artist, Slinkachu, calls his work “A slow moving street art project”. Personally I think it is one of the coolest new breed in graffiti artists that I have seen in a while. What a super creative idea. And for those of you animal lovers like me don't worry he made sure to use non toxic paints and no snails were hurt in this process.
You can see more of his work here. I have always been a huge fan of graffiti, well good graffiti anyways, and I am in one of the best cities to enjoy some of the greatest graffiti artists. On my recent trip downtown for my friends photo shoot see here and here, and my visit to the furniture district I managed to squeeze a little time to take some photos of the graffiti that I saw. Here are some of the best although I know I have not even touched the iceberg of what is out there, plan on seeing another Photo Phriday (or many) on graffiti in the future. For now enjoy.
You can see more of his work here. I have always been a huge fan of graffiti, well good graffiti anyways, and I am in one of the best cities to enjoy some of the greatest graffiti artists. On my recent trip downtown for my friends photo shoot see here and here, and my visit to the furniture district I managed to squeeze a little time to take some photos of the graffiti that I saw. Here are some of the best although I know I have not even touched the iceberg of what is out there, plan on seeing another Photo Phriday (or many) on graffiti in the future. For now enjoy.
This last shot is by far my absolute favourite of today. She reminds me a little of a twisted Betty Boop. My grandmother loves Boop and whenever I see one it always reminds me of her. Even though I don’t know if grandma would quite appreciate this character I cannot help but love this piece of art with the same part of my heart I reserve for Tim Burton and a few Marilyn Manson songs.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Random Acts of Kindness
When you get flowers on a special occasion like your birthday or Valentines day it is wonderful BUT when you get flowers on some random day just because, that is priceless. Today Mrs. Rambo showed up for a walk with a huge bunch of Hydrangeas, which are one of my all time favourite flowers. They remind me of spring and they just look so darn happy, like big fluffy balls of taffy goodness. Thanks for making my day Mrs. Rambo!
Confessions of a Shop-a-holic
Ever since we finished the most ‘horrible horrific construction of all time’ I have been slowly working on finishing certain things that were left undone. Things like the laundry room cabinets, the floating shower glass door, edging on the kitchen cabinets and so much more in that seamlessly endless home improvement list. Most recently I have been scouring everywhere to find a solution for all our shower products that up until today were just sitting on the bench in a messy array.
At one point I must have mentioned to Ms. Dancer my frustration in not being able to find what I was looking for because about a week ago I got an email with the most perfect solution. It is a high quality tension shower caddy by Simple Human that does NOT have to hook on the back of your showerhead. Personally I HATE that kind. This solution looked like the perfect thing I had been looking for. I ordered it and the second it came today I set it up and sighed in happiness. It looks so much better.
At one point I must have mentioned to Ms. Dancer my frustration in not being able to find what I was looking for because about a week ago I got an email with the most perfect solution. It is a high quality tension shower caddy by Simple Human that does NOT have to hook on the back of your showerhead. Personally I HATE that kind. This solution looked like the perfect thing I had been looking for. I ordered it and the second it came today I set it up and sighed in happiness. It looks so much better.
