Minneapolis or BUST

Good news! I was able to find a reasonable flight back to Mpls and get the meetings I wanted to get with the people I want to meet with (awesome sent). So I will be back in Mpls at the end of Sept. I am inspired to work on a research project involving the U of MN and Mpls public library for a while now, but when I heard that MPL and Henn Cty libraries are just now meeting about how to redesign/reorganize/merge their web sites, well then, heh, I am interested to hear more.

Now, I just have to get organized. Learn all I can about these web sites before I get out there. Should be fun folks. Fun indeed.

Hump Ditty-Dump-Day

This artwork (done in mightly Illustrator, I would guess) is taken from this very funny web site: http://www.nataliedee.com/ And, I posted this in honor of Maddy who stinks so bad right now that she is making my eyes water when I sleep (but oddly, I love it). I got some Kiehl's fancy shampoo and conditioner but have yet to have the time to bathe her. I even bought her a terry cloth bathrobe (yes, I am THAT creepy), but she goes into her dark place after a bath so I have a hard time inflicting such emotional pain on her. Lady just got angry after a bath, but depressed, no.

This girl also has funny friends. Check out these sites as well: http://www.marriedtothesea.com/
http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/ (This one I really love.)
http://rollerchester.com/ (Again, it's her dog, but being somewhat unnaturally addicted to my puppy, I get it.)

Today's observations:

The tattoo on Jeff's calf (the climbing panther) has hitched a ride on two different guys on my commute to work today.

Per AM NY, people in SoHo are whining about the crowds at the SoHo Apple store. Um, too bad, so sad you live in an awesome neighborhood and have to put-up with shoppers and tourists. I feel for you, and not in the Chaka Kahn/Prince good way.

Lastly, just because sometimes we have to ride on trains that have dark nooks and crannies, doesn't mean that you can feel your girlfriend up in front of me. It's too early for that kind of nonsense. Nasty.

More Illustrator fun later, ya'll.

Rock Me Amadeus

I'm having fun with Illustrator today. I've not yet used the updated Illustrator C3 so today I got a copy and bombs-away! It's been a while, a long while, since I've used Illustrator (3 years) so it's been a fun day. Yippee, me loves you long-time Illustrator. (Geez, quit saying Illustrator already.)

I got lost in Yonkers this past weekend, literally. It was fun though, except the part when I got stuck in 1 hr of Yankees post-game traffic, inched along maybe a qtr mile. Fun it was not. But at least now I know how to get out to the suburbs should the city start closing-in on me.

It's the end of the day and I'm tapped-out. I should really post in the morning, I'm much more zippy then.

Should you have any happening insights into Illustrator, lemme know, I gots to shake the cob webbies outta my brain.

By-the-by, not to crap all over the iPhone, but once again, this gal was right, it's not the purrfect tool (I'm directing this comment at a certain Apple employee, you know who you are). See the latest news article on iPhone fixes gone awry.

Chelsea Puked on My Bed AGAIN

How purrfect is this sign? I needed a laugh today, so here it is. Should you wish to buy this sign, click HERE.

Remembering Lady

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Lady's passing. To mark the occassion, I've posted a picture of her here. This photo was taken about a year and a half before she died and shows her in her favorite lounging position. To see more pictures of Lady Madonna click this LINKIE. Also, Jeff created this wonderful photo collage/video of her on his site HERE. And I also video-taped me playing with her, a couple months before she passed HERE. (It's the January 23rd posting, in my blog archives.)

RIP Lady Madonna, April 12, 1994-August 14, 2007

I miss you my boo-boo, every day.

Pamela Anderson's Deep Thoughts

I sat down and watched an entire hour (!) of Pamela Anderson's new reality show, "Girl on the Loose" last night. I had to. I was a UGE fan of Anna Nicole Smith's reality show on E! (the theme song still rings in my head.."Anna Anna Anna Anna Anna Nicole, she's so outrageous") because, well, I liked Anna Nicole. When I was in college she seemingly came out of nowhere and did those smokin' Guess Jeans ads. She was somewhat original, at that time, a real throwback, with curves with Jane Mansfield overatures (notice how I did NOT say Marilyn, for obvious reasons since no one can compare).

But not Pamela Lee. I hated "Baywatch" about as much as I hated "Saved by the Bell" and all those other trashy mind-numbing 90's shows. And, naturally, Haselhoff makes me wana hurl (hey, yeah, "Wayne's World, Party-Time, Excellent"). Even still, I had to catch a couple episodes, all the billboards here in the city lured me like a month to a flame ("burned by desire, that's the way love goes" says Janet, Miss Jackson if you're nasty). Just call me lyric girl today.

Let's start with the positive, just like we learned in grad school, always praise THEN criticize.

The way it's filmed is unique. I am not a big reality-show fan, they pretty-much tire me, but I've flipped through enough to recognize that this one is attempting to be different and I respect that, in fact, I sorta like it. They do split screens, different angles, grainy film, black and white and seemingly technicolor (or maybe that's just Pam). Kudos. Pamela supports animal rights charities and talks em' up in the show. So, that's a very good thing.

Okay, now the goods. Although Pamela seems like a nice person and all that, but then again, I'd probably put on my best face if someone was trailing me around with a camera (did you ever catch that Lisa Kudro Show "The Comeback" that's what reality TV should be). Wouldn't you? But what kills me is her staff. At one point, one of her drivers said this, "Pamela really bases her opinions on thoughts." Oh, you mean, Pamela Anderson has thoughts? Does she really? Wow. That is amazing. I am so impressed. I don't even have thoughts. My favorite quote from Pamela was "Nudity, what's the big deal?" Anderson asks, "Everybody is naked in the shower." Rrright. Now I'm liberated! Matter of fact, I'm going to take my clothes off right now. Hold on a sec...okay, that was a bad idea, we have a rodent problem here.

Paleze. At least Anna Nicole's show was entertaining in all it's pink feather boa and Girl Smurfy goodness. Pamela in a tub splashing-around spewing her oh-so-deep thoughts into the camera is just plain boring. Simply-put.

Art Linkies Matey!

I discovered a new magazine (well, new to me), it's called Hi Fructose. So, I've culled some of the linkies for some of the artists, galleries and online stores that I thought were the most fun and/or interesting. I also found some in my favorite art mag, Juxtapoz. Enjoy and happy fishing!

Artists:

KRK Ryden (Mark's bro)

Kukula (the picture featured on this posting): This website is all Flash, so click on the center painting and up pops all kinds of goodies. Excellent site!

Sas Christian and Colin Christian: Amazing, the sculpture has a Murakami surrealistic vibe to it when you see it in person.

Amy Sol: Her work is beautiful and yet sometimes so sad.

Travis Louie: I think this guy is amazing. Both funny and beautiful portraits of very sympathetic creatures of his imagination. I want to be invited to a party and have all of these characters present.

Lori Earley: Excellent web site very befitting of her art. Intoxicating.

Naoto Hattori: His style brings life to these strange creatures. He's a prolific painter and he asserted that, "I consider a painting finished when I see my character 'breathing...;'"

Christopher Polentz: Unique portraits, unreal web site.

Luke Chueh: Violent bunnies predominate. The best kind of bunny, really.

Shawn Barber: Tattooed portraits.

Stuff You Get to Buy if You Have the Coin:

The Giant Peach: Clothes and stuff.

Last Gasp: Where you can fullfill lots of your art book needs, fella.

Sublime Stitching: I am trying to learn how to be crafty.

Sin in Linen: Funky linens, yo.

Hell Kats: If you ever need handcuff earrings, go here (I have).

Fuzzy Balls Apparel: Cute and creepy t-shirts and the like.

Dark Horse: Tara McPherson (I told y'all about her before, back in May methinks) and others have cool products (stationary, books, posters, lighters, etc) put out by this company. Plus comics too!

Galleries:

Excellent Virtu

Think Space Gallery

Roq La Rue Gallery

Last Rites Gallery (This one is in NYC!)

M Modern Gallery

Circus Posterus Art Collective.

Billy Shire Fine Arts

La Luz De Jesus Gallery

And last but not least, NYC's finest: Jonathan Levine Gallery
Enuff's Enuff. That oughta keep you busy for a while.

I'm Angry....

This is Jeff's cat Chilo in prime form.

See: Patti Smith Dream of Life

On Friday night I saw the new documentary, ("Patti Smith Dream of Life") of/about/by Patti Smith and director Steven Sebring. It was great. Then, afterwards, Patti Smith and Steven Sebring did a Q & A with the audience. They recorded it for a podcast. Initially, she was only to be attending one screening and doing a Q & A, but now I've noticed they've added four more appearances. So, if you're in NYC, try to check it out, it was a very inspiring experience. Oh, and the sound quality was great.

I also finally checked-out the South Street Seaport. I cannot believe I'd never been down there before. A bit touristy, but a nice oasis away from the noise and flutter of the city. I'm inspired and really want to live there when my lease is finally up.

Homesick

This video features some of the architectural highlights of my fair city. I'm showing it to you today because I woke-up a bit homesick and then people at work started talking about Thanksgiving and how we have to work and I realized I should just work it because my family is all in Minneapolis. Sniff, sniff. So, I'll probably volunteer.

On a happier note, I found some great web sites for you music fans out there. I don't know about you, but aside from listening to kexp, I really find it difficult to discover new music. Instead, I find myself pawing through re-releases when I'm on iTunes. It's sad, really, because how many versions of "Heart of Glass" does one person really need?

Linkies (discovered with the help of New York Magazine):

Steregum

Pitchfork

And, if you are ever in Mpls, the greatest record store is The Electric Fetus (I even worked there once, in the day-o, daddy-o). It's like the one standing building in a bombed-out village thanks to the genius of Steve Jobs (which I sorta want to bitch-slap sometimes because I used to love to spend my Saturdays thumbing through the goodies at record stores, when I wasn't working at one).

Will You Be My Friend?

So I'm not too motivated today. Sue me. Sue. Me. Do it. I dare ya.

Be my friend, purty paleze?

I saw "Swingvote" this weekend (two words or one???). And it didn't swing-my-vote enough into loving all over it, but it was alright. It was hot outside so what's a girl to do to beat the heat. Plus, stinking Batman is sold-out solid.

Why-oh-why does this guy from another floor come into our conference room and talk VERY STINKING LOUD on his cell phone. Yeah, he works here, but still. It bugs. I can hear every word he says. Sometimes I feel like people that talk on their cell phones in public think no one else in the world can hear them. Lucky me, I get to hear every bloody detail of their bloody lives. Wankers.

I wish I were British, if I were I could say something like Wanker and really sound cool. Instead, I say it with my prevailing Midwestern long-O and sound stupid.

My Guilty Pleasure Show of the Week is: Army Wives, mostly because I have had a serious crush on Kim Delaney since her All My Children "Jenny" days.

I've been using You Tube as my iPod lately. And, in so doing, I found all these great Japan videos. How totally unbelievably Nick Rhodes-cute is David Sylvian. I met him once, bought used CDS from him when he was married to that nymphette from Prince's G-Bridge days. David loved me. I could tell.