Merry GIF day to you

Written by serene. Posted on December 21, 2009. Filed under Nerdy, Photography. 4 Comments.

There just weren’t words to capture how hilarious this moment was, so I had to make an animated GIF to share.

(p.s. Making an animated GIF in CS4 is hard. Try it sometime.)

S.W.A.K.

Written by serene. Posted on December 17, 2009. Filed under Nerdy. 5 Comments.

Dear Internet,

I love you for many reasons, some of which I will list below:

  • You let me post stupid Flickr videos of myself. I am under no delusion of ‘coolness’ or poise, and gladly throw my dignity on the line for a laugh.
  • I got hos in different area codes. (Or: I am able to maintain friendships all over the place, and successfully at that.)
  • Gimme a few clicks and I am elbow deep in design and photography land, getting mad inspired.
  • I have developed a robust bullshit detector due to exposure to lots of people and information, not all of which is worth my time.
  • Three words: Digital. Circle. Jerks. (Not in the masturbatory sense, but more in my cherished tailored and narrow online community that enjoys the same stuff I do, and we nerdbond over links and videos to amuse ourselves)

Okay, I suppose that will do for now. This list has me thinking about the consequences of the internet/new media in a more meta way, but that merits another post at a different time.

S.W.A.K.,

Serene

Boner List

Written by serene. Posted on December 13, 2009. Filed under Culture Club, Friends, I am a sap, Nerdy. 1 Comment.

It’s cold, sucky, and generally unpleasant. Here are things that are the antithesis of all that nonsense.

1. Y: The Last Man.

A plague kills off every man on the planet, except for one schwing-worthy Yorick Brown. This may appeal to every comic-reading, feminist-identifying, or generally rad girl you know. Or anyone else, really. It’s also in TPB volumes now, so you don’t have to worry about paper-cuts, or ruining your bookshelf alignment, or whatever excuse you weirdos have for not buying single-issue comics.

2. Amanda Blank, I Love You (2009)

Especially this track:

3. Asa’s 8:36 photo project.

He’s one of the raddest people I barely know. No, seriously, when I have had the chance to watch him in action it’s pretty amazing how he can hold a crowd with his wit; plus he seems really genuine and nice. AND he is a great photographer. Flattery aside, his photo project feeds my insatiable curiosity about what people do when I’m not around. Plus, he lives in my neighborhood, which means I get to point at a photo and yell “dude, I was JUST there” and not feel alone.

4. MOTHEREFFIN’ NACHOS.

No words necessary. Just bask in the crunchy, salty, spicy goodness contained within a plate of this badassness.

5.  Alie and Georgia booze videos

Yeah, I don’t drink anymore, but Georgia is one of my favorite bloggers. She’s wicked smart, and pretty too. Sales pitch aside, their video project seems to be on the verge of blowing up. Go watch it now and say you knew about them before they got all kinds of press.

Present

Written by serene. Posted on November 26, 2009. Filed under I am a sap. 1 Comment.

On this blue-gray morning, with the light pitter-patter of raindrops overhead, I am shedding the memories, the regrets, and the wishes. I am here, present, and overwhelmed with gratitude. A holiday without a name (for I cannot shed my political views, and cannot celebrate the killing of American Indians and their culture), but definitely with emotion: I am thankful for you, to be alive, and to be able to drink my coffee on my stoop and listen to the sound of the skies weeping.

Bones, Thugs & Harmony time, kids.

Written by serene. Posted on November 3, 2009. Filed under Uncategorized. 1 Comment.

You know what is the tits? Being at a crossroads.

Now, you may find yourself scratching your head as a reaction to confusion. What do I mean with this ‘tits’ business? That’s the funny thing, I don’t know either. Change always has the same potential as a coin flip – It can either go well, or it can go bad.

(sidenote: Timm told me that ‘tits’ meant good. I disagree. Maybe it’s because I have ‘em.)

My LSAT score was terrible. The worst. It was lower than any of the gazillion practice tests I took at home. And I can’t decide what to do, beyond trying to rebuild my pride. Is this a sign? Should I take it again? Do I want to invest $2,000 in a prep course? Time will tell, kittens.

As graduation looms ahead, what is my game plan? Those damn crossroads are just ahead, waving like heat rays from a black, deserted highway. I can see it, I can feel it, I can even taste it: the panic, the fear, the hope.

All in all, life will work out. It always does. In the meantime, I have to learn how to sit tight and not mentally box myself into PANICHOLYSHIT mode. I’m no fun to be around when my thoughts are looped on how much life sucks and how it will never work out right unless you beat all options into a figurative bloody pulp. Look at me, maturing and shit.

To ensure this post does not get dismissed with cacophonous yawns and eye rolling, here is a video that made me cry those perfect, giant,  streaming tears of laughter.

Update-adoodle

Written by serene. Posted on October 6, 2009. Filed under I am a sap. 4 Comments.

Quick list-style update:

1. LSAT was super, insane difficult. 8:30 am? Not my bag. Neighbor playing loud music until 3 am? Fail. 100 nervous, anxious people seated in one room? EPIC FAIL.

2. Classes this quarter should be interesting, as long as I can keep up on my reading load. Indigenous feminisms, Mass Media Law, and Media History (focused on 1775-1890).

3. Missing our friends wedding was a giant, huge bummer. I can’t shake the feeling that I am a terrible friend, that I missed out on an important moment in their lives, and that my inability to be there for people is in part contributing to my hermitude. In short, have the close friends far away blows.

4. Married life continues to be awesome. Drew somehow continues to make me laugh,  be my rock, and earn stripes for patience and understanding. I’m a lucky gal.

5. I am really struggling to get back into photography. Being silenced through feelings of inferiority blow. I think I might get a decent point-and-shoot just to get back into the habit and have something small to take with me all the time.  Any suggestions?

6. Being 30 actually kicks a lot of ass. I’m feeling a bit more comfortable with my quirks, but still looking skyward to keep growing.

7. I hereby admit to the world that I have been watching Project Runway.

What are you up to?

Vague question of the day:

Written by serene. Posted on September 8, 2009. Filed under Nerdy. 2 Comments.

What is the point of jealousy?

Like, what is the evolutionary or cultural advantage was born out of such a stupid feeling. And I’m not just referring to jealousy in relationships, but also of being jealous that someone looks better or has something cooler than you.

I guess I’m hard-pressed to see the value of the emotion. That doesn’t mean that I am above it, though.

Time for intervention?

Written by serene. Posted on August 19, 2009. Filed under Nerdy. 3 Comments.

Not that you could tell from the frequency I blog, but I have a serious problem with removing the tentacles the internet wraps around my head. Like many of my peers, I am suffocatingly enveloped by my lovers who go by the name of Twitter, Facebook, Google Reader, Flickr, etc.

Occasionally I will reflect on the what this hyper-connectivity is doing to me. I have wondered what the constant, self-induced onslaught of information has done to my memory (precisely in the lack thereof). I will wonder why I don’t enjoy music as much as I used to, with my obsessive repeat listens brought on by amazing music replaced by the constant quest for the newest releases via RAR blogs.

When I have these moments of awareness – that the digital life I lead has serious emotional repercussions – I’ll make a concerted effort to remove the shackles. I’ll weed through my RSS feeds, I’ll delete ‘friends’ from various networking sites, I’ll stop following certain people. The solution is fleeting and the downgrading never lasts.

Now that the LSATs are one month away, I have to make all the static stop. I need to focus and have mental clarity. So, what does one do? Delete all my fringe accounts? Stop wondering about what is going on in Facebooklandia? Prohibit myself from those inane Google searches to prove that K-Fed is indeed fat or to find out what movie Rob Zombie was a music director for?

I’m totally serious people, I need an internet intervention.

Le cinéma

Written by serene. Posted on August 12, 2009. Filed under Culture Club. 1 Comment.

This summer has been all about movies: old ones, new ones, theater ones, laying on the couch ones. Here are some of my favorites, which I hereby recommend to you:

1.  When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts dir. Spike Lee

The documentary clocks in at four hours, but it’s worth every minute spent watching it. As we creep towards the four year anniversary of the collective heartache and failure of governmental structures that encompass Hurricane Katrina, this may be a good moment to reflect upon those events. Even if you don’t like Spike Lee, watch this. For serious.

2.  Humpday dir. Lynn Shelton

I watched this primarily because the director is from Seattle, the film was shot in Seattle, and the central plot device is an amateur porn festival in Seattle. The good news for non-Seattleites is that you really don’t need to care about our fair Emerald City to find the film interesting and engaging.

3.  Joy Division dir. Grant Gee

I watched Control earlier this summer. While I dug the cinematography and Samantha Morton as Deborah Curtis, I couldn’t really connect with the story (based on Deborah Curtis’ book “Touching from a Distance”). After seeking out the documentary by Gee, I was immediately more satisfied with the result. If you are a fan of the band, I highly recommend checking this out.

4. Irreversible dir. Gaspar Noé

I can’t remember the last time I was sat through a scene of a movie twisted into myself and hands covering my face, my physical and mental processes melding into one. While the scene made me nauseaus and uncomfortable, it was rewarding nonetheless.  Don’t get me wrong – there are problems with the movie (especially with the very literal camera movements signposting changing chronology) – but it made me think afterwards, which is a rewarding experience as a film lover.

5. (500) Days of Summer dir.  Mark Webb

I heart me some Zooey Deschanel. And ever since watching Brick earlier this summer, I’ve shrugged off my misgivings about Joseph Gordon-Levitt being a dweeby pre-teen from the terrible television show “3rd Rock from the Sun.” Actor approval coupled with a good soundtrack and a refreshing take on gender behavior in romance sold me. Overall it was solid, though maybe not awesome.

So what have you been watching? Give me some good suggestions.

Mysterious package

Written by serene. Posted on August 4, 2009. Filed under I am a sap. 1 Comment.

Last week was pretty epic: the miserable heat (c’mon, 103 in Seattle?!), the tortuous work week, and the normally perfect sleep schedule interrupted by frozen washcloth rotations and sweat-sticky sheets. In short, it sucked.

That is, with the exception of one thing. I lumbered home, brow-beaten by an epic work day, to be greeted with a mysterious package at my door. It was fairly small and beige, decorated with colorful stamps.

I must have looked stupid to my neighbors, quizzically weighing and inspecting the envelope in my hand. But, anyone who knows anything understands how totally rad snail mail is. And as I’m still adjusting to the new name, it’s still a fun experience to only kinda sorta recognize mail addressed to me. Anyway, since I’m in full-blown miser mode, I know I didn’t buy anything online.

I eventually entered my sauna-hot apartment clutching the envelope of mystery. I eagerly grabbed some scissors to slash it Michael Myers style while double-fisting a cold glass of water only to become even more perplexed as the contents spilled out.

A tiny sheet of paper first emerged, proclaiming that someone named Lau from Hong Kong handcrafted whatever was inside. Next, a pair of earrings fell into my palm. Finally, two necklaces intertwined in a lovely mesh of silver and gold chains cascaded from their beige holding cell. I held each piece up with enthusiastic nods of approval, and in true over-share style, proceeded to twitter my excitement.

Instead of being content with my anonymous gift, I am plagued by the mystery. I still don’t know who Lau is, and the burden of not having anyone to thank is becoming overwhelming. So, here is my public plea for someone to step forward and claim victory in the extraordinary feat of gifting me jewelry that I like. You totally deserve a giant hug.