99

As of September 23, there were only 99 days left of 2009. It triggered an idea: make a list of 99 things to do before the end of the year.

Originally I was going to complete one thing from that list every day, but some things take more time than others, so it isn't going to work out that way. But I will try to be fairly consistent and not procrastinate everything until New Years Eve.

I think it's safe to say I have a love-hate relationship with to-do lists. I love making them; it shows so much potential of productivity. And completing things is so satisfying. Unfortunately, I hate the initial push I have to give myself to actually complete them. Maybe I have this subconscious fear that if I complete everything, I will literally have nothing to do anymore.

Falso. (That's "false" for the non bilingual readers out there.)

Ironically enough, I haven't completed the number 1 thing on my list of "99 things to do in 2009." It simply states: Create list.

(I've started the list...but it's hard to think of realistic things to do that are goalworthy to complete in 99 days. You try it.)

However, I have completed one thing: #11. Mail Jenny's wedding gift!!

Suffice it to say it was well overdue and has been sitting in my room for the past month. It feels good to get something done. 98 to go...

brought to you by the letter "a"

I realize I don't post very often, but the two most recent posts were in April and August.

I came to the conclusion that maybe I will only update my blog when the month begins with "a." Or if there are holidays that start with "a."

Are there any holidays--besides April Fool's Day--that starts with "a?"

Teen actors needed.

In my quest to find employment, I came across this add:


Teen actors needed (must be able to play 13-14 years old). Short silent film. Must be comfortable with giving the middle finger. Auditions are this wednesday. Shoots this Friday through Saturday. Filmmakers have had their work in major festivals. Email headshot and resume asap to set up an audition time.
Compensation: Copy/Credit/Meals


Unfortunately, I am no longer capable of passing as a 13-14 year old. And I may be a little camera shy with the whole middle finger thing. Also, I'm at the point in my life where meals--although very tempting--will not suffice. I can't hand a sandwich over to my landlord and convince her that it is how much my utilities were this past month.

So the search for a more reasonable job continues.

Coming Soon!

Well, I'm going to be cliche and talk about how I'm moving on to a new chapter in my life. College has been a fairly long chapter (4 years!) but not nearly as long as preteen/teenage awkwardness was. That lasted 5 years.

I digress.

I graduate tonight, which means today is my official last day of school.
I don't know how I feel about that. It almost feels as though I'm being fired from my job of 16 years. So much for tenure.

I am excited to start fresh, wherever that may be. Starting this Saturday that "fresh new start" will be in Provo. This chapter will last 12 days, and I will document each of them here for you to watch this metamorphosis. (Just so you know, this soon-to-be college grad just tried 3 variations of "metamorphosis" before she figured out how to spell it. That's endurance.)

Stay tuned for the upcoming "12 Days of Provo" excitement. It's bound to be at least moderately entertaining.

Series

From time to time as I’m sitting at a stoplight, I notice the person in the car next to me. Sometimes they are singing along with the radio, sometimes they are staring straight ahead, and sometimes they have just been looking at me. I can’t help but wonder who that person is, what their passions are in life, their personality. I wonder where they’re going and why. The light turns green, and we both carry on to our individual destinations. For one moment in time our paths had crossed, probably never to be crossed again.

I feel a certain desire to know those around me and what makes them who they are, and I believe I’m not alone in thinking that. Also, I believe everyone in the world has some sort of connection to one another, whether it’s having the same favorite color, political ideals or in the case of this series, where one does his or her laundry.

I photographed the D&L Cleaners Coin-Op Laundry building for a Monet assignment for my Color Photography class this Fall 2008 semester. I loved the simplicity of the building and mysterious, nostalgic feeling I got whenever I saw it. I am ashamed to admit that I have lived less than a block away from this building three out of the four years I have lived in Rexburg, but had never even explored the inside until now.

For the longest time I had wondered what this laundromat was like. It was as though I was sitting at a stoplight wondering what or who was in there.

I find most satisfaction in photography through portraiture and photographing my subjects in their natural habitats, which is generally in more “cityscaped” areas. Thus, my love of people-watching, portraiture and curiosity of this Coin-Op Laundry led me to photographing it and its people as a series.

Photo Journal #10

My grandma's house was built in the early 1900s.  Its basement walls are dirt, which is pretty amazing.  

Change is good, but like I mentioned in an earlier post, I love that everything is always the same when I visit my grandma's house.

This is the door to the one bathroom in her house.

It's the same door handle my dad used when he and his 9 siblings all used that one bathroom when they were growing up.  

Photo Journal #9

This is a photo of the cabin my grandpa built in the early 1900s.  

I love that it's still standing.  Things made in this day and age just aren't made to last.

He made this with his hands, and the harsh Idaho winters have yet to destroy it.