A Plastic Chandelier

I love this plastic chandelier made of recycled containers. Check out the picture here on the blog Daily Dose of Imagery.

Story Corps

NPR's Story Corps buses are here!

Almost 4 years ago, when I was working for missionary travel, I was sitting in the Lieutenant governor's office at the capital, waiting for some apostilles on birth certificates to get missionary visas. While I was waiting I picked up a copy of Atlantic Monthly on the coffee table. I don't know the first thing about that magazine still or who their readers are. But I read an article about Story Corps, an organization for gathering stories, or rather, interviews, and recording them. I was instantly intrigued, I was an anthropology major after all.

Though the idea of recording interviews or writing down stories from individuals' histories is not entirely new, I commend their recognition of how important it is! The bus travels around the nation to different cities, while some cities have permanent locations such as booths in subway stations, for the recording and archiving of these stories. The participants of course receive their own copy, but the stories become forever part of Story Corps collection and some are played on NPR.

I love it because I believe everyone has a story. And those stories evolve over time and our view of those things evolve as well as what we learn and how we change due to those stories. This has been especially true for me.

I wish I had recorded some of the stories that H. had told me before he had died. Each of my parents have some written stories of their ancestors, and I love hearing about them. I'm not sure how I'm going to participate yet, but I feel the need to participate, to know something more about someone's life who is close to me. I'm just excited that they're here and I think it's such a wonderful opportunity, something you can do on your own anytime, but why not do it for a public record?

The stories I've listened to make me feel more connected to people all over the world, perhaps that is why I have no hesitation sharing stories of my own. I crave intimacy above all things. Visit the Story Corps website here.

Erran Baron Cohen

This morning on my way to the gym I heard a part of the NPR interview of Erran Baron Cohen. He is Sacha Baron Cohen's brother and a musician. He recently made an album called "Songs in the Key of Hanukkah" and the discussion focused on that. He talked about the need for updated Hanukkah music and of his experience with the New York City rapper Y-love, who recently became an Orthodox Jew and can rap in English, Yiddish, and Aramaic. My favorite part was when he talked about dressing up like Hassidic Jews with his brother and the song about sweating that they would sing as they took off layers of clothing. It was an entertaining story and I was tempted to stay in the car and listen, but I finished it at home, turns out I only missed a few minutes because it's just 10 minutes long.

While I think that the copious amounts of Christmas music there is and of Christmas albums marking the end of dwindling music careers, is a bit ridiculous, I happen to actually like a lot of it. But the idea of a new Hanukkah album really intrigued me and I checked it out. I guess listening to more global music makes me feel more part of the world. In any case, I really liked it and found it worth passing on to my readers.

I Drink Your Milkshake

Tyler and I love all movies done by PT Anderson, especially last year's "There Will Be Blood." Well a parody was done of a scene from the movie where Day-Lewis' character is talking about how his drill gets oil from land that isn't even his. I've embedded the video, which is hilarious. (If you're using an RSS feed, you'll have to visit the actual blog to see the video)

I was reminded of it tonight when we were sitting eating some pizza watching the game and I said out loud that I wanted a milkshake. Tyler went into the kitchen and came back with a milkshake he had bought for me and one for him and one for Caiden too. He had picked them up when he got the pizza, before I had even mentioned wanting a milkshake. He must have seriously read my mind.

Modern Kangaroos

Another great t-shirt found:

It says:
1 Drink Holder
2 Pen Loop
3 Joey Pouch
4 Additional Accessory Storage
5 MP3 Player Pocket
6 Phone/PDA Pocket
7 Key Hook

This one comes from Threadless

Prez Dispenser T-shirt

Yeah, I've seen plenty of funny campaign t-shirts in the last several months, Urban Outfitters seems to always have the best, but I saw this linked on the site www.iliketotallyloveit.com and had to post it.

Trailhead Tailgating

Not exactly the sport of the season, but I couldn't resist sharing this short list from Outside magazine, courtesy of my mother-in-law.

Here is the text:

Outside Etiquette
On Tailgating at the Trailhead
1. The time spent riding or hiking must be greater than that spent hanging out at the car.
2. If there's beer in the cold stream and you didn't put it there, leave it.
3. Car stereos are acceptable, unless you have a subwoofer or a blown speaker.
4. Joining a Hacky Sack circle is fine; owning a Hacky Sack is not.

Venetian Blinds Tee

This t-shirt actually has a string you can pull on for ventilation. Why don't they make it in maternity???

Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2

My new favorite song, performed by My Morning Jacket on Conan

Need me to make you a mix tape?

After 2 years of marriage I had to give in and start watching the HB's favorite TV show, LOST. Prior to that I'd been kind of a TV snob--but not in the sense you'd imagine. When I say TV snob I don't mean I was snobbish about what I watched, I was just snobbish about the fact that I didn't watch any. And I still think that's a pretty good thing. I never watched much TV growing up, and then later, part of the reason I didn't watch was just default. My first couple of years in college I didn't have a TV. Then I spent a semester abroad in Jerusalem--no TV, then a archaeology dig in Escalante--no TV, then after college several months in Japan, where I had--no TV. But since then I really prided myself on my lack of TV-watching. I was way more into movies and the outdoors. And besides, I rarely spent evenings at home, being in some community class or another or most likely, out on a date. So shortly after marriage when the new season began and I felt I'd already taken on every possible habit and hobby of Tyler's, I refused to add LOST to the list. I was so overwhelmed with trying to fit in football and his family and all of our problems into my schedule of full-time work and a master's program at night. But last year (season 3) I didn't have so many excuses and felt I was almost being selfish in rejecting his offer to share something more with me. And that's how I become just another one of those obsessed fans you meet every day.

Little does Tyler know, that he introduced me to my second love--Sawyer. Of course I can only love Sawyer because Tyler knows I love him first, so it's okay. And I can sort of justify it by drawing the connections between their big muscles and grizzly appearance. But Tyler knows I also love Sawyer for his witty comments, his penchant for good novels, and his willingness to break the rules. So here's something I found today that made me think of his wonderful line, "Need me to make you a mix tape?" It's the mix-tape pillow for all those whose music collection has superceded the cassette tape, but have still not found an equal token with which to express our love. Found here.

Onslaught

Dove's latest ad in their Campaign for Real Beauty. It's disgusting the things we do to our bodies or are made to feel like we need to.

my mind on my money and my money on my mind

Got a cover today of "Gin and Juice" done by Phish that is totally awesome! It sounds like bluegrass because they invited a banjo player. The cover version really brings out the lyrics, and makes the whole song comical--you'll have fun just listening to it if you can get a copy.

you can stand under my umbrella

Monsoon Vermont makes these umbrellas and various other products from recycled detergent boxes and other plastics in Indonesia. It's called The Scavenger Project, isn't it sweet?

Bilk makes me genki!

The HB and I drink Bilk and that's why we are so genki! Genki is Japanese for happy/healthy. Yummm, Bilk.

ad envelopes

I was at a novelty shop the other day and saw some cards that were sort of reverse-designed. The envelope was made out of old magazine advertisements and the note inside on simple cardstock. I love old ads so I decided to give it a shot. Here is a sample.

Girl in a Coma

The HB and I went to see the band "Girl in a Coma" from San Antonio on Saturday night. It was the best show I've been to in a long time. We saw them 2 years ago when we were dating and loved them. Only a month ago they released their first album on Joan Jet's record label. Their band name was inspired by the Smiths' song "girlfriend in a coma" because they loved it, but they rock much harder than the Smiths. It was really too bad that their name isn't big enough yet and that not many people in SLC came out to see them. I really hope they come through again.

twinkie sushi

Maybe now the HB will eat sushi with me!

It's so cute. It's sort of inspiring how Twinkie's can still come up with great marketing ideas.

tough T

I’m thinking of getting the above tee for those late-night walks I like. Formerly, I was given a small can of mace to carry with me from the HB. After hearing about those walks and grocery-store runs I used to make at all hours from my last house, he’s since become more anxious about the ones I take now. We rode our bikes past my old house last night. Of all the places I’ve lived, I miss that place the most. I think I felt invincible when I lived there, in all respects—it was a time when I felt like I could do anything and be anyone I wanted to, nothing inhibiting me. No need for mace or tough tees then.

Actually I just thought it was creative and cool. It was recommended on the website: www.iliketotallyloveit.com

Mango perfume oil

Last night, while packing for our camping trip this weekend, I found my mango perfume oil. It was in a side pocket of Tyler’s big army duffle bag. Silly as it sounds to bring perfume camping, I like bringing the oil because it lasts longer and seems more natural. I’d been looking for it and thought it was in my camping bag, forgetting that sometimes we all pack our stuff into Tyler’s bag. I went to bed with the perfume on and could smell it this morning. I’m so happy to have found it, not that I don’t have others, but it just made me happy.

Eternal Embrace

Knowing my fascination with the macabre, the HB sent me an article with these photos yesterday. The skeletons were found by archaeologists in Italy and are suspected to be 5000-6000 years old. They are the bones of a man and a woman.

I had a teacher in elementary school who used to read us books about famous people in history. One of the books was about Marie Curie and after hearing the story I told my mom I wanted to be a scientist. (This was not typical of me at all, I also remember telling her I wanted to be a waitress.) But it was because Marie Curie was a scientist and she had found gold once. She was actually famous for her work with chemicals, radiation, etc. Anyway, that was the beginning. And I'd always loved history, old things, Bible stories, and learning about the Maya. Then I also wanted to do archaeology to have an outdoor job because I love the outdoors.

My career in archaeology went as far as my field school in Escalante--it got re-buried. After excavating 2 Anasazi pithouses one summer and doing 3 weeks of archaeological survey we reburied our findings to leave the natural environment, saving only portions of what we'd found. I liked the actual work, the digging in the hot sun, not the boring archaeological reports and the speculative nature of the job. I hope that if someone were to dig up my house and find nothing but candy wrappers they wouldn't assume that was my primary means of sustenance.

Still though the idea of doing archaeology is romantic to me, it's alluring and always will be. It's not treasure, just the idea of seeing life through different eyes and learning what makes life meaningful to people. These bones say it all.