Reappropriate This

Trying Something New

2010-10-13T21:18:00.002-04:00

reappropriatethis.tumblr.com

Feeling Crabby in Maryland

2010-09-01T19:09:00.004-04:00

While at a friend's wedding in Maryland, I experienced my first crab feast. It was pretty awesome.

Meredith experienced her first oyster.

Seafood delights abound.

Automatic Timer

2010-08-27T09:54:00.002-04:00

We had horrible luck using the automatic time to make some memories in the forest outside my grandparents house. Here's my favorite of the unsuccessful bunch.

Having a Harriet the Spy Moment

2010-08-26T22:33:00.002-04:00

at Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Play

2010-08-25T10:14:00.005-04:00

I'm probably biased, but I think these pictures of Meredith playing on the beach in Yachats are pretty fantastic.

Double Birthday Dinner

2010-08-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

I was in charge of setting the table, and got to use my great grandmother's china.

My grandpa's dinner plan demonstrates that my love of list-making must be genetic. (Also please note dinner's scheduled start time.)

Some pretty cool cards

I carried, but did not bake, this cake. It's a good thing I didn't bake it, because the experimental graham cracker chocolate combination proved highly controversial.

Cabin Modality

2010-08-22T15:20:00.005-04:00

We spent part of vacation at my family's cabin on the Umpqua River.

Cabin modality equals sitting on the deck, reading, sitting around the fire, watching old VHS movies at night, sitting on the dock, and of course, ideal swimming conditions. Cameras are easily forgotten, but I did manage to snap a few gems that capture fun on the Umpqua.

I call this one, "Waterhorse Legend of the Deep."

Dream Vacation Home

2010-08-21T17:43:00.001-04:00

Routine Maintenance

2010-08-20T16:12:00.001-04:00

The Siuslaw River that runs through Florence, OR (where my grandparents live) was being dredged this summer. We got quite a view while hanging out at Mo's for an early dinner one night. It's a pretty boring chore that has to be done every few years, but so refreshingly different from the landscape of New York.

For Posterity

2010-08-19T08:05:00.002-04:00

Meredith takes a picture of Laura, taking a picture of me and my dad.

Well, That Was Nice

2010-08-18T21:47:00.004-04:00

I've really let things lapse since returning from my Oregon vacation, and I apologize to my handful of readers. Being out West was truly a great break from the real world, not to mention a break from NYC's unrelenting heat wave. Some highlights included ocean, forest, river, gray skies, clam chowder, swimming, s'mores, antiques, smoked salmon, family history, and this magical path to the lighthouse.

More memories to follow...

Vacation/Out of the Blogosphere

2010-08-03T19:56:00.000-04:00

Oregon until August 10th

Millions of Peaches

2010-07-31T22:07:00.001-04:00

Knowing I'd be out of town, I arranged a CSA pick-up swap with another member, but the way it worked out scheduling-wise meant I had to pick up my own share Saturday, and his just four days later on Wednesday. This meant I was stuck with a grand total of 28 (!) peaches. Which, in case you're wondering =

1 Blueberry Peach Cobbler
1 Cherry Peach Cobbler
1 Peach Pie

And I've still got a handful more...

Trapped

2010-07-30T11:05:00.003-04:00

Sprout usually greets us at the door, wagging her nubbin and flopping on the floor with excitement. The other day, we arrived home from a brunch with friends, only this time there was no dog to meet us. We called her name, but there was no sign of her. The apartment is not that big, and it wasn't taking long for me to get worried. Luckily, Meredith quickly found her in the office, the door shut behind her. When the window is open (which it always is during this disgusting heat wave) a moderately strong gust of wind will blow the door closed. Sprout generally doesn't hang out in there while we're gone, but since we hadn't yet put away the air mattress used by the aforementioned house guests, the office had quickly become Sprout's favorite spot. Poor doggy was probably in there for several hours, although she seemed no worse for the wear. Just a little thirsty, and ready to bound to greet us with an extra amount of glee.

Houseguests

2010-07-29T13:09:00.003-04:00

On two occasions this July, Meredith has had old pals passing through NYC, and we've had the pleasure of hostessing. Sprout has really enjoyed the extra laps on which to curl up and cuddle.

CSA Menu Report

2010-07-28T10:14:00.000-04:00

Corn on the cob with green salad (and peaches, because everything right now involves peaches... more on that later...)

Zucchini and summer squash with quinoa, and coleslaw with beets.

Tuesday Tunes #4

2010-07-27T22:15:00.003-04:00

At Ned's birthday we chatted with fellow film nerds about the best movie musical, and we were all in agreement that Sound of Music is pretty much flawless.

McGolrick

2010-07-26T09:40:00.000-04:00

Most New Yorkers dream of an apartment that overlooks Central Park, but I'd be pretty darn happy with an apartment that overlooks McGolrick Park (in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.)

Viewage

2010-07-24T08:31:00.001-04:00

Sunset from Transmitter Park, Greenpoint

The Living Is Easy

2010-07-23T09:13:00.000-04:00

A few perks of summertime include:

1. A fridge well-stocked for the season with beer, tons of CSA loot, and blueberry crumble

2. Happy plants

3. Breaking in the new ice cream scoop

Dadaism

2010-07-22T08:10:00.003-04:00

In front of Marcel Duchamp's To Be Looked At (from the Other Side of the Glass) with One Eye, Close To, for Almost an Hour at MoMA.

Or am I behind it?

Memory-Making

2010-07-21T11:03:00.001-04:00

Olga came over for dinner the other night, and in a moment of nostalgia we broke out the scrapbooks I had put together during college. Olga lamented that we never took pictures anymore, and we'd have no record of these days down the road. So we took a [really nerdy] picture.

Tuesday Tunes #3

2010-07-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

A couple of my coworkers brought this forgotten gem to my attention, particularly the poetic lyric, "as sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti." It's a real feat to fit that many syllables into one phrase.

Silver Lining

2010-07-19T15:20:00.000-04:00

It may be ridiculously hot, but the summer light sure is nice.

Beat the Heat

2010-07-18T10:44:00.004-04:00

I made it through four NYC summers without AC, with only a handful of uncomfortable summer nights. But the record-breaking heat wave this year seems never ending, and I finally gave in and bought a little window unit for the bedroom, which is now referred to as "the icebox." (the rest of the apartment is still pretty unpleasant.) I'm sure it will quadruple my energy bill, but it sure is nice and chilly in here now. For the record, I didn't buy the AC until I had tried absolutely everything I could think of to cool off, including this DIY air-cooling contraption.

As you may have guessed, it did not work.

Tuesday Tunes #2

2010-07-13T14:01:00.003-04:00

Oops, I missed last Tuesday. Blame it on the holiday weekend.

I used my Summer Friday to go see The Kids Are All Right and pretty much loved it. Judging from the 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I'm not the only one. There's an amazingly good scene centered on this week's musical selection, Joni Mitchell's "All I Want." I couldn't find a music video for this one, so here's a pretty good recording of a live version instead.

I haven't stopped humming this song, or thinking about the movie, since Friday. Go see it now!

Dog Lovers

2010-07-10T17:02:00.000-04:00

I love dogs, like, a lot. If/when I live in the country and not the city, I suspect I will adopt every stray mutt I come across until I have an actual pack. This love is clearly genetic, because my every single person in my family is a total dog freak. Case in point, here's what a recent iChat conversation looked like.

In Need of Graffiti

2010-07-06T17:56:00.004-04:00

This ridiculous pro-life billboard in Greenpoint is just begging for some sort of scathing public art intervention.

Any ideas?

Americana

2010-07-04T15:11:00.005-04:00

Some Norman Rockwell for this fine 4th of July.

Check out this cool article and slideshow in New York Times.

Happy Adoption Anniversary Sprout!

2010-07-03T18:26:00.010-04:00

I probably already blog about Sprout way too much, but today is the 2nd anniversary of her adoption, and her faux (since we don't know her actual birthday) 6 year-old birthday. In honor of this special day, here's a nice long Sprout-themed post.

This is what Sprout looked like the day we got her. Note the cut on her little nose from trying to claw her way of the cage at the shelter. My then-roommate Janet and I had planned to have some good friends over for dinner. Meredith (who was in NYC for the summer) and I offered to go to the grocery store and pick up some last minute supplies for the tacos we were making. Needless to say, we got sidetracked and ended up at BARC, where we spotted a cute but terrified dog named Carly. We took her on walk, and while sitting by the East River debating whether she was the one for us, she sweetly put one paw on each of our knees. That pretty much sealed the deal.

On the way home, Carly was renamed Sprout. Although she was Franny for about 10 minutes, which now seems so ridiculous. I had always had the name in the back of mind as a cute dog name, but little did we know how fitting it was. As it turns out, Sprout, true to her name, loves to snack on (most) vegetables and her #1 favorite past time is rolling around in the grass at the park. She likes to find a smelly spot and rub the scruff of her neck in it, which is both cute and gross.

Also, her little nubbin looks quite sprout-like.

It was not at all love-at-first sight with Sprout. I actually had a minor breakdown over the impulsive decision to get a dog, and cried and cried for about 48 hours. I seriously considered returning her. All her quirks were coming out full force during these first few days-- peeing on the floor, trying to slip her collar whenever a truck drove by during a walk, and non-stop pacing. But I guess we were both just adjusting. In less than a week, she had worked her way into my heart and I knew she was here to stay. She has become a loyal and true companion.

Here are a few of the many great things about Sprout. She can sit, play dead, roll over, and give you her paw. She protects us against scary noises only she hears by raising her hackles and making gremlin noises. She is a champion nest-maker, and loves pillows and soft blankets. She's unfazed by her many, many nicknames and has actually learned to recognize several of them, including: Beako, Mouse, MizzFizz and Cheeky. Even though sometimes she attacks the pant leg of male friends, for the most part she's super sociable. She loves to cuddle. She makes really funny noises in her sleep and she twitches her paws while she dreams.

I am so proud of her.

Eating My Greens

2010-07-01T08:05:00.001-04:00

'Tis the season for greens, and we've been getting a lot of them in the CSA share. Which means, lots of pesto. This one here is garlic scape and kale. I love making pesto because it's like cooking, but really it's just using the food processor.

Tuesday Tunes

2010-06-29T07:34:00.000-04:00

For Jamie's birthday, we ventured to karaoke in Koreatown. It wasn't until moving to NYC that I experienced the private room karaoke scene, where for an hourly rate you and a group of friends get a small "studio" outfitted with laser show, a binder listing thousands of songs to choose from, and a tamborine. The amount of reverb on the microphones makes everyone sound like a rock star, plus it's BYOB, so sooner or later you feel like a rock star. We rediscovered lots of great tunes from days gone by, and when I looked them up on YouTube, I discovered some even greater (weirder) music videos. Which got me thinking, it would be fun to feature a song each week. I don't plan on having any rhyme or reason to the choices, and I'm certainly not promising that I'll be sharing anything cutting-edge or noteworthy. Just whatever has been getting a little extra play on my iPod. First up, a special belated-birthday dedication to Jamie, who rocked this number at karaoke.

Annie Lennox, "Walking On Broken Glass"

Taxidermied Friend

2010-06-27T11:01:00.000-04:00

We brought this guy back from Massachusetts. He found the perfect new home among the ivy plants.

First CSA Meals

2010-06-24T09:05:00.005-04:00

I promise not to turn this into a food blog-- the world certainly doesn't need anymore of those, plus I'm really not that amazing of a cook, but having a CSA certainly makes cooking a lot more fun and eating a lot more delicious.

That pasta you see is a variation of a Smitten Kitchen recipe. As it turns out, blanched pea pods + red pepper vinaigrette = the best summer pasta salad ever.

Best of Both Worlds in Greenpoint

2010-06-23T14:58:00.003-04:00

Clean Bill of Health

2010-06-22T08:33:00.004-04:00

Sprout had her annual vet visit a few days ago. The vet commented that she looked great, and was "full of vitality." Good dog.

Afternoon in the Park

2010-06-21T10:45:00.000-04:00

The weather was perfect on Saturday, and we spent a few hours lolling around McGolrick Park with scary stories from the 1970s and iced chai.

Folk Art Father's Day

2010-06-20T21:05:00.002-04:00

FATHER AND DAUGHTER OF ELIZABETHTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA/ Jacob Maentel

Happy Birthday Friend!

2010-06-20T15:12:00.008-04:00

On a very happy note, today is the birthday of my very best friend, Marina. I'm glad I'm back in blog-land in time to write her an e-birthday wish. I think it's so cosmically-fitting that our bdays are exactly 9 months apart, and that I was born on the Vernal Equinox and she on the Summer Solstice. It's like the universe meant for us to be pals. By now I've got almost 11 years worth of awesome memories with Marina, and she's really the best friend a girl could ask for.

On a sadder note, Marina's very special dog friend, Peanut, passed away a week ago. He was a really wonderful dog, and was with Marina since he was a puppy and she was a pre-teen. Those are some very critical years. Of the many, many things that make Marina and me a perfectly-matched best friend pair is our unabashed love of dogs, especially black and white ones. I am so happy Peanut had Marina, and that Marina had Peanut. He's going to be missed, and I am sending some extra lovin' to Marina on this birthday.

Hello? Anyone Out There?

2010-06-19T20:56:00.007-04:00

Well, it's certainly been awhile, hasn't it? Just look at all those spam comments on my last post!

I realize I've been totally M.I.A. the past few months, and I guess I'll just chalk it up to adjusting to a new full time job that demands very long hours from March through mid-May. I hadn't blogged for so long, that at a certain point I thought that good old Reappropriate This had just died a natural death. But that crazy work time is (thankfully) over, which has given me more time to read other people's blogs, which has made me realize how much I miss having my own blog. So I'm back, attempted to resurrect this site.

Here are a few new things that have happened since January.

I've wasted many seeds and killed many delicate seedlings, but I've perservered with my indoor garden. In a few instances, I caved and bought already healthy plants at the store (see basil on left). I'm trying to grow an avocado tree (center) and, in my one success story, I grew this out-of-control tomato plant from a seed.

Meredith and Jamie's joint birthday picnic at Prospect Park got rained out, but Chris and Michael saved the day by inviting us over for an indoor picnic.

Our CSA started! It's still the time of year where we're getting mostly greens (lettuce and mesclun and spinach and bok choy and kale!!!) but it's still totally awesome. Maybe I'll share some meals in some upcoming posts.

Here's to being back in the blogging saddle.

Projects

2010-02-27T15:15:00.005-05:00

13th of the Month

2010-02-14T13:59:00.004-05:00

Slippers

Sprout
Sewing

Snow Day Menu

2010-02-11T22:44:00.009-05:00

This past Wednesday we had a snow day. It was awesome, and largely spent cooking and eating delicious food. For breakfast, pancakes with cinnamon and maple syrup. Lunch was grilled cheese (sharp cheddar and parmesan) with a grapefruit and avocado salad, eaten in front of the TV while watching Real Housewives of Orange County. There had been a bunch of oranges that we had gotten for free sitting around, and I found a Moosewood recipe for orange cake that turned out really well. When I cut into the oranges, I discovered they were actually blood oranges-- surprise! Dinner was a bit of miracle-- we didn't have all that much around the house, but obviously didn't want to venture out in the blizzard. Some forgotten couscous, sauteed left over veggies, poached eggs, and Sriracha. Eaten before a picture could be taken.

Happy Birthday Aria!

2010-02-09T19:35:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Aria! I tried to write you a birthday haiku, but couldn't express my fondness for you in just 17 syllables. I miss your wit and wisdom. It's been far too long since I've seen you, but I've got no doubt our paths will cross in some unexpected way again soon-- they always have.

Hibernating

2010-02-06T10:57:00.002-05:00

This week has been boring and great. Lots of staying inside and watching movies. Of course I still have to get up and go to work each day, but time at the office passes more quickly when I receive these sorts of dispatches from the home front. This came in an email titled "wolfie tuckered out after her walk."

News Bloopers Galore

2010-01-31T12:37:00.001-05:00

This past Thursday I taught my last after school film studies class at the high school I've worked with for the past year and a half. While I'm happy to cross lesson-planning off my to-do list, I will really miss those kids and the school community. I wanted to do something relevant but fun for our last class, and decided on bringing popcorn as a treat, and hosting a "YouTube Film Festival." Each student picked his or her favorite YouTube find and presented it to the class. Amidst the MAD TV sketches and not-so-funny Flash animations, there were a few real gems. My personal favorite was this:

Which reminded me how funny this one was:

And then I remembered this amazing one:

Oh, YouTube. Hours and hours of pure hilarity.

Reappropriate This: Weekend Edition

2010-01-30T18:20:00.003-05:00

Hello? Anyone still out there?

I'll admit my blogging has really slowed down over the past month. Turns out having a full-time job really takes up a lot of time. On top of learning to use Microsoft Outlook, decorating my cubicle and perfecting my water cooler chit chat on Mondays through Fridays, I have also been working weekends finishing out a pre-full-time work commitment. What's more, I've continued teaching my afterschool film course one afternoon a week until the end of semester. Oh and wait, I decided this crazy month was also the perfect time to repaint, reorganize and redecorate the whole apartment. But the paint is dry, the extra jobs are over, and I'm gonna get back to the blog-o-sphere. At least once a week. So stay tuned, friends.

What I've Been Up To

2010-01-19T21:00:00.003-05:00

This

and That

Can't Get Enough of This

2009-12-28T22:35:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas Dog

2009-12-27T17:33:00.000-05:00

Best & Worst Babysitter Award

2009-12-22T21:33:00.006-05:00

So, I was supposed to go to Arizona for Christmas on Sunday evening, but my flight was canceled-- one of many victims of the blizzard this past weekend. I was not able to get another flight until Thursday, so I'm stuck in NYC for three days longer than expected. I managed to turn lemons into some awesome lemonade by booking some last minute babysitting so now every day, all day, until I leave, I'm chillin' with Emma. I'm savoring it because, once my new job starts, I'll no longer be babysitting her regularly.

So far we've been having a grand old time indulging in indoor, wintertime activities. Today, for example, we spent an unhealthy number of hours playing Super Mario Bros. on the Wii. I'm not really a video game person, but this is hands down the funnest game I've ever played. Every half hour or so I'd say, "maybe we should take a break," and then quickly follow with "after one more round." While this probably qualifies me as a candidate for worst babysitter ever, I think I managed to redeem myself with a kick-ass craft project: Emma's book report diorama.

Believe it or not, fourth graders get homework over the holiday break. Emma's was to complete the art component for a report on Morning Girl, a book about the Taino people that's part of her school's New York State history curriculum. Emma wanted to create a diorama that represented the themes of night and day in the book. Now flashback to when I was in fourth grade, also studying state history. A key part of California's curriculum was a unit on the Spanish missions, and each kid made a model of our chosen mission using cardboard, foam core, or rice krispie treats. And my (well-meaning) dad totally high-jacked my project. Even though I wanted to take the lead, I wasn't permitted to use the Exacto knife. I made some bells out of clay and painted a few shrubs, but my dad created blueprints, measured and assembled the entire structure. We even went to the model train store to buy miniature donkeys and monks.

I always found this memory comical, but today, I had to hold back from totally highjacking the diorama project. I came up with the dyptic design and cut paper medium, but I consciously limited myself to only making the skeleton structure and cutting paper to fit the various backdrops. I had Emma create all the artistic details, but when I complemented her design, she proclaimed, "I got all my design ideas from you!" Oops.

Exterior Night Scene (stars are made of tinfoil)

Interior morning scene.

I am exceedingly proud of our work. I hope we get an A.

Wrapping

2009-12-21T10:53:00.000-05:00

I love picking out and wrapping Christmas presents. I credit my best friend Marina with teaching me that well-wrapped small treasures always make the best gifts. For example, Emma's treats this year: a deck of cards with 3D images of dogs, and secret message writing pens. Here they are, ready to go.

Scratch That

2009-12-20T16:35:00.000-05:00

We're staying in the snow until Thursday. Major bummer.

Oh The Places She'll Go

2009-12-20T10:49:00.003-05:00

Today Sprout and I will journey from this:

To this:

I Want to be Your Housewife

2009-12-18T11:47:00.004-05:00

Next month will bring a lot of new things: new year, new roomie, and NEW JOB. I am officially leaving the freelance lifestyle for a "real" job. One that's forty hours a week and comes with health insurance. One for which I need to buy more work-appropriate clothes. I've never had a legit job like this before, and I'm overly excited for silly little things, like getting business cards and decorating my cubicle. I'm glad that now, when people ask me what I do, I can answer in less than ten words. But seriously, I'm really looking forward to this new position-- it's a perfect combination of my interests and at an institution I've always admired, and I know it's the right thing for me professionally and personally.

Yet...

It hasn't been easy leaving behind my handful of freelance and part time gigs. I'll miss my museum eduction work and getting to spend days surrounded by art. I'll miss the classes I teach and my sassy, smart students. Maybe most of all I'll miss my regular afternoons with Emma.

Plus I'm bracing myself for a big lifestyle change. A freelance schedule is hectic, but it sure has its perks. Like having random Wednesday afternoons off. It's suits my homebody personality to have quiet time at home during the work week; time when I can pretend I'm a housewife. So I've been relishing in the last week of my faux-housewifery. I've been wrapping gifts and playing Christmas music constantly. I cleaned out and organized every single drawer, cabinet, closet and shelf in the apartment. I made a pie. On the warmer days, I've taken Sprout for long afternoon strolls, and on colder days, we've cuddled inside. And I've worn stretchy pants a lot-- I'll really miss those too.

Why Can't Sprout Do This?

2009-12-17T10:41:00.002-05:00

Dear Maggie

2009-12-12T20:43:00.005-05:00

Recently you wrote this on your blog: Having NO idea what to do next year (stay in China? move back to NYC? Try California?)

Jamie and I discussed, and decided the answer is B. Here's some further proof.

Reality TV (No TV Required)

2009-12-11T09:09:00.008-05:00

Reality TV is usually the worst of the worst, but also one of my favorite genres. I'm not a fan of the talent competitions (Top Chef and Project Runway excluded) or gimmicky dating shows, I'm more into those off-the-beaten-path reality options: the weird medical stories on Discovery Health Channel, the parenting shows on TLC, or the teenage documentary series on MTV. Of course, the catch is, I don't actually own a television-- and haven't for years. Lack of TV has turned me into a savvy Internet TV watcher, and I've managed to find enough online options to satisfy my TV watching needs. May I present-- the best reality TV shows you're probably not watching (but can watch online for free!)

1. Can't Get a Date. I remember watching a few episodes of this show back when it aired on VH1. Now, through some sort of Netflix/Logo arrangement, you are able to watch select episodes online. I find this show totally heartwarming. Each episode focuses on an individual who, for whatever reasons, isn't having success in their dating life. The host on the show gently asks questions, offers advice, and sets them up with makeovers, workouts, or other confidence-building exercises to help get them back on track. The fun thing is, the host is anonymous-- you only hear his voice. Unlike other dating shows there are no roses or elimination rounds, just people who end up feeling better about themselves and the reassuring tag line: "Can't get a date? Yes you can."

2. Teen Mom. Awhile back I posted about the MTV series, 16 and Pregnant. Teen Mom is a recently-debuted sequel that follows up on four of the original girls and their new lives as young moms. It can be found on MTV's website. So far only one episode has aired, but if it's anything like the hilarious and heart-wrenching original 16 and Pregnant series, we're in for a treat.

3. Secret Lives of Women. As you may have guessed by the title and picture, this show on the WE network is about women who lead lives that are unusual, unexpected, or outside of the norm. They're not all as obvious as the "businesswoman by day, dominatrix by night" scenario. Thanks to a YouTube user who has uploaded a good deal of episodes, I have watched stories of Quiverfill women, child brides, and suburban moms with dark secrets. It's sort of a more grown up version of MTV's True Life series, and definitely worth watching.

4. Property Virgins. Oh, whatever would we do without HGTV? Lots of people are familiar with the Home & Garden Televisions other series, like Househunters, but Property Virgins is even more enjoyable. In each episode a real estate agent, Sandra, works with first time homeowners. They usually look at three homes, and Sandra breaks down all the pro's and con's. She explains in her Canadian accent aboot all the factors at play in the decision to buy. I like this show because I can make snarky comments about the clients' taste in homes, and then redecorate their potential houses in my imagination. But seriously, if there was one reality show I would actually want to be on, this is it, because now I can't imagine buying a house without Sandra's help. Watch here.

Winter Music

2009-12-09T18:49:00.002-05:00

Bundle up and add these gems to your play list...

Wish List

2009-12-08T10:26:00.001-05:00

An Upstate New York getaway-- only $65,000

Happy Birthday K$

2009-12-05T12:12:00.005-05:00

A few days late, but no less sincere...

You are great, thanks for being my friend (and for making sure no one's cheating at beer pong.)

Drawing Challenge

2009-12-02T19:16:00.007-05:00

Emma and I have a longstanding tradition of giving each other "drawing challenges." The secret is, no one ever actually wins. Oh, maybe hers is deemed "cutest" or "best use of color" while mine is "best animal" or "funniest," but that's about it.

Years ago, when Emma was only six, we had a particularly memorable drawing challenge when, upon being asked to select a subject for our drawings, Emma immediately and nonchalantly proclaimed, "princess in a wheelchair," as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. The notion of a princess in a wheelchair became an instant hit among my friends, and even resulted in a Meredith & Stephen collaboration: www.princessinawheelchair.com.

Drawing challenges have evolved over the years, and today's was "a comic." This is actually a double challenge because one must also invent a worthwhile story in addition to drawing it. I started doodling Sprout, my muse. As often happens, Emma abandoned her own comic (a drawing of a pencil captioned: "who ya callin' pencil head?!") to ~~direct~~ assist me in my drawing challenge. She pitched ideas, and I brought them to life with my limited illustration skills. May I present, an original Emmordan comic strip: A Day in the Life aka Home Alone.

Rick Rick Rick

2009-12-01T22:33:00.004-05:00

While out to dinner for Kashmira's birthday tonight, I was seated directly across from the wonderful, amazing Amy Poehler. It was pretty distracting, especially because I kept wishing that it was Kaitlin sitting there.

Bullet Points

2009-11-18T14:31:00.008-05:00

Oops. My blogging skills are totally deteriorating. When I noticed it's been well over a week since my last post, I racked my brain for some witty or noteworthy events, thoughts, or observations I might share with you, Internet. But I came up short, and will instead resort to some classic bullet points. Over the past couple of weeks I have:

- Celebrated Janet's 25th birthday with a night of hearty fall food and beeswax candle making. Here's a picture of the birthday girl in action that I stole from her Facebook page:
- Convinced the landlord to repaint the ceilings which were stained after a leak caused by their faulty washer & dryer. A small domestic success.

- Waited in line for an hour for dinner at Westville with Jamie, Ned, Meredith & Lisa. There are about a million other fine dining establishments in the vicinity, but we were a determined bunch. After dinner, we went to Sweet Revenge-- a gimmicky but great cafe that pairs cupcakes with exotic beers.

- Babysat for a (very cute but) fussy, teething baby who could only be consoled by a) repeatedly doing the Hokey-Pokey or b) Schnappi.

- Finally bought a humidifier after several winters of vowing I would buy one for the next year. It has transformed my room from a dry, scratchy nightmare to a cozy, luxurious oasis. Here's Meredith enjoying its wonderful steaminess:If we Photoshopped out the plastic top, I think this would make for fine evidence of ectoplasm in a ghostly encounter hoax. Which, appropriately, is one of Ms. Bak's primary scholarly interests.

- Watched Sprout's nesting tendencies kick into high gear as the weather has gotten colder. It's not uncommon for me to notice she's left the room, only to find she's retreated to the bedroom to curl up on my pillow and snuggle under blankets. How she manages to do this on her own, without opposable thumbs, is amazing and cute. Amazingly cute:

In My Blood

2009-11-08T15:57:00.005-05:00

Lately I've become quite interested in one room schoolhouses. I know, I know, dork alert. But I love everything about them: their aesthetic, their histories, and their educational philosophies. This year, a main item on my recently-mailed Christmas list was "anything about one room schoolhouses," which inadvertently sparked a mini-family history project. My dad suspected that my great grandmother Mabel (nicknamed Musee) had taught in a one room school, but after consulting my grandpa, I learned that it was in fact my great grandfather Joseph and great aunt Jessie who worked in one room schoolhouses. Grandma Musee was a classroom teacher, but in a regular, larger school. Nevertheless, how great is this picture (thanks, Grandpa!) of her and her class?
I definitely have that exact same expression after a long day of teaching...

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

2009-11-05T10:11:00.005-05:00

Halloween has come and gone, but Santa Barbara pumpkin picking memories remain.

You Knew This Was Coming...

2009-10-31T10:59:00.010-04:00

My thoughts on Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are.

I've found that people are having really strong reactions to this film. Reviewers are claiming it's too scary for children. Others are saying it's not scary (or compelling) enough. And many are saying it's not for children in the first place, but for nostalgic 30-something hipsters who remember reading the book as children. Which then leads to the question of whether or not Jonze and screenwriter Dave Eggers did an appropriate job of adapting a ten-sentence book into a feature-length film. Personally, I was disappointed at one big change: in the film, Max runs away from home and finds himself in the land of the wild things, while in the book version, his own room transforms into a forest, and the wild rumpus all takes place within the safety of his home. Nevertheless, I liked the movie an awful lot and have been thinking about it-- and the many varied responses-- quite a bit since seeing it.

Let me first say, I'm happy that a children's movie is garnering so many passionate reactions. Unsurprisingly, that didn't happen with other box office toppers like G-Force or Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. We should be thinking more about what kids are watching. It's clear to me that Jonze and Eggers really carefully and thoughtfully considered childhood in their work, and attempted to create a unique film that both represented and respected how kids think and feel. Of course, they are highly influenced by their own nostalgic 30-something hipster interpretations, and Max (extremely well-acted by Max Records) definitely reflects that.

My own (very unscientific) survey reveals that Jonze and Eggers succeeded in creating a character that's familiar and accessible to kids. To determine this, I consulted an expert who I'd not yet heard from in any of the various reviews, articles and blog entries: a kid. Emma, age 9, loved the movie. To summarize, she thought that the monsters "looked exactly right," it was "the scariest" when Carol chases Max, that K.W. was "the nicest" wild thing, and that overall the story was "really, really sad" but that Max "learned a lesson."

So while I'm pretty positive that yes, Where The Wild Things Are is a great children's movie, let's remember that kids are individuals. Some of them will love it, and some of them will hate it. If I had to get more specific, I might say it is geared more towards older kids, and while little ones might enjoy the book, the film version is a bit too slowed paced. But that's OK, the wee ones can look forward to looking back on an old favorite story. Probably there are some kids who will feel bored by the film's unconventional plot and pacing; if they're only watching the standard Hollywood fare, they likely haven't yet been exposed to anything quite like WTWTA. Which only means directors should be making more unusual, thoughtful and artistic films for young people-- kids will rise to the occasion.

My Great American City

2009-10-29T10:53:00.004-04:00

A few months ago, while hanging out with Maggie and Jamie, we got to talking about Jane Jacobs' book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. I was intrigued by their description, and ordered a copy from the library. Turns out they did such a good job of summarizing it, I didn't really need to read the whole thing myself. I ended up reading only the first couple of chapters, but they've stuck with me.

Jacobs, writing in the early 1960s, talks about the misguided goals of urban planning, particularly how high rise housing in low-income neighborhoods are detrimental to a city's "life." She argues for the importance of sidewalk culture, pointing to the protective power of "eyes on the street." Unofficial patrols--old ladies sitting on their stoop, shopkeepers, kids playing in the street-- do the best job of keeping a neighborhood safe. Alternately, outdoor spaces that have been built in between housing projects with the idea that green space equals good space, have become dangerous sites for crime and drug use.

Yesterday I witnessed my own example of sidewalk culture. Upon returning from an early evening stroll with Sprout, I was met at the door to my building by John the Handyman. He had just applied a new coat of finish to the stairs, and it was still too wet to walk on. While waiting for it to dry, I sat with Sprout on the stoop. There are several familiar characters in my neighborhood, and one of my favorites is a sassy young-ish mom of two wild sons. She can be spotted strutting through the neighborhood, cigarette in hand, dyed orange hair slicked back into a tight pony tail. She's got an extremely loud voice and a terrible potty mouth. I was surprised to see her banging on the door of my across-the-street neighbors-- a handful of hipsters living in a basement apartment. It seemed unlikely that she knew them, and I figured her kids' kickball must have gotten lost in their backyard or something. Then I realized what was going on-- they had left their keys in the door. "Do you know who lives here?" she called to me from across the street. "Yeah," I answered, "I just saw the guy leave to walk his dog. I'll keep an eye out until someone's back." Just then, one of the hipster residents poked her out and retrieved the keys, gratefully thanking me and the pony tail lady.

I think Jane Jacobs would have been proud.

Farm City

2009-10-28T10:35:00.003-04:00

I just finished reading Novella Carpenter's memoir Farm City, which chronicles the start of her urban homestead in Oakland, CA. In an abandoned lot in a not-so-nice part of town, Carpenter grew fruits and vegetables, raised chickens, rabbits, and at one point, pigs. And yes, the animals were for eating. Her writing style is extremely laid back and accessible, and it makes me wish she would invite me to a dinner party at her farm where we could sip homemade wine. Here is a great video of her that summarizes her book quite well.
I love that Carpenter so successfully incorporated elements of country-life into an urban setting-- it doesn't have to be one or the other. It's clear that if more people followed her model, cities would slowly become a better place to eat, and live. While realistically, I know I'm not cut out for the hard work and gross factor vividly described in the book, I do wish the book had a little bit more of "how-to," I want to build a raised bed to grow vegetables, too! I could handle that. And maybe some chickens some day.

Leafpeeping

2009-10-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

Vermont Memories, #5

This view helped us all get in touch with our inner leafpeeper.

Country Dog Kerchief

2009-10-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

Vermont Memories, #4

I remembered last year I visited Vermont right in the middle of hunting season, and that the dogs had to wear brightly colored scraps tied on their collars when we went on walks in the woods so that hunters knew not to shoot should they see them rustling in the bushes. I figured they might like something a little more fashionable this year, and enlisted Meredith's help in a craft project. She whipped up a couple of apple-patterned kerchiefs for little miss Sprout and our host dog Peanut. The only thing Sprout enjoyed more than wearing her new fall accessory was rolling in horse poop, so the kerchief only made it through the first day.

A Little to the Left

2009-10-21T11:56:00.000-04:00

Vermont Memories, #3
I mentioned in my last post that Marina had recently moved into an apartment downtown, which meant that one of the activities during my visit was helping settle into the new place. We carried some shelves back from Marina's mom's house, looked for treasures in an amazing little antique store, and hung some art. Here are some favorite little corners of her new room: some great kid art depicting Peanut, comfy couch and blankets, and a little art nook.

Happy Birthday Nat

2009-10-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Wow. You're 21.

The Strizzle

2009-10-19T10:58:00.004-04:00

Vermont Memories, #2

When I visited Marina in Vermont last fall, she was just getting ready to move into a converted airstream trailer, and we spent some time searching for a good wood stove to keep her toasty in the winter. This year, she had just moved out of "The Strizzle" and back into a downtown Montpelier apartment. We still spent a good deal of time at The Strizzle, doing some chores and letting the dogs sniff horse poop and run off leash. I am so impressed that Marina was able to live here for a whole year-- no kitchen, no plumbing, no electricity-- but it does have quite a beautiful view. I think my best friend is really tough and brave.

One Room Schoolhouse

2009-10-18T10:50:00.004-04:00

Vermont Memories, #1

While visiting Vermont last week, I offhandedly mentioned to Marina my fascination with one room schoolhouses. "Oh," she said casually, "I've go somewhere to show you then." Sure enough, tucked in the woods along a country road-- the most beautiful one room schoolhouse I've ever encountered. It's perfectly preserved complete with old desks, chalkboards and wood stove. We could only peek the through the windows, but it was enchanting.

From the Vaults

2009-10-09T18:31:00.006-04:00

One of my (favorite) students is thinking of applying to Smith and asked me about it. Of course, she had the usual worry-- no boys. I totally get that, and had the same worry as a 17 year old. But how do you explain that it really doesn't matter? You get to spend time with these people, and they're a million times better.

Thoughts about Tofu & Phenylethylamine

2009-10-04T13:40:00.003-04:00

Lately I've been considering making the switch to vegetarianism. I'm already about 90% there-- I never cook meat myself, so other than the occasional deli meats, my kitchen is already meat-free. I often opt for the vegetarian option when dining out, partly because I'm picky about meat but mostly because it's often the most delicious-looking option. I like tofu. I've been taking baby steps towards eating more locally-grown and seasonal food (it's hard in the city) and I've been enjoying it-- it's cheaper and it forces me to cook and learn new things (like this week's beet-roasting experiment). But when I think seriously about giving up meat for reals, there are a few things stopping me. They are:

- Bacon (especially turkey)
- In N'Out (cheeseburger, no tomatoes)
- London Broil (the key part of many a birthday meal)
- Hot dogs (this is New York City!)
- Salami (bet you didn't know that it contains a ton of phenylethylamine, the same chemical that your brain releases when you fall in love and what makes chocolate so desirable)

The last two items on the list are the ones I eat most frequently, and I often justify my love of salami and hot dogs by saying they use parts of the animal that might otherwise go to waste. And I wonder if that thought automatically labels me a true carnivore.

Dog of the Future, Dog of the Past

2009-09-24T18:17:00.001-04:00

This is SNIFF

After Tap Class

2009-09-19T12:22:00.001-04:00

Emma: "I used to not be able to wait to be a grown-up, but now that I'm in the 4th grade, I think I'd like to stay young forever."
Me: "Really? What made you change your mind?"
Emma: "Oh, I guess it's like that old saying, 'youth is wasted on the young'"

The Thing I Carried

2009-09-16T21:38:00.006-04:00

A. Bought a new bag of kibble for Sprout at Petco.
B. Went to Nikki's, forgot bag of kibble, retrieved it two days later.
C. Went immediately to babysitting.
D. Returned home. In time for dinner.
TOTAL: 17.2 miles

All in the (Perkins) Family

2009-09-15T09:47:00.007-04:00

I've blogged about Elvis Perkins in Dearland before. I've been listening to him a lot more lately; his music suits fall weather quite well.

While reading up on him a bit, I discovered that he is the son of Anthony Perkins. (Film History 101: Anthony Perkins played the famous psychopath Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho)
I've spent a lot of time watching, rewatching, analyzing and talking about Perkins' outstanding performance as part of a high school film studies course I taught, and developed a little retro-Celebrity Crush on him. I realize that's a little creepy on my part, but come on, Norman Bates is a total charmer!

In any event, I was delighted to discover this dynamic father/son duo. They are both so good at what they do.

Adventures in Tween-Sitting

2009-09-08T23:15:00.002-04:00

Emma: "Did you hear the news about Lady Gaga?"
Me: "No, what happened?"
Emma: "When she was getting off a motorcycle, she wasn't wearing any underwear and..."
Me: "She accidentally flashed people?"
Emma: "No, her fans saw that, um, that she has both girl parts and boy parts."
Me: "Where are you getting your news from?"

AND

Emma: "I'm really nervous about 4th grade"

Childhood Memories Remixed

2009-09-07T11:57:00.005-04:00

Electronic music artist Pogo creates tracks by sampling and mixing sounds from films, many of them children's movies. He also creates awesome music videos to accompany them. I have watched this one, based on the movie Hook, about a million times. This was a favorite movie of mine circa 1997, and one of the few I still own on DVD. I love the choice of raw material and the results.

I realize quite of few of you out there might have never seen Hook (shame on you) so here's another example based on Mary Poppins.

If there were a Reappropriate This Academy Award, Pogo would surely be the winner.

Fixer-Up Fixed Up

2009-09-04T11:03:00.006-04:00

I've got houses on the brain. After discovering that HGTV posts tons of their shows online to stream for free, I've spent hours this week watching shows about house hunting and property buying, all the while silently decorating each house in my mind. And then Meredith sent along this gem, which is pretty much my dream house decor. Even though they gutted most of the house, they saved a lot of the possessions that had belonged to the previous eccentric owner. What luck! It's gorgeous.All images from Country Living, available here.

Rabbit Rabbit

2009-09-02T09:51:00.003-04:00

Well it's September, and perfectly on cue the weather in New York has begun to shift. The past few days have been perfect-- clear and sunny during the day, and dipping down to crisp and cool temperatures at night. After August's heat wave I'm ready for some sweater weather, but it's always bittersweet to see the summer end. Sprout took some time yesterday to take advantage of some quickly fleeting late afternoon sunshine.

The Blue Hour

2009-09-01T11:41:00.003-04:00

The keenest of observers may have noted a new addition to the "Homework Assignments" section of Reappropriate This: The Blue Hour. Brian, the man behind the blog, has kindly requested that others not use his images without his permission. Otherwise, I would share about a million of them here; I especially love how he captures Brooklyn and food. Two of my favorite things, too! Any way, stop by and check it out yourself.

Is It Too Early for Christmas Shopping?

2009-08-31T14:33:00.003-04:00

Because I think I know someone who would like these tree house prints by Jill Bliss.
Available at 20 x 200.

Placecards

2009-08-28T14:55:00.003-04:00

I had some friends over for dinner last night.I also had a lot of issues of US Weekly, and a lot of time on my hands.

Juxtaposition

2009-08-27T15:43:00.001-04:00

Sprout has many virtues. Being photogenic isn't really one of them.
Potential caption for this photo: This is your dog. This is your dog on drugs.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

2009-08-26T17:31:00.005-04:00

I just returned from a whirlwind vacation: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Phoenix and Sedona all in under two weeks. Admidst all the to & fro, I did manage to secure at least a couple of days comprised of nothing but TV watching. I am now officially obsessed with HGTV's Property Virgins and My First Place. I didn't do a very good job of photographically documenting my time, but a few highlights (I'm sure I've forgotten plenty) include:

- Korean foot massages with Meredith and my mom. Don't let the name fool you, they massage way more than your feet. Their techniques include pressing pressure points incredibly hard, rotating bones in the sockets, and scratching the tips of toes with their finger nails. Fantastic.

- Watching Meredith present at Visible Evidence XVI, held at USC's very fancy, brand new George Lucas and Steven Spielberg ~~McMansion~~ buildings.

- Getting to see Nat's new bachelor pad in Koreatown.

- Eating bimbimbob with Hye-Jean in Koreatown (do you see a theme here?)

- Meeting baby Theo, who squawked a bit and then promptly took a nap in my arms. He made me ponder the question: do babies dream?

- Dinner at Garland's with my dad and Laura. Such a magical place-- an old wooden lodge adorned with Navajo rugs and deer heads. Cocktails are served to you on picnic benches outside while you wait for the dinner bell to ring. Dinner involves things like crab apples and honey bourbon BBQ sauce. You have to drive over a little stream to get there.

And now, the one and only event that got properly documented, walking along Oak Creek with the pack. It was great to see Sprout getting in touch with her desert-self.

She got a cactus spine in her paw but didn't even whimper. Her white hair was stained with red dust for a days.

Ponyo!

2009-08-18T11:15:00.004-04:00

Two thumbs up for Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, Ponyo. It's true that the plot-- a Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo and Whale Rider type story all rolled into one-- doesn't quite make sense and at moments the characters' choices seem unmotivated or unbelievable. (Is that sea wizard good or bad? Why would the mother, voiced by Tina Fey, leave two small children alone in a storm?) But Ponyo is everything a children's movie should be: chock full of magic, whimsy and beautiful visual imagery.

Hear, Hear!

2009-08-13T13:46:00.004-04:00

Alumnae of women's colleges "say their experiences gave them a singular benefit: learning and living among a select group of intelligent, ambitious women."

Read the entire Forbes piece about why women's colleges are still relevant.

Soundtrack to Right Now

2009-08-11T22:02:00.002-04:00

Sweet summer night and I'm stripped to my sheets
Forehead is leaking, my AC squeaks and
A voice from the clock says, "You're not gonna get tired"
My bed is a pool and the walls are on fire
Soak my head in the sink for a while
Chills on my neck and it makes me smile but
My bones have to move and my skin's gotta breathe
You pick up the phone and I'm so relieved
- Summertime Clothes Animal Collective

Why I Hate Dr. Drew

2009-08-10T13:38:00.004-04:00

MTV recently ran a show called Sixteen and Pregnant, which as you can guess from the title, is a Juno-inspired documentary series about how different teen mothers deal with unplanned pregnancies (and SATs! and prom!). Now I don't want to praise MTV too much, because basically everything else on that network is trash, but I found this show (which you can watch on their website for free) totally captivating. Of course there were some unbelievable moments of ignorance and irresponsibility (ahem, Farrah in Episode 2) but more often than not, I was pleasantly surprised at the maturity of the young women and men featured. The season finale, which documented the show's only instance in which the birth parents chose adoption, was especially moving. Coming from someone who has watched a lot of Bringing Home Baby, Adoption Stories and similar baby-themed documentary shows, I found this adoption episode to be one of the most honest and inspiring perspectives out there.

But remember how I said I don't want to praise MTV too much? Well here's why. The season wrapped up with a reunion episode, hosted by who else but Dr. Drew. Also known as the biggest, misogynistic jerk ever. I'm sure MTV was worried of being accused that Sixteen and Pregnant was promoting teenage sex (gasp!). This resulted in Dr. Drew berating each of the couples for not practicing safe sex in an incredibly condescending way. After one young father admitted he wouldn't be with his girlfriend if she hadn't gotten pregnant (not so classy, but totally true) Dr. Drew pressured him to get serious and get married. But then when he was talking to one young couple who were clearly in love, engaged to be married and doing their very best to make their new life as a young family work, Dr. Drew made fun of the guy for buying the engagement ring at Wal-Mart. So Dr. Drew is also a meanie.

But here's what really put me over the edge about Dr. Drew's reunion episode. One issue that a lot of the young women discussed on the show was breastfeeding. If I remember correctly, all but one breastfed her baby for a very short (one to two week) amount of time, if at all. I was glad the show itself had featured doctors and midwives advising the mothers to breastfeed as long as possible, so imagine my dismay when Dr. Drew totally trash talked breastfeeding! He was all, what you viewers may not know is that breastfeeding can be painful! It's not easy! Actually, what teenage viewers may not know is how important breastfeeding is for the baby, whether that baby is planned or not. I was so insulted that he used breastfeeding as some sort of aversion technique, like, if you don't use a condom you might have to breastfeed!

So, I had meant for this post to provide some fun pop culture commentary, but then I got all worked up and it accidentally turned political. I'm by no means an expert on teenage parenting or breastfeeding or anything, but then again neither is Dr. Drew. If you want the best information on the subject or to make a donation to people who know what they're talking about La Leche League is the place to go. And let's remember, the messed up message of MTV and Dr. Drew is just part of a larger problem in how our culture views adolsecent sexuality and how the US handles sex education in general. If you're feeling annoyed too, NARAL is a great organization to support.

Moo Quack Gobble Gobble

2009-08-04T19:06:00.010-04:00

The director at the summer arts program I'm working for has captured hundreds of candid photos over the past month and just recently shared them all with us. Naturally, I downloaded all the ones I was in, and while reviewing them, realized how well they capture my day-to-day work life. Here's an insiders peek at my quotidian tasks...

Circle Time (unusual in that I'm not yelling, "eyes on me!")

Lining Up

Having a stern chat/controlling chaos/allowing creativity

Distributing

More distributing

Oh yeah, and this.

Happy Birthday Olgie Polgie!

2009-07-31T06:30:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Friend! I am so glad that you were wrong when, in the midst of a sentimental senior year moment, you cynically proclaimed, "too bad we'll never be friends again." You are a unique presence in my life, and I really value your humor, kindness, sensitivity and world view. Xoxo.

I (Still) <3 U Internets

2009-07-16T21:33:00.003-04:00

With the exception of the incredible Kitten Loves Puppy video, I've been a negligent blogger lately. And I probably will remain relatively MIA for the next three weeks. This is due to a new summer job that involves waking up at 6am for 9 hour work days spent with 30 young children and 4 sassy teenage counselors. At least I don't have to wear shoes at work, which is a great perk. So my motto for the summer is "work hard, play hard" and there have been lots of fun times, such as: Megha's birthday in Prospect Park, Harry Potter on opening day, burritos at Benny's, haircuts, discovering kohlrabi, and many, many trips to the dog park with Sprout. There's more on the horizon for this weekend, including a rooftop party at Maggie's and a visit from Marina. All this working hard and playing hard doesn't leave much time for blogging, but to make up for my absence in the blogosphere, here's a Kitten/Puppy follow-up:

Does Sprout Need a Kitty Too?

2009-07-10T20:32:00.002-04:00

La Glaneuse

2009-07-05T16:18:00.006-04:00

I had the pleasure of seeing Agnès Varda's new film last week, an autobiographical documentary titled Les Plages d'Agnès (The Beaches of Agnès). You should definitely see it if you have the chance.
I'm a pretty big fan of Varda's, thanks to a film professor from my year abroad in Paris. He loved loved loved Varda, and showed us not only her classics like Sans toit ni loi (Vagabond) and Les glaneurs et la glaneuse (The Gleaners and I) but also some of her newer and lesser-known short films, like Cinévardaphoto. He was a great film professor-- he wore jeans with patches of cameras and film reels sewn on them, and assigned us movies around Paris to go see as homework. The best assignment of all was to visit a gallery that was currently exhibiting some of Varda's video work, including two pieces featured in her latest film. I can't find the names of the pieces, but one was about potatoes (will make you laugh) and one was about widows (will make you cry). It was an especially fun outing because best friend Marina was visiting me at the time, and she tagged along to the exhibition. While we were there, Varda herself showed up. Apparently she likes to periodically check in on her work, and mingle with the visitors. She was just as wonderfully quirky and friendly in person as she seems on film, and took the time to explain some of her work to us. I have a vivid memory of listening to her speak and glancing over at Marina, who was nodding emphatically even though she couldn't understand anything that Varda was saying in French. At times, The Beaches of Agnès has the same effect. You probably won't catch every inside joke and reference, but Varda is able to present each moment in a manner that is emotional, captivating and a little bit magical. The opportunity to meet her means more to me than the time I got to meet Michael Jackson. But that's a blog post for another time...