Pic of the day!

Enough! -- of those neon shutter-shade wearing, tight-pantsed, high-top sportin' Art Masqueraders!

Cmykaboom from Wardrobe_Remix. "I would teach you archery, but I'm a conscientious objectioner."

Here, an example of what I would call "Actual Artist Chic"... the kind of girl I would corral in art class and take close notes on. I was not at all surprised to find that she is actually a graphic designer, with a peppy fashion-heavy blog here.

Long, slouchy sweaters with intermittent saturation, Native American-type jewelry and bunched trousers engulfed in blue socks speak to me of the only camp counselor who was certifiably awesome.

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Workin' it out

There comes a time in every girl's life where she looks through her closet, tries everything on and comes to the conclusion that she needs to go back to the gym. Now, there was a time when I worked out 6 days a week for 2 hours at a time, with a plan for competitive bodybuilding kindling itself in the back of my mind. I build muscle pretty easily, and-- nowadays, it's not just She-men competing, but there's also a a "Figure" competition judged on overall toned-ness and proportion. But I digress!

When I went back to school, I realized that that pace couldn't possibly be maintained and so, dreadingly, cut back. Way back. For me, it was all or next-to-nothing. So now, a couple of years later, I'm missing that connection to my body (and my wardrobe), so I'm packin' in and hitting the gym.

My decidedly unglamorous workout rotation of black leggings and a ripped-up t-shirt needs replacing, I know, so when I get back to where I want to be (this time, with moderation, but I think already my bodybuilding glimmer-of-a-dream is resurrecting itself...), I might reward myself with some Stella McCartney for Adidas...



I love love love her outerwear, and she makes a mean tennis dress as well!


I don't lie kids... ! Le sigh! I gotta learn tennis...



Another gym-outfit issue I have is that a) I walk a mile or so to class, so I like to make my burdens light and so b) often end up wearing fug gym clothes to class. Unacceptable! The above is totally my ideal "Class first, pilates second" outfit... the hoodie is so irresistibly feminine, and yes, fleece. Bust out your little ballet flat sneakers for the gym; slap on a sequinned skirt and some heels for (pun?) class.

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Creeping back...

So, I'm not sure if many of you out there feel the need or get the opportunity to, but I simply had to have an Internet break. It was good; I redirected time towards volunteering at The Campaign for Change, reading plays (like "Equus"-- amazing, contemporary and full of excellent monologues if you're the acting type), and taking advantage of my new job's (a cd/dvd exchange) discount and loading up on media (watching "Pete and Pete" and listening to Sleater Kinney).

So, after nearly three weeks without it-- only using it at work when I needed to-- I feel rested and ready to take photos, blog and catch up on my readings again.


Welcoming me back was this message waiting for my in my in-box from the author of the pre-orderable at Amazon What I Wore today: Fashion Remixed Online From Beijing to Berlin. I am featured along with other self-posters to street fashion sites, and totally completely chuffed. I can't wait to get my copy-- coming in the mail soon!


It's good to be back!

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Just Sayin's All...

Why does Alloy feature this "Vote John McCain" t-shirt on their site? It's curious, a) because I can't think of a single teenager or young adult who would be caught dead supporting John McCain unless their overbearing, right-wing parents are making them, even if it does reference beer... and it's curious, b) because they have no "Vote Obama" shirt on their site... oh wait! I just found "Save the Drama for Obama"... a relatively neutral call to action.

I sent them an email.

Little known fact about yours truly: I am a Grandpa Simpson-esque writer of letters. Oh! And I make phonecalls too, usually because they result in coupons for free things. Free things I've received in the past: Frusion smoothies, tampons, Snyder's of Hanover pretzels.

Perhaps I should call 1-800-Tokidoki and tell them how much I love those Cactus Pups? -- especially the tan one with the little ghoul friend?

Back! and inspired...

I had the most amazing time in Denver this past week! The stories are still sorting themselves out in my head, so there's no detailed, sensical post I can make out of it so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

14 lovely people and I shared a two-bedroom apartment... good thing they were all such cool types with good senses of humor. And discreet bathroom behavior.

We folded shirts and counted things in a warehouse and sold official DNC merchandise at different hotels across the city.

Me and my fiance's aunt worked together all week selling merch at a hotel... and by selling I mean fending off the ravenous crowds! When I look back, all I see is a cloud of shirts, pins and dollah dollah bills, ya'll.

I saw/met a bunch of cool people, most of whom were staying at the hotel I was working: Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Stephen Spielberg, all kinds of senators, congress people and delegates, I think I saw Morgan Freeman but everyone said I was wrong (I still say I'm right!). I even got a picture with...

Yes, Jon Stewart is a really nice guy.

And yes, the Robot Guy is a really nice guy, too.

Last Wednesday night, my group and I trooped over to the Pepsi Center and it was quite a frustrating situation because they had over-ticketed the seats. I waited 40 minutes inside the hallway before someone left their seat and I was able to catch the last half of Bill Clinton's speech and John Kerry's. It was truly exciting to actually be "spoken to" by a politician! It's wonderful to feel included in the goings-on of politics, something most in my generation have probably never felt before.

Waiting.... waiting.... !

Thursday, we went to the Invesco Center and waited 3 long hours in line, berated by heat and angry protesters of all types, mostly the evangelical type.

Compared to most of those with Something to Say, the Creepy Priest Dude was a really nice guy.

Here's just a portion of the line which at one point, was 6 miles long!

There were a few pesky line jumpers who were swiftly met with jeers, but all in all, people were really cool to eachother. One guy in front of us even bought us all bottles of water! Thanks dude!

Eventually we got in, but it was the same story again with the seats. Agh!! But when the drama cleared and I found a seat, I enjoyed hearing Al Gore, Stevie Wonder, Senator Biden and Barak Obama speak. It was so overwhelming I actually found myself in tears at a couple of points, especially when they had the "normal Americans" speak. I so admired their courage --- despite most of them losing nearly everything they had due to the economic fallout of the Bush administration's decisions, they still had courage and faith in the political system and were putting their weight behind a candidate they truly believed could change things.

Oprah was in a box-seat about 10 rows behind us... between speeches, people stood up and turned around to photograph her and Gayle King.

I wish everyone could see Barak Obama speak live, because seeing it on TV really does not compare. I most admired his angle; President as public servant rather than jingoistic fat cat. I get that some people think Obama makes empty Utopian promises, but at least he believes this country can improve, and that the health of the country is gauged by the health of its middle-class (you know, those that make under $5 million a year).

According to Obama, improvements -- education becomes a priority (no more "No Child Left Behind"! Raise teachers' salaries and lower tuition!), no more off-shoring of jobs, pursuit of alternative energy sources (although Obama's aim of ending reliance on foreign oil in 10 years is lofty, at least someone has a goal!), more rights for GLBT Americans and hands off the uteri!-- will be funded by taxes for corporations, especially those that take jobs overseas.

Other things we did: drink lots, see Eugene Mirman, tool around town on bikes and collect rocks, go to Casa Bonita, and met some of the nicest people...



And one last thing! -- Please, if you are not registered to vote, do so ASAP! The former administration may have shaken our faith (to use a Bush-ism) in the political system, but it's no reason to give up. A wave of (very positive-vibed) opposition is sweeping the country, and the past shows that when the opposition is strong enough, change does happen.

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