//shoes galore

I have a small hobby that involves snapping pictures of my shoes. I don't know if it can exactly be called a hobby; mayhaps, it's more of a quirk?

Alki Beach

Fort Worden State Park

Tillamook Beach

These pictures are not indicative of my love for shoes or the ground. I think they are merely signs of convenience. It is so easy to point my camera to the ground and snap away. 

Besides, my feet are very photogenic, are they not?

//happy happy birthday

I'm always curious about birthdays, so I decided to google, "August 29 birthdays." 

Happy Birthday to the following peeps:

John Locke (1632)

Ingrid Berman (1915)

Elliot Gould (1938)

Michael Jackson (1958)

Who knew that John Locke and Michael Jackson shared something in common? Well, regardless, I wish you a wonderful birthday, wherever you may be. 

//friday tune

There are some bands that should never ever disband. Pulp sits pretty high on that list for me, although they did get together for a short-lived reunion of sorts this year. Too bad they didn't think to visit Seattle.

Today's tune comes from a band that I adore. Their music consists of everything that makes my ears perk: fast tempo, electronic beats, sweet lyrics, and lovely vocals. I'm no music guru, but I know when a band is good. And this band is golden.

LCD Soundsystem: I have loved you and your beats since I first heard "Tribulations" in college. You have been on every one of my house party playlists, and that will never change.

Here's a live performance of "I Can Change" at Jooles Holland. It's my current favorite song from their latest (but hopefully not last) album:

I realize that it's only been a few months since your disbandment, but won't you consider visiting Seattle and rocking my world?

//don't dream it. be it.

Lately, I've been on a interior design kick. And by kick, I mean, I've been addicted to brilliant blogs like Design*Sponge and Re-Nest.

Every chance I get, I scope out DIY projects that I most likely will never ever even attempt. I greedily horde any pictures displaying houses that utilize the chevron pattern (my current favorite). Exhibit A, see picture below:

Despite all the evidences stacked against me, I'm not completely tetched; I realize that unless I win the lottery, I'm never going to afford a home with that perfect loft and the perfect reading nook and the perfect greenhouse and the perfect... the list goes on and on. But I also realize that it's never wrong to dream. So what if I can't afford a house with a greenhouse? It doesn't mean that I can't create a small haven in my backyard with a vegetable patch and a nice picnic bench.

As a way of sharing my little dream, here are a few pictures of DIY projects that are pretty to look at from Re-Nest:

Pretty! And blue!

//urban explorers

The sister (Emily) and I moved into a house on Beacon Hill a few months ago, but we never took the time to explore the area. Deciding that the situation needed to be rectified, we took to the streets with our handy Canon.

During our stint as explorers, we came across:

-Lots and lots of alleys

-A dead crow (I thought to take a picture but thought better of it)

-Dandelions

-A school

The school was by far the most interesting of the lot. I initially thought it was abandoned, but sis confirmed that the classrooms are decorated and equipped with the necessites... you know, books, chalks and whatnot.

Sis thought it would be an excellent place to take pictures, so we proceeded to do just that. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but the pics came out quite excellently.

What awesome sites have you discovered in your own neck of the woods?

//happy friday

I've decided that Fridays are going to be the days when I sign out for the weekend with songs that please me. Depending on my mood, it'll range from the most obscure '80s bands to the most obnoxious teeny bop hits.

Today, I bring you... Mr. Bowie. Why? Because I have loved him since the moment I stepped into my AP American History class in high school. My teacher (shout-out, Mr. Abreu!) had a huge poster of "China Girl" on the wall, and I'd stare at it incessantly while Abreu droned on about the Industrial Revolution.

Unfortunately, today's video won't be "China Girl," but rather, my favorite Bowie tune: "Young Americans."

Enjoy the video and your weekend. May it be full of awesomeness and sleep. Musn't forget sleep.

//maudlin musings

i need this this chart up on my wall

I am feeling ever so maudlin today. It's been one of those days where even the most trivial issues are blown out of melodramatic proportions.

My iPod chose this moment to play Mates of States' "Like U Crazy." I love this song ever so much, but it currently has me wallowing in self-pity. Why, oh why, do I not have someone that I can tell, "I like u crazy." Never mind the fact that the statement is a grammatical minefield; it's the emotions that's important!

Oh snap. Next song: Yeasayer's "Madder Red." Give a girl a break, yo.

Eff this s. I'm getting a chocolate bar. Here's to hoping that tomorrow will be a better and (less hyperbolic) day.

//freddie mercury love

Dearest Freddie,

I first learned of your existence in fourth grade when we sang, "We are the Champions" during chorus. Since then, I have been enthralled with your powerful voice and amazing (and often puzzling) lyrics. "Bohemian Rhapsody" saw me through hard times during my college years, as well as those drunken nights in karaoke bars when all I could do was mumble out, "scary bush, scary bush, will you do the flamenco" in my best falsetto voice.

Now the torch of our love for you has been handed onto the new generation, and infants watch and rejoice at the sight of your live performance at Live Aid.

Freddie, it appears that you will forever be missed.

Faithfully,

Maven Amy


P.S. Why do you screech out, "I'm adopted!" in "Another One Bites the Dust"? I've always wondered.

//embrace thy narcissism

I am always in awe of technology and the people behind them. Bless you, person/people who came up with the digital camera. And bless you, person/people who decided to stuff said camera into a phone.

I have taken so many self-portraits of myself with my iPhone that I've begun to annoy myself. I am also deathly afraid that someone will peruse into my photo album and determine that I am the modern-day Narcissus.

in the car...

...at work...

...and on the bed.

Here's the thing though: why in the world would Steve Jobs have thought to place a camera in front of the iPhone if it weren't for us to take self-portraits? Screw Face Time; you know you rarely use it anyway.