The 20 Something Society

I don’t know if any of you have given any thought at all to Halloween 2011. But I know I am pumped and as of right now am planning to do a Black Swan costume. OH yeah.

Today I did a lot of at home work.  Ordering.  Follow up phone calls.  Organization.  You know the drill.  While I worked on my laptop from my own comfy couch I watched Gus Van Sants Elephant.  The movie is, according to Netflix, an “unnerving tale about high school violence that unfolds on an ordinary school day…”.  Admittedly, I wanted to see it because it IS a Gus Van Sant movie and he is a friggin genius.  I didn’t think I’d like it because of the subject matter, which is strange because I am VERY interested in (mostly true) crime movies, shows, and novels.  I didn’t think I would like it because I get very aggravated when the subject of school violence comes up.  People act so dumbfounded by it and I think its dumb to be dumbfounded.  If a person is a violent person, and a teenager, most of their time is spent at school.  School is like another home.  You know every little nook and crannie of that freakin place!  Nearly everyone you know is either related to you or goes to your school.  Anyone you feel any animosity towards is probably going to be there.  I guess I always look at it as a ‘crap happens’ situation.  Don’t get me wrong, its a horrible thing, but I just never understand why people can’t believe it happens and when it does they look for any little ridiculous thing like what kind of music the child listens to or what type of movies they watch.  Please.  Yes, of course a violent minded person is going to watch violent movies, play violent video games, and listen to hostile music.

Anyway.  I was surprised that I DID like the movie, and that it actually did unnerve me – i am pretty desensitized when it comes to violence and the like.  I loved the camera work and the way he followed several different students from different crowds on an average day – and you could see how their paths cross.

When the violence started everything seemed pretty calm.  This surprised me.  In my head I expected a rehearsed or at least talked about course of action to have taken place when the shooting started.  The school seemed small – one building.  (I don’t know about you but my public high school had about ten.)  The students could hear the initial shots – and the kids screaming, but they didnt run, didnt close and barracade doors, they just jumped, and went about their business.

I thought about this and it dawned on me that for instance, when the Columbine School Shooting happened, no one really thought about it ever happening.  I’m sure it has happened before that, but the only big school shootings that I can even think of off of the top of my head is Columbine and Virginia Tech.  So before Columbine, the fact that someone may be shooting up your high school would probably be the last thing on your mind.  You might think someone fell, dropped something very heavy, a drama class is filming some sort of project.  Anything but a shooting.

Now it very well may be the first thing to pop into a students head.  I think parents should talk to their kids about the possibility of a school shooting and tell them just a few simple things they need to know to do.  Don’t go out in the halls.  Close your classroom door – barricade it – call the police if anyone has a cell phone – escape through a window if possible – duck under your desk if not.  It is likely the shooters will cause a commotion in a big gathering place that will make students run into the halls where they can just shoot through the crowd and hit a larger number of people.  I think it would be a good idea for a scheduled drill just like for fires, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

Anyways, sorry if I’m blabbering on, but the movie is good and worth a watch.

and on an unrelated note, I really liked the clean simple design of the DVD menu.

So, tattoos.  I love looking at others peoples ink.  And I go through phases myself.  For a little while I REALLLLY want a tattoo and then I decide against it and then I REALLLLY want one again and so on and so forth.  What I want is an owl and or a Harry Potter tattoo.  THATS WHATS UP!  Here are a few of the images that I have saved in my inspiration files.  I honestly can not remember if I have already posted these – so sorry if I did! haha!

Is this wedding cake from  Sweet & Saucy not amazing?  I have never seen one like it.  Go ahead gaze and gasp.

If you are ever planning a shin dig in Long Beach, Cali – hire them for your cake/dessert table!  I follow A LOT of wedding blogs and constantly see their work and it never disappoints.   Here are a few others from them.

So I’ve been going to my Tap classes!  I’ve been to three now and I’m having a blast.  And its quite a workout.  I am the type of person who learns by doing.  On top of learning by doing – if I don’t keep doing I easily forget.  So I decided I’d do some  youtube lessons at home to keep my feet moving.  This week I’m at home working on the time step.

So kids, last week I had a bit of sadness enter my life.  One of my most favoritest bands, The White Stripes, are no more.

If you haven’t given them a listen, you have been deprived.  We were planning on seeing them live the next time they tour.  Now we won’t be able to and this is a lesson in ‘sometimes there may not be a next time.’

They went on a tour across Canada in 2007 and released their only live album, a dvd documentary, and a book of photographs taken documenting the tour.  You can get the whole box set for about $260 – or buy it piece by piece like me.  I just received the book in the mail.  It is normally $45 but right now on Amazon its $9.  My friend Jimmy tweeted that deal to me and I immediately snagged it!

I didn’t want to take too many pictures of someone elses photography – so here is the cover and my favorite shots – Meg and Jack sleeping on a plane.

So I am back from my little trip to Chicago.  I was there for a photography workshop which was so fun, so informative, and so worth it.  It has really given me a new little push of excitement.  I got to meet a lot of people who have the same passion as I do and want to learn more.  I got to meet people that I work with (online).  And I got to see people who have taught me in the past and will continue to do so.  I was also able to travel with a couple of gals who I work closely with weekly and we really had a lot of fun together.  We all took a ton of hipstamatics and Imma gonna share some!

We flew out Saturday, checked into the hotel, ate some Chipotle, and went to a welcome party!  Sadly we didn’t get any outfit/party shots.

Started and finished this within the hour.

Chicagoland!

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn – and I gotta say – it was nice.  Awesome fitness center, great breakfast, coffee AND flavored creamers, to go cups, sleep by number beds, and really nice bedding.  My husband thinks I’m nuts because I tend to base my hotel selection firstly on the fact that they better NOT have bedspreads.

Sunday was an all day long workshop with the ladies.

just a few of the nice ladies!

Charlie – the incredibly creepy and real looking practice newborn.

After that we had dinner and finally saw Black Swan.  The movie was SO good.  The costumes were beautiful.  The dancing was spectacular.

Monday we awoke to another day of workshop, Chicago deep dish pizza for lunch (!) and then flew out of Chicago just in time to miss the big blizzard.

Started this on the plane.

Some portraits I took during the workshop.

Today I was straightening the kitchen some and decided to take my Cafe Du Monde coffee can out for a little photo shoot.  We bought this on our honeymoon trip to New Orleans!  I have been wanting to go back ever since – maybe next summer….  This summer we are planning on going to visit my mom at the beach and to Atlanta.

While I was daydreaming about New Orleans I dug up some new orleans and saints centric stuff from the files.

New Orleans area code cards from Etsy seller jetsetpaper.

Street music.

“The Quarter” by Etsy seller montagyoo

Beignets

By Etsy seller jillianaudreydesigns

Who Dat banner from Etsy seller jjspeakman

Fabulous Saints headpiece from Etsy seller lovemarigold.

That New Orleans iron lace.

New Orleans view from a streetcar window.

I made this first image today.  Decided to do a pretty things roundup for you guys.

via cherry blossom girl

via abbytrysagain

I’ve been looking around town – and finally have found a dance studio that offers beginners adult tap lessons.  Yes, you too can strap on some tippy tappy shoes and attempt to dance your butt off with other adults who arent already dancers.  Believe it or not it isnt so easy – most places are only teaching kids.  Its understandable.  There probably aren’t a ton of adults who actually have the chance to pick up and try new things when they want.  Or maybe they just don’t make it a priority.

I’ve always loved musicals and plays – and wanted to go try out and participate.  But never quite found the means and the guts.  I still want to – now that I have more of the means and guts – I dont have much of the time.  But sometimes I hear about our local playhouses hosting auditions and really want to go.  But never do.  I don’t have any experience or confidence to perform in front of  a crowd.  Maybe I could build up to it though.  Adult tap classes are forty five minutes once a week.  I can make time for that right?  If we don’t do things while we’re young we’ll never do it and always think what if.  Hey, maybe I could even make some friends there.

It all seems good and fine but there is still part of my brain saying “Don’t you have enough to do.”

I just sent an email to a local studio asking questions – I think I’m going to do it!  Fashion minded me is already thinking – what shall I wear?!