Tripping on Asphalt
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"rolling in glitter"
We are still not fully unpacked. But as of the big push we made this past weekend, we have retrieved all of the gnomes. Which is good because I was tired of hearing them yelling and grumbling at me from random boxes.
Let me not bore you with my New Year’s resolution/goals/adventures, which are plenty… and include brushing up on my Spanish. See, already I am boring you. Dug’s list is much more exciting as it includes traveling somewhere (I can’t remember where exactly) into space with Chewie and me in the Millennium Falcon…
I’d like to just say thank you. To all of you. And to God and the Universe, for this incredible year we’ve had here at Sequined Asphault Studio. May you all be blessed with love and good fortune in the year to come. I’m excited to see what’s in store for us all.
I am an avid reader. Have been my whole life.
*Points to Goodreads app over yonder left. Feel free to friend me. I also love to see what other people are reading. See how I’m 30 years old on my profile. wink wink *
Recently I have rediscovered the library. Did you know there are still libraries? Where you can get books? Actual books. Made of paper. Torn from murdered trees. Sure, you don’t need the Dewey Decimal System for the card catalog – which is a total disappointment for a nerd like me btw because I had a lot of fun learning about that in school and I love the way the card catalog smelled, mmmmm. The catalog on the computer is fine though because I can put books on hold from home my phone and renew books from home oh, anywhere – that’s the really great part because I’m one who is generally mired in late fines of all sorts. Trivialities.
So, I hopped around different libraries in my realm, and the Main Branch of the Fairfield Public Library is my first string (look DUG, sport!) for best all-around performance, based on quantity and quality of selection, best climate control, best lighting, and highest marks for people leaving me the fuck alone. (oops, too much caffiene today) I even attended a free small business seminar there one night, which I thought was a great idea, but the guy talked for so long that his usefulness expired when my eyes glazed over and I could no longer hear him over my growling stomach.
(If you haven’t figured it out already, I’m a moderate hand-raiser and a complete over-achiever. Case in point, today CawfeeGuy sent me this.)
Well, since we have such a good relationship, my library and I, that is, I decided to take things to the next level. Yes, folks, I friended Fairfield Public Library on Facebook.*
And you know what? They’ve been good to me. They did not warn me in advance of yesterday’s earthquake. And I think they feel pretty bad about it. Because today they’ve let me know that Hurricane Irene is coming. And they’ve given me all sorts of handy tips about preparing to possibly evacuate my home. And that maybe the water levels of my coastal town will be up to 8 feet over normal tide levels. *sigh* I mean, that’s a good Facebook friend. Not one of those stalkers or random commenter who hijack your status updates to have full-on conversations with other people on your status – take it to your own page, Mister. I mean, next level would be actually coming over to pack up my shit and/or prep that emergency kit whose importance they tout but know I am never ever going to prepare on my own because, well, if I need that emergency kit I’m going to have way bigger problems than not having that emergency kit.
So, Fairfield Public Library, I thank you. And while I’m an over-achiever for certain things, I am an under-achiever when it comes to Hurricane Irene. I take your concern for me under advisement, and as a result I will stock my fridge from the Fairfield Cheese Shop, and when I go to sleep, I will leave on my engagement ring. Because, in the case I have to run from the rising tides, I am not going anywhere without that rock (and Chewie) (and possible some Red Hawk). Oh, look! Seems I have an emergency kit and I didn’t even know it!
*Speaking of libraries, and because this is technically a photoblog, I give you these crappy iPhone photos of one of my other favorite local libraries, the Pequot Library in Southport, CT. They clearly don’t have enough money to keep this place in the condition this charming building deserves, but they do their darndest trying. There are so many magical moments in this building and here are a humble few.
The Big Day is quickly approaching. As we were preparing our save-the-dates, a friend who got hitched last month said to me, “Oh! The save-the-dates. Exciting. You’d better hold on from here on in!” And all of a sudden, that’s what it feels like. An autobahn ride from here to late September.
I couldn’t be having more fun, taking pictures, designing stationary, picking clothing, and planning our honeymoon. It’s strange, because I didn’t take well to all this in the beginning. But I think the excitement is over-taking any of my party-planning misgivings. Mostly… Or maybe it’s the tequila.
On Valentine’s Day I generally try to use the day to experience my favorite things (whether I ‘have a Valentine’ or not). Some years, that includes whiskey and a bit of Linkin Park. This year, I’d love nothing more to be wandering around an abandoned factory building with my camera and my trusty photo assistant and carrier of heavy things and, of course, my Valentine. But alas, not only is this St. Valentine’s Day a working Monday with a deadline, but it’s frickin’ freezing around here, have you heard? With mountains of disgustingly dirty snow everywhere. Since I don’t have the heart to go trespassing in sub-zero degree weather in buildings with no heat and no windows, I’ve decided this week to spend some time reliving past excursions in the hopes of gearing up for spring.
Spring? You’ve heard of it? They say it’s coming. Eventually.
Where ever you are, and whoever you’re with, we hope you have a wonderful day, and you do a little something special for yourself.
We’ve got a jam packed day today – an interview with a nun (I hope I don’t burst into flames), visits to some local hotels, and finally, a tasting (most excellent). Wedding head to toe. The we can forget about it for another 3 weeks. (Chewie says I’m kidding myself. Nobody asked you, DOG!) Sheesh! Have you noticed that everybody gets really gushy or preachy when wedding planning comes up? Even the dogs apparently.
To all of you, from us here at Sequined Asphault Studio, we wish you all the blessings, fun, and good fortune we have received this past year and more!
And for you loyal visitors, I shall refer you back to the very first edition of ‘the stand in’ so you can come full circle and see the beginning and the end of the shoot.
Oh, hang on. Master Chew has asked me to include some of the out-takes with his commentary so you can see just what a Christmas sweatshop he has to deal with annually over here at Sequined Asphault Studio to get these greetings out to you. He’s asking for over-time pay…
Chewie says he vetoed these because 1} not Christmasy enough (although he doubts his people can handle how angelic and not curmudgeony he ‘appears’) and 2} waaay too Christmasy.
Now he’s just mouthing off:
1} shoddy assistant (someone better mind his Christmas stocking lest some coal arrive) and rogue tongue
2} antlers too heavy
3} begging undignified to a Yorkshire Terrier caught on film
4} well, this is just humiliating, now, isn’t it
Grumplestiltskin over here is going to be sorry when he checks his stocking tomorrow. The Talent can be so demanding. Best wishes to you and yours! xo
Empire State from Macy's
The windows at Macy’s did nothing for me this year so I sought inspiration elsewhere. Obviously, I didn’t have to look very far.
our SoHo building
Truthfully, I’m having a tough time deciding which way to go when choosing ‘our’ building. I love this corner property, but still I dream of the seemingly endless canvas and light of my very own old warehouse… Tough decisions, people.
our tree
We decided to be a little luxurious today and enjoy the sights around town. We spent the morning having brunch and doing a little light shopping in SoHo and fantasizing about our building on the corner over yonder (maybe I’ll post it later so you can see where you’ll be visiting me). After a short subway ride up to midtown we walked the holiday windows from Macy’s at 34th up to Bloomingdale’s at 59th, of course stopping to admire our tree along the way.
It was fantastic. I hope all of you can make the time to do something relaxing and decadent for yourselves this holiday season. And I hope you are as blessed as I to enjoy it to the fullest. Remember when none of this was a luxury? We went every year because it was free and obvious. And our feet didn’t hurt and we didn’t get a stomach ache from too rich $9 hot chocolate (how many things are wrong with that sentence?). Or maybe I just don’t remember those parts…
This is my moose. One of several animals in the menagerie. I have promised not to don him in leis or fancy sunglasses. Ever. No one made any mention of whether of not is was appropriate to decorate him for Christmas, so I think I’m in the clear. And let’s face it people, it could have been way worse.
