I love when I stumble upon a good documentary!
This week, I watched Random Lunacy, which is available on Hulu.com (for FREE!)
It's the story of Poppa Neutrino, a man who basically made the conscious decision to shun all material possessions and avoid any kind of traditional lifestyle. He ended up raising his family as a traveling band of street musicians, then as circus performers. For extended periods of time, the family lived on boats that they built.
I had heard about Poppa Neutrino because his daughter, Ingrid Lucia, (now an adult) is a musician in New Orleans. She has a beautiful voice and i love seeing her perform.
But the Random Lunacy doc was amazing in and of itself. It was really an odd coincidence that I happened upon a story about shedding material possessions, because that's what I've been trying to do for the last weeks. (Not to the Poppa Neutrino extreme, but in my own little way).
It's pretty ridiculous, all the things that we keep and carry with us every time we move. Sometimes the things we keep take on some special meaning for no reason other than we've had them for a long time. I've got lot's of stuff like that -- things that I think SHOULD be "important" because of where I got it, or who got it for me, but the truth is, i don't even really care much for the thing I'm keeping -- just the symbolism I've attached to it. So this week, I'm working on filling a few bags for the Salvation Army.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Why I Love Astoria: Reason #683
There's been a lot of talk in the past few years about the benefits of eating locally grown foods. The idea being that you not only support local businesses, but also that --theoretically-- you have more control over what you're consuming, because you have access to information such as how the fruits/veges were grown, and under what sort of conditions the animals were raised.
Today, the concept of "locavore" was taken to a whole new level when I had lunch in Astoria.
Mikey D and I decided on an impromptu beer-and-dumplings lunch at Zlata Praha, the Czech-Slovak restaurant under the 30th Ave subway stop. There's something really satisfying about drinking beer at 2pm on a cold February day. I ordered a sweet and delicious BrouCzech, one of my all time favorite beers.
Perusing the menu, it quickly became apparent that we'd picked a good week to go to Zlata Praha -- it was "Venison Week" meaning that the menu was packed with a variety of venison dishes. Chatting with the bartender, we were told that the owner had just returned from a hunting trip and had caught rabbits, deer, a boar (thus, Vension Week). Wowza. We decided on venison in wine sauce, pickled herring, and dumplings.
Soon, we were snarfing down hearty Czech food and washing it down with swigs of beer. We were so busy feasting that we were suprised to see the bartender standing over us, holding what, at first glance, I thought was a dart. I soon realized that in fact, it was the ARROW THAT HAD KILLED THE DEER WE WERE EATING AT THAT VERY MOMENT.
I don't know if I should have been horrified, but my reaction was pure intrigue. The arrow was really beautiful. I've never seem an arrow like that up close before -- it reminded me of a very sharp tulip bulb. I even got a picture of it:
At the far right, you can see where the arrow was snapped in half when removed from the deer. We soon realized that the guy waving to us from the other end of the bar was the owner, and he was the one who shot our lunch.
I guess there's probably a lot of people out there who'd be pretty horrified to be presented with an arrow while trying to enjoy lunch. But I'm not one of those people.
Today, the concept of "locavore" was taken to a whole new level when I had lunch in Astoria.
Mikey D and I decided on an impromptu beer-and-dumplings lunch at Zlata Praha, the Czech-Slovak restaurant under the 30th Ave subway stop. There's something really satisfying about drinking beer at 2pm on a cold February day. I ordered a sweet and delicious BrouCzech, one of my all time favorite beers.
Perusing the menu, it quickly became apparent that we'd picked a good week to go to Zlata Praha -- it was "Venison Week" meaning that the menu was packed with a variety of venison dishes. Chatting with the bartender, we were told that the owner had just returned from a hunting trip and had caught rabbits, deer, a boar (thus, Vension Week). Wowza. We decided on venison in wine sauce, pickled herring, and dumplings.
Soon, we were snarfing down hearty Czech food and washing it down with swigs of beer. We were so busy feasting that we were suprised to see the bartender standing over us, holding what, at first glance, I thought was a dart. I soon realized that in fact, it was the ARROW THAT HAD KILLED THE DEER WE WERE EATING AT THAT VERY MOMENT.
I don't know if I should have been horrified, but my reaction was pure intrigue. The arrow was really beautiful. I've never seem an arrow like that up close before -- it reminded me of a very sharp tulip bulb. I even got a picture of it:
At the far right, you can see where the arrow was snapped in half when removed from the deer. We soon realized that the guy waving to us from the other end of the bar was the owner, and he was the one who shot our lunch.
I guess there's probably a lot of people out there who'd be pretty horrified to be presented with an arrow while trying to enjoy lunch. But I'm not one of those people.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Aftermath
How come in December it's called a Winter Wonderland and in February it's just a reminder that spring is really, really, really far away?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Feb 14th Edition
Dare I point out that Valentines Day is right around the corner? I dare.
I guess, as a girl who has been single for a while now, Valentines Day should be a holiday where I feel a little bummed out about not having someone to shower me with flowers and little stuffed creatures. Honestly though, the reality is the complete opposite -- I look forward to my single-girl Valentines Days.
I've passed plenty of Feb 14ths in committed relationships, which leads me to believe that I must have celebrated the holiday at some point with someone who i cared somewhat about. But, as much I've wracked my brain, I cannot remember a single Valentines Day that involved dinner at a nice restaurant or a box of chocolates. In fact, I can't remember a V Day spent with a boyfriend.
What I do remember, however, are all the Valentine's Days I spent with my friends. I remember the year that a bunch of my girls and i went downtown and saw Ryan Montbleau play at the Knitting Factory. And the year that my roomies and I all made up excuses to go in to work late, then cooked a huge V Day brunch with mimosas, chocolates, and LOTS of bacon.
In college, my roomie and I decided to participate in that feminist/Valentines Day/college tradition: The Vagina Monologues. It was a great experience, though I walked away firmer than ever in my belief that the stage was one place I was definitely NOT meant to be. Also, I realized that red was NOT my color:
Then there was the year that I decided to follow Assembly of Dust through four dates of their Northeast tour, which happened to fall over Valentines weekend. The guy I was dating at the time was pretty unhappy that I was leaving town, but, hey it's AOD! I spent Feb 14th in Northhampton, MA at the Pearl Street Music Hall. The band covered Van Morrison that night. And after the show, I remember driving for-ev-er looking for a hotel room, because every place I stopped at was booked with couples on romantic weekend getaways.
Last year, my girls and I decided to go to Costa Rica. Angela and I spent Valentines Day on a crisis-filled journey from Queens to Miami to Fort Lauderdale to San Jose. The two of us celebrated the holiday with a lunch (comped by the fantasically crappy Spirit Airlines) at a Chili's in the Miami airport. Our Valentines Day dinner was a granola bar in the San Jose hotel room at midnight. Still, it was one of the most joyful V Days I can remember, because we were so happy to have finally arrived in Costa Rica.
This year, I will once again be celebrating a single-girl Valentines Day. And, once again, I'm looking forward to it. If Ang can avoid another airline crisis, she'll be arriving from Michigan on the 14th. There may be a dance party. And not a pajama-gram or stuffed farm animal in sight.
I guess, as a girl who has been single for a while now, Valentines Day should be a holiday where I feel a little bummed out about not having someone to shower me with flowers and little stuffed creatures. Honestly though, the reality is the complete opposite -- I look forward to my single-girl Valentines Days.
I've passed plenty of Feb 14ths in committed relationships, which leads me to believe that I must have celebrated the holiday at some point with someone who i cared somewhat about. But, as much I've wracked my brain, I cannot remember a single Valentines Day that involved dinner at a nice restaurant or a box of chocolates. In fact, I can't remember a V Day spent with a boyfriend.
What I do remember, however, are all the Valentine's Days I spent with my friends. I remember the year that a bunch of my girls and i went downtown and saw Ryan Montbleau play at the Knitting Factory. And the year that my roomies and I all made up excuses to go in to work late, then cooked a huge V Day brunch with mimosas, chocolates, and LOTS of bacon.
In college, my roomie and I decided to participate in that feminist/Valentines Day/college tradition: The Vagina Monologues. It was a great experience, though I walked away firmer than ever in my belief that the stage was one place I was definitely NOT meant to be. Also, I realized that red was NOT my color:
Then there was the year that I decided to follow Assembly of Dust through four dates of their Northeast tour, which happened to fall over Valentines weekend. The guy I was dating at the time was pretty unhappy that I was leaving town, but, hey it's AOD! I spent Feb 14th in Northhampton, MA at the Pearl Street Music Hall. The band covered Van Morrison that night. And after the show, I remember driving for-ev-er looking for a hotel room, because every place I stopped at was booked with couples on romantic weekend getaways.
Last year, my girls and I decided to go to Costa Rica. Angela and I spent Valentines Day on a crisis-filled journey from Queens to Miami to Fort Lauderdale to San Jose. The two of us celebrated the holiday with a lunch (comped by the fantasically crappy Spirit Airlines) at a Chili's in the Miami airport. Our Valentines Day dinner was a granola bar in the San Jose hotel room at midnight. Still, it was one of the most joyful V Days I can remember, because we were so happy to have finally arrived in Costa Rica.
This year, I will once again be celebrating a single-girl Valentines Day. And, once again, I'm looking forward to it. If Ang can avoid another airline crisis, she'll be arriving from Michigan on the 14th. There may be a dance party. And not a pajama-gram or stuffed farm animal in sight.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Nest Ring and Stuff
A good Sunday usually involves banana chocolate chip pancakes. Today was a good Sunday. Brunch with some of the Astoria girls and then lots of photographing pieces that shoulda been photographed six months ago.
Heres a fave:
It's for sale on Etsy if you're interested in getting one of your very own.
Now heading out to Lil C's place for some Superbowl-goodness. There will be ribs. And beer. And, I think, football.
_____
PS I'm starting to have nightmares about the American Craft Council show in Baltimore, which I'll be selling at during the last weekend in Feb. Last night, the nightmare involved realizing in the 11th hour that all my displays were still in Michigan with Elsie Q. Whoops!
Heres a fave:
It's for sale on Etsy if you're interested in getting one of your very own.
Now heading out to Lil C's place for some Superbowl-goodness. There will be ribs. And beer. And, I think, football.
_____
PS I'm starting to have nightmares about the American Craft Council show in Baltimore, which I'll be selling at during the last weekend in Feb. Last night, the nightmare involved realizing in the 11th hour that all my displays were still in Michigan with Elsie Q. Whoops!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Doppelganger
Today, my postman told me i look like a singer from the 60's who I'd never heard of: Melanie Safka. So I had to do a little googling:
Separated at birth?? To bad this pic of me is 8 years old. I still have that awesome turquoise necklace though.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
What a Long Strange Trip it's Been...
So today I informed my parents that I'm concocting a marathon, multi-month backpacking adventure, kicking off in Jan, 2011. As expected, their response was pretty unenthusiastic.
Suddenly, I felt like i was 21 again, sitting at my parents kitchen table and informing them that I planned on living in a VW Bus and driving around the country. They were equal parts horrified and angry.
In retrospect, the VW Bus plan was pretty ridiculous. And, not surprisingly, it never came to fruition.
But this time, I am locked on to my plan of a backpacking adventure. It's something that I've wanted to do ever since I studied abroad at the age of 20, and my then-boyfriend and I would meet people in hostels who'd been traveling for months -- or even years.
My father made the point to me that I already do a pretty significant amount of traveling. It's true: my once or twice annual jaunts to far off places have allowed me to rack up quite a few stamps on my passport. And my job allows me to travel quite a bit in the country too.
But a week or a couple of weeks in a foreign country is a vacation. It's not "traveling." Certainly, there are obstacles, challenges. There is a new culture to confront, new customs to learn. There's a lot of picture taking and restaurant hopping. But the whole experience is very temporary. I'm just a transient visitor, in this weird limbo where I'm far from home, but still not completely immersed in another culture.
I enjoy my trips, and I always return with a new perspective. But I want more. I want to linger in a city for weeks. I want to get to know local people. I want to become a regular at a bar, establish a routine, have a home base. I want time to read, and write and reflect, rather than just tearing from one city to the next, frantically recording everything I saw and did because otherwise it will just become a fleeting memory.
I struggle to do the things that I used to enjoy. In New York, it's impossible for my brain to focus. Too many distractions, too many people, too much everything. I used to write -- a lot. Every day, in fact. And I used to read voraciously. Piles of books. Now, there's too many other things I have to do. When in reality, the things I have to do just leave me stressed and always, always, always anxious.
I run through the accomplishments of my twenties: moved to New York, got my Bachelors, then my Masters, started a business and watched it grow into a success. Lots of traveling, lots of friends, lots of fantastic memories and good times. I've had lots of luck and lots to be proud of too. But I know that I need to keep moving my life forward. Continuing to push myself and find out what more I can do.
If I had to pick an ideal time to go on an adventure like this, the time would be now. As my lease ends, and my NYC friends scatter, I know that it's time for me to move on too. I have no boyfriend or husband keeping me in one place. My jewelry business can be put on hold for a few months without completely disintegrating. Basically, if this journey doesn't happen now, it could very well never happen.
I'm not the type of person who believes in "living every moment to the fullest." But I do FULLY BELIEVE in taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. And the opportunity is now presenting itself. So I need to take the leap. Onward!
Suddenly, I felt like i was 21 again, sitting at my parents kitchen table and informing them that I planned on living in a VW Bus and driving around the country. They were equal parts horrified and angry.
In retrospect, the VW Bus plan was pretty ridiculous. And, not surprisingly, it never came to fruition.
But this time, I am locked on to my plan of a backpacking adventure. It's something that I've wanted to do ever since I studied abroad at the age of 20, and my then-boyfriend and I would meet people in hostels who'd been traveling for months -- or even years.
My father made the point to me that I already do a pretty significant amount of traveling. It's true: my once or twice annual jaunts to far off places have allowed me to rack up quite a few stamps on my passport. And my job allows me to travel quite a bit in the country too.
But a week or a couple of weeks in a foreign country is a vacation. It's not "traveling." Certainly, there are obstacles, challenges. There is a new culture to confront, new customs to learn. There's a lot of picture taking and restaurant hopping. But the whole experience is very temporary. I'm just a transient visitor, in this weird limbo where I'm far from home, but still not completely immersed in another culture.
I enjoy my trips, and I always return with a new perspective. But I want more. I want to linger in a city for weeks. I want to get to know local people. I want to become a regular at a bar, establish a routine, have a home base. I want time to read, and write and reflect, rather than just tearing from one city to the next, frantically recording everything I saw and did because otherwise it will just become a fleeting memory.
I struggle to do the things that I used to enjoy. In New York, it's impossible for my brain to focus. Too many distractions, too many people, too much everything. I used to write -- a lot. Every day, in fact. And I used to read voraciously. Piles of books. Now, there's too many other things I have to do. When in reality, the things I have to do just leave me stressed and always, always, always anxious.
I run through the accomplishments of my twenties: moved to New York, got my Bachelors, then my Masters, started a business and watched it grow into a success. Lots of traveling, lots of friends, lots of fantastic memories and good times. I've had lots of luck and lots to be proud of too. But I know that I need to keep moving my life forward. Continuing to push myself and find out what more I can do.
If I had to pick an ideal time to go on an adventure like this, the time would be now. As my lease ends, and my NYC friends scatter, I know that it's time for me to move on too. I have no boyfriend or husband keeping me in one place. My jewelry business can be put on hold for a few months without completely disintegrating. Basically, if this journey doesn't happen now, it could very well never happen.
I'm not the type of person who believes in "living every moment to the fullest." But I do FULLY BELIEVE in taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. And the opportunity is now presenting itself. So I need to take the leap. Onward!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Oh, Belize
Your loveliness has sucked me in....
More pics coming. Just as soon as I get the sand out from between my toes.
More pics coming. Just as soon as I get the sand out from between my toes.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
We have a winner!
The Queens Metal January giveaway is officially DONE and DONE. And the winner of the lovely Friendship Necklace is.........................................
AprilandAshley from Tulsa, OK. Congrats! I did a little looking around AprilandAshley's profile after randoming selecting their name, and I saw that they have a great blog where they write about nail polish and make things from concrete. Awesome!
Thanks to everyone who participated and stay tuned for February; I've got more pieces I'll be giving away!
As for me, I'm mere hours from departing for Belize! Don't know what to expect, but fingers crossed for sunshine, beachiness and lots of face time with some fishys. Maybe I'll even see this:
I'll try to post once I'm out there so keep it here to follow my adventures. If I ever write a travel memoir, I think it will be called "An idiot and a plane ticket."
AprilandAshley from Tulsa, OK. Congrats! I did a little looking around AprilandAshley's profile after randoming selecting their name, and I saw that they have a great blog where they write about nail polish and make things from concrete. Awesome!
Thanks to everyone who participated and stay tuned for February; I've got more pieces I'll be giving away!
-------
As for me, I'm mere hours from departing for Belize! Don't know what to expect, but fingers crossed for sunshine, beachiness and lots of face time with some fishys. Maybe I'll even see this:
I'll try to post once I'm out there so keep it here to follow my adventures. If I ever write a travel memoir, I think it will be called "An idiot and a plane ticket."
Friday, January 15, 2010
Queens Metal GIVEAWAY!
January can be such a downer - cold weather, no holidays to look forward to.... I think we could use a little wintertime pick-me-up. So I decided it's time for an AWESOME FABULOUS QUEENS METAL GIVEAWAY!
So I'm giving away one of my all-time bestselling necklaces - the friendship necklace (retail value $30)
To enter the contest, all you have to do is leave a comment to this post telling me your favorite piece in the Queens Metal shop. I'll be drawing the winners name at random on Jan 19th, which means you only have a couple days to enter!
So I'm giving away one of my all-time bestselling necklaces - the friendship necklace (retail value $30)
To enter the contest, all you have to do is leave a comment to this post telling me your favorite piece in the Queens Metal shop. I'll be drawing the winners name at random on Jan 19th, which means you only have a couple days to enter!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
How I Spent My New Years
It was a five and a half hour drive to New Hampshire, where we'd be taking in some New Years festivities. We needed to keep ourselves entertained.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Next Up, I Take a Swim in the Matching Coffee Mug
Hmmm, $80 for the fork, another $80 for the spoon. Who could resist a bargain like that?
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Maybe I'll Cook in 2010
- black beans
- arugula
- fresh, homemade salsa (heavy on the big chunks of tomatos)
- crumbled feta cheese
Mix it up, stuff it in a lightly toasted pita shell, top it with hummus (I dig the SPICY kind). Quick and tasty
* wrap the pita shell in tin foil to keep it from crumbling as you chow down!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A NEW New Years
Every year, I work with a different women’s nonprofit and create for them a custom piece of jewelry to be sold as a fundraiser.
This year, I am creating a piece for Ophelia’s Place, a small nonprofit whose mission includes: “…Empowering individuals, families, and communities to redefine beauty and health through initiatives that increase self-esteem, improve body image and introduce alternatives to dangerous desires for perfection.”
I learned about this organization only because I drive by it every time I’m upstate visiting my parents. But after meeting the Executive Director and seeing the facility, I have to say I am blown away by Ophelia’s Place.
Since meeting with the ED, I’ve been thinking a lot about body image; my perception of my own body and how I observe the bodies of others. It’s the New Year, and for so many of us, a new year comes with resolutions to lose weight. January is often a month spent repenting for the holidays “transgressions” and trying to fix the imperfections we see when we look in the mirror. Of course, the problem is that once you become caught in the cycle of body-hatred, it’s pretty tough to get your mind to stop running that loop.
One of the handouts Ophelia’s Place distributes includes the list below. I’ve decided to make sticking to this list my resolution for the New Year.
Revolutionize Your World
*I choose to listen to my body.
*I choose to redefine beauty, success and health.
*I choose to believe I am more than a number on the scale.
*I choose to accept a compliment.
*I choose to challenge the distorted beliefs I have about my body and my worth.
*I choose to take up space in this world.
*I choose to stop the diet talk.
*I choose to throw out my scale and clothes that don’t f it comfortably.
*I choose to start meaningful conversations and getting to know my neighbors from the inside out.
*I choose to change the subject or walk away when the conversation turns to
berating our bodies.
*I choose to provide a variety of foods, none being labeled “good” or “bad”.
*I choose to not comment on my body, my child’s body or the bodies of others.
*I choose to listen harder to what my children are saying and not saying.
*I choose to celebrate others for the joy they bring to my life rather than how they look.
*I choose to give of my time and be a role model.
*I choose to challenge narrow thinking.
*I choose to spread the word that beautiful, healthy people come in all shapes and sizes.
*I choose to start living my life now!
For me, I think I need to make more of an effort to *accept a compliment* and to *change the subject or walk away when the conversation turns to berating our bodies* and to *choose not to comment on the bodies of others*
As for the custom necklace for Ophelia’s Place, stay tuned!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
I Went for a Walk/ On a Winters Day....
Remember summer? Ohhhh those were good times.
On the boardwalk in Santa Cruz this past summer while traveling up the coast doing craft shows.
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