Well, actually I made the protection for my new camera and now I'm using it. I'm quite proud of my accomplishment... Sewing does not come as easily to me as cooking, but I'm making progress.
This case (inspiration came from this link) probably cost me $5 to make and about 2 hours of time. Rachel, I used some of that sweatshirt material in lieu of batting. Lovely!
Tomorrow's attempt includes finishing a laptop case which ought to be infinitely trickier. At least I'll have a pattern this time!
Wow. I am so utterly impressed by Darius Goes West-- a documentary about a 15-year-old with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy who traveled across the country with 11 other guys.
Not much renders me speechless, but I was completely blown away by the quality of that documentary; I don't even know what to mention first.
Lucky for me, some of the crew members actually came into my documentary class today and talked about their journey. I never get tired of hearing those types of stories. Imagine what the world would be like if we all had an extra dose of inspiration each day.
I think what Logan talked about in class, about the effect a narrative can have on achieving a larger mission, really resonated with me once I was able to process the film in its entirety. The guys' goal became all the more meaningful after witnessing the humanity that existed within each member of the crew. The laughter, the tears-- those responses meant more to me than the science and the numbers. I realized that the greatness of this particular piece, and the challenge I face in creating my own documentary, lies in the ability to appeal to the audience's emotions rather than simple logic.
For me, Darius Goes West compelled me to want more than just a cure for muscular dystrophy. I wish that as a global community, we could experience others' lives the way we experienced Darius'. Then perhaps all of us would be less willing to pass judgments, to look the other way.
For the first time, I understand the importance of my choice to be in a filmmaking class. We can effect change, just as those 12 boys from Georgia already have.
Can't you just hear the chorus of kitchen gods singing blithely as they revel in the beauty of my lovely KitchenAid mixer?
Well, I can.
I grew up admiring the speed and efficiency with which my mom's KitchenAid whipped up pancake batter, churned through cookie dough and mashed mashed potatoes. And while she still has her tan, early '80s model, I am embarking on a (hopefully) 25-or-so year journey with a newer model of my own. Fortunately, it still conjures up the same delicious memories.
Thus far, I have christened the mixing bowl with dough for chocolate coconut crispies and chocolate chip cookies.
I'd like to thank Craig's List and my neighbor for this opportunity.
I thought I would add this video I just found of Will.i.am's song "It's a New Day", which debuted on Oprah Friday. I find the placement of the pictures behind him just as moving as the words themselves. I've never been a big fan of the Black Eyed Peas, but this song really is an amazing piece.
I woke up this morning Feeling brand new Cause the dreams that I've been dreaming Have finally came true Yea, I woke up this morning Feeling alright 'Cause we weren't fighting for nothing And the soldiers weren't fighting For nothing No, Martin was dreaming for nothing And Lincoln didn't change it for nothing And children weren't crying for nothing It's a new day
Now let's compare that to Sam Cooke's song "A Change is Gonna Come," written in 1963, before the passage of the Civil Rights Act. He died several months after the act was passed. I won't even pretend that both of these songs don't give me chills.
I was born by the river in a little tent And just like the river, I've been running ever since It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die I don't know what's up there beyond the sky It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come
I go to the movie, and I go downtown Somebody keep telling me "Don't hang around" It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come
Then I go to my brother and I say, "Brother, help me please" But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees
There've been times that I've thought I couldn't last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come
Appropriately enough, Obama quoted this song in his victory speech Tuesday night: "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."
I've seen these on several different sites lately, but only today have I discovered how clever these street art projects by a London artist actually are.
Slinkachu hand paints little people and animals, places them around London and then leaves them there. I'm just in sheer awe of the attention to detail these must have required. Not to mention the perspective one must have to see such small areas as harboring the potential for greatness. (I could turn this into a far deeper analogy, but I'll spare you.)
Of course, if it can be done in London, why not spread the idea to other cities? I'm thinking I'd put my figurine in the unsung heroes statue, probably taking pictures like a tourist at Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta army. Where would you put yours?
I don't intend to ever grow up. Instead, I spend my days laughing at just about everything and cramming my schedule with extracurricular activities. I enjoy spontaneous dance parties, particularly when the music is from my parent's generation. I also dabble in the activities of a typical domestic diva. Writing is the closest I get to real meditation.
