truly, madly, deeply

It's been one of my favorite films for awhile now, but I just watched it again this morning and felt the need to share my love. I think it's one of the most honest and beautiful and funny movies about loss and love and healing. It's one of the reasons I love Alan Rickman. And one of the reasons I love the piano and the cello played together. Best line in the movie: "Don't worry. He's Polish." Best scene in the movie: when they're looking out their window at the clouds and start singing "A Case of You". Or the hopping on one foot scene. Or the last scene, which is so painfully sweet. Anyway, just felt like sharing. =)

death by sugar cookie

Someone brought into work Halloween-shaped sugar cookies with orange frosting and sprinkles this morning. Whoever that person was, I love you. I also blame you for the food coma I've been in all day long. I think I ate like 4 or 5.

Other favorite parts of my day:
- the fact that it was sunny but still in the 50's. cold, crisp, perfect.
- more awesome and crazy stories from Blair (the guy I'm helping with his writing project)
- they gave us a new employee manual at the restaurant tonight, and it actually stated "a smile is part of everyone's uniform." I thought I might pee my pants.
- I was not once on the phone with anyone having anything to do with insurance
- pumpkin ale (thanks lena for the recommendation) + fashion magazines + my comfy bed right now. brilliant.

blueberries and blue fingers

From today's hike along the Denny Lake trail. Once again, I was very excited at the discovery of snow further up the mountain. Being from Southern California, I get all giddy at the sight of snow. I was also quite stoked to find blueberries growing, even if I thought I might freeze my fingers off trying to photograph them.


a few berries clinging on:




more blueberries:




lovely frozen leaf:




the early parts of the hike were warm and sunny. i heart sun flare:




the obligatory flowing creek shot:

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."

- Colette

pretty in pink

sunshine is like crack

At least it is up here. And that's pretending, of course, that I actually know anything about what crack is like. But anyway, my point is that you don't think you're going to be addicted, but then you get a little taste of a gorgeous crisp cool sunny fall day, and when the grey skies roll back in you go through this withdrawl. All weekend was stunningly beautiful - epic - and now we're back to the gloom, which normally I love, but not so much right now.

brilliant bitterness

So on Craigslist, at least in Seattle, there's apparently this war going on between artists (or creative types) and those that are basically trying to take advantage of their services for little or no reimbursement, claiming that it's good for "portfolio-building". Being a creative type at the beginning of her career, I can actually relate to both sides - I hate feeling as though I'm being taken advantage of, but I also do appreciate opportunities to build my portfolio and get my name out there and so have definitely taken a few gigs for little or no reimbursement. Anyway, it's a source of good (albeit cheap) daily entertainment to read the various backlash listings on Craigs. Generally it comes in the form of expletives and little attention to grammar, but there was one today that broke the mold. It made me smile. Here 'tis:

You know what would be great? If I could lay out your company's enewsletter, maybe even write some jazzy copy about how fantastic your quarter was. That would be a real feather in the cap of my portfolio, as I am looking to expand my portfolio to include some heavy-hitting corporate copy.

Oooh! OR, if you need someone to take some photographs of your company picnic, perhaps the one where you are celebrating your quarterly profits, I could totally do that too! This will really add some "wow" to my lifestyle component of my portfolio, as I hear that all of the big AIGA awards go to softball candids. If you have any Executive portraiture work on the horizon, I'd be all over it. Nothing vies for a portfolio centerpiece quite pictures of Sally in Accounting, the one that always wears white mock turtlenecks and talks to her lean cuisine at lunch.

The pinnacle would have to be though, OMG, if I could design your logo for you. That would rule! I am a little non-traditional in how I like to work though. What would be great is if you could round up say 20 other designers, give us as vague as possible a description and then instruct us to create a couple of concepts and from these concepts you will pick a designer. I LOVE the thrill of the hunt. I think it shows that I am hungry for your business, and that I love Comic Sans. Like, a lot!

The kicker is this. I couldn't possibly accept pay for my time, experience, effort, and use of equipment, all handily provided to help you to achieve your artistic vision. Compensation, pshaw! Actually, what I would really like is some food. Do you have any food? Anything in a can will suffice. Maybe a nice can of Dinty Moore? That'll warm the belly and soothe the soul, and help me sleep at night because who cares if I can't pay rent next month? CANNED STEW WAS PROVIDED FOR ME BY MY EXALTED EMPLOYER. Thanks employer!

If you know of anyone that could use my services, I would be ever grateful.

PS I am serious about the dinty moore

PPS I came here because someone mentioned milk and cookies? I sure am hungry.

Love, Imaginary Designer

a celebration of nerds

Due to some not-so-fun, flu-induced insomnia last night, I decided to purchase a movie on iTunes (all the movies I own are in a box somewhere, and I wasn't up for searching). I ended up getting the documentary "Wordplay" - about people who are really really into crossword puzzles. I had no idea there was such a huge subculture there. Seriously, these people are crazy smart and hilarious and endearing and a bit off their rockers. Loved it. Even if it did remind me of how comparatively unintelligent I am.

oh, how quickly they grow

My mom sent me a couple of pictures of the boys tonight. Scout is so big now. And Gunner's just his usual big lovable self.

i love otis