Okay Netflix

Netflix suggests the following category of films for me: Visually-striking Gritty Revenge Movies
Really? I feel like we're getting a little specific.

Scandalous

Ricci, who took photos of me in my bathtub last December, asked me to participate in another project of hers. She is doing a series of photographs of people in her bed. She's done a couple, two male best friends, and a few folks on their own. Jason and I did the shoot together as the straight girl and her gay friend.

Jason and I have been friends for about 5 years now. We met when we were both RAs at the University of Oregon. We lived and worked together in Walton Complex. We would spend hours in the programming office creating posters and planning events. We lived together Junior and Senior year, basically sharing a bedroom in our second house. We're close. We're naked friends. Friends who have seen each other naked and furthermore...don't really think about it. We used to get dressed together, picking outfits and trying to figure out how many layers Jason needed to wear to the bar to ensure that at least one of them remained on his body at the end of the night. We're moving in together again in the coming months and I'm so excited.

Anyway, when Ricci asked me if I was okay with being topless in the photographs, I said yes. When she asked Jason to derobe, he didn't even think about it. We're so comfortable with each other that it just doesn't matter.
Besides being comfortable with Jason, it's a pretty great feeling to be confident enough to allow Ricci to photograph and post mostly naked photos of me for strangers to look at. Everyone has things about their body that they don't like but for the most part I love mine and it was refreshing to realize just how happy I am in my own skin. It was an empowering experience.

My family are all on facebook now. When Ricci posted a sample from our shoot, my father, uncles and grandmother saw it. Embarrassed isn't quite the word, but it's a little uncomfortable knowing that folks who have wiped your ass are seeing those photographs. And Ricci plans on displaying this series in a gallery. I don't know if Jason and I will make the cut but if we do, we'll be giant and mostly naked on a big white wall.

This is my favorite photograph that she took. It's actually an outtake.



More of our photos and the rest of the series are here.

Epic Goodwill shopping trip

I went to Goodwill today hoping to find a good blazer and maybe some spring shoes.
None of the shoes fit but today, the clothes were speaking to me. I found so many treasures including a full length denim dress which sounds horrible but I promise it's not, a beautiful floral blazer, the most adorable polka dot dress(which was $2.50!), and a new purse which I've named Barnaby*.
I left with 5 dresses, 4 blazers, 3 skirts (all with pockets!), 2 scarves, 2 belts, a purse and 4 blouses.
It was a good day indeed. It has been a long time since I bought clothes and I was beginning to really hate everything I own. Now I have new things to make my old things more exciting.



*name stolen from Jason's baby names

ps- I wonder if this Goodwill was so full of treasures because there are less hipsters in Salem to pick through it?

Mustard Chevron

Obsessed with this dress at Urban. I tried it on the other day and basked in the mustardy wonderful of it, which only made my longing more painful. But alas, I do not spend $69 on a single clothing item. I don't think I ever have, besides a prom dress. So, if anyone sees it on clearance, I need to know.

Pat and I watched the news last night as the President gave the official address stating that Osama Bin Laden is dead. As CNN and every other news network panned over the crowds of people waving American flags and singing the national anthem I was unsettled. I was trying to explain it to Pat and he summed it up well, saying that it feels weird to celebrate anyone's death-even this one. Folks have been posting to facebook and elsewhere-everywhere really about their feelings, hopes, and opinions on the topic. I've seen this quote posted a couple times now and it definitely resonates with me:

”I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that” — Martin Luther King, Jr. (ish)*

It seems so strange to me to be waving flags and singing songs about patriotism at this moment. I hope that those who have lost loved ones at Osama Bin Laden's hands feel a sense of closure or retribution if that is what they want or need. I understand celebrating a safer world-if that is in fact part of what his death means. The overt American patriotism just doesn't seem to fit here. It feels in poor taste.
I was a freshman in high school on 9/11. I walked into my second period and my teacher was crying. We watched the first tower burn, and saw the second plane hit live. My generation has been defined in a lot of ways by that day and this is definitely an important moment. But I don't know how or whether to celebrate it, nor do I know what to hope for as a consequence.

*Edit: Apparently the MLK quote making it's way around isn't perfectly accurate. You can read about it here. I like it as is, so I'm leaving it

someone new to be jealous of

Have stumbled across this blog before but in all my new spare time, I have been reading more blogs and today I spent about an hour on Cupcakes and Cashmere. Yikes, this girl is disgustingly impressive. Her blog is about baking and fashion. And all her amazing vintage shopping trips. And her incredible job. And her upcoming wedding. And her amazing hair. And her fantastic style.
Another girl crush to add to the list.

Succulent

When we get our new house, I want a succulent garden in my room.
I've looked up instructions and as long as I have a good window, I should be good to go!
They're just so lovely and interesting looking.