some things you just don't grow out of

I've been working all day listening to the Andrew Bird Pandora radio station (I went to his show two nights ago and he totally blew my mind, won my heart, changed my life, etc., etc., etc. and I can't get enough. I'd go watch him every day if I could. He is the real thing, the Sultan of Swat, The Titan of Terror, The Colossus of Clout, The Colossus of Clout... ok enough about that, back to the post)

So anyway, I'm listening away and without warning Another Lonely Day started playing by Ben Harper. Ben Harper was my first true celebrity love. Ben Harper was the first real concert I went to. I had t-shirts, bags, stickers, framed posters with his autograph, cds, you name it. I loved that man. But since I returned home from my mission I haven't really listened to him at all. I'm not sure why, I didn't love his new music and I guess I just kind of stored the old stuff and got into other music. Maybe I felt like I grew out of that celebrity crush. But moments like just now bring back it all rushing back. Some music can just reach into your heart and pull out your soul. Really good violin music does it for me. Ben Harper also apparently still does it for me. The slide guitar especially. I will literally melt right onto the floor if anyone is playing a slide guitar where I can hear it. Especially if they are playing Ben Harper.

Smokey

I love the prevent forest fire ads that use classic Disney movies. Seriously, does anything make you feel more like protecting the forest than childhood memories of Bambi's dad telling him his mother can't be with him anymore? (Too sad. I just watched that clip. I realize his mother died because of hunters not the fire, but there was a fire at the end of the movie. All I remember is Bambi is sad and there is a forest fire in it, which is what I need to know to make the ad work.) So I clicked on that ad and Smokey's website is actually really cool. He has a museum section where you can learn trivia like, "Is it Smokey Bear or Smokey the Bear? Find out here!" My favorite is the vault containing all the advertising ever used to prevent forest fires (Smokey is the longest running public service in U.S. History). Here are a few of the most awesome (and morbid) posters (they were all pretty cool until about the year 2000. I'm not sure who tried to change them up but you do miss the cuddly woodland creatures).

I was just thinking about Smokey and I wonder how many people these days even have access to forests where they could encounter the possibility of causing a forest fire. We still have lots of fires, but maybe not as many forests or people that visit them. Don't worry Smokey, you are still relevant!

Heart head

This calf sees love more than I do.



awwwwwwwww.

Happy Valentines Day! 2009

My new favorite youtube video.

If you are looking for intellectual stimulation, this might not be for you. (thanks to Sarah for sending it to me. She knew I would love it.)

Spencerian training

On the top of my long list of things I want to learn how to do is calligraphy. I did some searches online and found Ron Tate who gave me a little two hour lesson and I bought a book to try to learn Spencerian calligraphy, which looks like this (see more here):




































I know, ridiculous right? I'm pretty excited about it. He showed me an antique scrapbook from people who were Master Penman as a full-time job and it totally blew my mind. So much practice. All of the letters look exactly the same. The simple cursive writing looked computer generated it was so exactly right. I have a lot of practicing to do. Ron was the nicest guy in the world. He also let me buy some antique clerical nibs (that you can't buy anywhere else) regular people used to write with so I can use those to write in my regular writing but make it look old-fashiony. If anyone wants something calligraphied in my regular handwriting, I'm totally up for it. Just let me know. It isn't very good yet, but kind of whimsical:

Preston Trotter

Last week Amy visited Jo in Preston and let me tag along. Thanks for the fun two days Amy and Jo! Not only were my Calvin and Hobbes sledding dreams practically fulfilled by going down the hill on a toboggan in Jo's backyard almost off a ledge into a (tiny) stream of water, we visited the DI (made famous by such movies as Napolean Dynamite) and KING'S, one of my favorite stores from my youth. I love Idaho.






Yesterday my brother and I saw the Harlem Globe Trotters with my new roommates Stephanie and Cassie and his friends Fudge and Kaile from the BACK ROW of the Energy Solutions Arena. We thought we were going to get a deal on lower bowl seats with a free hot dog (what could be better!) but the tickets were gone so we were on the top. They were pretty good seats though. It was fun I guess. I'm not sure how I feel about watching a fake game. We were discussing what it would be like to be the Generals that travel around getting beat by the Globetrotters while they do football plays and really cool dunks.

A monumentus day

My artwork has, for the first time ever, been featured on someone's blog that I do not know. (thanks to SassyCat from etsy for the information). So, to see more "cards you don't see every day" on the Graphic Fetish blog click HERE.

25 random things

No, don't worry, I'm not writing my 25 random things, here or on Facebook. But someone else's random things just ruined my life. I had this pen pal from when I was like 12-20 years old. We recently met up via facebook and I met her in real life. I really like her. She is great. I loved having a pen pal and it is a fun memory from that time of my life. Until now. Read this from her 25 random things:

"14. I went through a stage in middle and high school where I had over 150 pen pals from around the world. I no longer write actual letters, but I enjoy finding my pen pals on face-book and meeting them in real-life!!"

Little did I know she was cheating on me all that time.